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Regency Rakes #2

Rescued by a Viscount

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Welcome to Regency England — a world of charming gentlemen, elegant ladies, and sizzling passion! Enjoy this stunning read from USA Today Bestselling author Wendy Vella.

He wasn't like other men, he didn't observe the correct distance when conversing or dancing with a woman, nor did he guard his tongue. In fact, Viscount Kelkirk was the exact opposite of everything Claire strove to be, and she has never known how to handle him. But now she has to learn. And fast.

Miss Claire Belmont’s life is thrown into turmoil when she finds out her brother left something behind in France before he died. Going against her family’s wishes, she is determined to uncover the secret of what it is, and is forced to turn to the one man she vowed to avoid at all costs for help. If anyone can disrupt her well-ordered life and see the vulnerable woman behind the polite facade, it will be Viscount Kelkirk and now they are thrown together, she realizes her fears were justified.



BOOKS IN THE REGENCY RAKES SERIES
Duchess By Chance
Rescued By A Viscount
Tempting Miss Allender

Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2014

824 people are currently reading
548 people want to read

About the author

Wendy Vella

85 books819 followers

Wendy Vella is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of historical romances filled with mystery, intrigue, unconventional heroines, and dashing heroes.

Connect with Wendy in her Facebook reader group facebook.com/groups/wendyvellareaders or sign up for her reader newsletter at WendyVella.com to get goodies, exclusive excerpts and behind-the-scenes peeks.


Wendy also writes small town contemporary romances under the name Lani Blake.

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5 stars
723 (46%)
4 stars
523 (33%)
3 stars
254 (16%)
2 stars
30 (1%)
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19 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
Profile Image for Ursula.
603 reviews181 followers
December 29, 2018
A nice 3.5 stars.
Wendy Vella is a new author for me so I launched into the book without any real preconceptions but not expecting too much, just in case.
And was very pleasantly surprised. Although this is book 2 of a series, I didn't feel I was missing anything and enjoyed it as a stand-alone.

The heroine, Claire, is a lovely but strong-willed young woman. Having lost a brother she was very close to after nursing him in his final weeks, she has rather shut down emotionally. Her relationship with her older brother, 6 years her senior, is problematic at best, and he comes across as a very unfeeling man until we realise how much he is suffering by being the brother who was NOT the favourite but is still alive. He yearns for a closer relationship with Claire, but she is so closed off she does not pick up on it, or on the fact that he might have been jealous of the relationship she had with his brother. He does not come off as a nice guy, but envy and bitterness make for poor decisions.

The hero, Simon, is basically a decent, slightly rakish guy who has always been interested in Claire, although he thinks she dislikes him. They argue a lot and he spends a great deal of time needling her and invading her private space, which she hates. But when she sets off on an adventure fraught with possible disaster, (her motivation is absolutely pure, but as a sheltered young lady she really has no idea of the big bad world out there) he makes it his mission to assist her and keep her safe.
So a road-trip of sorts commences and I enjoyed the banter and the gradual lowering of her defences as Simon comes to realise he is actually in love with Claire, not just in lust:)

The story was engaging and nicely-written, and the characters interesting and layered. This was not a massively deep or angst-ridden, dramatic saga à la Elisa Braden (for OTT angst) or Meredith Duran (for depth of character) but I enjoyed it and will definitely read more by this author.
Profile Image for 🐝 Shaz 🐝 .
768 reviews21 followers
February 23, 2025
Enemy to lovers and road trip story. Claire and Simon have known each other for years.
He realises there is something wrong with Claire. Finds out she is planning to go to Liverpool on her own to save her brother’s illegitimate child. He will not let her go on her own. Simon is a carefree person and Claire is a woman who is a person who does nothing wrong.
And so the trip begins.
Profile Image for Beth.
3,174 reviews292 followers
February 14, 2014
Rescued By A Viscount was a wonderfully endearing story...a story that will pull you in and touch your heart.

I flat out loved this book. Rescued By A Viscount just has that feel good, make you happy cry storyline. Rescued By A Viscount is a story with heart.

Vella is a gifted historical romance writer. She created characters that jump off the pages, they have real life flaws and desperately guard their heart from the heart break that they fear. You cheer for them to give themselves over to love....whether its to their romantic interest or even their family...to gain the acceptance and comfort they so desire. Character, either primary or secondary, are created with such realism that I felt a part of their daily lives.

Rescued By A Viscount was a story filled with warmth, love, and soul. Don't miss this enchanting, heart warming tale.

This ARC copy of Rescued By A Viscount was given to me by Wendy Vella in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on February 18, 2014.

Profile Image for Joyce.
1,800 reviews19 followers
April 30, 2018
A fast, fun Regency!

Claire runs into Simon on the street. She does not look like the lady she is and he questions her about it. She is on a mission and does not want anyone to know about it and runs off. He seeks her out wherever they are and she attempts to evade him. Eventually she misleads her family about where she is going and, once again, runs into him during her departure. He coerces her to tell him where she is running and joins forces with her. They spend three days traveling to see if her late brother really had a child and, if so, she was going to bring the child home. Like all Regencies, it is light and easy reading and fun chick lit. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Ishara.
559 reviews9 followers
August 17, 2018
A rather enjoyable book! I liked this much better than the first book in the series.

Admittedly, I had a little crush on Simon from the first book so that made this a little more special. Claire, both headstrong and beautiful, was a delightful heroine who stuck to her beliefs, so that endeared her to me.

Now on to book 3.
Profile Image for Yeri (wildflowerreader).
1,491 reviews78 followers
October 5, 2017
Awww I really liked this one

I loved Simon and Claire from the get... I rooted for them. Fell in love with their crazy banter, chemistry and the way they were with each other and others.

This one is definitely a favorite.
Profile Image for Farrah.
1,248 reviews210 followers
February 19, 2014
A lovely historical romance, Rescued by a Viscount was a wonderful read. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Claire was an okay heroine. She was my one problem with the book. On one hand, she was strong and loyal to those she cared about. On the other, she could also be mean, over dramatic, and had a tendency to blame and judge others. It especially irritated me that she would take the concern that the people who cared about her showed and, somehow, be offended by it. I wasn't really a fan of hers, but not to the point that it ruined the book for me. I was just okay with her.

Simon was wonderful. He was very sweet and a genuinely kind man who was fiercely loyal to those he loved. I thought he was adorable.

The romance was good. I thought Claire and Simon were sweet together, even with Claire's tendency to run away. And, the attraction between them was steamy.

The plot was well paced and I was kept interested the entire way through. I really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was lovely.

Rescued by a Viscount was a wonderful historical romance. It wasn't perfect, but it was an enjoyable read. Romance lovers, this is a book you might want to check out.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Michelle.
566 reviews121 followers
May 14, 2016
4.25

Simon and Claire have one of those relationships where they challenge each other. Claire is proper, not in a boring way, but she is usually composed but something about Simon gets under her skin. Simon is a flirt with a charming smile and a big heart. They think they are opposites but they are much more similar then they think. Claire had been having problems since her brother's death. She doesn't sleep well and she misses him terribly. When word comes in that her brother left something in France during the war, Claire does whatever she can to retrieve the "thing" her brother left behind, despite the strong protests from her mother and especially her brother, Mathew. Simon truly helps Claire, not only with retrieving the "thing" Anthony left behind but he also bring her peace of mind. There is something truly comforting in their relationship. She is able to open up to Simon when she struggles to let go of control and the pain of losing one of her best friends. Their love is utterly lovely and warm. I felt their comfort with each other. I am so happy for both of them. This is a story about love, grief, and never giving up on family.
Profile Image for Sara Jo.
1,058 reviews11 followers
February 21, 2018
Claire is a bloody idiot. I could not stand her in this book!
Profile Image for Winnifred D..
867 reviews34 followers
May 13, 2021
This one falls solidly in the 3-star category for me. First off, I really liked the H for most of the book. He's a bit quirky, not a "beta" exactly, but he has a good sense of humor and seems like a caring guy. I enjoyed his banter with the h, who is prickly, but as the story goes on, her motivations make her more likable, even though at times her actions make little sense. Her brother is a jerk and her mother is under his thumb, so it's easy to feel some sympathy.

The plot starts off rather slowly and I was expecting a few more twists and turns, but this book is more drama than mystery/adventure, and everything moves along pretty predictably. I did like how H/h's relationship starts off in a caring way and isn't just based on insta-lust. This is not a sweet and clean romance, however; there is pre-marital sex. The sex scenes are steamy but tasteful.

Where things stumbled for me was the when the h frequently, foolishly, ran away from the H, becoming a typical damsel in distress. Also, the H seemed to become more "alpha" in response and less fun. I get that both characters needed to face the darkness of their pasts, but I could have done without the h recklessly putting herself in harm's way and the H blustering around about shaking her, wanting to strangle her, etc. When he tells her to stop thinking toward the end, I had that sinking feeling I often get when characters disappoint and dissolve into flat stereotypes.

This book would be close to 3 1/2 stars, though, if not for the editing errors. Too many misspellings and examples of misplaced punctuation can set my teeth on edge. I also have to mention that there are times when the dialog is too stilted. Characters don't need to keep repeating each other's names for the reader to know the speaker; simply provide dialog tags. (For some reason, this author avoids such indications of who is speaking. Not sure why. It would have made reading a bit smoother.)

Overall: not a bad read if you have time to kill.
Profile Image for Sandy Digger.
536 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2017
Really good

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It started with Claire and her meeting in the village with an unknown person who had sent her a note saying that her deceased brother, Anthony, had left something behind in France and to meet with them if she wanted to know what. She runs into Lord Kelkirk, Simon, who demands to know where she is going and why. She avoids him by running off but doesn't get to complete her errand. She and Simon have had a feisty relationship where she taunts him and ignores him. He has always been taken with Claire and finds himself worried about what she was doing alone.
Things come to a head when her brother, Matthew intercepts another note to her telling her that they have her brother's child but will abandon him in seven days if she doesn't come to claim him. Matthew doesn't believe there is a child and refuses to let her go or send anyone for it. So she devises a plan to go herself while pretending to go to the country with her friends, the Duke and Duchess. This begins the wildest trip along with Simon who catches her trying to sneak off. Such a good story. The author is so realistic in her writing that you get totally involved with the characters.
1,354 reviews18 followers
July 9, 2025
This is the second book in the Regency Rakes series by Wendy Vella. Miss Claire Belmont is determined to uncover a secret that her late brother Anthony left behind in France, despite her family’s objections. Claire turns to Viscount Simon Kelkirk, a man Claire has always avoided due to his unorthodox behavior. As they work together, Claire realizes that her fears about him were justified—he disrupts her carefully controlled life and sees the vulnerable woman beneath her polite facade. Anthony went to war came home wounded and dying. Claire receives a note stating that Anthony had fathered a child and she should come to France to pick up his young son Louis. Claire’s family doesn’t believe that Louis exists and advises her not to pursue going to France. This novel explores themes of grief, love, and personal transformation in the elegant world of Regency England. I really enjoyed this wonderful historical Regency romance novel.
Profile Image for Cait M.
1,306 reviews9 followers
May 21, 2021
Loved it! 4.5 stars.
Simon and Claire. Enemies-to lovers/road trip romance. Great dialogue and chemistry between the two. Simon can't really understand what he's done to make Claire want to cross verbal swords with him at every opportunity, but he secretly revels in it. Claire doesn't know what exactly it is about Simon that rubs her the wrong way, but she can't seem to stop sparring with him every time they meet, which is regularly as they share best friends.

When Simon discovers that Claire needs to journey to Liverpool to answer a mysterious summons he insists on accompanying her. Claire wants to go alone, but Simon won't be dissuaded, worried for her safety.

Loved the two main characters and the whole set up. Nicely wrapped up with a bow at the end.

This book contains descriptive love scenes.
2,102 reviews37 followers
September 30, 2017
Well~written and with a clever twist to it that I found most uncommon in most of the romances I have read relating to this genre. Lady Claire's dilemma stems from the opposition of her mother and her older brother to a plan she is contemplating to put into action which is also way out of her comfort zone; and this time, without her family's knowledge. Enter Simon her constant thorn and sticking like the the proverbial burr; and both embark on a journey to Liverpool to solve a conundrum. They both accomplished their mission and ending up solving another puzzle, their own relationship. Ms. Vella did this masterfully, I want more from this author! She is quite unusual and wonderfully different from the usual crop plus she knows her genre and timeline.
Profile Image for Cindy.
1,846 reviews13 followers
November 20, 2018
This is part of a series. It can be read as a stand alone. I've never read this author before - this was a freebie on Amazon.

So, I was really glad I got this for free. The first 5 chapters were torture. I was really going to give this one 2 stars. Then, it started to improve. Although the rest of the story became more interesting & I really liked Simon, it just didn't do much for me. Claire was supposed to be a well mannered, prim heroine. The author set her up though as also intelligent. Unfortunately, when she then acts in stupid, thoughtless ways, you stop rooting for her. Her character has too many twists & changes every chapter.
This just isn't an author I'm interested in.
Profile Image for D Call.
666 reviews29 followers
June 14, 2019
Excellent story

Claire and Simon crash into each other in a not great part of town, and now Simon knows Claire is up to something. Claire is determined to do what she thinks is right, and is prepared to travel to Liverpool alone. Simon won't have it. This is their love story.

Very well developed characters. I loved that Claire has insomnia and that Simon needs to feel soil to calm racing thoughts. Plot moved along well, but nothing tense like Eva's and Daniel's story.

Stand alone HEA.

Contains sex scenes, swear words (mostly the Lord's name in vain), and violence (fist fight, attempted sexual harassment).
Profile Image for Holly Bargo.
Author 41 books144 followers
February 1, 2020
Good storytelling, idiotic heroine

There's a telling bit of dialogue near the end of this story in which the hero bids the heroine to stop thinking, because it causes her to do stupid things. If you can handle a heroine who jumps to conclusions and displays poor decision-making skills, then you'll like this book. I don't. What redeemed the book for me was the hero who exerts extreme tolerance and forgiveness, because, for some unfathomable reason, he falls in love with the idiot heroine. The heroine's one redeeming feature is her big heart, which in Recency England would have been unusual to go after and retrieve her deceased brother's bastard child.
Profile Image for Lana Birky.
1,654 reviews22 followers
August 21, 2023
A delightful Regency romance novella that will warm your heart this Christmas season. The author delivers a charming story of two unlikely lovers who find each other in the midst of danger and intrigue. Ivy Redfern is a spirited heroine who is determined to save her brother from a mysterious disappearance. Rory Haddon is a notorious rake who agrees to help Ivy but soon finds himself captivated by her courage and beauty. Together, they face perilous obstacles and discover the true meaning of love and trust. Rescued by a Rake is a fast-paced, engaging, and satisfying read that will make you smile and swoon.
4 reviews
December 21, 2021
Implausible story however an easy read

I rated this three stars as there were a number of inaccuracies. The UK did not become the UK until 1922.This is over 100 years after the Regency period. I also find it very irritating when Non English writers misuse English titles. Claire Belmont is is the first book and one of the main characters in book 2. It is not until nearly three quarters through the book 2 that you are told her brother is a Marquis. She should have been styled Lady Claire not Miss Belmont.
964 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2024
enjoyable romantic adventure

It’s an adventure and an emotional awakening for a very tired emotionally lonely heartbroken women. Claire did not feel close to her oldest brother. Her older brother died leaving her grieving and lost. the relationship between Claire and Simon is of frenemies, constantly provoking and challenging. Simon turns out to be quite wonderful and not expected. Their relationship grows as they weather adversity on their travels together. Much of their problems are created by Claire’s insecurities and impulses. It’s a sweet quick read.
267 reviews2 followers
October 1, 2017
C'est si bon!! An engaging, light read to escape to.

If you need a break from the news - and, who doesn't? - this is the place to be. Fully-fleshed characters who are fun to get to know & spend time with. I, for one, want to read the butler's story, too. THAT would be a different take on the usual Regency tale... but after you finish this, you'll want the same thing. Dig in & enjoy yourself. You won't regret it.
3,534 reviews14 followers
November 3, 2017
Rescued By A Viscount by Wendy Vella is a fabulous historical romance. Ms Vella has delivered a well-written book and furnished it with amazing, lovable characters. Claire and Simon’s story is full of drama, action, sizzle and humor. I totally loved this book and look forward to reading more from Wendy Vella soon. Rescued By A Viscount is book 2 of The Regency Rakes Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
227 reviews
May 29, 2018
This is the story of Claire and Simon. These two seem to always be on the outs. When Simon sees Claire in a bad part of town wearing old clothes, he wonders what she is doing. He follows her to balls and confronts her about this. She tries to avoid telling him, but he insists and then accompanies her to Liverpool. Along the way they realize they are in love. They rescue her dead brother's child and return to London. Can Claire really believe Simon loves her?
Profile Image for Deanna.
1,079 reviews19 followers
January 15, 2019
Wow, put this on your to read list

I have never read a book by this author before but I will from now on.
This was an amazing story of strength and determination in someone who had no expectations of herself. She saw herself as lacking but her companion could only look on her with awe and often with a desire to give her a good shake in frustration. I very enjoyable love story not to be missed.
3,192 reviews66 followers
March 6, 2019
A freebie that had good elements but unfortunately the h was tstl. She's so out of touch with reality, brainless really, and argued constantly with almost everyone. I found it hard to believe that the H fell in love with her. He had some odd behaviours and his history was rather extreme, but I liked him well enough. Her family were also extreme in their denials, their reactions didn't seem logical but it explained her stupidity being genetic. Didn't like the characters.
40 reviews
August 29, 2021
The plural of woman is women…

In every single book of this author that I’ve read, she gets that wrong. She also insists on using “l” when the pronoun is in the objective case and “me” is required. She also frequently uses singular verbs when the plural is needed and in general presents her readers with hastily edited texts, often containing sentence leftovers that should have been deleted. Would it kill her to hire a decent copy editor?
Profile Image for Theresa.
71 reviews
October 6, 2017
A steady ride chapter to chapter!

the characters grew page by page in strength and depth...no cardboard characters here...the writer did what most writers strive to do: kept up the readers interest while presenting problems that they, the characters, could solve and without the reader becoming bored and writing out the script!
Profile Image for DKM.
148 reviews
October 14, 2017
This novel is replete with grammatical errors. I do not understand how neither the writer nor the editor has a basic understanding of grammar. Is the whole world ignorant of pronoun case? I expect math teachers to know the rules of addition, subtraction, and multiplication. In much the same way, I expect writers to know basic rules of grammar.
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