To Beguile A Beast (The Legend of the Four Soldiers) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Helen Fitzwilliam is not about to take no for an answer. Reclusive Sir Alistair Munroe might insist he has no need for a housekeeper, but Helen and her young daughter and son desperately need a place to stay. So as far as Helen is concerned, Alistair is getting a housekeeper whether he wants one or not. As it turns out, Helen is exactly what Alistair needs. Not only does his incomparably lovely new employee begin to turn his disintegrating Scottish castle into a home, Helen also begins to work her subtle brand of magic on Alistair’s war-scarred soul. But just as things seem to be settling down, a secret from Helen’s past threatens to destroy not only everything for which she has worked so hard but also the lives of those she loves dearly. Hoyt works her own brand of literary magic on the classic Beauty and the Beast story in the exquisitely romantic, superbly sensual third addition to her extraordinary Georgian-set Legend of Four Soldiers series. --John Charles

Review

"There's enchantment in Hoyt's stories that makes you believe in the magic of love." (-Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine )

"Elizabeth Hoyt writes with flair, sophistication, and unstoppable passion." (-Julianne MacLean, author of PORTRAIT OF A LOVER )

"Prepare to be seduced! Hoyt's writing is almost too good to be true." (Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author )

"The new master of the hisorical romance genre." (-HistoricalRomanceWriters.com )

"41/2 Stars! TOP PICK! Fantastic...magically blends fairytale, reality, and romance in a delicious, sensual feast." (Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine )

"A sexy, steamy treat!" (-Connie Brockway, USA Today bestselling author on THE RAVEN PRINCE )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446406937
• ISBN-13: 978-0446406932
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,142 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a sweet story, May 2, 2009

By	Sadie (Canada) - See all my reviews

To Belguile a Beast has many plot lines I don't care for, but it's such a lovely story that I was more than forgiving.

The heroine, Helen Fitzwilliam, is a Duke's mistress who has fled her protector with her two children because she's tired of his lack of attention and care for their children. She flees to the estate of Sir Alistair Munroe, a naturalist who turned recluse after being seriously wounded in the war on the continent. Helen becomes his housekeeper and the passion between them ignites at the same time as Helen's old protector, the Duke of Lister, is hot on her trail and determined to claim her and her son and daughter once again.

I don't care for mistress heroines. I don't care for children in romance novels. I don't care for moody, reclusive heroes. Despite the fact that all those things are here, I LOVED this book.

The characters are what made it for me. Most heroes who are wounded as Alistair was turn to drink and loose women. Not so here. Alistair may have hidden himself away in a dirty castle, but he continues to work on his observations of plants and animals. He really tried to continue with his life despite the many things in his way and I thought he was the most worthy of heroes for that. Helen may have made a youthful indiscretion that lead to a life as a mistress, but she was a kind, compassionate woman who managed to win me over.

The relationship development between Alistair and Helen was wonderful. Since they lived in the same household, there was no chasing or tricks for either of them. They simply spent time together, did things together and slowly grew to love and admire each other. As Alistair becomes closer and closer to Helen and her children, he gradually begins to awaken to a new life. Alistair steps up as their protector and savior when dark forces threaten them because of the growing depth of his feelings. It was an emotional and thrilling journey to take.

To Beguile a Beast may have started with a lot of things I don't care for in a romance, but it slowly became everything I was looking for in one. Great characters, great plot and great relationship development made this one a keeper.

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fairy tale of the best kind., April 28, 2009

By	she reads (USA) - See all my reviews

This book had me laughing, crying, flying through the pages, and left me with that warm and fuzzy feeling only a truly great romance story can.

Our heroine is fleeing London (an escaping mistress) with her 2 children and goes to a filthy castle in Scotland where she meets the tall, well built, but scarred (inside and out) 1 eyed hero.

The bits of fairy tale that start each chapter, the tension of the children's father hunting them down because they are his (as is she, his former mistress he won't let go), the 'beast' coming back to life after so many years shut away in solitude...

just holy wow and fantastic reading all around. The romance has time to build into lust and then love, the children and supporting characters are charming, and the pace is great. Elizabeth Hoyt has a way with story telling and words that had me flying through each page. I'm not a big historical fan, but I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

re-read potential for sure.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well crafted historical romance, May 19, 2009

By	Buried By Books (CA United States) - See all my reviews

I never seem to tire of the old Beauty and the Beast plot lines. I'm not sure why, but I find it--and the Ugly Duckling stories-- to be redeeming in some way. Perhaps it is my innate distaste for the way modern society focuses on appearance, but I really enjoy it when one--or both--characters don't follow the 'they're so beautiful' mold.

This is the first book by Elizabeth Hoyt that I have read, and I must say I wasn't disappointed. She has a fresh approach to historical romance and her characters are well developed--from the servants to the heroes. Every single one of them is memorable.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that the heroine was a 'fallen' woman who didn't fit the 'perfect' heroine mold either.

To Beguile a Beast was a very satisfying book with an even more satisfying theme.