Ruthless King (Kings of Rittenhouse)

maya hughes just knows how to write romance, I am hooked on her books especially in audio , the narrators chosen are perfect , I love second chance romances and this one was one of the best I can not recommend it enough, they can be listened to separately but definitely liaten to all , you won't be disappointed

I picked this book due to a one liner taken from it posted to social media! I wasn't sure what to expect but oh my, the book kept me hooked from the very first page! Emmett and Avery met at school and even though they were worlds apart socially they connected in a huge way. Splitting up due to secrets kept them apart. A summer holiday puts them back together and the chemistry is off the charts! This was the first book by Maya I've read but it definitely won't be the last! A great read

This was an interesting read I liked the main leads they had great chemistry and I enjoyed this second chance romance

4.5 Stars!Ruthless King is a second chance romance and the third book in the Kings of Rittenhouse series and a perfect return to the world of the Kings. The series is about five guys who played for the same hockey team in high school, but who all find their HEA when they go off to college and the NHL. I love these boys, their strong bond, and the women who will become their queens.Emmett and Avery were high hood sweethearts, in the flashbacks to the boy’s days at Rittenhouse Prep school, they are very much in love and Emmett’s ready to commit to Avery forever. They’re from different backgrounds, Emmett’s family is rich and entitled, although he’s not like them, and Avery raises her younger sister, and has an alcoholic father. Until one night, it appears like Avery was unfaithful and she leaves him.Years later, Emmett’s an NHL player and can’t keep a relationship for longer than three months, still heartbroken after Avery’s betrayal. He keeps his memories of her, going back to their good times in his dark moments. Since losing Avery’s love and thanks to how his parents handle things, he still thinks he has to throw money at his friends to keep them around, not believing he brings anything to the group other than a cash flow. The summer after Heath and Declan graduate, the group rent a beach house and Mak, who’s still friends with Avery invites her on the trip, believing Emmett won’t be there. When Emmett arrives last minute, the tension within the group blows up and all the past hurt rises to the surface, causing Emmett and Avery to finally hash out everything that happened back in high school. Secrets are revealed and pasts are explained, showing Emmett and Avery never lost their intense chemistry and when they reacquaint themselves, it’s so hot! But Avery is still keeping things from Emmett, trying to get her sister through college, help with her dad’s recovery and also achieve her own dreams of owning a bakery. Can Emmett finally trust Avery again when everything is exposed or were they truly never meant to be?Emmett and Avery were such a great couple, once they overcame their past and learnt the truth. Emmett was such a softie, I fell in love with him as Avery did, wanting to show him how he was loved and cared for, that she didn’t need his money, but that’s all he knew growing up. Avery was always his safe space so when she left him, it changed him, and he lost that unconditional love from someone other than his friends. I felt for him when he begins to question everything, I think that was incredibly relatable after everything that happened. But the way he made up for it was the best, such a swoon worthy moment, showing Avery he’d never stopped loving her. Avery’s always put others before her, her sister, her father, Emmett’s own dreams. I wanted her so badly to achieve her own and finally reunite with her one true love and explain everything. But her need to protect those she loved was so strong, I thought for one moment it wouldn’t happen. Her love for Emmett never dimmed, she just hid it so as to try and survive. As a couple they were so hot, I love second chance romances because the couple knew each other so deeply already, it’s like coming home for them and watching them reveal their feelings was incredible.Once again, the secondary characters contributed greatly to the story, giving little insights as to their own personalities and indications as to who they might end up with. After that ending, I am so ready for my man Ford’s story, it’s bound to be amazing! I’ve loved all these boys and their HEA so far, can’t wait for the next book in this series!Overall, a great second chance sports romance which continues this series perfectly!

This book. Wow! This book hit me right in the feels.I was hooked from the very first page and even when I wasn’t reading - which I did at any and every opportunity - I was thinking about it. Thinking about Emmett and Avery and worrying over them. Would they ever get their happily ever after?Ruthless King is a new adult romance. The characters are all in their early 20s. This isn’t usually my kind of book as I feel like I wouldn’t connect with characters in such a different stage of life to my own. I’m so, so glad I didn’t let that mentality stop me from reading this book because it was such an enjoyable book with characters that I not only rooted for, but keenly felt for and believed in.This is the first Kings of Rittenhouse novel that I’ve read - it’s number 3 in the series so far - other than the free prequel story, The Kings of Rittenhouse. Each is a standalone but there’s heavy character crossover. The books centre around 5 guys who were all part of the ice-hockey team at Rittenhouse Prep - a (very posh) private school in Philadelphia. They remain friends after school - many going on to play hockey professionally - and are all, including the girlfriends, very much a part of this book. At first it was a little confusing trying to figure out who’s who and what their relationships were to each other - but I got there quite quickly. And the book is richer for this supporting cast. I loved seeing the relationships between these guys (and girls) and how they interacted. Definite friendship goals right there.But onto Emmett and Avery. Wow - the emotional rollercoaster that these two put me on was intense. I’ve always love a second-chance romance as well as an enemies-to-lovers romance and this deftly intertwines the two with the tale of Emmett and Avery - high school sweethearts whose young love turned to hate due to meddling and misunderstandings.Avery is a well-rounded character. A girl who had to grow up fast and take control over her life and the life of her family. Coming from a poor-as-dirt background, you feel her conflicting emotions as she first falls for her prince charming, then loses him, then finds him again. The things that Avery has to deal with made me admire her immensely.But it was Emmett that I completely and utterly fell in love with. He did everything fiercely and with his full heart and soul. He wanted so badly to hate Avery but he just couldn’t deny his ultimate feelings. Seeing him fall apart and be so vulnerable with his emotions had me welling up right along with him. If anyone deserved his happily ever after, it was him.Together - I loved the pair. They rubbed sparks off each other - both physically and emotionally. There were quite a few sex scenes - they hadn’t been together for 4 years and had some catching up to do! - but it was the more domestic scenes that really showed me they were made for each other.I think the best compliment I can give about Ms Hughes’ writing is that I didn’t even notice it. I was too busy devouring the story - meaning that it flowed so well, so instantly, that it swept me away. Can you ask for anything better than a story that you can get really lost in?If I have one teensy weensy sort of complaint - it’s that I just wish the revelation - and subsequent fallout - about the parents was drawn out a bit more. I felt Emmett’s revelation came quite quickly afterwards. But perhaps he’d just matured and now knew what he really wanted.This book really sucked me in and I couldn’t stop thinking about the story and the characters even after the story was done. I’ve just gone back and ordered the first in the series (Shameless King) and after that one’s done I will start on Reckless King. I’m also waiting patiently for Ford and Olivia’s story which hopefully will be coming next. Even if a new adult romance isn’t usually your thing, I urge you to give this a try. It’s got everything you need if you love romance - second chances, betrayal, forgiveness and true love. A well-deserved 5 stars from me.