The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch and a Giveaway!!!

 

The third book in the Serendipity & Secrets series is here! The Indebted Earl tells the story of the Duke of Haverly's sister, Lady Sophia Haverly.

From the Back Cover:

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The major's dying wish is for his love to be relayed to his finacee, and for the captain to look after her needs. But along the way, Charles learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: due to a death in the family, he is now the Earl of Rothwell.

His new role includes an estate in need of a leader and a trio of orphaned girls, all wards of the former earl. Wyvern understand war; young ladies and properties he does not. As a solution, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience to the late major's betrothed, the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly. 

Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for Richardson's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, and a distraction from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his commission at sea, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she must learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

My Thoughts:

Erica has written another delightful, adventurous tale. The beginning of the book is filled with sadness at the loss of young love, and a Captain's guilt over how it happened. His guilt motivates him in this new life after being stranded on land because of his injuries. And now he must fulfill a promise he made to his friend, Rich, as he died in order to ease his guilt. The Captain is a stern man only accustomed to the sea, but as he wonders how much he must do to ease the guilt he feels, he surprises himself with growing feelings for Sophie. Lady Sophia also goes through her own challenges. When Captain Wyvern arrives on her doorstep, she is faced with forgiving the man who says he is responsible for Rich's death. And even though she just buried her fiancee, her mother is already planning parties for her to meet a prospective mate. How can she grieve, forgive, and go on with life?

It's a good thing the story doesn't stay sad for long. While there is the hint of their grieving Rich, there is also an adventure to the sea that brings more adventure than they were wanting.  This was probably my favorite part of the story. There is this growing suspicion that things are not as they seem in the quaint little town of Gateshead village. The very place that Captain Wyvern is now an Earl. And it takes quite a crew to get to the bottom of things! It was a great way to end the book with a climatic ending.

Overall this was a charming series that you should pick up and read for your next reading adventure! You can find out more about the first two books in this series by clicking here for book 1-The Lost Lieutenant or by clicking here for book 2-The Gentleman Spy.

My Rating: ★★★★

***I received this complimentary book from I Read With Audra book tours. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Information About the GIVEAWAY!!!

Make sure to head over to Erica's website to enter this giveaway by Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Click Here to visit her website!

About the Author:
 

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), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and

 Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).