Complete Abandon

Forbidden #1

by Cheryl Holt

No bargain as enticing as...
When Emma Fitzgerald storms the manor home of the new Viscount Wakefield, she feels more than justified fury. Having just inadvertently witnessed his lordship in scandalous dishabille with his London mistress, her blood pounds with outrage...and with a thrill she has never felt. She has come to demand better treatment for his tenants, to seek some compassion, a shred of decency from this dastardly rake whose reputation for sin and debauchery precedes him. Now, the erotic image of his powerful flesh only heightens her determination to make this wicked rogue accountable for his actions...

One sealed with a kiss...
Certainly no woman has ever dared to take John Clayton to task as though he is a naughty schoolboy, and no woman, especially one as enticing as Emma, ever has refused to be baited by his bold, assessing gaze. Instead she seems to look beneath his skin to see more than a scandalous rake. But this prim and proper Vicar's daughter leaves him speechless when she proposes a bargain worthy of his own insolence. In return for his kindness to others, she offers herself. Vowing to regain the upper hand, John brazenly sets out to introduce Emma into the art of love-heedless of the consequences to his own heart...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Regency Romance, Historical Fiction, Erotica

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 15, 2003

About the author

CHERYL HOLT is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author who has published seventy novels.

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that she has a knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans. Visit her website at www.cherylholt.com.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story Rating 5 Stars
Character Rating 5 Stars
Romance Rating 4 Stars
Heat Level 4 Stars
Favorite Character - Emma
Overall Rating 5 Stars

I read all of Cheryl Holts older book's years ago and remembered that I loved most of them. Rereading this book completely reminded me why I did love them so much.

I loved both the H&h in this book, Emma being my favorite character. She was so feisty and smart and she put others needs way above her own. The Hero John started out as a total rogue. He spent his days and nights drinking, gambling and taking his pleasure with his mistress who he had no feelings for.

Emma bowled her way into his life and demanded that he not evict some of the village people from their homes. These people were all poor and had no where to go. They struck a deal that he would let them stay if she would agree to let him have his way with her sexually for each person he was planning to evict. Emma was immediately attracted to John. He was very handsome and sex appeal just oozed off of him. As the story went along Emma would find way's to stay out of his bed even though she very much wanted him. She knew she would fall in love with him but she also knew he could never stay with her because he was a lord and she just a poor daughter of a deceased vicar.

With each day that came and went, Emma lost more control over her feelings and did end up giving her virginity to him once she realized that she did love him. The sexual scenes were good and on an overall heat level left me very happy.

There were parts of this book that just tore my heart out. They way Emma lived with her younger sister and mother being one of them. This book had me crying in several parts so if you like your book's with some angst you sure do get that here.

There is just so much more to this book. I don't want to give it all away.

The ending of this book was really AMAZING for me. Of course we have to go through some more heart wrenching stuff before we get there but the wait and how things turn out are sigh worthy for me.

[Geo Just Reading My Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Când am auzit ca apare o noua carte a acestei autoare, am zis imediat ca o cumpar. Citisem cu ani in urma Lectii de amor , care imi placuse foarte mult si eram sigura ca si aceasta va fi pe masura.
La rugamintea unei prietene, am luat cartea la citit cu prioritate, si nu-mi pare rau!!!
O fiica a unui pastor, Emma este o fire voluntară, care este capabilă sa se sacrifice pe ea pentru cei pe care-i iubeste. Acum , ganditi- va la John: viconte, un libertin destrabalat , obișnuit ca femeile sa-i cada la picioare...
Si un pact!!! Dar nu orice fel de pact...contra anularii evacuarilor pentru unii arendasi, tânara noastra este de acord sa întrețina raporturi sexuale cu el...!!!
Dar , bineinteles ca acest aranjament nu este unul obișnuit. Emma, nu ezita sa-i arunce in fata toate neajunsurile lui...
Si cei doi ajung sa se indragosteasca unul de celălalt .
Cartea este foarte amuzanta, comicul situației constituind un bonus din punctul meu de vedere. Personajele sunt bine construite, efectiv le vizualizam in timp ce citeam.
Recomand cartea, chiar merita! Este o carte care se citește usor, te lasa cu zâmbetul pe buze. Dragostea triumfa , iar emotiile asalteaza din fiecare pagina!

[M João (Livros?gosto) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depois de ter lido algumas opiniões menos favoráveis, foi com algum receio que comecei a ler A filha do vigário de Cheryl Holt. Fi-lo, pois, trata-se de uma autora de que gosto muito e estava a apetecer-me ler um erótico.
A verdade é que não é, de todo, o melhor livro dela. Existem dois ou três capítulos, após um início auspicioso, em que parece que a história se arrasta, mas depois acaba por avançar e a partir daí a leitura é compulsiva.
Emma Fitzgerald é a jovem filha do vigário, cuja vida sofreu um revés após a morte do pai. Vivendo num casebre miserável, com a mãe e uma irmã mais nova, tenta convencer o rico e ilustre visconde de Wakefield, John Clayton, a não despejar os trabalhadores deste último, das casas onde estes tinham vivido toda a sua vida, apesar de agora já não conseguirem trabalhar para aumentar o lucro do senhor. E pronto. A atração é total e sem fuga possível. Assim começa a cedência dele aos pedidos sociais dela, e a dela aos pedidos amorosos dele o que acaba por condicionar o desenvolvimento da história.
A isto junta-se uma noiva abandonada, uma amante traída e um irmão ilegítimo com princípios morais superiores, em alguns aspetos, aos do visconde. A jovem e o visconde acabam por ter uma forte ligação sem, no entanto, nunca esquecerem as suas obrigações, quer face à posição social do rapaz, quer face à família da jovem Emma.
As personagens mais interessantes acabam por ser os dois protagonistas, onde a dimensão psicológica é tão ou mais interessante do que a interação física. Penso, no entanto, que a autora poderia ter desenvolvido mais as personagens secundárias, como a noiva de John e o seu irmão bastardo, bem como as suas histórias, o que, na minha opinião, ficaram sem o desenvolvimento adequado o que faz com que não se compreenda o que lhes aconteceu.
O mais interessante do livro são as cenas em que Emma e John conversam, sobre a aldeia onde se encontram e o modo de vida de quem lá mora, e as discussões onde esta o critica sem qualquer pudor. Este à vontade causa surpresa na personagem masculina habituado a ser obedecido sem que as suas ordens sofram comentários ou argumentos depreciativos ou mesmo que sejam desobedecidas.
Quanto ao erotismo compreendo o aviso que aparece na contracapa pois as descrições das relações amorosas são bastante realistas o que pode ferir alguns leitores menos prevenidos. No entanto para quem está habituado ao erótico contemporâneo, não deixa de ser igual a muitos outros.

É, pois, um livro do perfeitamente previsível, e cuja leitura perde por isso mesmo. No entanto, e para quem gosta deste género de livro, pode ser uma leitura fácil e agradável para umas férias de verão. Mas atenção, há melhor, bastante melhor, publicado inclusive da própria autora.

publicado em https://livrosgosto.blogspot.pt/

[Andreia Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

ficou muito aquém da expectativa. costuma ser uma autora que me conquista mas festa vez acabou por ser um pãozinho sem sal. ate foi bastante interessante no início mas 60 % do livro foi a descrever cenas sexuais e por isso aniquilou a criatividade da historia..

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm torn on what to say about this book. The parts of the story that pertained to John and Emma and their budding friendship turned romance were amazing. I loved every bit, even when I wanted to smack John for being a stupid man. ;) I'm fairly new to historical romance, so my feminist side still has a hard time getting past the way men were so high handed and hypocritical in that era. (not that they aren't today ;)) I can't stand when they say things like what they do in their private lives is none of their wives business, or that the women can't take lovers while the men do. But again, that's just me. Aside from that, I loved John and I absolutely adored Emma. She was spunky and spoke her mind. It was very refreshing! John was a little slow on the uptake as far as realizing his feelings for Emma and actually admitting them out loud and to her, but he is a man and that's how they do.

Ian, oh Ian. I loved him too. Even though his secrets ended up painting him in a non favorable light, I didn't care. I'm hoping he and John will reconnect in Ian's book and make things right. He was a great addition to this story.

As for the reason this book only got a 4 from me, it has to do with a serious hard limit of mine that I'll put in a spoiler. I will say for all, it was something I didn't expect. I was completely blindsided to it and it struck hard. Had I been warned, I still don't know that I wouldn't take a star away simply because I abhor the topic. The Vicar Martin had a penchant for young girls. As in, between the ages of 9 and 12 ish. As a mother, of a daughter!, I was floored that this was the method to which we would see how awful this man truly is. I understand that in those days it may have been more common, but in no way do I find it ok or do I want to read about it in ANY capacity. He was a pedophile. The fact that the author added this, it really makes me weary of her other books. It also now makes me weary of other historical romance books since I'll now have to dig way deep for spoilers so I don't encounter this again. I had a serious problem with this and when I got to that part I literally had to put the book down and take a breather. I almost didn't pick it back up. I just thought I'd warn others in case they had the same hard limit as I do.

As for that Harlot whore of a mistress John had in the beginning... I was really hoping she'd get kicked off a cliff and die a horrible death. But alas, she didn't. Sorry if my horns showed a bit there, but I really didn't like her! She was the only other dark spot on this otherwise great read! :-)

Overall, aside from the parts mentioned in the spoiler, I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, well paced, and well written.

[Chiara 🍂 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho riletto questo libro dopo più di 7 anni e devo dire che gli ridarei 5 stelline. Ci sono tante cose che non vanno lo ammetto, un eroe un po’ troppo snob e pieno di se e dei personaggi secondari interessanti ma non appieno usati ( mi lascia l’amaro in bocca non sapere che fine faranno) e sento la mancanza di un bel epilogo che mi avrebbe soddisfatta anche di più però, tutto sommato, rimane bellissimo ed emozionante. La chimica tra loro si sente e rende tutto più interessante. Non mi aspettavo di godermi questa lettura come la prima volta e invece è stato così, peccato che queste emozioni siano diventate così rare per me. Probabilmente fra qualche tempo ritornerò qui per stare di nuovo bene. Consigliato per le amanti del genere, abbiamo una protagonista testarda e forte e un eroe dolce ma troppo snob per ammettere a se stesso i suoi sentimenti.


2 marzo 2023
Rilettura haha

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Cheryl Holt winner for me. I so hope Ian and Caro have a book I am so intrigued to see the two go head to head.

[Tamára · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance muito forte. Cheryl Holt consegue oferecer aos leitores uma personagem feminina forte, decidida, super apaixonada e (o mais importante) nada irritante. Adorei a Emma, já o visconde John... Bem, digamos que é o típico nobre que diz que não acredita no amor, mas na realidade é um verdadeiro romântico! :)

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly enjoyable! The heroine is a go-getter and selfless, always helping others. Meanwhile, the hero is a viscount who starts as a typical aristocratic libertine, lazy and irresponsible, but grows a lot throughout the story. The book also provides a nuanced portrayal of class separation. Really enjoyed this one!

[Sandra Sales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gostei da história, mas às vezes as personagens irritaram-me.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[Genny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Estrelas! Heroína forte; herói algo "pálido".

[Vera Dias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilhoso. Esta autora não desilude. Só é pena não terem publicado o 2 volume. Estava curiosa com a história do Ian Clayton e da Lady Caroline.

[Debbie Alves · Rating 3 out of 5]

O título me enganou direitinho 😅.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been so long since I've read a Cheryl Holt book. I hadn't forgotten how much I love her work, but I'd forgotten how addicting her books are. One is never enough.

I love Emma. She's spunky and awesome. She went after what she wanted and wouldn't take no for an answer.

And I liked Wakefield. Lol. He was a character. And he was completely enamored by Emma. He didn't know what hit him. She made him a better man.

This is one of my favorite Cheryl Holt books. Although, seeing as I'm more than a little blood thirsty, I wish bad things had happened to the Harlot and the Vicar (worse that what actually happened). They deserved horrible deaths.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. It's the quintessential fairy tale: the plain spinster is saved by the dashing prince. Although that does not happen until the end, the ups and downs of the relationship of Viscount Wakefield and Emma Fitzgerald is fraught w/ laughter, tears and at times insurmountable class separation. But persevere because it is such a wonderful book you'll ask for nothing else.

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Elisa Vangelisti · Rating 1 out of 5]

Copertina orribile, primo punto a sfavore. Quel che conta, però, sarebbe la trama. Le premesse erano buone: un patto alla “Lezioni di piano”. Quattordici incontri amorosi in cambio della rinuncia a quattordici ingiunzioni di sfratto dei poveri compaesani della figlia del vicario. Peccato che il visconte, proprietario delle terre su cui vive la povera gente, si lasci manovrare dalla zitella del caso che, con un pugno di ferro non indifferente, lo convince a eliminare persone discutibili e bagordi dalla sua vita. Neanche Mastro Lindo avrebbe potuto fare tanto. Tutto ciò elargendo qualche bacio e qualche strusciatina. Poi, l’apoteosi. Si giunge a conoscenze semi-bibliche con una leggerezza disarmante per una vergine. Tra l’altro la Holt usa terminologie piuttosto moderne per riferirsi a certe parti anatomiche – che non cito per decenza – che stonano parecchio in un romanzo datato ai primi dell’ottocento. Al momento, poi, dell’incontro “biblico” vero e proprio non sto a descrivere in che maniera assurda e poco emozionante lo risolva. Quando la trama rischiava di affossarsi nella noia, per risollevare le sorti (il “resto” si “solleva” continuamente! Non se ne può più) prima prova a inserire un’amante bistrattata, poi un pretendente della povera donna perverso e pedofilo, infine ecco che arriva l’eterna fidanzata (ahilei) che appena riceve il due di picche finale s’infratta con il fratellastro. Pare una sorta di soap opera. Ed è a quel punto – circa due terzi del romanzo – che decido di smetterla di farmi del male e rileggermi J.R.Ward. Che sarà meglio.

[leila braga · Rating 4 out of 5]

afff que delícia de livro rs

o cara é completamente absurdo, mds. eu acho que tava de muito bom humor já antes de ler o livro, pq eu me apeguei demais a ele e nem fiquei (muito) sem paciência pra aguentar as atitudes egoístas e imaturas dele. e amei Emma também, claro, ela é maravilhosa! sofre quisó, mas é forte, mantém o humor e o amor pela família.

e as interações dos protagonistas são muito boas. eles chegam cheio de preconceitos, mas conseguem parar para ouvir um ao outro, para entender de onde eles vêm, o que eles querem, enfim, eles estão dispostos a conhecer um ao outro. e as conversas deles são ótimas! o cara é totalmente besta e eu adoro gente assim rs as histórias paralelas também funcionam, ajudando a enriquecer a narrativa como um todo (só aquele POV do vigário lá que eu achei totalmente desnecessário, porra, falando de transar com adolescente! me deu arrepio de tanta repulsa que senti. pelo menos um TW tinha que ter, gente, não joga esse monte de merda sem avisar. aff foi horrível!)

e o hot é bem bacaninha também 4/5

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was seriously thinking about DNFing this book - the smut is at the beginning of the book, and books that are all smut all the time are not for me. By the time I got to page 150, the plot was happening and I was enjoying the shit out of this book. The author uses exclamation points! like, a lot! in the middle! of sentences! But I was having such a good time that I found it kind of charming.

I will definitely re-read this book and I'll be on the lookout for more books by this author.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

[Titinha Scaeiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*
Gostei do livro, gostei da história... Foi mais sexual do que os outros que li dela.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! Seriously special. The story, the characters, so engaging. Definitely a top 100 fave.

[Soraia Dias · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/4

[Ana Ionite · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Complete adandon" by Cheryl Holt is extraordinary, I completly surrender myself! This is a novel so nice to have it all: engaging characters and unpredictable, unforeseen fates spectacular inverted (soul malicious and depraved becomes honest and faithful, and the heart Puritan's unleashed passion dam break and delight us with delicious erotic pages).
It fit and original title: "complete abandon" because Emma gives plenty : the kindness of her soul, her innocence, her body, her principles ( she is the daughter of the vicar, with some religious education quite strict) .
Emma Fitzgerald asks an audience to Viscount Wakefield, into trying to help the poor people of the area, he just wanted to get them out of their mooring houses, after a lifetime of work in the service of his family. From the first I liked her and throughout her love story made me increasingly admire more. It became one of my favorite heroines! Cleverness and cunning they are unmatched. I liked a lot and pages seduction glade in the forest.
John agrees to cruel evacuation orders anulee if it will provide fourteen sexual acts with him, who had great fame depraved (and we describe in detail what he had erotic preferences). Their contract is signed and sealed with a kiss .... And where it starts!
It's amazing how fresh and current turns out, even if was printed in 2003, now over a decade! This proves that human nature and true and strong feelings do not fade with the passing years ...
My only regret is that Ian and Caroline were able to build something together and especially that the brothers were not reconciled, the situation ends quite badly between them (although at one point Emma hints that if John apologizes should tinker basil).
I hated Georgina, who after a life of sexual abuse from men, has become devoid of heart and decided to take revenge on poor Emma. It was about to succeed his diabolical plan!
John runs away from marriage . But Emma does not want to degrade and become his mistress in front of everybody. He goes to London. He will resume his old life, only in orgies and drunkenness? What will happen to the poor Emma (I also cried when I read what she lived terrible mess, her younger sister and their mother)? You can find out by reading this disturbing but brilliant novel.

[Cristina Contilli]

Passione e differenze sociali...

"Emma si chiese se il mondo di ricchezza e di lusso in cui viveva il visconte non fosse in realtà miserevole quanto il suo. Forse anche lui non aveva nessuno che gli dimostrasse vera empatia, che lo capisse davvero, che lo abbracciasse con tenerezza."

Avevo già letto qualcosa della Holt in inglese e, nonostante la difficoltà di leggere e tradurre contemporaneamente, i suoi libri mi erano piaciuti... certo resta il fatto che solo in un rosa un nobile libertino con il vizio del bere possa innamorarsi di una ragazza di una classe sociale diversa dalla sua e per lei rivoluzionare tutta la propria vita... io credo che, se il protagonista di questa storia avesse avuto intorno ai 45-50 anni e dopo una vita di dissipazioni (come si sarebbe detto nell'epoca vittoriana in cui è ambientato il libro) avesse deciso di mettere la testa a posto, anche per assicurarsi una vecchiaia accanto ad una donna innamorata e magari un erede, la cosa sarebbe stata più credibile... però l'unico romanzo rosa con un protagonista che a 50 anni cambia vita che mi è capitato di leggere finora è stato Charlene della Melville...

probabilmente un protagonista di 50 anni verebbe percepito come troppo maturo dalle lettrici e quindi meno affascinante...

e poi bisognerebbe attenuare le scene erotiche altrimenti non sarebbero credibili!!!

CORRISPONDE IN INGLESE A "COMPLETE ABANDON"

[Gloria75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

La storia non è male, lei povera si innamora di lui che sta nei gradini più alti della società...prima lo travolge e cerca di redimerlo dai suoi vizi peggiori (alcool e donne) ma nel farlo si innamora e poi lui la coinvolge in una relazione che sanno entrambi non potrà avere nessun futuro...
invece, tra un colpo di scena e l'altro l'amore vince su tutto, e la passione è la vera protagonista, anche se da un romanzo erotico mi aspettavo più scene infuocate... cmq non male nel complesso, forse una piacevole lettura che non lascerà troppo il segno

[Endimione · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute! The main characters are a little outside the patterns at last!! She, at the beginning of history, it is almost embarrassing and I tore easily even to laugh! Too funny! I also liked the evolution of the story that although at some point tracings stories already read the author calls for a truly original way to propose them. Really picevole and satisfying!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of Cheryl Holt books. The H is a major spoiled brat in this one drove me crazy how long it takes him to figure things out but still likable. I loved h and her internal battle between being a good virtuous women and her deeply passionate nature. She was a surprising mixture of bold and innocent. Good angst and story lots of re-reading

[Deb Diem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Complete Abandon by Cheryl Holt. I loved the humor in Emma and John's fantastic story. Complete Abandon is well written and has lovable characters, drama, a bit of action and plenty of sizzle. I look forward to my next read by Cheryl Holt. Complete Abandon is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.