England's Perfect Hero (Lessons in Love, #3)

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England's Perfect Hero (Lessons in Love #3)

by Suzanne Enoch

4.08 · rating details · 832 ratings · 63 reviews

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 s

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Mass Market Paperbound, 384 pages

Published February 24th 2004 by Avon Books (first published 2004)

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Apr 10, 2009

Eastofoz rated it

Recommends it for: Readers looking for a severely emotionally scarred hero

Shelves: historical-regency

I was a bit leery about this story so it took me a while to finally decide to read it because the hero is a reclusive, severely emotionally scarred man due to the war. Robert pops up in the previous book “London’s Perfect Scoundrel” as a war hero who barely says two words to anyone and just doesn’t seem all that interesting. He’s impossible to categorize too as an alpha, beta or gamma hero which was interesting to see. Basically I had a hard time seeing how he could be hero material. Well he...moreI was a bit leery about this story so it took me a while to finally decide to read it because the hero is a reclusive, severely emotionally scarred man due to the war. Robert pops up in the previous book “London’s Perfect Scoundrel” as a war hero who barely says two words to anyone and just doesn’t seem all that interesting. He’s impossible to categorize too as an alpha, beta or gamma hero which was interesting to see. Basically I had a hard time seeing how he could be hero material. Well he turns out to be not only an incredible hero, but a man with a beautiful soul. He has such emotional strength when all is said and done that you can’t help but adore him.

There’s no squabbling or love/hate or any of the standard lines you often find in historicals to make the characters interesting. This one was very different with an unlikely man slowly coming into his own with the help of Lucinda Barrett. The demons he fights just to stay sane really give you the shivers. You can feel the battle he wages on a constant basis when these panic attacks hit him, but he wants to help Lucinda because it somehow helps him leave his solitary world and make it through the day. That might sound hokey and typical but I didn’t think it was at all. His strength of character is amazing especially in the face of hellish odds as you see his story unravel. The two start off as acquaintances, turn into friends and then friends “with benefits” ;-)

Enoch is a master at dialog. She’s excellent at showing interruptions in conversation so that you feel like you’re right there listening to the characters speaking. This is the kind of book that moves along so smoothly you’re surprised that it’s already over. The sexual tension between the “friends” is very high throughout the book and though it could’ve used a smidge more ‘bedroom scenes’ (what is there is very good though) the emotional side made up for it –which is saying a lot about how good a writer she is. There are some very sad moments as well as very funny ones. The parallel drawn between Robert’s growing roses and how they bloom is very good. Something that could’ve turned out to be cheesy or predictable was actually a nice touch to the whole story adding even more feeling. At the start of each chapter there are also a few lines from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. This sets the tone for the chapter so the reader knows if they should anticipate something good or bad as well as getting further insight into Robert who feels like he's a wretched outcast just as Frankenstein's monster felt --very well-done.

Previous characters from other books (the other ladies who taught their ‘lessons’, Tristan, Saint, the Duke of Wycliff) all make an appearance which was nice to see. If you like series’ books this adds a nice touch of familiarity making you feel like you ‘know’ something that others may not. You’ll find yourself smiling also from start to finish –it’s the kind of read that just makes you feel happy.

The “Lessons in Love” series was fantastic and this final one was a fitting end to some smart women and their sexy, if flawed men. Keeper material :)(less)

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Feb 24, 2011

Shawna rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of emotional historical romance & tortured, scarred heroes

Shelves: historical-romance-regency, historical-romance, suzanne-enoch, brothers-sisters-cousins-family, hero-brooding, cop-bodyguard-govop-merc-military, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, hero-celibate-virgin-virginesque, hh-limp-paraplegic-wheelchair, hh-physical-mental-disability-ill, hh-post-traumatic-stress-disorder, hh-deaf-mute-speech-disorder, series-lessons-in-love, favorite-romance-series, 2011-reads, 5-stars-or-higher, angsty-dark-heavy-lotsa-drama, animals-matter, best-faves-of-2011, best-top-favorites, favorite-romance-couple-hh-pairings, favorites, friends-to-lovers, hero-im-gaga-over, hero-mix-of-alpha-beta, heroine-bluestocking-unconventional, heroine-kickass-spirited-strong, heroine-naïve-virgin-like-a-virgin, heroine-i-adore, hh-disfigured-injured-scarred-ill, hh-sweet-nice-paired-vs-gruff-cynic, i-read-own-faves-keepers, love-triangle-vying-courtships, steam-2-warm, made-me-cry, unrequited-love, hero-beta, hero-besotted-so-smitten-its-sexy, mystery-intrigue-espionage-subplot, hero-nice-guy-gets-the-girl, hero-recluse-loner-lonewolf, hero-military-war-veteran, a-all-time-best-of-best-fave-dik, hero-silent-quiet-type-reticent, ending-abrupt-poor-epilogue-needed, hero-gentleman

5+ stars – Historical/Regency Romance

As much as I enjoyed the love/hate banter of The Rake and swooned at devilishly wicked, sinfully charming rake Saint’s feet in London's Perfect Scoundrel, England’s Perfect Hero ended up being my favorite book in Enoch’s wonderful Lessons in Love trilogy. It’s a beautiful, touching romance between an emotionally and physically scarred hero suffering from PTSD and the woman whose friendship helps heal his wounded soul and bring him back into the l...more

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Aug 30, 2008

AzuresHeart rated it

Recommends it for: Regency Era fans

I really liked the war veteran/PTSD issue that was brought up here and how the heroine really started bringing him back to society and life. His ruse in helping her find someone else was great because their love just snuck on them. Excellent end to the series!

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Sep 19, 2010

Mariel rated it

Shelves: coughhistoricalscough

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read Suzanne Enoch's similar (but written around six years after) A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior before I read England's Perfect Hero. I have to wonder why she made these storytelling choices in her two books. Because it is Enoch (whom is rapidly becoming my number one favorite historical romance writer), I don't think it was a crass decision (I'm not extending the same generosity to Stephanie Laurens or Gaelen Foley, who both routinely write the same book). She has earned the benefit of ...moreI read Suzanne Enoch's similar (but written around six years after) A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior before I read England's Perfect Hero. I have to wonder why she made these storytelling choices in her two books. Because it is Enoch (whom is rapidly becoming my number one favorite historical romance writer), I don't think it was a crass decision (I'm not extending the same generosity to Stephanie Laurens or Gaelen Foley, who both routinely write the same book). She has earned the benefit of the doubt with her obvious interest for the individual. Ultimately, similarities aside, the characters are different. It is the same as two people in the same experience not coming out the same. (Or, to put it in Mariel terms: like saying Catherine Deneuve played the same ice queen again and again. That was the example that first came to my mind! She was never the same, whatever the superficial similarities. Experiences make a character, I think in my movie terms. Enoch sneaks in pop culture references herself, so I infer that she is like me in that regard.)

First, the parallels: (Robert) Bit (of 'Hero') and Colonel Bartholomew James (of 'Improper') are both traumatized by their time in war that they cannot interact in society, or with their families. Colonel Bartholomew James, nicknamed Tolly, acts aggressively in order to drive away anyone left who will push him. Bit is so scared of his own shadow that he starts to resemble a shadow himself. They are both given the will to try and live again because of the women Lucinda ('Hero') and Theresa ('Improper'). Their families worry that if it ends badly then the men will be worse off than before. It is that suffocating kind of care from others (or fear in the case of general society) that also further appeals the men to the women who will not walk on eggshells for them.

I feel that Theresa's guide to proper behavior made more sense in terms of the story. She tries to keep a tight control of herself because she blames a childhood temper tantrum for the death of her parents. If she can remain good and well behaved, nothing bad like that will happen again. I felt her punishment of herself made sense, and still her inner light came out for Tolly to see. What he loved is what she was afraid of in herself. She could likewise understand what guilt would do to a person. Tolly blames himself for the death of his fellow soldiers. Guilt can be killer (yeah, lay on the depth and insights, Mariel). Sometimes it takes someone else to tell you that it isn't your fault (cue Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting). Or just not having the fear of keeping it secret anymore.

(Oooh Tolly! I just got that Bit's beloved horse was named Tolly. Intentional? I'd bet my piggy bank it was.)

Bit was tortured in a prison war camp for seven months. The inmates were not allowed to speak to each other (something that has always struck me about female prison stories from say, the 1950s in USA, was that they were not allowed to converse. How much worse that made it... Anyway, I digress. I believe that Bit was in silent hell and remained there). Simple daily life is a struggle for Bit. Yet, being near the calming prescence of his sister-in-law's best friend Lucinda makes the burden easier to bear. She is not a woman who is going to make too much of anything. That is important to a man who makes too much of everything that the fear makes doing the smallest things nigh impossible.

Lucinda thinks that she wants an amiable life with no complications, and settles for Lord Geoffrey, a bad boy to work over with lessons in love. Lucinda and her friends Evie and Georgiana (I LOVED Evie's book, and am reading Georgie's now) want to teach bad boy rakes how to treat women with respect. It made perfect sense in her friend's story. But she wasn't really teaching Geoffrey anything. She was using their marriages as an excuse to settle, with their game as an excuse to pursue him. She really wants someone who won't stand in the way of her taking care of her father in his old age. (It makes sense plotwise, Bit uses the game as an excuse to spend time with her. It didn't make as much sense for Lucinda personally, who had not been hurt by rakish behavior as her friend Georgie had been.) Lucinda and her father reminded me of Jane Austen's Emma, and even more so the 1980's film Say Anything. Lucinda's father isn't the total creep like in Say Anything, but close enough. The idea that they are choosing someone to improve is all wrong for true love. The key is they think they want it and realize the mistake before it is too late.
Luckily, Lucinda loves Bit for exactly who he is. She doesn't want to change him, only help him feel right with himself. What he gives her is that love and understanding in return. Bit is unselfish, he knows what her father means to her, and wants to protect her from the cruel realities as he didn't get the choice to not discover himself. Lucinda doesn't think that the past is everything, and he's shown that he can move on. If you've ever lost someone and found it comforting to be around people who didn't say "I know how you feel" when they didn't, you probably get how Bit was feeling. By the nature of not asking anything from him, Lucinda was the perfect person to help him. He asked her to ask something of herself. I believe that is why she used her father as an excuse to avoid more from life.

It wasn't okay that Lucinda told Bit's secret to her father. But I understand that she wanted to believe in her dad still, and she doesn't make that mistake again. It does take time to find your feet in a relationship. Bit did have longer to realize he loved her (he watched her for three years, after all). Rewiring your own misconceptions doesn't happen overnight, either. If it did, I probably wouldn't trust it. It's not washed away like it didn't happen, that's the important thing.

Theresa doesn't know if she'll have the courage to step out of the mold of prescribed behavior and stand with Tolly against accusations of treachery (both books feature this plot). She does, when it counts. I loved that these characters have to take the time to understand themselves, understand their own feelings about each other and what they believe is right. It can be confusing to fall in love, after all. And that's what made these love stories unique from most I've read. Enoch respected the dangerous time when personal psychology can make a big mess out of everything. By respecting each other, these couples had the chance to make it.

Why did Enoch use the stories war heroes turned scapegoats twice? I don't know if she couldn't have found another way of showing someone overcoming trauma set against someone else who is afraid to have any trauma. Ultimately, the characters arcs themselves made the trappings not as important. (less)

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Nov 12, 2011

Jan rated it

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Shelves: romance, z-2011, historical-romance

You guys, this was an amazing and delicious book. The hero and heroine were both such amazing endearing characters, I'm still reeling a bit.

Robert Carroway is a war hero who is suffering from a very severe case of PTSD. He's been almost a mute and a recluse for about 3 years, when he finally starts recovering enough to take baby steps back into Society. Lucinda is his sister-in-laws best friend, and when they have a discussion about her Lessons in Love plan, he sees her as a beacon o...more

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Apr 25, 2009

Verity rated it

Shelves: enoch-suzanne

Mayhap SE is just not my cuppa, 'cuz this book was simply ho-hum. The storyline was blah, the H/H & 2ndary characters weren't well-rounded. From the get-go, it's quite obvious who stole the papers from House Guards. Too much dialogue & too many characters were crammed in-between the covers, 'overcrowded' = the operative word here. Bit has been living w/ his sibling since his horrific captivity, so his clandestine meetings w/ Luce took place @ her home. When I think of a 'reclusive' hero, I visua...more

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Jul 02, 2008

Jennifer rated it

Shelves: romance

Enoch does a very good job of creating a realistic war veteran as her hero. I thought the lists part at the beginning was a little silly, but the rest of it was so good.

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Dec 08, 2011

TJ rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, kindle-archives, military

What a wonderfully, delightful book! I just love it when an author breaks away from the pack and actually creates an original twist and this one is absolutely perfect!

Robert Carroway came back from the Napoleonic war damaged and unable to function in society. No one knows that the reason stems from 7 months of extreme torture in a French prison, unbeknownst to anyone. His loving family are supportive but at wits end as to how to help bring him back to life. Enter Lucinda Barrett, his...more

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Aug 04, 2010

Tina rated it

Shelves: historical-rom

Heat: 2 out of 5 sweet

This book was taken off a list of a blogger I read. I liked the story and the main characters Robert and Lucinda. However I think that Robert was not alpha male enough for me. He was more a Beta in my opinion which is fine but I liked the hero to be more gritty/dark. I liked how the author talked about Robert's memories and responses to it and how his family and Lucinda react. The family relationships were really strong in this story and the romance was ve...more

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May 10, 2010

The Romance Reviews (Carole) rated it

Shelves: historical-romance

"Heartwrenching and romantic"

A year or so has passed since the ladies have written down their "lesson plans" and both Georgiana and Evelyn have fallen in love and married their "students". Lucinda Barrett has watched from the sidelines with some envy, and so when it came her turn, she chose someone she wanted to marry, someone who would give her a simple, amicable life and who would also be in good terms with her father (a war hero), someone who was so g...more"Heartwrenching and romantic"

A year or so has passed since the ladies have written down their "lesson plans" and both Georgiana and Evelyn have fallen in love and married their "students". Lucinda Barrett has watched from the sidelines with some envy, and so when it came her turn, she chose someone she wanted to marry, someone who would give her a simple, amicable life and who would also be in good terms with her father (a war hero), someone who was so gorgeous he turned young women's heads--the Duke of Fenley's 4th son, Geoffrey Newcombe.

But then, there was Robert Carroway, the younger brother of Georgiana's husband, who'd been wounded in the war and who was so traumatized by his experiences that he shunned all contact with Society, because noise and crowds bother him. Yet, he was drawn to Lucinda, for her peace and serenity, and he decided if he wanted to become "normal" again, he needed help. So, he made a trade with her, and in exchange, he would help her snare her desired husband.

Robert Carroway is definitely not your typical historical romance hero. His scars and wounds go deeper than a past betrayal at love or a rakish reputation, and they are not the type to be easily solved with the magic of true love. Yet, love does help, for thoughts of Lucinda enable him to go through some of his worst times. I love how he overcame his own trauma in order to help Lucinda with her lessons. I think the scene wherein he danced with the other ladies at the ball is one of the nicest and heartwrenching scenes in the book. It would be so so so easy to fall in love with such a guy.

He also has his own lessons to learn, and one of these is to ask for help from family and friends, people who are concerned about him. I love the supporting cast that Ms. Enoch brings into this book, Georgiana and Tristan, Evelyn and Saint and the entire Carroway clan, especially Edward. I originally didn't like Bradshaw for the comment he made to Robert at the start of the book, though he was merely trying to help, but he more than redeemed himself later on in the story. I like how Ms. Enoch portrayed the dynamics of the Carroway family--realistic and heartwarming.

I like how he and Lucinda were friends first, and I like seeing how their friendship developed into something more, especially for Lucinda, who hadn't really set her sights on him. I like how Lucinda is a dutiful daughter, and most especially, I like how she sees Robert for what he is--a man tormented by his experiences of the war, yet a man nonetheless.

Lucinda was torn with her feelings for Robert and what she envisioned she wanted in her life, which includes providing her father with a son-in-law he could get along with. Yet, it is no secret that there was bad blood between Robert and her father. Despite Society's insinuations about Robert and even her father's admonition to stay away from him, I like how Lucinda never wavered in her estimation of Robert and how she was strong enough to stand with him at a time when most people wouldn't have.

Suzanne Enoch has truly penned a gem in this story that is both heartwrenching and romantic and that celebrates the power of love.(less)

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Jun 17, 2011

Babyfishmouth rated it

· review of another edition

This is the first book I've read by Suzanne Enoch. I wish I had read the first two in this series first, though. I found myself getting confused with all the characters from the previous books and had difficulty keeping track who was a brother or an in-law or a sister.
That aside, I loved this book.

I thought the hero was great. His journey from being a scarred ad scared recluse to falling in love with the heroine was well done. Each time he conquered another fear in order to...more

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Mar 26, 2009

Edna Lyn rated it

Shelves: 2009, historical-romance

Robert, a tortured hero suffering from PTSD, was hands down amazing. I can't say enough how much I loved his character. You could just feel his pain...it broke my heart. Robert's slow transition from being a dark, lonesome shadow to a person who wanted to live life; Enoch did a wonderful job writing that. I enjoyed the love story so much as well, sweet and well developed. I also liked the touch she had with the quotes from Frankenstein in the beginning of each chapter; they were perfect.
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Aug 17, 2011

Ms. Darcie rated it

Recommends it for: romance lovers

Recommended to Ms. Darcie by: Lesson in love series #2

Shelves: historical-romance, favorites

Lucinda Barrett is the last of her friends to deliver a lesson to a man who needs it but she only wants to use this for a way to gain a marriage in which her husband wont mind that she will be taking care of her father but she never thought that the one man nobody would have thought to help her does and that's something she just can't have.
Robert "Bit" Calloway has been suffering for 3 years since his return from the war and the only thing that seems to help him is when lucinda is...more

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May 03, 2010

Erin Durrett rated it

Shelves: romance, historical-romance

This is the third book in Enoch’s “Lessons in Love” series and ties as my favorite with The Rake (Book 1). This book stars the beautiful yet practical Lucinda Barrett, daughter of General Augustus Barrett. Since her friends have “taught” and married the men who were the subjects of their particular lessons in love, Lucinda is left with choosing the subject to set her attentions on. Thinking of her father’s happiness, while looking for a man that could use some much needed humbleness thrown his d...moreThis is the third book in Enoch’s “Lessons in Love” series and ties as my favorite with The Rake (Book 1). This book stars the beautiful yet practical Lucinda Barrett, daughter of General Augustus Barrett. Since her friends have “taught” and married the men who were the subjects of their particular lessons in love, Lucinda is left with choosing the subject to set her attentions on. Thinking of her father’s happiness, while looking for a man that could use some much needed humbleness thrown his direction, she sets her sights on a duke’s fourth son and military officer, Lord Geoffrey Newcombe. After all of her visits to the Carroway estate, Robert Carroway becomes fascinated with Lucinda Barrett’s kindness and when she accidently barges into the room he’s reading in, to set herself to rights, he finds himself speaking to her. (If you read The Rake, you know Robert was a victim of war torture and does not speak much at all and especially not to beautiful young ladies) Lucinda is surprised to learn that Robert knows all about the “Lessons” the three women have been inflicting on the men of their interest. Surprisingly Robert offers Lucinda a trade, for her to teach him to plant a rose garden, for his help in assisting her with Lord Geoffrey Newcombe. Lucinda, not quite sure Robert can help her, nevertheless agrees to his trade. However the more time Lucinda spends with Robert, the more she starts to care for him and wants to rescue him from his past. Once important political/governmental documents are stolen and Robert is accused, Lucida had to decide whether to follow her heart, betray her father, and help Robert, or listen to her head and make her father and Lord Geoffrey happy. I enjoyed reading this book because my familiarity with Robert Carroway in The Rake. Other than the two main characters of that book, Robert was my favorite and I had hoped to be able to read his love story. I always like reading stories about people who have something to overcome to live a day to day existence. Everyone considered him a shell of a man when he returned from the war and it took him bravery and courage and his obsession with Lucinda as incentive to come fully back to his family and start to truly live again. This was a great finish to the “Lessons in Love” trilogy.(less)

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Jun 26, 2010

Yaseena rated it

Shelves: romance, enoch

I loved the first in this series "The Rake" and Robert the hero in this story was a minor character but I was eagerly waiting to read his book when I read the few passages he was in. I would rate this a 4 mainly because although I thought this book had great intrigue and played to the final "showdown" well, it lacked a little in the gut-wrenching romance the premise required. Robert is a former soldier who for the past 3 years has been a recluse, shell-shocked and mentally de...more

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Feb 22, 2009

Dina rated it

Shelves: historical-romance, to-blog

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 04, 2011

Tai the Lioness rated it

Recommends it for: Scarred hero fans, Historical Romance, Light Read

Shelves: historical-romance, summer-11, ptsd-suffering-scarred-heroes, low-steam, instant-chemistry, military-hero, setting-europe

3 Stars

Quick thoughts I actually liked this book quite a bit. It had many great things going for it that I was happy Suzanne Enoch decided to explore upon. It took me a day to finally figure out how to explain what kept this book from being a great romance read for me (4-5 star)

Hero: Robert Carroway is just the type of hero that I adore in Romances in general. He is a suffering soul who is dealing with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Heroes dealing with PTSD is pro...more3 Stars

Quick thoughts I actually liked this book quite a bit. It had many great things going for it that I was happy Suzanne Enoch decided to explore upon. It took me a day to finally figure out how to explain what kept this book from being a great romance read for me (4-5 star)

Hero: Robert Carroway is just the type of hero that I adore in Romances in general. He is a suffering soul who is dealing with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Heroes dealing with PTSD is probably my favorite Historical Romance topic because it creates for a truly vulnerable and redeemable character. I enjoyed him and his thought process alot.

Heroine:Lucinda Barret definitely had her refreshing moments. She is pretty and educated as well as loyal. She was indeed a cute little historical romance cliche heroine. Too bad she was a two dimensional character with a habit of being infernally annoying. She did not have much depth to her thought processes. The way she came off was so contradictory to the way Enoch tried to protray her.

What I didn't like...

When dealing with PTSD in a book the coupling is very important. The hero has gone through something so traumatic that it causes him to lose the ability to function regularly in society. They are a danger to those near them and themselves even though they mean no harm. This calls for a special type of heroine. The heroine must be strong as well as fiercely loyal...from the beginning. Fainting and sensitive little misses dont quite have a place for a man dealing with PTSD. A heroine strong enough to love the man back to life is needed. Lucinda Barret was not that. She took too long to be champion for her hero. The man who she was hanging on did not have any draw that should have stolen her attention away. Suzanne Enoch made a tiny love triangle in this book ( its tiny in that the other man does not love the heroine and she does not love him, however he is a contender for her hand in marriage) Love triangles do not fit well into books where the hero is scarred badly. A hurt person needs lots of attention and a heroine who is spreading it thin is not doing the hero justice. The plot was juvenile also. The "lessons in love" became very tiring, jaded, and trivial when paired with a man who survived months of torturing and a woman who is dang near twenty five. The love scenes were soooo very very dull. Passion was non existent. This really saddened me because usually the scarred heroes have some of the strongest and most poignant passion ever. I do believe that this book missed the mark on successful books with scarred heroes. It reminds me of a not so good version of Galen Foley's Lord of Ice (less)

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Sep 05, 2009

Cynthia rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The first half of this book was really enjoyable, and quite clever. The lesson theme, though a bit corny, ended up being really well crafted in Lucinda's and Robert's story.

Robert was a PTSD afflicted beta hero with a manly limp, huge baggage, an almost annoying willingness to please Lucinda, and a endlessly patient (if not always too perceptive) and helpful family. He was the most interesting and noble part of the book. The Frankenstein quotes/parallels were well selected and app...moreThe first half of this book was really enjoyable, and quite clever. The lesson theme, though a bit corny, ended up being really well crafted in Lucinda's and Robert's story.

Robert was a PTSD afflicted beta hero with a manly limp, huge baggage, an almost annoying willingness to please Lucinda, and a endlessly patient (if not always too perceptive) and helpful family. He was the most interesting and noble part of the book. The Frankenstein quotes/parallels were well selected and appropriate.

The only good things about Lucinda were that she was able to help him (by just being her, and not really doing much else), and that she didn't betray him TWICE.

Lucinda is trying to teach 4 lessons to Geoffrey (the golden boy of the ton, her chosen fiancee, and her general father's lackey). Robert strenuously pulls himself out of his dark hole of a life to rise to the challenge of the lessons. If Lucinda was passing out grades, Robert would get an A++, and Geoffrey (after cheating off Robert and turning in the test late), would get a C-. The great thing was how Robert taught Lucinda how misguided her lessons were.

The two are lured into a sweet, slow, and in Robert's case, arduous courtship hiding behind the guise of friendship. It was all going great, until...

God, the 2nd half was all downhill ending in a abyss. With sharp jagged rocks at the bottom. Lucinda finally gets Robert to open up a tiny bit about his obviously painful past, and she doesn't wait a day before she's betrayed him utterly and stupidly. I couldn't get past what a twit she was, and at the first chance to show some real personality/grit. And it took her so freaking long to get over her ridiculous bias towards Geoffrey and admit to wanting only Robert.

And then, all that great PTSD and war wound build up just up and disappeared. It was like, one night of awkward painful dancing and I am suddenly cured of all blinding panic! Woot. And then at the end, when suddenly his knee was cured (after being in a fight!), I almost gagged.

And then it was obvious that Geoffrey stole the papers as soon as the crime was announced, but it took the whole rest of the book and the Scooby Doo gang to figure it out. God, the end was just such a trainwreck, it was painful to read. All these superfluous characters running to and fro, especially straight into a known dangerous person's clutches (at 8 months pregnant no less!). Mysterious crimes are definitely not Enoch's strong point.

I couldn't even appreciate what a great guy Robert was for going to the dad and being all honorable, I was just trying to get to the end.

The villain Geoffrey and the dad were really 1-D characters. Geoffrey's motives aren't even sensible, really. He just has to be the bad guy. I found the secondary characters mostly distracting/annoying. Except Tristan with the water bucket and Shaw with his offer to run away. Those were brilliant (if stupid).

Ugh, talk about great beginnings going to waste. I feel like the book was written by two people.(less)

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Oct 06, 2011

Kelly22 rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of plots involving broken military heroes healed with love.

Shelves: beloved-favorites, beta-hero, intense-powerful-storyline, cop-lawbody-army-bodygrd-hero, favorite-couple, favorite-hero, favorite-heroine, favorite-story, friends-to-lover, hero-aristrocrat-but-no-title, hero-celibate-virgin-less_practiced, hero-good-boy-gentleman, heroine-beautiful-pretty-covetted, hh-limp-bodily-or-mentally-imperfct, historical-romance, opposites-attract, romantic-suspense, tortured-hero, virgin-herione, 5-stars, family-moments, hero-i-am-crazy-abt, hero-god-s-gift-to-woman

5.00 Stars - Regency/Historical Romance!

An excellent ending of the wonderful series, this book is clearly a winner. It tells the story of a disfigured tortured ex-army hero nurturing a tormented past and a strong developed heroine who was apparently quite the candidate to help him kill his demons and free him from the blazing memories he carries on with him while he breathes. I felt this one was the best in the series, and this saying a lot given the accomplishment of the previous t...more

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Mar 21, 2011

Jessi rated it

Shelves: romance, part-of-a-series

Last in this trilogy, thank god. Why do I always have to start from the beginning of a series and why is it so hard to quit in the middle, even when I'm not enjoying them?
Lucinda Barrett and her friends made a pact to try and reform some of London's worst rakes. Her two friends have fallen in love and gotten married and Lucinda chooses her project with an eye toward the same. She is very attracted to war hero Geoffrey, a man her father trusts completely, so why does she keep gravitating tow...more

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Jul 27, 2011

Mey Buentipo rated it

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Shelves: historical-romance

The last book of the Lesson's in Love series. I enjoyed every page of it. I liked the mystery that surrounds the hero. It is a good thing that there is an added twist. I liked stories that are hero are not the perfect and it is wounded inside. The character of the heroine is delightful but I think more of the hero came out. What I liked the story is that it brought many characters and family of the Carroway's. I am little disappointed, because there is no epilogue to finalized what happened to t...more

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Jun 03, 2008

Daneesha rated it

Shelves: all-time-favorites

By far, my favorite book to date! This is my #1 romance novel of all time.

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Oct 25, 2010

Amanda rated it

Shelves: historical-romance, favorites

I absolutely loved this book. Robert and Lucinda are now officially one of my favorite couples of all time. You are really able to see how much Robert is struggling and wanting to become human again, and Lucinda is just able to understand him without words. I knew I would love this book, but I didn't realize how much!

My only slight complaint was that there was no epilogue. Since it is the last in a series, I would've liked to have a little bit of a glimpse in the future. Although tha...more

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Dec 26, 2008

Dancer rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 13, 2011

Clare rated it

Shelves: historical-romance

OMG. This was easily my favorite out of this series (along with the first book). I admit that Bit/Robert captured my attention in the first book and I really wanted to hear his story. And it turned out better than I expected! This book tells of the brooding, quiet war veteran who starts to come out of his shell because of his affection for Lucinda. The heroine is also likeable and it is easy to identify with her fears/thoughts. Of course I knew it was going to have a happy ending but it didn't f...more

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Jan 26, 2012

Huong Le rated it

This is more of a 3.5 star. I was pretty excited to read this book because it contained Bit (Robert). He was an exceptional brooding hero...and with good cause. The plot was only so-so for me which is why I didn't give it 4 stars. What I really loved about Suzanne Enoch's books so far is how she involves a lot of exchanges between the heroine and hero and we were able to read from both POVs also. Although I didn't love this book as much as the first one, I still enjoyed reading about Robert...more

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Nov 01, 2011

Becky Moe rated it

Shelves: historical

A nice final book in the Lessons in Love series. I'd read the first last year (library) and managed to pick this one up at a going-out-of-business sale, but have yet to get my hands on the second in the series--which ended up not being a huge problem; they hero and heroine of that one are in this book quite a bit, but honestly, you really know who's going to end up with whom before you read the book anyway in these novels. I'm okay with that, and will definitely still be looking forward to get...more

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Sep 05, 2011

Melissa rated it

Shelves: absolute-favorites, romance, avon-romance, regency, favorite-hero, tortured-hero, known-each-other-for-a-while, daughter-of-an-officer, fictional-crush

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Funny, i've read this book tons of times, but have never written a review on it. First thing first i fell in love with Bit Carroway in "The Rake". I remember being ecstatic on finding out that he had his own book. I can safely say by the fact that i keep coming back and re-reading it that its one of my absolute favorite books of all time. Being that fact it is a bit hard for me to write a review on it.

The book reads the best when you read the whole "Lessons i...more Funny, i've read this book tons of times, but have never written a review on it. First thing first i fell in love with Bit Carroway in "The Rake". I remember being ecstatic on finding out that he had his own book. I can safely say by the fact that i keep coming back and re-reading it that its one of my absolute favorite books of all time. Being that fact it is a bit hard for me to write a review on it.

The book reads the best when you read the whole "Lessons in Love" series in order. In a way the whole series has been a character development for Bit and Lucinda. You can see each of them growing in each book. This can be said of all the characters in trilogy, but especially true of these two.

Lucinda is the last of the trio to enact her lessons. She has no particular scoundrel in mind so she decides to find a man that she'll like to marry. After all, Evie and Georgie ended up marring their students. She chooses Mr. Geoffrey Newcombe. Handsome, the 4th son of a duke, and a war hero to boot. Simply perfect and safe. If not cheating a bit in terms of her lessons. Things would have gone smoothly if she hadn't stumbled upon Georgie's brother in law who had to ask about the lessons. Who "also" had to have those haunting blue eyes.

Bit has been quite the recluse the last three years. Think tortured and hurt hero and here's you man. (He's also mine if he ever decides to make himself solid and comes out of the book). He suffers from what is now known as Post dramatic stress syndrome and finds himself in a black panic whenever he gets out of his comfort zone. Yet he finds himself drawn to Lucinda. She's his ray of sunshine in his black world. Something that he can even admit to himself sounds stupid, but is true. Overhearing Lucinda talking with Evie and Georgie he can't help but be intrigued. When Lucinda brings him some roses to start a garden he offers to help Lucinda catch her suitor as a trade off. Anything to spend time with her.

The relationship between Bit and Lucinda is very heart warming. You can just tell from almost the get go that they're perfect for each other. They start off as amiable friends and work their way into love before either of them realize it. A perfect example of how love and bloom from friendship and not love/lust at first sight.

This is a brilliant book and one I HIGHLY recommend.

Final rating: 5 golden stars. Perfect in every way. (less)

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Jan 15, 2010

Rane rated it

Shelves: regency-romance-napoleonic-era, keeper

When it’s Lucinda Barrett turn to give her lessons in love, she already has her eye on one gentleman, who will keep her life uneventful. Lucinda’s lessons are going without a hitch and uneventful until Robert Carroway walks in to help her give her lessons a helping hand, and Lucinda’s and Roberts’ lives becomes very complicated

The last of the The Lessons of Love Trilogy, this series was wonderful and ending on a very high note with England's Perfect Hero!
Out of the...more When it’s Lucinda Barrett turn to give her lessons in love, she already has her eye on one gentleman, who will keep her life uneventful. Lucinda’s lessons are going without a hitch and uneventful until Robert Carroway walks in to help her give her lessons a helping hand, and Lucinda’s and Roberts’ lives becomes very complicated

The last of the The Lessons of Love Trilogy, this series was wonderful and ending on a very high note with England's Perfect Hero!
Out of the three friends Lucinda is the straightlaced no nonsense thinking lady, when it’s her turn to give her lessons she chooses a man whom won’t complicate her life, someone whom would know taking care of her father the General. Lucinda’s lessons are going okay, until she runs into Robert Carroway, who offers his help to help her with her student as a trade for the roses she gave him. But when her thoughts turn to Robert then her student, and when she must clear Robert’s name, Lucinda’s in for her own lessons in love.

Robert Carroway, was capture and tortured for seven months, and was almost killed, due to the tragic events, Robert has been in a state of being alive then living. Suffering from dark panic attacks, when a chance face to face encounter with Lucinda gives him the first step out his darkness, Robert offers to help Lucinda, but at the same time, sees a chance to get closer to her, but with his misgivings of being able to give her a normal life with him, Robert holds back, until events leads them to being tied together forever..in love...

I loved both Lucinda and Robert but I was mostly looking forward to Robert or Bit’s story the most. Robert was the torture hero, whom lived day to day but wasn’t living until Lucinda walked into his life. With Lucinda, she was a fresh breeze to him, and as he helped her with her lessons, he was also getting a lesson on living, and giving Lucinda a lesson of her own to not just settle for less and easy. Robert clawed his way back from the dead, and knew Lucinda deserved more then to just settle. He showed Lucinda what it meant to go for more, but at the same time Lucinda taught Robert to be at peace with himself again. Robert was just amazing, as he waltzed with the wallflowers, proved to Lucinda’s father he wasn’t a traitor and learned to love and live again.
Lucinda was raised by her father a great war General, she always puts others needs first, but always settled for less herself. Robert shows her a hard lot in life from his past, but shows her to go for the goal for herself and trust in love. Lucinda was kind and loved Robert and trusted him, when she knew her father couldn’t be counted on. This showed how she believed in Robert and his good heart.

Robert’s family was as always very supported of Robert, it was funny the way each took care and helped Robert from Tristan dumping cold water on him to break him out of panic attack, to Andrew dancing a waltz with him( Andrew even hummed a offkey tune!)
In the beginning of each chapter, there was a little snippet of Frankenstein, which gives the reader an insight of the upcoming chapter but SE took liberty with the timeline of Frankenstein as she refers to Mary Shelley by name when the first edition was published anonymously in 1818 the book’s time setting MS wasn't named the author until 1823. (yeah, my inner historian kicked in *sighs*)

overall: The ending to the Lesson in Love Trilogy, and the England's Perfect Hero ..ends on a perfectly high note!(less)

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Sep 22, 2009

Jaime rated it

Shelves: guilty-secrets, historical, romance

I liked Book 2 in the series quite well but I think this one is better still. It's a Beauty and Beast type of story with a damaged, conflicted hero struggling to regain a normal life, and I'm a sucker for those. The hero is very endearing and the heroine kind and genuine. I wasn't enthralled by the sex, which seemed contrived. I do realize that explicit sex is de rigeur in romance publishing now...but *premarital* sex appearing commonplace in a *Regency* novel is just hard to swallow. So to spea...more

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About Suzanne Enoch

Suzanne was born in Southern California. She has wanted to write practically since she learned to read. Early dreams of becoming a zoologist and writing books about her adventures in Africa were crushed after she viewed a National Geographic special on the world's most poisonous snakes -- of which 99% seemed to be native to Africa. After that, and in conjunction with her first viewing of the movie...moreSuzanne was born in Southern California. She has wanted to write practically since she learned to read. Early dreams of becoming a zoologist and writing books about her adventures in Africa were crushed after she viewed a National Geographic special on the world's most poisonous snakes -- of which 99% seemed to be native to Africa. After that, and in conjunction with her first viewing of the movie Star Wars, her interest turned to the much less dangerous activity of writing fiction.
She dabbled unsuccessfully in romantic fantasy for a year or two after graduating with a degree in English from the University of California, Irvine, until a delight in Regency Romances led her to write one for fun. After several encouraging rejections, she snared the interest of the world's best and most patient literary agent, who helped her re-work the manuscript. This ultimately led to the publication of her first novel, The Black Duke's Prize, from Avon Books in the Spring of 1995. It was later translated into German and published as Lady Meines Herzens in the My Lady series of historical romances in 1998. Another Regency, Angel's Devil followed in the Fall. Angel's Devil was nominated in the Regency of the Year category of the "Romantic Times" Reviewers Choice Award.

Contrary to opinion, she was not the reason Avon Books ceased its Regency division, but when that happened she was encouraged to try her hand at historical romance. Still being infatuated with the humor and wit of the Regency period, she decided to attempt another manuscript set in that time. Lady Rogue, a March 1997 release from Avon, was the result. A second Historical, Stolen Kisses, set in 1820, at the tale end of the Regency period, was released in September 1997. By Love Undone another Regency historical was released in July 1998. By Love Undone's sequel, Taming Rafe, was released in April 1999. Her two latest books, Reforming A Rake and Meet Me At Midnight were released in 2000.

Suzanne is known for her humorous characters and witty dialogue. Still single, she resides in Anaheim, California with her Cairn terrier, Katie (named by her sisters after the heroine of The Black Duke's Prize), and her steadily growing collection of Star Wars action figures and space ships.
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More about Suzanne Enoch...

Books by Suzanne Enoch

London's Perfect Scoundrel (Lessons in Love, #2)

Sin and Sensibility (Griffin Family, #1)

After the Kiss (Notorious Gentlemen, #1)

Always a Scoundrel (Notorious Gentlemen, #3)

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Quotes from England's Perfect Hero

“I had a thought," Bradshaw said into the silence.
"Amazing," Tristan returned dryly.” — 2 people liked it

“On nights like this, when he rode out from the dark, silent house to the dark, deserted park, he could
forget.
He could be nothing but a solitary rider on a fast horse, wind in his face and the world open around him.
No walls, no bars, no quiet weeping or screams or death. None of that could catch him. On a night like
this, none of it could find him.” — 1 person liked it

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