A review by daniela_endless_tbr
Declan by Cala Riley

dark medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/6.
🌶🌶/5.

I loved this couple! This was the couple I was looking forward to since we got a glimpse of what Declan & Nikita's interactions were like when she moved in next door. I also love a prickly fmc but that can also annoy me depending on how long she stays that way and I'm happy to say that didn't happen with this story. Cala Riley has been hitting their stride with these latest books imo and I can't wait to read Kado.

Nikita has an excuse for a father and she gets sent to Haruaki to be "kept" and to do with her as he wish so he puts her in the same building as Declan and his job was to keep tabs on her until she could be trusted. Suffice to say the first time Nikita & Declan met, there was a sort of hostile banter. Nikita has a very dark view on men but especially the ones that are supposed to love her so she presents an icy facade to the world but underneath all that, there's a girl to give love but also get love unconditionally.
I loved that about her but also how little by little she melts just a little bit at a time. First was with Emily, Callum & Autumn's daughter, and then with Declan. She had a lot to work through. Her life in Russia left her with very bad views so whenever Declan or someone would say or do something, she almost had to convince herself that they wouldn't harm her in any way. With Declan, she pushed what she thought were his boundaries to see how he would react and depending on it, if she could trust him. I loved how she flourished under everyone's care but especially Declan's.
I loved her and I hope we get glimpses of them later on!

Declan was a gentleman from the very beginning, at least since he married Nikita and it was paramount that he wouldn't do anything to her unless she wanted to. Suffice to say, he had too much patience. 🤭
His wife was trying so hard to get his attention and he just thought she wanted him to have a baby. I loved seeing Nikita going into research mode in order to know how to seduce a man. It was adorable but also a bit maddening when Declan would just disappear because otherwise he wouldn't control himself around her.
I loved that once it was clear to Declan that his wife desired him for him, he went all in and started wooing her. Took her on dates, got to know her more and saw what was underneath her armor and he just fell more in love with the beautiful woman that was his wifey and it was beautiful to see. 🥰

I loved the friendship she formed with the other ladies. Once Nikita was married, she was an O'Brien therefore she was family and the women in the family have each other's backs.
Tristano, Declan's BFF, is one of the highlights in the story. He is so endearing and I loved seeing from others pov's how much he cared about Declan and vice versa. They are bromance goals!

I very much like the turns of events and Nikita taking matters into her own hands. Loved to see it.
We can almost see an end to the overarching theme of the series and I can't wait to see all of it unfold.

* I read an arc of this book. *