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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Story of Survival and Love, October 27, 2009
The year is 1765 and "Beatrice Corning", a proper English lady lives with her "Uncle Reggie", the Earl of Blanchard in a London townhouse where she assists as hostess and administrates the running of the household. During a dull political tea being held at the Blanchard townhouse a seemingly insane man, raving in French with a facial tattoo and dangling earring staggers in and collapses amongst the proper bewigged gentlemen and their ladies. As it turns out the "lunatic" is "Reynaud St. Aubyn", the blood heir to the Blanchard name, monies and estates and thought dead when burned at the steak by Indians in the colonies 7 years previously. It is Beatrice who recognizes the "savage", lying on the parlor room floor, for before he passes out she glimpses his distinctive black eyes. The same obsidian eyes that stare back at her from his portrait as a young man hanging in the room. Reynaud is a complex tortured hero. After enduring 7 years of captivity, slavery, torture and starvation he is a changed man from the young Aristocrat who bought his commission and left to serve and fight for Britain in the colonies. Through sheer strength of will and determination to return to England, his family and his Earldom he survived unspeakable hardship and horror. When he does awaken in "his home" to find his father has passed 5 years previously and a "usurper" (Uncle Reggie) has claimed the Earldom he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what is rightfully his. Despite her uncle's misgivings, Beatrice takes matters in hand and tends to Reynaud, nursing him back to health weathering his surly disposition and cutting sarcastic manner. She is determined to find out what has happened to the passionate young man whose vision in the portrait she has desired and dreamed of for many years. Beatrice is "four and twenty", and while she has had suitors has never had an offer of marriage. She wants passion in her life and to be loved. She thought she saw that passion in the eyes of the Reynaud in the portrait, however being confronted with this angry, bitter, sarcastic, and seemingly self obsessed man is, needless to say not what she expected. Reynaud also suffers from posttraumatic stress and when he feels threatened he has flash backs and envisions himself to be back in the colonies fighting for his very survival. By the same token, when there is an attempt on his life, which also puts Beatrice in peril, he takes charge and shows that he is, at heart a brave and honorable man. Reynaud's family and friends gradually rally around him and as he is reintroduced to life as an English gentleman is encouraged by his supportive feisty "Tante Cristelle" (his French aunt) to take a "pretty" and proper English wife to reinforce his respectability and enhance his chances to regain his title. By this time Beatrice and Reynaud have established a relationship and rapport. He, in fact, feels quite protective of her and decides that she is to be his. Ms. Hoyt has a beautiful voice, her prose IMHO literally sings. The love scenes penned between Reynaud and Beatrice are sensuous and special. Reynaud, with Beatrice's gentle encouragement gradually shares the horrors of the last 7 years. He does find peace and comfort in her arms and begins to emotionally heal. He in turn, helps her grieve when she loses someone very close to her. I loved both these characters and Reynaud's story tugged at my heartstrings. They do marry but Beatrice does not believe he truly loves her, which causes strife between them. She is, after all a means for him to regain his title and respectability as rumors still swirl that he is quite mad. There is also an undercurrent of political intrigue and the involvement of a wartime traitor in their midst that isn't revealed until the closing chapters. The supporting characters are extremely well developed, and each play a role in advancing what for me was a fascinating plot. Historically, this story is very well researched. I especially like "Vale", Reynaud's oldest and dearest friend. The guy has a subtle sense of humor that had me chortling with laughter and he wastes no chance in poking fun at his serious and seemingly humorless friend. Vale is absolutely brilliant. If you are a lover of historical romance, I think, "To Desire A Devil", may be a novel for you to put on your list. If you have read the previous books in Ms. Hoyt's "The Legend of the Four Soldiers Series", and have been anticipating this novel I don't think you will be disappointed.
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60 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing, October 30, 2009
I am a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt and have thoroughly enjoyed her earlier works. I have read all of the books in this series and was disappointed with her latest installment. Before purchasing the book, I checked the Amazon reviews (to date, all 5 stars) to make sure it was worth buying. Boy, was I misled. I am writing this review to offer another perspective to those readers who might appreciate another view. I couldn't let the 5 star reviews stand when I had a distinctly different opinion. In my opinion, this book was written in haste with the requisite "elements", but with very little detail or character development. The dialogue used and the situations in which the characters are placed are formulaic, trite and unbelievable. I didn't buy the characters' attraction to each other, the "mystery" was nonexistent, and the dangerous situation tacked on. I would skip this book and reread one of her earlier works. It seems to me that recently some of my favorite authors (Kleypas, Jeffries, Carlyle, Hoyt, Eloisa James) are producing their books to meet deadlines, rather than putting out quality stories. Unfortunately, an author's past works are not a good indicator of their current or future book quality. Hope this information is helpful to you.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhat Lacking Historical Romance (C+ Grade), November 3, 2009
To Desire a Devil is the final book in Elizabeth Hoyt's Legend of the Four Soldiers Series. I've really enjoyed the series as a whole and I really recommend her books for readers who are looking for wonderfully romantic historical romances. I was anticipating this final book because it's about a character who has been mentioned since the very beginning of the series. Reynaud St. Aubyn has had a big presence and now his own story has been told in To Desire a Devil. Beatrice Corning is an orphan spinster who lives with her loving Uncle Reggie, the Earl of Blanchard. Uncle Reggie took over the Earldom because the heir, Reynaud, Viscount Hope, is believed to be dead. Seven years ago Reynaud went to fight in the Colonies and at the well known battle of Spinners Falls is where he and his fellow soldier's were attacked and left for dead. He was taken captive by Indians, tortured and set on fire seven years ago. Now years later, at a boring tea party, Beatrice and Reggie are in for a surprise because a man who looks like something the cat dragged in, rushes in speaking French. He looks like a savage and passes out in front of Beatrice. The savage is St. Aubyn! Beatrice is shocked, not only because St. Aubyn is alive but she never thought she would meet him face to face. It is very awkward because she and her uncle have taken over Aubyn's home. She has also mooned over his portrait one times to many since she has arrived. The younger version of St. Aubyn that Beatrice enjoys staring at in his portrait is a dashing fellow who Beatrice has had many fantasies about. St. Aubyn has a fever from his long travels from American to England. He is put to bed and Beatrice helps him recover. Reggie thinks this man is an imposter. He is worried, and rightly so, because if this is the real St. Aubyn, then he and Beatrice will be thrown out. Aubyn does get better but he is a raving jerk. The way he acts towards Beatrice is not all as a gentleman would, but then again he has been a captive of Indians, so his manners are lacking. Now Aubyn has to regain his title, interact with polite society again and along with some of his former Spinners Falls brothers in arms, he must find out who betrayed them and why. Who was responsible for causing the slaughter at the Falls that took seven years of Aubyn's life away? Aubyn tries to regain his life back and not fall into dark despair (Aubyn has some PTSD- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Beatrice at first thinks Aubyn's a rude boar, but she excuses his behavior because of his emotional and physical scars. Beatrice has some deep feelings for Aubyn, mainly because of the seductive power of his portrait. Aubyn sees something special in Beatrice and his possessive side comes out towards her. She allows Aubyn to ruin her, he claims her as his and the next logical step is marriage. Aubyn feels the need to protect Beatrice. Someone is targeting Aubyn because they know that he is getting closer to finding out who the traitor is and with that they won't stop until they either kill Aubyn or hurt those who he cares about the most, and that means Beatrice. To Desire a Devil has everything a historical romance should have: Tortured hero, check. Smart, independent heroine, check. A smoldering passion that cannot be denied with hot love scenes, check. But, I felt as if To Desire a Devil was missing something. I was more interested in finding out the horrible person who practically destroy St. Aubyn's life more so then the logistics of Aubyn's relationship with Beatrice. I just couldn't see these two so head over heel in love or lust for one another. Perhaps more on Aubyn's end because he is looking for someone who is pure and light; a woman to take him away from all the dark days of his past. The only reason I could see Beatrice falling for Aubyn is because she had a crush on him because of this magical portrait. Can we say this is much like a thirteen year old falling for celebrity in one of those teen magazines? Why yes, I think I will! I saw Beatrice's feelings as only an immature crush and not a woman's deep love for a man she comes to understand and love. The only reason she seemed to accept Aubyn and the way he acted because she could heal him knew him so well. And why does she feel this way? Again look towards the Aubyn portrait.. Aubyn has those wonderful traits I love reading about in my heroes. He is an alpha who can also be tender, sweet and very giving in bed. Yet again the reader is made aware that the reason the hero is experienced is because of all those brothels he visited, where he sampled the favors of those accomplished courtesans because it was leaving up to this very moment where he would show Beatrice how much pleasure he can give her. Because for some reason, the way Beatrice makes him feel is the most erotic thing he has ever felt. Beatrice is so thrilled by the passion Aubyn has for her because as he compliments how soft she is, and everything he's not, Beatrice can't help but think, "Wow Aubyn you look like a demon incubus as you are about to invade my very being. That is so hot!" No joke, Aubyn was described as a demon incubus by Beatrice. Not sure what to think of that. I would say that To Desire a Devil is an adequate finale book in this series even though I couldn't help but compare Aubyn and Beatrice's feelings to that of a teenager's. The maturity level seemed to be lacking in regards those both of these characters.If you're a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt I have no doubt you will enjoy To Desire a Devil. I found it a bit lacking but there were some moments I enjoyed, even with the demon incubus in Beatrice's bed. Katiebabs To Taste Temptation (The Legend of the Four Soldiers)To Seduce A Sinner (The Legend of the Four Soldiers)To Beguile A Beast (The Legend of the Four Soldiers)
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