Declaration
Rachael Wade
Series: Preservation, #3
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, rock star romance, Romance
Featuring characters from Love and Relativity.Carter Montgomery spent most of his life blending in, and he liked it that way. It was always better to be seen, not heard. And while a theatric streak and friendly demeanor might have fooled most people, he knew the truth—he was the shy one. The quiet kid most people forgot about. Some might have considered that a bad thing, but those people all wanted to be in the spotlight.The only place Carter didn’t mind attention was on stage, with The Hellions. Once content in his comfort zone in Seattle, Washington, he only knew three things: confrontation was to be avoided, keeping the peace was priority, and the moment he lost Kate Parker to Professor Ryan Campbell, he had no clue what to do with his life. Playing gigs, working at Pike Place Market, and watching BBC after the love of his life sailed off into the sunset just wasn’t going to cut it anymore.Desperate to escape his rut, he takes a cue from Kate and chooses a random place to relocate—a small island across the country, where no one knows his name and memories of unrequited love aren’t found at every turn. Just when he thinks he’s found the perfect place to unwind and sink back into the shadows, in bursts Whitney Sinclair, a saucy firecracker who loves life and refuses to settle for second best. Full of contagious energy, she dares him to be brave, convincing him that it might finally be time to tell the world what he wants.
It might be time to make a declaration.
Have you ever felt something for your best friend? Ever fall in love with a friend and you’re up close and personal to watching this friend fall in love with another? This book tells Carter’s side, on how he dealt with the humiliation and his broken heart after he watches his best friend, and love of his life, fall in love with another.
It’s a story about how I found myself again, and the girl responsible for helping light the way. -Carter
Declaration begins with Carter leaving his friends, school, and music ambitions in Seattle and moving to an island off the coast of Florida. He decides he needs a new start so he can come to terms with the idea of his best friend marrying a man who is not him and who, he feels, doesn’t deserve her. While living in this new town, he meets and comes to be a part of a small group of friends. Within this group, Carter meets Whitney and a new type of friendship begins to form between these two engaging characters.
Uncertain of trusting another man, Whitney is a self-declared serial dater who hides her true feelings in the hope of never getting hurt again. A spark and strong attraction emerge between Carter and Whitney, and I loved how much Carter’s confidence and acceptance grows with Whitney’s presence. Whitney is refreshing and a strong female presence in Carter’s life. I enjoyed her spark, her spirit, and her spunk. (And I think I fell a little bit in love with her too!)
Did this girl just mention Red Hot Chili Peppers, drinking, and cleaning floors all in the same sentence? Because I think I just fell in love a little, if she did. Crazy and weird was my favorite combination.
Declaration tells a story about accepting who you are and taking a chance to come to terms with feelings and thoughts that are hidden below the surface. I love how so many characters are set free and are able to move on once their declarations are made. Carter is a refreshing leading male character. He’s not an alpha-male like Ryan (from books 1 &2), but has a bit more spunk than the all American boy next door. I loved his romantic side and his many declarations in this story.
“…I mean, I knew I needed something…something to feel alive, to feel like I was moving forward with something good in my life. But you, you came along and hit me with a fucking jolt. Like lightning. I’m here to tell you that I’m a new man because of you-I’d like to think a better one.” –Carter
From Kate and Carter’s face-to-face declarations on friendship and love, and Whitney’s insight and realization of her own feelings, to Jackson declaring and marking his territory to reclaim Emma as his own, this story is a quite enjoyable read.
Declaration is an engaging story about acceptance, confidence, and love. I really liked getting the chance to see how Carter and Whitney’s love story evolved through a series of their own, and the other characters’, declarations.
3.5 engaging stars! I look forward to reading more by Rachael Wade.
About Rachael Wade
Rachael Wade is the Amazon bestselling author of The Preservation Series, The Resistance Trilogy, and the upcoming sci-fi series, The Keepers Trilogy. When she’s not writing, she’s busy learning French, watching too many movies, and learning how to protect animals and the environment. Visit her at www.RachaelWade.com and www.LightsOnOutreach.com, or come chat with her on Twitter via @RachaelWade
Giselle
Great review, Kristi! I have already heard a ton about Carter he sounds like a great MC and I love male POVs in general! Glad you liked it!
Giselle recently posted…Review: She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
Author Rachael Wade
Thanks so much for being a part of the tour, Kristi!
Much love,
Rachael
xo
Kristi
Looking forward to more