Review: Caleb

Caleb by Sarah McCarty

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



3 STARS for the Author & 4 STARS for the Narrator (Tavia Gilbert)

Audiobook listening time: 12 hours
Main Characters: Cade: A Cowboy Vampire of approx 249 years & Cassie: a pastry chef (the most recent of her many career changes)

My first thought prior to listening to the book was: " What a great premise, I don't think Cowboy Vampires have been done before." Since I wasn't familiar with Sarah McCarty, I decided to jump in there and give it a try. Even though westerns aren't really my thing I'm always up to trying something new.

The beginning starts off action packed with an attack, a rescue & then wrongly being locked up. After that, mild disappointment starts to seep in for me as the book becomes staid. There was tons of dialogue but no real communication. I think the author was attempting to portray the insecurities we all feel when we first fall in love but somehow it fell flat. The feathers scene could have been hilarious but didn't quite make it.

Allie started out being strong, stubborn but scared underneath it all. I loved her seduction attempt with the push-up bra. However, in the center of the book, I felt like her character failed. I can't put my finger on exactly what was wrong but by then I had become invested in the book and wanted to "fix it". The story line was great and it has so much potential.

One of the things that bothered me was all the clothes being ripped off Allie & later Caleb. It would have been nice to have a scene showing him or someone replacing the clothes...after all she hasn't left the "all male ranch" since the rescue and I wanted to know how all these clothes are showing up and being ripped off. Go to her house for gods sake and pick up her clothes. I hate loose ends and this one really bothered me. If there is ever a revision...please fix this! Was it cut out in a revision? I REALLY HATE LOOSE ENDS.

Caleb's character was in line with what I'd believe an 1800's cowboy would be. He kept his basic western cowboy persona with just a touch of adaption to the modern world.

Thankfully the end of the book picks up and resembles the beginning, being fast paced and action packed. If the book had continued as the middle was written it would have been a lost cause for me.

Ms. McCarty had the love scenes perfect. They were believable & hot and steamy. Perfect!

The real winner in this book is the narrator, Tavia Gilbert. Her rendition of the characters and the excitement she breaths into them rescued this book where it needed to be rescued and enhanced those scenes that were already on spot. She is the narrator that I'd like to hear in some of my paranormal and historical romance audiobooks. I have a handful that I love to hear and she goes on that list. She is right up there with my female narrators: Davina Porter, Xe Sands & Ann Flosnik. This is the first time I've had a book she narrated and hopefully it won't be the last.

With the negative things that I said about the book you'd think I wouldn't read the next one in the series. You would be wrong. Somehow Sarah McCarty made me invested in the series...She has sold me on the Johnson brothers. Did I say I love the story line. I hope her next book in the series is better. This one had the potential of being a powerhouse book but just fell short in the center. So it is safe to say...read/listen to the book and don't put it down...the end is in sight.



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