Caine's Reckoning

Hell's Eight Series, Book 1

By: Sarah McCarty

Narrated by: Zoe Winslow

Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

The 19th century. The Hell's Eight is the only family he's ever needed, until he meets the only woman he's ever wanted...

Caine Allen is a hardened Texas Ranger, definitely not the marrying kind. But when he rescues a kidnapped woman and returns her to town, the preacher calls in a favor. And Caine's honor won't let him refuse.

From the moment he beds Desi, Caine knows turmoil will follow. Desi might have the face of a temptress, but she also has a will of iron, and while she needs his protection, she's determined that no man will control her again. They establish an uneasy bond, but it isn't enough for Caine. He wants all Desi has to offer. He wants her screams, her moans, her demands...everything. Yet there's still a bounty on Desi's head, and keeping her sexually satisfied is proving easier than keeping her alive.

©2007 Sarah McCarty (P)2007 Audible, Inc.
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Not for the faint hearted

I have read the other reviews of Sarahs audio books and some say they should be in a more erotic category. After reading them I can understand why some would think this. Sarah writes to the fullest limits of eroticism but it is all in context of the story line. Romance novels don't usually cover that part of sexuality so it is understandable why some would be a bit shocked. But for those who were shocked, no it's still not as sexually explicit as a Penthouse forum.

Hot sex scenes

This is a good plot and the fact that there are EIGHT , count them EIGHT hot men to have more stories about is a plus. I have to tell you the sex scenes go on forever and I found I had to take more than one break during all this hot stuff. I think I am getting old! The only complaint I have is the heroine, Man she can not make up her mind what she feels. Even more confusing is the fact that when you think..Ahhh at last! she throws you for a loop and makes her hero work even harder. Not a bad thing I have to admit. But at times I would have liked to slap her. Good read even with her craziness.

Not romance or sex, it’s almost all just rape

If the main characters aren’t having sex then they are reminiscing about rape. Both of them. Not sure why a woman author thinks a woman chained to a bed and raped for a year would enjoy any sexual contact from anyone, let alone a guy who thinks he deserves sex from her after a shotgun wedding. The memories of her rape attacks make the story so uncomfortable that any love scenes with her new husband seem super unrealistic. She does make some small attempts to stop him but he seems to figure she’ll like it in the end so doesn’t stop. In turns he is kinda caring but often just as rape-like as her other abusive encounters. For a recreational read with a supposed love story there are too many disturbing elements to make this enjoyable. I did want to continue with the story, but it got to a point where I started fast forwarding because it was too much like pulling teeth and rubbing myself with sandpaper or being pecked to death by ducks.

Its in my top 20 for sure

Sensual, raw, action packed and disturbing.
This was my first erotic western in parts I was shocked my some of the content but I just could not stop listening. At times this is raw and sometimes you I thought Canie could be nicer to Desi. Yet I read on. I enjoyed the action scenes but what sticks in my mind is the SEX (there's a whole lot of it). This the best of the series ( I've read 4 of them).

Wanting More

I thought the book was really good. I got into all the characters of Hell's Eight. Can't wait for the next one. I thought the narrator was good, giving the characters good separate voices. It's a good romance. I didn't find it boring as some have stated. Obviously it's not a Pulitzer, but I stil found it a good book.

A great blend of adventure and romance

I got this book in a three books for two credits sell, and I was totally no disappointed. I think the narrator did a great job of capturing the emotions that the characters felt. the only thing that dragged on for me a bit was the ending. After I knew they were together, were going to stay together, I totally expected the book to come to an end. But we have to bask in the glory of them being in love for a while more with a very descriptive sex scene or two first.

Get on with it, already!

Now, I’m not a fan of abridged editions of any book, (having had a bad experience with one of my favourite books in the past) but, honestly, this could be a candidate for my first ever recommendation for abridgement! There are pages and pages of deliberation (internal and external dialog) before anybody does anything in this book. The author constantly has the characters asking each other “why?”. The reasoning behind this is presumably to explore their motivations but the author needs to trust that her readers are not morons and her writing is of a good enough standard that we KNOW “why” and we don’t have to have it spelled out in excruciating detail for the next 20 pages. Either that or practice the first rule of fiction writing – show don’t tell. By the time I’d got to yet another “why?” about two-thirds of the way through I had frankly given up caring. I’m not looking for literary excellence in romance novels - if I wanted that I’d be reading the Brontes - but as a reader I should be able to figure out character motivations from the writing that has gone before an action.

On the plus side, however, I did finish the book. I liked the characters. The strong, honourable but flawed hero who rescues an equally strong but damaged heroin and ends up getting “saved” by her himself is nothing new but it remains the satisfying basis for any good romance. The story has a couple of interesting twists in the plot, especially Desi’s past which is teased out intriguingly and there are lots of interesting peripheral characters.

I probably won’t buy the rest in the series because I’m looking for something in a more succinct style but, that said, it was enjoyable enough.

Great story!

This was a great yet sometimes dark story. The h had been through some seriously messed up stuff and had the emotional scars to prove it. Fate has her marrying Caine. He's Hells Eight. That basically means hes a serious badass. With her though he is so sweet. He fumbles a bit in the beginning with how to help her but he eventually shows her that she doesn't have to guard her heart from him. The sex is hot and I love that Caine was so open about sex.

I wasn't so sure about the narrator at the beginning but she fit the story very well and did a good job giving the characters voices.

Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Sarah McCarty's erotic romances. This story is sexy and well written. The narrator's voice is great. I'm glad I listened to this book instead of reading it.

This book rocks

This is the perfect book for those who like erotica with a plot. Dont download it if you are looking for traditional romances with sugared up language. This book is not vile but very hot!!!