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The Lost Girls Trilogy by Cheryl Holt-Review& Giveaway Tour

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The Lost Girls Trilogy by Cheryl Holt -Review, Except & Giveaway Tour

SOMEONE TO LOVE
The Lost Girls #1
by Cheryl Holt
Genre: adult, historical, romance
Release Date: August 11, 2020

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /  B&N /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Libby Carstairs was found by Navy sailors on a deserted island in the Caribbean. She was all alone and had no memory of her past or parents. Who is she? And what happened to leave her stranded so far from home? After she was returned to England, her situation was sensationalized in the newspapers, which meant she’s enjoyed a life of public acclaim. Due to her unconventional history, she’s very different from other young ladies and has no desire to ever be ordinary.

Luke Watson had an exciting career in the Navy, but on his brother’s death, he’s come home to assume his role as Earl of Barrett. His brother, with his repeated scandals, ran the family’s reputation and estate into the ground, and Luke is determined to repair all that’s been destroyed by exhibiting stellar moral behavior at all times. He will wed the perfect aristocratic girl, settle down to a tedious country existence, and try to be content.

But when he meets Libby, sparks fly and passion ignites. She’s the complete opposite of the woman he thought he wanted in his life, but she just might be exactly who he needs.

••••••••••

REVIEW:Someone to Love is the first in the new trilogy by author Cheryl Holt. What an exciting start it is! Three little girls marooned on a tropical island are found by a passing British ship and rescued, each will have a story to tell. This is the story of Libby Carstairs and Lucas Watson, Earl of Barrett.

Libby had been an actress, performing scenes of her rescue from the Caribbean island that awed many audiences. However, when her uncle Harry Carstairs died recently, she learned from some of his letters in his possessions that she was not his brother’s child. She learned who her father was but was afraid to make it known. She wasn’t sure she would be accepted.

Lucas was in the Navy when his wastrel brother died and left him the new Earl of Barrett. He was determined to live quietly and inconspicuously. Then he met Libby.
They met at a crowded party, outside in an area with a view of the dock. She was trying to escape the crowd and so was he. Only first names were given, and an outrageous attraction was started. He was completely besotted and even though she denied it, so was she.

Author Cheryl Holt has written the first of three, I’m sure wonderful, novels about the three little girls that were rescued from that island. This one is fascinating and exasperating at the same time. It sizzles with hot romance and witty conversations. Some of the angst drove me to want to shake them, hard. However, it was compelling and hard to put down. The circumstances are imaginative and enthralling. Twists and turns have you on the edge of your seat. I’m so looking forward to the next novel.

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Georgianna S.

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SOMEONE TO CHERISH
The Lost Girls #2
by Cheryl Holt
Genre: adult, historical, romance
Release Date: August 11, 2020

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /  B&N /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Caroline Grey was just four years old when she was found stranded and alone by Navy sailors on a deserted island in the Caribbean. When she was returned to England, she enjoyed a brief burst of notoriety. Who was she? Who had her parents been? Ultimately, she was claimed by her dour, miserly relatives who’ve treated her like an unwanted pauper. She’s spent her life trying to be accepted by those who should love her, but her haunting past has created too many obstacles. It’s difficult to fit in…

Caleb Ralston is a wealthy, infamous gambler who’s raging against the unfairness of life. After spending a decade in the Navy, he was forced out of the post he treasured, as he struggled to protect others from a scandal. As a result, he vowed to become very rich, so he could avenge himself against the sort of affluent oafs who’ve always disdained him…

When he meets Caroline, he’s intrigued by her beauty and pluck, but she’s part of the world he loathes, and he could never bind himself to her. But Fate and destiny have other plans for Caleb, and Caroline might turn out to be just the woman he needs..

••••••••

REVIEW:Someone to Cherish is the second book of the Lost Girls Trilogy. I’m loving this series and can’t wait to read book three. That’s how good these stories are. I don’t do spoilers because I think authors work too hard to put develop their stories. The details are intriguing and should be experienced by each reader. So, what can I tell you? I can tell you what I find so fascinating and how I feel about the stories. However, I will give you the gist of the setup as well.

All the stories in this trilogy are about three little girls who where shipwrecked on a Caribbean island. All the adults died over time and the little girls were completely alone on a small island. They were rescued by Captain Miles Ralston and his crew when they happed on them while stopping for water supplies (I assume). They were the talk of all England and there was a search for relatives to claim the girls. They were torn apart quickly and given to relatives as they appeared. It was quick and traumatic for the girls; they were not even given the opportunity to say goodbye to each other. They all have fond memories of Captain Ralston and his treatment of them. However, once he turned them over to officials in Jamaica they never saw or heard of him again. I find it interesting how the author shows the duality of how the Captain was a hero, but in his personal life, he was a bit of a mess.

This is the story of Caroline Grey “Little Caro” and Caleb Ralston. Caroline Grey was sent to her grandfather Walter Grey who was a hard and cruel man. He often locked her in her room for what he felt were bad behavior. He was strict and a true penny pincher, giving most of his money to the church of his choice. He passed away and Samson Grey, Caroline’s uncle, took over the estate. He seemed kinder, provided her with more clothes and responsibility for the household as she grew. Samson had a daughter, Jenny, who Caroline came to see as a sister, even if she was a bit spoiled. Simon also had a son, Gregory, who was slightly older than Caroline. Gregory grew to be a spoiled and self-centered jerk with many vices. Caroline, at her uncle’s request, became engaged to Gregory. Gregory lived and reveled in London, only visiting when his father insisted. The engagement has lasted seven years, but now her uncle insists the wedding proceeds. Caroline feels it’s her duty to her family, she doesn’t even know him very well, but he’s never been bad to her personally.

Caleb Ralston is one of two sons Captain Miles Ralston had with his wife in the Caribbean. The captain and his wife died while the boys were young. The Navy sent them and their mother’s maid, Sybil, to their relatives in England. It seems the hero captain had a wife and children there too, a son, Jacob, and a daughter. The wife had them thrown off the property. However, Sybil fought with the first wife and the Navy to make sure the boys were sent to school and educated, then had commissions purchased for them to naval careers. Caleb’s brother, Blake, got into some trouble helping his friends swipe some supplies. Caleb took the blame and was asked to resign from the navy. He now owns a gambling club in London, which Sybil helps him run. He’s become extremely wealthy, but also a bit cold. He traveled to Grey’s Corner to attend Gregory and Caroline’s wedding, but mostly to appraise the property that Gregory has been wagering on. He doesn’t like Gregory at all, but an immediate attraction develops when he meets Caroline.

Okay, that’s pretty much the background and setup. There’s quite a lot more, but as I said, I’m only giving you the basics. The characters in this novel and the last are well developed with unique personalities. The conversations are interesting and flow well. The story is well planned in its plot and interesting twists. It shows a lot about the times and the things women had to go through. The premise is simple, but there are many twists and turns. The romance sizzles from the beginning and does not let up. The author also begins to bring the close relationship of the girls to life, as she uses characters from the first book to help solve the issue brought up in the second. The timing is well crafted and thoroughly entertaining.

Do yourself a great favor and get a copy of this marvelous story. If you haven’t yet read the first, grab that one first. While I suppose they do stand alone, it’s best if they’re read in order. Personally, I’m ready to dive into number three! Kudos to author Cheryl Holt, this trilogy is simply superb!

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SOMEONE TO WED
The Lost Girls Trilogy #3
by Cheryl Holt
Genre: adult, historical romance
Release Date: August 11, 2020

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /  B&N /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Joanna James had a brief moment of notoriety at age four when she survived a shipwreck in the Caribbean. She was returned to England and raised quietly in the country by a doting auntie. She’s descended from an ancient line of wise women, so she’s very different from other young ladies. She has the sight, and she can cast spells and brew potions, but she’s cautious with her peculiar gifts and hides them from her rural neighbors who don’t always understand her odd talents.

Captain Jacob Ralston works hard to be boring and ordinary. After learning at age ten that his notorious father was a bigamist and liar, he swore he’d grow up to be the most moral man in the kingdom. He would never rock a boat or raise a brow. After a stellar career in the Navy, he’s determined to retire to the country, marry the fiancée his mother picked for him, and force himself to be content.

When he crosses paths with peculiar, fascinating Joanna, he’s instantly bowled over. She’s beautiful, intriguing, and not like any woman he’s ever met. He can’t imagine how he would ever bind himself, but Fate and destiny have other plans for him, and Joanna just might be the one woman who can make him happy forever…

Lost forever…finally found

•••••••

REVIEW:Someone to Wed is the third installment in the Lost Girls Trilogy. This is the story of Joanna James and Jacob Ralston.

Joanna is perhaps my favorite character in this trilogy. She’s a lovely redhead with a history of women who use herbs and potions to heal the sick and much more. She has a little touch of the Fey that she tries to keep hidden. However, she truly does have power. She and her Aunt Pru lived in a cottage in the forest of Ralston Place. Before her aunt passed away, they adopted a little girl that Pru had delivered. The parents paid her to have the child disappear. Her name is Clara and she’s a lovely child, Joanna loves her very much. They don’t have much, but Joanna keeps them fed by tending the sick and they are happy. Before Joanna parted from Captain Miles Ralston, she asked him to watch over her and the other girls forever…could his ghost be doing just that?

Jacob Ralston is related to Caleb and Blake Ralston from the previous book. All three are sons of Captain Miles Ralston, although from different mothers. Very different mothers. Captain Miles Ralston rescued the girls from the Caribbean island they were shipwrecked on. Jacob is on furlough from the Navy and he stopped in London to visit Caleb. He wants to have a relationship with Caleb and Blake, now that his mother has passed away. He also has a sister Margaret. Margaret has returned from Egypt, where she lived with her cruel husband. Her mother insisted she marry the man to get her away from Sandy, the man she really loved, but he was their stablemaster. Her husband died leaving her penniless and desperate. She borrowed money from friends to pay her way back to England. Before she died, Jacob’s mother also arranged a marriage for him. Roxanne returned from Italy to be betrothed to Jacob. She is at Ralston Place and is planning the September bethrothal party.

Jacob comes home and stumbles upon Joanna James while she’s walking home. She has been treating Margaret for melancholy. He is immediately attracted to her and cannot seem to let her go. Even though he knows he’s about to be betrothed. He knows he can never marry her, she’s not of his status, but he’s completely besotted.

Okay, that’s the basic setup. This is one of the most interesting novels and I’m completely entertained and fascinated by the way Cheryl Holt has plotted this out. I think it’s a bit of genius. There is romance, to be sure! There is also danger, betrayal, heartbreak, and unspeakable happiness! The devil is in the details and I urge you to read them for yourself!

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Georgianna

 

“Oh, my. Would you look at that?”Libby cowered in the traveling trunk where she’d been hiding, determined to make herself as small as possible. She’d shut her eyes, yearning to be invisible, but it hadn’t worked. The man who was loom-ing over her could definitely see her.He was wearing a uniform, so he appeared very large and very important. There were gold buttons on the front of his blue coat, and he had a belt with a big knife dangling on one hip and a big gun dan-gling on the other.“Out with you now,” he said, but she simply stared up at him, won-dering if she could jump out and escape.In the time she’d been living on the deserted island, the few adults who’d been stranded with her had constantly advised her to watch out for bad men, but how was she supposed to know if he was bad or not? How was she supposed to know if she could trust him? The adults had all passed away, so she had no one to answer those questions. She was only five, and it was frightening to have to decide so many issues on her own.She peeked over the edge of the trunk, wishing Caroline and Joanna would be standing there. When the man’s ship had dropped anchor out
2 Someone To Love – Prologue – Excerptin the bay, when the sailors had rowed to shore in their longboat, the sight had been so alarming that her two friends had run into the jungle. Libby was smarter than Caroline and Joanna, so she’d assumed the traveling trunk was a better spot to hide. She’d been wrong though. The man had entered their dilapidated hut and opened it almost immediately.What should she do? She was tired and hungry and anxious for him to help them. Tears welled into her eyes, which she hated. She wasn’t a baby, and she’d been told repeatedly that she had to stop acting like one.“Let’s go, you adorable moppet,” the man said, and when she didn’t move, he reached down and lifted her out.The instant her feet touched the ground, she tried to bolt out the door to freedom, but he was too quick for her. He grabbed her arm, and though she wrestled and kicked, she couldn’t get away.“Hold on, missy, just hold on.” He continued to talk, offering calming words until she was too fatigued to keep fighting him. Once her skirmishing ceased, he knelt down and asked, “What’s your name?”She scowled forever, debating whether to admit it. Her mother had warned her over and over that she should never confess it to anyone. It was a powerful secret, and if wicked people learned who she was, they’d take her away. Even though her mother had to be dead, the admonition still resonated.The man recognized her consternation. “You can tell me what it is. Don’t be afraid.”She debated a bit more, then said, “It’s Libby.”“Libby . . . what?”“Libby Carstairs.”“Hello, Miss Libby. I’m Captain Ralston. Is your mother or father with you?”“No.”
CHERYL HO LT3“Where are they?”“I don’t know.”“Do you have any idea what happened to them?”“I think they drowned.”“Were you on a ship? Did it sink?”“Yes. In a storm.”“I’m betting that was scary. Did you swim to shore?”“I don’t remember.”She thought she’d swum though. She had terrifying dreams of huge waves, dark water, angry clouds, and wind. For ages afterward, the palms of her hands had been sore and blistered, and she recalled gripping a piece of wood, loud voices shouting at her not to let go of it, and she hadn’t.The Captain glanced around the hut, assessing the crude beds, the ramshackle construction. They’d carried on the best they could with what they’d had, but it hadn’t been much. “Are there any adults with you?”“No.”“Were there some in the beginning?”“Yes.”“How many?”“There were six, but they died.”“How?”“They were hurt.”“When the ship sank?”“Yes. Then they got sick.”“How long have you been here?”She leaned in so they were nose to nose. “For a really, really long time.”She didn’t have a number to explain how many days it had been. At first, Joanna’s mother had survived with them, and she’d counted to
4 Someone To Love – Prologue – Excerpteighty-five, but after she’d cut her leg on a tree stump and had passed away, they’d lost track.“Gad, but aren’t you pretty?” he murmured. “You’ll break some hearts when you grow up.”“That’s what my papa always said.”“Your papa was right.”He stood and patted the top of her head, and the gesture made her feel safer. She didn’t think he was a bad man, so he might agree to fix what was wrong.“What was your papa’s name, peanut?” he asked her.“Papa?”He snorted at that. “What about your mother?”“Mama?” She frowned and posed a question that had been vexing her. “Could you find them for me? If they didn’t drown, I’m worried they might be searching for me, but they don’t know where I am.”“I will assist you as much as I can, but you shouldn’t hope we’ll locate your parents. I’m sorry, but I doubt you’ll see them ever again.”“Maybe in Heaven someday?”“Maybe in Heaven.”He sighed, and from outside, a sailor called, “Captain, would you come out? I have a surprise to show you.”On being summoned, he walked out, but he kept a hand on Libby’s shoulder so she couldn’t flee, but she’d decided she wouldn’t. He appeared incredibly commanding to her, so he’d be able to tell her what should occur next.Perhaps she could go home to England. She’d been happy there. At least she thought she’d been happy. She seemed to recollect a large mansion, a kind nanny, and a pony.The sailor had stumbled on Caroline and Joanna where they’d been crouched in the foliage. Caroline shrugged at Libby, as if to admit their plan to hide in the jungle had been stupid.
CHERYL HO LT5Libby supposed they were a fearsome sight. Their hair was long and tangled, bleached blond from the hot sun, their dresses bleached too, the fabric worn thin and faded to white. They were barefoot, their skin bronzed, their condition bedraggled.“Look what I found,” the sailor said to the Captain. He indicated Caroline and Joanna. “They’re all alone, and apparently, they’ve been living like a pack of wild animals.”“No, we haven’t!” Libby furiously insisted. “We have a hut and everything.”The sailor ignored her and addressed the Captain. “They’re like a trio of abandoned wolf pups.”“We had mothers!” Libby huffed. “It’s not our fault that they died.”But she was ignored again.“Are there any others?” the Captain asked the sailor.“Not that we saw.”The Captain peered down at her. “Is it just the three of you? And don’t lie to me. This is important.”“There’s just us three,” Libby said.“Lord almighty,” he muttered as he led Libby over to Caroline and Joanna. “Will you introduce me to your companions?”“This is Caroline”—Libby pointed to her—”and this is Joanna.”“Are you sisters?” he asked.“No.”“None of you?”“No. We’re like sisters though,” Libby told him. “We’re closer than sisters.”“I’m sure you are.”The Captain studied their surroundings. The sky was so blue, the ocean a brilliant turquoise color, the sand blazing under the sun’s unre-lenting rays. The palm trees swayed but provided no real shade.“What shall we do with them, Captain?” the sailor inquired.
6 Someone To Love – Prologue – ExcerptThe Captain grimaced with disgust. “It’s beyond me. We’ll convey them to the nearest port, and the authorities can figure it out.”“Shouldn’t I stay here?” Libby asked. “What if my parents come for me?”The Captain and the sailor exchanged a tormented glance, then the Captain said, “Trust me, Miss Libby, they won’t come. Now then, are there any items you’d like to take with you? Have you any dolls or clothes or other mementoes you’d like to bring?”“No, I don’t have anything,” Libby said.“That’s the saddest comment I ever heard.” He spun to Caroline and Joanna. “How about you two girls? Are there things you’d like to take?”They shook their heads, not keen to talk to him. It seemed like a dream, as if they would eventually wake up and the day would glide along as all the other days had glided along since they’d arrived.“There’s no reason to linger then,” the Captain said, and he motioned to the longboat. “Let’s get you out to the ship.”Libby blanched with dismay. “I won’t go on a ship! None of us will go on a ship ever again!”“It’s all right,” the Captain said. “Mine won’t sink.”“It’s what Mother claimed about the last one, but it wasn’t true.”“I’ll make it true,” the Captain firmly stated, “and you have to be very brave, so Caroline and Joanna will watch you and realize how to be very brave too. Can you do that for me?”“I guess,” she grudgingly replied.He picked her up and balanced her on his hip. She couldn’t remem-ber an adult picking her up before. And she was five, so she wasn’t exactly tiny. For once in her short life, she felt protected.“I’ll climb onto a boat for you,” she said, “but only if you promise I’ll be safe.”“You’ll be safe. I promise.”Libby rested her head on his shoulder and told herself to believe him. What other choice did she have? 


 

1. How much has publishing changed in the last 20 years?

I could write an entire book on this subject. I feel like I was battered by every bump in the road that happened in the last two decades. I’m a walking-talking survivor of the publishing industry and all of its many changes and calamities.

My first novel was published in 2000, which means I jumped into NY publishing as we were moving toward the end of the hey-day of paperback writing. I rode that wave until 2010. The (last) economic crash at the end of 2008 pretty much crushed my NY career. The publishing industry went into freefall in 2009, and in 2010 and 2011, 95% of the bookstores closed. They still haven’t reopened and won’t reopen.

After the bookstores closed, most of the working novelists were dumped by their publishers. The publishing companies have spent the last decade regrouping and figuring out how to get going again on a sound financial footing, which has been painful for everyone. As for me—and nearly all of the paperback writers in the country—there was no spot for me with the NY publishers anymore. Once there were no bookstores, there just wasn’t much of a market for paperbacks—simply because there was nowhere to sell them.

I had to figure out how to publish my own books, and I’ve been releasing my own books since 2012. It means I had to completely reinvent myself. My first 24 novels were published by the NY publishers, but starting with Novel #25, I have been publishing them myself. In 2021, I will be up to Novel #60. When I release them myself, I can get them out much faster, and I don’t have to rely on a publisher’s release schedule, where I was relegated to 2 books per year.

It’s a mixed blessing though. I can write whatever I want now, and I’m not constrained by any of the restrictions that publishers put on writers. I can tell any story I want, and I can make the books as long as I want. (I don’t have to worry about the price of paper, which is an issue for the publishers, so my books are much longer now.) I’m grateful that I was able to start over and re-invent myself, but it’s a hard endeavor that never gets easier.

Writing novels is not a job for sissies!

2. Do you have any advice for new authors?

Yes, it’s this: It’s really, really, really hard to learn to write a novel. Then it’s hard to learn to write a good novel. Then it’s even harder to learn to write a great novel, then to write a great one over and over again.

There’s only one way to get good at it, and that is to write constantly. There’s no other way to do it, but to write and write and write. It’s just like playing the piano. You’re learning a craft, and you have to practice to become a master.

3. Tell us a little about your latest trilogy.

This year, I’m releasing my “Lost Girls” trilogy.

For several summer now, I’ve been writing linked trilogies that have a defined premise that carries the plot through all three novels. In this series, the link is that the heroines were traveling to Jamaica with their families when they were little girls, and their ship sank in a terrible storm. Against all odds, they were the only survivors. They were found on a deserted island by British sailors, but no one could figure out how they survived—and they were too young to explain much of what had happened to them.

They were returned to England, where they enjoyed a bit of notoriety. Then they were separated and doled out to distant relatives. They never saw each other again. When the novels start, it’s the 20th anniversary of the shipwreck, and the three women’s lives are pitched off in new and exciting directions where they meet the men of the dreams.

Follow: Goodreads / Website /Twitter /Facebook

CHERYL HOLT is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top100” bestselling author who has published nearly sixty novels.

Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans. Visit her here -> Website

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the author.

Cheryl is celebrating the release of her new LOST GIRLS series by running this contest. She will give away ten autographed print copies of Book #1, Someone To Love, to ten lucky winners. Since the first three novels in the series will be released together on August 11th, she will also give away one grand prize to one lucky winner of autographed print copies of Books 1, 2, and 3. The three books included in the Grand Prize drawing are: Someone To Love, Someone To Cherish, and Someone To Wed. So there will be eleven winners in all!

The contest begins on June 28, 2020, and entries will close on August 12, 2020. The drawing will be held the next day, August 13, 2020, and winners will be notified by email. You may enter as many times as you wish, but please be aware that Cheryl’s books contain adult content. You must be 18 years of age or older to enter. All entrants’ emails will be added to Cheryl’s general mailing list. The email addresses are used to provide readers with information about Cheryl’s career and her upcoming novels, and the list is never shared with anyone.

Cheryl can only ship prizes to U.S. addresses. Thank you for understanding.

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The ALWAYS Trilogy by Cheryl Holt-Series Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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The ALWAYS Trilogy by Cheryl Holt- Series Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

I’m pleased to announce that my new ALWAYS trilogy will be here on August 1st. All three novels will be released on the same day so you can binge-read them back to back, without having to wait for the next installment.

If you haven’t read my books before, I’m renowned for my macho heroes, strong heroines, and wicked villains. My books are filled with plot twists and turns, lots of drama, combined with lots of heartache and woe, so the ending—when it resolves—is really satisfying. If you have read my books before, this new series contains all the great stuff for which I’m acclaimed: fast-paced writing, lots of suspense and plot twists, and three delicious love stories at the heart of it all.

The heroes are three of my yummiest ever, and the heroines—who are destined to save them—are some of the strongest and most loveable I’ve ever created. I hope all of you will think so too!

The three books will be released together on August 1st, and they’ll be available as an e-book or a print book. I hope you’ll mark your calendars and help me count down the days! My Always trilogy—coming August 1st! I can’t wait for everyone to have a chance to read them!

 

ALWAYS
Always Trilogy 1
by Cheryl Holt
Genre: adult, historical, romance
Release Date: August 1,2019

ebook ONLY 99¢Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

Nathan Blake is an adventurer and explorer who’s spent nearly two decades in the wilds of Africa. But scandal and injury have finally driven him home to England to assume his role as Earl of Selby. He’s a lonely, solitary man who’s estranged from his family and haunted by a past he can’t seem to remember.

Nell Drummond was orphaned as a girl and raised by her mother’s wealthy friends. She’s been supported financially, but treated like a poor relative who’s a heavy burden. With no dowry or prospects, she’ll likely never marry or have a home of her own. She’s resigned to her fate as a spinster.

When she meets Nathan, there’s an instant spark they both recognize, but how can they act on it? He’s too far above her in the world, and she could never be the wife he needs. But some attractions are too strong to fight and some love is meant to be…

••••••••••

REVIEW:Always is the first book in an intriguing new trilogy by Cheryl Holt. This is an exciting trilogy that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. One of the most interesting features of these books is that author Cheryl Holt has chosen to write the leading heroes as men who are not “squeaky” clean guys. They’re sometimes damaged, brutal, and obnoxious. However, despite their human flaws, they’re also heart-pounding wonderful and truly three dimensional.

Always is the story of Nathan Blake, Earl of Selby and Nell Drummond. I don’t do spoilers, it ruins all the fun of reading a story, but I can tell you the set up and let you know more about what I felt and liked about this story.

Nell Drummond was orphaned early in life and raised as a companion to the daughter of her mother’s friend, Florence Middleton. The Middleton’s are very wealthy, but not of noble birth. Florence is a driven woman, trying to climb the English social ladder. A daunting task, practically impossible. The Middleton’s have been good to her, but only to a point that doesn’t compete with their daughter. Mr. Middleton makes the money and does all he can to support his wife’s social aspirations. They have secured a betrothal to Percy Blake, a cousin of Nathan’s. Not a love match, by any stretch of the imagination.

Nathan Blake started life with his father being widowed early and his only memories of his mother “Mary” and his sisters are loving and fun. However, after a tragic carriage accident this loving home and family are stripped away ruthlessly. It seems the mother he remembers was not his real mother, but his father’s love and his sisters were conceived out of wedlock and were not taken in by his family. His grandfather, Godwin, and his aunt, Edwina, who take him away are not at all loving. He’s sent away to boarding school almost right away. I don’t want to give away too much of this story plot, so I’m skipping some important points you will have fun discovering for yourself. Suffice it to say, his school friend, Sebastian Sinclair and his famous explorer father, Sir Sidney Sinclair became his family and he lived with and spent years exploring many places, mostly Africa with them.

When Nathan shows up at Selby, his aunt is a bit surprised and put out. It seems he’s very different. The details are incredible and again, it’s part of the plot. But he returns much changed, feeling betrayed by his best friend and left for dead…that’s the only spoiler you get.
All is not what it seems, and this is a book I couldn’t put down, and just think…it’s only the first of the three. What a magnificent beginning and you won’t be able to wait to begin the next part.

Hopefully, they’ll all be released by the time you read this. If I were you, I’d invest in all three because you won’t want to stop until you read them all! Cheryl Holt is an amazing storyteller!

Reviewed by Georgianna S

___________

ALWAYS YOURS
Always Trilogy 2
by Cheryl Holt
Genre: adult, historical, romance
Release Date: August 1,2019

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

Sebastian Sinclair is a famous adventurer who’s spent two decades exploring the wilds of Africa. But after his most recent expedition ended in tragedy, he’s staggered home to London, where he’s bored and chafing and struggling to figure out how to move forward into the future.

Sarah Blake Robertson runs an orphanage and has spent her life helping the less fortunate. Because she’s always been busy with her charity work, she’s viewed herself as having a rewarding and satisfying existence.

But when she crosses paths with handsome, dashing Sebastian Sinclair, her entire world is pitched into chaos. And nothing will ever be the same.

••••••••••••

REVIEW:Always Yours is the second book in the Always Trilogy by Cheryl Holt. Like the previous book, this one is full of wonderfully interesting characters. This trilogy is a three-book saga. Many of the characters in the first book are also featured in the second, but the focus is on a different couple and the story takes its slant from their perspective. I love this because I wanted to know more about these characters and their story is both slightly familiar and yet new and different.

Always Yours is the story of Sarah “Sissy” Robertson and Sebastian Sinclair.

Sarah is one of Nathan Blake’s illegitimate twin sisters. Although, from the time they were separated when he was six, he’d been made to forget they existed. Both sisters were stripped away from the six-year-old Nathan. Sarah couldn’t pronounce Rebecca, so they called their sister Bec Bec. Sarah, had been ill at the time and the person who took her sister, wouldn’t take a sick child, so Sarah was taken to an orphanage for the illegitimate children of nobles and the very rich.

I would have thought that being taken to the orphanage would have been the worse situation. However, Mr. Robertson, who ran the orphanage was an honorable and kind man. His wife was as well, and they didn’t have any children of their own. That changed, as it sometimes does, and Sarah found she had a little sister again, but the two were not terribly close. As they grew up, Mrs. Robertson died and her sister was raised by Mrs. Robertson’s grandmother.

The grown-up Sarah remembers Nathan and knows he’s the Earl of Selby but doesn’t think he’d want to be reminded of it, times and society being what they were. She hasn’t contacted him at all, even though she probably could have. She doesn’t know what happen to Bec Bec. After the death of Mr. Robertson, Sarah now runs the orphanage as her father taught her. However, when her estranged sister and the man she married steal away the orphanage building and put her and two of the Sir Sidney Sinclair’s (Sir Sidney being now deceased) illegitimate children out into the street, she knows she’ll need help and she shows up at Sebastian Sinclair’s home to get that help. And the game is afoot!

Sebastian Sinclair was Nathan Blake’s best friend since he was ripped away from his sisters and sent to boarding school. Yet he doesn’t know Sara Robertson is Nathan’s sister, because Nathan didn’t know. He’s also estranged from his best friend since his father’s death and the debacle in Africa that cost him Nathan’s friendship. (Sorry, no spoilers, you must find out for yourself). Sebastian is in mourning for his father, harassed by his witch of a mother who wants him to marry a girl he has no interest in, and trying to maintain some relationship with his exploration team. When Sarah and the two children show up at his door asking for some “temporary” help, he can’t argue that they are not his father’s illegitimate children because the boy is the image of Sir Sidney. Oh, this tangled web just keeps getting better and better…

Okay, that’s the basic set-up of this book. The talented Cheryl Holt has woven another unique and enthralling story that will hold and increase your interest so that you just can’t wait to see what she’ll write for the last one. This book is, if possible, even more tangled and dynamic than the first. Cheryl Holt is now on my favorite author’s list.

Reviewed by Georgianna S

_____________

ALWAYS MINE
Always Trilogy 3
by Cheryl Holt
Genre: adult, historical, romance
Release Date: August 1,2019

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

Rebecca Blake Carter saw her world fall apart when she was just three years old. Her parents died, and she was sent to live with her greedy, horrid relatives. They always made sure she realized she was a terrible burden, and she’s lived a true Cinderella existence. She’s constantly riveted by odd dreams that remind her of a prior period in her life, one where she was surrounded by people who loved her. Who were they? And how could she find them again?

Raven Shawcross also saw his world fall apart when he was a small boy. His father was duped in a confidence scheme, and his family ended up losing everything: their property, their reputation, their good name. His parents died of shame, and he vowed to avenge them by retrieving what was wrongly taken by their enemies. He’s spent his life, preparing for the moment when he will finally be able to deliver the justice he’s dreamed of having.

But when he meets Rebecca, he’s disturbed to find that there are other things in the world worth having besides retribution. True love just might be the best ending of all.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: ALWAYS MINE is the third and final instalment in Cheryl Holt’s historical ALWAYS romance series focusing on the Blake siblings. This is twenty-seven year old Rebecca Blake Carter, and thirty year old wealthy businessman and traveller Raven Shawcross’ story line. ALWAYS MINE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives including Raven and Rebecca ALWAYS MINE focuses on Rebecca Blake Carter as she struggles in the home of her abusive Aunt Beatrice. Rebecca was orphaned at the age of three, and has no memories of the past including the family she can no longer remember. Fast forward to present day wherein a dark but dashing stranger comes into her life, and turns Rebecca’s world on its’ access. Enter world traveller and wealthy businessman Raven Shawcross, and the man with whom Rebecca will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Rebecca and Raven, and the fall-out as Raven reveals the truth about who he is, and his plans for the future including destroying Rebecca and the only family she has ever known.

Raven Shawcross is on a mission. Since the age of ten when his family lost everything including the father they loved, Raven has been h*ll bent for fury to take down the people responsible. Meeting Rebecca Blake became a distraction, a distraction directly connected to the people he wanted to destroy; a means to an end that he would also take down in the process. Rebecca Blake was completely oblivious to the life she once knew. Always feeling like something or someone was missing, Rebecca dreamed of the day she would be rescued from the life fate had ordered but her would be rescuer was nothing more than the devil in disguise.

The relationship between Rebecca and Raven was one of immediate attraction but Raven had placed his plans into motion and no one was going to interfere. Using Rebecca as a means to an end meant breaking Rebecca’s heart in the process, a heart he would soon discover had fallen for his own. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble case of secondary and supporting characters including the previous story line couples: Nathan Blake and Nell Drummond: Sebastian Sinclair and Sarah Blake Robinson; Rebecca’s cousins Beatrice and her son Clayton, as well as a Alex, a young orphan Rebecca has help raised since an infant.

ALWAYS MINE is a story of betrayal, vengeance, family and loss; secrets and lies. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is captivating but struggles with a need for revenge; the characters are colorful, dyamic and lost. ALWAYS MINE is a satisfying conclusion to Cheryl Holt’s wonderful and intriguing ALWAYS trilogy

Copies supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE
Selby estate, rural England, twenty-four years later…
Nell Drummond walked down the pretty lane toward the main road. It was a beautiful July afternoon, the sky so blue, the trees so green. Up ahead, she could see the sign that indicated the estate entrance, the simple word SELBY carved in the wood to announce the esteemed location.
She was carrying ribbons and a basket of flowers, and she placed the basket at her feet and surveyed the surrounding posts and fence that she intended to decorate. Back at the manor, the house was hectic, with the servants in a lather because guests were about to begin arriving and the final wedding preparations were still being completed.
In two weeks, her dearest friend, Susan Middleton, was marrying Selby cousin, Percy Blake. Nell, Susan, and Susan’s mother, Florence, had already traveled to the country to participate in the celebrations that would lead up to the ostentatious event. Susan’s busy father, Albert, wouldn’t appear until the day of the ceremony, feeling no need to be present during the escalating mayhem.
Nell had to admit he’d been wise to delay. Now that she’d discovered how chaotic it would be, she wished she could have stayed in London until the very last minute too.
Though she would never confess it aloud, Florence always put people on edge, and she was being her typical annoying self, irking everyone with her pompous posturing. With her usual lack of awareness, didn’t notice she was creating enemies right and left.
The groom’s mother, Edwina Blake, was especially aggravated.
The two women had arranged the nuptials, so ultimately, they’d be related by marriage, but as the years rolled by, Nell couldn’t imagine how they would ever socialize. They had naught in common, and Edwina’s dislike of Florence was potent and evident.
The Blakes had been aristocrats for three centuries, and they were considered a premier family in the kingdom. The Selby title, currently held by the groom’s cousin—the famous explorer and conspicuously absent Nathan Blake—was one of the oldest and most exalted in the land. Edwina Blake—as a member of the lofty group—viewed herself as being very grand, very important, and she was.
The Middletons were obscenely wealthy due to Albert being a successful brewer. Florence ceaselessly, but erroneously believed their money could buy them a position in High Society, but it never could. They were too ordinary, their antecedents too low.
Despite how hard Florence tried, she couldn’t purchase the spot she thought they should occupy. She’d hoped to use their fortune to snag a noble husband for Susan, but she’d had to settle for a nobleman’s cousin instead.
The groom, Percy Blake—as a grandson of the prior Lord Selby—had very blue blood, but an empty purse, and Susan’s dowry would fill it to overflowing. It was the reason his mother, Edwina, had sought the match. Once the vows were spoken, Percy would become very rich.
Yet the mothers—Florence and Edwina—were like an explosion waiting to happen. How would they all survive the next two weeks without a huge fight breaking out? If Percy and Susan could reach the altar without their mothers calling the whole thing off, it would be a miracle.
Nell was a pleasant person, and she couldn’t abide discord or bickering, but her years of living with the Middletons had honed her skills as a peacemaker.
Her widowed mother, who’d died when Nell was twelve, had been Florence’s childhood friend. After Nell was orphaned, she’d taken Nell into her home and had finished raising her. Nell was now a very elderly twenty-two, and for the past decade, she’d resided with the Middletons. She was a sort of second daughter they didn’t like very much and hadn’t really wanted.
Florence relentlessly reminded Nell of how lucky she was to have been welcomed by the Middletons, and she was lucky. Grateful too. But she spent an awful lot of time calming Florence’s temper, and she often felt she should have been awarded a prize for her intervention skills. They were skills she assumed she would frequently employ as the wedding neared.
She didn’t like the Blakes very much, and Percy Blake was an arrogant prig who didn’t deserve a wife as sweet and lovely as Susan. But she and Nell were devoted to one another, like affectionate sisters, and she was glad Susan was about to be a bride. It had been Susan’s dream, one over which they’d constantly fantasized as girls, and Nell would toil valiantly to ensure Susan’s big day was as perfect as possible.
She started working on her decorations, weaving strands of ribbons and flowers that she could wrap around the fence posts. She was humming an off-key tune, engrossed in her task, when she realized a man was approaching.
He was strolling along on foot, his horse plodding behind, as he meticulously assessed the quiet woods. He noted every tree and shrub as if he were a soldier wary of attack.
A very handsome fellow, he was tall and broad-shouldered, with black hair and very blue eyes. He needed to shave, and his hair was much too long, tied with a strip of leather and hanging halfway down his back as if he hadn’t been to a barber in ages.
And while he was probably burly and fit when in prime physical shape, at present, he was thin and gaunt, as if he might have been ill for an extended period. He appeared to have traveled some distance, and it must have been a grueling trip. His boots were dusty and scuffed, his jacket tattered, the elbows patched.
She might have wondered if he’d suffered a calamity, if she should send him to the servant’s door to request a free meal, but he didn’t seem imperiled. Though his outward condition was a bit bedraggled, he carried himself like a warrior or a prince.
There was a powerful aura about him that was tangible, and she was curious as to his identity and purpose. Obviously, he’d have many stories to tell, and she always liked to encounter an intriguing character. Her own life was so small and so boring that she relished any chance to enliven it.
Eventually, he noticed her, and he stopped and stared, scrutinizing her with those magnificent eyes of his. He studied her as if he hadn’t seen a female in years, and he didn’t miss a single detail, his evaluation commencing at her head and meandering down in a manner that was almost inappropriate.
“Hello.” She flashed the pretty smile for which she was renowned.
It was her mother’s smile, and fortunately, Nell had inherited it. Her mother had been a great beauty, and Nell—with her curly chestnut locks, big green eyes, pert nose, and dimples—resembled her exactly. Men found her to be very fetching, but none of them would ever act on it.
Her deceased father had been an officer in the Royal Navy, her mother his adoring and very common wife. They’d left her no inheritance, no bequests, no dowry, and no wealthy kin. It was why she’d always resided with the Middletons.
She was old enough to be declared a penniless spinster, and her winsome looks and curvaceous figure were her only viable attributes. But they couldn’t take her anywhere she’d like to go—that being into a happy marriage and a home of her own—so they were merely a method for garnering empty praise.
“Hello,” he said in return, and he kept coming until he was very close. “Do I know you?”
“I’m sure you don’t. I have a good memory for faces, and I don’t recall yours.”
“You’re not a Blake.”
“No.”
“Is this still their property? Or have they finally lost it and moved away?”
“No.” She pointed to the sign that marked the lane to the manor, the one that had SELBY carved into the wood. “They’re all here and limping forward in a tremendous fashion. I can safely state that they’re quite as grand as ever.”
He scoffed at that. “I suppose grand might be a bit of an exaggeration.”
“Yes, I suppose it is, but I find them to be very illustrious.”
“Why are you decorating the fence?”
“We’re having a wedding, so guests will be arriving. I’m hoping to generate a festive tone from the moment people ride through the gate.”
“Who is getting married?”
“The Earl’s cousin, Percy Blake.”
“Who is the bride?”
“Miss Susan Middleton.”
“Never heard of her…” he mused. “Is it a love match? Was Mr. Blake swept off his feet?”
“It was nothing so thrilling as all that. It was all very mundane, with it arranged by their mothers when the parties involved weren’t paying attention.”
“That indicates Miss Middleton must be very rich and he’s marrying her for her money.”
Nell chuckled. “I will neither confirm nor deny your appraisal of the situation.”
“Percy always was a mercenary. His mother too. They must be walking on air over their windfall.”
“I can’t say they’re complaining about it,” Nell indiscreetly agreed, even as she recognized she should guard her unruly tongue.
She was in no position to comment on any facet of the nuptial machinations. Florence was vigilant as a spy, and the least little infraction always made its way back to her.
Nell decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. “It sounds as if you know Edwina Blake and her son, Percy.”
“I do.” He sighed, the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I know them all too well.”
“Then I will be very nosy and ask how you’re acquainted.”
“I’m a Blake cousin.”
“Oh! How nice. Are you just passing by? Or will you be staying for the celebration?”
“I guess I’ll have to stay. I don’t have much choice.”
“We all have choices, Mr. Blake.”
“I haven’t ever found that to be true.” He stared down the lane, torn over whether he should continue on. He scowled at her. “What is your role in this madness?”
“I’ve tagged after the Middletons as a sort of poor relative who’s not a relative at all.”
“Meaning what? You live with the Middletons, but you’re not family?”
“Precisely. I intended my reply to be a riddle, but you deciphered it immediately. Mr. Middleton is my guardian, and I am his ward. You’re very astute.”
“I can be when I try.”
“Susan and I are very fond of each other, like sisters only better, so it’s as if I’m helping my sister stagger toward her wedding.”
“When is it to be?”
“Two weeks from today.”
“Will it be a huge event?”
“Yes. Dozens of your Blake kin are coming, and of course, the whole neighborhood has been invited.”
He wrinkled his nose. “The manor will be packed.”
“Yes. The housemaids are in a frenzy, what with preparing all the bedchambers.” She grinned. “It’s why I’m outside, decorating the fence. The furor inside is overwhelming.”
She studied him, thinking he appeared as worn down as his clothes, as if he’d recently been pummeled by life and was struggling to regroup. He looked as if he could use some pampering.
“You’ll be the first cousin to arrive,” she said, “and the staff is just waiting to serve someone. They’ll spoil you rotten.”
“I might actually enjoy that for a change. I can’t remember the last time I was fussed over.”
“That’s the saddest statement I’ve ever heard. We all deserve a little coddling.” She waved him on. “You’re dead on your feet. Why don’t you go to the house?”
“Am I that decrepit?”
“Yes. Have you traveled far to get here?”
“It seems as if I’ve traveled forever.”
His voice was fatigued, his demeanor drained, and she’d always been much too sympathetic. As a girl, she’d been the type who’d dragged home stray kittens and puppies. As an adolescent, living with the Middletons, she’d nursed the sick dogs and worried over the lame horses. She was no different with people.
He was such a tragic figure, standing there in his shabby coat and scuffed boots. She had no idea what ordeals he’d suffered on his journey to Selby, but she was swamped by the perception that they had been punishing and dreadful. She was desperate to wrap her arms around him, to hug him and tell him everything would be all right.
“Can you find the manor on your own?” she asked him.
“Yes.” He stared down the lane again, and he was wretched, as if he couldn’t bear to spur himself toward it.
“It’s quite a distance. With you being so tired, maybe you should jump on your horse and ride the rest of the way.”
“Is my fatigue that clear?”
“Yes. You have no secrets from me, sir.”
“How terrifying.”
She lifted her hand to urge him on, and the lace on the cuff of her sleeve caught on a nail in the fence post. She managed to halt just before she tore it.
She frowned and glanced down, and he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. My sleeve snagged on a nail.”
She started tugging at it to free herself without damaging the gown. The Middletons provided her with a tiny allowance, and Susan gave Nell her castoffs, so she had clothes to wear, but her benefactors weren’t overly generous, and she would never deliberately ruin a garment.
She was much too pragmatic to be frivolous with her wardrobe.
“Don’t rip it,” he said, his tone scolding, and he dropped his horse’s reins and stepped over to her.
Suddenly, they were very close together, and she was thrilled in a peculiar feminine fashion by how he towered over her. At five-foot-six in her slippers, she wasn’t exactly a petite person, but he was much taller than she’d initially assumed, six feet at least and perhaps even more than that.
Even though he was currently too thin, he oozed male virility, making her wonder if he wasn’t a soldier or an athlete. He was so thoroughly masculine.
Without requesting permission, he clasped her wrist, then wedged the lace off the nail. It came loose, and she should have thanked him and pulled away, but she didn’t. Neither did he.
Though it sounded odd, it seemed as if the Earth stood still for a moment. The breeze stopped blowing in the trees. The birds stopped singing. It grew very quiet, the silence almost eerie.
There was the strangest sense in the air, as if powerful forces were at work in the universe, as if she’d been destined to cross paths with him for some reason. She gazed up at him, fully expecting him to utter a profound comment that she would mull forever.
When he finally spoke, she bit down a laugh as he voiced a perfectly mundane question instead.
“What is your name?”
“Eleanor—Nell—Drummond.”
“Is it Miss Drummond?”
“Yes.”
He scrutinized her in the same intense manner he’d scrutinized the forest: as if he was assessing every detail for later reflection. She’d never had anyone stare at her so meticulously, and she might have fidgeted, but she wasn’t a silly debutante, meeting a potential beau. She was a twenty-two-year-old spinster. She could survive a male inspection.
“Where did you get all your lovely chestnut hair?” he asked.
It was her best feature, curly, lush, long, and uncontrollable. She gave it a vain shake. “From my dear, departed mother.”
“Was she very beautiful?”
“Yes, she was.”
He actually grabbed a strand and wrapped it around his finger. Then he leaned in and evaluated the color, and she was frozen in her spot, absolutely breathless to discover what he might attempt next.
But he swiftly remembered himself. He released her and moved away. She couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed.
“I’d better head to the manor,” he said.
“Would you like me to walk you? You seem awfully weary.”
“There’s no need. I’ve come such a distance on my own. I’m sure I can make it the remainder of the way without collapsing.”
“Will you join us for supper?”
He snorted, perhaps with disgust, perhaps with amusement. “I probably will.”
“If you’re seated near me at the end of the table, I can talk your ear off.”
He smiled—the only one he’d displayed—and told her, “I might like that.”
“There’s to be dancing after. And cards.”
He winced. “I thought I was the first cousin to arrive.”
“Mrs. Blake has invited many of the neighbors for the evening.”
“Aren’t I lucky?” he muttered.
“Are you a dancer? Or are you more prone to drink in the corner with the bachelors and irk the ladies who can’t find a partner?”
He gaped at her, as if he’d never heard of dancing before. “I guess I was a dancer in a different period of my life.”
“Well, once you’re fed and spoiled for a bit, will you dance with me? Since I welcomed you so warmly, I ought to receive a reward.”
He snorted, this time with amusement. She was certain of it.
“You’re sassy,” he said. “I didn’t think I liked that in a woman, but maybe I do.”
He sauntered off, his horse obediently plodding after him. A cloud floated over the sun, the sky darkening, as if the world was colder and duller without him standing beside her.
She was sad to have him leave, which was ridiculous. After all, he was staying for the wedding, so they’d have chances to socialize. But still, it felt wrong that he’d abandon her so quickly after they’d met.
“Goodbye,” she called. “I enjoyed our chat.”
He glanced over his shoulder, his potent gaze rocking her.
“It’s not goodbye, Miss Nell Drummond,” he offered like a threat. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes, you will—and I will expect that dance you promised.”
“Don’t be greedy.”
He kept on, and she yearned to call out again, but she forced herself to refrain. He likely already deemed her to be a nuisance, and she wouldn’t lower his opinion any further.
It was a rare occasion when she flirted. Had they been flirting? It definitely seemed like it, and she couldn’t wait to bump into him again at the earliest opportunity.
From the moment she’d arrived at Selby, she’d been afraid the entire celebration would be a boring slog, but it might not be. She might be introduced to handsome men, mingle exhaustively, and head back to London with a dozen new friends.
It could happen. Couldn’t it? It didn’t have to all be unpleasant.
She grinned and returned to her basket of flowers, but she could barely concentrate on her task. She wanted to chase after him, to babble a mile a minute as he proceeded to the house, but that was insane—and rude as well. She’d see him later.
Oh, yes, she would!


 

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Cheryl Holt is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author of fifty novels. 

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age 40, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance, where she was stunned to discover that she has an incredible knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre, and her emotional, dramatic, and riveting stories of passion and illicit love have captivated fans around the world. She has won or been nominated for many national awards. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

Cheryl lives and writes in Hollywood, California. www.cherylholt.com.

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the author’s give-away. If you have any questions, please contact the author.

https://cherylholt.com/always-giveaway/

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Jilted Brides Series 1-3 by Cheryl Holt-Reviews and Giveaway

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Jilted Brides Series 1-3 by Cheryl Holt-Reviews and Giveaway

The JILTED BRIDE series
by Cheryl Holt
Release Date: September 20, 2018
Genre: adult, historical romance

JILTED BY A CAD

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

Josephine Bates only ever wanted to marry and have a home of her own.  At age eighteen, when a handsome suitor swept her off her feet, she believed all her dreams were about to come true.   But he was actually a cad who stole her dowry and jilted her at the altar. Since then, she’s been wary of men and their motives.  She’s accepted the notion that she’ll never escape her dreary, quiet existence, and she’ll most likely live out her days as a spinster…

Peyton Prescott is a ship’s captain in the Royal Navy.  He’s a man of action and adventure, and his years have been filled with danger and excitement.  But his brother has died, so he’s inherited a title and earldom he never sought or wanted. He’s afraid his new position will force him to abandon the thrilling life he loves, and he’s loafing in England, feeling landlocked and desperate to return to the sea.  He’d give anything for a diversion, and when pretty, lonely Josephine crosses his path, he’s fascinated and can’t resist…

But Peyton isn’t looking for a bride, and Josephine could never be interested in a handsome, dashing scoundrel.  Yet as friendship blossoms and passion flares, can love be far behind? 

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: The first book in a new series always has a hard job, if it’s not good enough do you carry on reading the series?

It’s the usual dashing cad and scoundrel falling for the dowdy and let down spinster story, and reading the back I really wasn’t too convinced …..

But the writing is very well done. It’s very descriptive and well thought out. And can be easily read in an afternoon.

Our “spinster of the Parish” Josephine (or Jo to family and friends ) was jilted at the altar, so wants no part in “love” she wants to live a quiet life, but secretly longing for a little adventure and that all elusive “love” she lives with her older half sister, who likes to constantly remind her of her silly mistake.

Our “dashing scoundrel” Peyton is not ready to settle down, he wants to continue his adventures …..
But when his poor brother dies, Peyton has to step into the role of Earl, and he can’t think of a worse fate, he wants to be back on his ship and sail away to find adventure.

So ….. the two characters meet, Josephine is extremely wary, and Peyton just wants to have a little fun.
But the two strike up a friendship, and then the chemistry starts to work its magic.

Will Peyton be cured of his need to leave for new adventures? And will Josephine ever trust a cad and scoundrel with her heart ?

Julie ?

___________

JILTED BY A SCOUNDREL

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

CHERYL HOLT continues to delight readers with the thrilling, dramatic second novel in her Jilted Brides trilogy…

Winifred Watson grew up as the only daughter of a decorated war hero. When he died suddenly, she was shocked to learn that he was bankrupt and she lost everything to pay his final debts.  She’d hoped to wed her fiancé—a steady, handsome man who would have guided her through the tumult of her father’s death.  But when her penury was revealed, her fickle betrothed jilted her at the altar. His treacherous conduct pitched her into a downward spiral that she can’t seem to halt…

John Dunn escaped his dreary home by joining the army when he was sixteen.  He loved his years as a soldier and planned to dedicate the remainder of his life to King and country.  But he was swept into a scandal and drummed out of the service. He’s returned to his family’s isolated, dreary castle on the Cornwall coast, but it’s the one spot on the globe he vowed to never visit again.  He’s bitter, raging, and eager for a diversion from his pathetic situation…

When Winifred arrives, demanding shelter and assistance, John isn’t inclined to provide any help.  But she’s pretty, intriguing, and in desperate need of a knight in shining armor. How can he resist?

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:So …..

after reading book one in the series I delved into book two ….

The family is loosely connected to the Earl of Benton ( Peyton’s brother) he fathered (another) two children, (they have the same father, but different mothers) and when Winifred (or Winnie as the children like to call her) comes storming in to demand that he not only provide a home for the child, his sister had with the Earl of Benton, she also asks that he take in the child’s half brother and herself (she claims that she is the child’s legal guardian, but when all in fact she is their governess) and when he refuses, Winifred is at a loss at what to do next, their home gone, her job no longer needed, John was their last hope ….

John isn’t happy that he has to come home, he loved the army after joining it at a very young age, he gave him the “family feeling” he didn’t get at home. But after a scandal drums him out of his “beloved” army, John wearily makes his way home, to become the Lord of Dunworthy (an honorary title, not an actual title)

Coming face to face with Winifred annnoys him no end ….. how dare she claim his sister had a child out of wedlock, and to a married man at that !!! And that she wants a home for the children and the rest of the family !!! She has a nerve, but she was a feisty young thing.
But he really can’t afford the young lady and two children to wander around the castle and village …. John has a secret, he’s had to start smuggling to cover the debts his family has left him with.

But he comes to his senses and offers Winnie and the two children a room for the night, but just for tonight, and as soon as the tide is low, he’s getting them off his island.

But circumstances change, and John and Winnie become allies (there are people in the castle that want Winnie gone, and John to be married to the widow of his late brother) their bickering and bantering had me chuckling at times.

So ….. do John and Winnie have a happy ending ? Or will she find out about his smuggling ? And will the other forces come into play and keep them apart ?

Julie ?

_________

JILTED BY A ROGUE

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

 

CHERYL HOLT delivers the delightful, emotional, and stunning conclusion to her Jilted Brides trilogy…

Amelia Boyle has always viewed herself as an extremely modest and moral woman. But after suffering a string of personal catastrophes, she went a bit wild and made several reckless decisions. Her spurt of excess culminated in her becoming engaged to a man she barely knew. When he promptly jilted her at the altar, the cruel act yanked her to her senses. She’s been forced to admit she has frivolous tendencies, and she vows to never let them flare again.

James Hastings loves his life in the army, and he doesn’t plan to ever retire. He’s a confirmed bachelor who spends his days around active, tough men who are proud to serve King and country. He’s not interested in marriage or settling down, and he has no time for women and no patience for flirtation.

But when Amelia stumbles into his dull, boring world, she turns it upside down, and it gradually dawns on him that he might not be able to live without her. Amelia has sworn off romance though and has other plans that don’t include binding herself to a handsome, dashing soldier. Can James convince her that he might be precisely who and what she needs to be happy?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: Amelia is planning a trip to Gibraltar, well planning isn’t exactly the word. Amelia fell for a smooth talking con man ….
And now she needs to get away, and answering a call to become a ladies travel companion seems like an ideal opportunity to escape London and all the gossip her downfall will bring.

We meet Amelia in book one (Jilted by a Cad) and I had hoped she would get a book.

Her rescuer comes in the form of James Hastings (Lord Denby)
He’s a sailor and the brother to the lady she travelled with.
But a rescuer isn’t how she first sees him, he’s half naked and riding on the back of a horse.

He is so rude, and vain, and conceited, he flirts like mad with Amelia, but soon stops when he finds out Amelia travelled with his sister (she told Amelia that James had written to her and told he she was to come to Gibraltar, when in fact, he hadn’t had spoken to his sister in years) so storming to their hotel, he is absolutely fuming.

James doesn’t want to be Lord Denby, he told his family that he didn’t want the title. But as his brother passed away, the title is rightfully his. And his sister told him that he had to come home and look after her. He likes his life in Gibraltar and has no inclination to go home.

The banter and bickering was very much in the same vein as the other two books.
And all the books connect (there is a man that cons all the women out of money and innocence)

They were fun and very light hearted. The romance felt a little stilted.
So if you like your historical romance, then give these books a go.

They don’t really need to be read in order, but I did and felt they read better.

Reviews by Julie  ?

Copies supplied for review

Follow: Goodreads / Website /Twitter /Facebook

Cheryl Holt is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author of fifty novels. 

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age 40, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance, where she was stunned to discover that she has an incredible knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre, and her emotional, dramatic, and riveting stories of passion and illicit love have captivated fans around the world. She has won or been nominated for many national awards. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

Cheryl lives and writes in Hollywood, California. www.cherylholt.com.

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Only You by Cheryl Holt-Review, Book Tour and Giveaway

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Only You by Cheryl Holt-Review, Book Tour and Giveaway

Only You

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / itunes / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 1, 2016

CHERYL HOLT does it again with another fast-paced, dramatic tale of seduction, passion, and romance. This time, love blooms on a lazy, decadent trip down the Nile!

Lady Theodosia Postlewaite, known as Theo to her family and friends, has always had the worst luck. On the night her betrothal was to be announced, she was unwittingly caught in a compromising situation. With her engagement ended and her reputation in tatters, her incensed father demands she flee the gossip by accompanying her dour, grumpy aunt on a sightseeing trip to Egypt. Theo reluctantly agrees, and she’s determined to spend the months abroad proving she possesses the highest moral character. Most especially, she vows to never so much as speak to a handsome man ever again.

Soloman Grey has lived in Egypt for the past decade. His own scandal chased him out of London, and he’s built a new life for himself as an adventurer and explorer. Because of the gossip that ruined him, he doesn’t trust anyone, and he constantly vows that he’ll never so much as glance at a pretty woman ever again.

But when Soloman meets Theo, he’s dragged into her world in a dozen ways he never intended. She’s beautiful, funny, and lonely, and he can’t resist. Yet, he’s the bastard son of an earl, so he could never be worthy of her. When her relatives would do anything to keep them apart, dare he risk all to have her for his very own?

••••••

REVIEW:

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Ah .. nothing like a good book that delivers what I like to refer to as a lazy read. So easy to flip page after page (or in my case the e-reader screen) when a story just naturally captivates and flows so well. Only You by Cheryl Holt is a historical romance with maybe a side of erotica (some may think so) that collides two souls that were seriously made for one another. I can see reading this on the beach this summer, or swinging on a hammock in the breeze. Just pure indulgent reading. LOL

Lady Theodosia Postlewaite is an English lady who has had her life mapped out for her. She is going to marry (insert stuffy so wrong for her Englishmen) because her father says it’s so. On Christmas Eve, just before her betrothal is announced, Theo hears some ladies gossiping about her soon to be fiance, and his mistress he has no desire to give up. These mean girls rip Theo to shreds behind her back (little did they know they were heard), but they also open Theo’s eyes to the kind of life that is waiting for her with this marriage. Theo is naive, lonely, obedient and she is just going through the motions of life without thinking she is missing out on any thing special. When she is caught in a chance encounter with another man, her betrothal is broken, she is ruined and sent off with Auntie Dearest on what she believes is exile. It just so happens to be life changing and one heck of an adventure.

Soloman Grey … SIGH! I really like Soloman Grey. Soloman is considered a bastard in polite English society, but he is a recognized bastard. He is embraced by his father, loved by his father and before he his father passes away, Soloman is given guardianship of the estate on behalf of his legitimate baby brother. When Soloman’s baby brother disappears, everyone assumes Soloman took care of business in order to inherit the family fortune. He is completely shuned and in order to escape the assumptions and mutters and downright rudeness of polite society, he willingly leaves England, which to some, means he confirms his guilt.

Both Theo and Soloman paths cross in Egypt. I suppose this is a quest of sorts .. a quest of self discovery and healing. While Soloman tries his hardest to stay away from Theo he eventually just gives in to this incredible woman (although there is lots of taking and giving on both ends ..lol). It’s like neither of them knew that they needed the other until they experienced what it is like to have each other. Friendship and a one hot romance soon follows as we get a tour down the Nile River.

Add in some adventure, exotic foreign experiences and a big fat middle finger to polite society (when they get to that point, I swear I high fived my ereader ..lol) and you have one fantastic book. I love historical romance that throws anything proper out the door, and allows for characters to bloom in a strange setting, and this is exactly what Cheryl has allowed her lead characters to do. Both came into their own and brought out the best in the other. Of course there is some angst and danger, and some serious jerkfaces, but I will not go into any of that as you can find that out for yourself.

If you love the historical romance genre, and you are looking for a fantastic read this summer, I strongly recommend this book. You will get the action, adventure, suspense and hot steamy smexy here. I can’t wait for you to write more Cheryl Holt!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Rachel T.

 

About The Author Black and Blue

Follow: Goodreads / Website /Twitter /Facebook

Cheryl HoltCHERYL HOLT is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author who has published over forty novels.

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, she
started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a
suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended
up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that she has a knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans.

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Cheryl Holt’s ‘Lost Lord’ Scavenger Hunt Promotion

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Cheryl Holt’s ‘Lost Lord’ Scavenger Hunt Promotion

lostlordsinvite-300x300

I’m getting ready to release my 40th novel! It’s a huge career milestone for me, and I hope all of you will help me celebrate by enjoying my new trilogy, “The Lost Lords of Radcliffe.”

The three books are a “real” trilogy, with one story leading into the next and the drama building with each novel. I’m releasing them over the summer so you’ll be able to read the 2nd and 3rd books right away without having to wait months or years to find out what happens. HEART’S DELIGHT will be here on June 1st. HEART’S DESIRE is coming on July 1st. And Book 3, HEART’S DEMAND–my 40th novel!!!–will be here onAugust 1st. It will be a great summer of sexy, yummy reading.

The 3 novels will be released as e-books and print books. The e-version will be available for all e-readers, but the print books will not appear in stores. They will have to be ordered on-line at Amazon. The covers are beautiful, the stories breathtaking, heartbreaking, dramatic, and thrilling. I think it’s my best work yet.

I hope you’ll spend the summer–with me! And my Lost Lords of Radcliffe. Coming June, July, and August of 2015.

Facebook Release Party Link: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1553831831553784/permalink/1588756538061313/

excerpt

 

 

Mr. Scott stood and went to the door, and he opened it and hollered down the hall. “Ramsey, I need you.”
He came back to the desk, and they listened as heavy boot steps pounded up the stairs. A man loomed in the doorway. He was broader and taller than Mr. Scott, handsome too, and dressed in black clothes, so he appeared menacing in a way Mr. Scott didn’t seem to be.
“What?” he inquired of Mr. Scott.
“Have we hired a new boy named Tim?”
“I believe we have.”
“What are his duties?”
“This and that.” Mr. Ramsey made a waffling motion with his hand, the phrase this and that obviously intended to hide what Tim had been hired to do.
There were rumors he was training as a pickpocket. A pickpocket! As if a boy should be trained at such a task! Her temper flared.
“This and that?” Maggie was incredulous. “What precisely would that position entail?”
Both men ignored her, and Mr. Scott said, “Fetch him.”
Ramsey left, and as she and Mr. Scott waited for Tim to arrive, she noted that her knees were quaking.
She peeked at the chair he’d offered earlier, anxious to walk over and slide down onto it, but she didn’t know how to pull it off with any aplomb. She’d been too snotty in her insistence that she’d remain standing.
The quiet interval was fraught with distress that she hadn’t realized she was harboring. For idiotic reasons she couldn’t fathom, she couldn’t bear to have Mr. Scott deem her a ninny or a fool. She craved his good opinion and yearned for him to view her as being worthy of esteem, but why would it matter? He was a brigand. Who cared what his opinion might be?
To her relief, footsteps sounded on the stairs, ending the tense, awkward moment.
Mr. Scott murmured, “You can’t save the whole world, Miss Wells.”
“I can try.”
“You can, but doesn’t it seem pointless sometimes?”
Ramsey entered, and Tim followed. He looked different, clean and tidied, and he was wearing new clothes, his previously-pale cheeks rosy with color.
“You sent for me, Mr. Scott?” He neared the desk, but blanched when he saw Maggie. “Miss Wells? What are you doing here?”
“I heard you’re working for Mr. Scott,” Maggie said.
Tim blushed. “Ah…yes, I am.”
“You can’t want to.”
“I do want to,” Tim asserted. “I’ve been hoping for years that Mr. Scott would notice me.”
“Why?”
“A boy can rise very high in his employ—if he’s loyal and learns his craft. Everyone knows it.”
Mr. Scott smirked. “See, Miss Wells? Tim is fine.”
Maggie stared at Tim. “Will you leave with me? Please?”
“Why would I?” Tim replied. “I like it here.”
“You can’t mean it.”
“I mean it, Miss Wells. Really.” He peered over at Mr. Scott. “Will that be all, sir?”
“Yes.”
Mr. Scott waved Tim out, and Ramsey led him away.
Maggie gaped at Mr. Scott, and to her horror, she was on the verge of bursting into tears.
He’d said she couldn’t save the whole world, but why couldn’t she save her little corner of it? Did every boy have to meet a bad end? Did every child have to struggle and toil and degrade himself? There was so much poverty and strife, and for just a second the weight of all those desperate souls seemed balanced on her slender shoulders, and the burden was much too heavy to carry.
He shrugged. “You were fretting over nothing.”
“You’ll train him in petty crime. He’ll become a criminal, and it will be all your fault.”
“He’ll have a few coins in his pocket and a dry, warm bed to sleep in. It beats starving out in the rain and the cold.”
“He’ll likely be hanged before you’re through with him.”
“There are worse endings for a boy.”
“Name one,” she fumed.
He didn’t reply, but scowled, his expression telling her she was an idiot. He gestured to the door, indicating her appointment was over.
“Are we finished?” he inquired. “I’ve been more than patient.”

 

About the Author pink

Cheryl HoltCheryl Holt is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author of forty novels.

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age 40, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance, where she was stunned to discover that she has an incredible knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre, and her emotional, dramatic, and riveting stories of passion and illicit love have captivated fans around the world. She has won or been nominated for many national awards. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

Cheryl lives and writes in Hollywood, California.

Series Spotlight pink

Heart's DelightHEART’S DELIGHT
Lost Lords Trilogy #1
by Cheryl Holt
Release Date: May 29, 2015

Add to your GOODREADS shelf

Evangeline Etherton grew up as an orphan and charity case at Miss Peabody’s School for Girls. But she was always haunted by memories of the loving family and siblings she’d once had. As a tiny girl, her father passed away, and her mother was wrenched from their lives and transported on a prison ship to Australia. Her three brothers were cast to the winds of fate and vanished from her life, but she was too young to understand why.

What happened to her mother and brothers? Might her mother still be alive? And what about her brothers? Evangeline vows to learn the answers to those questions and begins her quest to find them and bring them all home.

Synopsis for first book HEART’S DELIGHT:

Three little lost lords, cast to the winds of fate…

So begins CHERYL HOLT’S breathtaking new trilogy, The Lost Lords of Radcliffe…

MICHAEL SCOTT grew up an orphan on the streets of London. He has no memories of his past, but he’s haunted by terrible dreams and always feels as if he lost something vital and precious along the way. Through cunning and determination, he’s become rich, prosperous, and dangerous. As a brigand and criminal, he knows how to fight and survive any battle. But when he had such a rough beginning as a child, how has he managed to thrive so spectacularly? How can he ever learn the truth?

MAGDALENA WELLS runs a charity mission in London’s worst slums. Although she’s heard many vicious rumors about treacherous, deceitful Michael Scott, when she meets him, she can’t help but fall under his spell. He is the most extraordinary person she’s ever encountered. If ancestry makes the man, how is she to account for his remarkable traits? His drive and accomplishments have propelled him to the highest levels of London society—which is exactly where he seems to belong. How could a ruffian be so brilliant and successful? What is his true history? Can Magdalena help to reveal the secrets he’s always been dying to discover?

Join CHERYL HOLT as she once again weaves a beloved tale of family, loyalty, love, and loss. As the truth about the “lost” lords is gradually revealed, readers will be cheering…

 

Blog Tour Schedule pink

May 18 – Reader’s Entertainment – http://www.readersentertainment.com/blog/2015/youre-invited-to-cheryl-holts-scavenger-hunt/

May 19 – Novels Alive TV – http://novelsalive.tv/blog-posts/spotlight-cheryl-holts-lost-lords-of-radcliffe-series/#sthash.fhnTlkZ1.dpbs

May 20 – Night Owl Reviews – https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Lost-Lords-Scavenger-Hunt-by-Cheryl-Holt

May 21 – A Chick Who Reads – http://achickwhoreads.blogspot.com/2015/05/cheryl-holts-lost-lordss-scavenger-hunt.html

May 22 – Forever Book Lover – http://foreverbklover.blogspot.com/2015/05/cheryl-holts-lost-lordss-scavenger-hunt.html

May 25 – Shari the Delighted Reader – http://delightedreader.com/lost-lords-scavenger-hunt-by-cheryl-holt-giveaway/

May 26 – KT Book Reviews – http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/05/cheryls-scavenger-hunt.html

May 27 – Miss Ivy’s Book Nook II – http://missivysbooknooktakeii.blogspot.com/2015/05/cheryl-holts-40-published-and-lost.html

May 28 – The Reading Cafe – http://www.thereadingcafe.com/cheryl-holts-lost-lord-scavenger-hunt-promotion/

May 29 – Manic Readers – http://manicreaders.com/blog/ <http://manicreaders.com/blog/index.php/2015/05/cheryl-holts-l>

June 2 – Romancing the Book – http://romancing-the-book.com

 

 

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Seducing the Groom by Cheryl Holt-Review and Interview

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Seducing the Groom by Cheryl Holt-Review and Interview

Seducing the Groom

ebook only .99¢ at time of posting: Amazon link not available until release date

Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 30, 2014

Stephen St. John, Viscount Banbury, is in a bind. His father has cut off his allowance, so he’s had to rein in his decadent habits and split with his beautiful, spoiled mistress whom he can no longer afford. When an American heiress comes to London and dangles her fortune in Stephen’s direction, he sees it as the answer to his prayers. He’ll wed the pretty, delectable heiress, but he won’t let her interfere with his decadent lifestyle. He’s a confirmed bachelor and determined to have a marriage of convenience.

Ellen Foster has traveled to London for the express purpose of buying a titled husband. She’s been husband shopping for months and can’t make up her mind. All the available candidates seem tepid and boring. But when she lays eyes on handsome, dashing Stephen St. John, she knows he’s the one, and with her large fortune as bait, he’s easily snared in her web.

When he suggests a marriage of convenience, she pretends to agree. But she has no intention of living separate lives. She plans to enjoy every delightful, wicked minute that marriage to a rake can provide. With Stephen determined to avoid her, seduction seems the only choice.

Though Stephen doesn’t realize it, Ellen always gets her way, and as she turns their bedchamber into a den of erotic pleasure, poor Stephen doesn’t stand a chance…

•••••••••

 

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Well that was a sassy, naughty historical read. I enjoyed that!

Seducing the Groom by Cheryl Holt is a historical erotica novella about a bride taking care of her business on her wedding night. Ellen Foster, American heiress has just married notorious English rake Stephen St. Jean. Stephen has been cut off from his family and is in dire need of a prosperous union. When he agrees to marry Ellen, little does he know that this seemingly proper heiress has been spinning her web and will ensure that this so called “proper marriage” is more naughty than proper. On their wedding night, Ellen poses as the aloof bride while parading around tempting her groom. Stephen is taken back when his bride appears to be anything but interested, which funny enough, gets his clock ticking. Off we go on a naughty cat and mouse chase that stirs the blood, makes you smile and believe that a little deceit can go a long way.

A pretty quick read. I did find it a little flowery at times, but that is complimentary to the historical genre. I suppose that means I like my smut a little more modern even when it’s displayed in a different genre. That being said, I have discovered a new author in one of my fave genre’s and I look forward to reading more by her.

Like a quick yummy read with a splash of vixen and rake … check this one out!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Rachel T.
Interview

TRC: Hi Cheryl. Welcome to The Reading Cafe. Congratulations on the upcoming release of SEDUCING THE GROOM.

Cheryl HoltWe would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow: Goodreads / Website/Twitter/Facebook

Cheryl: I have been writing for twenty years and published for 14 of them. I am a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” author. I’m considered one of the masters of the romance genre, and for years, I was hailed as the “Queen” of erotic romance. I don’t write erotics anymore. But I do write some of the most wicked, driven characters in the world, so I’m also known as the International Queen of Villains. I’m currently writing Novel #38.

TRC: With the numerous degrees to your name including a career as a lawyer, who or what was behind your decision to become an author?

Cheryl: I started writing novels because I had two babies back to back, and I was suddenly stuck at home, and trying to figure out how to earn an income at home to replace the one I’d lost by leaving the workforce. There aren’t many options for a woman who wants to work at home, and most of them involve selling cosmetics or something like that. I don’t have the skills to sell things, and I’d always thought I might write a book someday. I jumped into it—when I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I just forged ahead and figured it out in a big way.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about your latest release- SEDUCING THE GROOM?

Seducing the GroomCheryl: My new book, SEDUCING THE GROOM, is a sort of “lost” book for me. I originally wrote it in 2004, when I was just starting to be acclaimed as the Queen of erotics. It was published in an erotic anthology, but the price was $15.00 so very few people bought it or read it. The rights recently reverted to me, so I’m releasing the book myself, and I’m excited that everyone will finally have a chance to read it.

My books are set in Regency England, which is early 1800s London. The hero is a rake and confirmed bachelor who—due to his extravagant living—has had his allowance cut off by his aristocratic father. He’s desperate to refill his bank accounts, and he meets and weds an American heiress who’s in London and looking for a husband.

He hardly knows her, but weds her merely to spite his father. Before the wedding, he tells her that he’d like to have a marriage of convenience, and she pretends to agree. In reality, she has no intention of living through a chaste marriage, and she sets about to seduce him on their wedding night.

TRC: Is SEDUCING THE GROOM a stand alone storyline or part of a series?

Cheryl: The book is a stand-alone story.

TRC: What are your thoughts on historical accuracy when writing a fictional historical romance novel? Do you believe the readers want historical accuracy in the storyline?

Cheryl: I think readers want and like historical accuracy in a book, but in my case, my plots aren’t ever dependent on a historical event. They are simply set in a certain time period—the Regency Period in England, which is the favorite time period for romance readers—so I know all the fashions and carriages and that sort of thing. I don’t have to do research for each book, because I know the historical details to put into the story. My historicals have more to do with the historical setting (particularly the restrictions placed on women during that era) than actual historical events, and the plots never revolve around historical events. However, during this period, there were plenty of wars raging, so many times, my heroes are war veterans or have fought in famous battles.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Cheryl: I direct the characters; the characters never direct me. I always have several storylines in a book, and I have lots of plot twists and turns, so I can’t let the characters just go off on their own, or they’d never arrive at the places they’re supposed to be at the appropriate plot points.

I do an enormous amount of prep work before I ever start writing the rough draft. I write in-depth storylines, and I block out chapters and scenes before I ever type the first word. When I finally sit down at the computer to write, I know exactly what will happen in each chapter and each scene.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Cheryl: In my books, I always use larger than life characters, and the stakes are always very high for the characters—particularly the heroine. I like her to be in dire straits because it pushes her to make choices she wouldn’t usually make. I also always use very macho, very tough heroes. They’re the kind of men who bluster through life, taking what they want without regard to the consequences. And I use very wicked, very driven villains who will do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals.

These bigger choices mean that I can include much bigger “scenes”, with lots of emotion, heartbreak, and betrayal. Lots of “stuff” happens in my books. People get killed, people get betrayed, people have their dreams dashed. I use big issues and big characters and big events, so that when readers get to a certain plot point, they’re shocked or hurt or enraged or emotionally drained right along with the characters.

I think writers fail at raising the emotional temperature in their books because they don’t make big choices. They don’t raise the stakes for their characters, and if the stakes are low or non-existent, there’s very little “feeling” to the writing. I think this is a particular problem in the romance genre, where the books are more often simply a character study that examines how two people meet and fall in love. But if the characters are nice to each other in the beginning, nice in the middle, and nice at the end, there’s no character arc and nowhere for the story to go.

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of writer’s block?

Cheryl: I don’t ever suffer writer’s block. I have been doing this for many years, and I’m very experienced as a writer. As I mentioned above, I block out my books before I ever start writing the first page. So when I sit down at my computer in the morning to get to work, I know precisely where I am in the story and what has to happen in the scene I’m writing.

I always tell new writers that the “cure” for writer’s block is to get more experienced as a writer. Finish the book you’re working on, then start the next one. Finish it, and move on to the next one. With each book a writer finishes, he or she becomes much more experienced and has a clearer of idea of how to get from the beginning to the end. Experience will insure that you don’t get lost in the middle.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background) did you encounter writing this particular story and series?

Cheryl: I didn’t have any challenges or difficulties.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Cheryl: I don’t bounce ideas off anyone. I constantly have new ideas pop into my head, and I always jot them down. When I get ready to start a new book, I go to my list of ideas, pick one, and get started. I have a great “feel” for story and characters, and I know what works and what doesn’t in my stories. I don’t need to bounce ideas off anyone.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

wonderfulCheryl: Currently, I’m working on my next trilogy, which will be novels #37, #38, and #39 for me. I’m calling it the “Lost Lords of Radcliffe,” but I’m not ready to release much more info than that. I have a big book launch coming in January, and I’ll spread all the details then What I can tell you is that when I finished my last trilogy, my Reluctant Brides, the 3rd and final book was titled, WONDERFUL. I left a plot line dangling, so I could move one of the characters into my next series of books.

The three books of the Lost Lords trilogy tell the stories of the Blair siblings. When they were very young children, their mother was convicted of a crime and sent to the penal colonies in Australia. Her four children were left behind in England and cast to the winds of fate. In WONDERFUL, two of the siblings cross paths by accident. In the new Lost Lords trilogy, they begin the search for their other lost siblings, and they begin the fight to reclaim their stolen heritage.

TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?

Cheryl: I have a three-year goal right now—rather than a five-year one. My main goal over the next three years is to finish 11 more novels, so that in three years, I will have written 50 novels. I can write 3-4 books per year now, so I think I should be able to get there with no problem.

TRC: What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

Cheryl: If I’d known how to make a different life happen for myself when I was younger, I would have been a singer and songwriter.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food—potatoes, cooked any style

Favorite Dessert—anything chocolate

Favorite TV Show—Chopped on HGTV

Last Movie You Saw—Guardians of the Galaxy

Dark or Milk Chocolate—Milk Chocolate

Secret Celebrity Crush—none

Last Vacation Destination—Oahu in Hawaii

Pet Peeve—people who read their emails, but don’t answer them! Or who read their text messages but don’t answer them! Or who never listen to their voicemail!

TRC: Thank you Cheryl for taking the time to answers our questions. We wish you all the best.

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