What do you think?
Rate this book
Billy Beckett #4
Break Point
Billy Beckett has reached more than a quarter-million readers.Simon Shay is living in two worlds. Is he a rising tennis star destined to shine brightest on the sport’s grand stages? Or a troubled teenager caught in a web of darkness, drugs and deceit that threatens to derail his promising career?In the fourth installment of the best-selling Billy Beckett series, Billy is trying to shepherd his newest client along a tumultuous path. Simon's precocious nature keeps him constantly straddling the fine line between glory and disaster. Billy has intimate experience with both sides of that line, but keeping his client in the game and out of harm's way may be the agent’s greatest challenge yet.As the men approach Simon's debut Major Championship appearance in Australia, dark forces outside of their control are coming to a boil. In a riveting thriller filled with betrayal, lies, and murder, will Billy be able to keep his client from reaching his breaking point?
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2021
788 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Hodge
7 books33 followersKelly Hodge spent over three decades in sports journalism in his native Tennessee. He's a graduate of East Tennessee State University and lives in Johnson City, TN with his wife, Jo Ann, and their goldendoodle, Zoe.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 9, 2022
A longtime fan of the work of Scott Pratt, I was drawn to the Billy Beckett series, which included collaboration with Kelly Hodge. After Pratt’s death, Hodge continued to pen novels in the series and make it his own. Usually wary of ‘post-death continuations’, I kept reading with trepidation, but Hodge proved to me that things were in good hands. Billy Beckett is a sports agent always looking for the next big star. His latest client is a nineteen-year-old tennis phenom with goals of storming onto the scene at the Australian Open. However, there are some hurdles keeping him from reaching his potential. A friend of Beckett’s is keen to see how things will progress, but must also deal with some troubling news within the trucking business he owns. Could there be more than meets the eye in the transport trailers and, if so, who is heading the illegal operation? Hodge does well with this, his first solo endeavour in the series.
Billy Beckett knows talent when he sees it, even if his clients cannot see the larger picture. He does his best to hone in on the possibilities, but is keenly aware that there are more hurdles out there than most expect to find. With a tennis star in the making, Beckett wants his client to reach for the stars, which begins with a spot in the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season.
While Beckett mulls this over, his close friend, Zander, has issues of his own to confess. Zander’s trucking company has suffered some losses after one trucker was found murdered in rural Missouri. The authorities believe it may have been tied to drug trafficking, something about which Zander knows nothing. However, it is worth investigating a little more.
It would seem that transporting items across state lines by truck is a reasonable way to do business. Someone’s taken it upon themselves to slide in some illicit drugs with various loads, from marijuana to cocaine, all in an effort to build their own empire. But loose lips are making things a little more difficult and people need to be terminated to keep the leaks from spreading.
While Billy works with is client, Zander must get to the root of the issue and solve the problem before his empire goes down the tubes. The trouble is, doing so might mean ruining the future for Billy’s latest client. It will certainly be a gamble either way and no one knows what to expect.
I know I did not do justice to the plot summary above, but rest assured that Kelly Hodge knows what he’s doing with this series. The stories are rich with action and strong sports themes, keeping the reader engaged and curious about what is to come. A great narrative rhythm keeps things flowing and character development is non-stop throughout. I can only hope that Hodge, an independent author, will keep churning out stories and get them out to the public!
Billy Beckett is a no-nonsense kind of guy, but always seems to be putting out fires to help his clients. Few know how to handle fame, which is where Beckett comes in. He has his eye on the prize, even when the athletes are diverted by their own foibles. Beckett’s character may not be front and centre throughout, but there is some decent development in the story. He knows what to do and how to make it click, though remains humble about it as much as possible. There is some great personal and professional development in the story, leaving the door open to possibilities as the series (hopefully) continues.
As I said above, I only came to know of Kelly Hodge through his collaborative work with Scott Pratt. That being said, Hodge has made an impact on me, such that I want to keep reading whatever he publishes. This story, seemingly his first solo effort (without collaboration with Pratt since the author’s death), proves to be just as strong as the previous three novels and keeps the momentum needed to create a great thriller. The narrative flows well and uses short chapters to tease the reader. There is a strong plot that continues to develop and some unknowns that must be resolved in short order. Those looking for a complex thriller can look elsewhere, but there is something in here for the reader who wants entertainment and an easy to digest novel. A great way for me to begin a new reading year!
Kudos, Mr. Hodge, for this wonderful story. I can only hope Billy will be back soon, with more to share!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Billy Beckett knows talent when he sees it, even if his clients cannot see the larger picture. He does his best to hone in on the possibilities, but is keenly aware that there are more hurdles out there than most expect to find. With a tennis star in the making, Beckett wants his client to reach for the stars, which begins with a spot in the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season.
While Beckett mulls this over, his close friend, Zander, has issues of his own to confess. Zander’s trucking company has suffered some losses after one trucker was found murdered in rural Missouri. The authorities believe it may have been tied to drug trafficking, something about which Zander knows nothing. However, it is worth investigating a little more.
It would seem that transporting items across state lines by truck is a reasonable way to do business. Someone’s taken it upon themselves to slide in some illicit drugs with various loads, from marijuana to cocaine, all in an effort to build their own empire. But loose lips are making things a little more difficult and people need to be terminated to keep the leaks from spreading.
While Billy works with is client, Zander must get to the root of the issue and solve the problem before his empire goes down the tubes. The trouble is, doing so might mean ruining the future for Billy’s latest client. It will certainly be a gamble either way and no one knows what to expect.
I know I did not do justice to the plot summary above, but rest assured that Kelly Hodge knows what he’s doing with this series. The stories are rich with action and strong sports themes, keeping the reader engaged and curious about what is to come. A great narrative rhythm keeps things flowing and character development is non-stop throughout. I can only hope that Hodge, an independent author, will keep churning out stories and get them out to the public!
Billy Beckett is a no-nonsense kind of guy, but always seems to be putting out fires to help his clients. Few know how to handle fame, which is where Beckett comes in. He has his eye on the prize, even when the athletes are diverted by their own foibles. Beckett’s character may not be front and centre throughout, but there is some decent development in the story. He knows what to do and how to make it click, though remains humble about it as much as possible. There is some great personal and professional development in the story, leaving the door open to possibilities as the series (hopefully) continues.
As I said above, I only came to know of Kelly Hodge through his collaborative work with Scott Pratt. That being said, Hodge has made an impact on me, such that I want to keep reading whatever he publishes. This story, seemingly his first solo effort (without collaboration with Pratt since the author’s death), proves to be just as strong as the previous three novels and keeps the momentum needed to create a great thriller. The narrative flows well and uses short chapters to tease the reader. There is a strong plot that continues to develop and some unknowns that must be resolved in short order. Those looking for a complex thriller can look elsewhere, but there is something in here for the reader who wants entertainment and an easy to digest novel. A great way for me to begin a new reading year!
Kudos, Mr. Hodge, for this wonderful story. I can only hope Billy will be back soon, with more to share!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 27, 2023
I could not put it down. Suspenseful thriller from beginning to end. I am looking forward to book5 in the Billy Beckett series.
December 10, 2021
This series is as good as anything James Patterson could write.
October 11, 2021
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the Billy Beckett books, “Break Point”, the fourth in this series, reads more smoothly and flawlessly than any Hodge’s previous books.
We’re immediately introduced to the underbelly of this tale when a reckless skydiving pilot/drug trafficker is apprehended in a lame van after a botched delivery.
Then here comes Billy, the take-charge talent agent who once again steps up to nurture his latest find, the tempestuous and talented young tennis star, Simon Shay. Simon’s widowed father, Michael, a pro tennis wannabe, is the driving force behind his son’s somewhat reluctant climb to success. Add to the mix Billy’s insanely wealthy college buddy, the wildly ambitious Zander Fleming, the senior Shay’s boss at AAF Transportation and Simon’s mentor and we find the storyline takes us in a whole new direction – until they merge.
Hodge’s descriptions, from his characters to the landscapes, are vivid and visual. While he’s always been a master mechanic of word use and grammar, these latest qualities make his writing soar. Another stellar talent is his ability to give each of his characters a unique voice, always appreciated by the reader.
It was a treat to revisit old friends and locales we’ve met before in earlier Billy Beckett books: Jonesborough; Billy’s dad, Chief Franklin Beckett; Sevierville; Premier business partner Clair Bosken; Knoxville; a lovely nod to Dolly Parton; the Tennessee River; “Agent Orange”; Holly Grace; and Billy’s cherished classic ’63 Sting Ray ‘Vette.
Break Point is a joy to read. Overall, I feel sure that Scott Pratt would be proud.
We’re immediately introduced to the underbelly of this tale when a reckless skydiving pilot/drug trafficker is apprehended in a lame van after a botched delivery.
Then here comes Billy, the take-charge talent agent who once again steps up to nurture his latest find, the tempestuous and talented young tennis star, Simon Shay. Simon’s widowed father, Michael, a pro tennis wannabe, is the driving force behind his son’s somewhat reluctant climb to success. Add to the mix Billy’s insanely wealthy college buddy, the wildly ambitious Zander Fleming, the senior Shay’s boss at AAF Transportation and Simon’s mentor and we find the storyline takes us in a whole new direction – until they merge.
Hodge’s descriptions, from his characters to the landscapes, are vivid and visual. While he’s always been a master mechanic of word use and grammar, these latest qualities make his writing soar. Another stellar talent is his ability to give each of his characters a unique voice, always appreciated by the reader.
It was a treat to revisit old friends and locales we’ve met before in earlier Billy Beckett books: Jonesborough; Billy’s dad, Chief Franklin Beckett; Sevierville; Premier business partner Clair Bosken; Knoxville; a lovely nod to Dolly Parton; the Tennessee River; “Agent Orange”; Holly Grace; and Billy’s cherished classic ’63 Sting Ray ‘Vette.
Break Point is a joy to read. Overall, I feel sure that Scott Pratt would be proud.
March 22, 2024
I really hope this series continues for awhile, highly recommend
I’m really love this Billy Beckett series. I’m praying 🙏🏿 the author won’t end this series any time soon. I know this sounds bad but I’m glad Author Hodge separated Billy and Holly, just not a good match and she went in untrustworthy bc she stated she was looking for a relationship just friends with benefits but she lied, she wanted Billy as her BF all the time. Honestly, I’m team Billy & Claire. I’m praying they have an intimate moment. Billy has such a good heart and is a great and loyal agent to his people. I’m happy that Simon was able to bounce back, his dad was really corrupt and I was feeling pity for him thinking he just got caught up.
I’m really love this Billy Beckett series. I’m praying 🙏🏿 the author won’t end this series any time soon. I know this sounds bad but I’m glad Author Hodge separated Billy and Holly, just not a good match and she went in untrustworthy bc she stated she was looking for a relationship just friends with benefits but she lied, she wanted Billy as her BF all the time. Honestly, I’m team Billy & Claire. I’m praying they have an intimate moment. Billy has such a good heart and is a great and loyal agent to his people. I’m happy that Simon was able to bounce back, his dad was really corrupt and I was feeling pity for him thinking he just got caught up.
November 19, 2022
very inspirational
I’m not a sports fanatic yet I have grown to enjoy Billy Beckett. He does the right thing, cares about talented but sometimes troubled young athletes. We all could learn a few things about promoting positive attitudes and personal growth in our often-challenging young adults. We can help them beat the odds. Very inspiring and thank you to Kelly Hodge, author. Dr. Z.
I’m not a sports fanatic yet I have grown to enjoy Billy Beckett. He does the right thing, cares about talented but sometimes troubled young athletes. We all could learn a few things about promoting positive attitudes and personal growth in our often-challenging young adults. We can help them beat the odds. Very inspiring and thank you to Kelly Hodge, author. Dr. Z.
October 17, 2022
Excellent Read
Kelly thank you for continuing Scott’s work. It sounds like you both had huge holes in your hearts after your sisters passing. And then Scott shortly after, but yet you carry the torch well. Best wishes and I will definitely be add my email to your mailing list and look forward to your future books. Thank You!
Kelly thank you for continuing Scott’s work. It sounds like you both had huge holes in your hearts after your sisters passing. And then Scott shortly after, but yet you carry the torch well. Best wishes and I will definitely be add my email to your mailing list and look forward to your future books. Thank You!
July 18, 2023
interesting combination of a sports agent who helps to detect criminal activity
This is a well done book. Billy Beckett is a sports agent with a growing clientele, but his client seem to regularly get involved in criminal activity, and he is often the one to figure it out. Kelly Hodge does a very good job putting all of this together.
This is a well done book. Billy Beckett is a sports agent with a growing clientele, but his client seem to regularly get involved in criminal activity, and he is often the one to figure it out. Kelly Hodge does a very good job putting all of this together.
September 3, 2023
Tennis and Moving Drugs
Billy is facing a number of issues in this story. Trying to get the new tennis player on board, his father being I'll and Holly in a car accident. As the story unraveled he felt some pressure due to his friend not aware of what was happening. The tennis client did well and is moving forward.
Billy is facing a number of issues in this story. Trying to get the new tennis player on board, his father being I'll and Holly in a car accident. As the story unraveled he felt some pressure due to his friend not aware of what was happening. The tennis client did well and is moving forward.
October 19, 2021
Billy Beckett on Tour
Kelly Hodge delivers another wonderful Billy Beckett novel. In this episode we learn less about Billy and more about two new characters, Xander and Simon. The book was very entertaining and the storylines compelling but overall it felt very transitional. Will we see more of these characters? Can’t wait to find out.
Kelly Hodge delivers another wonderful Billy Beckett novel. In this episode we learn less about Billy and more about two new characters, Xander and Simon. The book was very entertaining and the storylines compelling but overall it felt very transitional. Will we see more of these characters? Can’t wait to find out.
July 29, 2022
Story of courage
Enjoyed the story. The story has a great plot for an up and coming tennis player, and has details into what it takes to make the dream become a reality. It also shows how events around us can deter our courage and determination.
Enjoyed the story. The story has a great plot for an up and coming tennis player, and has details into what it takes to make the dream become a reality. It also shows how events around us can deter our courage and determination.
August 6, 2022
What would it take for you to cross the line.
This series is on going turmoil of young athletes who are very talented but very immature on life. A page Turner and drama drama drama.
This series is on going turmoil of young athletes who are very talented but very immature on life. A page Turner and drama drama drama.
December 31, 2022
Super good read!
Having lived many years I East Tennessee, six in Cocke County, I especially enjoyed the memories this book brought to me. A retired police officer, now in my eighties, this is my kind of story. Next?
Having lived many years I East Tennessee, six in Cocke County, I especially enjoyed the memories this book brought to me. A retired police officer, now in my eighties, this is my kind of story. Next?
January 21, 2023
Great story that keeps the tension high and twists the plot many times over.
Love the writing style which gives good descriptions without over doing. The characters are believable. There is enough back story to carry through without sacrificing the flow of the story.
Love the writing style which gives good descriptions without over doing. The characters are believable. There is enough back story to carry through without sacrificing the flow of the story.
August 19, 2023
Not Improving
As this series goes on, the plots are becoming more unrealistic and Billy seems to forgive and forget anything crime or behavior. Just not that entertaining anymore.
As this series goes on, the plots are becoming more unrealistic and Billy seems to forgive and forget anything crime or behavior. Just not that entertaining anymore.
October 12, 2023
Another Captivating Story
Very Good and interesting storyline in the continuing saga of Billy Beckett and friends. The ending may have been a bit simplistic and anti-climactic. I'm looking forward to more!
Very Good and interesting storyline in the continuing saga of Billy Beckett and friends. The ending may have been a bit simplistic and anti-climactic. I'm looking forward to more!
October 25, 2023
Certainly a good read.
I enjoyed this very much but not as riveting as others. A little predictable and the ending anticlimactic. To much apology from Simon and a little too flaky for 19. Maybe 15.
I enjoyed this very much but not as riveting as others. A little predictable and the ending anticlimactic. To much apology from Simon and a little too flaky for 19. Maybe 15.
January 22, 2024
This is another great Billy Beckett read .
I love the new characters as well as the original ones . His father , his partner , and his current love interests are a fun read .
I’m excited to read the next good in the series
I love the new characters as well as the original ones . His father , his partner , and his current love interests are a fun read .
I’m excited to read the next good in the series
March 28, 2024
Serving up another thriller
Once again, it is the characters and their strengths and weaknesses that really makes up this story. This entry is not as dark as the previous but it is still a thriller hard to put town.
Once again, it is the characters and their strengths and weaknesses that really makes up this story. This entry is not as dark as the previous but it is still a thriller hard to put town.
August 6, 2024
Family sports thriller
Loved the book, combined my favorites, all wrapped up together, sports, boats, family, suspense, murder, friends, travel, love and a well done ending that I would look forward to seeing the continued journey of each involved, 👍👴 Ed
Loved the book, combined my favorites, all wrapped up together, sports, boats, family, suspense, murder, friends, travel, love and a well done ending that I would look forward to seeing the continued journey of each involved, 👍👴 Ed
Read
November 19, 2024Thrilling read
What a great read ! You will find yourself up all night became you can't put the book down ! I highly recommend the Billy Beckett series. I can't wait to start the next book !!
What a great read ! You will find yourself up all night became you can't put the book down ! I highly recommend the Billy Beckett series. I can't wait to start the next book !!
October 24, 2021
Great read
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns. Can't wait for the next one. Maybe something happening between Claire and Billy or Zander?
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns. Can't wait for the next one. Maybe something happening between Claire and Billy or Zander?
October 29, 2021
Wow
Enjoyed reading book 4of the Billy Beckett book. A page turner. Everyone should read this series. I couldn't out it down until I finished. Had it all wrong until the end.
Enjoyed reading book 4of the Billy Beckett book. A page turner. Everyone should read this series. I couldn't out it down until I finished. Had it all wrong until the end.
November 26, 2021
Let down my family
The end at that up typing this post seems so t are so good and apply deer as implied t s
The end at that up typing this post seems so t are so good and apply deer as implied t s
November 30, 2021
Great reading!
As always, Kelly Hodges delivered. A great storyline and a must read in the Billy Beckett series. You will enjoy this book!
As always, Kelly Hodges delivered. A great storyline and a must read in the Billy Beckett series. You will enjoy this book!
December 11, 2021
Tennis
Absolutely loved the storyline and look forward to following the different characters as life brings them through the challenges particularly Billy's dad.
Absolutely loved the storyline and look forward to following the different characters as life brings them through the challenges particularly Billy's dad.
January 2, 2022
Great read
I truly enjoyed the Billy Beckett series and hope that Kelly Hodge continue the character series. Break Point was a really great read.
I truly enjoyed the Billy Beckett series and hope that Kelly Hodge continue the character series. Break Point was a really great read.
February 19, 2022
Good book but did not live up to Billy Beckett. Books 1-3.
Read
March 4, 2023Tennis boy
Good book with a lot of intrigue. I love to watch Wimbledon and US open tennis. Nadal is my favourite.
Good book with a lot of intrigue. I love to watch Wimbledon and US open tennis. Nadal is my favourite.
May 8, 2023
a great read
I have read all four books now, the story line is interesting and always has a twist. The ending can’t always be predicted
I have read all four books now, the story line is interesting and always has a twist. The ending can’t always be predicted
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews