Dreams of Desire by Cheryl Holt

Standard and uninspiring romance
3 stars

Lily has had a succession of jobs as a chaperone but her job with the John Middleton, Earl of Penworth is set to be her most daunting yet. So daunting, in fact, that she’ll do anything to escape the imposing earl and his evil twin wards, including drinking a love potion to catch herself a husband who will steal her away.

But when she ends up drinking the potion while staring at John, she sets of a chain of events that can only end in ruin or happiness that will last a lifetime.


This is the final book in the Spinster’s Cure trilogy after Promise of Pleasure and Taste of Temptation but each stands completely alone so there’s no need to read them in order.

Lily, like most of Holt’s heroines, is described as an independent, spirited female and I was delighted to find she actually was written as such. She had spirit and wasn’t afraid to stand up to John – and not just as a token gesture. Sure he was authoritative and demanding and she sometimes was led by him but on the whole she was feistier than most. John was Holt’s usual alpha male and arrogant to boot but I liked his interactions with Lily and liked their story.

Unfortunately, Lily and John’s story took up so little of the actual page count that it was hard to really get behind them or into their story. Other stories included step-mother Esther and half brother Edward and their desire to lay claim to the Earldom. There was John’s fiancé, Violet and her secret love for Edward. Then there was John’s mother, Barbara’s return from the continent and her subsequent affair with Philip. And finally there were the pointless evil twins and first their desire to get rid of Lily and second their dominatrix and twisted sexual desires. I cared little for any of the supporting characters and felt they wasted time away from the main story.

There were, as always, the usual Americanisms, modern slang and talk and general research errors which not only galled but pull you away from the story.

I think I’m going to have to give Cheryl Holt a miss for a wee while from now on. This book was an improvement on the last of hers I read however I feel that they’re all getting a bit similar and I’m now looking for something a little bit more special when I spend my money on a romance novel. This book wasn’t terrible but if I’m honest, I feel that I can’t recommend it. 3 stars.

Taste of Temptation by Cheryl Holt

Formulaic and dull

2 stars

At 25 years old, Helen Hamilton is firmly on the shelf of spinsterhood. With the death of her notorious father, Helen is destitute and must care for her two sisters with little money and no prospects. When she tries for a position of a governess at Captain Tristan Odell’s home she is turned away.

Desperate, she ends up in a brothel selling herself as mistress to the highest bidder. It’s a shock to both when Tristan ends up taking her home. An illegitimate rake, Tristan is excited by the prospect of having Helen in his home. But will he offer her a position as governess or something more?

I am usually a fan of Cheryl Holt although I’ll admit that she does like to stick to her formula of rich, arrogant man and down-on-her-luck lady mixed with plenty of evil relatives thrown in to keep the couple apart. However, in this novel it seemed far too formulaic which resulted in a dull story that I struggled to get into.

I can’t really say much about Helen as a character that’s positive. She was supposed to be a strong survivor while she actually came across as weak and pathetic. Tristan was your usual arrogant hero but without much depth. His actions didn’t seem to match his words and he was too quick to jump from one extreme to the other with his emotions for them to be believable. I’d like to say the pair had chemistry but to be honest they had so little interaction in the book that you practically forgot they were even there.

The reason for the lack of interaction was the secondary characters who seemed to take up all the pages. There was the “romance” between the immature, randy earl who was hard to like and Jane, the teenager who clearly knew what she was doing in trying to trap herself an aristocrat. That we were supposed to root for these two was beyond me.

Overall, as I said, I realty struggled with this story. It’s the second in the Spinster’s Cure series (after Promise of Pleasureand before Dreams of Desire) and I’ll read the next book but really can’t recommend this one. 2 stars and even then I feel I’m being generous!

Promise of Pleasure by Cheryl Holt

Entertaining and satisfying Regency romance

4 Stars

Mary Barnes has had enough of being unwanted and unloved by her cruel stepmother and half sisters. All she wants to do is escape her life and find love and happiness. So when a mysterious peddler offers her a magic elixir to make the man of her dreams fall in love with her, she jumps at the chance.

Jordan Winthrop, the heir to the Earl of Sunderland, is debauched, bankrupt and handsome to boot. When he comes to Barnes Manor to marry Mary’s half sister, he finds himself instead lusting after Mary. But is it real or is it the potion? And what will Jordan do when he realises he must make a choice between money and the woman he’s beginning to think he might never want to let go?

You can always count on Cheryl Holt to deliver a satisfying read. This novel sticks to her tried and true theme of impoverished/put upon lady who gets tangled up with a cynical, jaded lord leading to love but not before seemingly insurmountable obstacles are dealt with.

I felt that this novel had more emotion and angst than is usual for Holt but that’s not a bad thing at all. Jordan was your typical dissolute, cynical scoundrel but his panic and confusion at finding himself falling in love were a delight to read. Mary was also a well-drawn out character although I would have liked to see more of her feelings rather than just let us believe she had all of a sudden fallen in love. The other characters were horrible and lovely as required yet none of them felt stereotypical, each adding something to the story.

As this is billed as an erotic love story there’s a fair amount of steamy sex but even then, I didn’t find it as hot as Holt’s previous books.

We also have a secondary love story which I liked very much and, as another reviewer stated, didn’t overshadow the main story at all.

There are a fair amount of Americanisms in the text and at times the characters speak in too modern a manner to be truly indicative of the Regency times. But if you’re looking for some escapism and want a fun, entertaining read then I would definitely recommend this book to you. 4 stars.

(This book is the first in the Spinster’s Cure trilogy that includes Taste of Temptation and Dreams of Desire.)

Secret Fantasy by Cheryl Holt

Lacklustre and disappointing erotic romance

2 Stars

Orphaned and destitute, Margaret Gray has lived at the mercy of her awful aunt and cousin her whole life. With no dowry and no marriage prospects, Margaret’s life is destined to be dull and boring. Everything changes when Jordan Prescott, Viscount Romney comes to visit with the intention of offering for Margaret’s spoiled cousin.

After his father squandered the family money, Jordan needs to marry and heiress in order to provide for his half-siblings. But Margaret makes him feel things he’s never felt before and soon the pair are involved in something neither of them expected. Will they be able to survive the scheming and plotting that’s going on around them?

I am a big fan of Cheryl Holt so I was disappointed to find this book lacklustre and flat. The plot was very similar to some of her previous books and didn’t offer much in the way of exciting plot or characters.

My main criticism would have to be the lack of emotion throughout the story – I just didn’t believe in the love which is never good in a romance. As a result, the sex scenes did nothing for me either. I liked both Jordan and Margaret but there were so few chapters dedicated to them that at times I forgot this was even their story. With so many other characters and storylines the real love story got completely forgotten at times.

Overall, I can really only give this book 2 stars. It was easy to read and to finish but the story didn’t feel deep enough and I’m sorry to say that I wouldn’t really recommend it.

Too Tempting To Touch by Cheryl Holt

Slightly disjointed Regency romance

3 stars

Ellen Drake is all alone in the world after a scandal years ago tore her family apart. Working as a paid companion, she tries hard to be proper at all times. When she catches her employer’s fiancé engaging in a tryst she is scandalised and vows that she will ensure he will stay celibate until his wedding day.

Alex Marshall, Lord Stanton, is irked and intrigued by the companion who has taken it upon herself to keep him out of mischief and he can’t help but find her irresistible. So he proposes a bargain – he won’t dally until his wedding – with anyone else but her!

Despite being a fan of Cheryl Holt, I wasn’t overly enamoured with this novel and it certainly wasn’t one of her best.

I liked both Ellen and Alex as characters – Alex being the arrogant, sexy lord and Ellen being the downtrodden, lovely hired help. They did have good chemistry together but I didn’t find the book as erotic as some of Cheryl Holt’s previous books.

The main problem that I had was that there were just too many characters. We spent so much time reading about each different character that by the time you get back to Alex and Ellen, you wonder how much you’ve missed! I also found some of the characters were completely pointless and distracted from the main story even more. There were also a lot of modern Americanisms throughout the book which gets a bit tiresome and jars you away from the story as you read.

Overall, it’s not a terrible book and I really did enjoy the ending, but unless you’re a fan of Cheryl Holt’s I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to you. Readable but only 3 stars.

Too Wicked to Wed by Cheryl Holt

Enjoyable erotic romance

4 stars

Helen Mansfield’s idiotic brother has done the unthinkable and gambled away her virginity in order to save the family estate. When Helen goes to find the man who has won her and beg for mercy, what she finds is Luke Westmoreland, illegitimate son of a duke and a lusty, wildly attractive pirate.

Luke is an infamous smuggler and thief but thanks to an act of bravery on the high seas he is now hailed by society as a hero. Despite his elevated status, he is still a low-born pirate and is intrigued by the pure and delightful Helen. As the pair spend more time together, Luke realises that their encounters are more adventurous and abandoned than all his previous high seas adventures and perhaps he has finally found the best treasure. But there is someone that is determined to own Helen and they’ll stop at nothing to have her.

This book features the common character of the Duke of Roswell as seen in Cheryl Holt’s previous books, My Only Love and My True Love, yet despite this connection there is no common storyline and this book is a stand alone novel.

Cheryl Holt brings another erotic romp as an uncouth pirate meets his match in the virginal yet feisty Helen. Helen was a likeable and believable character but it was Luke as the arrogant alpha male that really stole the show. The way he is so arrogant yet manages to be brought down by love is great to read. There is also a nice secondary romance between two people who are adept at keeping secrets!

My reasons for only giving the book 4 stars was that the villain was so disgustingly vile that, at times, it was quite creepy. I suppose it shows that it was well written but it freaked me out a little!

Overall, the book was interesting, erotic and involved enough to keep you reading from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a sexy historical novel then you should enjoy this one. 4 stars.

My True Love by Cheryl Holt

Engaging and romantic story

5 stars

Penelope Westmoreland was a renowned beauty and belle of the ton. But with two failed engagements and a new fiancé who is an aging, lecherous wretch, Penny is desperate for an escape. When she meets handsome, muscular and 100% male Lucas Pendleton, Penny realises that the desire between the pair is something she must act on. Impulsively, she agrees to an elopement.

American Lucas Pendleton has a score to settle with the philandering Duke of Roswell but seducing his daughter was never part of Lucas’s plan for revenge. But as Lucas continues his charade the pair grow closer, and with every tryst the pair have, Lucas starts to realise it might not be a charade after all. But what will Penny say when she discovers the lies and will she ever believe in Lucas’s declarations of love?

This book follows Penelope, the ditched fiancé of Adam St Clair from Cheryl Holt’s previous book My Only Love. Despite the connection, there is absolutely no need to have read the first book to enjoy this one.

I found this book to be delightful despite getting off to a rather slow start. I loved Penny and how she started off a little spoiled and feisty and managed to change into a character you really could admire. Lucas was the perfect tortured hero as he did what he thought was right for his family but couldn’t help but be troubled over what he was doing to Penny as he fell for her. Their chemistry was nice and spicy despite the book not having as much heat as many of Cheryl Holt’s newer novels.

Overall, this book was exciting, romantic and very engaging. If you’re looking for a book to capture your imagination that has all the elements you need for a great love story – this is the book for you. 5 stars.

My Only Love by Cheryl Holt

Romantic and dramatic love story

5 stars

Maggie Brown, daughter to a courtesan, has struggled much during her short life, especially since her mother’s recent death. When she and her friend Anne, herself a former courtesan, visit the seaside to decide what they are going to do to survive, Maggie is delighted to meet a handsome stranger and embark on her first, but brief, love affair.

When she returns to London, she is forced to try to become a rich man’s mistress and is more than stunned when her mysterious stranger returns and is the highest bidder. Adam St Clair, Marquis of Belmont never wanted and mistress but he can’t help but want Maggie. Leaving her once was bad enough and he never wants to do so again. But duty, family and life are all conspiring to keep the pair apart and with every day their love will be truly tested.

Unlike many other of Cheryl Holt’s novels, this one really isn’t very erotic but that isn’t a complaint as this book is filled with love, passion, betrayal, murder, romance – it has it all.

The story, while not being complex, manages to keep you gripped as there is constantly something happening that makes you want to keep turning the pages. It also manages to continually surprise with a multitude of twists and turns.

All the characters, from Maggie and Adam to the more minor characters are well drawn and very interesting. The way that Adam seamlessly changes and grows throughout the book is a delight to watch as we realise he has become the perfect tortured hero!

There are so many facets to this book that it really is a joy to read. And despite all the drama, it still manages to be wonderfully romantic with an ending that will leave you smiling. Definitely recommended - 5 stars.

Double Fantasy by Cheryl Holt

Readable but disappointing erotic romance

3 stars

Jamieson Merrick and his twin brother Jack were hidden away at birth, denied their inheritance and forced to endure a tough and difficult life. Now they are back and Jamie is determined to get back what is rightfully his.

Orphaned Anne Carstairs has always been at the mercy of ruthless relatives and she’s not sure that Jamie Merrick – now the Earl of Gladstone – is going to be much better.

Anne is just a pawn in Jamie’s plans for revenge but he never guessed that she would be so alluring, so sweet and so tempting. But there are people that are less than pleased with the new earl that puts everyone in jeopardy.

I have always enjoyed Cheryl Holt’s erotic romances but unfortunately this one really didn’t hit the mark for me.

The characters weren’t particularly endearing and it was hard to muster much enthusiasm for them. Jamie was your typical overbearing alpha male but he took a little too long to realise his true feelings for my liking. Anne was the biggest disappointment for me as I found her far too weak and spineless and she really let Jamie (and some other characters) walk all over her.

The book was also quite erotic but it wasn’t as hot and spicy as many of Cheryl Holt’s previous novels and, for me, was a let down in that sense. I also found the behaviour of some of the secondary characters was quite disturbing and made for some quite uncomfortable reading – not ideal for a romance novel.

Despite all it’s faults, Cheryl Holt’s writing style makes her novels readable and easy to finish. It’s not a book that I would read again but it’s still worth 3 stars.

Total Surrender by Cheryl Holt

Not her best but still fairly entertaining

3 stars

With her dissolute brother having gambled away every possession she owns, Lady Sarah Compton knows that her life will soon be very difficult. Before she accepts her fate, she travels to a country party, determined to enjoy herself one last time. What she doesn't realise is that the country party is actually a trysting event for the decadent members of the aristocracy.

The bastard son of an earl, Michael Stevens loves his reputation as a debauched seducer yet he is drawn to the innocent Sarah for reasons he can't fathom. When she refuses to leave the party when he warns her of the dangers, the pair embark on a very exciting journey where Michael promises to teach Sarah everything he knows of seduction. And in turn, Sarah might teach him everything she knows of love.

I am a fan of Cheryl Holt but I have to admit that I didn't feel that this was one of her better books. Michael was a very deep and complicated character while Sarah was a typical feisty yet innocent lady. They did have good chemistry but surprisingly their sex scenes were almost overshadowed by the numerous other sex scenes within the book.

There was also an awful lot of introspection for both characters which really slowed the pace of the book for me. It wasn't a problem to finish the book but I was never overly eager to return to the story once I'd put the book down. There was also often the problem of overly flowery language within the book alongside the numerous Americanisms.

As I said, I personally don't think it was her best effort but it's still an okay read if you're a fan of Cheryl Holt or if you're looking for a little historical erotic escapism. This book is also the follow on from Love Lessons which featured Michael's brother, James. Unfortunately only 3 stars for this book.

Further Than Passion by Cheryl Holt

Engaging and erotic historical romance

4 stars

Despite being highborn, Kate Duncan has been practically forced to serve her aunt and spoiled cousin since she became an orphan when she was a child. While visiting London for the first time, her young charge is determined to win the delicious but notorious Marcus Pelham, Earl of Stamford and the way she intends to force his hand is by having him drink a love potion.

Determined not to let Marcus fall into her cousin’s trap, Kate drinks the potion herself and finds herself stumbling upon Marcus in the middle of a very erotic tryst. Luckily Marcus is too busy to notice her watching… or so she thinks.

Marcus is titillated by the lady watching from the shadows and subsequently smitten by the passionate woman he discovers when he seeks her out. But despite their increasingly sensual encounters, there are secrets and plots about that may just keep the pair from discovering a most unexpected love.

This was another enjoyable story from Cheryl Holt and sticks to her tried and tested style of the innocent miss, a very delicious alpha male and some uninhibited and deliciously erotic sex scenes.

The story itself does everything right – the main characters are worthy to be cheered on, the villains are devious enough to hate and get their comeuppance in the end and we have an engaging story on the way to a satisfyingly happy ending. As seems to be a regular occurrence for Cheryl Holt’s novels, this one is littered with an exasperating amount of Americanisms and modern language. While annoying, you do learn to ignore it as the story unfolds. If you’re looking for a delightfully erotic, fantasy historical romance to keep you occupied for a few hours then you should be pretty happy to choose this book. 4 stars.

Deeper Than Desire by Cheryl Holt

Uncomplicated but slow-paced romance

3 stars

Lady Olivia Hopkins is the last hope for her financially stricken family and she must marry in order to keep a roof above their heads. Their choice for her is the esteemed, but significantly older Earl of Salisbury. But their plans go a little awry when Olivia stumbles across an erotic book within the Earl’s library, and even more awry when the Earl’s devilishly handsome son stumbles across her reading through it.

Philip Paxton is delighted by his good fortune and takes full advantage of the situation and Olivia’s obvious titillation over the book. Very quickly, their shared passion turns into an electrifying affair, yet neither expect the emotions that their encounters evoke. But soon there are plenty of problems that tear the pair apart and they have to decide whether what they have is worth fighting for.

This was another enjoyable book from Cheryl Holt but, in my opinion, really not her best effort. The storyline was fairly slow and meandering, filled with lots of supporting characters and storylines. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I did feel that it made the story drag a little bit in places and at times we hadn’t heard from the two main characters for a few chapters or more.

Of the main players, Philip was a fine character and strong and manly without perhaps being as alpha as many of Cheryl Holt’s previous heroes have been. Olivia was a sympathetic heroine and one that I did find myself liking and rooting for but I really would have liked her to have a little bit more conviction and go after what she wanted a little more. Their chemistry together worked well although I would have enjoyed seeing a little more interaction between the pair. The secondary characters were also well written and I did enjoy their storylines and love stories almost as much as the main couple.

As with all the of the Cheryl Holt books I’ve read, this particular novel is littered with modern Americanisms which do tend to irritate after a while so if you want your Regency set books true to the period then this might be one to pass up!

Despite my criticisms, this was an uncomplicated, slow-paced erotic romance that I would still recommend to fans of Cheryl Holt. It’s perhaps not one to keep but it’s in no way offensive and it certainly passes a few hours. 3 stars.

Forbidden Fantasy by Cheryl Holt

Fairly standard erotic historical fiction

3 stars

Ever since she was a child, Lady Caroline Foster was betrothed to an esteemed Viscount. Now, 25 years later, her supposed fiancé has jilted her and in a rush to avoid any scandal, Caroline finds herself engaged to a man old enough to be her father. Needing someone to help her, she seeks advice from her ex-fiancé's illegitimate brother - the only man she's ever kissed.

Ian Clayton has been infatuated with Caroline for years and he can't quite believe that she is seeking him out and offering him all sorts of scandalous things. Things that he should refuse but that he just can't say no to. But as their relationship blossoms into something neither expected - there are more than a few obstacles to overcome and more than a few people who would gladly stop at nothing to make sure the pair are kept apart.

This was the follow on story from Complete Abandon and having been set up in that previous book, I was very much looking forward to reading about Caroline and Ian's romance. Unfortunately, it didn't really quite live up to my expectations.

Both Ian and Caroline were interesting characters and were well developed and people you could ultimately identify with and like. They had the necessary chemistry and the sex scenes were hot, although perhaps a little less emotionally involved and perfunctory than I would have liked.

The plot itself was well developed, quite dark at times and if anyone deserved a happy ending after what they were put through it was Caroline and Ian. We even had a very good secondary romance which I enjoyed very much.

My reasons for only giving the book three stars were as follows: The use of modern language and Americanisms was too numerous to count. The pages were littered with them and it really began to grate after a while. I can live with a few inaccuracies for the sake of a good story but this was too much. And probably more importantly - I just didn't understand why the characters were behaving the way they were. We are never really told why Caroline first seeks out Ian, or why Ian leaves her, etc etc. It was sometimes as if we weren't being told of their motivations or thoughts and feelings.

This is still an interesting book and one that is well written and engaging. It's really not Cheryl Holt's best book but if you're a fan and want to read the story of Ian and Caroline then you still will want to take a look. Unfortunately only 3 stars.

Complete Abandon by Cheryl Holt

Engrossing and titillating historic romance

4 stars

When Emma Fitzgerald, the local vicar’s daughter, storms into the home of John Clayton, the new Viscount Wakefield, she gets more than an eyeful when she witnesses him in the middle of a tryst with his mistress. Despite her curiosity, she is still outraged over his treatment of his tenants and she plans to be the one to take this infamous rake to task.

John has never been treated like a naughty schoolboy and certainly never been admonished by a woman – especially one as spirited and lovely as Emma. Despite her prim exterior, she manages to shock him further when she proposes a bargain: in return for his kindness to his tenants, she will offer herself to him. Completely.

John is determined to win back the upper hand in their battle yet as he introduces Emma to the art of sex, she might just be introducing him to the art of love.

I very much enjoyed this uncomplicated story about two people, so wrong for each other, yet who cannot stay away from each other. How they come together and ultimately fall in love is a delight and I could barely put the book down.

Emma was such a refreshing heroine. Real, spunky, with morals, yet not able to deny her attraction and desire for John. John was also a wonderfully written hero. He was unashamedly arrogant, handsome and virile yet underneath was lonely and looking for someone to love him. The way that Cheryl Holt managed to have him be so needy yet still completely alpha male made him a joy to read about.

The book is unashamedly erotic and the sex scenes, which are plentiful, fairly scorch the pages of this book. Personally, I didn’t feel that many of the characters would have behaved like they did had they truly been from Regency times – but this book really is more of a historical fantasy escape than a true to life read – so I was happy to forgive the inaccuracies.

There were a few Americanisms that crept in to the book which was jarring, but overall, this was a very engrossing erotic historical romance and one that I would happily recommend. The book also nicely sets up Ian Clayton’s story (Forbidden Fantasy) which I am now very keen to read. Fun, fresh and exciting – definitely worth 4 stars.

Too Hot to Handle by Cheryl Holt

Sensual historical romance
5 Stars

Emily Barnett has run to London to escape her scheming cousin who plans to marry Emily and then send her blind sister to an asylum. Now needing to raise funds, Emily interviews for the position of a governess for the wards of Michael Farrow, Earl of Winchester - only when she arrives at the Earl’s residence she realises that she’s accidentally stumbled across the Earl’s interviews for a new mistress instead!

Michael Farrow likes his women to be experienced with lusty appetites much like his own. One look at Emily in her drab outfit and he can tell she is not the type of woman he is used to but he’s intrigued all the same. When she runs off, scandalised, Michael tracks her down to offer her the position of governess. But as they are thrown into close contact together they both begin to realise that neither can deny the passion they find in one another. But when Emily’s cousin, a jealous ex-mistress and a devious ward all start to plot - Emily and Michael have to decide how much they really want to fight for each other.


This is the first book of Cheryl Holt’s that I’ve read and I found that I really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking out for other books of hers in the future.

I really liked Emily’s character especially - an innocent and naive young woman while still refreshingly strong and resilient. Michael on the other hand is one hundred percent alpha male and tries so hard to keep his emotions out of his life that it is really enjoyable when you finally see him brought down by love. Their interactions are funny, fiery and sexy. The secondary characters are also very well developed and have their own stories which add nicely to the story.

The plot isn’t too demanding and you definitely focus more on the interactions of the characters because of this. If you enjoy your historical romances light with some passion and emotion thrown in then I would definitely suggest that you give this book a try as I’m sure you will like it too.