“Stored settings. That seemed significant.” (p. 143)
Rylee Monroe is a woman who needs several significant things to take place in her life. Her life is filled with appointments, responsibilities and relationships, but all of them focus upon the pets that she cares for in the historic town of Charleston, South Carolina. Rylee is a dogwalker by trade, and she prefers her life on rollerblades, happily caring for the pets she adores. The pain of her past has devastated Rylee’s heart and her faith. When someone begins to ransack the homes of her clients, and Rylee finds herself ensnared in the path of this deranged “Robin Hood” burglar, a thief who donates his stolen artifacts to benevolent organizations. Rylee’s world is upended once again with little hope of discovering answers in time to save her reputation and her livelihood.
Logan Woods, an investigative reporter for the local newspaper, has grown up in Charleston, and his dream of becoming a published author is one he keeps alive by writing a novel between news assignments. Through a series of very unplanned events, and poised at the edge of realizing his dream of publication, Lucas is suddenly living his story. Pursuing the ephemeral path of the Robin Hood burglar becomes the key to realizing his dreams. What Logan didn’t plan for was meeting a woman who would slowly but ever so surely capture his heart. What he planned on even less was the eventuality of this same woman becoming the prime suspect in his investigation.
Beguiled is not only the perfect title for Deeanne Gist and Mark Bertand’s first collaborative story, but this word encapsulates the very essence of what is taking place in the lives of Rylee Monroe and Logan Woods. Both of these very believable and likable characters are being deceptively led through a very dangerous and quickly escalating series of home break-ins. As the story unfolds, the danger and suspense mount until the reader is left frantically wishing that the culprit would be found before lasting harm comes to either of the main characters. Gist and Bertrand hide their culprit well though, and by the end of the story everyone is relieved that things turned out as well as they did. It could have been a lot worse!
For lovers of mystery and suspense novels with romantic tension woven tightly amid the story line, Beguiled is just what you’ve been looking for! Come, visit historical
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas. Visit Deeanne's Web site at www.deeannegist.com
J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota. For more information, visit www.jmarkbertrand.com
1 comment:
Awesome review! I loved this book.
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