Beguiled [Mass Market Paperback]

Shannon Drake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2006

Ally Grayson never wanted to be a heroine--she dreamed of writing great stories, not living in a fairy tale. But when she's abducted by a charming highwayman right out of a novel, Ally finds herself thoroughly enchanted. No matter that she's betrothed to another--or that she has no intention of binding herself in an arranged marriage anyway.

But when Mark, her burdensome fiancé, is revealed to be none other than the rogue of her dreams, Ally must make a choice: plunge into a world of murder and deceit without a protector, or place her trust in the man who lies to her but makes her heart sing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Drake turns out another fine historical in this Victorian murder mystery/romance. In the final years of Queen Victoria's reign, a series of murders of outspoken antiroyalists is stirring up hostility toward the crown—not a matter of interest to many young ladies of the 1890s, but gently reared orphan Ally Grayson is a serious writer who takes the matter to heart. That gives her something in common with Mark Farrow, the nobleman she abruptly learns she's been betrothed to marry since childhood, and also with an intriguing highwayman who waylays her coach in the woods; both men are looking for the killer. Ally figures out soon enough that the highwayman and the nobleman are one and the same, but as Mark begins to fall in love with his surprising bride-to-be, he insists on excluding her from his dangerous investigation. But Ally has a mind of her own and is determined to use it, no matter how great the threat to her safety. Bestselling author Drake, the pseudonym used by Heather Graham for her numerous historicals, keeps Ally's relationship with her aunts and godparents playful, forming an intriguing contrast with the grim progress of the murder probe, while satisfying romantic progress and rising suspense keep the book running on all cylinders. (Dec.)
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Review

"A spellbinding romance tinged with a gothic twist." -- Romantic Times BOOKclub on Wicked

"An exhilarating historical romantic suspense." -- The Best Reviews on Reckless

"Drake is an expert storyteller who keeps the reader enthralled . . . You won't be disappointed!" -- Romantic Times BOOKclub on Reckless

"Drake weaves an intricate plot into a delicious romance, which makes for captivating, adventurous and wonderfully wicked reading." -- Romantic Times BOOKclub on When We Touch

"Her expert craftmanship and true mastery of the eerie shines through!" -- Romantic Times BOOKclub on The Awakening

"Shannon Drake continues to produce addicting romances." -- Publishers Weekly on No Other Woman

"Well-researched and thoroughly entertaining . . ." -- Publishers Weekly on Knight Triumphant

"[Drake] manipulates readers masterfully with exciting plot developments and heady love scenes." -- Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373771312
• ISBN-13: 978-0373771318
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,110,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Heather Graham was born somewhere in Europe and kidnapped by gypsies when she was a small child. She went on to join the Romanian circus as a trapeze artist and lion tamer. When the circus came to South Florida, she stayed, discovering that she preferred to be a shark and gator trainer.

Not really.

Heather is the child of Scottish and Irish immigrants who met and married in Chicago, and moved to South Florida, where she has spent her life. (She has, at least, been to the Russian circus in Moscow, where she wished she was one of the incredibly talented and coordinated trapeze artists.) She majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred and fifty novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, horror, and Christmas family fare.

She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty-five languages, and has had over seventy-five million books in print. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, the Lifetime Achievement Award from RWA and more. Heather has also become the proud recipient of the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers. Heather has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, Mystery Book Club, People and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including Today, Entertainment Tonight and local television.

Heather loves travel and anything that has to do with the water, and is a certified scuba diver. She also loves ballroom dancing. Each year she hosts the Vampire Ball and Dinner theater at the RT convention raising money for the Pediatric Aids Society and in 2006 she hosted the first Writers for New Orleans Workshop to benefit the stricken Gulf region. She is also the founder of "The Slush Pile Players", presenting something that's almost like entertainment for various conferences and benefits. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A exhilirating gothic romance, December 2, 2006

By 

Frances Wheeler "Frances Wheeler" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beguiled (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I found it while waiting at the drug store for a perscription. I immediatly found myself wanting to read more about Ally and the tumoltous world she is in. I found that the writing style is pleasurable to read not overly wordy but to the point. I also enjoyed the mystery/plot though it could have been a bit stronger. Fan's of Drake's won't be disappointed by thise light read. I enjoyed the twists and turns as well, though not as unpredictable as those in the North Kingdom.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What the...?, March 18, 2009

By 

lledrok (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beguiled (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm still reading this book but I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviewers in that how could they have this connection when they hardly saw eachother! He's always running off and she's always with the other writer Thane, whose also sort of attracted to her. She'd been better off with him. I hate when reviewers tell the book again in their reviews but this book is just goofy. Not one of her best. Not even almost. Too much mystery and not enough romance.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars dull clunky romance, ok murder suspense, December 29, 2006

By 

romance enthusiast "calola" (west hills, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beguiled (Mass Market Paperback)

How could anyone give this book more than a couple of stars? There is barely any contact between the heroine and the hero, who are interesting in their own right, but never together. Their dialogue is abrupt, stilted, and constantly interrupted, which is the general mode of this annoying plot. Though the time and circumstances of this novel are refreshingly unusual (the late Victorian days) and the borrowed sleeping beauty with the 3 fairy godmothers in the forest cottage plot is sort of fun, this whimsical allusion just doesn't mesh well with the Sherlock Holmesque murder plot. The whole plot doesn't gel, the romance never develops, and there are too many marginal characters to keep track of for this reader to bother with. Disappointing read. Try Heather Graham's other books.