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He was just supposed to give me a ride home. How did I end up in his mansion? In his bed?!!Declan O’Malley is a big, strong, delicious mountain of a man.He’s also ten years older than me and he knows exactly what he wants.Well, that’s too bad. Because when I was desperately in love with him for almost a decade, Mr. Grumpy ex-Marine wouldn’t have me. And now he claims I’ve always been his? I don’t think so!

This is a short, steamy, instalove, instalust, OTT romance, with no cheating, no cliffhanger and a guaranteed HEA. If that’s your jam, you’ve come to the right place!

Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2022

85 people are currently reading
136 people want to read

About the author

Imani Jay

176 books474 followers
USA Today Bestselling Author Imani Jay writes sweet and spicy romance with instalove, instalust, and little to no drama. Just curvy queens who get claimed by their hunky alpha males. Whether it’s in the boardroom, the mafia, OmegaVerse, or with a forbidden twist, Imani’s stories deliver high heat and heart. Ready for your next dirty pleasure? Imani’s got you covered!

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5 stars
193 (42%)
4 stars
122 (26%)
3 stars
84 (18%)
2 stars
34 (7%)
1 star
22 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
119 reviews11 followers
May 31, 2022
Neither character was likeable. Throughout the whole book Declan treated Rashida coldly and with no regard for her wants or feelings. Once he decided to give her a whirl, there was no groveling and he flat out told her he'd been trying to work her out of his system with other women - - WOW, way to make a woman want you. And Rashida, ugh. I could see her taking his sh*t the first couple times when she was younger, but at age 28 to just simper and let a putz who treated you like trash for 10 years deflower you?!?! My stomach actually rolled in disgust at that point.

So yeah, don't waste your time and money on this one.
Profile Image for Krystal (LeeLovesBooks_).
693 reviews98 followers
June 23, 2022
FMC loved the MMC since she was 15 (he had no idea who she was, he was also 10 years older at 25), decided to take a chance on her 18th birthday. They almost go all the way but it’s interrupted and MMC finds out she’s the youngest daughter to his brother’s best friend therefore.. off limits.
A tiny fast forward to age 21 for our FMC, during a girls trip, she tries one more time and in order to get her to “live her life”, he tells her he doesn’t f—k with children (yikes, harsh af). But then 7 years later (at age 28 for FMC & 38 for MMC) he decides “you know what, that’s my woman and I’m making her mine.

I’m allll for that, you know what sucked? The “blame it on my PTSD storyline”. He builds a house for them and works on himself so he can be the man for her and she just.. accepts it? Blah.
Profile Image for DeeReads.
2,284 reviews
January 11, 2023
The O'Malley's brothers are all unique but DeClan is my favorite so far...

5 thumbs up! 👍👍 👍 👍 👍
123 reviews5 followers
July 29, 2023
He was with so many women while she waited until 28 to finally have sex for the first time?

SO if HE gets to enjoy sex with NUMEROUS partners "sampling pussy" as he likes to call it while she was staying celibate and holding on to her virginity??

Not only is he an asshole, this author has some serious and I mean SERIOUS internalized misogyny to address. He's allowed to have a healthy sex life but god forbid the heroine of a story not wait around actually enjoy a sex life or other romantic/sexual relationship.

ZERO romantic connection between characters, he just goes into detail about how much he wants to fuck her. It like she's just a toy for him to pick up off a shelf when he's done playing with others and building his business.

She also forgave him for some pretty cruel words a hero could say. She's 21 and he says he doesn't "fuck children" but it just seems like he just wanted to play the field a little longer.

-Manwhore H
-Virgin h
28/38 ( I MEAN REALLY?? 28? God please write some heroines who know their worth)
-H with MANYYYYY others while h pinned for him (not faithful during separation)
-No OW/OM drama
-Talk of PTSD/ emotional trauma

Edit: Just realized the whole racial power dynamic of how shitty this hero is toward the heroine considering he is in fact a lot older has a lot more power as a white man. Just another man doing a WOC dirtyyyyyy. Using coercion and manipulation to get her to hear him out and stay in the house is NOT ROMANCE. Imani Jay clearly only likes to write doormat heroines.
Profile Image for Janice Campbell.
203 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2022
Ok

I like this book the age gap senerio how they played out. How the got together to be pulled apart. I didn't like the way he shattered her after she came to see him that was a bit harsh. Glad he got himself together with his P.T.S.D , he got the help he needed before bringing someone into his situation. This was a good lol read. Enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Penelope.
1,013 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2022
she shoulda not went to his house
160 reviews
June 25, 2022
Lets be real Declan treats Radisha terribly and Radisha has no self respect. The whole story was pathetic
Profile Image for Chalice.
3,701 reviews111 followers
December 28, 2022
The couple: Declan and Rashida

Romance trope: second chance
Series: O'Malley Family
Length: 57 pages

Plot: Rashida has been in love with Declan since she was 15. She didn't realize it, but it was impossible then - he was 25. She tries again when they're a little older, and then again, but he still shuts her down. She needs to move on with her life, but it isn't easy when she's still in love with him. But almost ten years later, he's back for her - if she still wants him.

Commentary: He sure did wait a long time, with absolutely no indication that he wanted her (I mean, he let her think the exact opposite). I understand why she was mad, thinking that he stayed away just to make a little money! I'd be mad too! He was lucky that Rashida was still waiting for him. I felt like he needed to give more of an explanation and grovel.

Grammar/formatting: needed a little more proofreading

Next book in the series: Fight Or Flight
Profile Image for IRLover.
166 reviews17 followers
June 4, 2022
Never too late to claim the love of your life❣️🥰❣️

I enjoyed this story of Declan and Rashida😍🥰😍. No matter the distance or time a strong love he is drawn back together❣️❣️❣️
 
Rashida was infatuated with Declan who was 10yrs older than her 15.  I admired her wanting to pursue him and for walking away when her feelings were not reciprocated😢. Declan had his own reasons besides the age difference that kept him away from her😏.  I wish he had been open and shared what he was going through. In a strong relationship you have to be honest and supportive of one another.  Rashida may be younger but I’m glad she made that known to him😉.  It sucked they lost many years but they have plenty to make up for it🥰🥰🥰. Their chemistry was undeniable from their first encounter so you know they’d be sexually satisfied when they committed to each other🥵🔥🥵.
 
I’m loving all the O’Malley men, they are definitely alphas and know when a woman is theirs with one glance😍.  I recommend reading this quick, short and steamy book
Profile Image for Juli.
1,585 reviews24 followers
June 24, 2022
2.75 stars

This a very quick read.

I really wanted to like the short novella, but it progressed too fast and the problems or should I say the forgiveness was just too simple. Declan practically destroyed Shida, to protect her of course, and instantly expected her to marry him when HE decided it was time for them to be together.

Okay concept, but the execution want my cup of tea.

I didn’t read the previous books in this series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing any information. Declan is Ryan’s uncle and Rashida is the best friend of Malika; Malika and Ryan’s story (Fight or Flight) takes before this book, but some parts overlapped.

Also, there is some daddy play thrown in here and it just grossed me out a bit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for T Nelson.
1,879 reviews28 followers
April 12, 2023
HEA
Standalone, interconnected characters
*over 18 readers only *
Age-gap (10 yrs)

She fell in love with him at 15. Waited to make her move at 18. He's older, a Navy SEAL, and his family is friends with her parents. He almost makes her his at 18, but then finds out who she is. At 21, she tries again, but this time, he turns her away harshly. Years later, he was asked to take her home from his nephew's one night, but it's not her home he takes her to. Can he convince her they are meant to be after breaking her heart?

Technically, she had a boyfriend (of sorts) when Declan claims her. That's never addressed.
Also, TYPOS
Profile Image for Antoinette Jones.
932 reviews9 followers
June 1, 2022
Yay for Declan and Rashida!!

There is something about those O'Malley men. They are packing some serious machismo, sex appeal, chemistry and some nasty good good that has these ladies ready to change their last names and zip codes. Declan and Rashida had a huge obstacle, on Declan's part, that took years to get past. But that old saying the heart wants what it wants is very true in this couples story. I loved their journey and reading them FINALLY getting their HEA. Sooooo good and definitely worth reading!
362 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2024
Dec waited for his girl... woman

This started off as a childhood crush and only grew. Rashida loved him from the very first time she laid eyes on him and he was man enough to walk away from a very young girl, even though he didn't want to. He did it for her, kept pushing her away so that she could have a normal life. Enjoy her life. Until he couldn't fight it any longer and then the world blew up. And they decided to be together, kudos to them. Ten years is a good age span. Another good one.
Profile Image for cynthea carbon.
240 reviews2 followers
June 1, 2022
I loved how Rashida wanted Declan when she was 15 years old and Declan knew she was the one when they met in the pub when she was 18. He knew she was too young and moved to Arizona they met again when she was 21 and he told her he was told old. Now she is 28 and he is 38 there is still a spark and they know they are meant to be together. 5 Stars
Profile Image for Lisa Lockhart.
21 reviews7 followers
July 4, 2022
Decan and Shida was happy and sad for me. Shida was in love Decan from the first time she met war vet. Dec let his "demons" over power his love for Shida and it was sad. When they met up things were much different. This book was amazing and I read it in one sitting. If you want something short ,sweet,and sexy this book is for you.
Profile Image for Ari.
104 reviews
September 20, 2023
Misogynistic author ✅
Hero fucks multiple OW ✅
Doormat heroine with no self respect ✅

Shida stayed a virgin until fucking 28(!!!) while Declan slept around and “sampled more pussy” as he charmingly referred to it. 🙄🙄

Imani Jay has an ugly heart and a misogynistic bias she needs to reflect on if this is what you think women deserve or write as romance.
787 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2022
Rashida and Declan

Rashida has been crushing on Declan since she was 15 years old, he is 10 years older than her. A chance meeting when she is 18 sends Declan running to another state. Ten years later fate intervenes and Declan follows his heart. A quick read.
Profile Image for Ka-Bee Brown.
346 reviews4 followers
June 6, 2022
Longtime Coming

Declan kept pushing his love for
Rashida away because of their age, but Rashida knew that she loved Declan, even though he pushed her away from him two times before. The third time is the charm and they both get their HEA.
Profile Image for Zebunni.
64 reviews19 followers
June 28, 2022
Everything was very insta,insta love,insta forgiveness, insta problems solved and dealt with.If you can ignore all that its decent but its feels very rushed even for a novela.

Tropes Second chance,Age gap,military MMC and Curvy FMC.
311 reviews5 followers
July 7, 2022
Too short

Ok so the build up was perfect, the let down came in the form of absolute lack of groveling on his part. We went from never gonna happen to we're getting married in 2 pages and.it left me wanting.
705 reviews
July 29, 2022
No regrets here

Declan and Reshida fought their attraction because of an age difference between them but they had no choice after being apart from each other the heart knows what and whom it wants.
Profile Image for Reader_for_LifeTLG.
2,765 reviews17 followers
August 3, 2022
She waited for him.

The age difference only mattered because she was so young when they first met. Ten lonely years and he's done waiting. She will be his. Declan and Rashida are made for each other.
843 reviews14 followers
October 25, 2023
palette cleanser

Super quick read. Age gap spicy as heck and the cherry on top not Caucasian fmc. Yessss only 58 pages but I adored it. Id love to see more race/ethnicity inclusion in spicy spicy romance
Profile Image for Contina.
1,029 reviews4 followers
June 1, 2022
I Want More...

That is all. This was a good age gap story. Definitely one I will read again because I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for ChattyChik21.
2,734 reviews
June 4, 2022
fun and zany

I’d liked for them to have actually had more than a few sentences of convo but the story was sweet all things considered
1,873 reviews25 followers
June 12, 2022
No regrets

Rejection and can t haves fuel this relationship. Another O'Malley family member. A good short story. Quick easy read. Few typos.
4,169 reviews18 followers
June 29, 2022
I love Declan and Rashida,they're perfect together! Such a sexy,steamy and beautiful love story! I absolutly loved it soo much! 🥰🔥❤😍
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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