This is the un-published original Changing Caleb. This book is no longer available. Please do not leave reviews on this version. The new version of Changing Caleb is by J.L. Leslie. Nicole Dykes is no longer an author of this series. Please search for Changing Caleb by J.L. Leslie for the correct version. . . . .
Caleb… I left Hollis, my hometown and the only place I’ve ever known. She was everywhere. Driving me insane. Getting under my skin. I ruined what we had and I needed to move on. She already has.
Los Angeles made me realize Casey was never good for me to begin with. We brought each other so much pain. Too much destruction. It wasn’t passion. What we had wasn’t love. It was something different.
Casey… I was happy when he left. Caleb should have stayed gone. I was moving on and becoming a new person without him. Growing up. Only he didn’t stay gone.
He came back and now he’s pretending to be someone else. Says he’s a better man without me. That all the years we spent together were a waste. How can he say that? I don’t even recognize this man he’s become. What we had together was stronger than love.
**Changing Caleb is book three in the Hearts of Hollis series co-written by Nicole Dykes and J.L. Leslie. It is written as a stand-alone novel. It is not necessary to read books one and two in this series, but does include characters from these novels. It contains adult content, language, and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers only.**
Nicole Dykes is a wife and a professional assistant/mom to two gorgeous girls. Currently residing in Kansas, she’s a lover of coffee, Kansas City Chiefs, and all things romance.
She's found her passion in writing M/M romance because love is love is love. Some popular works include Hostile, The Spark of Hope Series, and The Kensley Panthers Series!
This book was told from both Caleb and Casey’s point of view. This really worked as the reader got to see them both work through everything in their minds. It was obvious that they were meant to be and I trusted the authors to give a HEA.
Together they were fiery but they loved hard. So glad she gave Derek the elbow!
The secondary characters in this story were great and I look forward to reading Avery’s story.
I received this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first book I read of this series. I know that I love anything Nicole writes so how can I go wrong with a new book. Now that I’ve read it,I have to go back and read them all.
Caleb left his hometown to get away from Casey. Casey is his Kryptonite. One day they’re together and then they’re not. Angry/ fighting sex is their favorite. Caleb goes to LA to change and get over Casey. He’s decided to come home and since he’s a changed man nothing bad will happen .. Casey has loved in Hollis her whole life. She’s happy and content in her life at the moment. The moment Caleb walks back into her life she knows her life is anything but content. They are two people who no matter who much they try they just have that magnetic pull towards each other. They are arguing and fighting and then making up the best way they know how ..
This book was fantastic. I loved the second chance romance. The two of them are always at each other’s necks and it just worked so well for them, in the end at least. Once I started reading it I couldn’t stop. This was a great read that I highly recommend.
I really found this book to be a nice lovers story. Growing up and finding your first love and never being able to get over that person. In your heart there’s always a special place for them that has never gone away. In Caleb and Casey story they grew up and had a love but also they were not mature enough to be able to handle it and all the things that come with a relationship and the hormones, feelings, disagreements that occurred. Communication may have been good but only to a point. There sex life was no problem but they couldn’t control their anger towards each other. Plus a girl who was saying things that didn’t happen that caused more problems for Caleb, and caused Casey to leave him. They both needed space and time apart to grow up. Make some changes if they wanted to get back together. The chemistry was off the charts, and they still had strong feelings for one another, it could work, if they only took the chance and just calmed down and didn’t jump one another right away.i absolutely loved the book. I thought it was awesome by these two authors. I highly recommend it to the readers. An amazing read ❤️❤️
I absolutely love Nicole and J.L’s words together, they are both awesome authors but together, their words are just magical. When I first started this book I was unsure on Casey, I know we have met her previously and she was an awesome sidekick character, but seeing her own thoughts and how she was acting to Caleb? That wasn’t okay. Caleb tried to show her he had changed and she wasn’t accepting it. As the story went on, I grew to love her again, and I was SO excited when everything worked out they just click! It is amazing to watch them grow as individuals until they eventually became the best of themselves, I can’t wait until we get to see how they end, and whether they carry on to be themselves.
When you find your soulmate in your youth can it last? Well that is the burning question in this book. It also deals with so much more, there’s evolution of self and brings about the question can we really change our innate self even when we’re not sure we want to or what’s right to do? Or do we live with mediocrities because we think it’s the right thing to do? Are we willing to admit to the parts we play in dissolution of a relationship or do we continue to delude ourselves? This is just a little bit of what is taking place in this story.
Let me just say I was not a fan of Casey. Why? Well here’s the deal I wanted to throttle her most of the time because of her personality when she was around Caleb. Yes, I am a fan of Caleb. He was trying so hard to do the right things. She kept taunting him. I thought she was a little, you know what. The thing is what is so good about the story is the author’s wrote a real story. It wasn’t sugar coated. This is how people act. When people are hurt they want you to hurt too. It’s the nature of the beast. Sometimes we can change who we are to the situation we want it to be but it may not be what we really feel inside. So we settle or try to adapt to the socially acceptable. When we are dragged into the alternate of our act we respond irrationally. That’s all I’m going to say about this because I don’t do spoilers. Read the blurb better yet read the book.
Don’t worry you get all the feels, anger, happiness, sweetness, romance, and heat. The secondary characters are pretty interesting. I want to learn more about them. This is my first read by these two authors together. So I’m not quite sure if I missed certain parts of a story or will learn more about a certain character in an upcoming book. I want to find out though.
I read these book straight through. Two reasons for this, one it was easy reading and two I needed to find out how it turned out. So yes, I truly enjoyed this book. To the author’s I say well done!
I've love reading books from Nicole Dykes. This is the first book I have read from her that she co wrote with J.L. Leslie. I was definitely not let down with this book. Two people who fall in love from a young age and then one day a lie is told and things end badly between them. When Caleb comes back to town a changed man, he and Casey struggle to be around each other again. Through the years of them being apart Caleb found Hillary, who helped him grow and change into the man he has become. A change that Casey can't believe he has truly made. Casey is in a relationship with a man she is not in love with. Casey digs at Caleb often trying to bring out the old guy she once knew. She feels his anger will once again show. It was hard watching these two struggle to stay away from each other even though they have such a strong connection. You all pulled at my heart strings with this one. I got pissed off and angry at times and then turned around and smiled at others. I love how you turned this story full circle. The love these two have for each other was so strong. Thank you for an amazing book. I will be going backwards and reading the other two books prior to this one. Then I can't wait to read the story if Avery and Landon Bravo ladies.
I love the Hearts of Hollis Series, and Caleb's book was no different. Caleb comes back to town after being away for awhile to work on some of his issues, and he comes back a better man...and then there's Casey....oh Casey!! I really liked her in Marking Madden, and Besting Brady, but holy crap did the claws come out in Changing Caleb!! She was a raging bitch, and I really wanted to smack the ever lovin' shit out of her!!! I understand she was hurt and angry, but she was completely irrational, and I think she was also in denial and lashing out because she was angry at herself. I was rooting for Casey and Caleb to work things out, and sit down and talk...really talk, not goad each other like they always did in the past. Now they've been doing this dance for a very long time, so in the end are they mature enough to work things out like the adults they are supposed to be? You'll just have to read the book to find out....I am recommending not just this book, but the whole series!! I can not wait to see what these 2 talented ladies have in store for us next!!
I voluntairly reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Changing Caleb book 3 of the Hearts of Hollis is a heartwarming, fast paced book about a small town and a group of close friends. Caleb returns to Hollis a better man after his breakup with Casey, but what happens when he and Casey meet up again is explosive and full of sexual tension. Neither one can forget the other, now they find themselves discovering with the help from their friends that they are on a path of growing up, forgiveness and the insight to realize that the love they have had all those years never really went away, are they willing to try one more time? I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next adventure of Avery's and Landon's story. This is a must read!!!!
Caleb and Casey are examples of fire and dynamite when you combine them together as teenagers. They explode. It is all explosive chemistry or all explosive anger. When they end up blowing up and going their separate ways, it forces them to finally grow up and face life for what it is. Sometimes you can love someone without being able to be around them.
When Caleb returns to their hometown though, both have to accept that growing up made them see how being apart was for the best. Can Caleb and Casey accept how things are now and give their love a second chance or do they walk away with others knowing their love is too toxic??? Read to find out as Caleb and Casey explore what was, what is and what could be.
***I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
There’s always that one ex you go back to time and time again. That is Caleb & Casey. As toxic as their relationship was, you can tell there is real love there.
I like Caleb. I felt like he was trying to grow and move on from his past. I respect him for that.
That being said, I had a hard time with this one. Not because the book wasn’t good, but because I couldn’t connect with the h. I did not like Casey. I felt she was a scorned spiteful immature ex. I feel like she didn’t really grow or mature during their split. And only for that reason, this is a 4 star read for me. Other than that it was a good read.
This was my first book by J.L Leslie and Nicole Dykes. This book is super intense all the way through. You can feel the heat between Caleb and Casey just radiating off the pages. I absolutely love the history that they have as it is a very real thing for many relationships!
There was one scene that I felt was unnecessary in the book and if removed it still would have been just as intense and captivating! I love that we get to see the characters from the other books! I love how J.L. Leslie and Nicole Dykes show us the growth of Casey and Caleb through the history they tell! Definitely a book that I would recommend!
Casey and Caleb had a very toxic relationship that ended when tragedy struck. Now that they are in the same town again, they try their best to say they've moves on but with such history between them, we're they really over to begin with? This is the third book in the series but a first for me. I love a good second chance between characters with such a long history. I'm excited to read more from these two authors.
Finally the read I've been waiting for. Casey and Caleb's story. These two have so much passion whether it's fighting or tearing up the sheets. They have loved each other for so long they don't know how to be happy with anyone else. They needed to really lose each other before they could find their way back together. Loved this story and the little snippet at the end of the book, makes me want Avery's story just as bad.
Simply lovely! I fell in love with this series from the moment I read the first book. This town and its people have crawled into my heart and I just love the HEA they provide after all the stumbling blocks life throw at them and all the obstacles they have to face. The cover says it all! Expect some super sexiness!
4,5* This is the 1st book in this series that i read. The sparks are flying between Casey and Caleb but will they find each other back again. The story is written with heart for the characters, you can feel the love from the pages. If you are a fan of a good love story than I highly recommend this book.
This is the third book in the series, but the fist I’ve read. I loved everything about it. Caleb and Casey were like TNT but can you escape and avoid your soulmate? The way the characters were depicted the feelings felt so real and genuine. I will be reading the first two books and hope for more to come
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I fell in love with Casey and Caleb in the previous two books. Reading their story I was filled with emotions, I laughed, cried and cheered them on! I am so thrilled with this installment of the Hollis series! It's hot, and I could not put it down!
This book made me yell at these authors so many times. The emotions this book brings to life are amazing and make you fight for the couple to fix everything!
Yes Yes Yes!!!! Im so glad this world is moving forward!!! I love the Hollis crew!!!! Loved loved loved cant wait to read about more of them!! Must read book must read series!!!💖💗💞
So much angst and drama. Caleb and Casey fell in love as kids but growing up is never easy and their love explodes forcing Caleb to flee. When he returns home, he is a changed man, at least a man that has grown up and has a new outlook on life. When he sees Casey again, he realizes that he still loves her but believes that they shouldn’t be together. Casey is shocked to see Caleb back in town. When their relationship fell apart, well, it crushed her yet she is building a life for herself and likes what she has. Then he kisses her and everything she felt for him is still there. The road to love is never easy and these two have to face the challenges of their past and who they have become then maybe the love they share can be rekindled. What a great community of friends that help each other cope with life’s daily struggles added a wonderful depth to this journey.
Casey and Caleb has moved on he moved away and she dated someone else but when he comes back to town no matter how much he is changed the fire between them is still there. Casey isn’t an easy person to be involved with but she is dating a professor at her college that is so far from the way Caleb is she feels safe and comfortable. Caleb left for California where his sister Avery was because breaking up with Casey sent him on a self destructing pattern and he met Hillary who showed him there was a better way. Caleb has only been home a few days when he runs into Casey and he can feel his old habits trying to creep up on him but he’s fighting it. It was hard to see Caleb and Casey fighting their feelings knowing they are so destructive to each other but that the love they had since they were younger is still there, and everyone can see it. Loved this story and even though it made me sad I really enjoyed reading it.
Every book just leaves you wanting more! Casey and Caleb's story was long awaited and just what i needed. Looking forward to whatever these two throw at me next!
As a couple, Caleb and Casey had to admit they don’t work. Two fiery temperaments, too many arguments eventually broke them apart and Caleb left town. So why are they both dancing around each other, trying to deny their attraction when Caleb once more returns to Hollis? Despite each telling themselves they’re not right for each other and deserve better, the sexual magnetism and chemistry between them jumps off the pages. They can deny it all they like but, as the story is told from alternate points of view, it gives us an insight into their real thoughts and feelings. I love the push and pull between them and can imagine the looks they give each other when they think they’re not being watched. It took me a minute or so to warm to Casey. A lot of the time I wanted to shake her for the snarky comments and the way she constantly tried to get a rise out of Caleb. She was clearly still hurt and I felt the struggle she had trying to stay away from him. It made me wonder how long it would take for the pair of them to come to their senses. I also loved the secondary characters from the previous books, who play a very important role in Caleb and Casey’s story. A great group of friends who look after each other and have each other’s backs. However, there’s a mystery surrounding one character in particular this book and I can wait to find out what happened there. I think they have an emotional story to tell.
Changing Caleb is a part of the Hearts Of Hollis series co-wrote by Authors J.L. Leslie and Nicole Dykes. This is the third book in series. We meet Caleb and Casey as a couple way back in the day, they have a toxic at best relationship for years, Caleb leaves after some tragic happens and the relationship goes to the tanks. Casey stays in Hollis, and try’s to fix herself and life after Caleb. Upon Caleb’s return to Hollis things heat up and get intense between Casey and Caleb. Caleb is a strong willed sexy alpha behavior type male, he’s got his own demons to deal with in his life and relationship with Casey. Caleb works hard and loves even harder. Casey Is a slightly drama filled over the top type person, she can’t help but jab at Caleb at any chance she gets, she fights the urges, fights the feelings, and fights Caleb every turn she can. Things seem like they will never get there but one small action and a few words locked into a room together for a few minutes could change everything for them both. Changing Caleb is a 5 star addition to the Hearts of Hollis series.
I really enjoyed this story! It was well written and the characters just drew me in from beginning to end. It is the 3rd book in the series but it does stand by itself. I haven't read the previous books and I had no trouble picking up this one and fully enjoying it. It did hook me on the series though, so I definitely want to check out the rest of them. This story deals with 2 characters that have loved each other for a long time, but they were both on the immature side and got into a cycle of hurting each other and not knowing how to get out of it, until it broke them. Both have matured now and are fighting the question of whether or not they are meant to be and are good for each other. I really loved the way that it was done. You could really feel the characters struggle throughout the story as they tried to figure themselves out. This story does have some explicit sex in it, blended very well into the story. There was plenty to keep my attention and definitely kept me wanting more. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
This is my first by these two talented authors and first in the series. I read this as a stand-alone. I don’t think it made the story any less amazing having not read the others in the series but I think I have to go read them now just cause I enjoyed this one so much.
Your first love is always hard to get over no matter how or why it ended it was still your epic first love!! For Caleb and Casey they loved with conviction but also fought with it. They were just not ready at that point in their lives for a life together. I matter how badly they wanted it. Time apart changed them both and with they were in same vicinity once again their love and their chemistry as hard to deny. They just needed to get there in their own time.
I truly enjoyed this HEA and will definitely be grabbing the others in the series. Highly recommend!!!
❤️🌼🔥YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL IT’S GONE❤️🌼🔥 CHANGING CALEB is about Casey Wells and Caleb Randall...They have known and loved each other since they were kids, and later fell in love...but it was tumultuous, and they always fought, bickered, broke up....but they finally broke up for good, and Caleb moved to L.A. with his sister Avery to grow up, dry out and get himself back together ......❤️🌼🔥 When Avery brings Caleb back to Hollis to get settled in again, Casey has a bland professor boyfriend....and is the worst person for him to see, but the sparks still fly between them, and she’s still the only one he wants....Have they missed each other and grown up enough to try it one more time???❤️🌼🔥 I always wanted Landon’s book....now I want Landon’s and Avery’s book.....❤️🌼
Caleb is back in the small town of Hollis where he grew up. He had some good and some bad memories from his hometown. After being gone for a while Caleb feels like he doesn’t belong. He can’t help but to keep running into his ex-girlfriend Casey. Their “then” relationship was a very destructive one. They would always end up in an argument. Some may say that Caleb has changed but has he really? My emotions end up on this roller coaster ride as I keep reading. I’m not sure if I wanted to scream or cry. This can be read as a stand-alone but you’ll want to read the other books. Some of the same characters are brought into all of the books. Another awesome book written by these two wonderful authors!