What I thought of Shameless King by Maya Hughes

Shameless King by Maya Hughes delivers the kind of enemies to lovers you enjoy. Declan and Mak have history, hurt feelings and they’re in a forced proximity scenario to deal with their unresolved tension. Add in college hockey and this is exactly the second chance they definitely did not ask for, and yeah, this is very much for the readers who love the Off Campus vibe.

I’m always on the lookout for the next sexy new adult hockey series and this series may just be what I was looking for. ~ Under the Covers

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

What is Shameless King about?

Shameless King by Maya Hughes follows Declan and Mak, two former almost somethings who would very much like to pretend they are over it. Unfortunately for them, college, hockey pressure, and one inconvenient lab assignment have other plans. Cue the bickering, tension, old hurt feelings, and a second chance neither of them can dodge.

I recommend you read the prequel novella, Kings of Rittenhouse, before diving into Shameless King.

Shameless King by Maya Hughes Book Review

I was ready to get my greedy paws on Declan and Mak’s story.  I’m always on the lookout for the next sexy new adult hockey series and this series may just be what I was looking for.

They’re both now in college, Mak a recent transfer after she had to come back closer to home due to her father’s health.  The last person she wants to see is the boy who broke her heart without knowing.  Declan is still very much pursuing his hockey career full force and Mak is determined to become a doctor.  And then they have to work together on an assignment that will be a key factor if they can continue on the path to follow those dreams.

If you are a fan of enemies to lovers, then you will enjoy this one.  There’s lots of bickering and arguing but you can easily tell it stems from sexual tension more so than real animosity the whole time.  I loved that about it.  Like waiting for them to explode and do what they really wanted all along.  This took years in the making but they finally got a second chance at exploring their feelings and I love stories like that.  I also really enjoyed that Declan isn’t a manwhore and I hope that we get to see more of that throughout the series.

I think the reading experience was probably better after having read the prequel and then diving into book 1.  I already had a better understanding for the characters before I got to know their new older selves.  And it’s a short one, so I recommend you try it in order.

While I really enjoyed this book, I also loved the continuing setup for Emmett and Avery’s story.  I cannot wait to get my hands on that one!  If you’ve enjoyed the Off Campus, Gridiron or Game On series then you’ll want to put this one on your TBR for sure.

On a totally unrelated side note, there was a strong inclination to pick up this series because of the series title Rittenhouse.  As a fan of the show Timeless I was all over that!

About the Kings of Rittenhouse series

The Kings of Rittenhouse series by Maya Hughes follows a group of college hockey players through their own messy, romantic stories. Shameless King by Maya Hughes is the first full book, and there is also a short prequel that gives more backstory for Declan and Mak before everything really kicks off.

Final Thoughts

Declan and Mak are not quietly pining in the corner. They are snapping at each other, pushing buttons, pretending they are fine, and absolutely not fooling anyone. I love a romance where the chemistry is undeniable before either character is ready to admit it. This also sets up the rest of the Kings of Rittenhouse world in a way that makes it really easy to get into the next hockey boy. 

If you want the best experience, I recommend you start with the prequel. Check out my review of Kings of Rittenhouse by Maya Hughes. And go straight to my review of book 2, Reckless King by Maya Hughes.

Pin this for later