Sam's Creed by Sarah McCarty

Back Blurb-

Every Texan woman knows the men of Hell's Eight offer wild, no-strings-attached pleasure. Well, almost every woman...


Known for making up his own rules of right and wrong, Texas Ranger Sam "Wildcard" MacGregor takes what he wants when he wants it, especially when it comes to women. But seduction is the last thing on his mind the moment he stumbles across an Hispanic beauty crouching in fear beside a burned-out wagon. And it doesn't take long before he realizes the woman the townsfold call "cursed" is hiding secrets too dangerous to face alone.

Isabella may look feminine and unassuming, but she's hell in a bodice with gunslinging skills to match any man's. But though she knows not to give Sam her heart as readily as she offers him her lush body, Isabella is certain she sees in Sam what he can barely glimpse in himself---a virtuous man dropped deep into a hard country bent on beraking him. A man who, under it all craves a passionate woman willing to risk everything...


Ms. McCarty has done it again. Sam's Creed is the 2nd book in her Hell's Eight series through the Spice Books Imprint. Sam MacGregor made a play for Desi in Caine's Reckoning but was shot down. He wasn't serious about it, but I knew at that moment that this would be a fascinating hero.

And he was. Tall, sexy, uber-masculine and just waiting for a strong woman to take him to task. Enter Isabella. The moment when they meet is fraught with tension, but also a great deal of humor. As per usual, Sam's thinking with his little brain when he first meets her, but he can't help also being intrigued by her.

Isabella was a hoot! Funny and wanting this man who saved her life. She wants him to be her first with a passion that just...well, it's just beautiful. She's tenacious and won't leave him be. She's not a native English speaker and her massacre of the English language has some very funny moments. :)

Once they finally get down to the dirty deed though, it's a sensual romp that is just yummy. Sam wants her first time to be sweet and gentle, but Bella's not taking that. She wants it hot and raunchy because she senses that's what he really wants. The tug of war between the two of them is what makes this book so fascinating.

What I love about Ms. McCarty's writing is that though her books are erotica, there is also a real plot to the story. There's never what I call gratuitous sex. It helps push the story along, but isn't the driving force behind it. I think that's why I like her writing so much.

And again, just like in Caine's Reckoning, the ultimate love scene once they've come to really love each other? Goose bump inducing.

I can't recommend these books enough. And they're in trade-size paperback, so they aren't an e-book. I'm not a big fan of ebooks, so this makes me extra happy.

And can I just say that the woman knows how to write a love scene? I'm amazed the book wasn't smoking. :D


My Rating: A-


I loved both books the same, but for totally different reasons. *sigh*