Declan + Coraline (Ruthless People Book 0)

Another black chick meets white guy whose life isn't complete without her. I read this before reading the family series. I can understand her discomfort with his family business. Strangely that family's affection for her is refreshing after her own family's disregard. She has her own monies, education and still is a lost woman without a man. She isn't the loud brutish black female of the Billy London paints either. I really like
their story. Liam and the Boss takes you another level of crazy.

“Do you hear yourself? This is what an Amazing f*** sounds like.”
Released by popular demand Declan + Coraline is a prelude to the Ruthless People trilogy. It can be read first, but might be even more enjoyable if read after book 3.

Book 0.5: Declan + Coraline
Book 1: Ruthless People
Book 2: Untouchables
Book 3: American Savages

“We were the standard, the hope, and the law.”
~ The Callahans

Declan + Coraline (part 0.5) takes place 2 years prior to Ruthless People and opens up to when Declan A. Callahan, Liam’s cousin and key member of the Callahan clan first meets heiress, banker and recent college graduate Coraline E. Wilson, Cora.

We get to follow Declan and Cora through ups and downs as they get to know each other and learn about family secrets and painful pasts. Though worlds apart these two souls have more in common than you might thing. We also get to meet the rest of the Callahan clan, including a very single and cocky Liam Callahan and even have a cameo by The Boss herself…

DECLAN A. CALLAHAN: 27 years/Callahan clan/Mobster/$$$$/Brown hair/Green eyes/Orphan.
Nine words to describe Declan A. Callahan: Loyal, commanding, determined, suave, candid, ruthless, complex, flawed and vulnerable.

CORALINE ELIZABETH WILSON, Cora: 23 years/Heiress/Banker, WTB/$$$$/Black hair/Brown eyes/Orphan.
Nine words to describe Coraline E. Wilson, Cora: Smart, lonely, meek, naïve, loyal, trusting, dependable and easy-going.

For me, having read book 1-3 first and already being familiar with Declan and Coraline, this novella was icing on the cake, and therefore a 5-star.

Brilliant story-telling! Excellent character development! Scorching sex scenes by a very commanding, assertive and dirty-talking Declan! It’s the final piece in the puzzle of what‘s been an epic 6-star family saga. Kudos JJ!
“I’ve taught you how to f***. I’ve taught you how to make love. Now I need to teach you the full extent of f*replay.”

***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5+ stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Plot rating: 5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5+ stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A
************************************************
Overall rating: 5 stars

Would I recommend this series: Yes, absolutely.
Would I re-read this series: Yes, absolutely.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.

A gifted provided to me by author/publisher in exchange for honest feedback & review.

I am a sucker for Interracial Romance which I have read several (not enough for my taste), yet this right here felt as if I was reading this genre for the first time and that was my first interracial romance experience. It was that good! I just wish and hoped that the whole series was based on an interracial theme specially how I had fallen in love with Liam...
The only downside of this book was the grammatical errors yet, the plot makes you so in grossed to the story that you actually not only fill in the blanks, you become editor and rewrite it the way it should be, all free. With that said, this still deserved more than a five for me.
Coraline was a little bit annoying, specially with her "family" (what is this of leaving her dad legacy to the uncle... So wrong in so many levels) but I truly thought she was the perfect match for Declan. And DECLAN, I need a huge or better yet an industrial fan to cool me down... This right here is the epitome of alpha + badass + gangster + mafia= super ALPHA.... Then Evelyn, man I just love her while Sedic was a big teddy bear and a huge softy for his sons...
I just loved this story... This was my first time reading MS. McAvoy and I am hoping it will not be the last. I just hope and pray that she does more interracial badass / gangster / mafia / alpha romance...

So, the other day I was re-reading McAvoy’s Black Rainbow (which I loved) and then I remembered I still had this series to read. I wanted to write a review of the whole series (as I normally do) but after reading this, Declan + Coraline deserves a single review because this was A-MAZING! Also, because I have seen that the other three books are about Liam (Declan’s brother, so exciting!!!) and it is better to have the other three together in the review.

This is the story of two people who (according to Declan) live in the same planet but not in the same world. I totally agree but still, they belong together. This novella is about Declan Callahan (a smokin' misterious and very rich man) and Coraline Wilson (the heiress of the Wilson family, obviously a quite powerful family as well).

“Declan, I am not Cinderella.”
“Good, because I’m not Prince Charming. I prefer black.”

J. J. McAvoy is a fantastic writer. I love the style and the building of the story and its characters. I discovered a beautiful love story between two people who are fighting to be together because the others around them consider they musn’t be together (because of the racial difference and obviously because, as the reader sees, the Callahan’s family is not quite as good as we tought). There is some drama as well because the couple is surrounded by stupid, unemotional people who don’t care about the feelings of this fabulous characters. I could not stand Cora’s family, really, I can’t even..

But, Declan and Coraline have amazing chemistry, they are super cute and sexy! OMG Declan is so smokin’ and sweet at the same time! They have beautiful (and even funny) moments together and a lot of sexy times, YAAAAAAS! (His emails melted my heart really, and the references to PS I Love You OMG, how not love him?)

So, my rating for McAvoy’s novella is 4.5 STARS because I really enjoyed this dark but sweet story and I really can’t wait to read about Liam! I will start right now. If you are into erotic romance with suspense in it, I am sure you will love this, totally recommend!

To say I loved this would be a grave understatement. I liked Declan and Coraline, but after reading this and seeing just how they fell in love, it made me to fall in love with them. This series is not one to be missed and if you haven't started it yet, I highly suggest you drop everything and read it ASAP.

Wow! This was my first read by the author, but it most definitely will not be my last. There is great chemistry, a believable plot, excellent character interaction and HOTNESS. I love a good Alpha man. Great job, highly recommend!!

Tasha, Divas of the Serengeti Book Club

I love an alpha male. Declan was the perfect combination of hard and soft, I wouldn't want to be his enemy. I enjoyed their story so much that I wish it was longer. I am going to continue reading the series.

This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last!

This is Declan and Coraline's story. I loved every page of this story. I loved how Declan cared for Caroline. Okay so he messed up by omission but that did not mean his love was not 100% genuine! Great read.

I wished Caraline's family could have gotten their comeuppance horrible people.

I will now read all the books in the series because I loved this couple's story so much.

Highly recommended!

WOW!!! This book takes us to the beginning of where Declan and Coraline's story begins, and thankfully rarely mention Olivia because just the thought of her makes my blood boil. Back to Declan and Coraline, we get to see the old Declan and his unattached player type, hooking up with women just for the sex, that is until he sets his eyes on Coraline. Coraline having graduated from Stanford and living in California, moves back to where she grew up to live with her rude ass uncle, aunt, and cousin. With her parents dying in a fire when she was younger she grew up with those money greedy people as her only family. It was love at first sight for Declan at least but it didn't take long for Coraline to fall for the famous Callahan charms and they were just as hot as Liam and Mel's but without the bullets. We also get to see a fair share of Liam in this book as well in his supermodel phase but just as ruthless when it comes to his duty to the family, like putting people in hospitals, some things never change. There is also glimpse of Neil, Sedric, Evelyn, and even a special Mel interaction that had me squealing wishing it was longer but even with it being as short as it was it was still perfect and encased Mel's personality perfectly. I feel the need to say this again but thankfully Olivia was only mentioned 6 times and none of them included her speaking, the urge to strangle her is already so great, so to all you Olivia haters out there it is quite satisfying. This was a great present from J. J. McAvoy just 9 days before American Savages, which by the way I'm terrified of reading just because of the things she has said on twitter because I don't think my blood pressure could handle another The Untouchables ending, and filled with hot, hot, hot writing. At the very end J. J. also gives us another gift to be waiting for, which is her next book to be released in May called Black Umbrella which I am also very excited for just because its her writing and she's got a hold on my heart since the very first chapter of Ruthless People.