❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS 's Reviews > Caine's Reckoning

March 2020 Review
(Downgrade from 5 to 4 stars)
I'm struggling with reviewing this one. Years ago (probably at it's release) I read this book and was always on the prowl for the next one in the series. I was in love and obsessed with the men of Hell's Eight. However it has been years since I've read it and obviously I've aged as well and I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to. To be clear this book was allllllll smut, smut and more smut with a little story thrown in. It was a little uncomfortable at times as Caine rescues Desi from a situation most of us could not fathom. After the murder of her family she is essentially sold to a gambler in a small town who (I'm guessing because it's not 100% proven) rents out Desi to the men in the town to do as they wish. As you can imagine her life has been nothing but HELL. Sex is not and has never been pleasurable to her. Caine must marry her to protect her and in doing so Caine really pushes the limits of her sanity. Personally I don't think he should have pushed her to come to terms with her past so quickly. Hell he's feeling her up on the first night. It just felt dirty and I couldn't help but feel for her. Give this woman a damn minute to enjoy her freedom-sexual and otherwise. That is not what happens and while Desi does fall for Caine, it just wasn't as romantic as my head remembered it. Having said that I must admit that this is historical and takes place in a time when women literally were possessions. They had no rights, no say and without a man/husband they were fair game. It's disgusting and sad but unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it Desi is saved by an upstanding man who at the end of the day just wants to make her happy and give her the life she deserves. Maybe not the luxurious life she was accustomed to before her imprisonment but a life of freedom, happiness and independence that she probably gave up all hope for. I'm looking forward to the rest of the men's stories, particularly Desi's sister who is most likely living in her own hell. Now that I can be prepared for more of an erotic western rather than a damsel in distress romance I'm hoping I'll enjoy the following books more!