Sins of a Duke Reviews

• Righteous Duke gets his just due

  
  By A2NICGGIGIFU22 on 2007-05-31
  Something is definitely amiss. The paragon of society and the most powerful man in England Sebastian Griffin, the Duke of Melbourne has a nagging feeling that all is not what it seems. Just who is this recently arrived royal family from the country of Costa Habichuela? Never heard of the place. And they need lots of money from England to build infrastructure? Suspicious. And what of the beautiful princess Josephina? Distracting. A tempestuous and beguiling beauty that makes him feel alive for the first time in four years. Good? -maybe. But as he digs deeper to uncover the truth, he may not like the answers. Sebastian has some difficult decisions to make. Will he risk all? Causing possibly England's greatest scandal for love?
  
  Was it worth the wait to finally see the last of the Griffins finally get their story? Probably. I personally couldn't wait to read this one but it wasn't at all what I suspected -which is at the same time good and bad. Yes, the great Duke of Melbourne finally gets his due and falls in love with an unlikely woman but the story lacks the depth of passion and emotion I would have liked to have seen from both Sebastian and Josephina. And I have to agree with the other reviewer, Josephina is completely unworthy of a man like Sebastian. There is not enough sexual tension and heat going on. In the first half the the book there barley is any and the last half only slightly makes up for it. So if your looking for a sweeping romance where the hero falls madly in love with the heroine -this isn't it. The love scenes are average and sometimes border on being a bit cold-hearted. On the other hand, the story of the dubious country is quite predictable at first but ends surprisingly and possibly -I-dare-say believably (well almost). Saying anything more and going into detail would be too much of a spoiler.
  
  More of a 3 1/2 star book but for followers of this series I think that reading that the lonely and proud Sebastian is smiling and laughing is, in itself, worth the price of the book even if Enoch didn't do him justice. For newcomers its a solid romance story that starts out average and ends well. And if your going to read Enoch, you might as well read one with one of her best hero's.
  
  So if you enjoy reading hate/love romance where the mighty hero's fall in love against all odds this ones for you. For me, having the hero slapped literally and figuratively by heroine is worth the price of admission. ;)
  
  

• I was so disappointed I wanted to cry! It doesn't even deserve the 1 star

  
  By A1GAT0LU1PCDYZ on 2007-07-07
  I've read a lot of romance novels...in fact one could say I'm a addict. In the hundreds, yes hundreds, of romance novels I've read I've never once not finished a book. No matter how bad it is I have a compulsion to finish it. I'm a huge Suzanne Enoch fan, I have every book she's written, and I don't know if it's because I've had so much time to fantasize about Melbourne's story but, the version in my mind was so much better. I am so upset that I just can't bring myself to finish this book because I can't make myself feel even a little bit of like for the heroine. I just feel that this hero needed someone kind and soft (not weak), someone who would take care of him. The heroine in this book has no depth and because of this she comes across as just someone with a pretty face and a bad disposition, who he wants to bed. I find her so unlikable to say the least, I have no compassion for her and I'm disappointed at the shallowness of it. I know that sounds odd but, a good romance should make me fall in love. This was all sexual attraction without any personality, I got more character depth from my erotica book. I'm angry and want a re-write!
  
  
  
  
  

• Sins of a Duke

  
  By A1QFL2P3BOAE66 on 2007-07-10
  I have read all of Suzanne Enoch books, and enjoyed them tremendously, except this book. After the first 3 chapters, I had to put the book down.
  I picked it back up after 3 weeks, and still could not continue reading it.
  
  Sebastian deserved so much more that, that shallow Josefina, there was no depth to her character in those 3 chapters. As I skimed through other chapters, it did not seem as if her character got any better, she was just a princess!! Sebastian deserved so much more.
  
  
  

• Very disappointed... like everyone else

  
  By A3VARFTBUDZ13J on 2007-07-29
  The other reviewers pointed out the major problems in this book, and there are A LOT of them, too many to justify buying this book.
  
  In my humble opinion, the number one problem was the heroine. And apparently no other reviewer could overcome this obstacle. Take away everything you like about romance heroines--this is what you get. She was childish, vulgar, annoying, self-serving, dishonest, greedy, and she never improved! A really, really unlovable character. By chapter 3, I voted her off the island. I kept hoping that another woman would miraculously appear to take her place.
  
  I hated that she slapped him in public just to embarass him, to get his attention. Who does that? I hated how she trapped him in public to marry her when the poor guy has been trying to extricate himself from her clutches 3/4 of the book. And then he marries her because (???) he was cast with her and had nothing to say in the matter. This is romance???
  
  She didn't seem to have any point of interest in her life except greed and self-preservation. Her parents were wall flowers . She had no friends, no interest in gaining any, no one likes her, not even the hero. Again--is this romance? This is the woman the hero picks to raise his 6-year-old daughter. Think Cinderella's step sister/mother--that's the heroine.
  
  The book is bogged down with politics and the hero's family members--and this was the better part of the book. At some point, when someone tried to kill him, I was actually hoping the heroine would die instead and put us out of this book's misery.
  
  There was no sexual tension, no witty repartee, just over the top melodrama. Very mild and borig sex scenes.
  
  If you are not a die-hard Enoch fan, don't force yourself to read this book. I would hesitated to buy her books in the future.
  
  This book is an embarrassment to this author. A shame.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Much better than what other reviewers say--if you think about it.

  
  By A1C26K6CG26G8E on 2007-06-15
  Contrary to most other reviews here, this was a satisfying read and a fitting story for Sebastian. He IS a very different man after his wife died, and he needs an anti-heroine like Josefina to shake him up and fall in love again. It's easy enough to imagine a HEA for them, with Sebastian not knowing what she'll do next and thriving on the spontaneity and her direct challenge, and Josefina loving and raising Peep and their other kids and trying to be "good" and a loving Duchess to Sebastian.
  
  All this time beautiful quiet gentlewomen like Sebastian's late wife Charlotte have been around him. But a woman like Charlotte is no longer what he needs. He's been Melbourne (with all that power & responsibilities) for a lot longer now than when he'd first met Charlotte. Coupled with his tragedies, the years of being head of the family and England make it impossible for him in a way consistent with his character to fall in love with your typical beautiful-with-some-spirit historical romance heroine.
  
  Josefina, unapologetic con artist, is just right to shake Sebastian out of his staid solitary existence. She is of course beautiful, and there's the mutual lust with Sebastian. But more than that, Josefina is realizing with this latest con that she does have a conscience and a heart. Sebastian sees this, too, and it's what makes him fall in love with her. By the end, Josefina's character is worthy of Sebastian and his love.
  
  Sebastian is not an easy man to love; neither is Josefina. The cleverness of this story is in giving these characters a love story consistent with their characters.
  
  
• A disappointment
  By A2GPKZ6GFYD72L on 2007-06-12
  I loved Sebastian in his siblings books, but now? I am very disappointment in the choice of lady Ms. Enoch choose for him. What was the slap in the beginning about? That put me off completely. I generally like a headstrong leading lady but this one just did not move me in the least. She was so over the top. It seems like hit or miss when picking up one of Ms. Enoch's books, sometimes they are wonderful and sometimes I am mad as HELL. This book made me MAD AS HELL! I was looking forward to Sebastian's story.
  
  Sad in Texas
  
  
• Turned out, waiting was the only fun.....
  By A1T6KZ910R6WR0 on 2007-06-11
  Like the other reviewers, I too, waited anxiously and eagerly for Sebastian's story. Having read and enjoyed Nell, Shay, and Zachary's romances I really looked forward to Sebastian finding love again.
  
  Unfortunately, I just couldn't buy that he would actually fall for Josefina. She was a willing con artist, a liar, an opportunist, and a thief...plain and simple. I don't see how or why Sebastian could fall in love with her! I know opposites attract but this was ridiculous!
  
  Hopefully, a romance about Peep is the future or even about Bradshaw Carroway who made a cameo appearance. Hey, maybe Peep and Runt will meet and fall in love! Imagine the Griffins and the Carroways all in one sitting!
  
  
• Not even done yet but I'm struggling to get through
  By A1XOPFNA9O4GYT on 2007-06-29
  Not sure if I should even post a review yet cause I'm only halfway through this book but WOW. I am sooo disappointed in Ms. Enoch's book! Usually I love reading her stories! The most it has EVER taken me to read a book is 2 days. I am going on a week now and still have no desire to pick up where I left off. I don't know what went wrong but it's just horrifying. The heroine is completely unknown to us and I have no idea what the Duke sees in her except some sort of uncontrollable lust. And the Duke is...well...boring. The family is the only partially redemning part of this book. And the only reason I will finish this is to find out if the country she is princess of really does exist or not. I could care less whether the two characters end up together. What a sad fate for a romance novel.
  
  
• Very disappointing - Sebastian deserves better
  By AC94Z38BCFL0P on 2007-08-21
  I was very disappointed with Sebastian's story. I've read all the others and was glad it was finally time for his story. Sebastian is all that is honorable and proper and it is beyond belief he would fall for a liar, thief and con artist - no mind connecting the Griffin family to liars, thieves and con artists. Josefina made me want to reach in the book and slap her as she does Sebastian. His reaction to this and everything else is so against character it made me wonder just who this was. It is pretty clear why he wants to bed her....but why they "fall in love" is a mystery that doesn't get answered. A bright spot is the cameo of Bradshaw Carroway. It was nice to see him. Everything appears to work itself out in the end but it would have been nice to see an epilogue. Defintely not the best outing by this author.
  
  
• Sins of a Duke- A Joyfully Recommended Title
  By A320TMDV6KCFU on 2007-07-13
  When the Prince Regent assigns Sebastian Griffin, Duke of Melbourne as cultural liason to the newly formed kingdom, Costa Habichuela, Sebastian is not happy. For one thing, something is quite suspicious about the visiting royal family. And for another, Sebastian doesn't like the way Princess Josefina makes him feel. He finds her far too enticing.
  
  Unable to anger the Prince Regent by refusing the position and unwilling to allow England to be harmed if Costa Habichuela is not what it is represented to be, Sebastian sets out to get to the bottom of the mystery. If that means he has to spend time with the intriguing Princess Josefina, then Sebastian will have to make that sacrifice.
  
  I have been waiting sooooo long for Sebastian's story. After having read Sins of a Duke, I am deeply, madly, passionately in love with Sebastian. What a delicious hero! His love for his siblings and his tender care of his daughter along with his devotion to his country made me want to yank him out of the pages and keep him for myself.
  
  Since that is simply not possible, I shall have to be content with re-reading Sins of a Duke and wallowing in the deliciousness of Sebastian and Josefina's love story. I am excited to say that Suzanne Enoch completely delivered perfection with Sebastian and I couldn't be happier with Sins of a Duke!
  
  Annmarie
  Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
  
  
• Wished I could give it a ZERO ...VERY disappointing
  By A321WMG5YGEYHI on 2007-07-20
  I WANT A REWRITE! Sebastian deserved better than this! The heroine in the book was HORRIBLE and honestly I don't think I'll ever pick up another Suzanne Enoch book again! Do NOT pay full price for this trash! If you still think you want to read it - get it used! But trust me for those that wanted Sebastian's story and fell in love with him - you'll be crushed!
  
  
• still one star to many
  By AZEPHY0DGVO7I on 2007-07-21
  What a waste of a terrific character....what a waste of my time and my money. I have read all of her books and have loved them all...this I had to throw away after only being able to get half way through the book. Sebastion would of never put up with the slap in the beginning.She had no redeeming qualties...once again what a waste....
  
  
• Long awaited Sebastian story good not great
  By A20318MN62HQFC on 2007-05-31
  Finally the long awaited story of Sebastian! I can't complain about this story too much, it is the usual Enoch well written story, but I just couldn't help but feel that Josefina wasn't worthy of Sebastian. Having waited so long for his story it just never quite hit the mark. I fully understand that reality needs to be suspended for these stories (which is their charm) but some of the actions of Sebastian just didn't seem like the Sebastian of old. The by plan between himself and old favorites like Valentine, Nell, Shay and Zach were fantastic, and Charlotte's death was beautiful handled. I just couldn't buy that he would change so dramatically and so swiftly for a character such as Josefina who seemed so opposite and so clearly scandalous. However if you are a lover of the original "With this Ring" series look out for a cameo by Bradshaw Carroway. If only he could have his own book now....
  
  
• Could have been much(!) better
  By AMDEUSKSWR4MH on 2007-06-06
  I waited a long time for Sebastian's story. Unfort. now that it's here, I'm disappointed.
  
  I expected him to be deeper (emotionally, physically) & would have liked the heroine to have been more likeable, less of a materialistic dunderhead & easier to be empathetic with. I have no idea why he fell in love with her--she seemed to have so few redeeming qualities.
  
  
• Disappointed
  By A2NI9MPWKPIEZP on 2007-06-21
  I really wanted to give this book more stars - it's been a long wait for Sebastian's story - but unfortunatley it just didn't hit the mark. Other than Josephina's looks, I could not see where the attraction was for the duke. So, on their 2nd meeting, she slaps him in public, and got his attention, she certainly had nothing going for her personality wise. Towards the end of the book I started to have some sympathy for her, but I'm sure if Sebastian had waited, or looked around, he could have found someone much, much better. Good to see the Carroway's mentioned!
  
  
  
• Has Sebastian met his match?
  By A1BJRMUVCBR52F on 2007-07-13
  I wasn't sure that I would be pleased with this book -- especially after reading the reviews here -- but I must say I was quite pleasantly surprised. My favorite part of this book was the continued "interference" from the other members of the Griffin clan. My favorite though is Valentine. I LOVE that Ms. Enoch did not change his voice once he got married and found love. He is still as barbed and cynical as ever. I was also fun to have Bradshaw Carroway from the Lessons in Love trilogy make an appearance.
  
  Yes...I rated this four stars - I really liked the book -- but I did have some issues. My main one being that Sebastian met his match with a con artist. I have just finished reading Suzanne Enoch's contemporary series and I see resemblances between Josephina and Samantha Jellicoe. My other issue with the book is the ending. Assuming that the series is over and we'll hear no more about the Griffins -- an epilogue would have been lovely!
  
  
  
  
• 5+ Stars - You will love it !
  By A18FUHNBP90IB4 on 2007-07-15
  I read this book in less than 24 hours. I have always loved the Sabastian Griffin the Duke character. He has met his match with Josefina and O you will love every minute they are together. You re-visit the whole Griffin family and with a dash of danger, mystery and great funny loving romance you will be swepts away to historical England. ENJOY!
  
  Check out the The Griffin Family series; Sin and Sensibility , An Invitation to Sin and Something Sinful.
  
  
• Very disappointing
  By A1PBDRCGVOKSZ on 2007-07-19
  I've been meaning to write this review for a while now. I agree with many of the previous reviewers; Sebastian was not done justice. I am very big fan of Suzanne Enoch, and even though I thought the Griffin books were slipping slowly downhill since the first, I was ALWAYS waiting for Sebastian's story.
  
  This was not it.
  
  In addition to the many complaints over Josefina's extremely lacking character, I had two major problems with the book. First, I don't see where, how or why Sebastian falls in love with her. He wants her, but there never seems to be a deeper emotion backing it up. Second, Josefina spends all of five minutes with Peep. It seems ridiculous to me that someone who was so devoted to his daughter would want to marry someone she's only met once.
  
  Terribly disappointing. It took several tries to get through to the finish, which I've never had happen with a romance before.
  
  
• I wanted to throw the book against the wall
  By AVZXDXL993YU5 on 2007-09-02
  I love Suzanne Enoch books and was so thrilled that Sebastian's Story had come out but I wanted to throw the book against the wall when I finished it. Sebastian's story could have been so very incredible - I love a brooding hero, but I just did not find that the story delivered and I agree with all the others that are screaming for a re-write of his story. The writing style and sexual tension in the book were good and I actually liked the scene when he gets slapped in public but I just did not like the plot and the fact that Josefina was actually a shady character, it made me feel like he got cheated in his choice of Duchess.
  
  
• Hated it!!
  By A219Y76LD1VP4N on 2007-09-24
  I have never written a review on a book before but I had to on this one. I love this author but I guess she must of had some bad moments when she wrote this book. It was horrible. I hated Josefina right off. She was just a really terrible person. I just could not finish the book because I knew Sebastian would end up with her. Good thing I kept my receipt because this book went back the next day.
  
  
• Original & Creative - Loved IT ! Enoch ALWAYS Satisfies !!!
  By A3B48AN8JID1JK on 2007-11-30
  The very first thing I would like to say about this book, is I am EXTREMELY GLAD I did NOT read any of the negative reviews posted, and two, in my opinion I vastly disagree with most of them. I have only read one other book from this series (SIN AND SENSIBILITY) and though it was some time ago, I found SINS OF A DUKE to be every bit as charming and entertaining as I found the former!
  
  Sebastian Griffin, the Duke of Melbourne assumed his title at the age of seventeen and been thrust into the responsibility of seeing his two younger brothers and sister make good and respectable matches. Now a widower at the age of thirty-four with an eight-year-old daughter he adored, he was seen as one of the most powerful men in England; scandal free, a model of propriety, and advisor to the king. When summoned by Prinny to act as the British emissary to the newly arrived Rey and Queen of a little known far away country he was asked to not only guide through the ton but also into the right circles to help them to secure loans for their fledgling country. While Sebastian's instincts warn him to be wary towards the Rey, he is mightily disturbed that his famous control is taken aback by the introduction of their daughter, Princess Josefina Embry. Asked by his regent to escort her to a ball and realizing that any close contact with the Princess might end up in him losing his complete control, Sebastian sent his coach to pick her up rather than himself as her escort. This proved to be a BIG mistake when he discovered that her highness was not about to let the insult go, and would retaliate shocking not only him but the entire ton!
  
  As you can guess - Josefina's infamous slap in the face of the powerful Duke of Melbourne certainly garnered everyone's attention at the ball, as well as infuriated Sebastian. And with this one remarkable scene, the author showed the reader that this was not going to be your run-of-the-mill courtship. Actually, truth be told, in all the regency historicals I've read (and that is quite a bit) I've never seen such a `physical' attack such as this ever before. Josefina with the look of a porcelain doll, was not your average princess, though she acted with all haughtiness of royalty as if she were born to it. That one act and several others after Sebastian began to realize the scam that she had helped perpetuate at her father's direction, put me in a quandary as to whether to like her or not.
  
  Sebastian, was a hero I liked immediately because I love arrogant, self-righteous stick in the muds, who are brought back to earth by the simple fact that as a human, they are not immune to love. But Sebastian was MORE than that, he had loved and lost what he thought was the only woman he'd ever love, and his relationship with his daughter, the very precocious Peep was brilliantly done, along with the loving (and sometimes overbearing) relationship to keep his siblings safe. As he battled with Josefina, and began to unravel her family's plot, Sebastian became a true hero to me. His love for Josefina and the chances he took to keep her safe while managing to keep her and her family from hanging made for a remarkable and original plot! And for those who did not see the romance and love story unfolding here - shame on you - you didn't read the same book I did.
  
  Suzanne Enoch has never failed to entertain me with her wonderfully fun historical stories, creative and lively dialogs, and fabulously sensual love scenes. Reading this last book in the Griffin series has only increased my desire to back-track and read the missing volumes on Sebastian's two brother's Zach and Charlemagne. As a Regency lover and yes, a huge fan of Ms. Enoch, she remains an auto-buy for me with anything she puts her name to!
  
  Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
  
  
  
  
• Not that Hot
  By A2NKAH4GL3NLBF on 2007-06-02
  After waiting months for Sebastian's story I was a little disappointed. Sebastion is the leader of the Griffin family and the Duke. Sebastian is supposed to be a very moralistic person. Now he meets Josefina Embry a supposed princess of a unknown country in Central America and she can do no wrong even though he suppects she's a phony. I don't like the character of Josefina because there's not much to like. Josefina redeems herself in the end but I thought that the author could have made a nicer character for Sebastian's bride.
  
  
  
• Even Bad Girls Can Catch A Duke
  By A2G6YIMXBJK5RJ on 2007-06-08
  "Princess" Josefina certainly is everything she appears to be. Her scheming father who portrays himself and his family as royalty of a non-existent country have met their match in the Griffin family and the Duke of Melbourne when they try to swindle money from the Bank of England. More intrigue and adventure than romance this book is a departure from the ranks of hot, steamy passionate historical romance. Our hero, the staunch Sebastion, is worthy of much more than a shallow faux-princess but alas Cupid has seen fit to have Josefina appeal to him in the most ridiculous way. Enoch has found the way to turn lust into love and by story's end all is well, as it should be.
  
  To this reader's dismay both Sebastian and Josefina should have shown more depth to their characters, although fans of Enoch will already have some idea of what makes Sebastian tick. Overall this was an easy to follow story line but I still felt that there was something lacking.
  
  
  
  
• Such a disappointment for Seb's story!
  By A2K1A96U617B4Z on 2007-07-22
  Sebastian's character in prior novels was that of the noble duke, with a regal bearing. He was the English gentleman personified. Heck, he didn't like Lady Sarala (Shay's wife) because she wasn't a native. (That is, she was born and raised in India).
  
  The fact that he falls for a common, (the daughter of a Cornish militiaman turned psuedo royal?!) and woman is astounding. I don't mind the author had him marry a commoner, but there was nothing redeeming in their potryals that would warrant him going against his own beliefs.
  
  
  And as another reviewer pointed out, the slap at the beginning of the book ....there was NO WAY Sebastian would take that- I don't care how good looking she was. Sebastian would have looked down on a goodlooking royal who had no breeding, simply because that's what he believed in.
  Also, when she made a comment about going to a brothel to find someone comparable to him...I put the book down!
  
  
  There was nothing in Josefina's character that made me empathize with her.
  Her father wanted to defraud the Bank of England to get thousands of pounds. It was only when the loss of human life came into play that she got a conscience. I'm glad for that, but what sort of person would willingly pretend to be a royal, to get money for personal gain? If the whole charade was for her family to get money to save some poor country I could understand it, but from the get go she KNEW it was a scheme and she was in it! And Sebastian knows as well!
  
  Now as contrived as the plot sounds, there was no chracter interaction that makes the reader WANT them to get together. Nothing happened that made me think 'OK she's a scheming, unrestrained SHREW, but you know maybe this can work.' Nosirreebob!
  
  There was no interaction really with Josefina and Lady Peep, and there wasn't anything that made Seb seem human (besides the lust factor)....
  Dissapointing book!
  
  
• Sad end for Sebastion!
  By AWN38KNZ9JSMR on 2007-10-21
  Soooo contrived, sooo unrealistic! Ugh! I love to give authors the benefit of the doubt... can't do it here. Poor Sebastion, poor readers! Sebastion, such a strong character, deserved a better story! What a sad ending to this series! - Come on Suzanne give Sebastion a re-write!
  
  
• A disappointment
  By A1OMGH6ISX2SPP on 2007-06-06
  I was looking forward to this book, but unfortunately it didn't deliver. It reminds me of those old Harelquin romances where the hero and heroine despise and distrust each other right up to the point where they fall into each other's arms.
  The heroine character, Josefina, is so poorly developed and unlikeable that it's difficult to imagine what her motivations are and impossible to empathize with her. What Sebastian sees in her is a mystery - he loves her despite her very flawed character and family.
  It was fun to see a reprise of the other Griffin family characters, and if you've been a fan of the series, worth reading for that reason. Otherwise, don't bother.
  
  
• Sins of a Duke review...
  By APRQMN5ZNFJ6S on 2007-06-07
  I have read the whole series to of the Griffin clan and was pretty happy with them all. Through all of the readings, I couldn't wait until Sebastian had his own book. Now that it's finally here, I am a little dissappointed because since he was such a sad and lonely man, his dark nature comes out throughout the whole book, even when he's falling in love with Josefina, he's still that sad guy and it just didn't appeal to me that he was happy. It made me upset cause you have to sort of "feel" that the character is a changed person, but I just didn't get that vibe. However, it's not a bad read...
  
  
• disappointed
  By A17BQ0ZJAA0GPY on 2007-06-08
  I'm currently in the middle of this book right now, and cannot find the necessary energy to pick the book up and actually finish it. I HATE THE HEROINE!!! I really, really, REALLY think Josefina was a POOR choice for Sebastian (whom I loved in all the other books and couldn't wait for him to get his own story). Unfortunatly, this book does not live up to par. Josefina was so immature, materialistic, and just plain annoying...how could Sebastian ever really love her is beyond my wildest dreams. I was extremely disappointed in the series conclusion.
  
  
• Just okay
  By A2JZGZGR2X5BS7 on 2007-07-21
  This one wasn't up to par for Suzanne Enoch, in my opinion. It was fair, but it just wasn't consistent. You hate the heroine at the outset; then suddenly she's the nicest person alive. The change just wasn't believeable... it was more like she decided, "okay, I don't like her... let's change her entire attitude." I wouldn't avoid the book by any means, but it just isn't one of her best.
  
  
• Written on Auto-Pilot... a shame! (C Grade)
  By A1AKQ1YUS4BT82 on 2007-07-24
  This latest by Suzanne Enoch should have been a great read, especially ever since she has written a character such as Sebastian, the Duke of Melbourne. He is an enigma who has been showcased for years in her other novels about his family. Fans were anxiously waiting for his own story and Enoch has tried to give the fans what they want. Unfortunately, this book felt like it was written on auto-pilot. "Sins of the Duke" is just another tedious regency type mystery story along with a heroine who is that perky annoying type that is not good enough for our hero. What ever happened to boy meets girl without spies, murder and blackmail?
  Perhaps because Sebastian was written in such an incredible way that expectations were too high? We also have a faux princess from a made up land along with her sketchy parents and her over the top feminist attitude that has been done before.
  The sex scenes are boring and are inserted at wrong moments just because at a certain number of pages into the story, they need to be there (see page 136 for example... and why always around this page number or so the first sex scenes are written?). Also, The built up chemistry between our lofty Duke and Princess Josefina is non-existent.
  The one scene that caught my eye and maybe yours if you decide to read this inept novel is where the heroine actually slaps Duke Seb across the face in a room full of the ton. (Page 20) Other than that, there is not much more to recommend or even showcase.
  For an actually good read by Enoch, check out her past releases. Every author can't have a top notch novel, and with the case of "Sins of the Duke", this is definitely one of them.
  
  Katiebabs
  
  Something Sinful
  Invitation to Sin, An (Avon Historical Romance)
  Sin and Sensibility (Avon Romantic Treasure)
  
  
  
  

• Beware a Scot's Revenge (School for Heiresses, Book 3)
• Desperate Duchesses
• The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever
• Never Lie to a Lady
• Never Deceive a Duke