When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she's meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life--as a secret agent for the Crown.
But his bride has other ideas. She's determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society--the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she'd remain in the background as he ordered.
Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?
Review:
Picking up right where the previous book left off, this book follows second son Marcus Haverly, who has up to this point been able organize his life into neat separate compartments, not mixing his secret work for the crown, with his personal life. I loved Marcus from the previous book in the series, which made slipping back into this high stakes regency world so much more enjoyable and rewarding, I'd been waiting for this book from the moment that I turned down the last page of The Lost Lieutenant--and it did NOT disappoint.
Fast paced and engaging from the start with characters that I could cheer for throughout. Charlotte is intelligent and likes to stay abreast of the current events, which is scandalous for a woman of her time. I loved her drive to be involved and do something more than just live her life going to parties and hosting them. She has a heart for others, and a passion for learning. I admired how she acts on her faith.
I also enjoyed seeing many familiar faces like Evan and Diana, who are amazing friends to Marcus and Charlotte. There was great chemistry and interaction, I like how they compliment each other and Charlotte challenges Marcus's approach to life and faith. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic regency read, (maybe even more than the first book), highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.
Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.
A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.
Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagra
What can readers look forward to in the last installment of the series, The Indebted Earl?
Between the release of The Gentleman Spy and The Indebted Earl, there will be a bonus novella! Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection releases in October of this year, and my novella, “Wonders of His Love,” is included. This novella takes us to Haverly Manor, the home of Marcus and Charlotte, for the Christmas season. Cilla Haverly, widow of the former heir, is wondering what her next step in life should be. Is she doomed to be the dowager’s companion forever, with no real place in society any longer? When an intriguing Scottish painter arrives to paint the portraits of the new Duke and Duchess of Haverly,
he ignites in Cilla a spark of independence that has the dowager’s feathers ruffled and Cilla thinking thoughts of revolt . . . and love.
And finally, in March of 2021, the last installment of The Serendipity & Secrets series, The Indebted Earl, arrives. The story of Sophie Haverly, younger sister of the duke, The Indebted Earl takes the reader to the Devon coast as Sophie and Captain Charles Wyvern navigate grief, survivor’s guilt, rambunctious orphans, a dear woman suffering early dementia, smugglers, and a growing love that neither is sure is proper.
Thanks so much for hosting The Gentleman Spy on your blog!
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