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
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.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enoch Scores Again, February 25, 2004
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.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Starts off stong, but ultimately inconsistant, May 26, 2004
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.
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