To Desire A Devil

Title: To Desire A Devil
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Series: The Four Soldiers (Book 4)
Genre: Historical Fiction



Reynaud has been thought dead for the past 7 years. The three main male characters from the three previous books in the series were positive they saw him burned alive while they were captured by the Indians. Come to find out - they were only lead to believe that.

Beatrice is the niece of the current Earl of Blanchard and has spent many a night dreaming about the handsome rogue who has a painting in the study downstairs. Imagine her surprise when he comes crashing through the door during tea and passes out at her feet.

The two are essentially thrown together from the beginning - Beatrice taking care of Reynaud. Reynaud wants his title back from Beatrice's uncle and will stop at nothing to get the title back, including finding himself a proper English wife.

When I first started this book - I had no idea what series it was from and had to come back here to look it up. I have had it on hold for so long I forgot about it. Once I started it, however, it came back quickly. I enjoyed the story between the characters as well as hearing where Reynaud has been the past seven years. Again the actual Spinner's Fall mystery seems to take a backseat and I felt like it was rather anticlimactic after waiting to hear who the traitor was for four books. Another quick and rather fluffy read.

To Beguile A Beast

Title: To Beguile A Beast
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Series: The Four Soldiers (Book 3)
Genre: Historical Fiction



Helen is on the run from a Duke, she was his former mistress. The Duke isn't too happy that Helen has taken their 2 children, even though he has never acknowledged them before. She enlists in the help of her friend Lady Vale and is sent to a decrepit castle with a grumpy owner, Alistair. He is slightly disfigured and is missing an eye due to his time in America during the war.

Helen and her two children slowly fit themselves into Alistair's heart and home and they make a lovely little family. Eventually, the Duke finds them and kidnaps the children. Alistair leaves his castle for the first time in years to help put the family he has come to love back together.

Although it was a typical Beauty and Beast story, this has been my favorite book in the series so far. It could be because there was next to none of the story about finding the traitor from Spinner's Falls. I just thought it was beautifully written and there is so much tenderness and love in the book.

To Seduce A Sinner

Title: To Seduce a Sinner
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Series: The Four Soldiers (Book 2)
Genre: Historical Romance


At the end of To Taste Temptation Melisande was sent by Emeline to watch over Lord Vale, Jasper. Melisande, of course, has been in love with Jasper for years, yet nobody knows (but maybe could guess).

The beginning of To Seduce a Sinner finds Jasper getting ready to get married. Unfortunately his betrothed, has decided that she is in love with someone else, so he lets her go. He wasn't in love with her, but viewed it as more of a marriage of convenience. He is still in the church when he is approached by Melisande. She proposes marriage to him. He figures why not, and a scant three weeks later the two are married.

Melisande cannot wait for their wedding night, but is left a bit disappointed at Jasper's lack of finesse. It's another story about the upper class man worrying about hurting his pure wife. Melisande decides that this simply will not do, and sets about to seduce her husband.

I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters and their sparring. One thing I could have done without was the story of Spinner's Falls. After two books in the series I've figured that this need to find out who had betrayed them must be the common thread. Honestly, I'm done with that. I could care less who the traitor is (well, I guess I'd like to know eventually). I skimmed over these parts because it seems to be the same thing over and over. Thinking about the traitor and never really getting any further along.

It was another decent book that isn't too stand out aside from being slightly above average. I do enjoy, however, Elizabeth Hoyt's writing and am looking forward to the third book in the series, minus the Spinner's Falls portion.

To Taste Temptation

Title: To Taste Temptation
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Series: The Four Soldiers (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance



Lady Emeline is a widow with a young son Daniel. She has an agreement with her deceased brother's best friend that they are going to get married. They aren't passionately in love, but view it as more of a marriage of convenience. This works best for Emeline considering she feels like all the men in her life: her brother, her husband and her father, have died and left her. She is afraid of trusting another man with her heart and having him die and leave her as well.

Samuel is a soldier from America who is looking for another soldier who sold out his company during battle. They were ambushed and just about everyone died, including Emeline's brother. Samuel is on a mission to find out who the traitor was and is not leaving England until he does. He has brought along his younger sister Rebecca, who needs a chaperone. Since Emeline lives next door, she's the perfect choice.

Samuel and Emeline seem drawn to each other from the start. Emeline has a wonderful relationship with Rebecca and Samuel becomes a favorite of Daniel's. It seems like everything is falling into place. But it is never that easy, with both main characters refusing the show their true feelings and many confusions on feelings it takes a drastic act for the two to see how much they truly mean to each other.

The first in a series of four, this book was decent. It wasn't one that made me think it was the best thing I've ever written, but I don't necessarily think that there was anything wrong with it. If I had to do it over, I would read it again and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. This book does, however, see to be just another book that is just above averagely good.