Too Tempting to Touch [Mass Market Paperback]

Cheryl Holt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2006

Ellen Drake has seen firsthand how dangerous scandal can be. Her family was torn apart by an unjust accusation ten years ago, and now, working as a paid companion, Ellen must keep her reputation above reproach. Catching her employer's betrothed in a sizzling tryst is bad enough; even worse that Ellen should find herself so infernally enthralled by the spectacle! Ellen intends to prevent Alex Marshall, Lord Stanton, from dallying with other women before his wedding day, but the rogue turns the tables--with an invitation to be his paramour. It's a proposition that is too outrageous, too indecent…and strangely irresistible. With a single touch, Alex opens the door to a secret world of sensual desire, a world Ellen is burning to explore…

Alex intends to be faithful once he's married, but in the meantime, London offers so many tempting bed partners. Giving the prim Miss Drake a taste of the excitement she clearly craves will be a delightful diversion, nothing more. But their secret dalliance unleashes the vengeance of someone who is plotting revenge, someone whose own erotic pursuits are twisted with madness. And the scandal that destroyed Ellen's family is about to come calling once again…

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for FURTHER THAN PASSION:
"Fantastic...a keeper...Holt has finely tuned the art of delving into secret fantasies and drawing out what women want. In this deliciously sensual story, she keeps readers glued to the pages by infusing every one with plenty of sizzle. Very sensual."--Romantic Times (starred review) on Further Than Passion

"Holt pens a compelling, erotic tale…a sensual feast of love, betrayal, and sensual pleasure, Further Than Passion takes the reader beyond the typical consequences of desire for happily ever after…[a] powerful story that readers will find impossible to put down…each character springs vibrantly alive, living in the reader's imagination long after the last page is turned."
--Midwest Book Review on Further Than Passion

"A deeply passionate book…very seldom does a historical novel find its way to my shelf, but this is one author for whom I will always make an exception. Fans won't be surprised to find this book on their keeper shelf."--A Romance Review on Further Than Passion

"Holt's most exciting story of all. Further Than Passion is an intriguing and spellbinding love story."--Fallen Angel Reviews on Further Than Passion

"Highly erotic…a poignant and emotional love story…only Cheryl Holt can write such sweet, erotic romances that touch the heart, body, and soul."--Historical Romance Club on Further Than Passion

"Holt is an extremely talented author. Every book she writes is so sexy, the characters so real, that I'm sorry when the story comes to an end."--Fresh Fiction.com on Further Than Passion

DEEPER THAN DESIRE
"Just about the best writer of erotic romance that we've got."-Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon) on Deeper Than Desire

"Sexy, titillating love story…add some suspense, abductions, a mad villain and an exciting climax and you have all you need in an erotic romance."-Romantic Times on Deeper Than Desire

"A jewel…intriguing, compelling, and passionate."--Old Book Barn Gazette on Deeper Than Desire

"The thing that I like best about Cheryl Holt's writing is that she makes her characters come alive as their stories unfold. You get mad, glad, sad, and sexy as the devil while reading her glorious books that not only are well written erotic stories but they have substance and a good storyline concerning the characters' lives that make them human and realistic. Now this is a writer to watch because she is going places. Ms. Holt delivers stories that you love reading. They are hot and spicy...filled with compelling characters that set your heart to racing with her imaginative and titillating storytelling."-ReaderToReader.com on Deeper Than Desire

"An intricate tapestry of intriguing characters." -Romancereaderatheart.com on Deeper Than Desire

"Romance fans will enjoy this erotic tale of forbidden love that feels and is right. Holt turns up the heat with this superior historical."--The Best Reviews.com on Deeper Than Desire

"Cheryl Holt will ravish her reading audience with this well written tale. Her clever plot will lure the reader on, as she seduces one to continue reading page after page. Filled with sexual tension and loaded with secondary story lines, one comes away satisfied. If a delightful taste of erotica is what you are looking for, you will find your senses replete in Deeper Than Desire."
--Simegen.com on Deeper Than Desire

From the Back Cover

Lush and provocative, Cheryl Holt's sensual novels have captured the imaginations of fans everywhere. Now, her latest tale draws readers into an unforgettable story about an innocent woman whose passion leads her to a most erotic temptation…

THE ONLY CURE FOR TEMPTATION…Ellen Drake has seen firsthand how dangerous scandal can be. Her family was torn apart by an unjust accusation ten years ago, and now, working as a paid companion, Ellen must keep her reputation above reproach. Catching her employer's betrothed in a sizzling tryst is bad enough; even worse that Ellen should find herself so infernally enthralled by the spectacle! Ellen intends to prevent Alex Marshall, Lord Stanton, from dallying with other women before his wedding day, but the rogue turns the tables--with an invitation to be his paramour. It's a proposition that is too outrageous, too indecent…and strangely irresistible. With a single touch, Alex opens the door to a secret world of sensual desire, a world Ellen is burning to explore…

IS TO SURRENDER…Alex intends to be faithful once he's married, but in the meantime, London offers so many tempting bed partners. Giving the prim Miss Drake a taste of the excitement she clearly craves will be a delightful diversion, nothing more. But their secret dalliance unleashes the vengeance of someone who is plotting revenge, someone whose own erotic pursuits are twisted with madness. And the scandal that destroyed Ellen's family is about to come calling once again…

"A compelling, erotic tale…powerful…impossible to put down."
--Midwest Book Review on Further Than Passion

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1st edition (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312937989
• ISBN-13: 978-0312937980
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,324,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CHERYL HOLT is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-seven novels. She is hailed as the undisputed "Queen" of erotic romance, as well as the international "Queen of Villains". She has numerous national writing awards to her credit and is particularly proud to have been named "Best Storyteller of the Year" by Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine. The magazine also selected her as one of the "Top Twenty-Five Erotic Authors of All Time".

She lives and writes in Los Angeles, where her teenage son is pursuing his dream of becoming a Hollywood movie star.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Her Strongest Effort!, May 4, 2006

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Too Tempting to Touch (Mass Market Paperback)

One incident changes Ellen Drakes life she knows the danger of scandal and has vowed to live her life scandal free. She is now a companion for Rebecca attending balls and soir?es not being a part of society but not fitting in with the hired help. She is at just such a function when she is trapped in a room where a seduction begins to take place. She makes her presence known and is shocked to find Rebecca's betrothed one of the participates. Alex Marshall is as handsome as sin and a temptation Ellen soon can't ignore despite her best efforts to keep her distance. What started out as a way of keeping Alex monogamous ends up tormenting her. His kisses make her long for things that aren't hers to have...or can she have a happy ending?

Alex is shocked when Ellen tells him she wants him to give up his rakish ways for Rebecca is fianc?e. Rebecca doesn't fire his passion like Ellen does with a simple kiss. It's not long before Ellen and Alex are caught in a compromising position and things change. Alex saves Ellen when she needs him most but will he be able to save the fledgling relationship that has been slowly growing?

Ms. Holts latest romance is peppered with several secondary characters who play key parts in the romance between Alex and Ellen...almost to the point of crowding the romance out. This romance is sensual...almost erotic in nature but Alex and even Ellen are difficult characters to care about at turns. Alex is almost too arrogant and I would have liked to have seen the conflict that kept them apart curtailed a bit...without giving away details the ending saves this read. This is not her strongest effort but at the same time it's not one I'd go out of my way to avoid either.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A huge disappointment!, March 18, 2006

By 

J. Hurt (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Too Tempting to Touch (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read and loved every Cheryl Holt book published. I couldn't wait for this book to come out and bought it immediately. Don't waste your time - it's a huge disappointment. The characters are shallow and unlikeable. Their behavior is completely inconsistant. Alex tries to bed every female possible early in the book then suddenly is ok with a relationship, marriage and potentially children. Ellen is supposed to have extremely high morales and focuses on keeping her reputation 'above reproach' yet she has nightly trists with Alex when she is just down the hall from his fiancee who is her friend? The supporting characters aren't much better - most of their behavior is incestuous and downright disturbing.

Stick with the previous Cheryl Holt books - much more entertaining! This one's a dud.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Yawn......, March 23, 2006

By 

L. S. Goben (Studio City, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Too Tempting to Touch (Mass Market Paperback)

A huge disappointment. I have read several of Ms. Holt's books... this one isn't worth picking-up. There is very little "romantic" about a woman being raped by her drunken husband on her wedding night. The protagonists spent most of the story yelling at each other, and the same conversation was held by more than one couple in the story. Other than their looks, there is little to recommend the main characters. Since all the characters are related, I must only conclude that this was one heck of a dysfunctional family!!

The book is too tempting to throw away.