BOTM 2 - October 2021 - Sin and Sensibility

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Discussion thread for the Second BOTM of October 2021. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)


Sin and Sensibility by Suzanne Enoch

Synopsis:

Lady Eleanor wants an adventure before she surrenders to a dull Society marriage. And who better than the dashing and notorious rake, Valentine Corbett, to protect her from scandal...and school her in sin?

Young ladies just want to have fun...

Unfortunately Eleanor Griffin has three strapping brothers to frighten away any beau they deem unsuitable. She knows she's expected to marry eventually—probably to some staid, crusty, old lord—but until that dark day dawns, Nell intends to enjoy herself. However, her brother, Sebastian, Duke of Melbourne, isn't about to let his sister run completely wild, and asks his best friend, the Marquis of Deverill, to keep a close eye on the spirited lovely.

Could any chaperone be less qualified—yet more appreciated—than Valentine Corbett? Here is a man as sinful as he is attractive, a notorious rake, gambler, and pursuer of women, whom Nell has fancied since girlhood. Alas, the irresistible rogue seems uncharacteristically determined to be honorable, despite the passionate longing in his gaze. And Nell must tread carefully, for she has promised to immediately wed whomever her siblings choose should so much as a hint of scandal arise

[Jan]

I liked England's Perfect Hero by this author so I think I will try this one.

[Susan]

I read this book back in May and have it five stars - hence I nominated this book for this month. It had many of my favorite ingredients...an apparently unredeemable rake, a family of well characterized overprotective siblings (in this case brothers) and some humour. I ended up reading the whole series. I like a series when we get to know and love a cast of characters in the first one and then they pop up again in subsequent books.

From looking at the reviews on GR, not everyone likes this book so I will be interested to read others comments.

[Lauren]

I think I'll be skipping this one since I've already read it many times. I might participate in the discussion. Happy reading everybody!

Off Topic:
Susan, which book was your favorite in the series?

[Maureen]

I read this BOTM for October Sin and Sensibility and from the opening scene I started laughing and it couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Suzanne Enoch writes great English HR comedy. Comparable authors are Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Susan]

Lauren wrote: "I think I'll be skipping this one since I've already read it many times. I might participate in the discussion. Happy reading everybody!

Off Topic:
Susan, which book was your favorite in the series?"

Lauren, book 1 and 2 were my favorites. I actually read book 2 first, and liked it enough to want to read the series.

Maureen - I love a book that makes me laugh

[Lauren]

thanks Susan! I regret not continuing the series.

[Lady Nilambari]

I am starting this book today. Based on the positive reviews, should be a fun read. This would be my first Suzanne Enoch novel.

[Lady Nilambari]

Darbella wrote: "bahahahaha....He fell into [spoilers removed]"

whaaaaat?

[Lady Nilambari]

Darbella wrote: "Nilambari, not great at explaining but here goes. This is in the early chapters so do not read until after you kind of understand what I am trying to say. :) [spoilers removed] Anyways, I hope that..."

hehehe yes! I finally got to the low cut dress part...now I understand what you mean!

What does everyone think of Lady Nell? I confess, she is annoying me...

[Susan]

Regarding Nell - I must admit I did find the whole 'I need an adventure' thing a little but immature, and annoying, but she is very young. However I fell in love with Valentine and her brothers...which compensated for this aspect of the book

[Lady Nilambari]

Darbella wrote: "Nilambari, not great at explaining but here goes. This is in the early chapters so do not read until after you kind of understand what I am trying to say. :) [spoilers removed] Anyways, I hope that..."

I thought he physically stumbled onto her chest! *LOL*

[Lady Nilambari]

Susan wrote: "Regarding Nell - I must admit I did find the whole 'I need an adventure' thing a little but immature, and annoying, but she is very young. However I fell in love with Valentine and her brothers...w..."

I absolutely agree, I find his honesty weirdly charming! About Nell, for 21 in 1811, she is acting way immature, women were married a few years by that age and most even had kids...very modernistic approach she has for that time, about 200 years too early!

[Sandra]

It's my first Suzanne Enoch's book! Looking forward!

[Mariana]

I am starting this tonight. Suzanne Enoch is hit or miss for me. Based on some of the reviews, I'm nervous I won't like the H or h; but I am glad to see most who participated enjoyed it.

[Jan]

I am starting this today. Mariana, Suzanne Enoch has been hit or miss for me too, but I haven't read many of hers and want to try another. How are you going with this one so far?

I dnf'ed another one of the BOTMs (How To Train Your Viscount) partly because of(view spoiler)[ the very explicit oral sex scene with modern talk that clearly didn't suit the sweet innocent young heroine (hide spoiler)] then funnily enough when I started to read this one, the opening scene started with oral sex. No spoiler cos it's on the first couple of pages LOL. Oh well, at least these characters are more experienced so the scene is more believable.

I'll keep an open mind and fingers crossed I enjoy this one.

[Sandra]

I liked this one. I'm already reading the second book in this serie

[Jan]

Sandra wrote: "I liked this one. I'm already reading the second book in this serie"

GTK Sandra. I presume the other books are about Nell's brothers?

I'm 26% in and quite liking it so far. Easy reading. The writing is good and it has a more accurate historical feel than the other BOTM I tried. Valentine is an unashamed rake, but so far I like him anyway LOL. I like Nell too. I understand her frustration with the strictures her brothers have placed around her and her need for some excitement in her life. I was a bit shocked at the scene with Stephen where (view spoiler)[ she went to a naughty party and it turned out to be way naughtier than she expected. It was horrible that Stephen drugged her and tried to ruin her, presumably so he could marry her for her money, I guess. What a creep. I knew of course Valentine would turn up and save her but I was so relieved when he turned up! (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra]

For the ones who read this series or other books from this writer: Do you know if the Witfeld Sisters have some books?!

[Sandra]

Jan, yes the other books are about Nell's brothers. The second one it's the story of Zachary.

I liked the Valentine, it's the usual reformed to be rake! ;)

[Sandra]

I forgot the BOTM was about the first book!! Really... my memory is like a fish memory!! :D

[Sandra]

I'm reading the last book of this serie, the one with Sebastian story. Today I was with my mother waiting in line for the 3rd shot of Covid's vaccine reading the book in my phone and I was laughing a lot because of Lady Penelope dialogues with her uncles, people was looking at me thinking I was a lunatic, eheheh!!

[Jan]

Sandra wrote: "Jan, yes the other books are about Nell's brothers. The second one it's the story of Zachary."

Thanks Sandra. I'm 2/3 through this first book and quite liking it, and I will consider reading the others too. Will see how I feel after finishing Sin and Sensibility.

I like the way Enoch writes families, with the affection and nicknames etc between the siblings e.g. Peeps. Unfortunately a couple of times Peeps has said something way too perceptive and mature for a 6-year-old. That seems to be relatively common in books. It's not many authors who do children well/believably.

Overall I like both Deverill and Eleanor. I get that Eleanor feels constricted by her life, but that she doesn't really understand what she does want. I like the way they are slowly falling in love.

[Sandra]

Jan wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Jan, yes the other books are about Nell's brothers. The second one it's the story of Zachary."

Thanks Sandra. I'm 2/3 through this first book and quite liking it, and I will conside..."

I know what your saying... sadly my niece is like that (sadly, because when she says things like that we always wonder where did she got that!!). Nevertheless, Peeps is very funny, I thik she acts like that because she is mainly the only kid in the middle of a bunch of adults. The relation between all of then is quite nice and the writer explores that along the books.

[Sandra]

Did any of you read the Griffin #4? The book about Sebastian?

[Susan]

i have read all the books. I seem to remember so looking forward to Sebastians story but being a little disappointed. From memory the 'Princess plot' kind of took over - but I still gave it 4 stars. i loved the whole series

[Sandra]

Susan wrote: "i have read all the books. I seem to remember so looking forward to Sebastians story but being a little disappointed. From memory the 'Princess plot' kind of took over - but I still gave it 4 stars..."
I'm really (view spoiler)[disappointed with this book. The Princess it's a horrible person and, really, Sebastian deserved better. I don't know how the plot evolves and maybe in the end all ends well but I'm not confident :(. I'm almost stopping reading the book... I think it's the first time this happens to me :/ (hide spoiler)]

I don't even want to read other reviews, because I'm afraid the reviews give me reason.

[Jan]

I finished this BOTM last night. I enjoyed it and gave 3.5 stars. Through the middle it was a little slow and draggy at times, but the pace picked up again and the ending was enjoyable. I liked both Nell and Valentine and they were well-suited to each other. The ending was enjoyable.

I was surprised when (view spoiler)[ it was revealed that Sebastian had been matchmaking all along. I thought that was clever and made me like Sebastian even more. It showed how well he knew his sister and his friend, and how much he cared about them both. (hide spoiler)]

Now that I've read it I've looked through some GR reviews and they seem pretty mixed. A few people don't like Nell and see her as immature. To me she is simply young and trying to explore her own nature and find out who she is. But it's done in a period-appropriate way, not with a modern type outlook, which I liked.

Although I've read a couple of Suzanne Enochs before, I probably wouldn't have picked this book up, so thanks BOTM people. I enjoyed it and I might now read some of the other books in the series.

[Mariana]

I'm not really into the story or the characters. I'm a little less than halfway through when Jan, who started at the same time, is finished. I think my problem is similar to last month. I'm finding whatever other book I'm also reading to be more interesting. Anyway, hopefully I'll make more progress this weekend.