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The Bad Boys #1
Catching Caroline
Jack Shaw's reputation as a wicked libertine is well deserved. He lives for the moment, indulging in temporary pleasures. Until Lady Caroline Seton sets her eyes on him and the heat of her gaze lures him in. Now he wants more than one stolen kiss, he wants forever. But Caroline hides a dangerous secret, one that could cost him his life. Will his love be enough to save them both...?
Genres: Dark Fantasy / Vampire / Historical / Regency
Genres: Dark Fantasy / Vampire / Historical / Regency
22 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2005
1553 people are currently reading
3561 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Day
121 books122k followersAcclaimed for her signature emotionally charged storytelling and the psychological complexity of her characters, Sylvia Day is a number one bestselling author in twenty-nine countries, with translations in forty-one languages and over twenty million copies of her books in print. Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Globe and Mail, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels, including six Sunday Times, ten New York Times and thirteen USA Today bestsellers. Visit the author at sylviaday.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
July 4, 2010
Author Note
Dear Reader,
This story was written before I sold my first book. In other words, it’s not up to the same standards as my present-day writing. When the rights to this story reverted back to me, I considered editing it again. Then I realized there was really no way to edit this story; I would have to rewrite it. Caroline is uniquely unlike my usual heroines. Changing her would require changing the whole tale, and changing the whole tale would destroy it. This story is written differently from how I would write it today, but that’s okay.
So I present Catching Caroline to you as a free gift in the exact same form in which it was first published. I hope you enjoy it!
— Sylvia
I hadn’t read anything by Sylvia Day up until now, nor have I ever read a vampire story in a historical romance setting, so I was glad to have found Catching Caroline as a freebie so I could give Day's writing a try without it costing me anything if I didn't like it. Right up front the author explains that this is one of her first writings and she’s given it to us just as it was, without revisions or editing, and frankly, I think it’s great just as it is!
For a short story, I think she did a fantastic job of character development and story building. It sounds like Day’s vampire world would be a fun, exciting one to explore, and I’m hoping that I’ll have that chance some day.
Catching Caroline can be downloaded here: http://www.sylviaday.com/books/caroline/
September 10, 2010
As soon as she lays her eyes on Jack Shaw, Lady Caroline Seton falls hard. What's not to fall for? He's tall, dark, handsome, hot, charismatic...Did I mention hot? Anyway, she can't have him. Why? Well, it's her, not him. She's a vampire and she fears hurting him.
And when he accosts her in a shadowed garden and kisses her, she knows she must flee.
Two years later she's still running. But Jack is getting tired of pursuing her. She's unlike any woman he's met, she captivated him at first sight, and he's determined to have her. Even if that means sneaking into her house in the middle of the night to have his wicked way with her...
Well, I'm not as familiar with SD's books, so I truly didn't find anything wrong with her writing in this story, despite the "warning" at the beginning of it.
I loved it from first (digital) page to the last. The plot was nice and tight, Jack was utterly captivating, Caroline's plight was heartfelt...And the first little twist toward the end, though slightly predictable, was sweet and perfect. The second twist seemed a little convenient, but brought the story to a nice (and satisfying) ending.
A (almost) perfect story of a perfect length.
And when he accosts her in a shadowed garden and kisses her, she knows she must flee.
Two years later she's still running. But Jack is getting tired of pursuing her. She's unlike any woman he's met, she captivated him at first sight, and he's determined to have her. Even if that means sneaking into her house in the middle of the night to have his wicked way with her...
Well, I'm not as familiar with SD's books, so I truly didn't find anything wrong with her writing in this story, despite the "warning" at the beginning of it.
I loved it from first (digital) page to the last. The plot was nice and tight, Jack was utterly captivating, Caroline's plight was heartfelt...And the first little twist toward the end, though slightly predictable, was sweet and perfect. The second twist seemed a little convenient, but brought the story to a nice (and satisfying) ending.
A (almost) perfect story of a perfect length.
December 13, 2014
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this short freebie. It's very different to the other books I've read by Syliva Day & you can tell it's one of her earlier stories (written before she had anything else published) but I don't mean that in a negative way.
Considering it's so short we get to know the 2 main characters fairly well & I enjoyed their romance.
I enjoyed this short freebie. It's very different to the other books I've read by Syliva Day & you can tell it's one of her earlier stories (written before she had anything else published) but I don't mean that in a negative way.
Considering it's so short we get to know the 2 main characters fairly well & I enjoyed their romance.
September 8, 2012
Sylvia Day wrote this story before selling her first book and there is a note in the beginning explaining that it is not up to standards to what she writes today. She also says she has thought about tweaking it but to do that would change the characters and subsequently change the whole story line.
But I have to say, I loved it. It was extremely short, but I was immediately drawn in to the story. I wanted so badly for there to be more.
It was about Caroline, a vampire in the 1800's. She is inexplicably drawn to Jack Shaw, she craves him and wants to consume him. That scares her and she runs. She runs because she doesn't want to hurt him and she knows that if given the chance, her instincts would take over and she wouldn't be able to control herself. But Jack also wants Caroline, so he follows. He seeks her out every time she runs.
Like I said, I really enjoyed this story. I really wished it was a little more drawn out a little longer so I could savor it more. This was a free novella and this story is only 50% of the content. The rest of it is previews to other books. Which I now want to buy.
But I have to say, I loved it. It was extremely short, but I was immediately drawn in to the story. I wanted so badly for there to be more.
It was about Caroline, a vampire in the 1800's. She is inexplicably drawn to Jack Shaw, she craves him and wants to consume him. That scares her and she runs. She runs because she doesn't want to hurt him and she knows that if given the chance, her instincts would take over and she wouldn't be able to control herself. But Jack also wants Caroline, so he follows. He seeks her out every time she runs.
Like I said, I really enjoyed this story. I really wished it was a little more drawn out a little longer so I could savor it more. This was a free novella and this story is only 50% of the content. The rest of it is previews to other books. Which I now want to buy.
May 25, 2011
What's that saying...you get what you pay for? I picked this up as a kindle freebie to try the author - The Stranger I Married is on my tbr, so I figured why not try her out.
Well, I found out why not (with this story anyway). It's not very good. :)
The premise to this one was different but the execution was kind of, well, silly is the only word I can think of. I usually don't notice first-time writers, but this one seemed like that to me. Some of the plot twists were juvenile, like a high-schooler would come up with. I've shelved it as "romance-silly", because that what I thought it was.
I still want to read The Stranger I Married, not only for the story itself, but so that I can see how far Sylvia Day has come as an author.
Well, I found out why not (with this story anyway). It's not very good. :)
The premise to this one was different but the execution was kind of, well, silly is the only word I can think of. I usually don't notice first-time writers, but this one seemed like that to me. Some of the plot twists were juvenile, like a high-schooler would come up with. I've shelved it as "romance-silly", because that what I thought it was.
I still want to read The Stranger I Married, not only for the story itself, but so that I can see how far Sylvia Day has come as an author.
May 18, 2011
This book is definitely one of the best I've read recently. The only downside is that i was expecting a much longer read. Sylvia Day certainly wrote an emotional and sexy story. I'll certainly buy and read more of her books. I absolutely loved the hero Jack.
One of his best lines:
"No!" he barked. "You are the one who fails to comprehend. I am weary of chasing you, Caroline, but I won't stop. Not ever. I will hunt you down. I will run you to ground. There is no place where you can hide from me."
Loved it!!!
One of his best lines:
"No!" he barked. "You are the one who fails to comprehend. I am weary of chasing you, Caroline, but I won't stop. Not ever. I will hunt you down. I will run you to ground. There is no place where you can hide from me."
Loved it!!!
October 5, 2012
Quick read recommended to me by a friend and unfortunately not really my type of book I would normally pick. It wasn't that it was bad exactly but just not my kind of book. I suppose it was suggested because I like romance novels and vampires but probably not in this way I guess.The writing style and scenes were a bit lack luster.I did give it three stars because I think the IDEA of the plot would be excellent if it was more developed.
March 25, 2017
"I will hunt you down, I will run you to ground. There is no place where you can hide from me."
Kowaii!! Can you say creepy stalker?
Kowaii!! Can you say creepy stalker?
April 30, 2013
A quick read, it is told to readers early on that this book the first of Sylvia Day's works. There is a lot of potential to this story as the characters are unique and set in a time when vampires in the Regency Era/Industrial Era is very believable. As Sylvia Day mentioned that there is no way to edit this book without erasing the very existence of these characters and their personalities, it is hard to be so blunt with how her story turned out.
As I mentioned earlier on, there is so much potential to the story when it first begins. There is so much more to expound on as the story's flow moves too quickly. A lot of the parts here don't give us a chance to understand the characters and their personalities and the other parts to them. For example, Caroline was shown as being proud and stubborn and confident, and we can see how she acts and how she makes her decisions, yet the ending makes Caroline seem weak and easy to manipulate. Jack on the other hand is introduced as a ruggedly handsome man of intelligence and etiquette, yet you find him sneaking into Caroline's room with a key, in the middle of the night. It doesn't matter if we ultimately find out that they're both vampires, but no gentleman of sense would sneak into any lady's room in the dead of night.
If Sylvia Day was given a chance to add to this story, without editing the personalities of her characters too much, this could become an interesting and unique romantic novel.
As there are only 22 pages to the novel, and there isn't much to work with, this review has to be honest and blunt, and has to work within the confines of the novel itself. No whatifs and such. There are parts to it that have potential and parts that I like and dislike, we can never know if this could have been better than what it is.
As I mentioned earlier on, there is so much potential to the story when it first begins. There is so much more to expound on as the story's flow moves too quickly. A lot of the parts here don't give us a chance to understand the characters and their personalities and the other parts to them. For example, Caroline was shown as being proud and stubborn and confident, and we can see how she acts and how she makes her decisions, yet the ending makes Caroline seem weak and easy to manipulate. Jack on the other hand is introduced as a ruggedly handsome man of intelligence and etiquette, yet you find him sneaking into Caroline's room with a key, in the middle of the night. It doesn't matter if we ultimately find out that they're both vampires, but no gentleman of sense would sneak into any lady's room in the dead of night.
If Sylvia Day was given a chance to add to this story, without editing the personalities of her characters too much, this could become an interesting and unique romantic novel.
As there are only 22 pages to the novel, and there isn't much to work with, this review has to be honest and blunt, and has to work within the confines of the novel itself. No whatifs and such. There are parts to it that have potential and parts that I like and dislike, we can never know if this could have been better than what it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2011
Caroline is a noble woman who just happens to be a vampire. She attends a ball with her good friend Julienne and finds herself immediately attracted to Jack Shaw. Caroline shares one kiss with Jack Shaw develops an instant craving for him but knows that she must flee from him. Jack Shaw wants more of Caroline but when she vanishes after one kiss. He will do everything in his power to make her his. Caroline tries running from Jack where she seems to be always one step ahead of him. But a lucky chance has Caroline going to England where they first met. Jack secretly has a key made to her place and lets himself in. Caroline is stunned to realize that Jack has found her and she begs him to walk away from her. Jack tells her that he cannot do that and kisses once more only to discover that he, too, is a vampire. Can Caroline stop running? How will this news change Caroline? Will Jack keep chasing after Caroline? These questions and more are answered in Catching Caroline.
April 26, 2011
I picked this up free for my Nook. It's a short, yet sweet, story.
Caroline sees Jack in a ballroom and is immediately drawn to him. Unfortunately she isn't free to pursue him, and is afraid for him if she does. So she runs. For two years. Jack is just as drawn to her, and chases after her. For two years. He finally catches up with her and they share a night of passion, but Caroline still isn't free to be with him. But Jack isn't going to let that stop him.
It frustrated me some that Caroline's first instinct was to run, always, but I think the author did a good job of explaining why that was. I really liked that Jack pursued her and that their feelings for each other were mutual. Considering the page count (right around 60) I'm willing to be more forgiving than I would normally be.
Caroline sees Jack in a ballroom and is immediately drawn to him. Unfortunately she isn't free to pursue him, and is afraid for him if she does. So she runs. For two years. Jack is just as drawn to her, and chases after her. For two years. He finally catches up with her and they share a night of passion, but Caroline still isn't free to be with him. But Jack isn't going to let that stop him.
It frustrated me some that Caroline's first instinct was to run, always, but I think the author did a good job of explaining why that was. I really liked that Jack pursued her and that their feelings for each other were mutual. Considering the page count (right around 60) I'm willing to be more forgiving than I would normally be.
January 25, 2011
For a short story, there was a surprising amount of character development. And, yes, this story is very short. Yet it worked. The action starts pretty much right away (and doesn't it usually do that in a short story?) and zips through to the climactic end (heh! Climactic!) (Yes, I'm juvenile. Often. I've learned to deal with it.).
Fast and furious pretty much sums it up.
This is currently a free read through Amazon, so jump on over and try it out.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Fast and furious pretty much sums it up.
This is currently a free read through Amazon, so jump on over and try it out.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
April 29, 2013
Surprisingly I like this short story :)
I know it's a historical setting but I didn't realise there's vampire!
I read SD's historical Seven Years To Sin...and did not liked it, and since this is a short one, might as well give it a try ;)
I prefer her first writing of Catching Caroline WAY MORE than Seven Years to Sin.
I want to know more of Jack's vampire world!!!
His world sounds fascinating (actually reminds me of the TV series version of Vampire Diaries , the Original vampires xD)
I know it's a historical setting but I didn't realise there's vampire!
I read SD's historical Seven Years To Sin...and did not liked it, and since this is a short one, might as well give it a try ;)
I prefer her first writing of Catching Caroline WAY MORE than Seven Years to Sin.
I want to know more of Jack's vampire world!!!
His world sounds fascinating (actually reminds me of the TV series version of Vampire Diaries , the Original vampires xD)
December 1, 2015
I love Sylvia Day, this was one of her first stories, and she lets you know in the beginning, that it's not up to the same standards as her present day writing. It was super short, but I still enjoyed it.
March 13, 2020
4 Stars
February 15, 2015
I was ok for a short read but I felt like it was missing something.
March 10, 2016
3.5
Para ser el primer libro de Sylvia Day no estuvo tan mal. Es una novela corta y un poco predecible pero se nota que la autora ha mejorado con el pasar del tiempo.
Para ser el primer libro de Sylvia Day no estuvo tan mal. Es una novela corta y un poco predecible pero se nota que la autora ha mejorado con el pasar del tiempo.
June 27, 2024
This is a short story paranormal romance. Caroline is a vampire, suddenly entranced when she sees Jack Shaw, an American shipping magnate, at a ball. They embark on a "catch me if you can" romance which is resolved when Jack
Day admits in the intro to the story that it was written before any of her other published work and that she would have written it differently, but that she couldn't find a way to rewrite the story without changing it completely.
There's no need to read this story before the rest of the "Bad Boys" series. The only connection between this and those novels is that Lady Julienne La Coeur, the heroine of Lucien's Gamble, appears in the brief scene at the beginning of the story.
You can find the story in "Love Affairs" which also collects some of Day's other contemporary and paranormal romance novellas. Love Affairs: A Collection of Contemporary, Historical and Paranormal Novellas
Day admits in the intro to the story that it was written before any of her other published work and that she would have written it differently, but that she couldn't find a way to rewrite the story without changing it completely.
There's no need to read this story before the rest of the "Bad Boys" series. The only connection between this and those novels is that Lady Julienne La Coeur, the heroine of Lucien's Gamble, appears in the brief scene at the beginning of the story.
You can find the story in "Love Affairs" which also collects some of Day's other contemporary and paranormal romance novellas. Love Affairs: A Collection of Contemporary, Historical and Paranormal Novellas
August 30, 2022
Lady Caroline feels an instant connection with Jack Shaw. She flees from her for fear she will hurt him. He hunts for her finally catching her back in London years later. She warns him away, but he does not listen. He takes her to bed and in the morning, she is gone again. He tracks her down again and their secrets are revealed.
I liked this short story. It was too short. I liked Jack and Caroline. I figured Jack's secret out. I liked his explanations when Caroline explains why she was once again running. Both were honorable and the twist was excellent.
I liked this short story. It was too short. I liked Jack and Caroline. I figured Jack's secret out. I liked his explanations when Caroline explains why she was once again running. Both were honorable and the twist was excellent.
October 17, 2018
Short (22 page ebook), but great.
Can be found for free at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... (just click the yellow button for the version you want).
When I started reading it (having read a lot of Sylvia's Gregorian work) I was not expecting Caroline's "uniqueness". I like that it mentions Julienne, who gets her own story in Lucien's Gamble.
Nice ending.
Can be found for free at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... (just click the yellow button for the version you want).
When I started reading it (having read a lot of Sylvia's Gregorian work) I was not expecting Caroline's "uniqueness". I like that it mentions Julienne, who gets her own story in Lucien's Gamble.
Nice ending.
August 4, 2021
Short novella about a vampire living in England in 1835, who meets a man she vows to stay away from because she can't reveal who or what she is.
Caroline runs back and forth from England to America for two years trying to avoid Jack Shaw after one stolen kiss at a party. She has a secret, but so does he.
Caroline runs back and forth from England to America for two years trying to avoid Jack Shaw after one stolen kiss at a party. She has a secret, but so does he.
February 5, 2019
The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because I wish it was a full length novel instead of a novella. I wanted to know what the main heroine was doing while she was running away from the hero to protect him from her vampire instincts.
January 25, 2020
Quick read
Not much back story but sometimes you just need a quick easy read for a happy pick me up. I
Picked 4 stars because even though it was small it was still well written.
Not much back story but sometimes you just need a quick easy read for a happy pick me up. I
Picked 4 stars because even though it was small it was still well written.
August 13, 2025
Very short story, so not much of plot development. We’re pretty much being thrown from one thing to another. Too short of a story to grant any character development. The story is ok, but nothing special.
2.5⭐️ from me
2.5⭐️ from me
September 25, 2019
This was way too short. I wish it would have been longer.
November 28, 2019
Loved loved immensely this sort And fun passionate love stories! Really interesting and sort enough to enjoy it and not get bored! Great 👍🏻
November 13, 2021
I love this short story for what it is- brief, direct and super swoon. Spicy and steamy with romantic feelings involved. 7 short chapters and yet it conveyed what it wanted.
December 29, 2021
I wanted to enjoy this book, but I didn't.
September 29, 2023
DNF
Too cringey with basically no redeeming qualities for me to finish.
Too cringey with basically no redeeming qualities for me to finish.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews