England's Perfect Hero (Lessons in Love, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

Suzanne Enoch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although the popularity of the historical romance may be waning, writers like Enoch give readers plenty of reasons to return to the genre. With Enoch's latest (after London's Perfect Scoundrel), which ties up her Lessons in Love series, she delves beneath the superficialities of glittering balls and perfectly tied cravats to focus on the wounds borne by Robert Carroway, a supposed hero of Waterloo but in reality a former prisoner of war who can barely steel himself to converse with his family, much less waltz with debutantes. But a chance encounter with Lucinda Barrett, easy conversationalist as well as regular waltzer, leads him to hope that he could have a normal life. Lucinda, who has her sights set on a duke's fourth son, is surprised when Robert offers to help her gain him, and even more surprised when her encounters with Robert grow more important than the success of her campaign. But her beloved father's dismissal of Robert as "damaged goods," followed by implications that Robert may be a traitor, could stunt his recovery as well as their relationship—unless Lucinda listens to her heart and trusts him. Lucinda's refusal to treat Robert as less than a whole man and Robert's sharp sense of humor give this charming tale depth, and Enoch balances it well with a hearty dose of screwball fun.
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Review

"This charming tale [has] depth, and Enoch balances it well with a hearty dose of screwball fun."
-- Publishers Weekly (Publisher's Weekly ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060543132
• ISBN-13: 978-0060543136
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #431,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A lifelong lover of books, Suzanne Enoch has been writing them since she learned to read. She is the author of two well-received Avon Regencies, The Black Duke's Prize and Angel's Devil, and five Avon Romances: Lady Rogue, Stolen Kisses, By Love Undone, Taming Rafe and Reforming a Rake. Born and raised in Southern California, Suzanne lives a few scant miles from Disneyland with her collection of Star Wars action figures and a Cairn terrier named Katie (after the heroine of her first Regency). She's still looking for her own hero, and hopes he will be handsome, titled, and just a little wicked. Meanwhile, she's currently at work inventing him in her next historical romance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars my vote for best in the trilogy, March 4, 2004

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: England's Perfect Hero (Lessons in Love, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

A little more than a year ago, Lucinda Barrett and her two best friends, Georgianna Halley and Evie Ruddick, drew up lists on how they thought a true gentleman should behave. Georgiana and Evie then proceeded to select two offenders in order to instruct them on good behaviour. But both Georgiana and Evie ended up marrying their "pupils" ("The Rake" & "London's Perfect Scoundrel"). Now it's Lucinda's turn. Knowing full well that these "lessons" in good behaviour may well result in her marrying her "pupil," Lucinda has settled on Lord Geoffrey Newcombe. Like her friends' husbands, Geoffrey is a handsome and incredibly arrogant, and much in need of instruction; but more importantly, Geoffrey is a war hero, and exactly the sort of gentleman that her father, General Augustus Barrett, could countenance as a son-in-law. But just as Lucinda is about to start her campaign, Lucinda begins an unlikely friendship with Georgiana's brother-in-law, Robert. Like Geoffrey, Robert also served in the Peninsula Wars; but he's returned a wreck of a man, prone to panic attacks, and has become quite the recluse, shunning both Society and even his family. As Robert and Lucinda begin to spend more time together, Lucinda comes to the realisation that it is Robert and not Geoffrey that occupies her thoughts and heart. But what can she do? Settle on an uncomplicated and comfortable life with Geoffrey with her father's complete blessings, or risk everything for a complicated and brooding wreck like Robert?

Slightly more complex and less humerous than the other two installments in the Lessons in Love trilogy, I liked "England's Perfect Hero" best. And that's because both the hero and heroine were likable and engaging, and because Suzanne Enoch didn't follow the pattern of the first two books and went in a completely different direction. Usually, with a series, books begin to sound like a formula after a while. But you couldn't say that about "England's Perfect Hero." The "Hero" in the title doesn't even refer to the real hero of the novel! I also liked the fact that one of the obstacles to Lucinda's and Robert's happiness was Lucinda's concern that her future spouse and her father like each other and get along. Not very many romance novels ever address this issue realistically, and I thought that the authour hit just the right note here. The other thing I liked about this novel was that characters from the first two (Georgianna, Evie and their respective husbands) play an integral part in helping Lucinda and Robert achieve their happily ever-after ending. That also was a nice touch. So that even though there were a few howlingly funny editorial mistakes, and the whole theft subplot was incredibly weak, I still enjoyed this novel enough to award 4 stars.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enoch Scores Again, February 25, 2004

By 

T. Dorris (Cottontown, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: England's Perfect Hero (Lessons in Love, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have eagerly awaited this last installment in the "Lessons in Love" series and was not disappointed in the least. Suzanne Enoch has given us a tale both endearing and sentimental. I found myself immersed in the character's lives and their emotions. I would highly recommend this book (the entire series, in fact) and this author to anyone who wishes to start reading this genre.
Lucinda Barrett finds herself the only one of the three friends who has not taught her "lesson" and therefore, feels a bit the odd man out. She has chosen her pupil, a man she feels needs a lesson in being a gentleman, but is also aware that her friends have found themselves married to the object of their lessons. Lucinda is not averse to this arrangement and continues on with her plan. But, along comes Robert Carroway and he completely keeps Lucinda on her toes, causing her to reevaluate her true motives for teaching her lesson. You will not be disappointed.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Starts off stong, but ultimately inconsistant, May 26, 2004

By 

Viaggiatrice "slp" - See all my reviews

This review is from: England's Perfect Hero (Lessons in Love, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was truly enjoying this book as it began. I am always drawn more to character driven romances than those powered by a mystery or event. My problem with the book is that the plot changes mid-story. Robert is a tortured hero in the beginning, having debilitating panic attacks and unable to converse with his family. In a matter of a few weeks, though (the whole story took no more than a few weeks from start to finish) he's completely overcome these problems, fallen in love, and solved the mystery of who framed him. I'm afraid I just don't buy it. I wish Ms. Enoch had just focused on Robert and Lucinda's relationship and left the mystery for another story. It didn't meld well with this one. To add this element, she had to resolve Robert's problems much too quickly.