Shameless King

This book was way steamier than I had expected! And I loved every minute of it.

I am out of my mind with emotions right now. Declan & Mac are amazing. They are funny, a little broken in their own ways, romantic, sexy and perfect for each other. The way they pushed each other’s buttons for so long, they were destined to be together. Whew! I think I need a minute to process.

Getting to know more about the guys too. Can’t wait to read the next book although I might skip ahead because I’m dying to know what happened with Emmett & Avery. I hope it doesn’t mess me up too much. I’ll definitely go back for Heath

This book took me by surprise. This series is my first experience with Maya Hughes, so I didn’t know what to expect, but since I am a big hockey romance fan, I was definitely willing to give it a chance. I am so glad I did! This book was the best surprise! It has amazing characters who grow and develop in the best of ways throughout the story, a fantastic storyline that brings all the feels, and it left me longing for more! What more could you want?

Declan and Mak are my favorite kinds of characters. They are flawed and real and relatable. They make mistakes and have struggles, but they grow and learn and develop throughout the story. They have a fantastic backstory as high school enemies who love to get under each other’s skin, but all that tension and banter morphs into so much more when they are forced to work together as partners in college. And once they start to really get to know each other, that banter quickly morphs into sparks that can’t be contained or ignored.

I like that this story took place over a longer period of time. They knew each other in high school, but they really don’t meet back up until their senior year in college. It wasn’t like things completely changed overnight. They had time to change and grow on their own before they began changing and growing together. This definitely has some elements of opposites attract, but really they aren’t completely different beneath the surface. Both of these characters have heartbreaking things from their past they are trying to deal with, and they are both determined to take care of their problems themselves. Once they are finally able to open up to one another, I love that they are able to love and support one another without having one character jump in to “fix” the other.

Not only did they have a fantastic backstory, the build to their romance was delicious. There were so many will they/ won’t they moments along the way that I was dying for them to get together by the time it happened. The tension and sparks of passion between them were undeniable, but it was clear to everyone except them that it was leading to so much more. I truly liked them both individually and wanted so much for them to embrace what could be between them, and when they finally did, it was completely worth the wait! Watching their walls come down in a way they didn’t with anyone else was perfect.

I truly loved this book. My only complaint is that I have to wait to read the next book. I fell in love with the whole crew in Kings of Rittenhouse, and my love only grew through Shameless King! I am completely interested in all of their stories, but am on the edge of my seat for Emmett and Avery in particular!! Please tell me they have a second chance coming soon! I definitely recommend starting with Kings of Rittenhouse because it is truly the perfect introduction to this series, but you won’t be lost without it.

Five shameless stars! Being a King once is forever being a King. Hockey lovers will love this Sport Romance!

Once upon a time a bookworm dreamed with her perfect book boyfriend. She spends all her days trying to find the perfect male character who will steal her heart. One day she found him in the pages of one of the most captivating Sports Romance, she has read. His name was Declan and he totally ruined her! He tempted her like no other character before. She is still drooling over him so she asked me to write her review…

So let’s talk about Shameless King by Maya Hughes. I am wonderfully surprised with this book. It was an alluring experience I want to repeat many times because Declan and Makenna’s story is deliciously tempting and oh so good! It pushed all the right places in my heart to love these characters so much. Honestly, it was one of the best Enemies-to-Lovers- Romance I had the pleasure to read, it is a luscious piece of heaven on earth, a delectable book that deserves to be read with a glass of the best wine. (Believe me, it is worth it!)

Maya Hughes penned an enthralling and addictive book with strong and complex characters. Shameless King is the whole packed, it is a shining unicorn! It takes the enemies to lovers to a whole new level! This story was just AMAZING. If you love Sports Romance with a mind-blowing touch of enemies to lovers, this is a book you urgently need to read. The smoothness and intensity are sizzling. The plot is on fire! Bravo. Best. Enemies to Lovers Romance. Ever.

Declan stole my heart! His arrogance and golden heart plus the gracious touch of bad boy melted me like an ice cream. I wonder how Mak did to resist such a big temptation. Declan is like the sun. He can warm you with the intensity of his eyes and his overweening smile. Hockey is in his genes like a curse and a blessing. He is fire and sin personified! He knows what he wants. And what he wants has a name: Makenna aka The Ice Queen. Will he melt the chilly ice that protects her?

I found myself pretty identified with Mak. For me, she is like Wonder Woman with a geek soul. She is a badass girl and a nerdy girl at the same time. Her sassy pants makes her unique. Makenna ‘s snarky attitude makes her the perfect match to arrogant Declan. Sass versus arrogance is such a dangerous and delicious mix!

The attraction between Mak and Declan will burn them and will consume both of them until they fall into the each other arms. Who thought that chemistry will be too entertaining and exciting?

I truly recommend you this book. If your thing is college drama, hot hockey players and sassy heroines, this book is ideal for you! It has the right elements to make you fall deeply in the storyline. Shameless King is a must read with capital letters!

Y’all, I have a new bookish love — or maybe two to be exact — Mak and Declan in Maya Hughes’ Shameless King. It was hate-to-love with a side of second chance romance at it’s very best. I need some more Kings of Rittenhouse in my life soon.

Funny story about this book. Sometimes I’m terrible at checking my email. I spend so much time responding to email at work that I often slack off a bit on my personal and blog email. Anywho, I started seeing this book cover all over Instagram and the blurb sounded so good I decided I needed it in my life. I went to my inbox and did a search for the title to see if maybe Maya was working with any of the publicity companies I work with. She wasn’t… but she had reached out to me directly with a copy of the book! Best and biggest surprise ever. Because I’ve been bingeing the hell out of hockey romance, I dove right in and fell in love.

But, I digress. Back to the book. The ARC I received also contained the prequel novella, Kings of Rittenhouse, so bonus! The novella pulled me right in and left me with enough questions — and a bit of an obsession with all of the characters — that I couldn’t wait to get more. I read the book in about a day and a half and I couldn’t stop thinking about it once I started. I do love me some hate-to-love romance and Mak and Declan’s story checked all my boxes. I was absolutely all in for these two characters.

Mak and Declan were enemies from high school — even though they had one little moment that showed there was something between them. Now they’re both in college and have come face-to-face again… and they’re lab partners. I loved the setup for their story. Their chemistry was off the charts and they gave good banter, too. But, more than that, I really loved following along as they got to know each other better and realized they definitely didn’t hate each other. Their animosity transitioned to friends with benefits and then? Much more.

Shameless King was a wonderful book. It was the perfect way to introduce me to Maya Hughes’ books. It had it all — swoons, laughs, hot sexy times and just enough angst to make me feel but not drive me crazy. The romance was top notch and I loved the character growth both Mak and Declan experienced. (Mak most of all, however. My heart ached for her for what she’d been through with her brother and her guilt was so strong it was palpable. Seeing her come to terms and truly move on was beautiful.)

I can’t wait to see what happens next. If you need me, I’ll be over here waiting with grabby hands for the next Kings of Rittenhouse book.

FAVORITE QUOTES

If he couldn’t be here, I’d be the best I could so that no one ever thought the wrong Halstead had lived.

Mak was a one-woman wrecking crew, and my self-control was slipping.

I’d never felt more alive. Like every inch of me was in tune with something else in the universe. Someone else. He’d sexed me into a different dimension.

I lived for those moments. The little looks that made me forget to breathe or the smile that was only for me. He’d rewritten our story and I didn’t know how many more pages were left.

“Now that I’ve had a taste, don’t think you’re going to be able to get me from between these legs. I’m planting a flag. This is the New World, Books.”

This was a great enemies to lovers sports romance. The characters are interesting, well-developed and have good chemistry. The story is well written with an interesting storyline. Declan and Makenna were perfect together and I enjoyed the banter between them. This book was an emotional rollercoaster ride with drama and romance. I voluntarily received an advanced arc copy for an honest review.

It seems like this author has quickly moved into the “always must one click” category. Every world she creates is just plain addicting, and I’d have no problem being sent to Rittenhouse for the foreseeable future. I can only hope we get a book for every hockey player this author has concocted.
Declan and Mackenna set my kindle afire with their sexual tension-and I absolutely loved the long burn we suffered until they finally let their walls come down. I’m definitely a sucker for college romance-but there were so many other layers to this book, it’s hard to simply say one thing was my favorite. I have to mention the absolutely hilarious inner monologues of Mackenna, because in all honestly she is every girls spirit animal. She was such a genuine character, and I loved how real she was. She’s been through a lot, and her walls don’t come down easy, but her enemy sure knows how to obliterate everything she’s every worked toward building up along her heart. This is a definite must read for all romance lovers, as it is truly the perfect mixture of sophistication, sexy, sweet, and sassy! – By Victoria

4 stars
This is the first book I’ve read by Maya Hughes and I really liked It!! It took me a little bit to get into this book but once I did buddy did I!! I had to know when was going to happen with Declan and Makenna! I mean you could feel the tension from them from the very beginning of the book, you were just sitting back waiting on it to blow. And buddy did it ever!! They are so perfect together and they don’t even realize it til it might be to late. Then there is all these secondary characters building their own stories on the side that you know are going to get their own books and you just can’t wait to read them and in them hopefully see Declan and Mak and see how they are!! And just so y’all know there is hockey in this book!! You guys know that hockey player’s are sexy as all get out!!! So I recommend this book!! – By Tina

Why have I not heard of Maya Hughes !! Shameless King is book 1 in the Kngs of Rittenhouse and if this book is anything to go by this will be a great series, if you love hockey and enemies to lovers you will want to read this book.
Makenna and Declan crossed paths in high school and both were happy to never cross paths again but fate stepped in and once again these two need to work together. Delclan may be the King on the ice but Makenna was the Ice Queen never letting anyone get close and never afraid to call it as it is so how will she react now Declan needs her help in fact his career could be over if Makenna can’t put the past behind them……
I’m a sucker for sports romance and enemies to lovers so I was always going to jump at the chance to read this book and I as not disappointed, the characters had depth and the storyline kept me turning the pages. Looking forward to more from this author and the next book in the Kings of Rittenhouse.

Steamy
Is there anything hotter than a couple that hates each other coming together in a burst of flames? Bookish Mak and hot hockey player Declan heat up the pages when they finally give in to their attraction!

Shameless King is the first book in Maya Hughes’s Kings of Rittenhouse series, which centers around a tight-knit group of hockey-playing friends meeting their matches.

Declan McAvoy and Makenna Halstead can’t stand one another. Always have, always will – or at least that’s what they think. Having witnessed Declan’s arrogant attitude and tendency towards laziness first hand whilst attending the expensive and elite high school known as Rittenhouse Prep, Mac knows not to expect much when partnered with the hockey god in the Sophomore Seminar class she’s being forced to take after transferring from Stanford her senior year of college. Likewise, Declan knows that prissy, uptight Makenna is just waiting for him to fail and confirm that he falls into the ‘dumb jock’ category. But what starts as a reluctant partnership between the two for the sake of Makenna’s med school eligibility and Declan’s future as a professional hockey player turns into much more. As their relationship progresses, Declan and Makenna begin to realize that not everything is as it might first appear. In fact, it’s not at all what it appears to be.

Shameless King was a wonderful enemies to lovers romance chock full of sizzling chemistry, steamy sex scenes, and enchanting characters. Makenna and Declan are arguably as different as can be and suffer from their own heartaches and responsibilities but it’s clear that they belong together. Mak is headstrong and determined, but entirely too hard on herself. Declan in a hard worker and a touch irresponsible in the beginning, but he cares. He pushes Mak to do what’s right for her but accepts her need to excel. In turn, Makenna forces him to realize his full potential. It was refreshing to see a male main character who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable or put everything on the line to get the girl.

I loved Declan and Makenna’s journey and their love story was beautiful. I greatly enjoyed watching them find love and happiness.