Two blue lines. That means not pregnant, right? Right? Oh, sh*t.
Five years ago, Colm Frost asked me to marry him and I ran. I ran from my painful past too raw and fresh to escape. He was the only one who looked at me like I wasn’t broken and made me believe it. He made me feel it.
Now, he’s the hot, angry, hockey player on the mend.
I’m the physiotherapist who’s supposed to get him back on … the physiotherapist who’s supposed to get him back on his feet.
I don’t think our night together was what his doctor prescribed, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t dreamt of him every time I close my eyes. I woke up beside him with my body still singing from the way he fanned the flames of my desire, but I couldn’t stay.
His lips on my neck. His hands wrapped around my waist. His impressive…ahem, touch leaving me breathless.
One moment of wild inhibition and it’s come back to bite me in the butt. Kind of like he did that night.
But a baby? Our night was supposed to be a one time thing, closing a door on the future I couldn’t handle.
Will this new bump in the road be everything we needed to find our forever?
Heartless King is a standalone friends to enemies to lovers, accidental pregnancy romance that brings all the laugh out loud, angsty feels!
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So I got in on this series after it had already started, but now I need to go back and catch up on them all. This was a great ending to the series, although there are some other side characters and friends that I would love to see get their own stories. If you are a fan of sports romance, Maya Hughes is an author you need to check out. Her characters all have great backgrounds, it’s more than just a romance, there is a lot in the works for each character to improve on themselves or figure out for themselves before things can be the way they need to be. But there is also all the steaminess that I love in my romances, along with the sweetness and romance you’d expect.
Poor Colm. He’s hurting so much, and all I wanted was to just take him and hug him, and of course Imogen does that at first, but when things get messed up, she blames her own troubled past as well as letting her own issues come in between them.
Now, both of them did the thing that I hate at the end or another part of the story, in just not listening or giving the other a chance. Letting their own issues just be in the way and not opening up. I also had a bit of trouble with Imogen’s nickname. Imo? So is that pronounced like “emo”? I don’t know, just a personal issue that tripped me up a bit as I was reading.
Again though, I really loved it, and once again am grateful for being able to read in one day, because it was really hard to put down once I picked it up!
Finally, the story of the last King is here.
If you’ve read the previous books, you know Colm’s current state. He’s angry and upset about everything that had happened. I think he has every right to be to feel that way (especially since these feelings have kind of been brewing for YEARS) BUT I do think he was taking it too far. He became so closed off that he doesn’t want to hear from his sister and his best friends and he definitely doesn’t want to forgive. Everytime the people close to him would reach out, his walls would be up.
Colm is at that point where he kinda gave up on rebuilding his life. Imogen has been down that road so she knows how it feels and knows how worse it could get from there. Because of that, she can see through the cracks and she knows Colm feels miserable and is in need of help. I do feel like Imogen was a little lost too. The past few years, she has been doing so much to help others, but what is she doing for herself?
To be honest I needed a little more push to be convinced with Colm and Imogen together right from the start just because I know from the previous books in the series about Imogen and Preston. Despite that, I do understand that the situations Colm and Imogen are in now would work. They both deserve a happy ending especially after what they went through, and they happen to find it with each other. Colm’s situation calls for Imogen as the last resort to help him recover, and she doesn’t back down from helping him no matter how hard he pushes her away.
I have so much love the rest of the guys for not giving up on Colm even if he keeps pushing them away. I know Colm gets annoying (a lot, might I add) so that act is a true testament on how loyal the guys are to him. I’m going to miss this bunch! I hope they make appearances in Maya’s future releases.
Colm completely stole my heart in this final book of the Kings of Rittenhouse series. Heartless? Don’t let the title fool you. I think Colm may just have the biggest heart of all of the Kings, but he also has a huge vault within that heart that he keeps all of his emotions locked inside of. Like anyone who’s loved and lost you can’t get hurt if you don’t let anyone get too attached, right? Losing his parents at a young age made Colm lock up his heart up tight, but it also made him dream of something perfect to replace that hurt. He just doesn’t know exactly how to deal with his emotions, he’s broken for lack of a better term, but he’s also so beautiful in his brokenness. His counterpart is the perfect person to understand him.
So many pieces of the Colm puzzle fell into place in this final book. Colm and Liv Frost lost both of their parents at a very young age forcing Colm to step into the fatherly role over his little sister. Never wanting to disappoint her, mess up, or heaven forbid leave her completely alone he never stepped out of line. Colm was always the responsible King in his group of friends until his sister and best friend, Ford, betrayed him. Now Colm feels lost. With no one to take care and no best friend he’s sinking further into the not giving any f**cks. He’s reckless, drinking, not returning calls, basically not being Colm. You see, Colm has always been the guy with a plan, the guy who falls fast for a girl, his mind never slowing down. After one date he already has the white picket fence, 2.3 kids and dog scenario planned out before he even really thinks about if he actually likes the girl, which has also led him to several failed relationships. Hence, Colm’s self-esteem isn’t the greatest and he is going to break your heart with how he views himself. He is also going to frustrate you and infuriate you with how he is now on a self sabotage mode with just about everything in his life. It goes without saying…he’s male and he makes mistakes, but at the end of the day, he’s just looking for love and he doesn’t know how to ask for it.
Enter….well, I’ll just say, you are absolutely going to love his love interest. She’s the perfect match for Colm, but for now, I’d like to leave it a mystery. Just know she’s strong, loving, and broken in her own way. Their broken parts match up to create a wholeness that beats to their own rhythm. It’s a beautiful love story that will wrap around your insides and melt you.
For the final book, Maya does a great job of sprinkling all of the Kings throughout the story so you will love catching up or meeting them if you are new to the series.
Adored this final book in the series!
“He was drowning. I was his oxygen and he was gulping me down.”
Colm Frost has hit an all-time low and pushing everyone away. He was always the responsible one and has given up a lot in his life to do right by his sister. However, now he feels somewhat adrift and angry and unappreciated, and is off the ice due to another injury. Plus, the girl he has been hung up on for years, and who has run away from him twice, has now been hired to rehab him.
“Our souls were twining around one another, winding together so tightly that even when we weren’t touching the imprint of that touch would last forever.”
Imogen Walsh has had her fair share of devastating heartache. She speaks Colm’s language. He makes her feel things that she hasn’t felt in a long time and that’s scary for her. When she is cornered into helping him get back to playing fitness, she’s got her work cut out for her. However, she’s determined to help him, whether he wants her help or not. A life-changing event has their lives even more entwined than they bargained for.
“With you, when I wake up in your arms, I’m never thinking about what I’ve lost, but only what I have to look forward to.”
This was a fabulous, sexy, angsty read. Colm and Imogen are two broken people with an undeniable connection. Both have their fears and insecurities but what they’ve found in the other is heartwarming and beautiful. They both just needed to take a chance. I was thrilled to find out Colm’s love interest in this book and I was rooting for them all the way. There was no one better for Imogen’s second chance at love than Colm. Their chemistry was amazing and they had so much in common. Loved it!
Holy smokes. I was NOT prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that this book would take me on. I was mad, sad, frustrated, thrilled…I didn’t think this book would have so many complex layers and emotions, but man. It packed a punch, and I loved every minute of it.
I’ve read every single Kings of Rittenhouse book, and while I was sad to see the series end, it ended in a way that will stick with me for awhile. Colm is so much more broken than I thought he was, and my heart literally ached for him and the rollercoaster he went through in this book. Then there’s Imogen, who is fighting her own internal battles that went way deeper than I thought they did. Just like the Fabolous song, they’re a force when they’re together – sometimes in good ways, and sometimes in bad ways.
Out of all of the Kings books, I think this one carries the most angst, the most emotional baggage (even though they all have that element in some way), and has the most twists and turns. It left my heart twisted and my head spinning. I also loved seeing the rest of the Kings and their intertwining stories with the main storyline. I wasn’t ready for this series to end, but what a way to go out. An incredible ending for an incredible series!
Thank you to Maya for an advanced copy of this book. I may or may not have read it in one sitting and stayed up until 4am just to see what happened. Worth it.
Heartless King is the fifth and final title in the Kings of Rittenhouse series.
Heartless King is a bittersweet, emotional and angsty read, featuring a pair of characters who are incredibly complex and layered. Both Colm and Imo are damaged characters, who have been dealt a rough hand in life and experienced their fair share of loss, loneliness, sadness and guilt.
Colm is a brooding hero, who takes his responsibilities very seriously. He’s very caring, but a tad over the top, and struggles when he looses control. Imo is sweet, caring, patient and very determined.
Their relationship is fraught with miscommunications and misunderstandings, but their chemistry is undeniable.
The previous Rittenhouse heroes feature throughout this title. I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating and entertaining read, and adored this ending to the Kings of Rittenhouse series.
Colm and Imo had the same friends and there was always some sexual chemistry going on. Colm has been going through some really hard times and Imo sees him and they have a night of passion. She has to leave the next morning. A few months later Imo has to help Colm. Can two people who have lost so much trust in the future? Great characters and storyline. Highly recommended. A fantastic ending. Amazing book.
Colm! The heartless king, the last king of Rittenhouse! The king whose lost so much and whose pain is now his shield!
The one king who was there for others, cleaning up the messes and responsibilities piled high! His hope is lost but when you’ve hit rock bottom there’s only one way to go! Question is; whose strong enough to lift him up?
Colm’s story is fiery and full of sweet angsty tension! Each stormy build up leads to the greatest release and my gosh I couldn’t put this book down once I started on that first page! Pain, anger, fear and hopelessness fill the pages but with each word read leads you to redemption and healing!
Maya did such a beautiful job with this story! She reminds us why we LOVE the Kings so much! Their bond of brotherhood no matter the trials will find a way! Their Queens by their side this group will conquer it all! I have loved every second of their journeys and reading Colm’s completes it and though I’m sad beyond belief my heart is filled with joy!
Thank you Maya for this amazing group!
Whether you have started the series or not Colm’s is definitely a story to read! So seriously don’t miss out!
This was just the book that I needed.
I was struggling so hard to find a story to stick with and this was the one.
Just a few chapters in, Colm wormed his way into my heart. All of this past dickhead moves, completely forgotten. When you get a feel for the way he thinks, you get it.
This is the highly anticipated last book of the Kings of Rittenhouse Series. And it completely delivered for me.
It was nice to finally get to know Imogen. She’s been in the other books as well. She and Colm both danced around insecurities, past tragedies and betrayals to find their way to each other. They made me laugh and cry. Perfect for each other. Perfect for me.
Heartless King was definitely one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and as soon as it hit my kindle……I got super excited because I could not wait to read the moody and broody Colm Frost’s story, and find out what woman stole our final Kings heart!!
And this story was definitely worth the wait to read……and even more worth it once you find out who she is!! This is one of those stories you won’t be able to put down once you start – and before you know it, you’ll be at the end with a huge smile on your face after watching these two fall in love. Truly, everything about their story was perfect – even when Colm was being his moody self and trying to push everyone away…..and when she kept running from him. Such an emotional rollercoaster for these two, but I know you’ll love every minute of this incredible story just as much as I did.
With it being a Kings of Rittenhouse story, I can’t forget to mention the rest of the guys. After everything they had all been through, the bonds between Declan, Heath, Emmett, Ford, and Colm could not have been more evident. Seeing how the other 4 kings supported Colm when he was at his lowest (even Ford, when we know how strained their relationship was) and to back him up when he could have lost it all – my heart just overflowed with so much happiness to see that nothing could ever break these guys apart. They had been family for years and always would be.
And that epilogue – ahh!!! It really was such a perfect way to wrap up this series – and gave us one last glimpse into the lives of these characters that I know will always hold a special place in my heart. I’ve loved every minute with the Kings and while I know this is the end for them, I hope it’s not the last we get to see of them.
I was so intrigued by Colm, he was the most mysterious one and his story was one that I absolutely loved, I love the whole series, seeing it end is bittersweet, it took me a while to read the last chapters, I didn’t want it to end. Colm and Imogen’s story hooked me from the first page. I absolutely love antiheroes and having Colm portrayed like an arrogant and stubborn guy made me love him even more in this book. Maya Huges wrote an amazing book, a spectacular series and I can’t wait to find out what comes next. Bravo great finale!
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Heartless King is absolutely breathtaking!
I loved everything about Imo and Colm’s story.
Imogen and Colm complement each other so well. They are both extremely hard workers, take care of their loved ones and have been through unbelievable life events and have still come out stronger. They both deserve the absolute world!
Heartless King truly had all the emotions wrapped into this one. It was heartbreaking, heartwarming, sweet, sexy, funny and hands down just a beautiful written story.
I am honestly still a little bit speechless since finishing this book, I don’t think words can describe how much I loved it.
Maya Hughes, thank you so much for writing such a wonderful series! I loved every book and you’ve outdone yourself with the Heartless King!
It’s so bittersweet to see this series end. I’m so sad to say goodbye but the final book was a perfect end!
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My heart broke for Colm, but at the same time I wanted to smack him upside the head. He was down and out. He just found out his sister was in love with his best friend and his career isn’t looking good. He has been injured back to back and even though the doctors tell him he is fine, he can’t get himself to step back on the ice. Imogen is the person who is supposed to help him.
They both fell for each other years ago, but she wasn’t ready to move on and he didn’t want to overstep. They start working together, but harboring resentment and feelings for each other. When they finally come together, all seems wonderful, until the next morning.
Both of them have issues they need to deal with, and even though they don’t want to admit it, they help each other be stronger. When Colm finally wakes up, he pushes and is all in, but will it push Imo away for good? Will Imo ever be truly ready to move forward? I absolutely adored this book. The issues were realistic and the reactions were things I could see happening in real life.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
This is the final book in the Kings of Rittenhouse series, however, it is only the second book I read from it. I am really picky when it comes to sports/contemporary romance. However, I was intrigued by the surprise pregnancy part and wanted to give this book a chance. It was an okay read for me. There were a couple of things that I didn’t like, in particular Colm’s behavior, he was very judgmental and acted childish in certain situations. I couldn’t fully understand his reasoning at the beginning and that could be because I haven’t known him as long as other readers who have read every book in this series. So I was glad that the author included a couple of flashbacks because those helped me a bit more in getting to know the characters better. Colm has been under pressure to act and be a certain way after the death of his parents. Always doing the responsible thing and not really living his life to the fullest. Imogen has been living in the past, and just surviving each day, and taking more on than she can handle.
Imogen she is a very caring and understanding heroine. She was determined to get Colm out of his funk and get him back to playing ice hockey. She has some stuff from the past she is dealing with, but I think she grew a lot in this book. Colm made a couple of rushed decisions and these scared Imogen off, which Colm interpreted wrong sometimes. Open communication, especially in the first half of the book would’ve been better. I enjoyed this couple more in the last half of the book, and I loved seeing them be more open to each other. Overall, I think this couple were right for each other, and it was nice seeing them happy together. They were two broken characters that helped each other heal and discover what they really want in life. I think readers who have read and been on this journey longer than I have will enjoy this book more than I did. But I still think it can be read as a stand-alone.
I’ve been intrigued by the broody, controlling, uptight Colm since Shameless King, and his book was probably my most anticipated of the series. I wanted poor Colm to get his HEA, because the dude seriously could not catch a break, and I’m so glad he found that HEA with Imogene. Heartless King gets 4 stars from me, and it was a great way to wrap up the series.
Usually I’m not a fan of surprise baby tropes, but I was looking forward to this one if for no other reason than to see Colm the Hardhearted softened by a tiny human. Honestly, it’s no surprise it took a surprise pregnancy for he and Imogene to get together. There were so many internal conflicts for them to conquer that at times it almost felt tedious. Colm and Imogen are two very broken characters. My heart has hurt for them since the beginning of the series. The loss and trauma they’ve experienced separately is enough to mess anyone up, so they’ve understandably got issues.
Colm is such a pragmatic person in all areas of life except for romance. His need to have everything planned and controlled paired with his deep longing for a traditional family has burned him more than once. Pair that with the fact that his carefully planned life and future has been turned on its head, and you’ve got one angry, lost hockey player. Imogene is hardworking and determined, and she seems to be very strong as long as she’s living for others. But Imogene can’t (or won’t?) focus on herself. The misplaced loyalty and guilt she feels surrounding the death of her boyfriend keeps her from moving forward in love. When they catch feelings for one another, it scares them both, and things do not happen smoothly.
The chemistry between Colm and Imo is fire in the bedroom, but they each have their own inner demons and conflicts to contend with before they can get to their HEA. These are two damaged people who end up in a frightening situation that they truly are not ready for. It makes for a plot full of lot of chasing, fear, and emotional moments of vulnerability, but in the end they heal, and end up being so good for each other. Maya Hughes’s illustration of their grief and guilt was done really well, and it had me near tears on a few different occasions. I’m sure the fact that I’ve been with these characters since book one also helped to strengthen my emotional connection, but I really felt their struggle. Their pain and damage was intense, but I love the way Maya had them piece each other back together. When Colm and Imo were finally able to work through their individual hang ups, the HEA was beautiful. It was hard-fought ( and often times fought against) but it was worth it in the end.
The strong bond between the Kings was one of my favorite things about this book, too. The friendships between Colm, Ford, Emmett, Heath and Declan is one of the biggest reasons I stayed committed to this series, and they shined in this book. I LOVE the Kings and their Queens. (Oh and the tiny crossovers between this series and the FU series made me so happy!) Heartless King ended up being the HEA I wanted for Colm. I’m sad to see the King’s of Rittenhouse series end, but I’m hoping there will someday be a Bailey book so I don’t have to say goodbye forever.
4 stars for Heartless King!
ARC REVIEW
Heartless King is book five in the Kings of Rittenhouse series. It can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read any of the previous read any of the previous book in this series and I wasn’t lost. Each book covers a different couple. I do have to admit that after reading this one, I definitely want to read some of the previous books. Colm is a good guy. He raised his younger sister. He’s a little broken and a lot grumpy. Imogen is sweet and nice. She would definitely make a great friend. She has a past and is struggling with some things. Colm and her have mutual friends and have a had a few run ins. Their friends ask Imogen too step in and help Colm get back on the ice. There’s a lot of tension between the two and some misunderstandings. I was a little frustrated with their behavior sometimes but they make great couple and have a good story.
4 1/2 Stars!
Heartless King is the last book of the Kings Of Rittenhouse series, and it’s about Colm, the last of the Kings. This series started when the guys were still in college with Declan’s story, and we’ve got so far, seeing them all grow.
Colm has always been the “dad” of the group, the one everyone considered had everything together, the one who protected everyone. He also had his whole life already planned, which is the reason why he feels confused and is rebelling after his longtime best friend Ford got together with his younger sister Liv. (You can read this story in Fearless King)
Colm feels betrayed and hurt by his only family because he thinks that his sister didn’t make the right choice for her future after all the years he spent helping her prepare for medical school. He is acting like a dad through and through, and despite I was angry like his sister Liv that he wanted to dictate her life, I understand where he’s coming from. He feels guilty because of what happened to his parents and his way to plan things is to feel safer that there will be a future, that he will know what to do and he will have everything taken care of. And it’s understandable. Colm will take a lot of time in the book to get to the point where he’ll understand why his behavior was wrong, but he will get there.
Colm was a complex character. Not only he had this paternal instinct when it came to his friends and family, he was also trying to recover from an injury on the rink that was messing with his head. The mix of rage and fear made him lose hope and he didn’t want to be in anyone’s life because he felt like all of his efforts were for nothing. So he stopped making efforts and wasn’t in good shape, and if it weren’t for his friends and for Imogen, he’d probably lost everything.
Imogen and Colm have known each other for years. She is much like him in many ways. She also lost her loved ones when she was younger, because she lost her boyfriend Preston in an accident, and she vowed to make it up to his parents by helping them run their diner. Imogen also feels guilty for many things, because she believes she’s tainted and she shouldn’t have a shot at happiness. She is afraid of moving on and feel new things, but it is time for her to let go of the past and try to embrace the future.
Imogen was also hard to read. She had layers, did some things I didn’t really like, and took more time than Colm to “come to her senses” (for the lack of a better expression).
Colm and Imogen’s story was easy to read and it took me less time than with other stories, maybe because I could see some of myself in these characters and their issues and because there was a lot of angst. These two never took a break until the end because they were both afraid of love, and I like when a story keeps a pace where you want to read the next chapter to find out what happened.
OMG! This was such a good book!
I read the entire thing in one day! I couldn’t put it down!
Colm and Imo were really great together. The way that Colm feels about Imo makes me want a Colm of my own! So many feels!
I really loved that throughout the story you get to see both Colm and Imo grow and evolve emotionally as the story goes on. They both have so much emotional baggage to begin with, you can truly experience everything they are feeling in each word that Maya Hughes writes! Not to mention the fact that everything both characters had thrown at them in their pasts makes their happy ending all the sweeter!
Long story short, Maya Hughes did such a fantastic job with this book and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future! Love, love, love this book!
The final book in the King’s of Rittenhouse series
This one’s about Colm and his mystery lady (I don’t want to ruin the heroine surprise for you!). I can say that I totally saw this one coming but I’m soooo in love with this couple! I really hoped these two would be endgame 😉
So while this book is part of the King’s of Rittenhouse series you don’t have to read the other books before you dive into this one. I’ve read all of the King’s books – except for one and I’m definitely gonna read this very soon ;)) – and it sure helped to understand the dynamics in the book and it was amazing to see where the characters are now and how they turned out 🙂 But as I’ve said: Not necessary! 🙂
Colm’s book is full of heartache and pain. Both of the main characters have been through an awful lot for their whole lives. Colm’s on rocky terms with his sister and seems to be angry all the time. He shields himself away from everyone and wants to just suffer alone.
The heroine is the only one that really gets to him.
Loved their chemistry!! Really explosive and I loved their dynamic once they got their shit together.
On top of all this pain the heroine got pregnant and they have to deal with it together.
While Colm was totally stubborn, mean and sometimes even cruel – he stole my heart! Maya did an amazing job of writing his character. His fear of being left alone and getting hurt was a huge part of this book! And the heroine … let’s just say that these two were just made for each other! 😉
This was a great ending of an even greater series! Can’t wait to find out what the futures brings from Maya Hughes!!!
Can totally recommend this book to you if you’re a fan of the series (a must read in this case!), love sports romances and a good baby romance 😉
Maya Hughes has hit me hard right in my heart with all the swoony, sexy, heartaching and mind-blowing emotions in Heartless King! I wanted to laugh, cry, sigh and just die for Colm and Imogen’s love story! Her writing is getting sharper and deadlier with every story.
Colm is done with his life. As a responsible brother doubling as parents. As a gifted hockey player. He is physically injured and emotionally wounded. Imogen was an acquaintance for years and she saved him in a particular self destructive night only to disappear next morning. But now his friends have decided she is the only one who can help him recover from the injury. As a physiotherapist. But a lot more is going on here. They have made a new life. A baby. Are they ready for a relationship?Can Colm break the cycle of caring too fast and too deep? Can Imo get past her own baggage and embrace new future with a broken man?
Colm is an amazing man. Yes he is stubborn, infuriating, hot headed and tends to lash out when hurt. But inside he is a sensitive man who loves with everything. I cannot imagine his pain. He is beaten and destroyed and hopeless. And I bleed for him! Imogen is an awe inspiring character. She went through so much heartbreak and survived the worst kind of trauma. But she came out stronger every time. She has battle wounds and hidden raw edges of heart. But she is fierce and compassionate. She doesn’t hesitate to put others before her even if that means sacrificing own happiness. They have a different kind of connection. Their broken parts called to each other. They found solace and healing. But the author took them to emotional hell right along my heart. The scorching hot chemistry is there but to reach the best parts I had to suffer the angstiest emotions! The ups and downs were brilliantly written. They were both dealing with lots of issues and they made mistakes. They even hurt each other. And each time my heart broke a little more. And that epilogue? Happily ever after got a new meaning there. Cue tears!
Heartless King by Maya Hughes was so much more than a sports romance. It was raw and soul deep story of life. It was inspiring. It was captivating. It was unputdownable.
Received ARC for honest review