Saving the Viscount

The Stratford Family #2

by Kelsey Swanson

He is broken in both body and soul...

George Stratford, Viscount Sommerfeld, is accustomed to being a man envied. As the eldest son of the Earl of Aldborough, he stands to inherit numerous properties and wealth along with a powerful title. He is well-liked among the ton and widely considered a man with a jovial disposition, winning smile, and sharp wit. Unfortunately for George, a tragic, violent injury lays him low and cripples his body as well as his future. His lack of improvement knocks his life from its seemingly unwavering course and plunges him into a dark hole simmering with anger and bitterness. Gone is the affable man, and in his place is a wounded lion who'd rather hold everyone at bay with claws and vicious, biting words than reveal to the world the true depth of his pain.

She has nowhere to call home...

Meredith Pryce has spent her life on the outside. An unwanted daughter of a lord who'd resented his Scottish wife, she'd been foisted off on her mother's relatives and found solace in books and the the unconventional comfort of her uncle's medical practice before being married off to a man decades her senior. Her husband's death leaves her as the Dowager Baroness Gallwell, but her stepson, the new baron, makes it clear she's no longer safe or welcome in her home. What follows is a life of deprivation as she bounces from one home to the next, forever without security or the warmth of a family. When she's generously invited to stay at Rosehall, she hardly expects to be confronted with an embittered viscount with a permanent scowl. Nor does she expect that her past will play a vital role in saving them both.

Can she show him life is still worth living? And can he teach her what love and acceptance are? Follow the eldest Stratford sibling as he overcomes his shattered sense of self and teaches a lost woman the true meaning of family.

Witty banter, fiery passion, and steamy desire flow throughout this second book in "The Stratford Family" series; part of an interwoven, multilayered set of books with overlapping characters and plots. Fall in love with Kelsey Swanson's world of Regency Romance.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Regency, Romance, Forced Proximity

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one by Kelsey!

I always thought I wasn't a fan of historical romance (or either of those genres separately), but it turns out I just haven't read the right books. I LOVE the world and the relationships that Kelsey have created. They feel so much more genuine and real, and the conflict is nothing like the over-the-top chaos I've read in the past. I can't wait to see where this series goes, and to read more from Kelsey.

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelsey Swanson is a new author for me. This is only my 6th book by her. My first book by her was The Viscount's Second Chance from her Later in Life series and really liked it so I picked up her Spy Society series and LOVED it. I wanted to definitely pick up more books by her. This series was on my list. :)

I loved Book 1 of this series. It was so good I added it to my favorite reads for Feb, 2026. I don't normally get to read series back to back and it usually takes me a minute to remember the story as I could ready anywhere from 40-60 books or more between series releases. And even though I am reading this one back to back, I was glad to read at the beginning Kelsey added a few paragraphs of a recap to help folks remember what happened in the prior book. Very smart. I really liked George and Meredith. George's story was a great storyline. I loved how they were with each other. Overall a really good read. Even though I haven't been reading Kelsey Swanson long, I really love her books.

[Miss Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunningly beautiful story by Kelsey Swanson. I absolutely adored the first book in this series but honest to god this story of George and Meredith’s story was will have your heart aching for more.

I’ve never made a secret of the fact that historical romance was never my go-to read, but Kelsey Swanson and this series are fast becoming one of my favourites.

I find it fascinating that whilst Kelsey Swanson seems to adhere to the etiquette and ways of the time, she also delivers it in a way that brings it to full technicolour magic. She makes it relevant to us today and the underlying message to take away is relevant and heartfelt.

George is an absolutely stunning character. He is a man who has lived through pain that would literally knock us on our butts today. Watching him live minute by minute barely breathing through the pain was heart rendering to watch. I wanted to reach through the pages to hug him and beg him not to give up.

Meredith is a woman who stood out. She may have been down on her luck but she has a steel backbone and a strength to survive that would put many people to shame today.

I admired her need to help George, both physically and mentally. The way she cajoled him out of his depression was awe inspiring.

The addition of Jeremy and Lily, who had more than a side role just added to the beauty. They were a fundamental
part of this story, whilst taking nothing away from the two main characters.

This is, without a single doubt, one of the most heartfelt and heart rendering stories I’ve read recently. Kelsey Swanson portrayed George and Meredith to perfection. The pain was palpable. The depth, breathtaking.

I cannot recommend this story highly enough.
5 stars is nowhere near enough to do this beautiful read justice.

[My_every_day_chilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was a little slow, but once you get past it it becomes quite interesting with all the science behind healing or helping George with his pain.
The time line confused me a bit, I had the impression Meredith was called because Lily was almost due with her pregnant, but that dragged on for weeks and weeks.
It's written in 3rd person POV, multiple POV's, all mixed up in the same chapter and scene - a bit confusing to follow, but readable.
There was a lot of banter throughout the story between the MC's and their chemistry was high. This is not a clean historical romance, there are a few scenes, fade to black and explicit (which I had to skip), so watch out for that if that is not your thing.
I did find the blurb misleading. It speaks about how George taught Meredith she can find love in a family and to trust in love; but the whole book was about her healing him.

[Caligirlkrys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy wounded alpha with a heart of gold? Yes, please!

I loved this story so much! This is a new to me author and I am now a huge fan. George suffered a terrible injury that changed his life and his battle to accept and overcome it was written so well. I appreciate the authenticity that went into his struggles and I can understand and relate to him. Meredith is an amazing young woman. The characters are all well written and the attention to detail was the cherry on top. There is lots of chemistry between George and Meredith and I’m always a sucker for a story with an enemies to lovers type trope. I look forward to reading Kelsey’s other books!

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt and Sensuous

I loved this book. I had read Baron’s Folly and was looking forward to this one. It wasn’t long before I immersed again into their world and life. The tropes in this book are one of my favorites and the author did a great job in creating the perfect characters for one another. I found their love story intriguing, sensuous, and captivating. A must read. I can’t wait to read about the youngest brother next.

[Lwalalba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story

This was a beautiful story of George's trials after his shooting in the first book. I would recommend reading the books in order. George was indeed saved from himself and a life of pain by Meredith, a widow and relation of Jeremy's who also is very smart and loves medicine after growing up with her uncle. The emotional pull in this one was strong. Loved it 💕

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the premise of this book immensely. A woman in 1818 England has been allowed to read medical books and discuss treatments with a beloved uncle in Edinburgh. She’s made friends with a man who was mentored by her uncle and who pursues medicine, something she is not allowed to do. The student has shared his notes and textbooks from medical school with her.

This woman is our heroine, Lady Meredith, the Dowager Duchess of Gallwell, who is a red-haired Scots woman on her mother’s side, with a fiery temper. Our hero is George Stratford, Viscount Sommerfield who will someday assume the title of Earl of Aldborough. A tragic accident left him in torturous pain that will not ebb after numerous surgeries and an infection that almost cost him his life. He went from the golden icon of the ton to a crippled, embittered man.

Meredith is at sixes and sevens. She is destitute and must live on the charity of friends and distant relations. She arrives at Rosehall, the estate of her distant cousin by marriage, Jeremy Balfour, Baron Shefford, and his wife, Lily, Lady Shefford, to keep Lily company during her confinement while she is pregnant. George Stratford is Lily’s brother and Jeremy’s best friend; he is staying with them to recuperate in the clean, country air. He has become addicted to laudanum which many physicians of the time do not believe is possible since it is "only" an opiate in an alcohol base and a popular pain-reliever.

The setup is excellent. All the pieces are ready for a bang-up tale. Meredith is in a position to help George recover his strength and the use of his injured leg, as well as recover from his laudanum addiction. With help from her old friend and her uncle’s mentee, Dr. Ian McCollum, she sets out to help him. The tale has wonderful bones.

There are some problems, unfortunately. The book has a tendency to drone on. At 10% completion, all we’ve read about is George’s painful life and his frustration dealing with it, as well as his frequent use of laudanum. Jeremy and Lily seem inadvertently cruel – they push George into activities that cause him great pain to the point of his passing out, all in the name of making him better. This takes us well into chapter 3 when we finally meet Meredith as she arrives at Rosehall. At 22% completion (chapter 7), we are still waiting for something to happen. All parties are introduced. Everything seems to be ready for action. But still we plod along. At 40% completion (chapter 11), we finally get to see something happen. Meredith begins to treat George…whew…at last!

There are some errors:
 There is a missing preposition: “…traveling gown had not been made for days this heat…” Perhaps this should read, “…for days in this heat…”
 The verb, comprised, is undergoing change in the English language, but it is yet standard for the whole to comprise its parts. So, “…a little seating area comprised of two upholstered chairs…” should be written, more properly, as “…a little seating area comprising two upholstered chairs…” or “…a little seating area composed of two upholstered chairs…” In short, “comprise” means to be made up of and “compose” means to make up.
 Semicolons are sometimes used in place of a comma or a period. For instance, “She turned from Jeremy back to George; “’That is if he doesn’t vex me overmuch.’” If the writer is using “She turned from Jeremy back to George” as a speech tag, then a comma could be used: “…back to George, “That is if he doesn’t vex me…” If these are two different sentences, then a period would be more appropriate.
 On occasion, a colon is used the same way a semicolon is, at times, utilized: …he reminded the irate baron of everything he’d lost:” The bets are binding…” The colon is odd and would read better if replaced with a period. Also, the spacing gives the appearance of ending a dialogue and that is not correct. This should read, …he reminded the irate baron of everything he’d lost. “The bets are binding…”
 There is at times, odd spacing. For instance, “I beg your pardon,” she began, her tone indignant,” but it would seem…” The quotation marks immediately after “indignant” make it appear that this is the end of someone’s dialogue. It is not. This should read, “I beg your pardon,” she began, her tone indignant, “but it would seem…”
 Dashes are sometimes oddly spaced. For instance,
“This would work —even if he wouldn’t admit as much…" This is an “em-dash” and should be spaced like this: “This would work—even if he wouldn’t admit as much…” CMOS (The Chicago Manual of Style”) states, that in British usage, the en-dash is preferred and utilizes a space before and after the en-dash, like this: “This would work – even if he wouldn’t admit as much.”
 The word, “fiancé,” is oddly punctuated: “Meredith glanced in her fian’cés direction…” This should read, “Meredith glanced in her fiancé’s direction…”

There are some passages that make a reader pause. For instance:
 “Lily exclaimed against her shoulder; the petite blonde’s chin was just high enough to rest there…” [on Meredith’s shoulder]. If one’s chin can rest on another’s shoulder, they are near the same height. Later in the story, we learn that Lily is very petite and much shorter than Meredith.
 Lady Meredith is an outspoken woman of Scottish heritage; we’re reminded of this several times. Upon meeting George, she states, “If you’re not feverish from an ailment and your head hasn’t take a recent blow, then the next logical diagnosis would indicate opiate intoxication.” Remember she’s only just made George’s acquaintance, and these are Regency times. She hasn’t examined him. There are a lot of issues between being feverish or receiving a blow to the head and opiate intoxication. Plus…Regency era would never allow such a discussion, even from a fiery Scottish woman. It feels off.
 This is personal, but I disagree with Meredith who states, “Broken implied beyond repair; a wound could be healed.” Centuries old Japanese kintsugi upholds that things that are broken can be mended into something even more beautiful.

I rated this book 3-stars. The premise and plotline were good. I’d never read a book with this premise before and the attention to details about wound care, rehabilitation, and laudanum usage in the early 19th century is excellent. I was impressed. Unfortunately, the pace of the book was very slow and at times, speedreading was required to get through repetition; the action did not begin until the eleventh chapter, when 40% of the book had been completed. Also, I did not care for how Jeremy and Lily treated George initially. Lily badgered George into activities that caused him more pain which then caused him to take more laudanum. She knew he was in pain and kept at him to do more than he was physically able. I truly liked the premise and plot, but the story dragged and at times became tedious. I’d like to read another book by Ms. Swanson, although not of the Stratford family. I like her plots and admire her imaginative approach to her story. I’m curious about her other books and will be looking for another very soon.

[Ann M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving the Viscount is the 2nd book in The Stratford Family series by Kelsey Swanson. The books of the series are interwoven (both character and plot overlap), but but is a perfectly delightful story to read as a stand-alone. It is a Regency romance featuring forced proximity, enemies to friends to lovers and a healthy dose of steam.

George Stratford, Viscount Sommerfeld, was once a favorite amongst the ton because of his wealth and title as well as his jovial disposition and sharp wit. After a tragic accident his body is crippled by a violent injury and his mind is full of darkness and anger. Torn from his old lifestyle and broken in both body and soul he seeks refuge from the laudanum-induced reverie. His mercurial moods keep everyone at arms length until he meets Meredith Pryce – an unconventional woman, who grew up with her head in the medical books, thanks to her uncle’s medical practice, before being married off to a Baron decades her senior. Now the Dowager Baroness Gallwell, she has nowhere to call home anymore, so she is forced to bounce from one place to another as a houseguest. Being invited to stay at Rosehall, she meets the embittered Viscount. Both of them lost in their own way – they now have to learn, that past scars do not define them. Can George find his life worth living once more? Can Meredith learn what it truly feels like to have a family, to feel loved and accepted?

The story is very well written and flows effortlessly, the writing style is easy to follow, descriptive and fluent, and so the book pulls you right into the regency England. I once again thoroughly enjoyed the world the author has created, especially the multi-layered relationships between the characters. Kelsey Swanson is definitely one of the authors I would suggest to read, and that is even if historical romance is not exactly your first go-to. She has this wonderful way of combining modern-day problems with historical setups to create an interesting story and deliver a strong point.

The characters feel genuine and realistic – like real people in your life with their faults and problems. I loved the first book of the series, so I couldn’t wait to see where the story was going – I knew I liked George for a reason. He is a fascinating character – a man who manages to find life worth living again despite the loss, pain and disappointment he has endured, a man with great limitations, but also great willpower. Was it easy for him, absolutely not – and that’s what makes the story so compelling. Meredith is yet another outstanding character with a sharp mind, remarkable backbone and unbelievable determination. I really enjoyed their interactions, how step by little step George improved both physically and mentally, how Meredith found a way to help him find the motivation and at the same time she started her own healing process. There were little triumphs, but also some setbacks – everything cannot be perfect, can it – in fact, if it is too perfect, it becomes unrealistic. Healing is a long process that doesn’t happen overnight and the author has perfectly captured the nature of it – very well done. It was also lovely meeting Jeremy and Lily again. It was a heartfelt and inspiring story with a lot of emotion – you could feel the pain, but also the passion and joy. One moment it was sweet and sensual, then fierce and even dramatic. All in all it is a great story and I really enjoyed reading it, cannot wait for the next book in this series.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored George and Meredith's story, which manages to be sweet, gentle, sensual, and fierce, all at the same time.

You'll want to read The Baron's Folly first so you can see how being shot and permanently injured while protecting his best friend and sister changes George from the carefree golden boy to the caged lion that we find when this story opens. Nothing but increasing doses of laudanum are able to quell his pain--until Meredith, the widowed Lady Gallwell, arrives to stay with the Sheffords. Meredith provides comfort and companionship to Lily, who is expecting their second child, and she's also not afraid of snarls and roars from George. The only thing that intimidates her about the Viscount Sommerfield is how that wet shirt clings to his chest...

Meredith has some medical knowledge and is determined to help George, whether he likes it or not. Her spirit is more than a match for his teasing taunts; after all, it hasn't broken her to be forced to flee her home after cruel treatment from the stepson who has left her without a penny. Meredith dares George to try a new treatment for his wound. He dares her to give into her attraction for him.

He has a long way to go to set himself on the path to healing, and she has to learn to trust him, but the way these two find each other is soulful and so satisfying. Their emotional connection is as compelling as the love scenes. Swanson's prose is lush and deeply situation in the period, paying attention to the language, etiquette, and conventions that govern people of their social class, but crafting a heartfelt story with great appeal. I cheered when these two finally confessed their love, and I am looking forward to seeing who wins the studious Simon's heart in the next installment.

[Mave Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving the Viscount by Kelsey Swanson is another well crafted regency romance. This is the second book in her Stratford Family series. I wouldn't suggest reading it as a standalone as some key factors rely on the first book events. This book gets a bit spicier than the last and she draws out the tension more expertly than her last book. There are some darker sub plots in this one so I want to caution readers to check trigger warnings.
Enter George and Meredith, the leads of this wonderful story. These two have quite a journey to tread in the course of their story and I was there for every second. George has to learn to accept a life he never imagined for himself, for better or worse he can't turn back time. Meredith is similar in that everything she's known is stripped from her, and she is powerless to fight the inevitable. They are thrown together through serendipity and together they try to find a way to accept their individual circumstances.
I stayed up late reading this. I couldn't fathom what was going to happen, constantly thinking that the worst had happened and then something else would drop. I loved it. Meredith is probably my favorite of the female leads Swanson has written so far, and her lion George is as endearing as he is grouchy. A must read for those who enjoy spice, regency and romance plus somewhat of a comeback story.

[Kelsey Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall in love all over again in this continuation of "The Stratford Family" series. George, Viscount Sommerfeld, is the oldest Stratford child and heir to the Earldom of Aldborough. He's known for his charm, golden good looks, and easy smile. His life takes a sharp turn when a horrible accident threatens to steal away everything he's loved and enjoyed. It isn't until a fiery-haired widow comes into his world that he sees that his life may not be over after all.

George and Meredith don't set off their relationship on the best foot; neither is very trusting and each of them have their own reasons to keep one another at arm's length. Gradually, Meredith earns George's trust and he, in turn, works his way into her heart. Together, they learn that their scars do not define them.

Brimming with witty banter, forced proximity, characters damaged in both body and soul, and the return of favorite characters from the first installation in the series, "Saving the Viscount" is a delicious follow-up to Kelsey Swanson's debut novel.

NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Viscoun...

[Stacie Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story

This was a great story of a strong but worn down woman finding respite by helping a pained (physical and mental) man heal.
Our lady is a widow with nowhere to go except to accept hospitality from others. As she comes to stay with a long-distance cousin, she finds another house guest there is so much torment.
Our MMC has an injured leg from a wound and is addicted to opiates. His life is in a downward spiral and he feels useless and hopeless.
Our lady is trained enough in medicine to help him find alternative treatments, and that leads them to much time spent together and at the lake. Passions bloom, but time and time again they are thwarted before they can indulge, which leads to much anticipation.
I enjoyed how the story wrapped up in the last third of the book. I liked how they struggled with their own pride and views and realized they couldn’t be without one another.
This was a beautiful story. I am interested to see what happens next!

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in "The Stratford Family " series. It was an exciting, interesting, and well written story. I liked how some of the characters' lives carried over letting us know how their lives continued. It included a loss of a loved one, pain and suffering, a forced hardship, a delightful county faire, really good card playing, good knowledge of medicine, a ball, a card game to reclaim past wrongs, beautiful romance throughout with delicious steam, and so much more. It spoke of the good medical knowledge of medical treatments for healing the body from physical trauma and a dependency on laudinum. I enjoyed that despite all the complexities and struggles endured, a true and forever love evolves. I highly recommend reading!

[Shalene Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meredith and George are a mismatched pair right from the start.
George resents his handicap, and, of course, who can blame him, but he handles it very poorly with the people around him.
Meredith fancies herself a woman of medicine, and rightfully so, with the mentoring she has received.
There is, perhaps, a smidge of enemies to lovers here. There would have to be with a crank like George in the beginning of this book.
The chemistry between the two is undeniable. And it’s a pleasure to watch their relationship unfold, despite all of the obstacles in their path, which include themselves.

[NelleRenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story has a lot of emotion as the hero is an angry man and the heroine has been emotionally neglected and pushed around. How they find each other and obtain happiness makes for a good read. I enjoyed some of the minor characters also. The author is very descriptive. I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Grace Farnsworth PA · Rating 4 out of 5]

would read again

I have never related to a character as much as I related to George.

I fully understand his pain, his @dd!ction, and getting lost so deep in your physical pain that you don’t hear people even speaking to you.

Meredith was a spot fire. I loved every quip she threw at him.

[A.T. Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet grumpy-sunshine romance

I enjoyed this work by Kelsey Swanson. The characters were very vivid and relatable, and I loved the tension between them. The story was a bit longer than I would like, but it made up for it in quality and a good plot.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful couple

George and Meredith are such an amazing match. I loved reading their story and I can’t wait to read more.

[Bookstabritni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It has so much depth and I was really invested in all the characters’ lives. I really hope we get a third book about the brother.

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute historical romance, spice is fun. Nice lake moment that felt reminiscent of the P&P scene with Collin Firth.

[Mary Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this second in the series - have added it to my re-read worthy list!