The Indebted Earl - Review

The Indebted Earl (Serendipity & Secrets, # 3)

By: Erica Vetsch

Publication: March 23rd 2021 by Kregel Publications

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository)

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Captain Charles Malvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Malvern to escort the man's grieving fiance and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

Sophie was introduced as Marcus's sister in The Gentleman Spy. She was so exuberant, and I liked her instantly. I didn't really expect to get her story because she was already engaged and in love and because she was only present in one scene. But I was excited to find out she would be the main female character of The Indebted Earl. However, Sophie's exuberance has dimmed. She is much changed due to her fiance's death. She's become somber in the wake of her tragedy and continuing to help her fiance's mother who is in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's.

Charles was Rich's Captain and friend. They were injured at the same time and side by side in the hospital in Portugal. While Charles healed, Rich did not. And on his death bed, Rich asked Charles to take care of Sophie. Charles has been enamored by Sophie through the letters she sent to Rich before and after his injury. But he finds that he admires her even more in person.

Charles and Sophie agree to a marriage of convenience, a business arrangement really. And while I've read marriage of convenience books in the past, Charles and Sophie's marriage really seemed to lack much emotion. While Charles has always admired her and had affection for her from the start of their marriage, Sophie's feelings were slower to develop. She didn't even have the apprehension that most other brides in marriage-of-convenience situations had. I think that is what was really lacking for me. Most brides in these situations have hope of developing a good relationship with their husbands over time, Sophie went into the marriage thankful for the lack of emotion between them. It was a slow-developing relationship and while I read the book quickly, the story wasn't fully driven by the potential of the romance as I prefer.

Favorite quotes:

-No one had told her that grief was so exhausting. Her body felt battered and her mind drained before she even got out of bed in the morning.

-"Duties are not burdens when they are performed out of love.”

I enjoyed The Indebted Earl . It wasn't a typical love story. I still enjoyed it even if I wasn't driven to a frenzy to find out what was going to happen next. I actually enjoyed the mystery where I sometimes find that aspect can get in the way of my feelings toward the book. I loved the orphan girls that Charles and Sophie took in. Each girl had a lot of personality and I wouldn't mind reading about each one in time. Although, I think Cilla might be the leading lady of the next story. The Indebted Earl gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Indebted Earl ? What did you think? Let me know!

The Gentleman Spy - Review

The Gentleman Spy (Serendipity & Secrets, # 2)

By: Erica Vetsch

Publication: July 28th 2020 by Kregel Publications

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--He only wanted a duchess for a day―but she's determined to make it a marriage for life

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?

I was so pleasantly surprised last year when I read The Lost Lieutenant. I knew that I wanted to read Marcus's book as he was such an interesting side character. And I was equally disappointed when I wasn't approved for The Gentleman Spy for review. No matter though. I just purchased it for myself. And I wasn't disappointed.

Marcus has recently inherited the title of Duke. His father and older brother were killed in a carriage accident, and his brother's wife gives birth to a baby girl and not a boy. But Marcus isn't sure how to reconcile his new duties as Duke with the work for the crown he was doing. But his mother and his boss begin pushing him to look for a wife. Marcus sees some benefits to the idea, but he thinks he can keep his work life separate from his personal life. We, women, know this isn't going to fly, and even though multiple people advise him that his strategy isn't going to work, Marcus thinks he knows better. He thinks he just has to be strict and disciplined.

Charlotte is opinionated and works to continually educate herself by reading. Her father has determined that if she doesn't find a husband this season she will be sent to live with her aunt. She has had a hard time with society because she tends to say too much for what is acceptable for a woman. But Marcus finds her interesting. I loved their relationship and the uncertainty. I could also relate to Charlotte's trust issues. Her core beliefs have been shaken finding out that her father kept a mistress for many years and actually has a daughter, Charlotte's half-sister.

I love that this series has taken on the topic of how the country's veterans and their families have struggled and been mistreated. Many of the veterans were wounded and returned home to find themselves in poverty due to their inability to work. But also many veterans widows and daughters have found themselves in such a dire situation that they end up selling themselves to survive. I've not seen another series take on these troubles.

I've been waiting on The Gentleman Spy for months, and it didn't disappoint. I loved the relationship build-up. I loved the side characters and the additional story about the veterans and their families. I don't think there was a section of the story that disappointed me. The Gentleman Spy gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Gentleman Spy ? What did you think? Let me know!

Top Ten Books I Want Santa to Bring 2020

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I Want Santa to Bring 2020.

1. Forever Wild (Wild, # 2.5) by KA Tucker
2. Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews
3. Beholden (The Fairest Maidens, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
4. Romancing Her Rival by Joanna Barker
5. Layla by Colleen Hoover
6. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout
7. A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 4) by Sarah J Maas
8. The Gentleman Spy (Serendipity & Secrets, # 2) by Erica Vetsch
9. Beauty and the Baron by Joanna Barker
10. Beguiled (Betwixt & Between, # 3) by Darynda Jones

Which books are you hoping Santa brings you? Let me know!

Top Ten Winter 2020 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Winter 2020 TBR List.

1. The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep
2. Hooked on You (A Maple Falls Romance, # 1) by Kathleen Fuller
3. A Wild Hope (Wild Swan Trilogy, # 1) by Celeste de Blasis
4. The Other Side of the Sky (The Other Side of the Sky, # 1) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
5. Layla by Colleen Hoover
6. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout
7. A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 4) by Sarah J Maas
8. The Gentleman Spy (Serendipity & Secrets, # 2) by Erica Vetsch
9. Faith's Mountain Home (Hearts of Montana, # 3) by Misty M Beller
10. Sword of Rage (Reigning Kingdoms, # 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis

Which books are on your Winter 2020 TBR List? Let me know!

The Lost Lieutenant - Review

The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1)

By: Erica Vetsch

Publication: April 21st 2020 by Kregel Publications

304 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Regency

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well? Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

Another situation where the description is accurate but gave me a different impression of what the book would be about.

Evan is wounded in battle. He's suffering from memory loss as well as PTSD (which wasn't known or understood at this time). He doesn't remember saving Percival's life. He doesn't remember the battle. He just has flashes from time to time with a sense of urgency that he doesn't understand. He doesn't even know if the flashes are real. Evan starts out in a hospital recovering from his injuries when he receives word that the Prince Regent wants to honor him and to present himself at court.

Diana is headed to London for her first Season. Her father and brother are going to attempt to sell her off to the highest bidder with plans to split Diana's inheritance from her grandmother with her husband. Diana's father and brother are the worst sorts of people, and her father specifically is using Diana's nephew (born out of wedlock to her older sister who died during childbirth) as leverage to get Diana to do what he wants.

Diana and Evan meet at court where Diana is presented and Evan is named the new Earl of Whitelock. The two are thrown together in a few chance situations. Diana is goddaughter to the Prince Regent and Evan is the Prince's newest favorite person. The Prince decides to play matchmaker and basically requires the two to marry. Where both are in many ways resistant to the plan (it foils their own plans for their lives), they both know that you can't say no to the Prince Regent.

Evan and Diana travel to their new (to them) estate which is essentially falling apart with the mission of getting it ready for a royal visit. They have to hire a staff, make the repairs to the estate, get the estate functioning (the prior Earl of Whitelock has been dead for 20 years), as well as navigate their new marriage. On top of that, Evan has to figure out why his memories (what little he has) feel so urgent, and they have to settle the issue of Diana's illegitimate nephew.

I loved this book. Each piece of it. The forced marriage. The restoration of the estate. The mystery behind Evan's memory. The side characters--particularly Marcus. (I cannot be more thrilled to get my hands on his story, and if it were available now I would purchase it and read it immediately.) And the conclusion. I found each part of this story enthralling. I wanted to keep reading every time I had to put it down. And I will be stalking The Gentleman Spy.

I loved both Evan and Diana. Each character had strengths to bring to the marriage and story. Each character had thorough backstories and came alive off the page. I enjoyed their journey. I found the estate restoration, Evan's side projects, and the mystery of the original battle that sparked everything into motion intriguing. The side characters were enriching. They added depth. Marcus is a favorite, but also Shand. Percival and Fitzroy, as well as Duke Seaton, were all characters I enjoyed hating. And the Prince Regent brought a little humor in to liven things up. I appreciated God being worked into the story in a way that felt authentic and not forced. And I am absolutely going to stalk book 2 in the series until I get my hands on it. The Lost Lieutenant gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read The Lost Lieutenant? What did you think? Let me know!