Customer Reviews

Beguiled

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(49)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've never been disappointed in anything I've read by Deeanne Gist. Every book I've read by her has always gotten a 5-star rating simply because I am incapable of putting her books down! I have to keep reading them....even if I should be doing other things. :o)

Well, Beguiled did not disappoint one bit, and I didn't mind that it wasn't Deeanne's usual historical fiction. Placing the story in Charleston, SC with all it's own personal history made up for it being written as a contemporary novel. Also, the fact that the book was a mystery helped me enjoy it even more, and it began right in the very first chapter....wow! There was no worrying with trying to get into the story at all because it just takes off on its own with very little build-up, character development, etc. Those things came into the picture gradually throughout the book, and it was just one more reason why I couldn't put it down.

The only qualm I had with this book was some of the conversation in the beginning. There were a few places where it seemed to be very clipped and stilted, which I can only contribute to Mark Bertrand's style of writing since I've never noticed that with Deeanne's. After awhile, it started to fade away, and the dialog began to flow much more naturally.

This is one book that you can't go wrong with even if you've never read a single Deeanne Gist book. Don't get me wrong--her historical fiction is second to none, but it's always nice to see an author go outside their norm every now and then and write something different. I would love to see this author combination again, particularly if they choose another location that is rich with history like Charleston.

Love the rich historical romances of Deeanne Gist? But also wish for some suspense and that her style of romance could be paired with a twisting suspense? Then you will enjoy Beguiled, a new release by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand. This book pairs romance with romance in page-turning results.

Rylee Monroe is a dog-walker in the old, historic district of Charleston. As a young child she lived among the well-to-do in that area, but after her parents disappeared or died, she was raised by a grandmother away from that section of town. Now she's returned, but her clients are being targeted by a burglar. She soon pairs with a crime reporter who has more than writing stories on his mind.

What I found most enjoyable about this book was the rich pool of characters. While Rylee and Logan Woods, the reporter, play the main roles, they are surrounded by supporting characters that are well drawn. Modern-day Charleston practically filled the role of a character as I felt like I'd been transported to the city and could use the book as a roadmap to get around the area. Rylee and Logan both wrestle with questions about their faith, but in a way that doesn't interrupt the story. Instead, the faith questions are woven into the fabric of the story. And the mystery thread? Loved it. And even though I figured out where it was headed, I didn't grasp the full scope for awhile and the pages still turned quickly.

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand is a thrilling romantic suspense novel full of twists and turns. Rylee Monroe loves her job as a dogwalker, even if it doesn't pay as much as she'd like and had in the past before her father absconded with the family fortune and disappeared and her mother committed suicide in the wake of his betrayal. Her job is soon threatened when several of her wealthy customers are robbed by the Robin Hood burglar who has an unusual M.O.: he steals one item of sentimental but not great monetary value and then donates it to a charity. The police quickly focus on Rylee as a suspect, by Logan Woods, the reporter working on the story, is felled by Rylee's charms and just as certain that she is innocent. The authors make the city of Charleston come to life with lots of local interest, but the sparks between Rylee and Logan make the novel zip with plenty of chemistry. Readers will appreciate the honesty between the hero and heroine in a genre that thrives on miscommunications and half-truths. That type of plot driven story can become tiresome, but Rylee and Logan seem like real people who react in ways that readers can easily relate to. Don't start this book unless you have time to sit down and finish it all the way through, because once you start, it's impossible to put down!

I've read several books by Gist, so am somewhat familiar with her style. And was interested in seeing how she paired with another author. I really like mystery/suspense type things (books, movies...), and based on personal experience would categorize this book as being somewhere in the middle in terms of rating scale.

I liked the storyline, though I felt it more suspense than romance. It is well-written, if a bit too detailed with descriptions at times. However, I did like reading about Charleston and would consider visiting! I like the main characters, Rylee and Logan, but would like for their relationship to have been developed a bit more to fully appreciate actions taken by them, especially Logan's. Some actions necessarily required a degree of trust, and trust is built over time. I also thought the ending a bit rushed and could not/did not understand some of the actions or motivations of the "criminals."

Having said this I think it an enjoyable read. I've not read any of Bertrand's works, but as mentioned I have read Gist's books. She's an excellent writer. My favorite to date is "A Bride Most Begrudging".

Set in the beautiful historic district of Charleston, South Carolina, a young female adult resident Rylee who walks dogs for wealthy clients finds herself thrown into a mystery when she encounters the "Robin Hood" thief while in one of her clients mansions. He steals from the rich to give to the poor. Rylee finds herself in deep trouble when the police begin to suspect her of the robberies. Her new friend Logan Woods who is a local reporter is sure she is innocent and sets out to help prove it and protect her reputation but even he begins to grow suspicious of her involvement in the crimes as evidence mounts against her. Throw in some old family ties of Rylees, some deep greed, questions about Rylees parents death, and some bad guys and you have one deep mystery that had me on the edge of my seat until the end of the book. I was hooked from the start and had a really hard time putting this book down. I stayed up until 2am one morning because I just couldn't stop reading....I just had to see what the next chapter held. The writing is fast paced from the start and never let's down until the completion of the book. Beguiled was written by romance writer Deanne Gist AND crime writer J. Mark Bertrand. I do believe that this was the first piece of fiction that I have ever read that had two authors and I do believe it was the combination of their talents that made this book so good! I loved the setting, loved the characters, and the mystery & suspense held me completely captive all the way through. Just when I thought I had figured it all out, something new was thrown into the storyline that showed me that I was wrong. Highly, highly recommend this one! My only complaint was that the story eventually came to an end. This one gets 5 stars from me!

Two authors with very different voices and genres have combined their skills and created a nearly seamless read that kept reminding me of the movie version of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Characters crafted in the style of classic detective stories fill in the background and intensify the plot as we enter the life of Rylee. Rylee, a beautiful onetime would-be grand lady of Charleston now lives in a rat-trap of an apartment and walks dogs to pay for a luxurious nursing home for her only living relative, her grandmother.

Rylee's parents left her with few resources and in need of help from her father's former law partner. An "older brother," the partner's playboy son, begins to turn his attention toward the all grown-up Rylee in a whole new way, think the movie Sabrina. Meanwhile items, strange items, begin to disappear from Rylee's clients. The Robin Hood thief takes one less valuable treasure, ignoring many worth thousands more, then he donates it to a charity. Soon, circumstantial evidence makes Rylee a suspect.

Reporter Logan Woods is writing about the notorious Robin Hood thief. But Robin Hood is only one of the colorful criminals throughout Charleston's history. His research leads him to the possibility of a contract for a book. But, his involvement in investigating the crimes leads his heart toward Rylee.

Full of fleshed-out characters and plenty of romance and suspense, this novel is a terrific marriage of the talents of Bertrand and Gist. A very enjoyable and touching read with loads of color, fascinating detail and dimension.

Beguiled: A Novel
By Deeanne Gist, J.Mark Bertrand
Published by Bethany House

Suspenseful and fast-paced, this first collaboration between Gist and Bertrand, is an action-packed mystery romance. Set in a richly detailed Charlotte, South Carolina, struggling heroine Kylee Monroe is a dog walker with a puzzling past and shackled heart who unwittingly lands smack in the middle of a baffling crime spree.

Local journalist and aspiring book author Logan Woods is covering the story; soon finding himself entangled in more than he bargained for. As past secrets emerge and an all but forgotten history reveals itself, both Kylee and Logan must learn to trust in, and put faith in, not only God and each other, but the people surrounding them as well.

A riveting read with a fulfilling conclusion, Beguiled is hopefully the first in many more collaborations between these two very talented authors.

First things first. This book is set in Charleston, South Carolina. The city comes alive in Beguiled. Enough so that it becomes another character. I love this.

But beyond the artful description of this charming place, this is a good book. I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters, Logan and Rylee. There is a good measure of tension between the two which I thought was fun.

However, it's not so heavy on the tension, light on substance, that I want to put the book down (and not pick it up again). This is an issue for me with some Christian fiction. The tension that some authors use to make their writing appear more "edgy" actually makes it annoying. Not so with Beguiled.

To be honest I wondered at first if the mystery behind the break-ins in "Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood" would be too light for me. Not that I'm all about the gore. But I do enjoy a good, suspenseful read -- one that keeps me turning pages and maybe holding my breath a little.

What I discovered is that Gist and Bertrand have created that kind of page-turner suspense. But the best part about this book, that sets it apart from others? It sneaks up on you. Which makes the story that much better and, without a doubt, more suspenseful.

Great book!

Someone is prowling the streets of Charleston and they are growing increasingly violent. Rylee Monroe, dog walker to the affluent families north of Broad, finds herself entangled in a web of suspicion after a series of break-ins seem to be connected to her. Logan Wood, a local newspaper reporter, is on the trail of this so-called Robin Hood burglar when he crosses paths with Miss Monroe. Together they embark on an exciting journey to clear Rylee's name and discover the true identity of the criminal terrorizing the historic Charleston area.

I have read and enjoyed several of Gist's historical fiction books (A Bride Most Begrudging, Deep in the Heart of Trouble, etc.). I was pleasantly surprised that this collaborative novel takes place in present day Charleston, SC. Bertrand, a crime novel writer, adds an element of suspense and adventure to Gist's trademark romance.

As a busy mom, reading has become a luxury. I absolutely loved sitting down with this book. It had just the right amount of mystery to keep me intrigued and not so much that it was hard to follow. I thought it was well-written and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a delightful light read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions expressed are my own.

[...]

This mystery is one I just could not get enough of. It was hard to put down. It was filled with enough intrigue that even the most stalwart detective wouldn't guess the ending.

Rylee Monroe is a dedicated, compassionate dog walker in the upscale part of town. But she has trouble, big trouble. She finds herself a suspect in the Robin Hood mysteries that have the police force scratching their heads and accusing everyone.

This book has enough twists and turns to keep you interested all the way through. There are several plot lines that make you wonder what the outcome will be. There are characters to love and some to hate. In all, this book was a welcome change to the flooded market of Christian romance novels.

I loved this book so much I searched to find another of her books to read.