To Beguile a Beast - Elizabeth Hoyt - 2009

This is book three of the "Legend of the Four Soldier Series."

Sir Alistair Munroe has hidden in his castle ever since returning from the Colonies. In the colonies he was tortured and lost an eye and scarred horribly. When people first see him, they would either faint or run screaming in fear. Hence, the reclusiveness.


After Jasper and Melisande visited Sir Munroe, Melisande hatches a plan to send the run away Helen Fitzwilliam and her children to Sir Munroe. Helen was not aware that Alister was not expecting her as his housekeeper. . She shows up on his door step of the castle unaware of this and with her 2 children. She is running away from her lover who kept her as his mistress from the time she was 17.

Alister does not want her there but she is one determined woman. She not only decides to stay as his housekeeper but also hires a staff for the castle. The more Alister sees of her courage, the more the sparks fly. Both are attracted to each other. He is also very kind to her children and loves his old and faithful dog. Who doesn't love a man who loves his dog?

They seem to be falling in love and starting to heal but Helen's lover comes and kidnaps their children. Alister fights for Helen and helps her get back her children.

I will leave the summary at that. I liked this book. I am a sucker for a brave, courageous and honorable soldier (even though he wasn't a soldier but a naturalist) and I found a liking to the character of Alister. You just wanted to make everything right for him. He had suffered terribly. I liked Helen and also found her to be courageous and strong willed. I wanted them to find 'happily ever after'. I wanted her children to have a kind and gentle man to be their father.

I always learn something new from the historical novels. I learned from this book that they would take a 1/2 a lemon and use it as a sponge for birth control. That led me to run to the internet to research all the methods of birth control used through the centuries. I am now more educated from reading this book so there was an added benefit. Go figure!

Rating - 9

I did buy the book, will keep it and will probably read it again in a few 5 years or so. By that time dementia would have set in and it will be like reading a new book!!!

Enjoy!

Susan