Caleb: Contemporary Western Romance

by Sylvia McDaniel

Caleb walked away, but fate brought him back.

Years ago, Caleb Burnett walked away from Taylor Montgomery, leaving her heartbroken and unaware she was carrying his child, with nothing more than a curt goodbye and no explanation. Now a successful marketing professional and devoted mother, Taylor has built a life for herself and her young son, Liam—without Caleb. But when a chance encounter at a convention brings Caleb back into her life, old feelings resurface, along with the heartbreak she thought she’d buried.

Determined to win back Taylor’s trust and become the father Liam deserves, Caleb must confront the painful secrets that made him walk away in the first place. But Taylor isn’t sure she can risk her heart again, especially with Caleb’s lingering fears about love and family.

As they navigate a second chance at happiness, both must learn to overcome the mistakes of their past and take a leap of faith. Because sometimes, the love worth fighting for is the one you thought you’d lost forever.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2025

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Sylvia McDaniel has published more than forty western historical romance, contemporary romance and even a few sci-fi novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides a historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, Lipstick and Lead, a western historical series and several short contemporary romances.

Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.

Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two spoilt dachshunds that reign supreme over the house. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan), but not necessarily in that order.

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Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb and Taylor have a pass resulting in Liam that he is not aware of. A chance meeting puts them together again. Challenges, awkward conversations, revelations, make it a book you won’t put down.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I hadn't read any of the other books in this series, and I'm going to be honest, the ghost threw me off at first but then became my favorite character! This was a beautiful second-chance romance with a good arc, complex characters, and witty writing. This book is one in a series of connected stand-alones that can be read independently and has a HEA. Overall, I recommend it if you want a steamy second chance that warms your heart!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kim Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the twelfth book in the series. It is a second chance romance story.

The MMC leaves the FMC not realising she is pregnant, years later they meet again and he works to win her back.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend reading it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb knew Taylor in college, then he just left and cut her off. She didn't know why, and then found out that she was pregnant, she contacted Caleb but he had blocked her.
Now Caleb's great times six grandmother, Eugenia, is on his case! She's determined to get them all married, she's lovely and funny.
Caleb meets Taylor at a conference, she's still got feelings for him but how does he feel about her? And can he overcome his problems with his past? Will he accept Liam as his son?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Another great read in the series from Sylvia.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book twelve in the series and it's Taylor and Caleb's story. They have a second chance at love. Their is a lot of hurt, and a secret he has a son. a wonderful story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caleb is book 12 in the Burnett Brides series by Sylvia McDaniel which started as historical romances with a matchmaking ghost named Eugenia and now approximately 100 yrs later she’s back again…

Up next is Caleb and Taylor, who he walked away from while in college, no explanations, no contact, nothing..when he see her at a convention those feelings he thought were gone were not. She on the other hand wants nothing to do with him. Read on to see what happens when some secrets are revealed…

I voluntarily read a copy of this book from BookSprout. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[PurpleLadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caleb, by Sylvia Mcdaniel is a second chance romance. Caleb and Taylor met at college, were friends and dated for seriously for sometime, then Caleb disappears, breaking up with her via phone call. Unknown to Caleb, Taylor is pregnant with his child. Fast forward three years and Taylor and Caleb meet again? Their attraction is strong, but there are too many secrets and unanswered question between them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb ~ The Burnett Brides #12 by Sylvia McDaniel.

Publisher Description Caleb walked away, but fate brought him back.

I love this series from Sylvia, they have all been written extremely well with wonderful characters that feel real. The way Sylvia does this is with her descriptive writing which brings the story to life.

This is Caleb Burnett's story with Taylor his girlfriend from college whom he left abruptly without a word. Little known to Caleb, Taylor was pregnant with their son Liam.

Caleb is written extremely well with the wonderful appearance of the ghost of his great-great aunt Eugenia.

I highly recommend this book to all. If I could give more than 5🌟 then this book would have them.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Easy-to-read

Entertaining

Happily Ever After

Inspirational

Original

Page-turner

Romantic

Realistic

Wonderful characters

[Knight Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A serious read in the Burnett Bride series as Eugenia visits Caleb trying to convince him, he was nothing like his father. Caleb's father was a hateful, non-careing of a man, and Caleb lived in fear that he would turn out just just like him. While in college Caleb had to go home to settle his parents in the middle of an argument, but they both tragically passed during the visit. Caleb was unable to return to college. His girlfriend, Taylor at college tried to contact him, and he finally called her after numerous calls to coldly break it off with her not giving her a chance to talk. That left Taylor alone and pregnant with no where to turn but her family. Four years later, she ran into Caleb at a convention, and he seemed to want to make amends for his actions all those years ago. Could she risk giving Caleb a second chance with Liam to think about? What if he disappeared again? As always Eugenia was a delight with her straight forward demands and reasoning in solving any problems. She no longer scares anyone in the family, but Caleb and her did have several heart to heart talks. She even made an appearance off the ranch. An amazing read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb is a fantastic contemporary western romance which I found to be quite entertaining and an absolute pleasure to read. This novel has charm, suspense, and is definitely a page turning western romance. This is the journey of Caleb and Taylor, whom I absolutely enjoyed getting to know as the main characters of this story. I also adored seeing these two amazing characters grow closer together as a couple through the pages of this amazing book. This novel is beautifully written, well balanced and phenomenally executed by Sylvia McDaniel. The characters are well developed and beautifully executed throughout the story. This also happens to be the first book that I have actually read by Sylvia McDaniel, and I was blown away by the amazing plot, characters and the ending. I found this book to be completely captivating from beginning to end. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves reading western romances.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra Sorola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It tackled a couple of tough issues and kept me reading! Caleb had a very rough start in life due to Parents not willing to work at a marriage.
Taylor had a very good upbringing. Her family was loving and caring.
They met in college and fell hard for each other, but things fell apart when Caleb left with no explanation whatsoever.
Things turned for Taylor finding out she was carrying Caleb's child and she chose to not tell him after he left without a reason with no contact except to say we are done.
Will they ever be able to reconstruct a life together with secrets on both sides? When they meet again a few years later things escalate between them, but their secrets hold them back.
This book is by far the one I have enjoyed the most. There wasn't fluff just real life issues. It held my interest completely.

[Charmaine Nouwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb: a Contemporary second chance,Western Romance story of Caleb and Taylor..One ghost,one cowboy and the woman who got away..They were college sweetheart but one day he left,ghosted her and broken up with her on the phone not knowing he left the woman whos carrying his unborn child..Now years later their path crossed again at a convention..Now she's a successful marketing professional and dedicated single mom..Is love sweeter the second time around or a heartbreak for the second time? A wonderful,heartwarming,touching,emotional,steamy and lovely read..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taylor and Caleb were a couple in college until he up and left her without explanation so she is shocked when she goes to a convention hoping to get some clients for her marketing job when she sees him again after years with no contact. The attraction is still there but she has no intentions of telling about the son they share since he up and left her all alone. Will Caleb and Taylor be able to move forward once he finds out he has a son?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juanell Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another Burnett that didn't find love on the Burnett Dude Ranch. This series has been fun to read each one having their problems and solutions. The ghostly 4x g-grandmother is a real hoot, maybe she'll even find grumpy Aunt Rose a match somewhere in our future. Caleb has had a hard live and now he finds out a lot more than he thought possible, but thankfully he does y he right thing in the end.

[Christina Luberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like stories about love that hurts. This is Caleb and Taylor's story. He left her with no real reason. She had to navagate with being pregnant and raising their son alone. They meet again, but can she forgive him? Can he believe he is good? Follow the drama as they try to find their way back to each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Esme Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows Caleb, who once left Taylor, breaking her heart and leaving her to raise their child alone. Years later, fate brings them together again, forcing both characters to confront their shared history and unresolved emotions. The central themes of redemption, forgiveness, and personal growth appear to add depth to the narrative. Caleb's struggle to overcome his fears and Taylor's journey of learning to trust again form the emotional backbone of the story.

[Xantippi Leska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Caleb and Taylor's story, it was hard to put it down once I started reading. The characters were well written and I loved the story line.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vickie Raynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far, my favorite in this series. Caleb was lovable from the start. Broken, and hurdles to get past, he’s willing to try for his one true love Taylor, and his son, Liam. Of course there’s always our fun resident ghost. This author has a way of tugging at your heart strings and make you chuckle all at once, and who doesn’t love a sexy cowboy!