TO DESIRE A DEVIL is the last in Hoyt's Legend of the Four Soldiers series of books. Having only read the one directly preceding this one (TO BEGUILE A BEAST), I still only had a tenuous grasp of exactly what the nature of the underlying plot elements for the books were. A traitor amongst the group, each book was modeled after a fairy tale in some way, and all four male heroes were wounded in some way (mentally, physically, emotionally...). We met Beatrice before, as well as learned of her infatuation with Reynaud's painting, which I was looking forward to. Beatrice seemed imminently likeable in TO BEGUILE A BEAST.

Unfortunately, TO DESIRE A DEVIL was a mash up of different plot threads that separately would have made interesting stories by themselves, but together didn't blend well. A lot of what happens to Reynaud in the years of captivity had me raising an eyebrow and wondering if I was thinking too deeply on the subject. The Beatrice I found so interesting before, seems to have lost some of her sense at seeing Reynaud in the flesh and acts like a mooncalf.

It's useless to deny that the passion between the two of them is anything but hot. The scenes are filled with steam aplenty and reveals several interesting things about our protagonists. It's outside of the sexy scenes that their relationship is difficult to reconcile. Beatrice almost immediately transfers her infatuation with the painting of Reynaud to the man himself, despite his savage, anti-social and often downright rude behavior towards her. Reynaud decides Beatrice is his, no two ways about it, but doesn't seem inclined to treat her any better because of it for much of the book. Their eventual admissions of mutual love came off as abrupt and insincere. Together they knew less about each other than we the reader knew about the eventual traitor!

This was a letdown for me for so many reasons. Ignoring the problems of Reynaud's past, his current behavior and off rationale, I just couldn't get behind Beatrice. Considering how mature she came off otherwise, it felt as if she decided that love was the one area she didn't need to think too hard on. In the end the book was a disappointment for me, I'm sorry to say. ( )

nrgl, this book was weird. ( )

This book was awful. It dragged on with a silly and ridiculous plot, the characters had no chemistry, and the "romantic" scenes were anything but. The male lead 'consummated his love' by taking advantage of the heroine's grief. Wow, that's romantic. Not. It was pulling teeth to get through the last pages. Thank god it's over so I can move on to something decent. ( )

Reynaud has been an Indian captive for seven years when he escapes and returns to claim his title. Beatrice is the niece of the current holder of the earldom and the only one who welcomes him (somewhat, he's fairly savage after his years in the wild).
I really loved this story. Reynaud is autocratic, fierce, and totally a masculine alpha while Beatrice is a calm and quiet but strong equal. The backstory about the Indians is interesting. Somehow, I missed the second book in the series (going back to read it now) so I don't think I got the overall impact of the series mystery of who betrayed them at Spinner's Falls, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book. Ms. Hoyt always has sensual heroes and heroines and she delivers some heat here. It's a nice culmination to the series. ( )

The story between the two main characters just didn't capture me as well of others in Hoyt's books. ( )