Declan by Caitlyn O'Leary Pages: 223
Series: Shadow Alliance #1
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Goodreads
Spin-Off of Navy SEAL Midnight Delta Series
This is what you need to know. I keep the people around me safe, And sometimes I rain vengeance on my enemies. It's who I am, and what I do. As a former Army Ranger, I get the job done. After an unforgivable betrayal by one of my own, I created the Shadow Alliance. We handle the dark and dangerous work, Jobs that governments won't.
And now, the sexy, smart, and feisty Allison Davies needs my help. As an FBI Agent, enlisting my help could cost her job. But, I'm her only hope. There's only one problem. Our mutual desire just might get in the way. One misstep and we become the hunted. A price I just might be willing to pay.
Declan is a spin off of another series by O’Leary. I was a bit lost in the beginning because I had no idea who these people were, where they were, and who was Hal. So, I struggled to really get into the story because I felt disconnected from the start. I think if you have read her other series, you wouldn’t feel this way at all.
The book is told from Declan’s POV and he is an interesting narrator. Since I didn’t know exactly what had happened to him before, I struggled to grasp onto the snippets given via his dreams or conversations with others. Typical of ex-military, he harbors a great deal of guilt over a mission and this guilt drives all his current actions. He is now working as a civilian leading a team on a humanitarian/rescue mission. Allison is an FBI agent looking for a man from Declan’s past (hint: Declan is looking for him too).
I think my biggest struggle with this book was simply I never quite connected with Declan and Allison. Perhaps I will feel different after I read the previous series. Who knows! Book 1 in the original series, The Midnight Delta series, is free so you should grab that! Maybe the previous series won’t make anything clearer and I just didn’t catch the clues in the story! But, the story is well written and full of action, danger, and mystery, all of which will keep you flipping pages quickly. And, Declan is super swoony! Just check out the excerpt below!
- POV: 1st (Declan)
- Tears: no
- Trope: military
- Triggers: View Spoiler »
- Series/Standalone: series (book 1 in the spin off)
Books by Katie Reus, Susan Stoker, Sharon Hamilton, Kaylea Cross…then you will probably like Declan!
Declan
The Midnight Delta Series
From Declan:
“I want to know about you. I want to know what makes you tick. What makes you happy. I want to know about Allison Davies. Is that so wrong?”
“I guess not,” she said hesitantly.
“We read the same books. Well, I don’t read the bare-chested men books. But that one that you re-read…I might have to buy that one.” She hit me on the arm. I’d hit a nerve.
I pressed closer until her breasts were against my chest. Heavenly. Her nipples hardened. Pulling her hips close to my body, I bent to nuzzle her neck, and drink in her scent. Fuck, she smelled good. Peaches again. I didn’t even realize my hands had moved until I felt the soft flesh of her tits. Oh God, had my dick ever been this hard?
But I needed to take it slow. Whether she knew it or not, she’d just admitted that plants were too big of a commitment for her. I didn’t want to rush her into sex, not until we’d broken down a few more barriers. But there was no way I was going to deny myself another kiss.
“Declan, please.”
“I’m here, baby.” I brushed my thumb across the edge of her bangs and looked into the midnight depths of her eyes. I kissed her nose and was rewarded with a languid smile. Taking her hand, I guided her out to the living room. I sat down in the corner of the couch, and drew her onto my lap, she curled up like a kitten.
“You’re so beautiful.”
She looked down and tried to hide her face with her hair. I tucked it behind her ear and trailed kisses along her cheek. “So beautiful.”
She shook her head. I kissed the tear that formed.
“Ah, honey. You make me ache. I watch you, and I want you. Your eyes draw me in and take my breath away.”
She shook her head again, but I could tell she was listening.
“I told Conroy to buy you that blue dress so it would match your eyes.”
Her breath caught, and she looked at me.
“You were an absolute mess. Nothing but a camp bath. But when you took the dress out of the shopping bag, I couldn’t erase the vision of you wearing it. Do you know what I did?”
She shook her head, and I hesitated, but her eyes were so shy and hopeful.
“I jerked off in the shower imagining you in that dress, Allie.”
“You did not.”
I kissed the tip of her nose. “Did too.”
She giggled.
“Can I kiss you now?”
She wound her arms around my neck. “I want to kiss you.”
I waited. Her mouth parted, and she licked her plump lips. Jesus, I thought I might die. She pulled my head downwards, and I dove in. So soft, so perfect. And there was that electric shock again as we touched. She shivered. I stroked her long hair, and she moaned as our tongues met.
I traced her jaw, her skin was so soft and her mouth flowered open, allowing me to explore further. My hand moved to cup the back of her head and slid down to the bow that tied her dress. I hesitated.
No, Declan.
Yes, Declan.
By the time, the ‘Yes, Declan’ had been said, the bow was untied, and blue silk was drifting downwards.
She whimpered.
“Are you okay?” I whispered against her wet lips. She nodded.
“Words, baby.”
“Yes.”
My hand cupped the silky texture of her breast, so warm and soft. I rolled her nipple between my fingers.
“Ahhh.” Her head fell back against the arm of the sofa. I bent and suckled. She gripped my head. Pressing me harder against the hard tip. She whimpered again, and I looked up. Her lips were open and shiny. I needed another kiss.
I surged upwards and took her mouth and plundered. My head spun. She moaned.
Oh God, this is not what I wanted for her. Not yet. I needed to slow things down because I couldn’t be trusted. I pulled away, then kissed her eyelids, and then her nose.
I tied her dress. Then because I couldn’t resist, I kissed her mouth again.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“I need more time to savor you, love. But know that this is killing me. I’ve never had a more beautiful woman in my arms.”
She rolled her eyes.
I pinched her butt.
“You listen to me and believe me when I call you beautiful. That’s the new rule.”
“Fine.” She sighed. “But if I forget, you have to kiss me.” I loved that little bit of self-confident sass.
Even though the plot doesn’t sound particularly original, this still sounds like an entertaining read. And that excerpt… whew. I definitely like the sound of Declan! 🙂
You’re right-perhaps not super original, but if you enjoy this type of plot, I think you will love it!