- Title: Ruthless Titan
- Author: E.V. Olsen
- Series: North Shore Titans Hockey
- Genre: Hurt/Comfort; Hockey Romance
- Relationship: MM
- Rating: 4 Hearts
- Publisher: Independent
- Tropes: Fake Marriage, Forced Proximity, Virgin MC, Found Family, Trauma, Broken Boys, Possessive MC, Touch Him & Die, Bi-Awakening, Teammates
- Heat Level: 3 Flames
- Audio Available: Yes
Blurb:
I never imagined the ruthless Titan would choose me as his rebellion, or that I’d become his shield.
Hockey was supposed to be my ticket to stability, earning me a scholarship for an education I could never have afforded on my own.
Until Connor Walsh, the ruthless star of the Crestwood hockey team and my captain, corners me with an ultimatum that changes everything.
Marry him, or watch my scholarship—and my entire future—disappear.
It’s blackmail, pure and simple. A calculated move in whatever twisted game he’s playing with his equally ruthless father. And I’m just a pawn he’s willing to sacrifice.
Now I’m trapped in their war, shielding the one person who should be my enemy and learning all over again that safety is just another thing people like me don’t get.
I keep telling myself to hold back, that getting close only leads to hurt. But every day I spend with Connor pulls me in a little more.
And falling for my husband is worse than anything the ruthless titan can threaten me with.
Because love—family—well, they never last.
Review:
A quick note – I would not consider this a standalone. While they are all about different couples, there are events and information that are pulled in from the other books in this series. You could skip over those details I guess, but it makes it harder to connect to the characters if you don’t know their backstory and what they’ve been through together. Also these books require you to suspend your disbelief a bit. They’re a little OTT, but I think they’re fun.
Ruthless Titan is book six in this series. I have read them all, and while it’s not my favorite, I enjoyed it nonetheless. The previous one was my favorite, but it’s a stepbrother book, so …. ’nuff said. It’s one of my favorite tropes. But, if you’re a fan of broken boys in your books like me, there’s no shortage in this one. Both of these boys are broken, but in different ways by different things. Connor by his family, and Ryan by his lack of one. They are the greatest thing that could happen to each other, it just takes them a minute to figure that out.
It’s apparent early on that Ryan has been through something terrible. His prized possession, virtually the only thing he has left of his family is a teddy bear from when he was a child given to him by his mother. He is probably the most broken character in this series so far, and also a gentle giant.
They’re gone, and I’m still here, still breathing when all I ever wanted was to stop.
Ryan continues to work on securing his place on the Titans, and improving his game but Connor and his scheming threatens that.
I was raised to be ruthless, to take what I want, to use every tool, every advantage to see weakness as opportunity and kindness as stupidity.
These two…. So. Much. Baggage. They shouldn’t work, but somehow, they do. Connor brings out Ryan’s strength, and Ryan softens Connors hard edges. Seeing the two of them grow closer was the best part of the book. Connor becomes very protective of him, much to his chagrin.
… him breaking down over my touch made me want to kill someone.
I started this on my kindle, but the audio came out while I was reading and my time to physically read lately has been minimal. So, the audios in this series have been really good. The narrators in this one were Joe Arden, and Anthony Palmini. If any of this sounds appealing, I recommend giving this series a shot. The brotherhood that these boys have developed amongst themselves is a ride or die loyalty that grows with each book when they’re partners become part of the family. It’s chaos at its finest. lol. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
This series is comprised of both novellas and full length books; they have grown in length as the series goes on.
This title is part of the KU library and is free with membership.
Purchase links: Author’s Website | Amazon Series Page
