My new series is my “Jilted Brides” trilogy. I’m releasing all three books on the same day—September 20—so if you like to binge read, this is the trilogy for you. For the past few summers, I’ve been writing a new kind of series, where I use a common thread that continues through all the books in the series and that resolves at the end of the final book.
In this trilogy, my heroines have all been jilted once in their lives. I thought such a traumatic and humiliating experience would give me female characters who really struggle with how to reshape their lives. My three heroines—Josephine, Winifred, and Amelia—are wary of men and not interested in love or romance. But Fate has other ideas for them! Namely, my yummy, uber-macho heroes: Peyton, John, and James.
I’m releasing the three books together on the same day, so readers can scoop them up and read the whole story without having to wait for the next installment. The books will be available as print books and e-books. Mark your calendars! Coming September 20th! I’m counting down the days!
Title: Jilted by a Cad by Cheryl Holt
Jilted Brides Series Book One
Publisher: BookBaby
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: 428 pages
Summary:
Josephine Bates only ever wanted to marry and have a home of her own. At age eighteen, when a handsome suitor swept her off her feet, she believed all her dreams were about to come true. But he was actually a cad who stole her dowry and jilted her at the altar. Since then, she’s been wary of men and their motives. She’s accepted the notion that she’ll never escape her dreary, quiet existence, and she’ll most likely live out her days as a spinster…
Peyton Prescott is a ship’s captain in the Royal Navy. He’s a man of action and adventure, and his years have been filled with danger and excitement. But his brother has died, so he’s inherited a title and earldom he never sought or wanted. He’s afraid his new position will force him to abandon the thrilling life he loves, and he’s loafing in England, feeling landlocked and desperate to return to the sea. He’d give anything for a diversion, and when pretty, lonely Josephine crosses his path, he’s fascinated and can’t resist…
But Peyton isn’t looking for a bride, and Josephine could never be interested in a handsome, dashing scoundrel. Yet as friendship blossoms and passion flares, can love be far behind?
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Title: Jilted by a Scoundrel by Cheryl Holt
Jilted Brides Series Book Two
Publisher: BookBaby
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: 345 pages
Summary:
CHERYL HOLT continues to delight readers with the thrilling, dramatic second novel in her Jilted Brides trilogy…
Winifred Watson grew up as the only daughter of a decorated war hero. When he died suddenly, she was shocked to learn that he was bankrupt and she lost everything to pay his final debts. She’d hoped to wed her fiancé—a steady, handsome man who would have guided her through the tumult of her father’s death. But when her penury was revealed, her fickle betrothed jilted her at the altar. His treacherous conduct pitched her into a downward spiral that she can’t seem to halt…
John Dunn escaped his dreary home by joining the army when he was sixteen. He loved his years as a soldier and planned to dedicate the remainder of his life to King and country. But he was swept into a scandal and drummed out of the service. He’s returned to his family’s isolated, dreary castle on the Cornwall coast, but it’s the one spot on the globe he vowed to never visit again. He’s bitter, raging, and eager for a diversion from his pathetic situation…
When Winifred arrives, demanding shelter and assistance, John isn’t inclined to provide any help. But she’s pretty, intriguing, and in desperate need of a knight in shining armor. How can he resist?
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Title: Jilted by a Rogue by Cheryl Holt
Jilted Brides Series Book Three
Publisher: BookBaby
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: 356 pages
Summary:
Amelia Boyle has always viewed herself as an extremely modest and moral woman. But after suffering a string of personal catastrophes, she went a bit wild and made several reckless decisions. Her spurt of excess culminated in her becoming engaged to a man she barely knew. When he promptly jilted her at the altar, the cruel act yanked her to her senses. She’s been forced to admit she has frivolous tendencies, and she vows to never let them flare again.
James Hastings loves his life in the army, and he doesn’t plan to ever retire. He’s a confirmed bachelor who spends his days around active, tough men who are proud to serve King and country. He’s not interested in marriage or settling down, and he has no time for women and no patience for flirtation.
But when Amelia stumbles into his dull, boring world, she turns it upside down, and it gradually dawns on him that he might not be able to live without her. Amelia has sworn off romance though and has other plans that don’t include binding herself to a handsome, dashing soldier. Can James convince her that he might be precisely who and what she needs to be happy?
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Jilted by a Scoundrel Excerpt
Summer, 1815, an island off the Cornwall coast…
“What do you think of it?”
Winnie Watson forced a smile and stared down at her two charges, Jane and Bobby Prescott. Jane was eleven, and Bobby was twelve.
“It’s scary,” Jane said as Bobby enthusiastically said, “It’s tremendous!”
They gaped at the open gates of Dunworthy Castle. It was a real castle, with drawbridge, stone walls, turrets, and battlements. It looked like an edifice out of a medieval legend. They might have fallen back through time, and if an armored knight suddenly rode out on his war horse, she wouldn’t have been surprised.
“Do you suppose my uncle is here?” Jane inquired.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Winnie responded. “Let’s go in and ask.”
In the town on the mainland, they’d been told it was market day at the castle. It was also “Justice Day,” where local citizens could appear before a magistrate, voice grievances about their neighbors, then have their cases arbitrated to a conclusion that probably didn’t satisfy anyone.
There were people rushing in and out, many hauling carts of supplies, so the place was bustling with activity. A teamster with a heavy wagon lumbered up behind them, and they jumped off the trail so he didn’t drive over them.
Winnie had grown up outside London, and she’d been reared in the upper classes. She’d attended the most expensive boarding schools and had rubbed elbows with the daughters of dukes and earls. She’d never previously been to Cornwall, and so far, she wasn’t impressed. Everyone they’d encountered had been surly and unhelpful. They’d glowered and frowned, had whispered gruffly and pointed in amazement, as if they’d never observed a woman traveling alone with children before.
And perhaps they hadn’t. Perhaps none of their personal horizons had ever delivered them a greater distance than the next village. Clearly, strangers were rare and not particularly welcome.
Dunworthy Castle was built on an island a few hundred yards off the coast. It boasted a small harbor, with a village—simply named Dunn—nestled around it. The castle was perched on a promontory that was surrounded by cliffs. It was windswept and desolate, and it fascinated her in an odd manner.
If she’d been partial to barren, inhospitable country—which she’d never been—she might have been enthralled, but she wasn’t. She thrived on the culture and society found in the city, and she enjoyed interesting, sophisticated people.
She was dawdling, and Bobby impertinently asked, “Are we going in? Or do you plan to stand here all afternoon?”
Author Bio
Cheryl Holt is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author of fifty novels.
She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age 40, 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 an incredible knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.
She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre, and her emotional, dramatic, and riveting stories of passion and illicit love have captivated fans around the world. She has won or been nominated for many national awards. 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.
Cheryl lives and writes in Hollywood, California.
Author Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads
Giveaway
Hi Kathy. Thank you so much for hosting me today. And thanks to everyone of you who takes a minute to learn more about my new Jilted Brides trilogy. The three books will be released together–in three short days. It was a long year of work and worry for me, and I’m so excited that people will finally have a chance to read the three books.
This is a big year for me. I’m celebrating my 50th novel! I think my Jilted Brides–Jo, Winifred, and Amelia–were a great way to kick off the year. I hope all of you will celebrate with me. And I hope you love my new series!
You’re welcome. And congrats on such an amazing accomplishment!
These books sound good