Too Hot to Handle

by Cheryl Holt

Book Overview

Emily Barnett is happy to be who she is: a country-bred old maid at 26, with a blind sister and niece to care for. But her pompous, stuffy cousin Reginald wants her to also be his wife--he inherited... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312937970
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 1.0" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

He is Interviewing for a Mistress - and she is Interviewing for Governess.....

Cheryl Holt has her own style of novels - lots of sex , innocent females, terrible men and characters of pure evil. This novel have all those characters and as a reader you fly through the pages hoping that good will out wit evil. Enjoy but I would get it at the Library!

Extremely Hot

Emily Barnett, on the run from an arranged marriage that will do more harm than good, is in search of employment. She applies for the job of governess to the wards of Michael Farrow, the Earl of Winchester. Her interview is at night, which she finds most inappropriate, but she needs this job in order to care for her blind sister and her nine-year-old niece. However, in the midst of the interview she discovers that Michael is also seeking a mistress, hence the lateness of the hour. When Michael realizes that Emily is not interested in being his mistress, it is too late because he has already put her in an uncompromising position. Emily leaves determined to never lay eyes on him again. Michael, in awe of the little vixen that just stormed out of his home, decides that he will hire Emily as his governess. When he seeks her out she tells him in so many words that she would rather starve to death than be under his employ. Because of his influence in the community, Michael bribes the proprietor of the boardinghouse where Emily, her sister and niece reside, to lease the room to him and to let her know that it's no longer available. Finding them homeless, Emily has no choice but to accept the position because not only will they have a roof over their heads, it will also provide a stable environment for her niece. However, neither she nor Michael is prepared for the drama that unfolds. TOO HOT TO HANDLE is a very captivating romance. This well-written novel is full of unforgettable characters and a storyline that is sure to please. Nevertheless as with Ms. Holt's previous novel the ending is rushed. All in all, readers will enjoy TOO HOT TO HANDLE for many years to come. Reviewed by Pamela Bolden of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Entertaining

Michael is looking for a mistress. Emily presents herself while Michael is conducting his interviews. However, Emily is applying for the position of governess to Michael's two young wards. After the mix up is settled and Michael discovers the dire straights Emily is in, he all but begs her to be governess in the hopes of helping her and easing his guilt at mistaking her for a potential mistress. Michael and Emily are attracted to each other but couldn't be more opposite. Michael is a rake and a scoundrel. Emily is a gentle bred lady and a virgin. Throw in Emily's sister, a disgruntled ex-mistress, Michael's brother, a would-be suitor, and an adolescent acting way beyond her years, and chaos ensues. Too Hot To Handle is an entertaining read. The pages are filled with deceit, debauchery, romance, heartache, and lust. As each scenario unfolded I was anxious to see what would happen next. Michael teaching Emily about men and women and the finale of Alex's and Mary's story are two of my favorite parts. I do feel, however, that the story has a lot of heartache and not enough happiness. Seeing Emily triumph in the end was a relief. Although not a personal favorite, Too Hot To Handle is entertaining and the characters are interesting with a lot of depth to them. Nannette Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

delightful historical with a slight who-done-it twist

In 1813, when her odious cousin Reginald demands she marries him Emily Barnett was going to do her duty and wed him though she did not like him until she learns he plans to ship her blind widow sister Mary to an asylum and do who knows what to her nine years old niece Rose. Emily fakes her references and visits a rake, Earl Michael Farrow, who needs a governess for his two wards. While waiting her interview she drinks too much spiked punch and though she is not in red as he expected he interviews her for the position of mistress, which he has had plenty of hands on applicants. After realizing his error, Michael hires Emily as a governess and allows her sister and niece to live with her. As he tries to persuade Emily to fill two jobs, he falls in love with her; she fell in love when they first met while she was intoxicated. However, he does not believe he deserves the happiness she offers him as everyone except his only friend believes he is a killer who got away with murder. This is a fun regency romance that starts off with a comedy of errors and turns into a wonderful amusing battle of the sexes. Emily is terrific as a courageous individual going after what she believes is right whether it is protecting her relatives or trying to persuade the man she loves they belong together. Michael is stubborn, unable to accept that anyone even the woman he loves will believe he killed no one. Cheryl Holt provides a delightful historical with a slight twist as to whom really killed poor Pamela. Harriet Klausner