The hero's parents were absolutely horrible! They had his brother and him out of wedlock, subjecting them to the ridicule of Polite Society and denying them public acknowledgment by their own father, and wondered why they were so angry? Hmm, that's a tough one. The heroine's actions were also dishonorable and cowardly--claiming to love James while refusing to even acknowledge him in public. Needless to say, the love story was unbelievable, and the happily-ever-after ending more than a bit pat.

Abigail needs advise for her sister, to prepare her for her wedding night. She hears talk about James Stevens & decides he is the man she needs.

What follows is very erotic lessons neither will recover from.

This book is full of love, sex & revenge. This is my 1st. Cheryl Holt book, but not my last.

Total surrender is next & is about James's brother, Michael.

Abigail Weston is a 25 year old spinster. Her 17 year old sister, Caroline, is about to come out into society and eventually marry. Only problem is Caroline keeps asking her about what a man and woman do on their wedding night. Being a spinster, Abigail is unable to answer so she decides to take lessons.

She engages James Stevens, the bastard son of the Earl of Spencer and who has a notorious reputation with the ladies. So every Monday and Thursday afternoon Abigail and James meet for their private lessons. The lessons are only meant to be theoretical but slowly Abigail finds herself having practical lessons instead. As she learns about the ways of loving a man, she cannot but help fall in love with James but will she be brave enough to step out into the public society with this notorious rake.

This book was erotic. Every other chapter contained a sex scene and in graphic detail aswell. The story was OK and towards the end you are rooting for the hero and heroine to get back together. James' behaviour wasn't very endearing though. He seemed to have a permenant erection throughout the book and would relieve himself at every opportunity. Still it was an engaging book and if you like steamy erotic scenes you will not be disppointed.

Lea Ling Tsang

Yes, I would say this book ranks right up there with any of Susan Johnson's in the arena of steamy sex. And perhaps the heroine's behavior seems a bit out of place in this time period. However, Holt's characters have hidden feelings and vulnerabilities that somehow make their actions believable.

The biggest hurdle to get over is how Abigail Weston is so quickly converted from a prudish spinster to a wanton wench. Still waters run deep, they say. A second sense tells her that James Stevens is more than the libertine he claims to be. And while she is eager for the physical love he offers, she yearns to help him face the insecurities that render him incapable of real love.

In order to do this, however, she must be willing to acknowledge her relationship with him to the world--not an easy thing to do when he has made it clear that he will not commit himself to her in any way. What would she do when (if) he cast her off after she had been rejected by her family and all of society for her wanton behavior? She instinctively knows he loves her, but will their love be enough to overshadow the darkness in his soul? In some ways, jumping off a cliff would be easier!

I wasn't crazy about his father Edward's behavior, and his mother disappointed me too at times, but one doesn't get to pick one's relatives, and the ones we end up with aren't always ideal either.

But whatever happened to his brother Michael? I'll have to check out some of Holt's newer titles.

I really enjoyed reading Love Lessons, and primarily due to the fact that it is one of the most erotic novels I have read in a long time. Cheryl Holt can conjure a very steamy atmosphere with her writing and coupled with the absence of purple prose, this one definitely deserves to be in the 'erotic romance' category.
I would have been happier if she would have focused more on the main couple....It started off very nicely toward the begining, but Ms Holt introduced a lot of secondary characters which detracted from the story line. Still, it was a good read and I look forward to reading Total Surrender.