Sin and Sensibility (The Griffin Family, 1)

I went ahead a bought this book even though the reviews were not that good because I had read all of the other books in the series already and I was committed to it. I expected a flop and I got a book that really stuck with me for a while. I think there were a lot of reviews that were just too harsh. I had met Valentine and Nell in the previous books and looked forward to their story. I was not disappointed. I thought the story was perfectly told and I was sorry when I reached the end. I recommend the series.

I too buy books just because they are by Suzanne Enoch and once again I was not disappointed. I thought it was a great read. I agree that Nell might appear immature, but that is how girls at 21 y/o who are sheltered are going to be. She was likeable, because she was not perfect and you did want to give her a good shake. The "hero" of the book was the typical rake hero, but again likeable. The electricity between them did really build up, and not too fast either. I thought it flowed well, read it in one day. I think the characters are familiar, formula is familar, but works.

I had bought this book from my local bookstore a while back, and never read it. However, after getting some advice I got it again but this time from my library. I'm so glad that I gave this author another chance. I absolutely loved this book. Enoch gives you such charming dialogue, and witty repartee from both characters. Eleanor Griffin is tired of having her three brothers dictate every single nuance of her life, so she stages a rebellion. Suprisingly her eldest brother Sebastian, Duke of Melbourne agrees to her terms of independence as long as scandal is never attached to the family name. What she doesn't know is that Sebastian has asked a family friend to watch over her to make sure she doesn't do anything scandalous. Valentine, Marquis of Deverill does not want to waste his hedonistic days watching over his friends little sister, a girl that he has known since she was quite young. But, he owes Sebastian a favor and so he reluctantly does as asked. He never expects that such a pure naive woman would end up stealing his heart with her little rebellion. But he's so glad that she has. There are such great romantic scenes between the two main characters. I loved the scene when they were in the pond at midnight in Hyde Park so Eleanor could finally do something that wasn't quite so "lady like"...swim naked in it. Valentine is your typical rake, that gets reformed by a lady of quality, but Enoch does it with such perfection that you can believe that this is how everyone in regency england was. I loved it, and you will too. I now have another author to add to my favorite list.

I thought Enoch had done her best in "England's Perfect Hero", but this one is even better. Her ability to write engaging dialogue amazes me - both main characters are intelligent and witty (often at the same time), and I never found myself bored during their frequent conversations. Eleanor had my sympathy from the beginning - she perfectly portrays a young woman frustrated by the rigid rules placed on her by society merely because of her gender, while at the same time consumed by longing for an adventure she doesn't know how to have. Valentine is glorious as a rake struggling with feelings of true respect and friendship for a woman for the first time. He seems so genuinely confused by the whole thing, while also torn by loyalty to the very few men he is willing to call friends - her brothers. He is sweet and charming and comic as he sorts through his myriad of emotions. I love that Enoch makes it hard for the hero and heroine to realize they are both changing for the better and becoming the right people for one another to have a lasting relationship with. Toss in a realistic villain to add just the right amount of conflict - it doesn't weight the story down, but also keeps it from being too fairy-tale cute - and you have a dynamite tale kept me reading for hours straight. A definite keeper.

I, like the other reviewers, am a huge S. Enoch fan. Unlike the other reviewers, however, I found this book to be a delicious page turner. I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it, and this does not happen often for me!! I really enjoyed the setup of the older brother-type having to chaperone his friends' younger sister. Nell was an enjoyable character... a young woman who is trying to experience life under the watchful eyes of her overprotective brothers. Most women can related to an urge to "walk on the wild side" at least once. I also felt that the character of Valentine was well-developed, and that his conflicts (between living up to his "bad boy" heritage vs. forming a loving relationship vs. being loyal to his friends) added depth to the story. I really enjoyed the developing relationship between Valentine and Nell, and felt that S. Enoch really captured the feelings of falling in love for both characters (and the reader, too!). In summary, I really enjoyed it. I will be keeping this book to re-read in the future! I cannot understand the complaints of the other reviewers since this one hooked me. I really look forward to reading more stories about these brothers, especially Sebastian (the oldest). If my hunch is right, Nell's best friend may be nurturing a crush on one of the brothers....