Sappy, sappy, sappy. Melodramatic conclusion. I enjoyed the first third ok, then went down hill. ( )

My review at my blog ( )

While I knew exactly what was going to happen in this book as soon as I started it, I still really liked it. I liked how the author developed the characters and their families. I did not, however, enjoy the religious aspects of the book and felt that they were intrusive and unnecessary, but that's probably just me. Overall, the book is a nice, light, quick read (I finished it in a night) and I recommend it for the beach or airplane. ( )

Though this book is undoubtedly targeted at a teen reader, I quite enjoyed reading “Caleb + Kate“! Well written, Cindy Martinusen-Coloma's book took me back to the thrill of first love - allowing me to feel again the delirious joy and the tremendous angst of that incredible experience. Clearly, any youth wondering about what first love would be like, will be able to experience all the conflicting emotions that are involved - while reading “Caleb + Kate”! Alternately, any adult wanting to ‘re-experience’ first love, will also greatly enjoy this novel by Martinusen-Coloma.

Caleb + Kate is a clean, contemporary, Christian novel, which covers various sensitive teenage issues, as well as touching on the subject of God - without preaching. This is a 'classic' novel - in the sense that “Caleb + Kate” is a tale of the deep first love between a rich girl, Kate, and the assumed-poor boy, Caleb. Their love is also an event that others in their lives think shouldn't be allowed to happen - for many reasons. Inter-family conflict being just one of the reasons for their families’ disapproval.

Caleb + Kate was fun to read - and I will definitely pass this book along to the younger generation in my life - without worrying about what they might be exposed to!

A quick end note - I received this book for free in a book draw by Thomas Nelson Publishing. ( )

WOW! Loved this book. It actually altered my pulse rate numerous times. I fell in love along with the characters. It's rare that a book grips me so tightly. I can't recommend this enough. It was also very realistic and not cliche or sappy at all. Their love was a beautiful thing to behold and it wasn't cheesy and fake like you see in some YA books. Restrained passion is so wonderful and refreshing to read in a book. I felt like a teen in love all over again. I remembered feeling the same way they did; overwhelmed with the desire to be together. I appreciated that it was downright yummy, right up there with chocolate. ( )