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.

Outstanding read!!!

This book is perfect for steaming up your long winter nights. I had a very hard time taking a break during the 14 hour read. Caine is a true knight in shining armour. He is the perfect man; strong, rugged, and true to his word. It was very touching how he handled Desi from the moment he met her. His passion for her was only equal to his love. I too am looking forward to more books about the "Hell's Eight."

HOT SEX!!

I love to listen to Zoe Winslow's voice- that's what drew me to this unbelievable story- but I couldn't put it down either.

I will also read "listen " to the next one. Heck hot and bothered is the reason we listen any way isn't it!!!

Stunning performance of fantastic writing.

Where does Caine's Reckoning rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Zoe Winslow's reading was by far the best audio book I have ever listened to. I had previously read this book along with all of Sarah McCarty's series and this reading matched my imagination of the events in the story perfectly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Caine's Reckoning?

When Desi and Caine were sitting at the dinner table. The humor is fantastic.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene in the bath tub.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh out loud as well as cry with the injustices in that long ago time.

Any additional comments?

If you can only get one book this should be it

Like the story line!

To much sex I think, but overall a good book, good read, and very good narration!

Erotic Western

This was a very intrigueing story, actually read the series out of order, but it didn't make that much difference. Can't wait until another of the Hell's Eight comes out. Sarah does a good job if you like a little sexy story with your western.

Likable Characters

I liked that there was a little more to the story line than most romance books. Don’t get me wrong, I like good sex scenes, but most books I’ve read lately tend to have no story that enables a connection to the players in them. The sex is always better with well-defined characters and I thought the author did a good job of that. I particularly like the tender way Caine bathed and cared for Desi.

The narrator was excellent. She gave each character their own sound; so distinct you knew who was talking before the sentence declared it.

My only criticism is the drawn out sex scenes. The author would go off on a tangent on most scenes that would make me want to scream to get on with it! Sometimes I’d forget where they left off at. That’s how off course she get.

I would recommend this book.

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.