My sister’s best friend has always taken my breath away… Declan Tennyson At twenty-two most guys my age are living it up. Swiping left and right, trying to find what’s good for the night, instead of what’s good for life. Me? I have one of the best examples to follow. Trick and Hadley Tennyson are still in love twenty-plus-years on, and dad is looking to slow down. Which means I have a decision to make. Take the shop, or make my own way. I thought I had it all worked out, until a single-mom with brunette hair, blue eyes, and the cutest son ever needed my help on a freezing, snowy night. Claudia Wilson Declan Tennyson was always cute and annoying. My best friend’s little brother could always be counted on to be underfoot, or secretly listening to our girl talk. But the last three years? He grew into a man without me noticing. Being a single-mom is harder than I ever expected it to be, and I haven’t had time to notice anything. Not until the night Declan saved us in the snow, and if I’m not careful, he’s gonna end up saving me from myself.
Declan is exactly how I expected him to be. Confident like his dad, full of swag and has a heart so big it gives the sky a run for its money.
To say that this book pulls at the heart strings in an understatement. When I started this book I read the first chapter 4 times because I knew Claudia was going to break Declan’s heart. Laramie has a tendency for making the hero work for the heroines love which I adore but in situations like this where you want a happy ending for all parties involved because he’s Trick’s son is hard.
But as always the quote that takes me away…
“I don’t wanna make promises I can’t keep, because we don’t know how things will end up. None of us do, and we don’t know the future, but I can promise you I will never do anything to purposely make you think less of me. I want to be a part of his life, be a part of your life. I know the two of you are a packaged deal, okay?” She nods. “That’s the nicest thing anybody’s ever said to me.” “I’m glad, but, sweet girl, that’s fuckin’ sad. You deserve the world, and I’m gonna give it to you.”-83
I am not ashamed to admit I spent the first 70% of this book disliking Claudia and begging Declan to tell her about herself but as a single mother I understand Claudia’s pain. I had a child with a man who also wasn’t on full force for what it meant to have a child and care for said child 24/7;365.
However the way Steven, her mother and the world treated Claudia was sometimes too much to bare and I found myself crying with the characters. I now need a break from all this but I have another arc from the lovely Laramie so I’ll give that a twirl and probably sit here and cry some more. But hey what else can I do with my evening.
Single mom Claudia is Declan’s older sister's best friend. When he finds them stranded during a snow storm he doesn't hesitate to jump in and help. His crush on Claudia makes him go the extra mile. After a night together, they give a friends-with-benefits relationship a try. Declan knows he wants more and is determined to give Claudia and her young son, Jay the life they deserve.
Declan is definitely his father's son, if you haven't read Trick, you need to. Declan takes care of those he loves. He balanced his take-charge personality with respect for Claudia's need to have control and independence.
I adored Declan and Claudia's story. This read like a novella, with that said there were some things I would have liked fleshed out a little more. I wanted more and wasn't ready to end the book.
Full of heart-melting scenes, spice, and tension this fast-paced book is bingeable. This is an addicting one-sitting swoony read.
This is my first time diving into this family. So I went in blind and did not expect anything. But boy did I fall for Declan. I mean what's not to love, he's a young man who has his life in order, or so he thinks. His world turns on its head the minute his sister's BF accepts his proposal for them to be an item. But Claudia has an ex who's determined to make her life hell, and Declan is the casualty. But in the end the love they feel is too strong, to let someone else dictate how they're gonna live their life.
This was a quick and nice read. I've read it in one sitting, wanting to strangle Claudia for hurting Declan, but at the end was really happy they found their way back into each other's arms.
I loved Declan and Claudia's story!!!! Declan has always had a secret crush on his sisters older best friend but when her horrendous baby daddy leaves her in situation she starts to see that Declan is alot more then her besties brother, he’s more then her and her little boy can ever imagine!!!
I absolutely loved Declan and Claudia’s story!! Claudia is such a fierce protector of her son and she is willing to sacrifice anything for him, even her own happiness. Declan has always had a crush on Claudia and just wants to be a part of their lives. He has such an air of maturity about him and a willingness to make Claudia and her son top priority in his life. Will Claudia give Declan a chance to prove that he can be there for them?
Always a fan of Laramie Briscoe’s books and I was looking forward to the next in the series. Trick and Hadley’s son Declan, is the younger brother of Riley and has had feelings for her best friend Claudia as long as he can remember. He saves her and her son Jay, from after running off the road. When Declan saves them, he realises he wants to be in their lives, but has to convince Claudia that he is worthy. A cute story, however found the story a little rushed. I would have liked to see better closure of situation with Jay’s father and Claudia’s mother.
I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I think I waited so long for Declan’s story that this just fell a tad bit short. Declan and Claudia have major chemistry but there just seemed to be a disconnect with this story. They were together then they weren’t together then back together and then an epilogue. The ending appeared to be rushed.
It felt like the story just kept getting faster and faster as the chapters went on, which was fine, but then the drama with Steven was thrown in as a cliche, which I just didn't vibe with. I liked Declan though; he was sweet and kind. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into their lives at the end too.
Claudia is a single mother who is trying to balance college and being a single mother to her son Jay with little emotional or financial support. When she finds herself stranded on the side of the road she never expected her best friend’s younger brother to come to her rescue or how it would change their relationship.
Declan may be younger than Claudia but he has always known what he wanted and that is a life with her. He is determined to show her that she can count on him to be there for her and her son through all the challenges that life throws at them.
Declan is the perfect mix of sweet and swoony and the chemistry between them is intense as he shows her what love and family really means.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a wonderful story. I LOVE the reverse age-gap here. There are so few of them and I can't stop reading them.
Declan's older sister, Riley, has a BFF by the name of Claudia. She is a single mom to a three year. She works and also attends college to get a better paying job. That way she can move out of her mother's place and provide better for her son, Jay. Claudia gets some support from her mother (who likes to remind Claudia of her wrong choices.) But she does watch the boy on occasions.
When Declan is walking home from the bar, in a winter storm, he comes across Claudia and Jay. She ran her car into a ditch and is stuck. Declan helps her out. He has already fallen in love with Claudia years ago but knew that he probably didn't stand a chance with the beautiful woman. After only having a few people to depend on, when Jay's father fails, Claudia calls Declan for help.
This starts the connect between these two. But will things come between them. Can they overcome the age different? Will Jay's father make problems for them? Will Claudia put the brakes on the relationship as she is older than Declan?
Again, the story was a wonderful one but the last few pages felt a little rushed to me. But then it could be that I didn't want the story to be over.
This is a slightly sexy story. Not too many and not a lot of details either. It would be easy to skip those few small scenes in order to read this.
First, his character is one of the most genuine and selfless male characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading. He is a swoon-worthy, fictional manifestation of greatness. Well done!
Second, Claudia’s story mirrors so many of my friends. From the p.o.s baby-daddy to her self-deprecating thoughts because she’s literally on her own… she is so relatable! She is a well rounded character who will undoubtedly draw in readers who are rooting for her. I know she drew me in.
Third, the side character of Jocelyn offered some much needed humor and compassion for Claudia. I feel like we all have a friend who is like that and we should be lucky. Those friends are the ones who will stand up for us and tell us the truth. I may be a little biased here though about Jocelyn, lol. 💕
The cameos of Trick and Hadley were amazing. I loved having Trick open up a bit more to Declan. He’s still one of my favorite fictional BF’s.
The book was well written and well thought out. One of the joys of reading the story of an offspring of a beloved character is seeing the similarities. You can tell that Dec was raised by Trick and Hadley. That’s great writing, as Laramie had to really know her original characters so the second gen can shine too.
This is a sweet age gap romance with strong characters in Declan and Claudia. She's his older sister's best friend whom he's crushed on for years. Now he's determined to make her and her young son his. The author does a great job developing their story and painting her scenes perfectly. It's well written and is an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
If you loved Trick and Unwrap Me; you will adore this book! I can’t even begin to say how happy I was that I got to read this book. I didn’t realize before hand that it was characters I already knew. Once everything clicked into place I fell more in love with the book. I couldn’t put it down. Such a great read.
A sweet insta-love novella that makes you want to believe and root for the characters. Declan is definitely his father’s son, but it won’t matter if you haven’t read Trick’s story too!
This is the second book in this series. They can be read as standalone books though. Declan is the son of the couple from the first book. He is young but he has his stuff together. He doesn’t act like a guy his age. He helps his dad at the shop and is gearing up to take over. Claudia is his sister’s best friend. She has known him his whole life. But one night helping her and her son by the side of the road changes everything for both of them. They begin to see each other as more than friends. He helps her more than her son’s father ever did. While expecting nothing in return. Sure, he is younger than her but that doesn’t have to mean anything. Can Claudia give Declan a chance. How will her son’s father react. Sure, he doesn’t want to help with the boy but that doesn’t mean he wants anyone else to have the chance to either. This book was a fantastic read. I loved it so much. I couldn’t put it down once I started. Declan is mature for his age. He has always wanted a family. Claudia always wanted to be a mother as well. Things didn’t happen the way she wanted but she wouldn’t change anything. Declan’s family is amazing. His family is there for both of them even when things aren’t going smoothly. Dec’s mom especially knows what Claudia is going through. I would love to read more about these characters. Wonderful job once again Laramie. I can’t wait to read more books by Laramie.
Declan stole my heart from the start. He came in like a white knight, ready to fight all of Claudia’s demons. It broke his heart to know she was free falling and feeling guilty about it. He wanted to help, needed to help, in any way he could. Everyone adores Claudia, especially Declan’s family. Who have been her own family for her whole life. She doesn’t want handouts, and unfortunately, she sees asking for help as handouts. She doesn’t understand that it’s just loved ones showing their love. I adored Declan’s bond with her son. Declan has BIG feelings, and he’s honest with them. He gives Claudia the chance to hold the ball in her court, because he’ll take anything she offers him. Declan never stops reassuring her how important her and Jay are to him, to his family. That they are never alone. I absolutely loved that he didn’t wear baby gloves with her. He offered her comfort, understanding, acceptance, a shoulder, and the hard truth. And while I loved everything I just mentioned, I absolutely did NOT like anything involving her mother or her ex. It was all very icky. Especially the things involving the ex. Was it added just for shock factor? Trust me, there were enough emotions involved, I didn’t feel like that sudden intrusion so close to the end was necessary. As a single mom, I relate to Claudia in ways I won’t share here, but I will say this, I appreciate her character. And for Declan, for reminding me of my worth.
My Favorite Quotes: • “Make me feel good. I'm begging you." • “You deserve the world, and I’m gonna give it to you.” • “No matter how hard you try to hide yourself, I see you.” • “The hottest thing I’ll probably ever see is you wearing my clothes.” • “I’m carrying my dreams in these arms.” • “These stay up here, and I’ll make sure you have a damn good time.” • “Take me and show me what I’ve been missing.” • “If I thought you’d be receptive to it, I’d promise you the rest of our lives.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy 7/10 (Reverse) Age Gap 6/10 Second Chance 8/10 Single Parent 7/10 Sister’s BFF
This is book two in The Trick series and a reverse age gap and single parent romance and it is Declan and Claudia’s story and omg it is definitely a must read. Declan is kind, caring, protective person and he has some decisions to make as his mom and dad have been in love for over twenty years and now want to slow down a little so does he carry on his dad’s business or start his own path but that is something he will need to think about. Claudia is a single mom to her son Jay and her life has not been easy as she works, goes to college and has little support from anyone especially Jay’s dad who is a total deadbeat and her judgmental mom but her son is her life and she will do anything to make there lives easier. When Claudia gets her car stuck it is Declan that comes to her rescue and that start a chain reaction in there lives as he has been in love with her and always wanted to be with her so is this his chance to show her that he is there for her and Jay. The chemistry and attraction between Declan and Claudia is so strong and they really are perfect together but when things get complicated will they be able to work through it all and get the happy ending and future that they deserve especially with all the ups and downs and uncertainties surrounding them. I absolutely loved this book and my heart broke for everything that Claudia had gone through and how Declan managed to convince her that it was alright to lean on him and except help and my heart melted with how much Declan loved and supported them. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and had you turning the pages as it was so addictive and a beautiful and poignant story of history repeating itself. I definitely recommend you read this book and you will not be disappointed and I hope that we get Riley’s story sometime in the future.
Declan is the kind of book friend you can’t forget. A really good guy, with a good head on his shoulders and loyal to both family friends are just a few of his qualities. His respect for women shines through and he steps up to help when others would take a step back. The fact that he had a crush on his older sister’s best friend for years and has kept it to himself instead of making things awkward is a point in his favour. When he sees a chance to help Claudia, a devoted and financially strapped single mom, out of tight spot he does so with ease. Claudia finally sees him in a new light, not as just her friend’s younger brother. Declan is all grown up, a handsome, muscular and tattooed adult. When he makes his attraction to her known, she is flattered, intrigued and appalled. The eight year age difference bothers her, but she is also very attracted to him. But her ex, her son’s father, has taught her to be wary, to have strong guards around her heart. Giving in and dating or even just being friends with benefits could mess everything up. If things don’t work out or end badly, it isn’t just Declan and Claudia’s feelings involved. Her son’s tender heart is at stake. She also fears that her friendship with his sister and the rest of Declan’s family may be at stake too. Can he convince her to give him a chance? Will she let down the guards around her heart and let him in?
This book tugs at your heartstrings, induces sighs, groans of frustration and then smiles. Declan and Claudia do have to endure a few bumps and detours on their path to a happily ever after, but the trials make the ending so much sweeter. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My first ever read from Laramie Briscoe was the standalone Trick, and this was way back in 2017. That book became one of my favorite reads for that year, and remains my favorite novel of Briscoe's. When I learned that her next book would be about the son of the main characters from Trick, well, suffice it to say that I had a whole mix of emotions to deal with. I was intrigued and excited, but I was also rather nervous. After all, the memories I have of Trick have been good ones, and it's the book I compare all of Briscoe's other books to. Maybe that isn't necessarily fair, but hey, c'est la vie! And now, Declan is out in the proverbial wild, and while it does have somewhat of a familiar vein to it--single parent, tatted up hero--the male Tennyson of this current generation is a whole new force to be reckoned--and to fall in love--with.
Ah, Declan reminds of someone near and dear to my heart; I'm talking about his father, Patrick "Trick" Tennyson, of course! What is it with these Tennyson men that makes them just so darn captivating and irresistible?! The adage "like father, like son" totally applies to these two, what with them falling for single moms with less than stellar exes. But that doesn't mean that their stories were absolute replicas of each other. Declan was his own man, and there was no questioning just how much he loved Claudia and little Jay. The major conflict they had to face wasn't a huge surprise, but it was resolved rather quickly, which was a plus in my eyes. Now, I admit that Trick still remains my favorite Laramie Briscoe read, but Declan definitely held its own, and I enjoyed all things Tennyson. This receives four stars out of five stars.
With his dad ready to slow down and start his retirement, Declan Tennyson will have some decisions to make about whether he will take over the shop or choose something else for his future. But one evening while at a bar, and despite the freezing blizzard, Declan starts walking home. He finds his sister’s best friend, Claudia Wilson stuck in a snow bank with her young son Jay in the back seat. He helped get her out of the situation and drove her to her job at the hospital. He drove her car home, promising to pick her up in the morning when she finishes work. Claudia had always remembered Declan, who was 8 years younger than she was, as always being underfoot and hanging around. He had certainly grown up into an attractive and very kind man!
Declan picks up Claudia and Jay the next morning and stops on the way back for pancakes at Jay’s enthusiastic request. Claudia warns him about what it’s like to have a meal with a toddler. He understood as soon as Jay started playing with his food instead of eating it! So Declan puts Jay in his lap and clears his throat when Jay starts to play. Gently saying he must eat his breakfast or he won’t have it at all, Declan has no trouble with Jay, much to Claudia’s surprise. And a few days later, Claudia realized how much she missed Declan already. So when she got some free time, she offered to help her best friend Riley -- and of course Declan -- with the shop’s inventory. Although the age difference bothers Claudia, can Declan convince her that they are good together and meant to be? Will she give him a chance to prove it to her?
This beautifully written book gives us Trick and Hadley's son all grown up in to the man that Trick made him. Declan is just like his father he's determined he works hard and he's wise beyond his years. He's secretly been in love with his older sister Riley's best friend Claudia for years. When he finally gets the chance to do something about it he decides that he's ready to go after what he's always wanted. Declan is ready to step-up and be the father that Claudia's son needs he's not too young he knows what he wants and the birth father doesn't seem interested in the job. Claudia is all about her son period as a single mom she doesn't take chances that she can't afford to since she's barely getting by with the limited help from her mother and Riley helps her alot. Declan doesn't give up though he's determined to show her how good they can be together and that they can give her son a family. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this beautifully written romance to see what happens. I would definitely recommend reading this book and I'm looking forward to the next book from this talented author. I voluntarily received a review copy of this book.
Trick and Hadley’s boy Declan is all grown up in this single mother/sisters best friend read in which there’s a little drama and some spice thrown in, going towards making it an all round great read.
Single mother Claudia is best friends with Declan’s older sister, obviously he’s known her most of his life too and he’s grown up crushing on her.
The time has now come where an opportunity to pursue what he’s always wanted presents itself, despite the fact that he’s younger he’s more than ready to step up and be the partner Claudia needs as well as be a father to her young son. Claudia has her reservations to begin with but soon realises just how much Declan has become to mean to her and her son, just when she’s let him into her and her son life her wayward ex sticks his oar in, reluctant to bring trouble to Declan’s door she tell him that her son comes first and that it’s best things end between them, however Declan’s not willing to give up on Claudia, he knows there’s more behind her reasons for putting a stop to their blossoming relationship, he’s persistent and luckily for him his persistence pays off and is rewarded when he get Claudia and her boy who’s claimed his heart back.
Declan has had a crush on his older sister’s best friend since he discovered girls. Claudia is a single mom struggling with a job and school while raising her son and dealing with a judgmental mother and dead beat baby daddy.
Declan takes a chance to catch Claudia’s attention by helping her out of a jam and treating her how she should be treated.
Declan is definitely Trick’s son, falling for a single mom and loving both her and her child. Nothing is sexier than a man that can take charge and get shit done, all the while making a child eat their dinner without a meltdown and letting mom have a break.
I loved Declan and Claudia together, just wish there was a bit more of them.
Jay, Claudia’s son is just the sweetest little boy and him and Declan bond right away. They are so cute together. Declan parents that child like he was born to it. Does things Jay’s own father won’t and doesn’t seem to think are a big deal, but to Claudia are huge.
Great interactions with Trick and Hadley, Declan’s parents and Riley, Declan’s sister and Claudia’s best friend.
We get a peak into the future in the epilogue, which has a sweet moment with Declan and Jay.
Laramie is back with a brand new release and y'all, what a book this was. A reverse age gap, single mom romance that'll pick at your heart and leave you with a BIG old smile on your face. Just wait until you meet these three and their swoony, all in your feels story.
Declan gives us Declan and Claudia's story and from the beginning these two hooked me hard. I was invested in their relationship from the moment they saw each on the side of the road. I adored their bond (the three of them!), rooted for them hard on the sidelines (especially sweet, broken Claudia to find her strength), and my kindle practically sizzled from all the chemistry they poured into the pages.
When devouring this beauty, I realized I had actually missed reading Trick by Laramie somewhere along the way. I'm rectifying that asap y'all because Trick and his story have now fascinated me from what I got. I need alllllllll the answers.
OH! MY! GOODNESS!!! I cannot say how much I adore Laramie Briscoe’s newest book, Declan! First, I loved her book Trick, about Declan’s Dad…. It was awesome. I still love Trick, but for me, Declan surpasses it! He’s like Trick+! Dec is Trick & Hadley’s son (read Trick if you haven’t- shameless plug for that book), 8-years younger than his sister Riley. He works at Trick’s garage as a mechanic, and is also working at taking it, the family business, over. Claudia is a single mom to Jay, and is also Riley’s best friend, who Dec has had a thing for since forever. Dec runs into Claudia after she’s had a slight accident in then snow and is waiting for her son’s father to show to help her, and after 3 hours, he appears to be a no show. So of course Dec plays White Knight. And so it goes….
I’m going to leave it there, because if I got any furthers I will start dropping too many hints. I will just say I love seeing Trick, Hadley and Riles, and the book is completely awesome!
Declan is one of a kind. He’s young, 24, but is hard working, ambitious and level headed. He’s also kind and generous. His sister’s best friend is Claudia. She’s eight years older but Declan has had a crush on her since he was a teenager. Claudia is a single mom raising a young son. The father is deadbeat who doesn’t pay support and pays little attention to Jay. Claudia is working multiple shifts at the hospital plus taking classes to get her accounting degree. One night there’s a blizzard and Declan decides to walk home from the bar he was at. He comes upon Claudia whose car is stuck and she’s got Jay in the backseat. She was headed to work but hasn’t had any luck getting anyone to help her. Declan steps up, gets her unstuck and ends up driving her to the hospital so she can work. He promises to pick her up in the morning and one thing leads to another. Declan convinces her to give him a chance. She’s bothered by the age difference plus has no faith or trust in men. Love and patience win her over. Loved the story and loved the characters.
Declan grew up crushing on single mother Claudia who just happens to be his older sister’s best friend. When an opportunity presents itself, he finally decides it is time to pursue what he has always wanted. Declan is mature beyond his years and like his father Trick, determined. Although he is young, he is ready to be a father to Claudia’s son and a partner to her. It’s not as simple for Claudia, she has a son who comes first, she is struggling in her relationships with her mother and her son’s father and reluctant to involve him in all of that. Declan really is the star of the book. Strong minded, persistent, and unwilling to give up on Claudia. Luckily, his tenacity is eventually rewarded. It was great to get a glimpse of Trick and Hadley. I will say I was surprised by Declan’s lack of reaction when a family secret is revealed. Overall, a quick read, not a lot of drama, some spice.
Declan definitely takes after his dad, Trick and I am here for it. Trick has always been my favorite stand-alone by Laramie because I love the single parent trope and she did it so well and Declan is no exception.
Declan has had a crush on his sisters best friend, Claudia for years. Claudia is just beginning to see her best friends younger brother as the man he is. But Claudia has more than herself to think of. She’s a struggling single mom with an adorable son, Jay and a dead beat baby daddy.
Declan comes to Claudia’s rescue when she’s stranded on the side of the road with Jay during a snow storm. This leads to them getting closer and talking more to each other and not through Riley. Watching their relationship build was great but Declan and Jay bonding stole the show for me. I loved getting to see old favorites Trick, Hadley and Riley and the family dynamic. This was a great quick read and I loved the epilogue.
Declan has always been around when Claudia was at her best friend's house. He's the younger brother of Riley and the son of Trick and Hadley. Claudia is eight years older than Declan, but in the end age doesn't matter. He's a mature, hard working, caring, sexy young man that shows Claudia that he cares for both her and her son.
He saves Claudia and her son one night in a snow storm and after that night he continues to show her how much he values her and her son. He's the one man Claudia finds that she can count on to show up when he says he will and is there for her when she needs someone. She's always been able to count on Riley and her parents, but Declan just becomes more for her and she can't hide from the feelings she's having for him now. Declan has had a crush on Claudia since he was a teen and now he has the chance to show her what she means to him.
I loved this story and the characters are awesome, just as they always are in Laramie Briscoe's books.
Claire and her son are everything Declan wants to build his world around and he’ll do whatever it takes to prove it to them. “Trick” was the first book I experienced by the author. I remember being completely blown away by the depth and sensitivity of the story and being utterly head over heels for Trick and Hadley. To be able to continue with the next generation of this family is just so satisfying to me. Declan proves that he’s learned well from his father without even realizing just how much. Claire is a fighter, a survivor, but without any concept of how strong she is. The obstacles in their way are nothing compared to the connection pulling these two together. I adored this book and I desperately hope that the author isn’t quite done writing about the Tennyson family just yet. I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author through Buoni Amici Press.