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Lords of Night Street #1
Lord Gallant
Born into wealth and privilege, the Lords of Night Street have vowed to serve those most in need. They navigate the glittering ballrooms of society and London's criminal underworld with equal ease, leading the fight for love and justice.
The Earl of Attwood needed a wife like he needed an inflammation of the chest. However, due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, Miss Grace Esseltte, a dowdy spinster with a tart mouth, had become his countess. Nick was determined she would change nothing in his life, and the sooner he could bundle her off to one of his estates, the sooner he could continue with his investigative duties with the Lords of Night Street.
However, it seemed his wishes were not to be granted, as his wife found herself in trouble that only he and his friends could extricate her from. Nick had soon realized there was a great deal more to Grace than he had originally believed. In fact, it was not long before he understood that in his Countess, he had found the one emotion he had always believed he was incapable of feeling.
The Earl of Attwood needed a wife like he needed an inflammation of the chest. However, due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, Miss Grace Esseltte, a dowdy spinster with a tart mouth, had become his countess. Nick was determined she would change nothing in his life, and the sooner he could bundle her off to one of his estates, the sooner he could continue with his investigative duties with the Lords of Night Street.
However, it seemed his wishes were not to be granted, as his wife found herself in trouble that only he and his friends could extricate her from. Nick had soon realized there was a great deal more to Grace than he had originally believed. In fact, it was not long before he understood that in his Countess, he had found the one emotion he had always believed he was incapable of feeling.
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2015
203 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Vella
96 books828 followersWendy 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 20, 2025
Nice interesting short story. Wendy never lets down.
September 13, 2019
For a short story this was really fast-paced and at times sweet. It's sort of enemies to lovers story that is the beginning of the series about 4 friends who have started their own detective agency but have to stay incognito since they are all lords and can't be known to be working. They solve crimes and fall in love in the process. Nick and Grace's story was at times charming, steamy and slightly suspenseful. It would have been excellent if it was edited better, but I liked it anyway.
January 9, 2019
What’s with all these half-naked men on Wendy Vella book covers? Reminds me of that hilarious Date Night movie: for the love of God, put on a f***ing shirt!
Anyhoo, the MCs were cute characters and I enjoyed their story. 2.5 stars.
Anyhoo, the MCs were cute characters and I enjoyed their story. 2.5 stars.
June 11, 2016
Wendy Vella is always so great at creating characters that you can feel for. From Olivia from Lady In Disguise to Eva from Duchess By Chance and now Grace. Grace literally trips herself into marriage with Nick the Earl of Attwood or known as Lord Gallant as he is one of the Lords of Night Street, a group of wealthy and titled do-gooders. Everyone, including her new husband believes she has manipulated Nick into marriage so everyone is basically horrible to her. I felt so bad for her knowing that she had no desire to marry him and ends up being shunned and rejected by "polite" society. Grace and her cousin, Harry get caught up in something dangerous and need the assistance of the famous Lords of Night Street. Once Nick realizes that Grace wasn't trying to trick him they both work together really well. I really loved seeing both of them grow closer together in these dangerous times. Overall, this was another fantastic romance from Wendy Vella.
April 1, 2020
I don't often write reviews, but here we go. Everything felt rushed, as though the story was stuck on fast forward. Emotions and events are told to us, instead of shown. Why does Nick switch from hating her to loving her in a matter if days despite spending almost no time with her? No idea. I kept flipping back thinking I'd missed something, but no. After he rapes her, when he decided that they were to consummate their marriage and she tells him repeatedly she doesnt want you (his response is basically it's got to happen so it happens, just so she can't get an annulment but it's still her fault they got married?), they both decide that they want to do each other again. She's supposed to be spirited and intelligent yet never does anything to demonstrate that. She speaks back to him once. Woohoo? He was being a total jackass. Then they can't keep their hands off of each other. This is right after discovering that the cousin who took her in after her parents died is missing, possibly kidnapped. He's not a hero. He's an asshole. She's almost too stupid to live. I made it to the end, barely. I stopped caring about any of them.
Want to read
December 18, 2021🎁Part of Lords Of Night Street Collection: Books 1-4 which is FREE on Amazon today (12/18/2021)! 🎁
July 5, 2015
Gifted copy for honest review.
I really enjoyed reading Lord Gallant. This story is about Nick and Grace. Grace tripped and lands on top of Nick. To save her reputation Nick marries Grace although she prefers not to marry him. The story is great, as well is the characters. I recommend to anyone who enjoys historical romances.
I really enjoyed reading Lord Gallant. This story is about Nick and Grace. Grace tripped and lands on top of Nick. To save her reputation Nick marries Grace although she prefers not to marry him. The story is great, as well is the characters. I recommend to anyone who enjoys historical romances.
June 19, 2015
Good book and nice beginning for a series. It needed further proof reading however as there are a few continuity bloopers like the heroines hair switching from blond to black, and Nick became Mathew in one scene. Small errors but they do distract the reader and interrupt the flow of the story.
April 5, 2018
Assault not romance
The lead make lord gallant is a controlling rapist. There is nothing redeemable about his initial behavior with the heroine. The heroine's responses were also not realistic.
The lead make lord gallant is a controlling rapist. There is nothing redeemable about his initial behavior with the heroine. The heroine's responses were also not realistic.
April 22, 2023
TW: Sexual Assault
Removing my first review because I have no idea how I missed it, he basically raped her. I can't fucking believe this. Disgusting.
She didn't want to sleep with him, but he still did it. And it's just brushed off in the book as nothing.
Removing my first review because I have no idea how I missed it, he basically raped her. I can't fucking believe this. Disgusting.
She didn't want to sleep with him, but he still did it. And it's just brushed off in the book as nothing.
September 6, 2015
Brilliant book. Awesome plot, fabulous characters.
September 2, 2017
I wanted to give it more stars. I really did. The concept was intriguing and with a little more care in the development I could have really enjoyed it and maybe connected better with the characters. But it was rushed and vague. A lot of scenes felt like a foundation was being laid for later plot development but ended up having little to do with the story overall. A lot of background story was eluded to and characters were introduced that never amounted to anything.
And the editing... My god, what a travesty! The grammatical errors were insane. Countless sentences were missing words. Even the details changed, like the heroine's hair colour. Even the "about the author" at the end had these errors. Yikes.
Anyway, reads like a rough first draft. It could be a captivating story...
And the editing... My god, what a travesty! The grammatical errors were insane. Countless sentences were missing words. Even the details changed, like the heroine's hair colour. Even the "about the author" at the end had these errors. Yikes.
Anyway, reads like a rough first draft. It could be a captivating story...
March 24, 2020
Short but sweet
This is a short 9 chapters, a novella rather than a full length novel which I thought it was.
It’s a shame as it has the makings of a good novel. The characters are interesting, so the authors could have built their relationship slowly and still have had the mystery.
Too much happens far, far, too quickly.
Their conversations are initially very stiff as custom would have dictated, but then the language becomes too casual. I can live with that but would have preferred an exploration of all the characters and their relationships.
I shall read the series though. 😃
This is a short 9 chapters, a novella rather than a full length novel which I thought it was.
It’s a shame as it has the makings of a good novel. The characters are interesting, so the authors could have built their relationship slowly and still have had the mystery.
Too much happens far, far, too quickly.
Their conversations are initially very stiff as custom would have dictated, but then the language becomes too casual. I can live with that but would have preferred an exploration of all the characters and their relationships.
I shall read the series though. 😃
January 21, 2021
He becomes Gallant to her
A sweet novella by Wendy Vella. All Grace wanted to do was have solitude but instead she trips walking into the room and very strong hand of Lord Attwood (Nick) saves her from falling. Unfortunately the biggest gossip around walks in seconds after it happens and Graces reputation would have been ruined if Nick didn’t offer marriage.
She had no wish to marry but Nick insisted. They marry with no love or trust between them. Can they find away to live with each other. When her cousin is kidnapped Grace realizes she can trust her husband. A wonderful and fast read!
A sweet novella by Wendy Vella. All Grace wanted to do was have solitude but instead she trips walking into the room and very strong hand of Lord Attwood (Nick) saves her from falling. Unfortunately the biggest gossip around walks in seconds after it happens and Graces reputation would have been ruined if Nick didn’t offer marriage.
She had no wish to marry but Nick insisted. They marry with no love or trust between them. Can they find away to live with each other. When her cousin is kidnapped Grace realizes she can trust her husband. A wonderful and fast read!
June 2, 2021
5 STARS NOVELLA BOOK 1 SERIES
This is a wonderful new romance dramatic series by one of the top authors, Wendy Vella. They are set in Regency Historical Era and introduce us to some. Each one is about one of the group of Lords who had been friends since childhood & went off to war, returned, & found their skills could be used for good. However, nobody knew the Lord's of Night Street were actually gentlemen of the Ton.
So, as we meet each Lord close up, we also meet the Lady he ends up involved with. Also, there is a different type of drama that envelopes soon after they meet each other or they meet while he is investigating.
Great interesting writing & action.
Recommend
This is a wonderful new romance dramatic series by one of the top authors, Wendy Vella. They are set in Regency Historical Era and introduce us to some. Each one is about one of the group of Lords who had been friends since childhood & went off to war, returned, & found their skills could be used for good. However, nobody knew the Lord's of Night Street were actually gentlemen of the Ton.
So, as we meet each Lord close up, we also meet the Lady he ends up involved with. Also, there is a different type of drama that envelopes soon after they meet each other or they meet while he is investigating.
Great interesting writing & action.
Recommend
February 18, 2018
Fun but makes next to no sense
From a purely historical point of view reading Wendy Vella is a bit like watching a car crash- horrific and strangely fascinating. Historical facts, social rules and laws even laws of the land are all things that happened to someone else and to be given very loose lip service. However having said that the story is fun if nonsensical (why would a Russian need to have russian translated to english?), and the characters are pleasant, but the story feels rushed and there isn't enough of it to fill in the gaps.
From a purely historical point of view reading Wendy Vella is a bit like watching a car crash- horrific and strangely fascinating. Historical facts, social rules and laws even laws of the land are all things that happened to someone else and to be given very loose lip service. However having said that the story is fun if nonsensical (why would a Russian need to have russian translated to english?), and the characters are pleasant, but the story feels rushed and there isn't enough of it to fill in the gaps.
April 28, 2018
A quick read
I was very excited to read this after reading Vella's Sinclair and Raven series. This book lacked the richness and depth of the other series, probably due mostly to its length. It felt rushed and a bit superficial even though the story had a lot of promise. I will probably still read the other books in this series because Vella is a good writer and has wonderful plot ideas. I just can't help wishing I enjoyed this series as much as I did the Sinclair and Raven books.
I was very excited to read this after reading Vella's Sinclair and Raven series. This book lacked the richness and depth of the other series, probably due mostly to its length. It felt rushed and a bit superficial even though the story had a lot of promise. I will probably still read the other books in this series because Vella is a good writer and has wonderful plot ideas. I just can't help wishing I enjoyed this series as much as I did the Sinclair and Raven books.
November 14, 2019
Fall into my arms
Nick is a wealthy Earl honorable to a fault and when Grace literally falls into his arms in front of the worse gossips he offers to wed her! Grace is naturally clumsy and begged Nick not to wed her she had no desire to wed! Nick thinks her the worst scheming chit but he marries her anyway not believing her! No one could possibly resist a young wealthy Lord! Appearances are definitely deceiving in this fast paced story! I already love this series! As a little teaser who speaks Russian .....read on!!
Nick is a wealthy Earl honorable to a fault and when Grace literally falls into his arms in front of the worse gossips he offers to wed her! Grace is naturally clumsy and begged Nick not to wed her she had no desire to wed! Nick thinks her the worst scheming chit but he marries her anyway not believing her! No one could possibly resist a young wealthy Lord! Appearances are definitely deceiving in this fast paced story! I already love this series! As a little teaser who speaks Russian .....read on!!
September 7, 2020
In truth, I would give the book a 3.7 or 3.8; yet, a 4 is my closest choice.
It was an quick read with only 9 chapters. However, it took me two days because the book did not grab my attention and not let go
The characters were believable, but not necessarily likable.
I felt Nickolas was too mean to her to make have sympathy for the man.
Moreover, the author uses stereotypes to create the villain.
The author uses "woman" for "women" several times in the story.
She also uses "Nick name" when it should be "Nickname."
It was an quick read with only 9 chapters. However, it took me two days because the book did not grab my attention and not let go
The characters were believable, but not necessarily likable.
I felt Nickolas was too mean to her to make have sympathy for the man.
Moreover, the author uses stereotypes to create the villain.
The author uses "woman" for "women" several times in the story.
She also uses "Nick name" when it should be "Nickname."
April 17, 2020
I started the collection of the Lords of Night Street. It’s a cute story but not enough character or world building for me. Each story is a novella which I didn’t realize when I started the collection. After reading the first story Lord Gallant I decided not to read the other 3 stories as I wanted something a little longer with more substance. If you’re looking for a quick cute story with a happy ending this would be a great pick.
May 19, 2021
THE RUSSIANS
Grace, spinster extraordinaire, didn't want to marry. Tripping and falling on top of the Earl of Attwood and witnessed by one of the worst gossips in London, made it impossible for the Earl not to offer marriage.
He refused to change his mind no matter that Grace refused. Passion changed something between. When he and his friends, the Lords of the Night, save her cousin and then her life, it's love. Short with intrigue, an enemies to lovers romance.
Grace, spinster extraordinaire, didn't want to marry. Tripping and falling on top of the Earl of Attwood and witnessed by one of the worst gossips in London, made it impossible for the Earl not to offer marriage.
He refused to change his mind no matter that Grace refused. Passion changed something between. When he and his friends, the Lords of the Night, save her cousin and then her life, it's love. Short with intrigue, an enemies to lovers romance.
September 5, 2023
Nope.
Noped out (DNF) at 15% because the H coerced/forced the h into sex their first time. She said no, several times when he asked, but he just decided to do it anyway. It was uncomfortable and painful, she did not at all enjoy it, and it was portrayed as unpleasant, but not rapey, which is inaccurate.
Not to mention the author could not even keep the H's name straight from page to page, nor the h's hair color.
Noped out (DNF) at 15% because the H coerced/forced the h into sex their first time. She said no, several times when he asked, but he just decided to do it anyway. It was uncomfortable and painful, she did not at all enjoy it, and it was portrayed as unpleasant, but not rapey, which is inaccurate.
Not to mention the author could not even keep the H's name straight from page to page, nor the h's hair color.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2018
A lovely short novella with highly likeable characters and a great little read. The relationship between the H and h was fabulous and believable (if a bit fast, but this is only a short story so it had to be!) The background to the romance was excellent and well thought out. Can't wait to read the next in the series
March 13, 2020
***Very graphic sexual content. The story was interesting and Lord and Lady Attwood were good characters but the book contained way to much sex for my liking. I skipped large portions of the book to avoid the sex. I started the second book in the series and found the sexual references very offensive.
October 11, 2020
Nicholas, Earl of Attwood knew he must marry but to be compromised into the situation by Grace. Grace Esseltte, clumsiness leads to a marriage she does not want. But can they ever understand each other. Grace seems totally to have no idea how to behave as a lady or wife .
Fast paced romance with little mystery or character development.
Fast paced romance with little mystery or character development.
March 4, 2021
Cover art is best part
I realise this novella is introducing characters for a series and they seem quite interesting but I won’t be reading them. Hero needs unwanted marriage consummated so it can’t be annulled but icky that heroine doesn’t actually consent. And bang they have feelings. I love instalove but I doubt that would have been what she was feeling!
I realise this novella is introducing characters for a series and they seem quite interesting but I won’t be reading them. Hero needs unwanted marriage consummated so it can’t be annulled but icky that heroine doesn’t actually consent. And bang they have feelings. I love instalove but I doubt that would have been what she was feeling!
March 15, 2023
Unexpected
It was too late by the time Lord Attwood realized his new wife wasn't a lier and had meant exactly what she said, "she had no desire to wed him." It didn't take much longer to also realize that Grace's looks were deceiving. She was hiding her beauty as well as a strong temper and was anything but the mild, meek woman she appeared to be.
It was too late by the time Lord Attwood realized his new wife wasn't a lier and had meant exactly what she said, "she had no desire to wed him." It didn't take much longer to also realize that Grace's looks were deceiving. She was hiding her beauty as well as a strong temper and was anything but the mild, meek woman she appeared to be.
October 25, 2017
Lord Gallant
For the most part I liked the book. Suddenly 3/4 of the way through I felt like it was incomplete. Like an outline... then it continued to a rather speedy conclusion. 92 pages is really a short novel. Truthfully, I rather felt cheated. I wanted more.
For the most part I liked the book. Suddenly 3/4 of the way through I felt like it was incomplete. Like an outline... then it continued to a rather speedy conclusion. 92 pages is really a short novel. Truthfully, I rather felt cheated. I wanted more.
May 10, 2018
Loved It!
What a great story! Short and sweet and filled with excitement. The suspense and intrigue was good. This book kept my internet the whole time. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
What a great story! Short and sweet and filled with excitement. The suspense and intrigue was good. This book kept my internet the whole time. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
March 14, 2020
He thought she had purposely trapped him, into marriage, and would not hear her, nor her cousin's pleas to allow her to leave London, to avoid marrying him. It was absurd, they were taking the farce too far!
Until...
You need to read this dynamic and dramatic tale.
Until...
You need to read this dynamic and dramatic tale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews