This is the final book in Hoyt's Legend of the Four Soldiers series and centers around Reynaud St. Aubyn and Beatrice Corning. Reynaud has been held the last seven years by Native Americans after being captured during the French and Indian War in the American colonies. He escapes and makes it back to his native London only to find his father dead and a distant relative living in his house with his title. Beatrice is the usurper's niece by marriage, and has been living in Reynaud's house acting as hostess to her uncle. When Reynaud returns, he is unrecognizable to everyone but Beatrice, who has been fascinated with his life-size portrait since moving in five years ago. Reynaud must now present himself as a civilized and sane man in order to get back his title and home, and having a wife will help. But will Beatrice let her fascination with a now dangerous and unpredictable wild man ruin her and her uncle's futures?
Hoyt spins a unique tale of brutality and redemption that covers a time period less familiar to me. Reynaud is not an easy hero to like throughout most of the novel, but that's understandable after the torture and starvation he's endured for the previous seven years. Beatrice is an admirable heroine, and Hoyt wraps up the series by bringing back the other couples from the previous books. Recommended for historical romance fans. 361 pages.
