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.
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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
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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..
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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.
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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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