Stealing the Rake’s Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (Willenshires Book 3)
She was the overlooked wallflower longing to break free. He was the irresistible rogue hiding haunted depths behind his charming facade. When fate throws them together one magical summer, will they risk everything for an unexpectedly profound connection?
Shy wallflower Miss Abigail Atwater feels invisible within her own household, overshadowed by her prettier sister. When her eccentric Aunt Francesca invites Abigail to accompany her to a dazzling summer house party hosted by The Duchess of Dunleigh, she hopes to discover freedom beyond society’s constricting dictates. But Abigail never imagined crossing paths with the notorious yet irresistible rake, Lord Alex Willenshire.
Behind Lord Alexander Willenshire’s witty banter and sinfully handsome features, he conceals profound grief over his father’s tragic death. Alex copes by embracing London’s vices and shallow relationships. But at the fateful summer house party, he finds himself unexpectedly spellbound by Abigail’s natural beauty and intellect. As they are increasingly drawn together despite obstacles conspiring to divide them, both lonely souls will need to surrender their guarded hearts to one another before the magical summer ends.
Will the overlooked wallflower and the irresistible rogue defy expectations, jealous rivals and the spectre of scandal itself to embrace their profoundly unexpected love match?
* If you love stories of unlikely romance, where strong-willed heroines and charming rogues must navigate the intricacies of high society to find true love, this novel is a must-read. With rich period detail and a love story that defies expectations, this book offers a perfect escape into a time when passion and propriety were in constant battle.
Don’t miss your chance to be swept away by a tale that captures the very essence of Regency romance.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a happily ever after.
Also, read this novel for free with Kindle Unlimited!
Customer Reviews
G**********h
ok
Fun to see Alexander’s story but not much character development and repetitive wording adds volume without story development. If it weren’t for the individual characters. I would not readMarch 10, 2025
M**************l
Stealing the Rake’s Heart
Alexander proved to be the nice son. He took his mother with him. She needed support. Her husband was too much a mean man.February 5, 2025
L*********d
A Sweet Story
This story really pulls on the the heart strings. Although Abigail had family she was often ignored . Alex the youngest in his family didn’t fare much better with a cruel father. Yet somehow it comes together. I thoroughly have enjoyed the first three in this series, and can’t wait to start the next book.February 2, 2025
A*************r
Eek! So fun!
I’m LOVING this entire series. The stipulation to marry is ominous. And it feels like there’s no hope for each person for a different reason. And we can all love a reformed take. Enjoy!December 13, 2024
A*************r
Stealing the Rake’s Heart
Good book. Amazing how parents treated their children back in those times because of social pressures. The old Duke was a very cruel man to his family. The girls mother was mentally cruel to her. Glad she had an aunt that step in. The story went to the wire but I’m glad they found their happiness.October 26, 2024
M**B
Love this book
This is my favorite story in this series. Alexander and Abigail’s story was so good. She is a wallflower and he is a rake. Finding each other and then having to move past the objections of most everyone to find their happy ending. A story worth reading.October 10, 2024
F*************t
Someone to Talk To
Such an enjoyable story! This rake and wallflower find it easy to be honest and talk to each other about their lives. A former, heartbreaking love of the rake and a man who is a user and deceptive both haunt the rake and wallflower. Many family members offer poor advise, but remarkably the two have a very happy ending.October 7, 2024
K*************r
Yes, fair
I can’t say that I liked it a lot, I did not, however good won over evil and led to a sweet ending. There were a lot if edits and it would pay to have an English person as a assistant in the final editing phase of the book.October 6, 2024
M**V
A Beautiful Family Story of Love-Eventually..
A ball held once a year with all kinds of activities planned. And it seems unremarkable except for the fact that two people seem to find themselves In good company with each other. But one guest is quite a nuisance and the other a menace! But, truly, true love finds its place!October 5, 2024
V*****G
Stealing the Rake’s Heart
Wallflowers, Rakes and marriage.. oh my! Another story of the trials of finding their future spouse with all its trials and stumbles. Telling of the downfalls and setbacks in their paths is part of this story basis but not all.October 2, 2024
K***i
Loved it
Loved this story and didn’t want it to end. I was rooting for the characters from the beginning.September 26, 2024
T******.
This is Abigail and Alexander’s Story.
The book is about Abigail and Alexander. Abigail is approaching spinster, and Alexander has a disease that is not easily cured. Alexander was the third son of the late Duke of Willenshire. His father had a requirement. Each adult child had to marry before receiving their inheritance. All of that was too much for Alexander and his disease. They seemed to be attracted from the beginning, and that only increased. There were many complications like an aggressive woman and men. Dorothy Sheldon writes a great story and great ending.September 20, 2024
cd
Very good
This is not literary fiction. It’s not real life because life can be more complicated without that happily ever after. There are a few Americanisms but it wasn’t enough to be off putting, for me. The rake in this book is a drink away from being an alcoholic and like many alcoholics, he’s self medicating. You’ll have to read the book to see what I mean. The heroine is a true, awkward wallflower who is what I would call quietly beautiful. Her sister is the pretty one, of course. If you are looking for a book without a lot of conflicts, avoid this one. The author puts each character through the wringer but it’s very good. I really liked it and would highly recommend it if you have Kindle unlimited.September 20, 2024
K**********************************************************************.
Another good read.
Enjoyed this next in the series, pity not a forth one yet ,hopefully in the future. This is a good author pity some of the editing is not better ,as a lot of spelling Tec mistakes. Should say etc.September 19, 2024
P***a
Redeeming love
This might be my favorite Willinshires book yet!! Abigail is a wallflower and the not so favorite daughter. Alexander the burden of his siblings due to his chosen vices. Lady Dianna comes back. The dowager duchess shows her favoritism and reveals why Alex is her baby. Will Diana win Alexander? Will Abugail find her voice? And will the sibling relationship with between William and Alexander get better or worse?September 18, 2024
K****e
The Wallflower and Rake – can they find happiness?
This is a good, clean novel about a poor wallflower who is on her last Season in London. Her aunt takes her on a trip to meet an eligible and suitable husband instead she meets a dashing,handsome rake who is good to his mother but that is about all he is good for. Unfortunately he drinks too much, hangs out with the wrong crowd, and if he doesn’t marry soon he will be penniless! Her aunt is pushing her toward a ‘suitable gentleman’ who isn’t much of a catch after all! Can they find their happily ever after, or will she stay the plain wallflower! Read the book and find out. Unfortunately I found several examples of a failure to have a good editor/proofreader! If the author wants people to read they r book this is just not kind to the reader.September 18, 2024
C*m
great series!
If you have not read the other two books in the series, you really should. I loved the story between Alexander and Abbie! It was well told and a great addition to showing the Willenshires’ family.September 17, 2024
L*****G
Love it
I love stories of unexpected feelings such as this one! Very enjoyable read!!September 16, 2024
K*************r
I Love this Whole Series!
I really enjoy this whole series. I really enjoyed the characters and their interactions. You can understand why they make the choices that they do and then when there is a true love match, it makes the stories even more enjoyable. This one was tough because Alexander had become an unsavory character – a drunkard and gambler. It was gratifying that he was able to become a better person because of the woman he fell in love with.September 15, 2024
N********n
House party
They meet at a house party. The heroine is sort of the neglected daughter so her aunt wants to bring her to a smaller setting to let her shine. The hero is still compensating for his father’s death by using alcohol and other rakish behaviors. The story does go into some of the ramifications from being an alcoholic, but sort of glosses over how difficult this addiction is to overcome. The two main characters actually have a lot in common as they are sort of overlooked by their families. It was an enjoyable read..September 15, 2024
S****n
Live, laugh and love
This is a great story of two people who feel they don’t fit into society. They find themselves dealing with society and finding out they are doing okay.September 14, 2024
K************E
A sweet romance
I always enjoy when two unlikely ppl fall in love. How as they fall in love they become better versions of themselves the other person brings out the best in them. They see the person on the inside not just the outside appearance.September 14, 2024
r**e
Love happens
Well written, full of drama, love, emotions, society, romance, family issues, secrets and twists. The characters are strong, both bad and good plus some some of them are returning from former stories. Abigail is a wallflower and in her third season while Alex is a third son and a rake. Abigail is offered to attend a house party by her Aunt who is going. Hoping that Abigail is able to find a young man at this party without her mother being there to butt in. Alex and Abigail meet there and are drawn to each other. Both have their own reasons for what they want or need. Has lots of emotions and action between them. Would recommend this story and the rest of the series. I received this free story and leave this unbiased, honest review.September 13, 2024
G******s
But I’m not getting anything done around here
While I’m not a fan of embarrassing scenes in my reading material, I’ve been known to fast forward a few pages, drunken behavior being an example…I still read this is one sitting, hence nothing accomplished that should have been. Glad the drunken behavior of a minor character is reversed, maybe he deserves a story of his own.September 12, 2024
K*************r
It all happened so quickly
Alexander and Abigail share similar problems with their families and feelings of wanting change in their lives. They are drawn to each other, but Abigail’s aunt and Hamish, Alex’s friend and his brother complicate their time together. The plot line moves slowly on, but everything happens within short time and suddenly they are in love! The love connections seems rushed, even though they are interesting and sweet characters. A few elements don’t mesh with the Regency time period, such as using Alex’s mother’s name, instead of recognizing her as the Dowager. It may have been to avoid confusing her with another character, who was also a Dowager, but since she was a nasty character, it would have been more respectful to name Alex’s mother as Dowager. There is also mention of a knapsack, which during the Regency more commonly at that time would have been instead a haversack. This does not detract from the plot, but real Regency buffs notice the anachronisms. Overall, a quick enjoyable read. If longer, the characters no doubt would have been more developed, but the reader does gain a good understanding of their desires, frustrations and decisions that bring the novel to a very happy ending.September 12, 2024
E****************y
Another wonderful story
This has been a wonderful adventure through this family. Well written.September 11, 2024
D******n
Can A Rake Fall In Love
Miss Abigail Atwater feels unnoticeable and is going on her third season. Her mother is aggravated with her because she wants to get her youngest, prettiest daughter into society. Then one day Aunt Francesca visited and requested Abigail accompany her to a house party. Giving in her mother let her go. Aunt Francesca was hoping Abigail would find a match get away from her mother’s scrutiny. The Willenshire’s are the host of the party whom Lord Alex is the third son which known as a rake and Abigail is warned away from him by her aunt. Regardless they are drawn toward each other but there are others with their own designs to keep that from happening. Unknown to the majority that the late Duke stipulated that the four children must marry within the year or lose their money. Will Lord Alex manage to be the third one to marry and keep his inheritance. ARC ReviewSeptember 11, 2024
R*********e
Not Dorothy Sheldon’s Best
This book started off in a promising way but after the romantic way that Alexander saved Abigail from falling, the story then descended into a downward spiral. Alexander’s friend, Hamish, attended the house party and he seemed to dominate it with his awful drunken episodes which included plenty of vomiting, some belching and the breaking of precious vases, figurines and even a garden statue. 80% of the book had been read when Hamish finally was thrown out of the house. I understand this was to bring Alex to the realization that he needed to give up his own drunken, rakish ways but it was really overdone. The point could have been made a lot earlier on and allowed for more interactions between Abigail and Alexander. It seemed like the main characters didn’t even have that much time together, yet suddenly they were in love and Alex was a reformed drunkard/rake. It seemed unconvincing and rushed. The book should have focused on Alexander and Abigail. It was about them in the beginning and at the end but in between, it was a disjointed mess, especially with Diana and Lord Donovan trying to keep them apart and Hamish wrecking the house party throughout.September 11, 2024
B**********s
It’s never too late to learn what love really is.
A delightful story from Dorothy Sheldon – Alexander discovers Abigail and a Rake learns what love really is. A fun romp with (of course) a happy ending!September 11, 2024
J**********e
Wonderful
Absolutely wonderful story of finding your own voice. Well written, great setting.September 10, 2024
S**************z
A heart warming couple
Abagile is considered a wallflower. And Alexander is a rake. But the two of them meet and some how Find a companbale attrication to each other even though neither abagiles aunt does not want her to go Near Alexander and William does not want Alexander to go near abagile. To all of their surprise the Two fall in love and marry and do love each other.September 10, 2024
M****e
The Ton worthy or unworthy?
Underdogs are my vice. Alexander, a rake, and Abigail a wildflower, were not viewed as candidates for marriage, by Society. Their personal expectations are not considered even by their families. Yet they are pushed together by fate, and share their thoughts on life. Not thinking of marriage but friendship, they co’exist. Will they become a match, or will others desires drive them apart? A treasure of a book for romantics. Read and enjoy.September 10, 2024
A**********n
Cool
Love itsSeptember 10, 2024
B************i
Great third book in the series~
This is book 3 in the Wilenshires series and as good as the other two. The story is about Lord Alexander Willenshire, the youngest of the 4 children. He is a drunk and miserable person but there is something that Abigail Atwater finds very attractive. She is a middle child and is going to have to go into her third season as she is not married yet. She thinks of herself as a wallflower and her younger sister much more desirable. While at the Willenshires house prior to the start of the season, several things happen and as it does, both Alexander and Abigail start to realize who they really want to spend their lives with. A good romantic story with a strong woman portrayed.September 10, 2024
C***n
Part of a series, but standalone.
Alex and Abbie’s story is between a rake and a wallflower. Both have good hearts, although Alex’s actions were sometimes influenced by alcohol. The writer didn’t shy away from the embarrassment or consequences of alcoholism. However, I don’t think the characters were likely to stop cold turkey. I enjoyed the story, but I identified with the other stories in the series more. It is a standalone book that gave quite a bit of hinting at William’s story. Love the series, and am looking forward to the final installment.September 10, 2024
J*d
Great read!
Poor Miss Abigail always overshadowed by her prettier sister. Then her Aunt Francis invites her to a summer house party without her sister.She initially didn’t want to go but maybe this was her chance. Lord Alex Wittenshire was a third son going no where. He was known as a notorious rake. His father was not a good man when he was living and worst after his death. None of his children could receive their inheritance unless they married. Time was running out and hopefully the summer house party will help. But who would marry someone like him? Great love story filled with emotion and very engaging characters. Definitely worth the read.September 9, 2024
M***i
Finding out what is underneath
Abigail was able to shine without her younger sister to interfere and Alex found just what he was looking for in this delightful house party story.September 9, 2024
c**********3
Romance
Well written. Love the characters.September 9, 2024
KB
Great Story
Great characters and story line. Really enjoyed it!September 9, 2024
A*************r
Best one of the 3
I really enjoyed this story, was a bit different in the place it occurred. I also enjoyed more insights to William. Hopefully the next bookSeptember 9, 2024
W***********r
Enjoyable Regency Romance
Good story line & characters. Enjoyable read with good pace.September 9, 2024
C***************n
Cinderella story with great characters
Great fun with a female character growing and changing as her love for Alexander becomes stronger.September 9, 2024
Jo
Truly lovely
Abigail must walk in the shadows of her pretty sister and deal with being ignored by family and socially. Alex hides his pain and family issues behind being the clown entertaining those around him as well as too much night time activity. These two meet at a house party and what takes place is a moving, poignant story of people, who could be real in today’s world, dealing with the hardships, challenges, obstacles and emotions holding them back from their true potential. Well written and fully engaging.September 9, 2024
S*H
A sweet redemption story
During the first two books of the series I found myself rooting for Alexander. He seemed so lost, and I was so looking forward to his story. It didn’t disappoint! Abigail, a wallflower, looked over and set aside by her family, offers the sweet, kind, acceptance that he needs to allow himself to begin to heal. I’m a sucker for a redemption story and this one is lovely. While this clean, sweet, book is a standalone story, I recommend reading the series in order. There is so much added depth after reading the first books in the series. I’m now excited to read the final book!September 9, 2024
K*K
Clean, wholesome romance
First few chapters are introductions to the main characters and background. I really enjoyed this story. Two people with real life comparable family experiences. Both overshadowed by siblings and parents. Facing betrayal, addictions, insecurities, bullying and mental abuse from a parent. All while being closely watched by their peers. I enjoyed their journey from start to glorious finish! I highly recommend this novel.September 8, 2024
