Declaration

Preservation #3

by Rachael Wade

Featuring characters from Love and Relativity. Coming 10/15/13

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.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Music

292 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

During the high of the magical indie author era that swept the nation in 2012, Rachael Wade wrote over a dozen romance and fantasy novels about broken characters with tattered hearts. She has since then retired this pen name, so you won't find her on the socials anymore, but she still welcomes rights inquiries and messages from readers via Goodreads. Today she writes horror and suspense under a different name, though romance subplots still make cameo appearances in all of her stories.

Reviews

[Glass]

Review from Way Too Hot Books

Carter is finally getting what he deserves...

Previous two days you could read my review for first two novels of the series - Preservation and Reservation. It is no secret that I'm not big fan of Kate and Ryan, but my heart broke because of that sweet tattooed boy, who plays guitar, has this crazy obsession with everything British and drops pretty much everything to be by the side of the his best friend when she needs him. Carter was my favorite character and I'm so happy that he got his book.

Apparently, Declaration combines characters from two different books - we have Carter from Preservation, and other guys from Love and Relativity. You can read it as standalone - it just happens in the same fictional world, there are some spoilers for mentioned books, but it's no big deal.

Why did I like it? Story was great - Carter decides to move across the country because he is sick of being second choice and he needs to get away from everyone and the life he was leading. I admire him for that because you have to be truly brave to do something like that - go to the place where you do not know anybody, without job or any plan what so ever. He just goes where life leads him. He finds new friends and new girl to obsess about - and she is worth of his attention, unlike Kate who, by my opinion always held him as back-up plan. Whitney is fun and outspoken, kind of a person you'd love to hang around. She and Carter are at first friends, but it is obvious that it can't stay just on that. Where Preservation disappointed me, Declaration was absolutely satisfying - those two have great chemistry. Their interaction is genuine and honest. I have few favorites scenes, but I don't want to spoil it for you so I'll just say this - beach bar. Don' worry, you'll get it.

But... It seems that most of the books that are written like this - connected trough same fictional world, few plot points and characters - there is this feeling like you're missing something. Yes, it could be read as standalone, but I think that I'd understand some things better if I had read Love and Relativity too.

[Tessamari ♥Many Waters...♥ ~ Sweet Spot Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come visit us on www.sweetspotbookblog.com for some awesome Rachael Wade giveaways on October 15 & 16

4.25-4.5 Stars

**Possible spoilers for those who have not read Love & Relativity and the Preservation Series**

“You’re bold and vibrant and beautiful. You make me drop things. I chain smoke when I’m around you, have you noticed?”
She nodded softly.
“You’ve been wanting to kiss me? I’ve been wanting to devour you.”

I have loved Carter Montgomery since I first met him in Preservation. His quirkiness, his Anglophile geeky ways, his tattoos made me fall so hard for him. I wanted him to find his own happiness, since it became pretty apparent that his love for his best friend, Kate, will always remain unrequited.

When Carter showed up again in Love & Relativity (L&R), I was so freaking excited, especially since he started to fall for Whitney, Emma’s BFF in L&R. I knew that Ms. Wade wouldn’t be able to resist giving Carter his own story with Whitney. And here it is. Finally! Carter has his own story, and I couldn’t’ have been more happier.

Crazy and weird was my favorite combination.

Hmmm…I’m not really sure how to describe Whitney. Crazy? Yes. Weird? Slightly. Sexy and Assertive? Definitely. I loved Whitney in L&R. She’s a bit quirky, not afraid to speak her mind and you want nothing more than to be her friend. Her loyalty to her BFF Emma is very commendable and her spirit is infectious. There is no doubt that she’s the breath of fresh air that our poor, heartbroken Carter just needs.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. Was this really fucking happening? This gorgeous, vivacious, intelligent girl wanted me?
Despite the pile of BBC DVDs sitting on my coffee table right now?
Despite my clumsiness?
Despite my horribly geeky, Anglophile ways?
Despite all my inherent awkwardness?
Despite it all?
“I want you, Carter Montgomery,” she whispered against me. “Can I have you?”
Well that answered that.
“You have me, sweetheart. You so have me.”

Unrequited love sucks; Carter can attest to that. He moved all the way from Seattle to Sanibel Island, Florida, just to get away from his BFF, Kate, the girl who didn’t return his love. When he moved to Florida, all he wanted was a fresh start and a chance to find himself. What he didn’t expect was Whitney. She came into his life like a little whirlwind. But is he ready to move on? Will he ever get over Kate?

It’s a story about how I found myself again, and the girl responsible for helping light the way. It’s about how her love gave me courage to dig myself out of my rut and finally make some noise off stage, even when I wasn’t sure anyone was listening.

I cannot stress how much I love Carter; his quirkiness, his love for everything British – if he was real, he would be my soul mate. I’m so happy he found happiness with Whitney, because that chick is fantastically awesome. Now the drawbacks: One – Carter’s story is over (insert sad face here). Two – I kinda wanted a little more steam (yes, I want to be spoiled with Carter’s hot tattooed body). Three – I kinda wanted more drama in the end, especially regarding the conflict between Whit & Carter. I just wanted a little more.

I’m so going to miss this series; especially the characters. I’ve grown to love them like they were my own friends. This is so bittersweet, but the journey has been awesome. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Wade has in store for us next.

Rach, you rock for providing this ARC for an honest review. You know I can’t resist Carter!

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[Desiree Mosley - A Love Affair With Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a story about how I found myself again, and the girl responsible for helping light the way. It’s about how her love gave me courage to dig myself out of my rut and finally make some noise off stage, even when I wasn’t sure anyone was listening.

There is nothing I haven't loved about this series! From "Preservation" (see my review here) to "Reservation" (see my review here), I have read all about Carter Montgomery and waited rather impatiently to finally hear his story! He's amazingly sweet, a bit nutty with his Anglophile ways and a tattooed rocker on the down low (tattoos and guitar playing!). Watching him pine away for Kate was painful, knowing he would never get her but rooting for him to find his real love, someone who saw the sweetness and wonderfulness that is Carter Montgomery. In "Love and Relativity," we see a little more of Carter as he slowly falls for Emma's friend Whitney. Finally, in "Declaration," we get to see the love story of Carter and Whitney unfold!

And Whitney???? I'm not sure how to actually describe her. She's definitely different! Full of life and spunk, there's a vulnerability to her too. She has been hurt in the past by love and in her own weird way, she hides from love by never getting too close or opening up too much. She loves life and does everything to enjoy it. She's loyal to a fault and sweet to the core. It seems almost perfect that Carter moves to Sanibel Island and finds someone so perfect for him.

To read the rest of my review, please visit the blog at A Love Affair With Books.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was by far my favorite book in the series! Loved it!

This is Carter's story!

Carter...in love with his best friend Kate who unfortunately never stood a chance with her, needs a change. He leaves his two best friends behind to move across the country. (Kate & Dean) Which in turn means he also leaves the band, The Hellions.

How he came to Sanibel Island is a crazy story in itself but once he's there he hope's there's a reason. And Oh boy is there!

First Carter meets Jackson who has a huge ego and acts a certain way, but he helps Carter, he hooks him up with a place to stay and a new job. Carter also sees a different side to Jackson and hopes Jackson can get his shit straight. The two bond over lost loves and discuss personal information.

When Jackson messes up, he messes up big and in turn hurts the girl he loves even more. Carter steps up trying to help the situation to possibly only make it worse. See Jackson loves Emma but Jackson keeps messing things up with her before he even has her.

Now introduce Whitney, she's Emma's best friend. She comes to her best friends rescue and tries to help dig her friend out of her deep dark hole. When she realizes she can't do it herself she asks for Carter's help.

The more they hang out and talk the more the two develop feelings. But can Carter be with Whitney if he's still in love with Kate? Will Whitney be able to trust Carter when she's been burned in the past?

Do these two have what it takes to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way or can they see what's right in front of them and hold on for dear life?

This was an absolutely amazing story and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Epilogue!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ok, so fair warning. When the chance to do a review of this book for the blog tour I took it because it sounded like a pretty good book from an author I wasn’t familiar with. (And who doesn’t LOVE finding new authors?!) without realizing this was book 3 in a series. Fortunately I was assured that I could enjoy this without having read the previous two. And enjoy it I did!

From the prologue and some flashbacks early in the book we learn that Carter was deep in the friend-zone with Kate Parker, but secretly head over heels in love with her. When at probably one of the worst moments possible he kisses her and professes his love, she doesn’t return the sentiment. Embarrassed and brokenhearted, Carter takes off to start a new life just about as far as he can go without leaving the country in sunny Florida.

The resulting story is probably one of the more normal romances that I’ve read lately. It was sweet, sad, steamy, dramatic, and happy, hitting all the notes to make a good story. It won’t have you bawling your eyes out, or running for a cold shower, but there might be the occasional cheer if you’re so inclined. The only real complaint that could be made is it’s too even-kiltered but sometimes that’s a good thing.

I had no problems following along the story not having read the others, so this was a very enjoyable read. I’m very glad to have crossed paths with Rachael Wade, can’t wait to dive into the Preservation series and meet the rest of these characters!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for Honest Review

I am so happy Carter got his own story. His story is one of soul-searching, finding oneself rather than the previous books of drama and heartache. Carter, as we all know from the stories before Declaration, has always loved Kate, and decides his heart needs a break. Thinking he might find it in Florida, Carter ends up meeting Jackson, Emma, and Whitney. From there, Cater feels that he just might move on from Kate with Whitney. Both have their history with bad relationships and heartache, these two are just so afraid to speak that lines get crossed and things get miss-read. No relationship is ever easy, especially in the beginning, and when other people are trying to sabotage you, a disaster waiting to happen. I liked the final journey and the last piece of the puzzle for this group, especially the end with a sneak peek at many years down the road. Rachael will make her fans very happy with this one. Enjoy.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling in love with your best friend is never easy. Carter learned that the hard way. Not being able to be with the one he loved he moves to a new state to start over. Being around Kate just became too hard, although moving to the other side of the country might be just as hard. That is til he finds new friends and possibly even a new love. Being burned once before and still in love with Kate, Carter finds himself in new territory with Whitney and isn't sure how to move on.

I don't know what I can say about Rachael Wade's books that I haven't said before. Her writing is always phenomenal. I love how steamy she can make a scene. Being able to get inside not only Carter's head but seeing some of Jackson's thoughts was completely epic. I love these characters and hope this isn't the end of them. I can't wait to see what Rachael puts out next, I know it will be absolutely Amazing!!

[Michelle Schroer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Struggling to find your way in the world is difficult.
Even more so when you feel as if you lost your
world AND that same world left you with a
broken and battered heart!
What happens next to a hot, struggling musician...
~4.5 get-back-on-his-feet STARS!~

This is book #3 of 3 of the Preservation Series. DECLARATION has an HEA and it can be read as a stand-alone. However, there are relationships in the book that are further explained in books #1 and #2. I recommend the Series for full effect! There is betrayal but no cheating in this book.

Finally, we get Carter Montgomery! And even better it's in HIS POV. I will say this every time - I LOVE getting to read from the Hero's POV. I can relate, generally, with a female lead POV but getting to hear what a guy's thinking is eye opening...in many ways!

I fell in love with him as Kate's best friend forever in Preservation and Reservation. He's quirky, has an unrequited love for all things British - even an accent that he uses on occasion, plays in a band - The Hellions, and is a total babe! Do people say 'total babe' anymore? Well, I do! He's tall, dark hair, and wears sexy horn-rimmed glasses. He's hysterical really...but he's broken. Broken from not having your best friend return your love for her. He loved Kate and she broke his heart with Ryan, twice. Not that she'd EVER hinted at returned feelings, but to Carter, his heart was hers. I could tell right away this was going to be another spectacular journey. A journey that would leave me breathless. Carter had been in the background for so long, I knew it was his time to shine. But it wouldn't be easy for him to find himself. To find what he was looking for. I got the sense that it was more than just himself he was looking for. Carter was looking for a place. A place to be needed and wanted and loved.

"She'd listen, and look me straight in the eyes. Maybe even hug me and tell me how much she loves me - again, as just a friend. But I'd still be invisible."

Carter has always had this feeling of invisibility. He's sexy, smart, loyal to a fault, and he would have given anything to have her see him the way he saw her. But, Kate overlooking him for Ryan. Ryan, who had a bad reputation and treated her poorly on more than one occasion. How could she not see him but see this hot-head professor? But that had been the straw that broke the proverbial camels back. He just couldn't stay and see them together right now. He feels lost and confused. What is it that he's been working for the last few years? He had great friends, even though he was over the moon about one of them, a band he loved, and was taking a few college courses. But Carter feels like he has no idea what he wants to do or be 'when he grows up'. Feels like he has no direction. Reading the first two books in the series, I got the impression that he is hurt regarding what happened between Ryan and Kate, but he was a solid guy. Strong in his foundation there in Seattle. When I began reading Declaration, I know that was true but... He feels like his place isn't there in Seattle. At least not now. And when he meets Whitney, he gets a feeling he was right.

"She wasn't asking what I was running from or leaving behind, like everyone else seemed to be curious about. She was asking where I was headed."

Whitney was different from everyone else on Sanibel Island. She didn't fit any mold Carter had seen before. She had this gorgeous but she doesn't know it vibe and with her dark, shiny hair and green eyes...Carter was smitten right away. Whitney is this lively, sexy, not-afraid-to-speak-her-mind woman. They bonded over a mess with her best friend - whose story is Relativity. She had needed someone and he came - they didn't even know each other and he came. The banter was great. Comical at times and a flirty-sexy at others. They immediately hit it off. I could tell Whitney had her baggage just as Carter had his. I was drawn into their friendship and knew there would be more. I couldn't wait for 'more' for Carter. He was the character that deserved it. I could feel the uncertainty and see how unsure he was to make himself vulnerable again. But reading him with Whitney was like watching the sun come out after a rain storm. The showers coming to an end and the clouds clearing out for something so entirely beautiful it could bring tears to your eyes. They were cautious around each other, yet, their lust and chemistry toward the other yanked them together like magnets. It was unwavering, their chemistry. It was hot and it was evident that this was completely different than his feelings and reactions with Kate. The more for him was finally pulling into the station.

"She wasn't asking what I was running from or leaving behind, like everyone else seemed to be curious about. She was asking where I was headed."

Carter and Whitney both make mistakes and it takes everything they've got to see if it's all worth fighting for. As I got to know Whitney and her past I could tell they were meant for each other. Even though they both had enough baggage to fill a jet-liner, certain baggage attracts the other. He would be good for hers and she would be good form his. With her caring and kindness, playfulness and passion she could make him see why Kate was never him 'the one'. Make him see what was in front of him the whole time. There are lots of back and forth in Carter's head over how can he be falling for this beautiful woman when he thinks he's still in love with another. At one point Carter debates him actually having loved her or being in love with her and was Kate simply an idea? The idea of the perfect girl in his head. But Whitney opens his eyes and his mind to music. He was in a band, playing gigs in Seattle so how can she open his eyes and mind to music, you say? For details, you'll have to read. But I will tell you it's a beautiful thing. It makes me an official fan of Whitney because it's so genuine. She doesn't even realize what she's done for him. I was extremely moved by many of her actions. She's sincerely interesting in what makes him who he is and thinks he's too damn talented to not pursue what he undoubtedly loves. It really was something to watch them evolve from one label to the next. Acquaintance, friend, lover...

"I want you, Carter Montgomery...Can I have you?

...You have me, sweetheart. You so have me...And I meant it."

Declaration had me laughing out loud from the witty verbiage I was almost throwing my kindle from the frustration of them feeling their way through a green relationship. I was fretful over not knowing if our Carter finds the happiness he thought he would But I was grinning from ear to ear when it was all over. This book had me tied in knots. But I just couldn't stop flicking the pages. Wonderful series... An absolute must read!!

[Izzy guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Sayjil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe that I scored an ARC of Declaration . That’s right people out there, I scored an ARC. Be jealous. Be very Jealous. This is the first time its ever happened to me. Honestly, the book wasn’t on my radar but the author was. Remembering Preservation I just had to read Declaration.

Before I start reviewing this book, I want you to know that this review is a fair review. I don’t bullshit people and I’m not a sellout. This review is impartial. I don’t approve of expedience and honestly I can be a harsh bitch but thats because the truth is like that sometimes.

This is sooo Carter….



People only spoke to me if:
(A) they absolutely had to,
(B) they wanted or needed something from me, or
(C) they had nothing better to do.
That never bothered me, though. In fact, it was comforting.

The novel starts off at a fast pace. Carter sweeps us in as the newbie in a small town. He moves to a small town with no money and no job and he’s a little lost. Wade just sort of emerges Carter into everything after that. He finds a minimal paid job and settles into a runt of his own. So we Carter isn’t going through the adjusting phase, he’s more like settled already. Jackson, he’s sort of new best friend that he owes a lot to is in love with a girl name Emma. Its the typical screwed up relationship. Their couple problems aren’t exactly strange and unknown to Carter. Emma’s best friend, the lively Whitney ropes Carter into helping her deal with heart-broken Emma. Whitney brings the real Carter out. She doesn’t treat him like he is invisible. Carter soon finds out beneath the confident Whitney is an insecure girl with her very own relationship issues.

The first thing I thought after reading the prologue of this book was that it’s relatable. Not everybody is invisible but they probably know of someone who is or was invisible. There are people who seek the spotlight, the natural ones who are unavoidable to the spotlight (like me) and then there are those who are never in the spotlight either because they don’t want to be or because they are just naturally “invisible.”

Carter is a little different from the main characters we meet. You see when a side character becomes main, he usually changes into the typical main character leaving out all the traits you so desperately loved when he was a side character. Here, Carter is still the same guy. Lost and a little bitter but essentially the same guy. He is shy and sensitive and still best friend material. Talking about guy feelings and shit. Wade needs to improve a litter her prose on guy POV but its there.
Insecurity in Carter is what makes him a different protagonist. The last perfect guy narrator I read was Stephen’s Collision Course.
Carter is the perfect concoction but I feel Wade sometimes portrays him as a little bit of a girl.
Whitney...I needed more of her. More about her past relationships. More depth. I felt like I was missing something. I know the book is more about Carter but Whitney is his angel. We need something more from her. I definitely would have liked to have read more of Emma and Jackson. That would have been great.

Wade has seriously improved her prose. I’m actually quite proud of her. The thing is that the story was deficient. I wasn’t bored but it felt like she was building us up for the predictable climax. I also think that Carter forgot Kate when he moved. Basically she was on his mind in the beginning and that was it. Carter only thought he had problems when in actuality he didn’t.

Even through all of that, I liked this book. Simply because it was more than the chemistry of Whitney and Carter. I loved how Wade portrayed the fact that beneath confidence lied insecurity and the layers of an invisible person. The person that is almost always overlooked. The fact that the invisible person was Carter just made it that more awesome. Whitney and Carter are relatable because there are thousands, hell, millions of Whitney and Carter. They are realistic.
More to the point, this book was thought provoking. I spent hours looking back and thinking of how my best friend stood next to me while the spotlight always shined on me. She found it comforting to be invisible. She was shy with everyone except me.
Wade earned her stars, I’m not going to deny her.

I wish I could give the book five stars but I can’t on principle. Four Stars it is. I look forward to reading more of Wade’s work. I genuinely think she could earn her way to the top. In my opinion those are the authors that we actually look forward to their next book. Just look at Kelley Armstrong.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first met Carter Montgomery and his eccentric ways in Preservation and even then he stole the show for me. Maybe it was the tall, lanky, quirky side of him or maybe it was the fact that he too has a thing for the Brits. But since he first appeared, I've always been in his corner. When we first met, he was the cute guy stuck in the "friend zone" and I sat idoly by and watched him pine away for Kate Parker. But in this story, he's far from the "friend zone" and not even sure where to go next.

After crossing a line with Kate, Carter takes what's left of his pride and ends up in Sanibel Island, Florida. He has no friends, no job, no car and not a direction to go in but somehow crosses path with the one and only Jackson. All I can say about Jackson is he's a typical guy with a smart mouth and sometimes behaves like he's got meat for brains. Typical. GUY. Thankfully Jackson isn't a complete neanderthal and decides to help Carter get his feet in the sand. Carter begins to make a new home of this tiny little island but there's one resident he wasn't planning on. Whitney.

Whitney is a fun loving girl with some spunk. She's definitely a hard worker and has dreams she'd like to see to fruition. She's loyal as ever and it's her loyalty to her friend Emma that has her guard up. See, even on a small island there is still angst and drama and this time it just so happens to be caused by Jackson and Emma. These two put a roller coaster ride to shame with it's ups and downs and it's their current downward turn that brings poor, unsuspecting and friendly Carter in to team up with Whitney. Emma is nursing a broken heart and Whitney needs backup. It's during this tag-team relationship that pushes each of them to the edges of their comfort zone. Carter is the shy kid with the broken heart who doesn't know which step to take next while Whitney wear her confidence as armor all while hiding her own broken wings. She challenges him, pushes him to try new things, and manages to get him to come out of the shadows. Finally. All while she's putting on the show and being that strong, this fun chick, she doesn't see Mr. Montgomery coming and he's armed with his cute and quirky ways, ready to take her armor down.

Each of them have their own personal baggage (and really, who doesn't have baggage) and it all comes down to whether or not either of them are able to put it behind them and take those tentative steps forward and open to something new.

Will Carter be able to heal his broken heart in order to have it to give again?

Will Whitney stick around long enough to see what Mr. New Guy has to offer or will she push him away when she needs him most?



Music also plays a very important role here and it's Mrs. Wade's use of songs and their cryptic lyrics that gives a different texture and layer to this story. It's very sweet and completely relatable. There are funny moments and endearing ones that left me satisfied and thankful to see Carter in the spotlight he's always deserved. My only tiny issue with this story was some of the language and verbage Carter used when those hot, intimate moments arose. I just felt like the between-the-sheets talk wasn't quite true to his character and I felt that some of it was a tad over the top for him. This is just my opinion and in no way did it overshadow the rest of the story for me.

I enjoyed Preservation but I adored Declaration.

"It’s a story about how I found myself again, and the girl responsible for helping light the way.
It’s about how her love gave me courage to dig myself out of my rut and
finally make some noise off stage, even when I wasn’t sure anyone was listening."

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**

This is a story of a man trying to overcome heartbreak. Carter Montgomery has this best friend named Kate, and Carter has just committed the worldwide-sin known as crossing the line with your best friend who doesn’t reciprocate your feelings. We’ve all been there, and it sucks badly. Carter has to deal with the fact that not only did he kiss Kate, but that she’s in love with someone else. This poor guy feels like his only option is to pick up and move across the country to a small Island off the Florida coast. Extreme? Maybe, but I kinda like it. Carter wants a new start, and he believes that the Florida sunshine and the easy laid back nature of Sanibel Island just might be the place he needs.

When Carter gets to the Island he’s immediately taken by the people and their accepting cool vibes. This is where he meets Jackson, the guy who helps him find a job and fairly quickly becomes his friend. The dynamic of all of the people on the Island is pretty cool actually and what you might expect from that type of tight knit community. Jackson and Carter actually share the same dilemma, they are both in love with women that seem to be unattainable. But there’s one difference, Emma who is Jackson’s conquest is attainable Jackson just can’t seem to quit screwing up every chance he gets.

This is where we meet the little spitfire Whitney Sinclair, a local maid/waitress and Emma’s best friend. From the moment Carter lays on her he’s attracted to her, yet he thinks nothing of it. He’s only seen her from afar, and has been pre-warned about her “bitchy” side by Jackson. When he meets this little lady for the first time, it’s purely by accident. He’s just down by the beach playing his guitar, and she’s just having lunch at her regular spot. The simplicity and deeper meaning of this spot isn’t lost on me at all, I could tell that this would become a cute “thing” between them already. Then he gets an interesting phone call after some events that happened between these crazy little characters. And before you know it Whitney and Carter have teamed up to help one of them out.

Whitney is an awesome chick in my opinion. She’s very honest and forthcoming and when she realizes that she feels something for Carter she doesn’t hold back in revealing her feelings at all. Carter on the other hand is still trying to move on from his desperate attempts with Kate and the heartache that still ensues in his heart. These two are so obviously falling for each other, but every time Whitney gets close Carter pulls back or one of them goes running for support elsewhere when what they need is right in front of them.

I really did enjoy all of the characters in the book, except for one guy named Rueben who has a sick attachment to Whitney. And when I say sick I mean that he resorts to stupid Macho stuff in order to try and win her and sabotage what she has with Carter. This obviously causes friction between Carter and Whitney and definitely kicks up the angst factor.

In the end I was happy with how things turned out, and I really did enjoy the writing style and flow of the book. It was also refreshing to meet a male character that wasn’t all alpha and dominant. Don’t get me wrong—I love that crap! But I need a sweet charismatic type every now and then and Carter Montgomery is that for sure. I would definitely recommend this book for those looking for a light sweet sexy read that brings you into a little beach-full bliss too.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Declaration by Rachael Wade is book three in the Preservation series.

This is Carter Montgomery's story.

By now I hope you've read the first two books in the Preservation series and you're well aware of Carter.  If not, he's the jilted bff of Kate.  I say jilted because he's also in love with Kate and obviously Kate doesn't love him...like that at least.  Nope Kate is with Ryan and she's moved on.  So where does that leave Carter?  He doesn't know where that leaves him, so he decides to actually leave Seattle.  He ends up on Sanibel Island, Florida.

Carter is probably the most real male character I've ever read.  At least as the main male lead and told in his pov.  Carter isn't perfect.  He's not good looking, or sexy.  He's not rich, he's not alpha.  He doesn't have rock hard abs or the body to go with.  He's not a womanizer, he can't even get a woman.  At least not the woman he wants.

All of the above is true in Carter's head.  Well most of it anyway.  Carter has low self esteem and doesn't really find himself worthy of love in my opinion.  He allows this love he harbors for Kate to dictate his life.  Because she doesn't want him, he wallows in this self pity, this doubt of who he is and where he's headed.  I think a lot has to do with his childhood and I wish that had been explored further.  I think Carter's story could have been epic, had the author really delved into Carter's psyche and why he was the was he was.

However, all that aside, this is a good story.  Carter ends up running from his life in Seattle, well what life he has.  He's in search of a fresh start.  In search of answers that he's sure he can't find in Seattle.  I think on some level I understood his need to run.  We all have moments in our life where we question what we're doing.  Where we have thoughts about our life and what we want or what we see ourselves doing in the future.  Some of use find ourselves early on, in college or shortly after.  Some of us it takes longer and for some they never do.  That's what this is for Carter, it's a journey of self discovery.

When Carter meets Whitney he's not looking for her.  He's not looking for anyone, however she worms her way in unpredictably.  She's something he's never had in his life.  She sees who the real Carter is even though he doesn't and she single handily helps him find himself.  I loved watching him emerge and become his own man.  I just wish it hadn't felt so rushed.  Everything felt like it was moving so fast.  Not necessarily the time frame but the birth of Carter felt like it happened over night.  He had revelations and boom there he was ready to declare himself.

I did like the meshing of all the books, Preservation, Reservation, and Love and Relativity.  The characters all come together and mingle in this story and I enjoyed connecting all the dots.  I also loved the epilogues.  Probably one of my favorite epilogues I've read.  It's way more in depth and insightful than most epilogues.

I very much look forward to seeing what Rachael Wade has in store for us next!

*A copy of this book was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

[JB · Rating 4 out of 5]

**NOTE: This is a review of the entire Preservation series (Preservation, Reservation & Declaration), as originally posted at The Demon Librarian blog**

It's impossible to do an entire series justice in a single review. Sure, I could try, but there's so much ground to cover, we'd be here all day, and much as I know you all looooooove my long-winded, rambling reviews (ha!) I just can't do that to you. Instead, I'm going to put my fangirl hat on and wax (hopefully) eloquent about all the things I loved about the Preservation books.

Before I get started, though, here's a super-short summary of the series:

Kate meets Ryan. Ryan and Kate fall hard and fast for each other. They've barely minted their new relationship status when BAM! Life turns nasty and starts throwing them curve balls. Mistakes are made, hearts are nearly broken, and after much trial and tribulation, they finally get their true Happily Ever After. Meanwhile, Kate's friend Carter - who was hopelessly head over heels for her - has been left out in the cold. Deciding enough is enough, he says goodbye to Seattle and travels across the country to the land of sunshine, where love, new friends, and a fresh set of possibilities await.

I really liked Kate. She was a refreshingly honest, no-frills sort of heroine with just the right amount of attitude. While I didn't exactly agree with every decision she made, I always understood where she was coming from, and that helped me stay connected to her character.

As cool as Kate was, though, for me it was all about the boys. I am a complete sucker for the male POV, so it was hardly a surprise that I loved Ryan and Carter's books the most. Ryan with his checkered past that kept coming back to haunt him, and good-boy musician Carter with his love of all things British and all-around adoreableness....*sigh*. They were fantastic and I devoured both their stories in a single sitting.

The romance in all three books was great as well. Each couple - Kate and Ryan, and Carter and Whitney - had their own unique dynamic and chemistry that just didn't quit. There were a ton of swoony moments, as well as plenty of tense and sexually-charged scenes that will send you running for the nearest ice bath. More than that, though, each couple worked on a fundamental level. They fit together like pieces of a puzzle, leaving no doubt in the reader's mind that they were indeed matches made in heaven.

A note about Carter's book. If you haven't read Love and Relativity, I strongly encourage you to do so. It's not required, by any means, but I found it really heightened my Declaration reading experience. Plus, the book is just awesome.

The Preservation series is darn good contemporary romance with strong and snappy dialogue, steamy romance, and characters I didn't want to say goodbye to. But then, I would expect no less from a series penned by Rachael Wade. She has a knack for sucking me straight into her stories. The more of her books I read, the more addicted to her writing I become.

If you are a fan of contemporary romances, or just romance in general, you really ought to give the Preservation books a try. In fact, just do what I did. Put Rachael Wade on your author auto-buy list and add ALL of her books to your list. Like, pronto.

4 Stars ★★★★
A copy of the series was provided by the publisher in exchange for honest reviews.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 the 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

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 grow 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.

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, 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 on.” –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 an enjoyable read.

This story ties up Carter’s story lines from the previous books in this series, while giving the reader a hint of what’s hopefully to come (I’d love to see more from Jackson and Emma specifically). What I probably liked most was the ending. I love epilogues! The epilogue in this story put a smile on my face while I read about each of these characters’ futures and the connections through friendship and happiness each character feels in the future.

Declaration is an engaging story about acceptance, confidence, and love. I really enjoyed 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 Stars

[Anna McC · Rating 5 out of 5]

*thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book as part of the Declaration Blog Tour*

Amazing! This series keeps getting better and better. Rachael Wade has really out done herself with the next instalment in the Preservation series. This is by far one of her best pieces of writing. The author had the reader hooked from the very beginning and left them up at night desperate to find out what will happen next in this great romance novel. Declaration has by far been my favourite book in this series for a number of different reasons. I was able to relax and simply enjoy the book rather than waiting tensely for something to go wrong for the brilliant characters. From the start this book draws the reader in with its fast pace. The author has once again created a terrific plot for this highly anticipated book.

Carter wants out. Out of Settle, out of his boring daily errands and most of all out of his roll as blending in with the background. After randomly selecting a small quiet island to live Carter quickly begins a new life in a place where no ones knows him. As well as wanting to re-create himself Carter is also desperate to escape the heartbreak of loving your best friend. But fate works in strange ways and he might just find the one thing he is running from. Love! Starting over is not as easy as it seems especially when you find your perfect match who wants nothing but a casual fling. This novel draws the reader in from the word go. The phenomenal prologue captures the readers attention with Carters straight to the point honest narrating. This book was much less back and forth than the first two books in the series which meant the reader was less on edge. Although Declaration can be read as a standalone novel I would highly recommend you read the whole series as many of the characters from book one and two feature in this instalment. It was brilliant getting to find out about the previous characters who you connected with during the start of the series as well as being introduced to brand new fiery characters. This book had a flawless plot which contained some funny moments as well as some heartbreaking ones. The reader was entertained throughout the course of this book due to the great characters.

The author has created brilliant, well developed characters who were easy to relate to. Both the main characters were believable and the reader can quickly connect with them. As well as this these fantastic characters shared a few funny moments which kept the reader interested and desperate for more. Carter was an extremely quirky and entertaining narrator who had a brilliant personality. He was a unique character who had many layers. A sexy, musician with a broken heart is the last thing Whitney a young fiery women anticipated to crash into her life but that is exactly what happened. Whitney was the perfect partner for Carter she countered his crazy habits and put up with his strange obsession with all things British. These characters were incredibly easy to like and simply added to an already fantastic book.

Overall this was a great series which kept getting better and better as it went on. I can’t wait to see what Rachael Wade writes next. I would definitely recommend romance lovers give this series a try as it is worth your time.

[Keren Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken from my original review on my blog:
http://gothicangelbookreviews.blogspo...

So for those of you who know me well, you will know I am a sucker for any book written by Rachael Wade. She writes a few different genres and manages to pull them all off... to say well, would be an understatement, so let's say extraordinarily. This woman has an amazing talent and thank goodness she is kind enough to share it with us. As an author just starting out on my own journey, I can honestly say that I admire Rachael and how much hard work she puts into her books. I aspire to be just like her, but if I can't manage it, I want to at least be one one-hundredth of the author she is. Now, if you don't know me well, you might think I'm just trying to kiss butt here, but let me assure you that is not the case. Rachael is one of my favourite authors and has been since I first read Amaranth, the first book in The Resistance Trilogy. However, what really got me to sit up and take notice of her was Preservation. She wrote a book about a young woman and her college professor, something a lot of people see as a taboo subject. I read it in one sitting because it was so compelling and I could not put it down until finishing it at 2am where I cried like a baby. If you haven't read it, you really should because it's the first book in the trilogy that Declaration rounds off so beautifully.
Where books one and two were about Kate and Ryan, this book is about one of the secondary characters, Kate's best friend, Carter Montgomery.

Carter did the one thing that he shouldn't have done. He fell in love with his best friend. Unfortunately Kate didn't reciprocate those feelings. This prompted Carter to make a change in his life and this story walks us through that change. First thing's first, he moved across the country. This completely upended his life in a good way, a great way, but you need to read the book for yourself to see what happened. You could choose to read this as a stand alone book or you can read the trilogy - but my suggestion would be to read Preservation, Reservation, Love and Relativity and then Declaration. That's the order I read them in.

As I said before, Rachael is an amazing author and this book, like the others that came before it, is an outstanding story. I felt a real connection with Carter and other characters. I love when I can not just read a book but fall head first into another life. There's emotional depth to the people and that is one of the things I love most about it. The people are real and tangible. They may only be fictional characters but Rachael breathed life into them. They made me laugh, they made me cry and most of all, they made me fall in love. It had been a while between reading the other books and this one, so although I knew of Carter before, I wasn't totally in love with the guy. However, this book took care of that. I fell in love with the little firecracker that is Whitney too!

I urge you all, if you haven't read these books, please do so. You don't know what you are missing!

[Stephanie GooglyEyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

****may be some spoilers****



"But this isn't a sob story about Kate Parker Trampling on my heart or the invisibility curse that seemed intent on screwing me over in the Women Department. It's a story about how I found myself again, and the girl responsible for helping light the way. It's about how her love gave me courage to dig myself out of my rut and finally make some noise off stage, even when i wasn't sure anyone was listening." ~Carter


This follows Carter when he leaves Seattle to get away from his problems and humiliation from being in love with his best friend, Kate, in search for what he wants to do with his life and a change of pace and scenery. He makes his way to an island in Florida in search for himself... and he ends up finding "his it girl", Whitney.

"The thought that anyone would understand my cheesy offbeat brand of humor or consider me talkative was downright surprising. Apparently I was all those things to them.
But i knew the truth.
I was all those things around the right people.It was my friends who brought those traits out in me, and that is how i knew i was exactly where i belonged" ~Carter

The new characters that we get to meet in this book are equally as great. Jackson turns out to be a very helpful friend and a good ear for Carter to vent, seeing that he has similar problems, possibly worse, giving them a common bond.

"No one ever compares, right? You hear her voice down the hall even though she's not there, and every time the phone rings you pray to God it's her, then rethink that prayer because if it is, it'll only remind you she's not yours, and instead she's out fucking some professor with abs you'll never have and a penchant for smooth pick-up lines that you can't even begin to come up with on your own. And then you wanna die a slow, miserable death with the realization, only you are already. And then you see just how much of a sorry loser you're become, Any of this resonate? ~ Carter

I also really like Whitney, she is fun and full of life, or as Carter compares her to liquid fire. She seems to be Carters match with her fun loving ways and his chance at "freedom".
There were these caramel flecks in her green eyes that just screamed "I'm alive and I love it.

The we get to meet little Tia, who Carter takes under his wing as his music student. She is absolutely adorable and such a great addition to the story.

BUT my all time fave character *drum roll* is Liz, as in, short for Elizabeth, Queen of England. She was a lady.
If you haven't guessed yet, it is Carters guitar ;)

While there are still ups and downs, and both Carter and Whit almost gave me a heart attack. There are bridges mended and it really turns into a feel good book. You can't help but love this book and Carter (I don't think i can say that enough!!)

Rachael did a perfect job with Carter, i don't know if i could love him anymore then i do. He is loyal, lovable, funny, and down right snuggle-able!

I give this book a 4+ Tea and Crumpets stars ;)

[Shayna Varadeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is carter's story and it does not disappoint. Carter was definitely a stand out character in the series and deserves his say I think so his POV was definitely a welcome one. I was excited to have it on hand immediately available to me LOL, because Reservation left me with a crazy book hangover.

I really didn't think I could love this book as much as I did, boy was I wrong. I love that Carter explains that this isn't a story about Kate trampling his heart in his unrequited love but the story of how he found himself again and the "girl responsible for helping light the way".

And oh my mercy did this read start with a vice grip on my brain! Holy freaking kisses! Whoa!! that was crazy and excruciating knowing how it ended up. Yes this book sucked me in too and didn't let up until the end!

The small island of Sanibel is a dead end to most but it holds everything Carter needs to move on from his painful past. Emma doesn't hurt the new situation one bit either. I really love the new characters we meet and character building and plot progression seems to be a strong point of the author. The descriptive nature of the author's writing is almost unparalleled. You are whisked away and along for Carter's journey through his own pain and alot of self discovery. Everyone needs some "me time".

Emma, Whitney and Jackson and the island of drama were an interesting read. I love Carter to pieces and was rooting for him the entire time hoping he could let go of Kate completely, at least the romantic feelings for her. I mean she'd always be his best friend but working through losing her to Ry was necessary for his own sanity I think.

I was all taken in and found this cover of Titanium and yeah I could picture Carter singing it after that!Titanium Cover

May I add that I loved the chapter titles in this! "Soggy Crumpets" LOL
I was scared for awhile that Carter wasn't going to do music anymore but was so relieved when the lessons started! The belly dancing part was pretty cool too and it was fun to see Carter squirm!

This is a great story with huge meaning and I think it can be an encouraging read and relatable for alot of people. I am married and can't pretend I know exactly what it's like to be single nowadays but I imagine it's brutal out there. It's a really good example of "no matter what, love still conquers all." Just look at Ryan and Kate as much as Whitney and carter and yeah it may be fiction but sometimes life is better than fiction.


If you're looking for that new series to get into and don't want a read that disappoints I think you should probably give this series a try!
You have nothing to think about if you love NA and Adult Romance this is a really, really good read! Get your copy today! Seriously you won't regret it!

I really have a love for this series and if Rachael Wade gives us more Preservation Series I will most definitely be reading it!

[Danielle Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carter needs a change. All the reasons he's stayed in Seattle don't fly anymore. Everyone moved on, found new things while Carter was still just Carter. Desperate for a change he runs to a small ocean side town in Florida. He doesn't know what he's going to do once he get's there, but he knows that he is determined to leave his baggage in his past, especially one Kate Parker.

After having his heart stomped on again and again in the first two books of the Preservation Series it was about dang time that the sweet, best friend, Carter got his own story! From the beginning of this series I was rooting for Carter. That secret deep down side of me wanted him to be with Kate. Oh yes Ryan is hotter than hell, but Carter was the best friend. The guy that was always there to pick up the pieces, the guy that Kate didn't know she needed. The guy I secretly rooted for while I prayed that Kate and Ryan worked it out. Luckily for us Rachel Wade knows better than me and broke Carter's heart and sent him fleeing to Florida, where I can honestly say I fell even more in love with Carter.

In Declaration Carter no longer has his friends to lean on to help him figure out the path his life should lead. It's just him and never ending beaches. But Carter is smart and he quickly falls in step with the sunny life of Florida. Things fell in place pretty quickly for Carter, friends, a job, and a place to stay, but no matter how good things seemed to be on the surface; Carter still felt like he had a hole in his heart.

Kate messed him up pretty freaking good. But Kate wasn't his only problem and it took him moving to Florida to really figure it out. Being in Florida not only brought more sun to Carter's world, it shined a light on the truth of what Carter was running from. In Declaration we see Carter struggle with who he was, who his thinks he is and who he wants to be. We see him grow from the boy next door, to a man ready to take charge of his life. Sure it's not all sunshine and beaches, but Carter is Carter and his disposition is amazing.

I was in love with Carter before I read Declaration but now I see Carter in an entirely different light. I realized that in the first two books we really got a small side of one well rounded and incredibly adorable and sexy Carter. In Declaration we see all of Carter and if you don't fall even more in love with him in this book then there is something seriously wrong with you.

Declaration was a sweet read that drew me in like a rainbow after it rains. I settled in, got nice and cozy and wanted to live there. Rachel Wade did such an amazing job of giving Carter and all the characters in this story a voice. Each character was full of life. It was like talking with my friends as I read this book. Words flowed easily, the story flowed easily everything was just perfect. I could devour a book by Rachel Wade everyday. That's how easy it is to get into her stories. These stories are written with heart and soul, Rachel Wade is on those pages and I gladly soaked it in.

*received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received a review copy for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.*

Originally posted on All in a Book.

If you read my review of Preservation , the first book in the series, you'll see just how much I love Carter. And now he's gone from goofy and adorable best friend to leading man. Yes, please. And not only that, but it's a nerdy love story! Because, despite the tattoos and guitar-playing, that's exactly what Carter is and I love it.

Seeing him get away from Seattle after everything that went down between Ryan and Kate was relieving. The only thing that had ever bothered me about Carter was his rather obsessive, puppy-dog affections for Kate, who so didn't deserve them (okay—that might be some bitterness on my part). Moving away from that, we really get to see Carter as more than just a crutch or support system, and he shines! Still Britain-obsessed and adorably shy, you can't help but fall for this guy. How was Whitney supposed to resist?

As for his leading lady, I really preferred her to Kate. She was free-spirited and open, if a little wounded from past missteps, and she challenged Carter to come outside of himself and figure out what his dream was. It was the kind of relationship that lasts—where neither party lets the other be anything less than they're capable of.

With that said, so much of this book is just about Crater moving forward with his life and healing. And a large component of that is trying to get over Kate. I thought this element was a little over done, but I also never understood exactly why he was and remained so infatuated with Kate. To me, he always seemed more into the idea of her (something that's pointed out to him and one point and rather unjustly dismissed, if you ask me). But, in the end, it does serve to make his relationship with Whitney feel that much more solid when they're able to move past it.

There were a few unsettling moments where events started to remind me of the end of Reservation (book 2), which would've taken Carter so far out of character. Luckily, it all worked out, but it still felt like a stretch for him as a person.

Declaration was by far my favorite of the series. In fact, it wouldn't be at all ridiculous to claim that, for me, it felt like this book was the whole reason for the first two. They were just building it up for Carter to get his turn. Because, really: a good guy with a lip ring? Swoon.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the three. You don't need the first two in the series to read this one but they may help with the background a little. I love Carter. This guy went through the wringer with Kate. And yet she won't leave him alone. The last book she got mad at Ryan for not trying to keep Carter in Seattle. Ryan was good in that situation. He knew Carter needed this time to find himself. After kissing Kate and her once again rejecting him after she deepens the kiss, Carter leaves Seattle and goes to Florida to forget. Kate of course hounds him like a dog with texts and phone calls. Carter is smart enough to ignore them. What gets me though is how he dodges Dean at first. Dean didn't hurt Carter but I can kind of understand how he wishes to come to terms with things first. I am glad though Dean called him on it and let him know his actions had consequences on others whether unintended or not.

so Carter is in Florida trying to figure out who he is when he meets Whitney. Whitney the serial dater who is a spitfire. These two instantly mesh and she helps Carter in figuring things out without him even realizing it. These two are explosive together in the sheets. the buildup to this is wonderful to see. They build a friendship first and respect one another. Always being honest with each other and never treating each other as if the other doesn't matter.

The side characters of Jackson and Emma are great as well. Jackson helps Carter with Kate especially when he helps Carter realize it isn't Kate he is in love with but the ideal of kate. things come to a head though and at this same time Kate shows up. Carter lets into her and makes her see just how selfish she is being and he also realizes how much he loves Whitney. Go Carter. To show her though after she shuts down, he does a grand gesture. This gesture is perfect but Ruben ruins the aftermath and these two are on shaky ground again. Carter makes a mistake and here is where it gets interesting. Or more interesting because Carter begins to see how Ryan felt with KAte and understand how he could make the mistake he did. He even forgives ryan. Love Carter. From here though Carter has an epiphany and sees what he wants to do with his life and goes for it. Even goes after Whitney.

This wonderful book that brings us on the journey of Carter finding himself and love has a HEA. A great read that will have you rooting for the great guy that Carter is.

[Roxanne Kade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! Carter finally got his chance in the spotlight! I was so excited when I started reading this book and it was all about the sweet, charming friend, who'd been Kate's rock throughout the first two books, and who loved her unconditionally.

I have to say, Carter dropped a bomb on me when he admitted why he'd run as far away from Seattle has he could get. I knew some of his reasons for leaving, but I think the ultimate thing that forced him to run was that kiss. M-hmm, if you've read the book you'll know what I'm talking about. (If you haven't, what the hell are you waiting for?? Grab a copy!) I think that kiss was his undoing and the rejection almost put an end to him.

I loved Carter in the other two books, he was the reliable one; the very reason everyone freaked out when he decided to move to a small island town in Florida. But he really did need a change. Living the way he was, couldn't really be called living. It was more like - just going with the flow. Carter came alive in this book, though. His love for music and Liz showed how passionate he was. And his time spent teaching Tia melted my heart. His relationship with Whitney, all though a little all over the place, was cute to watch as it blossomed into something so much more. He deserved to find happiness, and I was so happy he finally realized that he hadn't left his heart in Seattle, and he was free to give it to the beautiful girl who made him feel alive, the girl who challenged him every chance she got, the girl who saw him, and loved him the way he needed to be loved. My heart went out to him the night he realized he was no different than Ryan; the night he finally forgave the guy who had Kate's heart.

Whitney was probably my favorite female character from this entire series. I loved Kate in the first books, but Whit had so much spunk, while still being sweet and she even made me feel alive. She had her quirks and she was a little cautious, but that never dampened her free spirit.

This book was a bit more relaxed than the others, but it was still superbly written with Wade's fantastic style of pushing each character to their limit. Once again they got under my skin, they found a way into my heart, and I felt like I was with them on their journey through love and heart break. Another fantastic read that has made me a huge fan of this author.

[ysar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unable to watch the girl he loves fawn over another guy any longer, Carter Montgomery has moved across the country, as far as he can get from what can never be his.  Now he can start over, figure out what he wants from life without all the distractions, with a chance at new friends, a new job, and maybe even a new romance.

Whitney Sinclair is no wallflower.  Used to going after exactly what she wants, she works hard for what she's achieved, and achieving the good boy musician seems like a worthwhile goal.  As their easy friendship builds and becomes something more, this serial dater has met her perfect match.  If only she can get him to let go of the past that's shaped him and become the man he's meant to be.

I was super lucky to get to read all three books in the series in a row, and after the first two, I was dying for Carter's story.  He's been the good guy, the best friend, and in a way, the door mat for far too long, so while his cross-country move takes us away from the familiar, it makes perfect sense.  He smoothly transitioned from sweet and adorable to incredibly sexy -- without losing the traits that made me fall in love with him in the first place.

He's the perfect Everyman.  He's not drop-dead gorgeous, doesn't sport chiseled abs, isn't made of money, and doesn't have women falling at his feet.  He's just a guy, a good, decent guy who's had his heart broken.  But as he begins to come out of his despair and create a new life for himself, he becomes every bit the catch he never thought he could be.  And sooooooooo swoony!

His relationship with Whitney is a wonderful contradiction.  It's easy going and simple, and it's a whirlwind -- both in and out of the bedroom.  But even better than the pretty much perfect romance is watching him make his way past the hurt Kate caused and create his own happily ever after.  I kind of feel like if I say too much, I'll be giving away not only this story but also the previous two, so I'll just say this...

If you love new adult romance, grab this series now, get comfortable, and start reading.  Laundry can wait, dinner can be delivered, but these three utterly addictive and incredibly sweet romances cannot wait.  I'll be posting reviews for the other two soon, and you can bet I'll be harassing you all to give them a shot.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Heidi Tieman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carter...my sweet, awkward and sexy boy...if I could make ten little Carter babies with him, I would. Carter has been my favorite since book 1. His quirky sense of humor and habits stole my heart and there was no turning back. He has come a long way from his shenanigans with Dean to making some major realizations in Declaration. He had to come to grips with losing Kate to Ryan and that was a tough pill to swallow, even across the country.

When he meets Whitney, he learns a whole new side to himself. I loved watching him bloom and come out of his shell.

"I'd rather go out than sit here for the rest of the night."

"Well, if you're sure..."

"I'm positive." She clapped her hands and gave a little hop - a very girly hop that sent her breasts bouncing against her frilly t-shirt. F&$%, she was sexy. I stepped behind the counter and discreetly adjusted my groin, hoping this hard-on business wouldn't be a problem for the rest of the evening. One glance at the curve of her neck and that wild mass of black, silky hair on her head, though, and there was a twitch in my pants, assuring me the problem was here to stay.

He deserved to find happiness, even if he had to fight for it. Nothing was going to be easy but it would be worth it. They both had broken hearts that needed mending and found that in each other once they let go of the past.

"I was moving on. I'd built a brand new life from scratch, and although I still wasn't sure where it was taking me or if I was any closer to figuring out what I wanted to do with the rest of it, I realized that right now, those things simply didn't matter to me. What mattered was the fact that I was doing exactly what I came here to do. I was living life, moving forward, and trying new things."

Beautiful story and I especially loved the closure with the Epilogue. It couldn't have been more perfect!!

[Tnt Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to get this story. I loved Carter in the previous books. Carter Montgomery moved across the country to get away from Kate. Kate was the love of Carter’s life. Unfortunately for Carter, Kate’s in love with Ryan. Carter’s not only trying to get away from Kate, he’s also trying to find his place in the world. He’s become bored and complacent in his life. He needs something new, something different. Whitney Sinclair knows just what she wants out of life. She’s working hard to achieve her goals, but she still makes time to cut loose and have fun. She gets Carter to help her watch over her best friend, Emma. They become friends. Their friendship could turn into more. But will they be able to let go of past hurts and relationships to move forward with their own love story.

Let’s get the technical aspect out of the way. This book was very well-written, easy-to-read, and fast-paced. I finished it in one sitting. Yes, it can be read as a stand alone. You don’t need to read the others first, but this book just might make you want to. Okay, that’s done. Now for the gushing. I absolutely loved this story. I loved reading about my old friends (yes, they’re my friends) from Preservation, Reservation, and Love & Relativity. I really loved how Whitney and Carter’s relationship grew from friendship. I loved that they were so open and honest with each other. It didn’t have quite as much angst as the previous books and that was very refreshing. I didn’t have to have a box of tissues next to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the angst, but I also love the books that make me smile, and this one sure made me smile. Overall, a great read.

5-Bombs
Reviewed by Tracy

[Novel Shnovel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And here it is.

Declaration is book #3 in the Preservation Series by Rachael Wade which includes Preservation and Reservation. I had started with Preservation a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so much that when I learned there was a 2nd book ready and waiting, I was eager to pick it up. Then I found out that Carter Montgomery, who was an important character in the first two books was getting a book of his own (Declaration) - I was stoked! Truly, I liked Preservation and Reservation but I just fell in love with Carter from the start. He is just a likable guy who you cannot help but find yourself rooting for. I was super happy to get to read more about him and just knew that Rachael Wade would finally give him a happy ending. And so, in comes Declaration.

This entire series is like being dropped into the middle of a group of average friends and getting to see them for how they really are - warts and all. You feel triumph when they succeed and feel their love and desire when things are working well. But their anguish is also palpable when they screw up. The same sort of emotions you go through in life with your closest friends. Rachael has written these books in such a way that you feel like to you are just another one of the friends in this group.

I recommend all three books and you will really enjoy them more if you have the entire background of the characters. But if you are just not ready to jump into a three book commitment, do read Declaration and you will find yourself rooting for Team Carter too!

Check out this review and others at: http://novelshnovel.blogspot.com/

[Shirley Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Preservation I loved his big heart, his humor and his charming ways and after finishing Reservation, I was curious about what was in store for him. So for me it was a treat to read his story in Declaration.

Declaration starts off with Carter moving to a new town to start anew. After the events that took place in Reservation, he feels the need to keep his distance from Kate. As he sees it, he needs to move on and find his place in the world. So off he goes to start a new life -- with a new job, new friends and a new chance at romance.

Rachael Wade did a great job in bringing Carter and Whitley's story to the page. Their easy camaraderie brought forth how perfect they fit together and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them together.

I loved that despite the undercurrent of chemistry that always lingered between them, their connection continued to grow. True, I would have loved to have seen more of their emotions on the page, but as it was, their conflicted thoughts about starting something with each other still shone through.

Theirs was not an insta-love, but one that grew as the story progressed. I liked what each brought out of the other and how they allowed themselves time to explore what was happening between them. I especially enjoyed their witty banter and their honest interactions. They each lowered their walls and let each other in despite their doubts and hesitations.

All in all, a sweet friends to lovers story.

* I received an ARC copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.

[Rumpled Sheets Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compulsively readable addiction.

OMG!

Preservation series for sure blew me away.

In Preservation we have the story of Ryan Campbell and Kate Parker. Their relationship started as s professor-student. They both have emotions past that left them damaged and with baggage. Their damaged past have the influence on their relationship and made it a messed up one.

Ryan… is f-ing hot and bad and arrogant. Together these two are on fire.

In Reservation their story continues and this part of the story is told in Ryan´s POV while the first one was in Kate´s POV.

These two have been through hell and back. So many things happened that I really had no idea how will their story end.

The. Sex. is so steamy and hot.

Both books have twists and turns and deep emotions that kept me on edge.

Ryan and Kate´s journey is an exquisite torture.

In Declaration we have the story of Carter Montgomery and Whitney Sinclair.

I am so happy that Carter got his HEA and found his perfect girl.

After everything that happened with Kate and their relationship ended, Carter wanted to be as far as possible from all of that. So he ended on a small town on an island. He was really hurt and vulnerable and angry and he messed up a lot before he met Whitney. She was what he needed and did not know that he needed it. He was not looking for her or anyone but they found each other. She is full with life. She is sassy, funny and spunk.

The story is fast-paced and quick read. This book is one of those you want to read and read without stopping until the end.

This series is for keeps.


≧◔◡◔≦ 5 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦

>>>Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review<<<

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Declaration by Rachael Wade is the third book in her Preservation series and also features characters from her book, Love and Relativity. This review will contain a few small spoilers for these books.

This is Carter's story. We met Carter in Preservation as Kate's best friend. When Kate got engaged to the professor, Carter's love remained unrequited. He'd had enough. So, he up and leaves Seattle for Sannibel Island, Florida. He knows no one there and they, more importantly, don't know him. perhaps now it can be just him, his BBC, and his music. Did I mention Carter is more of an Anglophile than me? Can I be an Anglophile IF I'm British? Anyway, Carter meets and befriends Whitney from Love and Relativity and they become fast friends with the seeds being sown for them to become a LOT more.

This book was romantic, heartwrenching and overall, uplifting. It had its sad moments but not too many, and for people familiar with all the previous books will TRULY enjoy the way this book joins the two worlds together seamlessly.