Date published: May 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-40693-2
Historical Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn
Helen Fitzwilliam is on the run from the past and finds herself taking the post as housekeeper from the reclusive Sir Alistair Munroe. She finds him fascinating and sexy yet also a little scary. She is determined to change the course of her life for her children and she won’t let this beast of a man scare her away. Sir Alistair Munroe has hidden himself away since he came back from the colonies, scarred inside and out. When this mysterious beauty stumbles into his house, can he keep the passion that simmers between them at check or will it boil over until he is consumed by it? What happens when Helens secrets come back to haunt her and in the process destroy the one chance of happiness she has with a man who stirs her soul and her heart?
TO BEGUILE A BEAST is Ms. Hoyt’s third book in her Legend of the Four Soldiers Series and it is also the first one I read of it. It was an intriguing spin on the fairytale, Beauty and the Beast and Ms. Hoyt delivers two powerful characters that steal the entire book. I found the writing fast and tight with some wonderful twists that keep you glued to the pages, wondering what happens next. With a wonderful cast of secondary characters, Ms. Hoyt delivers a great retelling of the fabled childhood story and gives it a fresh breath of air.
Meet Helen Fitzwilliam, a mother of two children, on the run from her past and determined to make a different life for herself and her children. She finds herself at Sir Alistair’s castle and she applies to the position of housekeeper, even though she has never tended a fire nor taken care of a house this size before. With a few mix ups and some sizzling encounters with Sir Alistair, Helen sees the man behind the gruff exterior and learns that appearances can be deceiving. This is a strong woman with determination and grit. Ms. Hoyt captures Helen perfectly and I was enthralled with her perseverance. She matches wits with Alistair and ends up captivating him as well as exasperating him as well. It made for a delicious combination. Sir Alistair Munroe is a man scarred both inside and out. He hides in his crumbling castle, determined to never feel passion or the love of a good woman. What he gets then is a beguiling beauty that goes toe to toe with him and stirs his long lost passion. Can he trust her even as he finds that she has secrets that will claim her and the love they begin to have together? Strong, gruff and yet gentle when you least expect it. Ms. Hoyt gives a wounded hero that is to die for. I really enjoyed seeing these two fall in love even amid the twists and turns.
TO BEGUILE A BEAST is a delightful addition to this new series and I am heading on over to check out the other two in the series and to see what is next for this author. If you enjoy a retelling of childhood fairytales with a wonderful twist, then grab Ms. Hoyt’s latest, TO BEGUILE A BEAST and be swept away by Alistair and Helen’s story.
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