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Rescued By The Rakish Lord
A forced proximity, high society romance set in the late Georgian era
A man of such dubious reputation…
that he was called Devil Blackbourne!
When Lord Deveril Blackbourne meets Selina Wynter, he is intrigued. For she has all the accomplishments of a lady, but the fiery temper and spirit of a tavern maid! Then she is abducted by a dastardly suitor, and Deveril—for all his roguish reputation—can't stand idly by…
Lord Deveril is Selina’s least likely rescuer, but when they’re stranded together in a snowstorm and her reputation is at risk, he surprises her with a gallant proposal! Deveril’s no honorable suitor, yet his actions say otherwise… Just who is the real Devil Blackbourne? Selina’s determined to find out!
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
A man of such dubious reputation…
that he was called Devil Blackbourne!
When Lord Deveril Blackbourne meets Selina Wynter, he is intrigued. For she has all the accomplishments of a lady, but the fiery temper and spirit of a tavern maid! Then she is abducted by a dastardly suitor, and Deveril—for all his roguish reputation—can't stand idly by…
Lord Deveril is Selina’s least likely rescuer, but when they’re stranded together in a snowstorm and her reputation is at risk, he surprises her with a gallant proposal! Deveril’s no honorable suitor, yet his actions say otherwise… Just who is the real Devil Blackbourne? Selina’s determined to find out!
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2026
About the author
Sarah Mallory
216 books118 followersSarah Mallory is the pen name for Melinda Hammond.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 23, 2026
I read this completely blind; I didn't read the back blurb, and so I had no idea what it was about. The only reason I bought this and dived straight into reading it was that it is a Sarah Mallory book; that's it, simple. Sarah is one of my go-to historical romance authors; she never disappoints. I will happily read anything she's written - phonebooks, menus (you get the gist).
OK, another reason why I was so keen on grabbing this one is that I love the cover too: I am a sucker for a dashing rogue and pretty covers; yes, I am a bit shallow, LOL! But essentially it's a Sarah Mallory story, and I needed to read it, and once again Sarah does not disappoint!
And this has so much to love about: sexy as hell, highwayman lookalike hero, villains, kidnappings, misunderstandings, will-they-won't-they story after being trapped together in a snowed-in inn.
I do love a forced-proximity love story, don't you?
Though it starts as a stuck-together-in-a-snowstorm story, where the chemistry builds and each sees the other in new lights, I do think that their romance really blossoms once they are out of the inn; rides on the estate, those few moments together, which is also where they both mess it all up, and you start to wonder if they ever get it together.
Selina has been batting off the unwanted attention of their neighbour for years; he thinks they should marry only so that his family will control her land, but Selina is resolute and keeps rebuffing his advances until one day he kidnaps her and attempts to drag her off to Gretna Green. Thank goodness for the snowstorm and that they become stuck at an inn, phew!
Deveril is a smart cookie; he soon puts the clues together and sets off to rescue her from the unwanted advances from the villain - yup, it's all very fairy tale! They are all stuck in that very little in n together, kidnapper, rescuer and Selina in the middle. Sparks fly, the lingering glances, nothing happens between them; this is a pure and incredibly clean romance, but the atmosphere crackles between them, Sarah Mallory as ever, really hits you with that emotional bomb, her charcterss are always beautyifully written, Deveril and Selina are perfect together, though there is a lot of misunderstandings that send them in different directions, but you know that they will eventually find the same path.
I have never, ever related to a character as much as I did Selina; she spoke to me on a very personal level, every thought spoke to me, her actions resonate with me. I feel a real connection with her, and I do think she will stay with me for a long time.
She has given her life to care for her father, sacrificed so much to look after him; his happiness and his wants are always a priority. Somewhere down the line, Selena has lost a little of herself; like so many carers, she has given her life for him, and now her entire life is devoted to him. Her own dreams and desires have become lost in the past, a distant memory. Others don't understand her and her life and her choices, but I do, and every other unpaid carer out there does too.
I adore the way that Deveril and Selina met; it's wonderful and made me smile so much. Selina has taken it upon herself to help out at the local inn until the new landlords arrive. Things were becoming a little riotous; under an alias and with a broom in hand, she's ready to clobber any who disrupts the peace and then literally out of the shadows comes a strikingly handsome rogue who more resembles a highwayman. The chemistry is instant; the air crackles as their eyes catch in the moonlight, breath holds, skin tingles at their nearness, and then a slow, seductive smile and Selina (plus every other red-blooded woman) is lost.
My only niggle is that I don't think Deveril is as much of a rake or 'devil' as the title states. Yes, he's a young man who's had a jolly good time in his youth; he's done things that he isn't proud of, made mistakes, fought a few duels and had fun with a few ladies, but he isn't bad. He's a man of lots of regret; he regrets some of the things he has done in his youth, and I do think that because of this dastardly reputation and past events, he secluded himself from the world, and in doing so there is a vulnerability and loneliness about him that instantly makes you want to hug the man.
This book came along at the most perfect time. I found myself in a little book slump, things going on in the background that I won't go into, the incessant heatwaves (are we ever going to see the end of Summer...groans!!) it really impacted my reading and concentration, so I once again reached for comfort in the form of a much-loved author. As always, Sarah Mallory has made me smile; she's untied the reading block knot that I was carrying with her comforting and heart-happy story, and as I knew it would devoured this story, and afterwards I felt ready to reach for another book again.
I am a little sad after reading this, though, as now M&B/Harlequin have discontinued the historical line; this could be (though I hope it isn't) the last Sarah Mallory book from them. I really, really hope there will be at least one more, but if not, I will enjoy each one of Sarah's backlist.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed this one; it's a sweetly romantic and heartwarming story, one full of heart and lots of smiles, and perfect to cosy up with when the world gets a little messy.
OK, another reason why I was so keen on grabbing this one is that I love the cover too: I am a sucker for a dashing rogue and pretty covers; yes, I am a bit shallow, LOL! But essentially it's a Sarah Mallory story, and I needed to read it, and once again Sarah does not disappoint!
And this has so much to love about: sexy as hell, highwayman lookalike hero, villains, kidnappings, misunderstandings, will-they-won't-they story after being trapped together in a snowed-in inn.
I do love a forced-proximity love story, don't you?
Though it starts as a stuck-together-in-a-snowstorm story, where the chemistry builds and each sees the other in new lights, I do think that their romance really blossoms once they are out of the inn; rides on the estate, those few moments together, which is also where they both mess it all up, and you start to wonder if they ever get it together.
Selina has been batting off the unwanted attention of their neighbour for years; he thinks they should marry only so that his family will control her land, but Selina is resolute and keeps rebuffing his advances until one day he kidnaps her and attempts to drag her off to Gretna Green. Thank goodness for the snowstorm and that they become stuck at an inn, phew!
Deveril is a smart cookie; he soon puts the clues together and sets off to rescue her from the unwanted advances from the villain - yup, it's all very fairy tale! They are all stuck in that very little in n together, kidnapper, rescuer and Selina in the middle. Sparks fly, the lingering glances, nothing happens between them; this is a pure and incredibly clean romance, but the atmosphere crackles between them, Sarah Mallory as ever, really hits you with that emotional bomb, her charcterss are always beautyifully written, Deveril and Selina are perfect together, though there is a lot of misunderstandings that send them in different directions, but you know that they will eventually find the same path.
I have never, ever related to a character as much as I did Selina; she spoke to me on a very personal level, every thought spoke to me, her actions resonate with me. I feel a real connection with her, and I do think she will stay with me for a long time.
She has given her life to care for her father, sacrificed so much to look after him; his happiness and his wants are always a priority. Somewhere down the line, Selena has lost a little of herself; like so many carers, she has given her life for him, and now her entire life is devoted to him. Her own dreams and desires have become lost in the past, a distant memory. Others don't understand her and her life and her choices, but I do, and every other unpaid carer out there does too.
I adore the way that Deveril and Selina met; it's wonderful and made me smile so much. Selina has taken it upon herself to help out at the local inn until the new landlords arrive. Things were becoming a little riotous; under an alias and with a broom in hand, she's ready to clobber any who disrupts the peace and then literally out of the shadows comes a strikingly handsome rogue who more resembles a highwayman. The chemistry is instant; the air crackles as their eyes catch in the moonlight, breath holds, skin tingles at their nearness, and then a slow, seductive smile and Selina (plus every other red-blooded woman) is lost.
My only niggle is that I don't think Deveril is as much of a rake or 'devil' as the title states. Yes, he's a young man who's had a jolly good time in his youth; he's done things that he isn't proud of, made mistakes, fought a few duels and had fun with a few ladies, but he isn't bad. He's a man of lots of regret; he regrets some of the things he has done in his youth, and I do think that because of this dastardly reputation and past events, he secluded himself from the world, and in doing so there is a vulnerability and loneliness about him that instantly makes you want to hug the man.
This book came along at the most perfect time. I found myself in a little book slump, things going on in the background that I won't go into, the incessant heatwaves (are we ever going to see the end of Summer...groans!!) it really impacted my reading and concentration, so I once again reached for comfort in the form of a much-loved author. As always, Sarah Mallory has made me smile; she's untied the reading block knot that I was carrying with her comforting and heart-happy story, and as I knew it would devoured this story, and afterwards I felt ready to reach for another book again.
I am a little sad after reading this, though, as now M&B/Harlequin have discontinued the historical line; this could be (though I hope it isn't) the last Sarah Mallory book from them. I really, really hope there will be at least one more, but if not, I will enjoy each one of Sarah's backlist.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed this one; it's a sweetly romantic and heartwarming story, one full of heart and lots of smiles, and perfect to cosy up with when the world gets a little messy.
May 20, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ A solid romance read
Rescued by the Rakish Lord follows Selina, a strong-willed young woman who finds herself unexpectedly thrown together with the mysterious and charming Deveril. As danger, secrets, and growing attraction pull them closer, both are forced to confront their pasts and decide whether they’re willing to risk their hearts. It’s a romantic and emotional Regency story filled with tension, chemistry, and plenty of heartfelt moments.
Rescued by the Rakish Lord was a really enjoyable read and one of those books that’s easy to get lost in for a few hours.
I really liked the chemistry between Selina and Deveril. Their relationship felt natural and wasn’t rushed, which made the romance more satisfying. Selina was easy to root for because she’s sensible and strong without feeling overly perfect, and Deveril had just enough charm and emotional baggage to make him interesting instead of frustrating.
The story kept me engaged the whole way through, although the middle section slowed down a bit at times and I found myself wanting a little more tension near the end. A couple of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out more too.
That said, it was still a warm, entertaining historical romance with characters I genuinely cared about. Definitely worth reading if you like emotional romances with a protective hero and a heroine who can hold her own.
Rescued by the Rakish Lord follows Selina, a strong-willed young woman who finds herself unexpectedly thrown together with the mysterious and charming Deveril. As danger, secrets, and growing attraction pull them closer, both are forced to confront their pasts and decide whether they’re willing to risk their hearts. It’s a romantic and emotional Regency story filled with tension, chemistry, and plenty of heartfelt moments.
Rescued by the Rakish Lord was a really enjoyable read and one of those books that’s easy to get lost in for a few hours.
I really liked the chemistry between Selina and Deveril. Their relationship felt natural and wasn’t rushed, which made the romance more satisfying. Selina was easy to root for because she’s sensible and strong without feeling overly perfect, and Deveril had just enough charm and emotional baggage to make him interesting instead of frustrating.
The story kept me engaged the whole way through, although the middle section slowed down a bit at times and I found myself wanting a little more tension near the end. A couple of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out more too.
That said, it was still a warm, entertaining historical romance with characters I genuinely cared about. Definitely worth reading if you like emotional romances with a protective hero and a heroine who can hold her own.
June 10, 2026
Selina Wynter’s ordered life is held to account when she encounters the enigmatic Lord Deveril Blackbourne who is staying near to her country home. Determined to keep her independence, Selina has rejected the idea of marriage but when a dastardly suitor attempts to abduct her it brings her into close contact, once again, with Blackbourne, with interesting repercussions.
I raced through the book in one sitting, comfortable with the plot as it took me from the relative safety of Selina’s sheltered home, to snow stranded days, and nights, in a country inn with roaring fires and hearty country meals. The simmering passion between Selina and Deveril is captured well and in the end I wanted a happy ending for them however, as we soon discover, true love never runs exactly to plan.
Once again, I have been transported back to the late Georgian era when women’s place in society was measured by their marriageable status. Selina is a feisty heroine, with a fiercely independent streak, and the handsome and charismatic Lord Deveril certainly meets his match in this passionate Regency romance which has all the hallmarks of this talented author’s fine writing.
April 25, 2026
The 'Devil' in the detail...
A brilliant story, with a lovely setting and a real feel of Georgian swagger about it. Deveril, 'Devil' , has the reputation of a rake but is actually far more of a gentleman than some of the other characters in this story. Indeed, our heroine Selina Wynter is beset by one manipulative, overindulged, lordling so much that our hero has to step in and save her from potential ruin. Selina is a self sufficient, managing 25 year old who is more than a match for anyone, but fears gossip because it has a bad effect on her sickly fathers health, made worse by her being subject to a campaign of coercion by her greedy neighbours who want to secure the land she will inherit on her father's death. Enemies to friends to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden love - it's got it all. Really enjoyed this book. Love a book where you can tell it's not Victorian pretending to be Regency but is actually Georgian because our hero wears a small sword on his hip and is prepared to use it. Brilliant. Five stars all the way.
A brilliant story, with a lovely setting and a real feel of Georgian swagger about it. Deveril, 'Devil' , has the reputation of a rake but is actually far more of a gentleman than some of the other characters in this story. Indeed, our heroine Selina Wynter is beset by one manipulative, overindulged, lordling so much that our hero has to step in and save her from potential ruin. Selina is a self sufficient, managing 25 year old who is more than a match for anyone, but fears gossip because it has a bad effect on her sickly fathers health, made worse by her being subject to a campaign of coercion by her greedy neighbours who want to secure the land she will inherit on her father's death. Enemies to friends to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden love - it's got it all. Really enjoyed this book. Love a book where you can tell it's not Victorian pretending to be Regency but is actually Georgian because our hero wears a small sword on his hip and is prepared to use it. Brilliant. Five stars all the way.
May 6, 2026
A Five Star Read
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are fresh and brilliantly executed.
It’s just such a satisfying romance to read. I loved the dynamic between Selina and Deveril—he has that classic rakish reputation, but there’s clearly more to him, which makes him really appealing as a hero.
Selina is just as strong in her own way, and I liked that she could hold her own. Their relationship has that nice balance of tension and warmth, and it’s easy to get invested in them.
It has all the elements you want from this kind of book, but it never feels overdone—just a really enjoyable, well-written romance you can sink into.
*engaging, likeable characters
* strong romantic chemistry
*classic feel without being too heavy
My thoughts in one posh sentence:
A thoroughly enjoyable Georgian romance with charm, warmth, and a wonderfully satisfying central pairing.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are fresh and brilliantly executed.
It’s just such a satisfying romance to read. I loved the dynamic between Selina and Deveril—he has that classic rakish reputation, but there’s clearly more to him, which makes him really appealing as a hero.
Selina is just as strong in her own way, and I liked that she could hold her own. Their relationship has that nice balance of tension and warmth, and it’s easy to get invested in them.
It has all the elements you want from this kind of book, but it never feels overdone—just a really enjoyable, well-written romance you can sink into.
*engaging, likeable characters
* strong romantic chemistry
*classic feel without being too heavy
My thoughts in one posh sentence:
A thoroughly enjoyable Georgian romance with charm, warmth, and a wonderfully satisfying central pairing.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Selina comes face to face with a devil in a suit, and she wants to know more. Society says she should have married by now, but leaving her beloved father isn't an option. But Deveril keeps popping up and she keeps hearing all about his sordid history. Can't they just be friends?
Ok, here's the thing! I knew, *KNEW* this was a Mills and Boon book going in, so I knew it was going to be clean and I still jumped in. I fully expected to not like it very much but actually, it really was just the book I needed at this point in the queue!
I loved that Selina knew she wasn't supposed to be out alone, but at 25, she was nearly classed as a spinster. Meeting Deveril was a breath of much needed fresh air, but she was scared, and rightly so since Deveril has a reputation as a ladies man, a love them and leave them type, but he does tend to stick to the young widows. Both Selina and Deveril were flaunting the rules of the time and I liked how they managed to circumnavigate them.
The suitor who manages to get them stranded needed a serious wake up call, even now, you don't do that! But I loved that Deveril had an option for Selina to keep her reputation intact.
She confuses him, she really does and no one has touched his heart the way Selina does, since his fiance died weeks before their wedding, years ago.
So, yes, it's clean, with some mild peril for Selina. It's not dark, or deadly. Nor steamy or smexy. There is no modern swearing. Full of all the rules of the time, though and I absolutely needed it at this point.
So, 4 thoroughly enjoyable, but not quite my usual reads, stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Selina comes face to face with a devil in a suit, and she wants to know more. Society says she should have married by now, but leaving her beloved father isn't an option. But Deveril keeps popping up and she keeps hearing all about his sordid history. Can't they just be friends?
Ok, here's the thing! I knew, *KNEW* this was a Mills and Boon book going in, so I knew it was going to be clean and I still jumped in. I fully expected to not like it very much but actually, it really was just the book I needed at this point in the queue!
I loved that Selina knew she wasn't supposed to be out alone, but at 25, she was nearly classed as a spinster. Meeting Deveril was a breath of much needed fresh air, but she was scared, and rightly so since Deveril has a reputation as a ladies man, a love them and leave them type, but he does tend to stick to the young widows. Both Selina and Deveril were flaunting the rules of the time and I liked how they managed to circumnavigate them.
The suitor who manages to get them stranded needed a serious wake up call, even now, you don't do that! But I loved that Deveril had an option for Selina to keep her reputation intact.
She confuses him, she really does and no one has touched his heart the way Selina does, since his fiance died weeks before their wedding, years ago.
So, yes, it's clean, with some mild peril for Selina. It's not dark, or deadly. Nor steamy or smexy. There is no modern swearing. Full of all the rules of the time, though and I absolutely needed it at this point.
So, 4 thoroughly enjoyable, but not quite my usual reads, stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
May 3, 2026
Loved this story
I may have read better written tales but I can't recall exactly where or when. The chemistry between these two leads was so strong that it made the whole story feel so lovely but sad and ended happy. I wish the ending could have been a bit longer.
I may have read better written tales but I can't recall exactly where or when. The chemistry between these two leads was so strong that it made the whole story feel so lovely but sad and ended happy. I wish the ending could have been a bit longer.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews