Read To Beguile a Beast Online
Authors: Elizabeth Hoyt
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #General, #Man-Woman Relationships, #Love Stories, #Historical, #Historical Fiction, #Nobility, #Scotland, #Scotland - Social Life and Customs - 18th Century, #Naturalists, #Housekeepers, #Veterans
To Beguile a Beast
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2009 by Nancy M. Finney
Excerpt from
To Desire a Devil
copyright © 2009 by Nancy M. Finney.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
To Desire a Devil
copyright © 2009 by Nancy M. Finney.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Cover illustration by Alan Ayers
Hand lettering by Ron Zinn
Forever
Hachette Book Group
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New York, NY 10017
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Forever is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. The Forever name and logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group Inc.
First eBook Edition: May 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-55196-0
Contents
“You’re in pain and I can help you.”
Alistair looked at Helen, his eye cynical. “Why would you care?”
Did he think she’d back away at his harsh words?
She leaned into his face, still holding his hand. “What kind of woman do you think I am? Do you think I let just any man kiss me?”
His eye narrowed. “I think you’re a nice woman. A kind woman.”
The patronizing answer nearly drove her to violence. “A nice woman? Because I kissed you? Because I let you touch me? Are you mad? No woman is that nice, and certainly not I.”
He simply looked at her. “Then why?”
“Because.” She took his face in her palms. “I
do
care. And so do you.”
And she set her lips against his. Deliberately. Softly. Putting all her longing, all her loneliness into the gesture. She started the kiss lightly, but he tilted his head beneath hers, angling and opening his mouth, and somehow she found herself on his lap.
She’d been waiting for this for days now, and the reality set her limbs to trembling . . .
“Elizabeth Hoyt writes with flair, sophistication, and unstoppable passion.”
—J
ULIANNE
M
ACLEAN
, author of
Portrait of a Lover
ULIANNE
M
ACLEAN
, author of
Portrait of a Lover
PRAISE FOR
ELIZABETH HOYT’S NOVELS
ELIZABETH HOYT’S NOVELS
To Seduce A Sinner
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! Hoyt’s magical fairy-tale romances have won the hearts of readers who adore sizzling sensuality perfectly merged with poignancy. Her latest showcases her talent for creating remarkable characters and cherished stories that make us believe in the miracle of love.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
“Hoyt expertly sifts a generous measure of danger into the latest intriguing addition to her Four Soldiers, Georgianera series. Her ability to fuse wicked wittiness with sinfully sensual romance is stunning.”
—Booklist
“I thoroughly enjoyed this story of action, mystery, and hot, hot romance. Be prepared to sizzle through this sensuous and exciting story that’s impossible to put down until the last page is finished.”
—FreshFiction.com
“5 Stars! Sensational… One of the things I love most about Elizabeth Hoyt’s book is the lushness of the writing. A story well worth digging into and enjoying. A thrilling historical romance!”
—ARomanceReview.com
“A wonderful story.”
—JandysBooks.com
“Hoyt masterfully throws you into the setting, characters, and plot… A skillfully wicked and sensuous tale, guaranteed to capture your attention and heart.”
—BookPleasures.com
“Fans of Georgian romances will relish this fine tale.”
—Midwest Book Review
“This story will grab you and not let you go until the last page is turned. Hoyt’s unique storytelling style… makes you think, makes you smile, and also keeps your curiosity piqued as you move along the story.”
—HistoricalRomanceWriters.com
“A great series.”
—GoodBadandUnread.com
“Funny and heartbreaking, sexy and poignant… wrenching and riveting reading… Jasper and Melisande are full, vibrant characters. I loved the unusual setting, the intriguing and complex characters, the emotional struggles and connections, the lush love scenes, the mystery… all in all, a remarkable book.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Falls firmly into the ‘love it!’ category… Our hero and heroine’s relationship leaps off the page. Watching the two try to sort each other out while uncovering their true selves was wonderful.”
—Rakehell.com
“4½ Stars! I continue to be blown away by Elizabeth Hoyt. [She] writes the most remarkable characters. I couldn’t have been happier at how the story was told and how it ended.”
—TheBookBinge.com
To Taste Temptation
“Hoyt… is firmly in control of her craft with engaging characters, gripping plot, and clever dialogue.”
—Publishers Weekly
“4½ Stars! Hoyt’s new series… begins with destruction and ends with glorious love. She begins each chapter with a snippet of a legend that beautifully dovetails with the plot and creates a distinct love story that will thrill readers.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
“4½ Stars! There’s an interesting suspense embedded in this book… The sensuality is breathtaking and the reader is carried into the headiness of growing love… I loved this book, the high quality of the writing, the engaging plot, and, most of all, the character development. A terrific novel… highly recommended.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“[A] brilliant start to a sexy new historical romance series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of action, mystery, and steamy romance. Her love scenes are scorching hot… Hang on to your seat and have a cold glass of water handy.”
—FreshFiction.com
“A suspenseful romantic tale that keeps the reader intrigued. The romance… is gratifying and grabs the most romantic heart. The added touch of the folk tale at the beginning of each chapter is great.”
—JandysBooks.com
“Enchanting… Hoyt stuns with this marvelous romance. Emotionally charged and beautifully written. Samuel and Emeline come alive on the pages, truly taking life as three-dimensional, provocative, and complex characters. Hoyt weaves threads of this story seamlessly into anything but typical historical romance… Utterly impossible to put down. I am so excited for the next book in this series.”
—RomanceJunkieReviews.com
“Volatile romance… involving mystery… readers will become completely engrossed in the fast-paced plot. With its vividly drawn characters, neat plotting, and heated romance, it’s sure to satisfy.”
—RomRevToday.com
“I have been a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt’s writing since the release of her first book. Her writing catches you from the first sentence and you are always taken on a wonderful journey.”
—ALadysDesire.com
“A strong tale… a fine Georgian romance.”
—HarrietKlausner.wwwi.com
“Hoyt is a talented writer… I loved the historic detail and the slow reveal of what happened to the men at Spinners Falls.”
—Rakehell.com
The Serpent Prince
“Exquisite romance… mesmerizing storytelling… incredibly vivid lead characters, earthy writing, and an intense love story.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Wonderfully satisfying… delightfully witty… with just a touch of suspense. Set in a lush regency background, Elizabeth spins a story of treachery, murder, suspense, and love with her usual aplomb.”
—RomanceatHeart.com
“Delectably clever writing, deliciously complex characters, and a delightfully sexy romance between perfectly matched protagonists are the key ingredients in the third book in Hoyt’s superbly crafted, loosely connected Georgian-era Prince trilogy.”
—Booklist
“With an engrossing plot centered on revenge and a highly passionate romance between Simon and Lucy,
The Serpent Prince
delivers a steamy tale that packs an emotional punch. The three-dimensional characters, high drama, and sensuous love story make it a page-turner.”
The Serpent Prince
delivers a steamy tale that packs an emotional punch. The three-dimensional characters, high drama, and sensuous love story make it a page-turner.”
—RomRevToday.com
The Leopard Prince
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! An unforgettable love story that ignites the pages not only with heated love scenes but also with a mystery that holds your attention and your heart with searing emotions and dark desire.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
“The new master of the historical romance genre.”
—HistoricalRomanceWriters.com
“An exhilarating historical romance.”
—Midwest Book Review
“4½ Stars! Absolutely fantastic… filled with witty dialogue and sparkling characters.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“A refreshing historical romance… Elizabeth Hoyt weaves a superb tale that will keep you reading long into the night.”
—Bookloons.com
The Raven Prince
“A sexy, steamy treat! A spicy broth of pride, passion, and temptation.”
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