Caine's Reckoning

First of all...THE COVER IS THE BEST!!!!! Being fairly new to erotic romance, it's taken me a while to sift through the good, the bad, the average, and the great. Sarah McCarty is definitely in the "GREAT" category! This is the third book I've read from Ms. McCarty and I was not let down. While I enjoy these types of romance along with just about all others, I tend to get invested emotionally. It doesn't matter how much sex is in the story - if I don't care about the characters, I won't even finish. When there is much suffering (as in Desi's case) it can sometimes be hard to keep reading but I do know from reading Ms. M's previous books that there is going to be a great payoff in the end. The hero is definitely of the "alpha" variety but not overwhelming and with so many great qualities (patience, sense of humor, sex appeal, patience, sex appeal, etc. - You can probably tell what qualities I really appreciate). The heroine is strong and opinionated as well as being admirable. I thought the progression from Desi and Caine's initial meeting to the end was pretty realistic. I try to keep in mind the time period and the fact that times would have been much harder thereby requiring expediting certain events such as marriage. The secondary characters contribute to the story without overtaking the main plot. I love the dialogue which is very natural and snappy and flows very well. The humor is fantastic and had me laughing out loud several times. On the flip side, the darker scenes sometimes had me misting up or just getting mad (at the bad guys). Thankfully, there weren't a whole ton of those. The epilogue is fantastic and well....emotional. I highly recommend this book and all others by Sarah McCarty.

The Hell's Eight are a band of men who have gone through hell when they were children. After seeking retribution for what happened to them, they are now on the right side of the law, acting as Texas Rangers. Caine Allen and other members of Hell's eight, save Desi and two other women who were kidnapped. Curiously, the other women will have nothing to do with Desi and Desi doesn't want to go back to town - doing whatever she can to avoid it. When Caine returns her to town, he understands why - the most crooked circuit judge in the territory has made a slimy gambler Desi's guardian. Why is that? And why is this guardian saying that Desi isn't quite "right in the head" when clearly she's as sane as the next person? Recognizing a bad situation, Caine plans to bring her to his ranch, but the local padre calls in a favor and so, to take her away from her guardian, Caine marries Desi. Desi isn't quite sure what to make of Caine. Her experience with men over the past year has left her with horrible memories and fears. Caine is determined to help her overcome her fears and make their marriage work. He's not always sure what to do, but he's determined to cure Desi's fear - if only her stubbornness will let her let go. But can Caine help Desi overcome her fears while there's still someone who wants her back and is determined to get Desi back no matter what? In Caine's Reckoning, you have both a hero and heroine who have gone through hell. Yup, some of what you read is painful - Desi's nightmare comes to mind. But there's also some scenes (the rooster and outhouse come to mind) that are just laugh out loud funny. I'm not a big fan of historical romances - I tend to go for contemporary romances. But Sarah McCarty's books are a whole different genera - yup, they're historical western romances, but the depth of the characters and the wonderful storylines make you just sink into the story and forget any preconceived notions you may have about westerns or even romances. Strong women, wonder alpha men, secondary characters that you care about and a plot that will cause you to read late into the night. It really doesn't get any better than that. If you were wondering about the steaminess of the book as the series is part of Spice instead of Ellora's Cave (who published the author's previous books), have no fear - the steaminess is still there. My only issue with these books? I want the next story NOW! Write faster Sarah!

I don't like 'historical' but this author does write some excellent 'hot cowboy' stories, and this one (a new series by the name of Hell's Eight) is extremely good. McCarty really puts emotion and 'personality' into her characters, and the hardship the hero and heroine have gone through before they meet up with each other, give them great depth of personality. The angst of Desi trying to overcome what has happen to her. Wanting to trust, but so afraid to. Caine's patience, his screw ups and his fortitude to keep on going, trying to help Desi (determined to help her). His determination to make a 'real' marriage between them. The conflicting emotions that Desi has, and of course, through it all, the 'protection' factor (Caine trying to protect Desi from the 'bad guy', while Desi is trying to 'protect' Caine from the 'bad guy' hurting Him) runs through the whole story. Along with the 'WHY' are these people after Desi? In my opinion, this is one of the best historical westerns I've ever read, and I'm looking forward to Ms McCarty's next Hell's Eight book. (ps. and I really loved Boone! hehehe)

Caine's Reckoning by Sarah McCarty. Where do I start? It started off with a bang that sucked me right into the story and ended on a more emotional note, one that had the tears flowing. Oh how I love a book that takes me on a roller coaster ride emotionally. I won't go into the plot or try to summarize it for you as so many others have done, but I do have to ask you one question: Did you all laugh aloud as I did at the rooster scene? And the second one on page 428? I must share the snippet: She looked down at the red pacifier in her hand and then at the dog. "What do you think, Boone? Should we throw away our scruples or make a stand for what's right?" Boone eyed the monster. It spread its wings and crowed. Mid-crow, Boone shivered and let out a moan of pure terror. Desi glanced at the outhouse. Shadow would be popping out of there any minute now, which meant expediency was her best bet if she didn't want a twenty-minute lecture. "You're right. We don't have time for scruples." She tossed the pacifier on the ground. Cantankerous went for it with unholy zeal. She shook her head as he hopped on board. "That's just not right." LOL...No, it's not right, but it sure is freaking funny. That as well as the scene where Caine is teaching Desi to shoot and she misses on purpose (the purpose is a kiss), shooting the outhouse instead of her target, and Sam comes running out pulling up his drawers, gun at the ready. Snort. Ms. McCarty paints a very vivid picture, one that made me laugh out loud. I felt so badly for all the men of the Hell's Eight, what they went through when they were little boys. The old West was a son of a bear, wasn't it? Forcing boys to grow into men before their time, and allowing women to be used as any man saw fit. Son of a bear, indeed! I enjoyed watching Desi bloom as she found her footing on the ranch, and mostly after she learned that she didn't have to work herself into the ground to earn Caine's respect. She'd already had it. I liked Caine from the first page. I found his hard exterior very attractive, but when his sensitive side came to the fore, that was when I fell in love with him. Together Caine and Desi learn to give and take, to bend, and in the process find love. She's the one thing he'd never expected to find, he's not at all what she expected her husband to be, yet together they find the one thing neither knew they were looking for: Each other. Caine's Reckoning is a story of hope, a story of grit and determination. At the core of the story I found love, laughter, and family. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time, and one I will read time and time again as I anxiously await the next book in the series: Sam's Creed.

I have read several of Sarah McCarty's books and I was not so patiently awaiting the release of this book. I was not disappointed. It was a fast- paced fantastic read. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the Hells Eight series.