Declaration of Courtship

by Nalini Singh

[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
I have missed the psy-changeling universe, and Declaration of Courtship was the perfect cure! Very cleverly done, with an unconventional romance between an alpha lieutenant and a submissive female, I can't stop smiling at their loving interactions!



Singh was so very clever with Declaration of Courtship! I am not always a fan of novellas, because they feel somehow rushed in many ways. At the beginning of this one, however, it was made clear that Cooper and Grace had wanted each other ever since she joined the Snow Dancer pack six months ago. Thus, what might have felt like a rushed romance wasn't rushed at all, and the story spanned over enough time for the courtship to be delectable.

Grace was a submissive in many ways, but she was definitely not a doormat, and as she got to know Cooper even better, she wasn't afraid to tell him no, or to even get mad at him when the situation warranted it. I loved how Cooper tried to be so careful around her at first, until he realized that she didn't really need him to - she wanted all of him - even the dominant parts. When he made his intentions clear, with a real declaration of courtship as it were, she was both elated and a little scared. He was pretty straight forward about wanting her forever.

As always, I was feeling right at home in the Psy-Changeling universe, and I think the biggest difference between the novella format of Declaration of Courtship and a full length novel in the series was that the whole focus was on the couple, with no extreme danger coming from outside. There was plenty going on, though, both between Cooper and Grace, and with the pack, and even her brother and sister from a neighbouring pack. As Grace dared to show her own strengths, Cooper got what he needed as well - a love that was strong and pure, with no holding back.

Written in third person point of view, past tense, and with some sassy dialogues and humorous quips, Declaration of Courtship was a quick, hot read, and one I recommend if you're a fan of this series.



He'd stayed away from his sexy new systems-maintenance engineer for over six months. Six months. It might as well have been a decade, as far as he was concerned.

Don't run from me sweetheart, he thought as he took the final steps to her. I only bite a little. Not quite true, but he was planning to be on his best behavior until she trusted him enough to handle the aggressive sensuality that was an integral aspect of his nature.

Even no, the lingering whisper of it caused her skin to prickle, her mind cascading with sensory memories of the dark heat of his muscled body, the deep bronze of his skin, the black hair he'd taken to shaving so close to his skull she had to constantly fight the urge to reach up and brush her hand over the bristles.