To Desire A Devil
The Legend of the Four Soldiers, Book 4 in the Series
by Elizabeth Hoyt
In this fourth and final installment of The Legend of the Four Soldiers Series, which includes
To Taste Temptation,
To Seduce a Sinner, and
To Beguile a Beast (also
reviewed on Myshelf), best-selling author Elizabeth Hoyt concludes her series of wounded military
men assimilating back into society and finding true love. This time, Reynaud St. Aubyn, wild with
fever and post-traumatic stress disorder, stumbles into a lavish party in his family home after
being held captive by Indians for seven years and presumed dead by his comrades.
Beatrice Corning, the orphaned niece of the present earl, who has assumed the position in
Reynaud’s absence, immediately recognizes the tattooed savage with bushy beard and unruly hair.
She has spent the past few years living in his home staring at his portrait from when he was an
innocent young man with sparkling black eyes. Despite his ghastly appearance and startling return
from the dead, Beatrice feels an instant tenderness for the man and nurses him back to health,
while simultaneously prying stories from him about his captivity.
When his fever subsides, Reynaud again focuses on the one thought that helped him survive his
tortured existence enslaved by the Indians for seven years: he wants to reclaim his title. With
the title come his vast inheritance, beautiful home, and loving sister (who has since moved away
with her new husband). Beatrice becomes caught in the middle between her growing love for Reynaud
and her loyalty to the uncle who raised her. Both men cannot hold the title.
As with others in this series, the hero has been damaged physically and emotionally by the war,
and in order to find love must overcome his personal demons. Beatrice is presented as a proper
young miss with secret desires and a strong need to help others. Readers can rally behind both
characters and their causes. To Desire A Devil contains humor, suspense, drama, and
explicit sexuality, though ugly remnants of the war emerge throughout the story making this
romance far from sweet. While Beatrice and Reynaud have a convenient coupling rather than the
sizzling chemistry that many romance readers enjoy, the book satisfactorily concludes the series
by tying up loose ends and revealing the military traitor who ruined so many lives. |
The Book |
Grand Central Publishing / Hachette |
November 1, 2009 |
Mass Market Paperback |
978-0-446-40694-9 / 0446406945 |
Historical Romance / England, 1765 |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: Sexuality, Violence, Descriptions of Torture
Holiday: Christmas |
The Reviewer |
Leslie Halpern |
Reviewed 2009 |
NOTE: Reviewer Leslie
Halpern is the author of
Reel Romance:
The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies,
Dreams on
Film, A Writer's Guide to Fearless Interviews, and the co-author of
Connections: A Collection of Poems. Coming Soon: Passionate About Their Work:
Celebrities, Artists, and Experts Discuss Creativity. |
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