My d*ck never got me in half as much trouble as my heart…We were high school sweethearts. I was head over heels for her and no one could tell me we weren’t going to last forever. College? Going pro? My family’s money? None of it mattered. She was all I needed.Then she ripped my heart out. But I’m not going to let that happen again. She’s back. Invading my life and acting like she was the … Invading my life and acting like she was the wronged one. The pain is still there, but I can’t keep my eyes off her. I can’t stop thinking about her and how much was left unsaid between us. Being this close is making me question everything I thought I knew about her.
This time everything will be on my terms. Everything…
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Emmett and Avery have a second at romance. Avery has always thought and put everyone before herself. She had to take care of her younger sister and sacrifice so much. The tension and sexual chemistry between them is so thick. Emmett and Avery are such strong and stubborn characters. This book gives you all the feels. My heart felt like it was going to be ripped from my chest because it ached for them. I highly recommend reading this series. Maya never fails to write such amazing books!
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *
I have been eagerly awaiting to read this story since the first “Kings or Rittenhouse” book was released. Ruthless King is a second-chance romance between Emmett & Avery, and can be read as a stand alone. This is by far my favorite of the series! Maya didn’t disappoint. This book was filled with heartbreak, angst, and chemistry galore! I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read Ford’s story next.
I have been waiting for this book, and it did NOT disappoint at ALL!
Avery and Emmett had the picture perfect relationship in HS and then something happened and they have not spoken in YEARS. Since they have not spoken, they never found out the truth about the situation or have closure.
In the past 4 years Emmett has set a steady 3 month limit on any “relationship” – and yes I say that VERY loosely- that he partook in and Avery poured herself in to working and making sure that her sister had everything that she needed to graduate HS and be set up to be successful.
Emmett never really true Avery’s life when they were dating and now suddenly they are forced together for an entire week during summer break. What happens when two people found their soul mates in HS and have never gotten over each other?
Well… that you just have to read! Again, Maya Hughes does NOT disappoint at all!
This book is sexy, sweet, and filled with your favorite Kings.
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK, I GIVE IT A SOLID 5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
Side Note: It went ahead and set up the story for the next one and I am beyond excited for the next King’s release!!!
PS: I received this book for free in return for my honest review.
Avery and Emmett had it all as a couple until the moment they didn’t. Emmett is still heartbroken but wants everyone to think that he just doesn’t care about Avery anymore. It’s been a long time but the hurt is still there for both of them.
Avery hasn’t had a great home life but she will do whatever is necessary to make sure that her younger sister has it better than her, no matter the personal cost to herself. Her dad’s lost his way, it breaks her heart but she does what she needs to do to keep it all together.
When a chance comes to go have fun for Avery with her old friends she takes a chance because she doesn’t think Emmett is going to be there. They’re both in for a surprise. It wasn’t pretty, it was messy at first and it didn’t look like it was going to work for both of them to be at the same place at the same time.
So many words unspoken, so many feelings that are still there but there’s so much hurt on both of their parts. Will they be able to wade through old feelings to get to the here and now or is it too late to rekindle what they once had?
I’m so happy I finally got to read Emmett and Avery’s story. Their relationship was just a big unfinished business that needed to be solved. And the tension when they are near each other is suffocating. Their poor friends feel uncomfortable half of the time but it doesn’t matter. Those friends are like a family that will support them and push them together because they know what is best for them.
There is no one else for Emmett even when he has tried countless of times to replace her. Even more so, when he has felt so betrayed by her. Avery has a lot to explain and apologize for, even when she was also a victim of other people’s decisions and mistakes. Because the main problem was and continues to be the following between them, she sucks at communicating. She has many secrets preventing their happiness. Avery needs to realize at some point that maybe Emmett was to young in the past to comprehend how complicated her life was, but he still loved her enough to be deserving of her trust. He is still that caring and reliable guy with the people he loves. But with how much time has been wasted, the moment has come to reopen old wounds. And that they do.
You will finally get the answers to all your questions. And what comes next has scandal and drama written all over it. I love it! Can’t wait!
This book shows just how thin the line between love & hate can be! I have been anxiously waiting for Emmett and Avery’s story since the few peaks of them in previous books. Emmett & Avery were high school sweethearts that were torn apart by misunderstandings and lies by omission. I wanted to shake both of them at different times & tell them to sit and talk to each other. I loved Emmett even though I feel like he should have given Avery a chance to explain before jumping to conclusions. But they were both so young it wasn’t surprising how things happened. It was sad how much they had to go through to truly find their way back to each other but their love for one another couldn’t be denied!
Ruthless King is book three in the Kings of Rittenhouse series by Maya Hughes. You can definitely read these as stand alones but I do recommend that you read the little prequel novella, Kings of Rittenhouse, first. It introduces this group of friends and sets the stage perfectly for the book!
It’s been four years since the night back in high school that Avery Davis ripped out Emmett Cunning’s heart. For four years he has lived his life, achieved his dream of being a professional hockey player for the NHL. For all four of those years, he attempted to convince himself he had gotten over Avery, even though he could never stay in a relationship for over three months. The anger still burns inside of him over what happened. He and his friends rarely get to spend time together anymore so Emmett convinces everyone to spend the summer together on the shore. It will be the perfect summer, spending time with the friends who were more like family to him.
Emmett’s entire childhood, his parents barely registered his presence. It was like he didn’t exist. No sooner did he make his plans with his friends, out of the blue, his parents started showing interest in him, acting like they wanted to finally be a family. He can’t help but to get his hopes up, that after twenty three years, they might actually want to get to know him.
After four years of being more of her mom than her big sister, Avery’s little sister is graduating from high school and going off to college. She’s finally going to be able to figure out what she wants to do with her own life. She is still working at the same bakery she has worked at since she was fifteen years old, Bread and Butter. Avery still lives with the ache inside of her every day of what happened four years ago. Emmett had been the center of her world until everything blew up.
Avery’s closest friend convinces her to come to the shore for a vacation. She’s never really had a vacation before. They assure her that Emmett decided not to come after all. That he was spending time with his parents. So she decides to go for it. Only on her first night there, who should walk in but Emmett himself.
For the first week Emmett and Avery don’t do much more than glare at one another. But, two people that loved each other as much as they did can’t escape the return of those feelings for long. Anger gives way to affection. Avery has so many secrets, though, so many things she doesn’t want to tell Emmett that could hurt him. She is so hesitant to hope that there is really a chance for them again but Emmett’s persistence wins her over. You know what they say about secrets, though. They always seem to come out eventually.
“Everything was so familiar and so new all at once. The past and present were colliding into a new vision, and it scared the crap out of me.”
This book had my heart in turmoil from the beginning to the end. Emmett was so in love with Avery. But even with all the love they shared, they had manipulative parents against them as well as Avery’s dysfunctional father. She couldn’t bear for Emmett to know the truth of what her life was like, so different than the life he had. But those secrets worked against them in the end.
The depth of Emmett’s feelings for Avery was a beautiful thing. He would do anything for her. But that’s not what she needed. She had sacrificed so much to get where she was. She needed a partner, not a savior. This was a harder lesson for Emmett to learn.
This is told in dual point of views and mostly takes place over a two week period of time. We also get a perfect epilogue which also gives us a hint of what might be in store for us in the next book, Fearless King, which is Ford’s story.
In this one, though, once you start the book, prepare to settle in because you’re not going to want to put it down. And, prepare for all the feels. I feel like I lived the whole thing right along with these two, every single emotion, and I loved every minute of it. I fell in love with this group of friends who were more like family. And I definitely fell in love with Avery and Emmett. I hope you do too!
Ruthless King has been a long time coming and anxiously awaited by yours truly. Right from the point I read the prequel, I knew I needed this book and answers!! I desperately wanted answers and now I have them and so much more.
Emmett and Avery’s story was one filled with angst, ‘hate’ and so much want. These two will make you burn with the tension and chemistry that exists between them. All the fights and jeaously will both make you want to hit them and pray that they just jump into each others arms and kiss all the pent up tension and misery away. Be prepared to laugh too, there isn’t a Kings of Rittenhouse book out there that will not not make you laugh (I confused myself with this double negative, oopsy xD).
If you’ve been waiting for this book like me then you must read it asap and get all your answers and watch these two work everything out in a messy but super fun and angsty journey. Everything you’ve been waiting for, you’ll get.
These two my goodness… their journey was so fucked up but they never ever stopped loving one another and watching them get the real truth and a freaking well deserved closure over the whole awful situation was everything!!
And of course a King of Rittenhouse book is never only about just the main couple. I’m always so glad to see all my boys together, getting bits from past couples and watching how the others are doing and getting hints about their stories. Let’s not forget how every book ends… with a touch of what’s to come in the next book which always leaves me dying for it.
And next up is Ford, good lord I’ve been waiting for this one too. I’m super excited and I have a feeling he might just beat Declan in my eyes. Honestly, I have felt this since the beginning, I just know this next book will be one of my favorites and it’s not hard to figure out why, it’s one of my favorite tropes and Ford is so quite, I cannot, simply cannot wait to get inside his head!!! I’ll be waiting for you, baby.
Even though I thought Emmett and Avery had a chance at second love something came up to block their way each time I thought they had it figured out. Avery had to become a provider for her sister and had to deal with adult problems at a young age. Coming from the wrong side of the tracks to Emmett’s world was never her intention. She just wanted to love Emmett. I felt each emotion and problem they went through. Even though it was a stand-alone story, I was happy the other kings were also in the story to catch up with them. I am also hoping that there will be a new story coming soon. (less)
I was anticipating Avery and Emmett’s story so much and it was my most anticipated read of this year! So when I finally started it! I was in love.
I feel so bad for Emmett like the pain he feels when it comes to Avery and how much what happened between them hurt him. I loved Emmett but whenever it came to Avery he became a really short fuse and he couldn’t control his anger or jealousy. Other than that really short fuse which obviously you can understand. I really liked him, he was caring and wanted the best for his friends.
I get the feeling Avery pushed Emmett away so she could take care of her sister and be the provider for her. If so that’s really sweet. I also get the feeling Emmett’s dad tried to pay her to stay away. I was totally right about these things. I felt so bad for Avery she had so much on her plate, wanting to protect her sister and her father. I loved the relationship between Avery and her sister it was so sweet. Avery was trying so hard to keep everything together for everyone without really taking care of herself sometimes.
Avery and Emmett had such a good connection like you could see their chemistry and how they felt about each other. Although the showdown between Avery and Emmett there was so much hurt and crap between them, and I could basically feel the pain that they were feeling and gosh it made me so emotional. I actually cried through this it was so painful for them and gosh it just hit me in the feels.
So we’ll just go with Emmett’s parents are absolutely disgusting people, that’s as much as I want to say about them without going into too much detail. But they were so horrible and their behaviour was not acceptable.
I love their friends! Colm, Kara, Mak, Declan, Ford, Heath, Olivia. I am glad they are forcing them together. They are such great friends and you can just tell them that they want the best for their friends, but I think we all need friends like that in life.
Such a beautiful story I fell crazy in love with this. So many emotions and great storytelling! I loved everything about it. Also made me cry. It was such great writing and the plot was good, and I loved how we got some flashbacks from when Avery and Emmett were together also the downfall of their relationship. I really enjoyed that part.
I really can’t wait for Ford and Olivia’s story after how Ruthless King ended I really need the next book! It’s going to be so good!
It was SO worth the wait!
I have been UN-patiently waiting for Emmett and Avery’s stories since the Ruthless Kings series began. I KNEW there was more to Avery’s story that what anybody knew. And MAN! What a heartbreaking story that is. Nah not telling lol. Ya gotta read that for yourself. And it IS worthy of a read … or two … .
But when we pick up with Emmett and Avery, their lives could NOT be different. Emmett is living his dream while Avery is just tryin to get by. Both claim to be happy, notice how I said CLAIM, that cause yeah, neither is. Untillllll… some well meaning friends juuuuust happen to play a part of reuniting them.
Want more? Need to know what happens next in the Ruthless King saga … find out for yourself! I did!
Second Chances romances are usually a big fat NO for me but every once in a while one of them piques my interest and I try again. Usually, I’m frustrated, let down and I remind myself “this is why you don’t read this trope!” but SOMETIMES one of them just sucks me in and I think ok, THIS is why you keep trying. Sometimes they. Are. Wonderful. And just… everything you want and love about romance.
Avery and Emmett were so in love in high school but one night everything changed. Avery continued to help raise her younger sister and Emmett had his hockey career. Their mutual friends rent a place for summer and invite Avery. When Emmett changes his plans and goes to house, what will happen between the two exes? Can they rekindle their love?
Y’ALL! I cannot even right now! Holy freaking moly I have been eagerly anticipating this story FOREVER…okay so technically only since being first introduced to Emmett and Avery in Kings of Rittenhouse, the prequel to the series, but it’s like the same difference! If you have read these amazing books then you will totally understand! I mean the slow build up to this story has been driving me CRAZY because after getting only little snippets here and there I have been positioned on the edge of my seat…until now when this story knocked me right on my a**.
Ruthless King was a beautifully captivating second chance romance that had the angst factor cranked way up high! Emmett and Avery had me screaming and wanting to throw my kindle across the room so many times throughout. I mean come on you two are perfect together…now get your act together! This story consumed me and I found myself bawling my eyes out time and time again because of his horrendous parents…how can you not love sweet Emmett?! It’s impossible because my heart beats for him! Oh and let’s not forget to mention how SEXY he is…did you all see this cover? This smoking hot and sexy cover…this is totally what I envisioned him to look like!
Maya Hughes completely blew my mind with the newest book in Kings of Rittenhouse series! Readers are going to fall deeply in love with Emmett and Avery because you just can’t help but crave them! Make sure to one-click this brilliantly written second chance romance today!
I have been dying for this story from the moment I was introduced to Emmett and Avery in the prequel novella, Kings of Rittenhouse. Second chance romances are one of my very favorite tropes and Maya Hughes really delivered! Though this is book 3 in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. It will be most appreciated, however, if read in order/if the prequel is read first.
This book hurt my heart in the best way. The angst and anguish were high in Ruthless King and there were times I didn’t think my heart could take it. Emmett and Avery’s love burned brightly in high school for 3 years and just when their future should have been opening up before them, things came to a screeching and gut wrenching end. Secrets and circumstances outside of their control drove a wedge right between them. 4 years have passed, and though they still share mutual friends, the pain and anger is so strong that they cannot tolerate being around each other. An epic summer reunion at the shore, however, throws these two back in each other’s orbits and past and present come crashing together. You could cut the tension with a knife between these two and so many hurtful words were voiced, especially by Emmett. It becomes clear though that not everything was as it seemed and when the truth explodes between them, readers should hang on tight to their hearts.
I loved Emmett and Avery. Yes, they acted rashly and immaturely at times and made mistake after mistake when they skirted the truth instead of being open and honest, but they both truly only wanted the best for the other. They were so dependent on each other, however, that I felt they needed to be apart so that they could truly grow. Emmett is without a doubt my favorite King. I swooned so hard at how fiercely and deeply Emmett loved. Chapter 14 shattered my heart and pieced it back together at the same time. My chest squeezed so tight reading that chapter.
Emmett’s toxic relationship with his parents broke my heart and explained a lot of his insecurities and reactions. I admired Avery’s tenacity and the lengths she would go to for her family and those that she loved. Even though I anticipated the drama at the end, I was still upset and annoyed by Avery’s inability to come clean until forced. This was a time when I found both sides in the wrong, however, and that made the situation easier to understand and forgive. The story comes full circle in the epilogue and left my heart so full. It also set up Ford’s story wonderfully and I cannot wait to see how that unfolds (and how Colm reacts!) Really loved this one and I will ALWAYS be ready and wanting more of Emmett and Avery!
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
Loved the story
Part of series, but easily can be read as stand alone. Former lovers reunite and overcome their tragic past.
We had been begging Maya for Avery & Emmett’s story since Book 1 and she finally gave it to us! It was worth the wait.
Can you imagine being in a beach house with the Kings and their Queens? Wait where do I sign up?!
Full of anger, tears of hatred, unanswered questions, we knew there was bound to be an explosion. The gang can not get out of the house fast enough before it implodes. The passion that we have heard about in the past is finally revealed and if you thought they were romantic and super swoony before then you ain’t see nothing yet. The truth is finally out and it breaks your heart in more ways than one. Can they put their past behind them and move on? Or will the secret Avery has been holding only tear them further apart.
You will definitely need to bust out the cupcakes to recover from this sweet treat!
This is the third book in the Kings of Rittenhouse Series, a Sports Romance, with interconnected characters. I love this Series! Avery and Emmett’s second chance to love is beautifully written. Avery is lovely, selfless, caring, and independent. Emmett is handsome. They are so perfect together. Their story is filled with angst, misunderstandings. The storyline is heartbreaking and heartwarming afterward. The back and forth, past to present, is well done and easy to follow. I love the friendship in this Series. This is a great addition to the Series. Tanya Eby and Edward Bauer did a great job with the narration. Edward Bauer is a new narrator to me, and I love his voice. Now, I can’t wait to listen to Fearless King, Ford’s story.
4*
I’ve been waiting for Emmett and Avery’s story from hearing parts about them in previous books and the story didn’t disappoint.
Avery has been looking after her sister Alison since the age of 13 after things at home became difficult.
Emmett has grown up with a trust fund but never acted superior, left to his own devices by absent parents the Ritten Kings are more of a family to him.
The two were a couple until a misunderstanding and interference blew them apart.
I truly loved the character of Avery and her dedication to those she loved. Emmett’s character came more to light within the story and the background helped me understand him more.
Another great addition to the series.