Review: The Second We Met by Maya Hughes

THE SECOND WE MET
Series: Fulton U #2
Genre: New Adult, Sports Romance
Author:
Maya Hughes
Release Date:
October 17, 2019

Dear Jerk Across the Street, sorry for accidentally walking in on you and catching an eyeful of your—equipment. And hard pass on the open invitation to join you in the shower “anytime”, A-hole.

That’s the note I should’ve written. Instead I sent a pleasant and apologetic version.

Had I known Phoenix “Nix” Russo would’ve been the neighbor from hell, I’d have told him right where he could shove my words.

Nix is the big man on campus with everyone lined up at his games to make sure he knows it. Sure, he’s got piercing blue eyes, abs that don’t quit and a smile that could set fire to a set of panties from a hundred yards away, but he’s also the biggest pain in my ass.

Dear Pink-Haired Menace, learn how to take a joke and stop being such a kill-joy…

Elle Masterson called the cops on one of my parties—again. My sweet talking usually gets me out of trouble, but this time it got me into a nice pair of silver handcuffs. Now I’m on a reputation rehab tour with a stop at a spring break community service project.

Guess who’s my new boss?

Now we’re shoulder to shoulder, sweaty, tired and…she’s not anything like I expected. There might just be a heart under that hardass exterior. She’s invading my dreams and I can’t shake the feeling she’s the key to unlocking a piece of me that I’ve hidden away.

It’s only a matter of time until she finds out why I’m really here.

Maybe I can break through her walls and into her heart before that happens…one screw at a time.

**The Second We Met is a standalone new adult romance**

AMAZON 

READ CHAPTER ONE HERE:
https://www.mayahughes.com/blog

He was all my mistakes wrapped up into one bright, shiny package. 

I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers romance and this one checked every box for me. I was dying for Nix’s book the second he appeared as a secondary character in The Perfect First. The charming quarterback with the cocky smile was sure to hit the spot for me, and I was not wrong. What I didn’t expect was for him to be as multi-layered as he was. Nix’s entire life has revolved around his father’s demands and football. As the son of a football player, the stakes are that much higher for Nix. But while his father sees the draft as his future, Nix isn’t so sure. Sustaining multiple injuries and his recent jolt to his shoulder have made him question his future, but it’s hard to move himself off of a path that’s been set for him.

Elle is the not so nice girl next door. Their enemy status has been paved ever since she accidentally walked into the wrong house and saw Nix in all his glory. Now they have an antagonistic relationship living next door to each other and Elle constantly calling the cops on their house. What’s a girl to do when she’s trying to sleep and it’s a non stop party next door? Elle is a bit of a workaholic. When she’s not in school, she’s volunteering for numerous charities and working in order to make ends meet and get a covetous award that’s the answer to all her financial woes.

But then when Nix shoes up at her latest community project, and suddenly she’s forced to realize that she’s grossly misjudged the guy and there’s much more to him than first meets the eye. What starts as enemies, soon turns into an unlikely friendship, and then something so much more.

Elle was gun shy when it came to men after being cheated on by her two boyfriends. But her judgmental and quick to think the worst of men nature did get a tiny bit grating for me. I loved how patient and sweet Nix was with her in turn. Eventually Elle really grew on me too. I loved their sassy barbs almost as much as I loved their chemistry. And these two had a ton of chemistry. This was another fantastic addition to the series and I can’t wait for more!

Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family. 

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Review: Fearless King by Maya Hughes

FEARLESS KING
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Series: Kings of Rittenhouse  #4
Author: Maya Hughes
Release Date: May 30, 2019

My first crush. My first heartbreak. My brother’s best friend.

The butterflies in my stomach turned into full blown eagles the second our lips touched. A kiss under the stars that changed our relationship forever.

After a lifetime of wishing, I stared up into Ford’s eyes with his fingers caressing my cheek and my heart racing.

The evening ended with my heart bleeding on the ballroom floor.

He destroyed my heart two years ago…but now he wants back in my life.

This time I won’t fall under his spell. I’ll resist his sexy, scruffy beard, and panty-melting smirk.

I thought I was over him. Hell, I fully planned to wave to him through my rearview mirror…but with one text, in the middle of the night, I know I’m in over my head.

Ford: I need you.

AMAZON

Olivia was everything I wanted and everything I should’ve never dared to hope I’d have.

I’m a sucker for a good older brother’s best friend trope. Add into this a sexy hockey player that you can’t help but love and a strong heroine that you can’t help but relate to, and you’ve got yourself one delicious recipe for an enjoyable romance.

Fearless King is the story of Ford, the King’s goalie, and Olivia, his best friend’s younger sister. It’s very much a character driven story with plenty of angst and a touch of a forbidden romance to boot.

While this book is technically a standalone, I still feel like I came in with a big disadvantage having only read the previous book in this series. There’s a lot of character driven story arcs that seems to cross over throughout the series that I felt may have helped to tether me a little more to the story. As it was, I couldn’t help but feel like I was coming into this story halfway through. The true enormity of the stinted relationship he now has with Olivia’s older brother and his best friend unravels in pieces throughout the book.

The romance is very much a slow burn, and while I normally love that, it was a little too slow for me here. I wanted more romance. I felt like all the elements keeping Olivia and Ford apart began to almost overshadow the romance of the story.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still very much enjoyed the story. But I also couldn’t help but feel immensely frustrated by some of the things revolving around both Olivia and Ford’s siblings. I really hated Colm, Olivia’s brother, and his antagonistic behavior throughout the entire book. I wanted to shake him he made me so mad at times. But it also made me that much more rabid for his book which we’re getting next.

This was a wonderful read even though it wasn’t my favorite book of Maya’s, but considering I’ve loved the others I’ve read of hers, that’s not exactly a criticism. This is entirely subjective and definitely more of me than the book since it played against a few of my personal biases. I still really enjoyed the story of Ford and Olivia and I definitely can’t wait for the last book in this series.

#NewRelease & Review: The Perfect First by Maya Hughes

THE PERFECT FIRST
Series: Fulton U #1
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Maya Hughes
Release Date: April 25, 2019

“How long do you last in bed?” Those were her first words to me, swiftly followed up with, “And how big would you say you are?”

Cue the record scratching, what?!

Persephone Alexander. Math genius. Lover of blazers. The only girl I know who can make Heidi braids look sexy as hell. And she’s on a mission. Lose her virginity by the end of the semester.

I walked in on her interview session for potential candidates (who even does that?) and saw straight through her brave front. She’s got a list of Firsts to accomplish like she’s only got months to live. I’ve decided to be her guide for all her firsts except one. Someone’s got to keep her out of trouble. I have one rule, no sex. We even shook on it.

I’ll help her find the right guy for the job. Someone like her doesn’t need someone like me and my massive…baggage for her first time.

Drinking at a bar. Check.

Partying all night. Double check.

Skinny dipping. Triple check.

She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. The walls I’d put up around my heart are slowly crumbling with each touch that sets fire to my soul.

I’m the first to bend the rules. One electrifying kiss changes everything and suddenly I don’t want to be her first, I want to be her only. But her plan was written before I came onto the scene and now I’m determined to get her to re-write her future with me.

AMAZON

I’d give her the other firsts, as many as I could, because if I gave her too much, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from never wanting to stop.

Calling all New Adult Romance fans, because The Perfect First is an absolute must read. It was a swoony, quirky, steamy, funny and utterly endearing page-turner. I devoured this. I binge read it. I couldn’t put it down for even a minute.

I’ve read my fair share of New Adult romance and some of these stories are a dime a dozen. But this was not one of those stories! There was this uniqueness to this book that just resonated with me. It made it into one of those books that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

Shy virgin meets sexy college football superstar? Yes, please. But this book was so much more than that! I think what really made the story for me was Seph. On paper, she’s not a heroine that I gravitate towards. She’s a shy and totally sheltered genius. She has no friends because she has no idea how to handle social situations. She’s never so much as been exposed to them outside of school mixers with older professors and tutors. But she’s not the quirky introvert that I was expecting. Her father is a domineering tyrant that expects nothing short of extraordinary from her and it’s been a weight on her shoulders for her entire life. Being away from home and in college, she’s determined to have all of the firsts that she’s missed out on her entire life, even if she has to take an ad out for the perfect first to take her virginity.

Reece doesn’t answer her ad. He has no shortage of willing females on campus being the football superstar that he is. But when he inadvertently stumbles on Seph’s “interview session” he can’t help but be intrigued by the girl. What starts as an unlikely friendship soon begins to develop into something neither one of them were expecting.

I can’t tell you enough just how much I loved Seph’s character. There was this sweet and naive quality to her. It was so entertaining to see her grow into herself with each new experience she has with Reece. Until she finally grows into someone that stands up for what she wants. I loved watching her become more and more comfortable in her own skin. I loved the way her friendship with Reece slowly develops into that something more. I seriously couldn’t get enough of the two of them together.

The Perfect First was simply delicious! I’m talking finger-licking good sort of NA and I’m beyond excited for this brand new series. Every secondary character that’s been introduced already has my full attention and all of the grabby hands. I need LJ and Nix’s books like YESTERDAY. If you’re a fan of fun and quirky NA with plenty of steam, unique characters, and a romance that you will root for from begging to finish, The Perfect First is NOT TO BE MISSED!


Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

Author Links

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Review: Ruthless King by Maya Hughes

RUTHLESS KING
Series:
Kings of Rittenhouse #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Maya Hughes
Release Date: January 10, 2019

A STANDALONE second chance, enemies to lovers romance.

My dick 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 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…

AMAZON

I never stopped loving you. Even when I hated you with all of my being, even when I hated myself for it and wished I could carve my heart out of my chest, I still loved you.”

The second I read the blurb to this book, I knew this would be my first Maya Hughes read. I’m a sucker for a good second-chance romance, and this one checked all of my boxes.

Avery Davis had dismantled me and left me as a shell. Even knowing the pain she’d caused, every night I closed my eyes, it was her I dreamed about.

I dove into this book without having read the previous two in this series, and while I had absolutely no problem enjoying it as a standalone, I’ll definitely be reading the other books if only because I’m intrigued by the characters and loved the author’s writing style.

As for this book? It was a mildly angsty read with plenty of feels that I fell in love with from the very first pages.

Emmett and Avery were high school sweethearts. They were everything to each other, and even though they were young, their love was one that should have been a forever kind. The reader doesn’t know what happened to rip them apart, but you know it was enough to plant a seed of resentment into Emmett that even years later he can’t get over.

When fate and circumstance throws them together once more, they are forced to acknowledge everything that happened between them, though it’s certainly not a smooth road. I’m not typically a fan of the continuous misunderstanding plot device in my books, but it actually worked here. I understood why Avery was hesitant to shed light on everything that happened in high school. And while I wanted to smack Emmett for his reaction to the bumps on their path to a HEA, I also couldn’t help understanding him either. These characters are both flawed in their own way, but in a very endearing way. Avery is extremely loyal to her family and I loved her fierce protectiveness and care for her sister. I understood why she did what she did.

Emmett, while being a successful pro-hockey player and having his pick of any woman he wants, is like a lost boy when it comes to Avery. She was the only woman he ever loved and he never got over her breaking his heart. I loved this vulnerable side to him.

I really enjoyed the secondary characters and the pacing of this book. I wished there was a little more angst beyond the constant misunderstanding between Emmett and Avery, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Maya Hughes is a new to me author that is now going straight to my auto-buy list and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Ruthless King by Maya Hughes

Ruthless King
Series: 
Kings of Rittenhouse #3
Author: Maya Hughes
Genre: New Adult Romance
Cover Design: Najla Qamber, Qamber Designs
Release Date: January 10, 2019

My dick 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 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…

READ THE FREE PREQUEL TODAY!

http://bit.ly/KingsofRittenhousePrequel

Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

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