Secret Fantasy

by Cheryl Holt

Book Overview

In this spellbinding new novel, bestsellling author Holt introduces two of her most unforgettable characters yet in an erotic story of seduction, longing, and forbidden love. Original. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312942540
• ISBN13: 9780312942540
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Erotic Forbidden Pleasures

In this sexy Cinderella-like story, the beautiful, orphaned and penniless Margaret Gray must live with her selfish oversexed Aunt Lavinia and young conceited Cousin Penelope. The sweet, innocent, kind and intelligent, Margaret is respected by those in the local village and young children at the school where she works and is able to escape the verbal and at times physical abuse of her aunt and cousin. The widowed Lavinia discovers from her long time lover and Steward Robert Mason that she has depleted the funds left from the estate of her merchant husband. She plans an arranged marriage for Penelope with the titled, handsome and naughty Jordan Prescott, Viscount Romney. Jordan is cynical about life and love, as he has been burdened with estate debts and the care of his younger siblings left in his care by his rogue of a father Charles Prescott, the Earl of Kettering. When Jordan arrives at Lavinia's home to meet Penelope, he accidentally walks into the bedroom of the beautiful Margaret. He falls in immediate lust for her and decides he will have her as a mistress while pursuing the spoiled Penelope for marriage. When the Earl discovers his son is considering marriage to a rich young heiress, he plans to steal the young Penelope away from Jordan. He shows up at Lavinia's home accompanied by his long-time mistress Anne. This wicked house party soon becomes a house of schemes with revolving doors on the bedrooms, with the schemers unaware that not a one of them has any money. Penelope decides she would rather have Charles than the son Jordan. Lavinia wants Charles for herself while leading on her Steward Robert as well as Jordan. Anne, disappointed in Charles and his continued lies desires Robert. Jordan wants Margaret most of all. They meet for several passionate interludes that begin to grow into love. Margaret desires Jordan and realizes her love is growing and knows it will lead to a painful ending. While she and Jordan are struggling with their intense feelings, Lavinia catches them in a passionate embrace and evicts Margaret to the streets. Robert, while doing some searching into Lavinia's accounts, discovers that it is Margaret who has been the heiress all along and that Lavinia has been living off of Margaret's dowry while keeping her unaware and enslaved. Just as Jordan realizes he loves Margaret, he discovers the news about her dowry. He now understands he has an upward battle to convince her of his love, but most of all he seeks justice by attempting to find her and inform her of the inheritance, while at the same time making sure Lavinia and his father pay for the years of using people for their selfish needs. The secret fantasies of all the players involved in this story of scheming for money and sex fall into place in many surprise endings. Secret Fantasy is an entertaining erotic read that is difficult to put down with a complicated plot that seduces sizzles and flows in perfect balance.

Cheryl Holt has done it again! Do not miss this one!

Miscommunication, lies, greed and a selfish woman determined to have her way blend together to make an exciting, erotic and sometimes tearful story. Margaret Gray was orphaned as a child and taken in by a loving uncle and spiteful aunt. When the uncle died, Aunt Lavinia began to make her life miserable. Margaret's self-confidence has been pounded into the ground. Her solace comes from teaching the local children. Aunt Lavinia makes Lady Macbeth look like a guardian angel. This woman is self-centered; she'll do anything to get what she wants. Her current goal is to marry off her equally obnoxious daughter, Penelope. She puts her plan into motion by inviting Jordan Prescott, Viscount Romsey, to visit. Her daughter may marry the man, but Lavinia is not above sampling the goods while he's still available. Jordan must marry an heiress with a large dowry. His father's bled the family coffers dry and it's Jordan's responsibility to take care of the people on his lands and the many children his dad has sired. Imagine Margaret's surprise when she discovers a stranger watching her while she bathes. Jordan is taken with the shy woman who he assumes is Lavinia's daughter. Margaret is totally captivated, against her better judgment, by the man who dares to enter her room. The relationship grows even after they discover that it'll end with his marriage to Penelope. Their world will be turned upside-down. Jordan's father and the next door neighbor enter the picture. Lavinia discovers that Jordan was given the rooms next to Margaret and that they've become lovers. As a result, she banishes Margaret with dire threats and a few coins. Little does she know that things have been set in motion to bring her down. Will Lavinia win? Will Penelope get her just desserts? What waits for the penniless Margaret beyond the estate grounds? You can always count on Cheryl Holt to deliver an erotically suspenseful story. The twists and turns add to the tension and make this a definite page-turner. Don't miss it. SECRET FANTASY is a keeper and a must read. Madyson Review reprinted with permission of Romance Junkies Reviews.

SUPER READ

Hard to put the book down. Very sexy. Would recommend and give a 5 star rating

Another winner from Ms. Holt!

Margaret Gray is an orphaned spinister living with her aunt and cousin. Bratty cousin Penelope and Scheming aunt Lavinia make for a great pair of villians. Jordan Prescott, Viscount Romsey is a destitute gentleman who needs to marry money in order to fulfill his many responsibilities. He meets Margaret and the two begin an affair. Jordan has to make a decision, does he marry for money or does he marry for love. Lots of twists and turns make this a fun read. Yes, this formula has been seen before, but I thought the characters were very fresh and well developed. I couldn't put the book down. Jordan and Margaret have an unforgettable story!

romance read

This book's main man was a bit of a snob, but the other characters were just plain funny and you can't not want to read it just to see how it ends. Buy it, borrow it whatever you have to get it and read it you wont be sorry.