To Beguile a Beast

It can be so easy to forget how dearly our female rights of choice were to come by and how many thousands of women suffered dreadful lives for their mistakes at early freedom. This is a great story about courage in the face of nothing to lose and furious optimism when absolutely nothing is left. The wounded Alpha male is a character this author does to a turn and the feisty, insistence of the female lead to simply survive is inspiring. Reading about the harsh weather in Scotland, the narrow social lines that once crossed became as strong as wires to strangle women and children and the advances in beautiful drawings and naturalist learnings all create a pleasant escape. All books in this series highly recommended.

I am not going to go into details because I think previous reviewers have done that already. Suffice to say, I love this version of beauty and the beast - I felt it was the best of the the 'four soldiers' series. It may not have been an action-packed story but I loved the unfolding of the relationship and the final 'happy ever after' ending. Goes on my keepers shelf.

Elizabeth Hoyt's Soldier series just keeps getting better with each novel. Her latest To Beguile a Beast is heartwarming and sensuous with incredibly moving scenes a reader will not forget. Sir Alistair is a scarred man living a lonely existence in his family castle in Scotland. Ever since he returned from the American colonies he has locked himself away in his dirty unkempt manor. He prefers his solitary life but that all changes when a beautiful woman arrives on his doorstep with her two children claiming she is his new housekeeper. Helen Carter, Halifax (she uses many aliases) is desperate to escape her life as the Mistress of the powerful Duke of Lister, so she embarks on a last minute plan. Her friend Lady Vale has sent her to Scotland to work as a housekeeper to escape the clutches of the Duke. Helen is absolutely startled when she first sees Sir Alistair. His facial scars are frightening but she is determined to make a place for herself and her children in his castle and Sir Alistair finds himself talked into a housekeeper. Not only does Helen breathe new life into the castle, she also is instrumental in dispelling the darkness in Alastair's life. She is a bit bossy but not unkind or condescending. Helen is a typical 18th century woman in that she knows her options are limited and makes the best of her situation. Her children play a key role in this novel and they are as delightful as Helen. Too often children can either be too precocious or simply annoyances, but not here. Oldest sibling Abigail acts like a serious minded nine year old with all the feelings of insecurity and distrust any child would have when moving to a new place. Her younger brother Jamie is a typical five year old with a big heart and a boy's curious nature. By far though, the most compelling character is terribly scarred Alistair. He is so very interesting. Alistair is a naturalist, not a soldier, so his time in the colonies was for an entirely different purpose than the other Englishmen who were maimed and murdered during the war. He is not embittered but he is cautious. He treads carefully with Helen. He is incredibly open with her children and his love for animals is touching and it displays his heart. His compassion, patience, love and kindness shown to his beloved pet is a harbinger of what he will be like with Helen's family. Quite simply the scenes with his aging faithful deerhound are beautifully written. Helen and Alistair have an intensely passionate romance, neither are coy with their desires and this was refreshing. Of course, things do not always run smoothly in life and Helen's past is catching up to her. However, Alistair is more than willing to be a hero and he does so with all the valor of a knight in shining armor.

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.

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.