Decline - Book Review

By Michelle Irwin

Synopsis

Hold on tight, stick to the racing line, and watch for the corners.

Four years after making the decision to leave his home town behind, all of Declan Reede’s dreams have come true. Unapologetically foul-mouthed, driven, and well known for his off-track antics, his success seems unstoppable. At least until Queensland Raceway and a chance sighting of the girl who once held his heart. Now, getting around the track seems an impossible battle as he struggles to return to his previous form. With his career racing downhill faster than his V8 on Mount Panorama, there’s more than just his reputation on the line.

What will it take to put the brakes on his decline?

Review

Sorry Michelle, I’m just going to put this out there: I cannot stand Declan Reede. Never before have I read about a young man acting so much like a spoilt child. Seriously, if he was real, I’d punch him in the face, kick him in the balls and then run over him with his own car. He is completely unable to accept responsibility for his own actions and seems insincere in almost all his apologies. He is unbelievably rude to the people that want to help him and speaks to them like they’re not worthy of his time. He’s highly arrogant and expects everyone to bow down to him just because of who he is. He is very quick to anger and doesn’t seem to act rationally at all. Clearly he has some serious mental issues that need to be dealt with pronto. And don’t even get me started on how oversexed and foul-mouthed he is. Aargh!!!

I liked Alyssa and felt terrible about what she’s had to go through, but I didn’t like that she apologised to Declan for things that weren’t her fault. She tried harder than anyone else in her position would have to get in touch with him. She shouldn’t have apologised for his lack of knowledge; she should have set him straight and put the blame right back at his feet where it belongs. Clearly Declan is her kryptonite as he weakens her resolve to forget him and move on.

So given how much I hated Declan and what I’ve said above, you probably think I hated the story as well, but I didn’t. I gave this story 5 Hearts because I couldn’t put it down, because I gave up sleep just so I could finish it, because it brought out a wide range of emotions in me and because it left me wanting more. And damn it, despite hating Declan, I can’t stop thinking about him. It’s like he’s burrowed under my skin. I’m hoping and praying that Michelle has written him so badly here so that he’ll redeem himself later. Please, please, please make him a better person. I want to see redemption. I want to see some major grovelling. I want to see Alyssa bring Declan to his knees. I didn’t know what I expected when I started reading DECLINE, but it blew me away. DECEIVE (book # 2) can’t come out fast enough in my opinion.