A deliciously steamy enemies with benefits romance.Declan McAvoy. Voted Biggest Flirt. Highest goal scorer in Kings of Rittenhouse Prep history. Everyone’s impressed, well except one person… you least expect it. She hasn’t just returned to my life, she crashed into it like a wrecking ball…into my college kingdom, into my class, and smack dab into the seat next to mine. My new lab partner to be exact.
For years we hated each other… I may be King on the ice, but she is the Ice Queen. She has no problem calling me out, doesn’t back down, and her piercing blue eyes have me picturing more than than just my arms wrapped around her.
Now we’re stuck with each other and there’s no getting around that fact that we have to work together. My hockey career hangs in the balance. Problem? Oh, yeah.
I can’t deny it. I want her. More than I ever thought I could want a woman. I’ve got one semester–only four months–to convince her everything she thought about me was wrong.
Will my queen let me prove to her I’m the King she can’t live without?
Only one way to find out…
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Declan and Makenna were enemies in high school who had one night that ignited something between them and when they up as seniors in the same college, the feelings resurface. Declan refers to Mak as “Books”. It drives her nuts and she has some hilarious come backs as well. The banter between them is fun. You can feel the shift in feelings as they spend more time and discover they aren’t really that different after all. If you are a hockey romance lover that loves a great enemies to lovers story, this one is for you!
Enemies to lovers in the hottest way. The first book in the Kings Of Rittenhouse Hockey Series that follows 5 friends and team members as the find their Queens. This is Declan and Mac’s story. I have to just say how much I love all these characters and am excited for each of their stories.
An enemies-to-lovers sports romance! Generally, this would not be my favorite trope, but I read the prequel novella first (Kings of Rittenhouse) and I was hooked. The story focus on Declan and Mak, starting in high school and then flashing forward to senior year of college. Along the way, the author does an excellent job of garnering interest for their friends who have their own books in the series.
My biggest complaint would be how predictable the drama is surrounding their class work. We were set up for the fall from the beginning. I kept hoping for a twist to keep it interesting, but alas.
Jason Clarke’s sexy voice is always a great listen! I can’t wait to hear the stories for the rest of the team.
All Declan wants is to get through his last year of college so that he can achieve his dream of becoming a professional hockey player so that he can do right by his mother. Makenna is a driven and serious student who has recently transferred from Stanford to the University near her parents so that she can be there for them.
Declan and Mak went to high school together and have perfected the art of driving each other crazy. When they find themselves in the same class they are dreading that they have been assigned as partners but as they work together Mak realizes there is much more to Declan than his easygoing attitude while Declan sees the whole Mak not just the serious student and the heat between them is off the charts but will one mistake destroy everything?
I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook and believe that the narrators made a great story even better.
Having read and loved Maya Hughes Fulton U series I have had The Kings of Rittenhouse series on my TBR for quite some time but I haven’t really had the time until now. So when I saw that the fifth one is releasing soon and I had a week of social distancing I figured now was my chance.
And to be honest it took me a little bit to connect with the characters. But as I am sure most of you realise this is more a fact that life is so damn distracting at the minute and I am finding it really hard to keep my mind on anything at the moment. Luckily the writing was great and I knew it was a me issue and not a book issue so I put on my headphones and locked myself away in my room for a few hours and I was hooked.
Makenna was such a high strung over achiever and if I didn’t know why she was so neurotic I would have found her really unlikable. But obviously there was a reason for how she got to where she was at and her story was just heartbreaking. It’s really weird how people deal with their same life experiences in such unique and individual ways. But it’s also what makes us human and interesting. So once I saw where Makenna’s quirks were coming from I just wanted her to relax and see the silver lining in all of the rain clouds.
Declan was the perfect compliment. He came across as this super slacker who just coasted by, but he was being pushed on by his own demons. And I liked that he realised that his demons were his own creation when he saw them next to Makenna’s. But I really loved that he took the time to see under Makenna’s crusty exterior and once he did he was infatuated with her. Because she really needed him to drag her out of her cocoon.
Together these two were a great compliment of each other and I really loved the introduction to the Kings. I am so glad that they are all on KU and I can’t wait to binge them over the next few days.
Mak and Declan have a tense past – the seemingly carefree hockey player has grated on studious Mak’s nerves since high school. They went their separate ways after graduation, but senior year of college is about to bring them right back together and ready to clash.
Mak is intent on going to medical school and reaching her life long dream – family business has brought her back to her home city, but she isn’t about to let that get in the way of her plans. That is, until a required seminar puts her in the hot seat with Declan and her future hangs in the balance. Declan isn’t a total idiot – but between hockey, helping his mom, and some personal demons he’s had a lot on his plate. He’s determined to not let Makenna down and for her to finally see him as more than a dumb jock.
They’re both shocked to unravel the others secret side. Mak isn’t just smart and a perfectionist – she’s also got some deep seated insecurities about her own worth. Declan is more than a fantastic athlete – he’s got a hidden soft side and is surprisingly selfless. Learning to overcome their differences and their own personal demons is messy business but it’s one they can only accomplish together. I loved seeing them grow and discover more about themselves and each other – and as they learned to challenge their insecurities, they loved each other more brightly than ever!
Declan is the guy…you know what I mean. He’s hot. He’s a “King” among jocks. He is sought after by puck bunnies and a good time for all EXCEPT Mak. No, Declan and Mak are a lethal combination.
A misunderstanding, uncalled for judgemental behavior, and pride prevents these two from finding out just how magnificent they could be.
A return to the roost has Mak in close proximity to her longtime rival. Too bad she had no idea he could score so well! Enemies to partners on a school project tilts the axis their world used to spin on.
New light, less judgement, and that darn proximity give them something they never realized they needed. Each other!
Join the Kings in celebrating or do it for Mak’s uptight…self. Just know you won’t be able to walk away from the Kings that easy. They will definitely have you signing up for season tickets!
After reading the prequel Kings of Rittenhouse, I was looking forward to Declan and Makenna’s story. The prequel showed that while things could look perfect on the outside, there were actually a lot of hidden layers to both characters. It’s the perfect setup to Shameless King.
Back in high school, Declan and Mak never got along except for one dance they shared at prom. Now they find themselves as partners for class and they still love to hate each other. As they start spending more time together, they realize that things are not always what they seem and that they have a lot in common. When they let their guards down, the sparks fly.
Mak was so guarded, but I was really rooting for her to break out of her shell. Mak’s anxiety was painful to watch but it was understandable given her past. When she finally breaks, I could feel her pain.
Declan showed that underneath all of his arrogance, there was a caring heart. Once he began to see another side of Mak, he was all in. I loved that and I loved that he called her Books. They were both a calming source for the other.
I loved the banter between these two. It was fiery and fun. Also their chemistry was FIRE. I was holding my breath waiting for that first kiss.
This was a great enemies to lover’s sports romance. I love a good story that makes you laugh, smile, breaks your heart and then puts it back together again. Shameless King does all of that!!
After reading Maya Hughes Fulton University series I was excited to check out the Kings of Rittenhouse books.
Declan and Makenna do not like each other. After high school they went their separate ways, but Makenna has transferred to a college close to home. A college that Declan attends and plays hockey for. It isn’t long before they run into each other and sparks start to fly.
I thought the author did a nice job with showing how Declan and Makenna have very different personalities but complement each other well. It wasn’t a stretch at all to see these two falling in love. Especially as they began to open up about their life experiences and realized they had a number of misconceptions about each other.
The story also introduced – if you have not read the prequel already – the other Kings of Rittenhouse whose stories I am looking forward to. This series is shaping up to be a great one!
I thought this enemies to lovers romance was sinfully delicious. This well crafted read quickly pulls you in and has you completely captivated by Declan and Makenna’s evolving relationship. Tension and emotion flow freely throughout the pages of this book as do lots of clever banter and sizzling sparks. Whether these two are engaged in verbal clashes or kissing each other passionately you can expect to really be feeling the heat as their story unfolds. A stellar cast of secondary characters present many intriguing opportunities for future entries in this series. In my opinion this was just a great all around read that showcased wonderful characters, had an engaging story and delivered all “The Feels” you could want. I loved the narration on this book. I thought the narrators did an amazing job in bringing the book to life and really I felt that their voices really matched the characters.
I absolutely adore Maya Hughes but I’ve missed out on the Kings of Rittenhouse series, until now! Shameless King was fun, sexy and steamy and I loved it!!
Makenna and Declan meet in high school aren’t quite friends yet they are not quite enemies either. After high school, they each go their separate ways only to find each other a few years later in the same college hell, even the same class! Makenna and Declan are two polar opposites yet there’s an intense attraction between them it just can’t be ignored.
I fell head over heels for Makenna and Declan. There was such amazing chemistry between the two and they both fought it as much as they could. When they FINALLY gave in…WOW!! This enemies to lovers sports romance had it all. Jason Clarke and Emma Wilder were fantastic in the audio version of this story!
Declan and Makenna left high school hating each other. Three years later they meet back up in college of their senior year. Mak wants to stay far away from Declan, but she ends up being his partner in a class. As they argue the next moment they are kissing and to find out that they were both attracted to each other. They start getting closer and closer but they both have issues. Will there issues pull them apart? Great characters and storyline. Highly recommended. Great book
This was my first Maya Hughes’s book, and won’t be my last. Shameless King is the first book in the Kings of Rittenhouse Series. I love the cover. This is a great college/sports romance, and enemies to lovers. The story is well written, fun, fast-paced, sweet, sexy, and emotional. Declan and Makenna are great characters, and they share a sizzling chemistry. Makenna is a beautiful woman, independent, hard worker, serious, caring, and supporting. Her past is heartbreaking, and at some point she makes me cry! Declan, a hockey player, is handsome, caring, and supportive. The supporting characters are great, and I would love to know more about them. Jason Clarke and Emma Wilder did a great job with the narration. I love their voices together. Looking forward to listen to the next book in the Series. If you like college romance/sport romance, this one if for you! I highly recommend it.
3.5 stars
I did enjoy reading this book . Mak and Declan were great characters to get to know and love and I enjoyed the world maya created . I even liked the supporting characters mostly being Declan’s hockey team, and some glimpses of makes friends including Avery – and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books .
Shameless king is an enemies to lovers type sports romance, that I found was a light and easy to read book.
Shameless King is the first book in the Kings of Rittenhouse Series by Maya Hughes.
“The drills were meditation. Out here, under the pads and jersey, the world faded away and there was nothing but the brotherhood between me and my teammates. This was my home turf, and the guys had my back.”
This book was filled with raw romance and passion between Declan and Makenna. The chemistry between these two were top notch. The banter was swooning and gripping. These two will have you craving their interactions and connection. This was a sports romance in college.
“I wasn’t going to let her forget how I made her feel. Because she made me forget anything else existed when we were together. I’d stop at nothing short of giving her everything she needed and more.”
We meet Declan and Makenna in the Kings of Rittenhouse novella where we were introduced to them as two people with a strong chemistry yet their banter was on the edged of “enemies.”
“I’d entered a different plane where a guy like Declan stood waiting for me outside work like an 80’s movie version of a prince.”
Makenna Halstead is the perfect, valedictorian worthy student. She has absolutely no time for anything besides school as her goal in the future is to become a doctor. Her take no-nonsense attitude to everything else has her dubbed as the “Ice Queen.”
“Watching her come apart was my favorite sight in the world. I’d rather watch her than hockey. I roared out her name and followed her.”
Declan McAvoy is the star hockey player that can make it in NHL and being the highest goal scorer in history has him dubbed as the King on the ice. He is confident and was voted Biggest Flirt in high school. Little do people know that, Declan actually works hard for everything that he has. His determination and drive is top notch that will surely work out for him for his future.
“I hadn’t planned on him at all, but sometimes life had a way of interfering with the best laid plans.”
After a couple years, their paths crossed again. They find themselves partners for a class so they are forced to interact and get to know each other. It seems like they judged a book by its cover because they began to unravel that they actually like each other. They are opposites of each other yet their chemistry was flawless.
“She was too uptight, and apparently, I was breathing, which was enough to make her not want to be around me.”
This was addicting. And I love sports romance so much. There was so much sweetness here and steamy at the same time. The other characters like Heath, Avery, and Emmet was phenomenal too so I can’t wait for the rest of the series. Maya Hughes absolutely killed this.
“Somehow I’d gotten to the point where Declan McAvoy threatened the careful equilibrium I’d struck in my life and I didn’t know how to fix it.”
4 stars for Shameless King by Maya Hughes. This is book 1 in the Kings of Rittenhouse series. I would consider this a friends to lovers romance. Declan and Makenna/Mak have known each other for a while. They went to high school together and they did not get along. Declan was known as the king of the ice and a big flirt in high school. Mak was known as the ice queen in high school. After tragic news she has decided to transfer to the college closer to home. This just happens to be the same college as Declan, and they happen to know be lab partners. A relationship starts to develop between these two but what will happen with them. Can they get past everything that has happened? The book had all the things I love in a romance humor, drama and all the feels. Truly a great book.
“She could deny a lot, but I knew why she’d been avoiding me. We were inevitable once we saw each other. Touched each other. This wasn’t a one time thing, and I’d prove it to her.”
I’m actually a huge fan of YA and coming of age stories. Sometimes I get annoyed at them, because these are teenagers/early twenties people and they’re CRAZY! But, the experiences of this time period in life have the power to change the course of your whole life, and I’ve always enjoyed seeing characters realize them and truly come into their own.
This story began in high school with all the highs and lows that go with it. You have the “kings” of Rittenhouse Prep, and then … well, everyone else. One of these kings, Declan, seems to have the world at his feet with nothing holding him back from achieving greatness. When he comes against Makenna, they always seem to be at each other’s throats. “You push her buttons all the time. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were about five seconds from pulling her pigtails and trying to get her to chase you around the playground.” Everyone sees it, and although you get the *hint* of attraction (If I knew how long it would be until I got to hold her again, I’d have held on a bit longer), it seems that they can never get past simply hurting each other.
As time goes on, each of them experiences life, but end up back in each other’s life (completely by accident, of course!). It’s not until they’re forced to spend time in each other’s space that they begin to get past their outer appearances, which may have been a bit more deceiving than they originally thought.
Now, the one thing that always worries me regarding YA/coming of age stories is that the characters won’t be … deep. Of course you can only go so far, I mean, they do still have some development to do, but sometimes the characters fall flat. I was almost afraid of this even in beginning the story. I really didn’t want the story to just run on the vein of smart girl vs jock; jock realizes smart girl is funny & hot; jock gets girl; everyone gets HEA. This story TOTALLY DID NOT DO THAT!
I loved the depth that was given to these characters. I felt like they each had real life problems, which were not simply glossed over OR delved into too much. Their issues didn’t just disappear as soon as they acknowledged them, either. I felt like these characters really did display the maturity growth that happens in this part of life — they were immature and they acted childish, but then they began to learn.
—Also if Heath, Emmet, and Audrey don’t get a book I might die! I absolutely loved these characters!!
This was a first time read from this author, but it was fantastic and I’m totally in for reading more from this series!
When she closed her eyes and leaned into my touch, the tightness in my chest ebbed away. This was it for me. She was it for me, and the thought that I might never be able to touch her like this again had almost eaten me alive.
“You’re mine now, Books. I was playing the long game. Now you’ll never be rid of me.”
I Loved this book!!!! I am so Obsessed with this series and Declan and Mac are so Wonderful!!!! I had so much fun reading this!!! I never wanted to let Mac and Declan go. They are so HOT and their chemistry is Everything!!!! I loved that angsty hate to Love aspect of this book!!! They are more alike than either of them thinks and I was just waiting for them to open up to each other!!! I Love Declan’s cockiness and the way when he gets Mac to let go. Once he has her he never wants to let her go. I Love Mac’s determination, I love that she fights for what she wants and even if a relationship scares her she still gives it a chance. These characters definitely had my heart!!! Their problems were so real and my heart ached for Mac and loved Declan’s determination to solve his problems!!! I am so In Love with this book!!! Declan and Mac’s story is Unforgettable!!!! I’m so Happy I read this story and I definitely recommend you read it and start this AMAZING SERIES!!!
This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased, honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this book!!! I have never read this author before but will definitely pick up all future books from her. The crew in this book were so memorable. I find myself still thinking about them even after finishing the book. I cannot wait to read every single one of their stories. Please say everyone gets their own book!!!
Declan and Makenna are quite a pair. They constantly butted heads throughout High School and pushed each other’s buttons nonstop. Declan has more of a laid back style whereas Makenna, aka Mak, is anything but. Makenna wants to be the best at every single thing she does. She does have a driving force behind this desire that’s told throughout the book but I’ll keep that part a secret. I feel like Mak and Declan were both trying so hard to live up to others expectations. They were constantly trying to be the best to prove to everyone that they were worthy enough. It was so nice to read their backstories and see how their pasts came into play. I think this story did an amazing job at showing the past and present without giving me whiplash from the back and forth.
The story begins while the crew is still in High School but pretty quickly we end up in college and then in the latter years of college. This book featured a pretty slow burn romance that had me yelling at my Kindle from time to time. I am NOT one for slow burns but let me tell you, this one was done perfectly. The build up was soooo worth the wait. The author more than made up for it twenty times over. Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher close-by because this book gets hot!!!
I highly recommend this to anyone whose a fan of sports romances and a fan of slow burns. You won’t regret picking it up!!
A fun enemies-to-lovers story. I enjoyed that Declan and Mak both had a history together that started in high school and spanned to college. Because of that, it was fun reading how their antagonism and snarkiness grew and evolved from their original assumptions of each other to understanding, respect, and eventually love. A great start to the series.