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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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