Marcus reveled in the fact that he was the second son. His father was a Duke and his older brother was in succession. That was perfectly fine for Marcus. Sadly, his father and brother died in a carriage accident eight months previously. His sister-in-law was pregnant at the time and has now just given birth to a daughter. This means that the title of Duke passes on to Marcus. He is none too happy. Not only are the responsibilities magnanimous, Marcus is an agent of the Crown and is one of the best spies there is. No one knows the role Marcus plays. Ducal responsibilities certainly could get in the way of those duties.

Currently, there is an assassination attempt in play for the Prince Regent. The designated killer had been stopped (see The Lost Lieutenant, the first book in this series). However, the mastermind is still at large. While Marcus is searching high and low in order to prevent a murder, he must also contend with his difficult mother. In an attempt to deal with his her grieving, Marcus tells her that he will seek a bride and provide an heir. This plays right along with his superior's suggestion that a wife might balance out his life. Marcus figures that since he has always lived his life in order, a wife shouldn't upset his work in any way whatsoever. Emotion will never play a role.

Meanwhile, Lady Charlotte Tiptree is nearly a spinster. Her parents have been very unhappy with her for not finding a mate prior till now. Also, Charlotte would rather have her nose in a book, and hopes that if she ever finds a marriage mate, that it could be both a meeting of the hearts and the mind. Charlotte's father has no give, and is more than cruel. In short order, she finds herself engaged to Marcus.

Actually, this could work for the both of them. No emotion, no attachment. Marcus's mother will be happy, and Charlotte can escape her unhappy home. In order to deal with the sadness that held her captive, Charlotte buried herself in books. (Sounds more than familiar.) There is something else. Charlotte has a goal, a purpose that takes a lot of her attention. This brings in an element of danger in this story, as Charlotte will not give up on something she wants to change, including bringing someone into her life.

Can Marcus keep his life compartmentalized? Will emotion ever be a part of the lives of these two? What about the plot to assassinate the Prince Regent? With a few twists this story incorporates faith, love and happiness, with enough excitement and action that kept me turning pages at a rapid pace. I absolutely loved both books in this series, and am more than eager for the next one, The Indebted Earl.

Many thanks to Kregel Publications and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Marcus Haverly is conflicted by his status, obligations, and the fact he never thought he’d ever be a Duke. He was the second born son, free to do as he pleased. But tragedy has him up for the position of Duke. I enjoyed these larger than life leading characters and their crazy situations.

Lady Charlotte Tiptree’s walks to the beat of a different drum and her parents do not get her desire to read and learn. Her father has drawn a line in the sand, with his daughter. He is determined to see her wed. When Lady Charlotte learns of his father’s secret all bets are off to the prospect of getting married. After this horrific news how can she trust a man? No one would want to marry her anyway. Few men would consider her marriage material due to her unconventional nature. She could not help but be opinionated, and outspoken. She was a young lady who would be happier spending time with her books than at society socials.

Marcus’s supervisors in his secret work for the Crown, think his status change will help him in the spying business. More doors will open to Marcus as a married Duke, For that reason he’s opened to getting married. He wants to choose his bride before his mother gets him in a compromising position and has him marry someone he can’t stand to be around.

Marcus notices Lady Charlotte and how she is unlike all the other girls, she’s smart, daring, and assertive. He was determined to pick his own bride. In the process Marcus brags about how he has done a great job of compartmentalizing his life SO FAR. He does not think his life will change much with gaining a wife and taking on the title of Duke. He’d just have one more thing to compartmentalize. It seemed easy enough. What could go wrong?

This book is full of surprises and characters to root for. I adored bookish Lady Charlotte she’s smart, hungry to learn, brave and is a compassionate soul. Marcus is a spy and knows nothing really of personal relationships with the opposite sex. I chuckled at his theories on marriage. I liked also how the characters bloom and grow individually throughout the story. I like how the author deal with the topics of faithfulness in marriage and prostitution. It’s tastefully done.

I did not feel lost in reading this story, even though this was the second book in a series. It could be read as a stand-alone. This book would work great for book club. There is so much to talk about. I look forward to reading book one in this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

Erica Vetsch is establishing herself as a must-read regency author with her Serendipity and Secrets series. In book two, readers get Marcus’s story (and oh, boy what a story it is).

Marcus has always existed on the fringe of the ton, able to mingle within the upper tiers of society but not watched like the titled gentleman, giving him easy access to information as he spies for the crown. But now, he has inherited the dukedom and seeks a wife. His ability to keep all areas of his life separate is becoming more difficult, especially since he’s got his eye on Charlotte Tiptree as a possible match.

Charlotte isn’t a simpering socialite. She’s intelligent, she’s caring, and she’s got a strong sense of justice. At the same time, she has never felt truly loved. That’s why she agrees to a marriage with Marcus. She hopes that a mutual respect and companionship will grow even if love doesn’t.

In addition to these likable and strong characters, there’s a mystery that keeps the plot moving along and we get to catch up with Evan and Diana from the previous book. The Gentleman Spy exceeded my expectations set by book one in the series.



Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

"The Gentleman Spy" has been one of my most awaited books releasing in the second half of the year.

And it does not does not disappoint! With intrigue, romance, and a dash of mystery this historical fiction is the perfect book for any historical reader.

The cover is absolutely perfect for the story though I was not sure that I would love the characters as much as I did. In the way the characters grew was impressive and I look forward to the final book in the series coming next year.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher/review company. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I love a good series, and this series by Erica Vetsch is simply amazing. I adored book one, and thought nothing could top that, right? I liked this one even more (didn’t think that was possible)! First, you have spunky Charlotte. Oh her mouth got her into some trouble but boy did it make me laugh. And while it seemed troublesome to some of the other characters, she really was just trying to do what was best, along with speaking her mind. She was such a fantastic character!!

And then our hunky hero….who at first I didn’t think was going to make such a great hero. I can’t put my finger on it, but I just wasn’t really feeling his character. Then enter Charlotte, and I just couldn’t tear my eyes off the pages. Their chemistry fantastic, and frankly I liked who his character become around her. **sigh** Why does it have to be over?

Romance aside, Vestch weaves a brilliant plot full of mystery, compassion, difficult choices, and books! Yes our leading lady is a book lover just like me. Disclosure – there is a scene where something happens to her books, and I just about cried. It broke my heart! I know it seems silly (especially for those of you who have read and probably know what I’m talking about), but wow. What an unexpected way to get my emotions going!

This series is a must read. And while this book could probably be read as a standalone, there are a few things from book one that roll into this story, and so I think it’s best to read them in order. Now we just have to wait for book three!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Gentleman Spy is the second book in the Serendipity & Secrets series and once again, I found myself loving this engaging historical fiction novel that captivated me from beginning to end. Actually, I liked it even more than the first book The Lost Lieutenant!

In that first installment, we meet Marcus Haverly who is the second son of the Haverly family and a secret spy for the Crown. He was a great secondary character and I'm happy he got his own story. Marcus' life is about to drastically change when his father and older brother unexpectedly pass away and Marcus suddenly inherits a title and becomes a duke. How will he continue working undercover as an agent when all eyes are on him since he is now one of the most sought-after bachelors?

His mother gets to work looking for a suitable bride among the pretty young debutantes but Marcus impulsively chooses Lady Charlotte, a bluestocking who dresses plainly and loves books. He figures he can leave her to her duties as a duchess while he continues his work, however, the educated Charlotte has other ideas and follows her heart to help women who are forced into prostitution when they become widows of war veterans.

As both Marcus and Charlotte navigate the waters of their marriage of convenience, they of course fall in love. The author builds this romance beautifully with these two characters that are both strong yet cautious as they discover each other's true passions in life. With lots of action, witty dialogue and some humor, this Regency Christian romance satisfies the reader on all counts.

The third and last installment of the series titled The Indebted Earl, the story of Marcus Haverly’s younger sister, Sophie,will be released in March 2021, and I eagerly look forward to that story.

The second book in the Serendipity & Secrets series and Vetsch's second Regency fiction is definitely one not to be missed! This will satisfy the heart of any historical time period lover, whether you're new to the genre or an old hat like me.

I first met Marcus Haverly in “The Lost Lieutenant” and was fascinated from the start. He's both a gentleman and a spy for the Crown. Keeping his two lives separate has always been easy, that is until he marries for propriety’s sake. After all, he's the newly appointed Duke after the deaths of both his father & brother and must meet certain social obligations that come with the position.
Charlotte Tiptree has always been outspoken, opinionated, and much happier spending time in her books than among society. As with Marcus, certain obligations must be met as the daughter of a Duke, one being she must wed. However, few men will consider her marriage material due to her unconventional nature. When Marcus announces their sudden engagement, it seems both of their problems are solved. That's when the fun really begins!

“As if I needed a bride at this juncture. I want to be left alone to do my work, and if the title is a complication I cannot avoid, a wife is one that I can.”~ Marcus (pg 38)

“Any husband would be preferable to spinsterhood under her father's control.
As long as her new husband left her alone.
And maybe let her buy books.”
~Charlotte (pg. 55)

This is much more than just a marriage-of-convenience story; it's also fraught with danger,
secrets, and the seedier side of society. It has an element of mystery that lovers of this genre will eat up. Vetsch brought both Marcus & Charlotte to life for me....though I have to say that Charlotte's deep love for the written word endured me to her right away. She's a book-lover after my own heart! I'll simply say, I enjoyed every element to this story. Vetsch has a way to bring whatever book she writes to life for me and keeps me coming back for more!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and wasn't obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions stated here are mine. *

From the first line of the book, I was drawn right in.

Marcus Haverly never wanted to be the next Duke of Haverly. He is coerced into marriage and the chosen bride is Lady Charlotte Tiptree. Charlotte is not one to simper in the background and soon she is completely changing Marcus’ life.

I loved that the heroine is described as plain. So many books have the heroine be unbelievably gorgeous. I also love that she has a brain. Marcus and Charlotte have so much in common and can have intelligent conversations.

Fans of Rebecca Connolly’s London League Series and Kristi Ann Hunter’s Haven Manor Series will love The Gentleman Spy.

Between the characters, the mystery, and the pace of a good plot, it kept me from wanting to put the book down.

This is the second book in Erica Vetsch’s Serendipity and Secrets series. I really loved the spy aspect of this book. I loved how Marcus was trying so hard to keep his spying life separate from all other parts of his life but how that all went out the window once he got married and started loving his wife. I loved how Charlotte was different then most women of her class. I loved that she cared about those who were forced to do things they wouldn’t have done if they had the means to meet their needs. I loved how Marcus and Charlotte’s relationship was built on respect for each others views. I love how their romance developed and how they became a great team working for social change. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Erica Vertsch returns with the second novel in her inspirational Regency romance series, this one features a second-born son who has been a spy for the Crown, who unexpectedly becomes a duke and wants to continue his way of life as a spy.

In The Gentleman Spy, when both his father and older brother die, Marcus Haverly becomes the new duke and wonders how he will continue as a secret agent. He is pressured to marry and chooses demure Lady Charlotte Tiptree to run his household. But she is not the demure noblewoman he thought.

Meanwhile, Marcus plans to keep his spy activities from his wife, spending time with her only when necessary. He just wants her to stay in the background until he needs her for his cover story. Charlotte wants to help women who are forced in prostitution because they have no other employable skills. Will they ever find a true partnership in each other?

Vetsch pens an engaging novel filled with historical detail, realistic characters, light faith elements, and unexpected plot twists. Charlotte’s desire for change is admirable, but her inability to consider the consequences before voicing her opinion gets her into trouble, like when she accuses her father of sexual immorality in front of others. Marcus and Charlotte have a clean relationship, as they learn to trust one another and recognize the strengths each brings to their marriage.

While this book can be read as a standalone, it answers some of the questions left at the conclusion of The Lost Lieutenant, and readers are recommended to read that delightful book first. Characters from that book also appear in The Gentleman Spy. Readers will be eager for The Indebted Earl coming in January 2021.

Recommended for public libraries and high school readers. Fans of Kristi Hunter, Julie Klassen, and Carolyn Miller will enjoy this new series.

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews

I’m a sucker for a good spy story, and I’m a sucker for a good Regency romance, so put the two together and my interest is definitely piqued. I was keen to read Marcus’s story anyway, having read and enjoyed the first in the series, but knowing it would combine two of my favourite story elements only made the anticipation that much stronger. And as it turned out, it also meant that this story engaged me in a deeper way than the first in the series. In fact, I was completely immersed for the second half of the book.

That’s not to say the story didn’t have some minor issues. Some Americanisms crept in, the word “druthers” being the most jarring (both an Americanism and much more modern than the Regency era), and although the issue of incorrect manner of address (from the first book in the series) was largely rectified with Marcus becoming the Duke of Haverly, it still wasn’t entirely absent. I also felt there was still a slight tendency to caricaturise the main characters’ most defining personality traits, particularly in the first part of the story.

What I really did enjoy, however, was Charlotte’s efforts on behalf of women caught up in prostitution. I often have conflicted feelings about this kind of story line in Christian historical romance, because it can be difficult to address it in a way that feels authentic for the setting, but there is a particular circumstance that made it a natural course of action for Charlotte, and as it intertwined with Marcus’s work for the crown, it developed into quite the suspenseful ending. I also enjoyed the fact that the tension between Marcus and Charlotte as their marriage progressed was largely about the depth of their emotional intimacy—such an important part of a happy marriage.

If you’re a fan of Regency romance, this is definitely a series worth checking out.

I've read both books in this series in quick succession, since they were published within months of each other. Overall, I have enjoyed both books in this unusual regency series, which is the first from this author (she has written short Regency stories in collections before).

The elements of espionage and political intrigue add a lot to the story, and Marcus. Sigh. Marcus is just dreamy. He was an excellent character in the last book, and even moreso here. Darkly handsome, chivalrous, protective, but also smart and sharp.
The quips and banter between him and Charlotte here at times hilarious, and I love how they came together over a mutual love of books.

I liked Charlotte at first because of this. Being a devoted bookworm and nerd myself. I'd be called a 'bluestocking' in Regency times, for my love of history books and reading ancient poems over popular fiction. Set me loose in a bookstore and you could lose me for hours.

However, I had a few issues with this novel (which also relate to the previous one). One of this was the continually negative depiction of men. All the male characters except the heroes, and few of their associates are either lechers or abusers, or both.
Now don't get me wrong, I think we do need to address the subject of abuse of women in novels, but I think the issue here is that it's very one-sided. Making out that only men are abusers and only women are their victims.

In real life, this isn't the case. Women can and do abuse men, other women and children. Women can be extremely controlling, but this isn't really depicted in this novel. All the women are helpless victims or innocent angels of evil men.

Also, I stopped a few Americanisms which really stood out, and a couple of details which did not ring true for the time period. Such as Macus having a gym in his attic, and working out in it. The characters also refer to 'sitting in Lords'.

I assume this refers to sitting in the House of Lords, but that is not an abbreviation I've ever encountered before. British people don't say that. We'd say 'in the Lords' or 'The House of Lords'. As an interesting aside, there is a cricket ground called Lords and I kept thinking of that whenever they used this (incorrect) term.

I'd certainly read more by this author, and look forward to the 3rd and final book in this series, though I'm glad there's a bit of a gap between the release dates. I did like this book, but I would not count it as a favourite, but will recommend it for fans of Regency Romance.

Thanks to Audra Jennings and Kregel for providing me with an ebook version of this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Gentleman Spy, Erica Vetsch’s second book in her Serendipity & Secrets series, is one of those books you don’t want to put down. Much like the first book, The Lost Lieutenant, it grabs you from the beginning and keeps you in its grip until the satisfying conclusion.
The chemistry between Marcus and Charlotte presents itself from the beginning. Vetsch does a great job of developing them and their relationship. I love the banter between them and how much they enjoy it.

For me, Charlotte and Marcus were both relatable characters. Though, to be honest, what made her the most relatable to me was her love of books. And I could definitely understand why Marcus would want to his life to continue as it had been instead of being open to change. And Vetsch does a great job of helping the reader understand why Charlotte would enter into a marriage of convenience. We can also understand Charlotte’s concerns about her marriage based on her father.

I also liked that this book continued the subplot of the assassination attempt against the Prince Regent. While you can understand the book without reading The Lost Lieutenant, you’ll understand Marcus’s search better if you read The Lost Lieutenant first. Plus, it’s so much fun to see Evan and Diana again.

From beginning to end, The Gentleman Spy is engaging, gripping, and enjoyable. This is a must read for any fan of Regency romance and the marriage of convenience trope.

(I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)