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Thursday, April 16, 2009:
"England's Perfect Hero" by Suzanne Enoch (2004)
Lucinda Barrett's best friends ended up married to the men to whom they delivered their 'lessons in love'. So Lucinda decides to choose someone who definitely needs lessons, but someone who will not complicate her life. And that person is definitely not Robert Carroway.
Robert is nothing if not complicated, and though he is the brother of a viscount, he rarely goes about society, and finds the weather and hat fashions ludicrous subjects for discussion. Robert is attracted to Lucinda's unpretentious ways, her serenity and her kindness. When she chooses someone for her love lessons, Robert offers to help her deliver her lessons, but sets out to convince the woman he has fallen for to take a chance on love ... and on him.
This is the third and last installment in the Lessons In Love trilogy, and yes, I was sad to see it end. Will we see those engaging Carroways again? That, I don't know, but I sure enjoyed my brief time spent with them.
As much as I liked "The Rake" and "London's Perfect Scoundrel", this story was my absolute favorite. Robert exemplifies all that is the tortured hero, and my heart went out to him time and again throughout the series, but especially during this story, when we finally find out what happened to him while he was at war. After returning home, he was never the same, and everyday was a struggle to keep the dark panic at bay. In his mind, it would have been better if he had died. Lucinda has her life all planned out. She decides which gentleman she would like to teach her lessons to: Lord Geoffrey Newcombe. She already knows that he would make her the perfect husband, thinking him handsome, amiable, and comfortable. The practical Lucinda is quite content to have a safe, uncomplicated marriage, and Geoffrey is exactly the type of man she's looking for. And the fact that her father, the General, heartily approves of him makes him even more of an ideal catch. Things are progressing nicely, and even the unlikely attentions of Robert Carroway, who has offered to help her carry out her lessons, seem to be helping her cause. Geoffrey begins to see Robert as "the competition", and is more attentive than ever. Robert has been in darkness for several years. After returning from the war and the horrific acts he's witnessed there, he is like the walking dead. Even his own family, who are deeply concerned about him, cannot break through the wall of silence he erects whenever they try to get him to talk about what happened. The only soothing thing in his life is Lucinda. For some reason, this young woman makes him forget about his constant nightmares, and to be in her presence is like basking in the sun; she is warm, alive, and the only person who doesn't act like he'll break down at any moment. I loved watching Robert and Lucinda together. She brought out a softer yet also a more daring side of him. She challenges him without trying, and he finds himself reacting to this need he has to prove himself to her. Robert is as complicated as you could get, the total opposite of the type of man she wishes to marry, but when she's with him, everything else disappears. Even the perfect Geoffrey pales in comparison. As for Robert, it's Lucinda's practical and matter-of-fact nature that helps to heal Robert moreso than her sympathy. Robert can be himself around her, can argue with her and kiss her, and still know she'll be his friend, no matter what. This knowledge allows him to do all the things he's been avoiding for the last several years, and finally rejoin society and start living again. Of course just as things are going so well, Robert's past comes back to haunt him, and could potentially damage Lucinda and her father in the process. They both try to do what's best for everyone and stay away from each other, but realize that they would rather fight this together than apart. Love is like that. If you've not read this book, or the previous two, I encourage you to do so, especially if you love historicals. Simple, straightforward, lovely romances. That was what I was looking for, and thankfully that's exactly what I got in return. Yes the source of Robert's trouble was incredibly predictable - not a lot of mystery and subterfuge here - but that's a minor point when compared to my overall reading enjoyment. I'm a big believer in comfort reads of all kinds, in this case that of the "knowing what to expect" angle. Nothing wrong with that. Not all predictable reads are exactly likable, but that's not the case here. I liked each one, more than the last. I'd definitely give Suzanne Enoch's books another try.
Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** Labels: reviews, Suzanne Enoch
posted by Stacy~ at 4/16/2009 06:43:00 AM
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Monday, April 06, 2009:
"London's Perfect Scoundrel" by Suzanne Enoch (2003)
The ton gossips call him "Saint" -- but the Marquis of St. Aubyn has well earned his reputation as London's perfect scoundrel. Evelyn Ruddick knows she should avoid him at all costs -- but the strikingly beautiful lady wants to aid the children of the Heart of Hope Orphanage, and he heads the board of trustees. Evie is determined to teach the charming, arrogant man a lesson in compassion, but it won't be so easy -- especially since his touch is setting her desire aflame, making Evie yearn to submit to his passionate instruction ...
The idea of joining in her "project" is unthinkable, but this enchantress refuses to give up! So what else is there for a self-respecting rake to do but seduce the lady? Yet soon it is he who is being seduced by Evie's tender heart and fiery blushes. Could the temptation of long, passionate nights in her arms bring about the impossible? Could the disreputable Saint at long last be reformed? This is book #2 in the Lessons In Love trilogy, and one I enjoyed very much. I cannot do it justice like Andrea did in her tribute to Saint, but I would certainly like to thank her for bringing this book to my attention. Saint was the kind of rake who lived up to his name: he had numerous lovers and mistresses which he flaunted in front of the ton, their husbands wanted to shoot him, and gentlemen kept him away from their unmarried sisters, for starters. In fact any young maiden could be ruined just by being in his presence. Like say, oh, Miss Evelyn Ruddick. Evelyn is a lovely young woman with a compassionate heart, and she is not pleased with her brother Victor, who seems to only notice her when he can use her to improve his political ambitions. His recent demand throws her into the dangerous path of the Marquess of St. Aubyn, who likes his women experienced and amoral. Evelyn manages to escape with her reputation intact; she holds no interest for him whatsoever. Until she appears at the Heart of Hope orphanage, where he just happens to be the board trustee. Familiar with do-gooders who pretend to care for the less fortunate yet wouldn't stoop to getting their hands dirty, Saint dismisses the young chit, though he finds himself unwillingly drawn to her direct gaze and insistent personality. Still, he has plans for the orphanage, and they don't include letting Miss Ruddick have her way with her charitable ideas. And it certainly doesn't mean she can interact with the children. Evelyn truly wants to help the children of HoH, but her wishes go against her brother's plans, so she must do her good works in secret. She also finds herself constantly butting heads with the devilish and sinful Saint. She knows he's only toying with her, yet she's still oh, so tempted to give in. His touch sets her blood on fire, and even though she knows it's wrong, she wants to give in and experience ecstasy in his arms. But even more important than her desires is the need of the orphans, and she must resist Saint's seductive charms in order to do right by them. I really liked the interaction between Saint and Evelyn in this story. Saint is so very good at being bad, and Evie is tempted beyond belief to find out exactly what it would be like to have all that focus and passion directed at her. She is honest and straightforward with Saint, so she feels guilty for deceiving her family about her involvement with the orphanage. She's stricken at the thought of letting down the orphans who have come to depend on her. Yet she engages in a dangerously seductive game with Saint, who will allow her to see the children and go about her good deeds...for a price. I loved how frustrated Saint was by his incredible attraction to Evie, and how he couldn't stop thinking about her, even going as far as to appear at balls and parties in which she was sure to be in attendance, places he had avoided like the plague in the past. But any event was infinitely more interesting when Evie was there, and he couldn't stay away from her. He was helpless to resist her pull, stubbornly believing that it was only because she resists him, and that once he has her in his bed, he'll be able to go on with his usual pursuits of drinking, gambling, and debauchery. Well, that's what he thinks... As you can imagine, the two begin to develop strong feelings for each other. yet Saint cannot see himself marrying and becoming domesticated like his former friend, Lord Dare. But when Evelyn is expected to accept the marriage proposal of another man, will he be able to let her go? Of course not! Saint proves to Evie, and to the ton, that a rake really can be reformed. And delightfully so. Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** Labels: quickie reviews, Suzanne Enoch
posted by Stacy~ at 4/06/2009 05:08:00 AM
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Monday, March 30, 2009:
"The Rake" by Suzanne Enoch - review (2002)
Three determined young ladies vow to give three of London's worst rakes their comeuppance -- but when these rogues turn the tables, who truly learns a lesson in love?
Once upon a time, the notorious Viscount Dare charmed Lady Georgiana Halley out of her innocence -- to win a wager, no less! -- and now he must pay dearly. The, plan is simple: She will use every seductive wileshe knows to win Dare's heart...and then break it. But his smoldering gaze once again tempts Georgiana to give in to desire -- and when he astonishes her with a marriage proposal, she wonders: Is he playing yet another game...or could it truly be love this time? This is not my first book by Suzanne Enoch - I have enjoyed previous historicals by her, though I haven't read any of her books for about a year or so. Too many books, so little precious time. But when RNTV had their "Duke of Slut" week, the 2nd book in this series, "London's Perfect Scoundrel", caught my attention, so I just knew I had to get this one right away. And because I like to read in order, I decided to get all 3 stories in the "Lessons in Love" trilogy. Lady Georgie really dislikes Tristan Carroway, Viscount Dare, and wishes nothing to do with him. Though he's kept the intimate nature of their relationship from six years ago a secret from the ton, there is still the little stinging matter of a wager that has left her feeling betrayed and hurt, even after all this time. So when she sees him carelessly trifling with the affections of a sweet young woman, she decides it's time Dare were taught a lesson, and who better to give it to him than a woman who knows exactly what he's all about? Tristan is immediately suspicious when out of the blue, Georgiana appears to be warming towards him. Having nearly ruined her reputation years ago, he knows she cannot be experiencing a change of heart after despising him for so long, yet he can't quite figure what she's all about. The chit is maddening, but then he's never quite gotten over his immense attraction for her, or forgotten their incredible night of passion. But his estate is in financial trouble, and as the eldest and the heir, it is up to him to save the family coffers by marrying well, and quickly. And maybe he could concentrate on securing an ideal match with the lovely and innocent Miss Amanda Johns if only he wasn't so distracted by a more lush and cantankerous beauty... I read this book fairly quickly because I really liked the characters here. Georgiana and Tristan are quite a pair, and though Georgie is still battling hurt feelings and cannot trust another man with her heart, she seems to enjoy arguing with the sinfully gorgeous Lord Dare. She comes up with a plan to teach him a lesson which has her becoming companion to his two elderly aunts, therefore she ends up staying at his house to take care of them. Along with the aunties and Tristan, there are also his four younger brothers, and Georgie enjoys the banter and affection between the entire family. As time goes on, it becomes evident that she and Tristan still have feelings for each other, and both find it hard to ignore their physical attraction. But Georgie is determined not to fall for his charms like she did when she was a green girl, and though once again it appears her feelings have become engaged, she is not so willing to forgive and forget. She is determined to carry out the lesson and show Dare what it's like to tread so carelessly on someone's heart, even if it means additional heartache for her as well. It's worth the sacrifice if she can bring him to scratch and have him running with his tail between his legs to secure a prudent marriage with Amelia. By the time Dare took that infamous wager involving Lady Georgiana, he was a total rake, almost completely unrependant in his behavior, except for the fact he's kept his liasion with her a complete secret from the ton. Yet at the time of his seduction of Georgiana, he regretted the outcome and how she reacted, but then again, with the immaturity of youth, didn't do anything to try to win her back. Instead, he pursued countless other women and frivilous pursuits, and though he might have cared for her, he went on to enjoy the hedonistic life of a rake. Now, years later, when Georgiana is back in his life and he gets to really know her, he begins to suspect that no other woman but her will do for him. But if he ever wishes to earn her regard, he knows he has a lot to make up for. I liked that though Georgie acknowledges her attraction to Dare, she still doesn't immediately trust him. In fact after her experience, she doesn't know if she can trust any man, really. She's not lacking for suitors, but she can't be sure that she is wanted for herself or for her dowry. Besides, no man makes her feel the way Tristan does, and she knows she cannot marry him, so her options are rather limited. Her family is aware that something happened between the two years ago, and are very protective of her, which ends up being both a help and a hindrance to her plan. Still, there comes a time when Georgiana has to decide if she's willing to take a leap of faith with her heart, or play it safe and never know the love of a lifetime.
Tristan, as rakish as he is, has the talent to worm his way into one's affections, whether one is willing or not. Watching him with his family and seeing him rather confounded by a woman makes him more endearing, and I couldn't help but fall a little in love with the guy myself. He's losing his heart before he even realizes it, and will do whatever it takes to protect the reputation of his lady, even if it means potentially ruining friendships, fighting with his brothers, or being banned from his gentleman clubs. How can you just not love a guy like that? I really look forward to reading the story of Evie & Saint in book #2, and seeing what kinds of lessons in love will be learned. In the meantime, I will savor the feeling I got from this book and be grateful to Andrea for her take on the Duke of Slut, which prompted me to pick up this series. So far, it's definitely been worth my while. Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: reviews, Suzanne Enoch
posted by Stacy~ at 3/30/2009 05:48:00 AM
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