Further Than Passion

Cheryl Holt has done it again. I picked this book up on a Saturday afternoon and couldn't put it down until midnight when I finished reading it. This book takes you through every one of your emotions.

After starting - couldn't put it down. Needed the a/c on -- delightful.

I thought this book was great. So much so that once I started reading it, I did not stop until it was finished. Not sure why others didn't enjoy it as much. I know we all do not have the same tastes in things, and thank God because I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that it didn't last long and/or I didn't have another just like it to start reading right away. This book is a keeper for me.

Ms. Holt's latest read was good. It was not as sensual as some of her other reads and the interaction between the two main characters, Marcus and Kate although rather frequent was not as consistent as it could have been. The end result was a rather uneven read with this reader finding it difficult to see when exactly the two characters had a chance to fall in love. When not pondering this issue we had to deal with nasty vindictive creatures that truly give "women" a bad name. Thoughtless, greedy, power hungry, selfish...and this was just one person. There were several others that shared some of the same traits. I understand that there must be conflict to keep the "couple" apart but hello...three is just a tad too much. Kate is the daughter of an Earl whose wife ran off with her lover and left said father in the dumps. As a result dad kills himself and Kate is left to the tender loving care of her "aunt" Regina. A nastier piece of work never existed. So now we have an Earl's daughter filling the role of companion to another spoiled brat...the daughter of Regina, Melanie. To make a rather long story short...this family heads off for London in order for Melanie to marry Marcus our hero. But one love potion later taken by Kate and one stubborn man (Marcus) leads these two lonely people on a bumpy road to love. Of course there will be the odd issues thrown at these two and don't forget stubborn natures. In the end there is a happily ever after...or is there? Kate and Marcus were less than inspiring characters. Ms. Holt is the queen of having two different storylines going at the same time and this book is no different. Cousin Christopher and half sister Selena add a depth to this story that increased the readability rather than the opposite. Problem with this is Christopher and Selena are the ripe ages of 18 and 16. Hmmm...one must wonder what Ms. Holt was thinking there. Is this a story to avoid? No! Ms. Holt has managed to write a book that is entertaining but not earth shattering. As a long time fan of Ms. Holt I can say that this is not one of her BEST reads but it's far from her worst. For those that like to read a sensual read...Ms. Holt has toned it down for this book. Still this is spicier than your average romance read so fans watch out! I highly recommend Ms. Holt and suggest that you look at her backlist as well. Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

One of these days, Cheryl Holt is going to surprise me and write a story worthy of her talent. This lady can write. Her sex scenes are hot, she holds her reader, but in the end, she fails to deliver that ultimate book. FURTHER THAN PASSION is again such a story. Yes, it is an OK book, but it is far from being splendid - yet, Holt's talent whispers through - teasing, promising! Katie Duncan was the daughter of an earl, but a selfish, malice woman raised Katie. Katie's guardian is a tyrant, a woman saturated with cruelty, theft, and gluttony. Gluttony? Yes, brutality knows no bounds if this monster's 'petit four' plate becomes empty - and this wicked woman controls Katie Duncan's life! Marcus Pelham, the Earl of Stamford lives a joyless life. A life saturated with woman, drink, and other empty diversions. The Earl of Stamford enjoys his carefree, malignant existence until the night he encounters the lovely, innocent Katie Duncan, servant extraordinary. For the first time in his empty life a woman bewitched Stamford - could it be the love potion purchased from a local apothecary? Cheryl Holt runs a variety of storylines throughout these pages. I suppose Ms. Holt does this because outside the erotic bedchamber Katie and Marcus DON'T have a story! Katie, embarrassed by her family history, refuses to ask for fundamental, vital help; Marcus, the product of an unloved childhood and a scheming woman, refuses to get off his aloof, arrogant cloud. SO - THE SUBPLOTS: - Katie's half-sister becomes romantically involved with Katie's distant cousin; - that cousin succumbs to Marcus' step-mommy and learns robust bedroom deportment; - Meanwhile, at Headquarters Tyrant, the spoiled sixteen-year-old daughter rebels against mean mommy's suffocating dominance. Delirious with rebellion, she seeks comfort in the arms of an overweight, foul-breath, penniless fortune hunter! Ok, ok, I know I am a Cheryl Holt fan; I like this author's style of writing. I always buy her books, hoping each time Holt WILL FINALLY write her phenomenal story! Grade: B- MaryGrace Meloche Reviewer for: Romance Designs