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Serendipity & Secrets #1
The Lost Lieutenant
Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero—he only wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think 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 noble 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 from wounds incurred 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 new 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.
Now Evan has a noble 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 from wounds incurred 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 new 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.
277 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2020
150 people are currently reading
2393 people want to read
About the author
Erica Vetsch
67 books1,386 followersBest-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can learn about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspi... where she spends way too much time!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 468 reviews
January 10, 2020
Often I am asked to read advance copies and endorse. Which I love to do, mostly. Sometimes a story just doesn't resonate with me and then I'm stuck either writing some sort of lukewarm endorsement or flat-out lying. Neither of those is true with The Lost Lieutenant, because sweet pickled peppers, Batman, I freaking loved this book!
Let's talk a moment about the hero, Evan, shall we? Wait minute while I crank up the AC. Whewie. That man is steamy! Super protective. Caring. Yet with his own foibles that need addressing, this is one hero that any woman would love. Heroine Diana is the perfect match for him with her blend of vulnerability and determination.
And the plot? Yeah, there were a few predictabilities, but the pacing was perfect. I mean, this is your quintessential Regency romance, so it has the expected trip to Almack's and appearance of ol' Prinny, but it also had some great twists and turns.
Truly, this is my favorite Erica Vestch title to date and earns a place on my keeper shelf, it’s just that lovable.
Let's talk a moment about the hero, Evan, shall we? Wait minute while I crank up the AC. Whewie. That man is steamy! Super protective. Caring. Yet with his own foibles that need addressing, this is one hero that any woman would love. Heroine Diana is the perfect match for him with her blend of vulnerability and determination.
And the plot? Yeah, there were a few predictabilities, but the pacing was perfect. I mean, this is your quintessential Regency romance, so it has the expected trip to Almack's and appearance of ol' Prinny, but it also had some great twists and turns.
Truly, this is my favorite Erica Vestch title to date and earns a place on my keeper shelf, it’s just that lovable.
April 9, 2024
1.5 stars, personally. :(
About this book:
“Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero—he only wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think 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 noble 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 from wounds incurred 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 new marriage but someone's very life.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Serendipity & Secrets” trilogy. (Connected to the “Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery” series.)
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking God; Singing a hymn; A rector reads from “The Book of Common Prayer” at a wedding; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Diana thinks that she’s never been certain that God cared about her prayers or if she was significant enough for His interest (most in her life didn’t teach her about God, but one teacher told her about God wanting a personal relationship with her through Jesus); Diana prays for God to help situations, but isn’t sure He hears them because nothing seems to change and wonders if praying even did any good; Evan wonders what God was thinking because his life isn’t going as he planned; When Diana plans a lie of omission (due to her father’s actions and threats) she thinks about God still loving Rahab even though she lied (Diana thinks that the safety of a child is justification for the lie) and hopes God will forgive her; Evan thinks he has no business hoping that God will bless his and Diana’s marriage (because they were forced into the marriage); Diana is concerned that she is sinning because she thinks that God is remaining silent to her prayers (and therefore not guiding her); Evan makes a comment that he feels like God has played an “awful joke” on him about his current circumstances (being an earl and getting lands, married to Diana, and gaining her inheritance; Diana is hurt by this comment); Diana thanks God for answering her prayers (by bringing Evan into her life); *Spoiler* ; Evan asks God why He keeps firing other plans at him & why didn’t God allow him to stay a soldier; Evan says God saved him on a battlefield, even though there were times he wished God hadn’t; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of praying & prayers; Mentions of churches, hymns/worship, a daily chapel services in a school, ministers/vicars, & sermons; Mentions of Easter & the titular head of the Church of England; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A couple mentions of an abbey & stained glass; A couple mentions of religious art; A mention of being Christian;
*Note: The phrase “God hates a coward” is said by a military man; A woman is called a ‘harpy’; Mentions of lucky & being lucky; A mention of laying one’s “ghosts to rest”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘zooks’ (exclamation by a man that is apologized for saying around a woman), and two ‘biddies’s; A couple mentions of curses are cut-off; Eye rolling; Fighting, Being shot at, Shooting, Shooting/killing someone, & Seeing someone stabbed (up to semi-detailed); Being slapped/hit, injuries, blood/bleeding, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Evan has many flashbacks, PTSD, panic attacks, anxiety, and nightmares of his time in the military (semi-detailed); Diana’s father and brother are verbally and physically abusive to her & we see this on-page (including her being slapped/hit and shoved by her father & shrinking when they are around, semi-detailed); Evan has a temper at times and physically lashes out (not towards Diana, but she is still scared by his actions and that he may turn it on her); Diana lies to Evan & Evan keeps secrets from Diana (*Spoiler* ); Diana’s father is glad her sister died because of the same of her having an illegitimate child and wishes the baby would have died as well; A side character’s brother berates him for his actions and being a second son (he is mostly unaffected by her words and sharp comments); *Spoiler* ; All about many, many mentions of wars, fighting, battles, shooting, spies, treason, injuries (including losing limbs), deaths, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks; Mentions of assassins & assassination attempts; Mentions of a potential murder; Mentions of brawls, beatings, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (including Diana being slapped/hit by her father & Evan punching a man for his comments, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thieves, bandits, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of a kidnapping; Mentions of betting, gambling, & gamblers; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of nightmares (of war-related actions and events, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of hateful words (from family members); Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & lies of omission; Mentions of blackmail; Mentions of dead & injured horses (including horses having effects of the war as well, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hunting & poaching; A few mentions of duels & men shooting at the another; A few mentions of grief (Diana for her sister); A few mentions of jealousy/envy; A few mentions of vomiting; A couple mentions of possible hangings; A couple mentions of prisons (Diana feeling like her family house is one); A couple mentions of a knacker’s yard for old horses; A mention of someone looking as “weak as a half-drowned kitten”;
*Note: Diana’s father threatens Diana with sending her nephew to an orphanage to keep her under his control & threatens to harm the child when he cries; Diana wonders if there’s any honorable men in England (that do not have a cruel streak, uncontrolled temper, and “a need to dominate every woman in his life” because those in her limited experience are like that); Evan keeps his PTSD, panic attacks, and anxiety (the first is unnamed in the book but clear to be that) a secret so he doesn’t get sent to Bedlam (a hospital for the “insane”); A woman is called a “cow”; Mentions of an infant being very sick (up to semi-detailed); A few mentions of some soldiers going “demented” and harming themselves and others after their minds break after their experiences; A couple mentions of a elderly man who’s memory isn’t good and is called “demented”; A mention of some believing that women shouldn’t read newsletters “lest they offend their delicate sensibilities” (Diana finds this to be hogwash).
Sexual Content- Three hand kisses (including greetings and unwanted ones), four forehead/hair kisses, two cheek kisses, an almost kiss (semi-detailed), five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two border-line semi-detailed // detailed kisses, and two detailed kisses (one that leads to a bed); Remembering kisses & an almost kiss (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to be kissed, wondering about being kissed, & wanting to kiss (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Butterflies, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (including a bit of Diana’s bosom showing in a dress (which is not-detailed), up to semi-detailed on everything else); Diana’s brother taunts her that their father is going to married her off to a man who is “old, fat, and in need of an heir” (including a potential suitor that is thrice her age); Diana’s father looks at her as selling her off due to her inheritance (Diana feels like a horse at auction); A man is obsessed in ruining Diana, wants to assault her/have a “bit of fun” with her, corners her a few times, plans to seduce her (even after she’s married), wants to “sample her ‘delights’”, & threatens to spread the rumor that he has bedded her; *Spoiler* ; A lawyer asks if Evan is going to have a mistress (and if so, he’ll be discrete about it); Diana finds accidental contact/touches with Evan “pleasant, exciting even”; *Spoiler but Important Content Info* ; Evan & Diana share a bed/bedroom for some time during this book; *Spoiler* ; When sitting together on a horse, Diana’s legs drape over Evan’s thighs (barely-above-not-detailed); A man comments on wanting the “company” of the female staff of a household; *Spoiler* A man pays Diana’s brother to make a situation where he can get his hands on her and promises to pay him more if he’s successful *End of Spoiler*; A few men calls Diana “delectable” and a “pretty morsel”; Men leer at Diana, stare at her body, & comment on having “fun” with her; Many mentions of Diana’s late sister who was seduced by a man during her first season & had an illegitimate child from him (including the whole story being told to others, twice); Many mentions of illegitimate children (also called “by-blow” children); Many mentions of seducing, affairs/infidelity, mistresses, & married couples having lovers (and some justifying it); Mentions of a wedding night, having to consummate a marriage, sharing a marriage bed, & a husband’s rights and expectations of his wife (including Diana’s sponsor giving her instructions about it and Diana not listening well to it & Diana wondering when Evan will want to exercise his marital rights, all barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of prostitutes, brothels, & women of “questionable reputation”; Mentions of temptations (for men of women, including Evan feeling tempted by Diana); Mentions of womanizers (including both Diana’s father and her brother) & philanderers (also called rakes); Mentions of reputations, women being ruined, & virtues; Mentions of the waltz being deemed scandalous because of how close the dancers are (one man calls it “quite exhilarating”); A few mentions of swollen lips from kisses (Diana); A few mentions of veiled sexual innuendoes/coarse comments by men about women; A few mentions of women being “bedded” by men (implied affairs/scandalous events, not through marriage); A couple mentions of rumors about a rushed wedding being due to a baby on the way; A couple mentions of men leering at Diana; A couple mentions of jealousy/envy; A mention of a man treating a woman he seduced as “tainted goods” and not paying attention to her again; A mention of some men being interesting women from another country because they’ve “heard so much” about them; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Marriage is called “leg-shackled” once by Evan; Mentions of suckling a child (breastfeeding; Evan thinks that something may be “wrong” with a girl who is unable to suckle her child); A few mentions of Diana’s sister passing away in childbirth after “complications had set in”; A mention of Diana’s father being a “woman hater” (despite having three different wives).
-Diana Seaton
-Evan Eldridge
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1813
277 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star (and a half)
{Trigger Warning for those sensitive towards physical and verbal abuse from male family members}
After reading the author’s connecting series, I’ve been very curious about this series as we see these characters again in those books. I was, however, hesitant over this trilogy because of all the books having the marriage of convenience trope. Which typically adds sexual content and mentions of intimacy that I don’t feel is needed. (As a comparison, if you’ve read “Short-Straw Bride” by Karen Witemeyer, I would still say that book had more about the intimacy and marital content in it than this book did. However, this book still toe the line while that book went completely passed the line of my personal comfort in that topic.) I was concerned that this book having the marriage of convenience trope (which is easily my least favorite trope) would have more content then I would prefer. It definitely had more than I prefer, but it was handled…better than most of the books I’ve attempted to read with this trope in the Christian fiction genre. That said, I still wouldn’t recommend it for those in BFCG’s target age range.
I really enjoyed this author‘s regency books because she pulls the most unique elements of the regency time. Whether that be the clothing the food or just different items that were only in that time and we’ve never seen before. I love researching it and typically getting a good laugh out of whatever the item is (like a shako).
I was so proud of Diana and how her confidence grows throughout the book. Now that was mainly because of Evan, which I’m never a fan of seeing the “savior male lead” trope in a book, but it was good to see her be able to be out from her wicked father’s grasp and bloom. (Though I would have preferred less mooning over Evan.)
I liked Evan, but I’m definitely looking forward to finally reading Marcus’s story soon. Evan was a good guy struggling with PTSD from his time in the military. I feel like the author wrote his experience with that and his memory loss from a certain event very well and was paced well throughout the story.
The faith content was…okay. There definitely were prayers and mentions of God, but if was more of a “learn as we go” theory for the main characters to learn and understand that God is working on things even when we can’t see them. But we see their doubts about God fixing their circumstances (particularly from Diana) and no actual conversations about it. However, things work out by the end and the characters see that He did fix their situations—through the other main character. That just didn’t settle completely well with me because it felt more like a “oh, well, it all worked out because we’re in love” thought rather than a true coming to God with their concerns and being in sincere prayer while focusing on Him (not their circumstances). Diana feels like the proof of God answering her prayers is by being loved by Evan and I don’t agree with that thought process. God always answers our prayers (even if it’s not how we wanted), her needed “proof” of Him answering her prayers and it being through a human male (and when they are kissing at that) isn’t the best or healthiest message to send.
I have such mixed feelings on this book. I liked our main couple and a couple of the side characters, but it definitely went right up to the line of where I am personally comfortable with intimacy mentions and crude comments from others. That’s why I really wouldn’t recommend it for any of those in the target age range of BFCG.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero—he only wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think 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 noble 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 from wounds incurred 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 new marriage but someone's very life.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Serendipity & Secrets” trilogy. (Connected to the “Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery” series.)
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking God; Singing a hymn; A rector reads from “The Book of Common Prayer” at a wedding; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Diana thinks that she’s never been certain that God cared about her prayers or if she was significant enough for His interest (most in her life didn’t teach her about God, but one teacher told her about God wanting a personal relationship with her through Jesus); Diana prays for God to help situations, but isn’t sure He hears them because nothing seems to change and wonders if praying even did any good; Evan wonders what God was thinking because his life isn’t going as he planned; When Diana plans a lie of omission (due to her father’s actions and threats) she thinks about God still loving Rahab even though she lied (Diana thinks that the safety of a child is justification for the lie) and hopes God will forgive her; Evan thinks he has no business hoping that God will bless his and Diana’s marriage (because they were forced into the marriage); Diana is concerned that she is sinning because she thinks that God is remaining silent to her prayers (and therefore not guiding her); Evan makes a comment that he feels like God has played an “awful joke” on him about his current circumstances (being an earl and getting lands, married to Diana, and gaining her inheritance; Diana is hurt by this comment); Diana thanks God for answering her prayers (by bringing Evan into her life); *Spoiler* ; Evan asks God why He keeps firing other plans at him & why didn’t God allow him to stay a soldier; Evan says God saved him on a battlefield, even though there were times he wished God hadn’t; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of praying & prayers; Mentions of churches, hymns/worship, a daily chapel services in a school, ministers/vicars, & sermons; Mentions of Easter & the titular head of the Church of England; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A couple mentions of an abbey & stained glass; A couple mentions of religious art; A mention of being Christian;
*Note: The phrase “God hates a coward” is said by a military man; A woman is called a ‘harpy’; Mentions of lucky & being lucky; A mention of laying one’s “ghosts to rest”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘zooks’ (exclamation by a man that is apologized for saying around a woman), and two ‘biddies’s; A couple mentions of curses are cut-off; Eye rolling; Fighting, Being shot at, Shooting, Shooting/killing someone, & Seeing someone stabbed (up to semi-detailed); Being slapped/hit, injuries, blood/bleeding, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Evan has many flashbacks, PTSD, panic attacks, anxiety, and nightmares of his time in the military (semi-detailed); Diana’s father and brother are verbally and physically abusive to her & we see this on-page (including her being slapped/hit and shoved by her father & shrinking when they are around, semi-detailed); Evan has a temper at times and physically lashes out (not towards Diana, but she is still scared by his actions and that he may turn it on her); Diana lies to Evan & Evan keeps secrets from Diana (*Spoiler* ); Diana’s father is glad her sister died because of the same of her having an illegitimate child and wishes the baby would have died as well; A side character’s brother berates him for his actions and being a second son (he is mostly unaffected by her words and sharp comments); *Spoiler* ; All about many, many mentions of wars, fighting, battles, shooting, spies, treason, injuries (including losing limbs), deaths, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks; Mentions of assassins & assassination attempts; Mentions of a potential murder; Mentions of brawls, beatings, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (including Diana being slapped/hit by her father & Evan punching a man for his comments, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thieves, bandits, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of a kidnapping; Mentions of betting, gambling, & gamblers; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of nightmares (of war-related actions and events, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of hateful words (from family members); Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & lies of omission; Mentions of blackmail; Mentions of dead & injured horses (including horses having effects of the war as well, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hunting & poaching; A few mentions of duels & men shooting at the another; A few mentions of grief (Diana for her sister); A few mentions of jealousy/envy; A few mentions of vomiting; A couple mentions of possible hangings; A couple mentions of prisons (Diana feeling like her family house is one); A couple mentions of a knacker’s yard for old horses; A mention of someone looking as “weak as a half-drowned kitten”;
*Note: Diana’s father threatens Diana with sending her nephew to an orphanage to keep her under his control & threatens to harm the child when he cries; Diana wonders if there’s any honorable men in England (that do not have a cruel streak, uncontrolled temper, and “a need to dominate every woman in his life” because those in her limited experience are like that); Evan keeps his PTSD, panic attacks, and anxiety (the first is unnamed in the book but clear to be that) a secret so he doesn’t get sent to Bedlam (a hospital for the “insane”); A woman is called a “cow”; Mentions of an infant being very sick (up to semi-detailed); A few mentions of some soldiers going “demented” and harming themselves and others after their minds break after their experiences; A couple mentions of a elderly man who’s memory isn’t good and is called “demented”; A mention of some believing that women shouldn’t read newsletters “lest they offend their delicate sensibilities” (Diana finds this to be hogwash).
Sexual Content- Three hand kisses (including greetings and unwanted ones), four forehead/hair kisses, two cheek kisses, an almost kiss (semi-detailed), five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two border-line semi-detailed // detailed kisses, and two detailed kisses (one that leads to a bed); Remembering kisses & an almost kiss (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to be kissed, wondering about being kissed, & wanting to kiss (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Butterflies, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (including a bit of Diana’s bosom showing in a dress (which is not-detailed), up to semi-detailed on everything else); Diana’s brother taunts her that their father is going to married her off to a man who is “old, fat, and in need of an heir” (including a potential suitor that is thrice her age); Diana’s father looks at her as selling her off due to her inheritance (Diana feels like a horse at auction); A man is obsessed in ruining Diana, wants to assault her/have a “bit of fun” with her, corners her a few times, plans to seduce her (even after she’s married), wants to “sample her ‘delights’”, & threatens to spread the rumor that he has bedded her; *Spoiler* ; A lawyer asks if Evan is going to have a mistress (and if so, he’ll be discrete about it); Diana finds accidental contact/touches with Evan “pleasant, exciting even”; *Spoiler but Important Content Info* ; Evan & Diana share a bed/bedroom for some time during this book; *Spoiler* ; When sitting together on a horse, Diana’s legs drape over Evan’s thighs (barely-above-not-detailed); A man comments on wanting the “company” of the female staff of a household; *Spoiler* A man pays Diana’s brother to make a situation where he can get his hands on her and promises to pay him more if he’s successful *End of Spoiler*; A few men calls Diana “delectable” and a “pretty morsel”; Men leer at Diana, stare at her body, & comment on having “fun” with her; Many mentions of Diana’s late sister who was seduced by a man during her first season & had an illegitimate child from him (including the whole story being told to others, twice); Many mentions of illegitimate children (also called “by-blow” children); Many mentions of seducing, affairs/infidelity, mistresses, & married couples having lovers (and some justifying it); Mentions of a wedding night, having to consummate a marriage, sharing a marriage bed, & a husband’s rights and expectations of his wife (including Diana’s sponsor giving her instructions about it and Diana not listening well to it & Diana wondering when Evan will want to exercise his marital rights, all barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of prostitutes, brothels, & women of “questionable reputation”; Mentions of temptations (for men of women, including Evan feeling tempted by Diana); Mentions of womanizers (including both Diana’s father and her brother) & philanderers (also called rakes); Mentions of reputations, women being ruined, & virtues; Mentions of the waltz being deemed scandalous because of how close the dancers are (one man calls it “quite exhilarating”); A few mentions of swollen lips from kisses (Diana); A few mentions of veiled sexual innuendoes/coarse comments by men about women; A few mentions of women being “bedded” by men (implied affairs/scandalous events, not through marriage); A couple mentions of rumors about a rushed wedding being due to a baby on the way; A couple mentions of men leering at Diana; A couple mentions of jealousy/envy; A mention of a man treating a woman he seduced as “tainted goods” and not paying attention to her again; A mention of some men being interesting women from another country because they’ve “heard so much” about them; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Marriage is called “leg-shackled” once by Evan; Mentions of suckling a child (breastfeeding; Evan thinks that something may be “wrong” with a girl who is unable to suckle her child); A few mentions of Diana’s sister passing away in childbirth after “complications had set in”; A mention of Diana’s father being a “woman hater” (despite having three different wives).
-Diana Seaton
-Evan Eldridge
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1813
277 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star (and a half)
{Trigger Warning for those sensitive towards physical and verbal abuse from male family members}
After reading the author’s connecting series, I’ve been very curious about this series as we see these characters again in those books. I was, however, hesitant over this trilogy because of all the books having the marriage of convenience trope. Which typically adds sexual content and mentions of intimacy that I don’t feel is needed. (As a comparison, if you’ve read “Short-Straw Bride” by Karen Witemeyer, I would still say that book had more about the intimacy and marital content in it than this book did. However, this book still toe the line while that book went completely passed the line of my personal comfort in that topic.) I was concerned that this book having the marriage of convenience trope (which is easily my least favorite trope) would have more content then I would prefer. It definitely had more than I prefer, but it was handled…better than most of the books I’ve attempted to read with this trope in the Christian fiction genre. That said, I still wouldn’t recommend it for those in BFCG’s target age range.
I really enjoyed this author‘s regency books because she pulls the most unique elements of the regency time. Whether that be the clothing the food or just different items that were only in that time and we’ve never seen before. I love researching it and typically getting a good laugh out of whatever the item is (like a shako).
I was so proud of Diana and how her confidence grows throughout the book. Now that was mainly because of Evan, which I’m never a fan of seeing the “savior male lead” trope in a book, but it was good to see her be able to be out from her wicked father’s grasp and bloom. (Though I would have preferred less mooning over Evan.)
I liked Evan, but I’m definitely looking forward to finally reading Marcus’s story soon. Evan was a good guy struggling with PTSD from his time in the military. I feel like the author wrote his experience with that and his memory loss from a certain event very well and was paced well throughout the story.
The faith content was…okay. There definitely were prayers and mentions of God, but if was more of a “learn as we go” theory for the main characters to learn and understand that God is working on things even when we can’t see them. But we see their doubts about God fixing their circumstances (particularly from Diana) and no actual conversations about it. However, things work out by the end and the characters see that He did fix their situations—through the other main character. That just didn’t settle completely well with me because it felt more like a “oh, well, it all worked out because we’re in love” thought rather than a true coming to God with their concerns and being in sincere prayer while focusing on Him (not their circumstances). Diana feels like the proof of God answering her prayers is by being loved by Evan and I don’t agree with that thought process. God always answers our prayers (even if it’s not how we wanted), her needed “proof” of Him answering her prayers and it being through a human male (and when they are kissing at that) isn’t the best or healthiest message to send.
I have such mixed feelings on this book. I liked our main couple and a couple of the side characters, but it definitely went right up to the line of where I am personally comfortable with intimacy mentions and crude comments from others. That’s why I really wouldn’t recommend it for any of those in the target age range of BFCG.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
May 4, 2020
Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes because I love seeing the characters get to know each other in such close circumstances and overcome unique obstacles to become partners in heart. The themes of trust and integrity are explored here as secrets play a big part in the conflict and plot. Evan and Diana both have traumatic experiences they are dealing with- Evan from the war and Diana from her abusive father. I loved the way these two hurting people were able to come together and help each other begin to heal. The romance was perfect and I appreciated the subtle humor that was woven in. This is the first Regency book I've read where the Prince Regent plays such a meddling role! The author hit a perfect balance between development of the characters and their relationship and the suspense and intrigue that kept the pace of the book moving forward toward the climax and satisfying conclusion. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! Definitely one that fans of sweet romance won't want to miss!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
August 6, 2022
How do I rate this one....on the plus side...well drawn main characters that are kind and have a good plot. I read it in 2 days, so I enjoyed the author. I was not convinced of their attachment to each other as it was a marriage of convenience decreed by the Prince Regent. I thought the story could have been a bit tighter and some secrets revealed sooner. Light Christian touches here and there...nothing heavy handed. I look forward to the next book in the series as Marcus was a lot more interesting character. Glad I read the book but would not reread it. Rate it 3.5* and round up.
May 12, 2020
Saving Prince Regent’s godson on the battle field, Evan Eldridge is knighted, given an estate, land and money. Duke’s daughter Diana Seaton is also selected by the Prince Regent to marry the new Earl of Whitelock, wildly against her father’s wishes. The married couple hides serious secrets, but is forced to trust each other when life threatening events occur.
The Lost Lieutenant is first installment in the new (Serendipity & Secrets) by Erica Vetsch which is set in London and Berkshire 1813. It’s about War Veteran Evan Eldridge who is knighted for bravery in the Peninsular War. I find this book to be interesting and unusual as it focuses on a male main character. In all similar stories I have read the main character has been female, which makes this a novelty.
Main character Evan Eldridge is a traumatized ex sharpshooter. Following the Prince Regent’s gratitude he has to suddenly learn how to be a gentleman and. I like him a lot as he seems a well rounded character with good values who is a believer in God. He is my favorite of this story.
Secondary character Diana Seaton is pressured to do her father’s bidding to marry someone chosen by him. She seems assertive and strong despite the way her father treats her.
I felt sorry for her trying to deal with an impossible situation.
There is some impressive character building in The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1) by Erica Vetsch. The characters seem to be built from a combination of the most problematic character traits of the time.
Evan suffered memory loss related to events on the battle field. My favorite part of the story was clues to the mystery of what happened. This part of the plot included a surprising development.
Plenty of complications prevented Diana and Evan from getting close. Nothing much happened in the way of romance until the second half of the book, which I found in keeping with the development of the plot. It made room for other dramatic elements to remain in the foreground.
I enjoyed that some of the spiritual message was conveyed through song (or poem) and that both Evan and Diana prayed for strength throughout the story.
The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1) by Erica Vetsch is excellent entertaining in an interesting plot with captivating character building and enjoyable, vivid writing. The ending is exciting as well as satisfying and ties up loose ends while still leaving enough to build a plot for the next book. I will eagerly be watching out for the next installment in Serendipity & Secrets Series by Erica Vetsch.
Fans of Erica Vetsch will love this new series. Readers of historical romance fiction might enjoy it as well. Similar authors to explore might be Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter.
Thank you to publisher Kregel Publications and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review.
My rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reason: interesting plot, excellent character building, great writing
The Lost Lieutenant is first installment in the new (Serendipity & Secrets) by Erica Vetsch which is set in London and Berkshire 1813. It’s about War Veteran Evan Eldridge who is knighted for bravery in the Peninsular War. I find this book to be interesting and unusual as it focuses on a male main character. In all similar stories I have read the main character has been female, which makes this a novelty.
Main character Evan Eldridge is a traumatized ex sharpshooter. Following the Prince Regent’s gratitude he has to suddenly learn how to be a gentleman and. I like him a lot as he seems a well rounded character with good values who is a believer in God. He is my favorite of this story.
Secondary character Diana Seaton is pressured to do her father’s bidding to marry someone chosen by him. She seems assertive and strong despite the way her father treats her.
I felt sorry for her trying to deal with an impossible situation.
There is some impressive character building in The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1) by Erica Vetsch. The characters seem to be built from a combination of the most problematic character traits of the time.
Evan suffered memory loss related to events on the battle field. My favorite part of the story was clues to the mystery of what happened. This part of the plot included a surprising development.
Plenty of complications prevented Diana and Evan from getting close. Nothing much happened in the way of romance until the second half of the book, which I found in keeping with the development of the plot. It made room for other dramatic elements to remain in the foreground.
I enjoyed that some of the spiritual message was conveyed through song (or poem) and that both Evan and Diana prayed for strength throughout the story.
The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1) by Erica Vetsch is excellent entertaining in an interesting plot with captivating character building and enjoyable, vivid writing. The ending is exciting as well as satisfying and ties up loose ends while still leaving enough to build a plot for the next book. I will eagerly be watching out for the next installment in Serendipity & Secrets Series by Erica Vetsch.
Fans of Erica Vetsch will love this new series. Readers of historical romance fiction might enjoy it as well. Similar authors to explore might be Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter.
Thank you to publisher Kregel Publications and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review.
My rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reason: interesting plot, excellent character building, great writing
September 9, 2021
*Updated to add that I have now listened to the audio book version of this and it was wonderful! Beautifully narrated. I loved listening to it!
I have a new Regency book to add to my favorites list! The Lost Lieutenant was a fantastic read, which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. It combined two of my favorite things…the Regency Era and a marriage of convenience.
I enjoyed the hint of intrigue that ran throughout the novel, as Evan struggled to regain his lost memories and recover from his battle injuries. But the best thing about this story for me was the way these two main characters were thrown together and ended up married, as you cannot say no to the Prince Regent!
Evan and Diana’s marriage was such a balancing act. It was fraught with secrets on both sides, which led to mistrust and damaged emotions. But it was also filled with attraction and admiration, as they worked together to restore White Haven, their new home.
I loved this story from start to finish and am so excited to read the next book in the series, especially after reading the sneak peek in the back of this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
I have a new Regency book to add to my favorites list! The Lost Lieutenant was a fantastic read, which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. It combined two of my favorite things…the Regency Era and a marriage of convenience.
I enjoyed the hint of intrigue that ran throughout the novel, as Evan struggled to regain his lost memories and recover from his battle injuries. But the best thing about this story for me was the way these two main characters were thrown together and ended up married, as you cannot say no to the Prince Regent!
Evan and Diana’s marriage was such a balancing act. It was fraught with secrets on both sides, which led to mistrust and damaged emotions. But it was also filled with attraction and admiration, as they worked together to restore White Haven, their new home.
I loved this story from start to finish and am so excited to read the next book in the series, especially after reading the sneak peek in the back of this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
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January 15, 2020read for Endorsement:
Two brilliantly developed characters forge a future together at the intersection of love and war in this compelling and immersive historical romance. Evan is everything a hero should be and Diana more than his match with spirit, courage and intelligence in her own right. Together they graft a world through secrets, espionage and unexpected acts of chivalry. Vetsch weaves a complex and deftly embroidered tale that offers a deeply compassionate look at the mental scars of war. Readers of Carla Kelly, Mary Balogh and Julie Klassen will find their next favourite read in The Lost Lieutenant. As for me, my romantic's heart will continue to skip a beat every time I think of them. I fully intend to revisit their world time and again for years to come.
Two brilliantly developed characters forge a future together at the intersection of love and war in this compelling and immersive historical romance. Evan is everything a hero should be and Diana more than his match with spirit, courage and intelligence in her own right. Together they graft a world through secrets, espionage and unexpected acts of chivalry. Vetsch weaves a complex and deftly embroidered tale that offers a deeply compassionate look at the mental scars of war. Readers of Carla Kelly, Mary Balogh and Julie Klassen will find their next favourite read in The Lost Lieutenant. As for me, my romantic's heart will continue to skip a beat every time I think of them. I fully intend to revisit their world time and again for years to come.
April 23, 2020
The Lost Lieutenant is utterly romantic and original! While a Regency marriage of convenience might be a familiar trope combination, the vibrant characters are anything but predictable. This is the tale of an unlikely couple up against societal standards, a meddling Prince, the impact of the Napoleonic Wars, familial tyranny, and plenty of secrets.
Author Erica Vetsch’s inclusion of the Napoleonic wars through Evan’s veteran experience contrasts with his rise to privilege, ultimately offering a unique perspective of society that’s amusing and enlightening. Diana is a wonderful counterpart to his reserved and unfamiliar nature, proving herself a formidable and intelligent help to him while she handles her own familial challenges.
I loved seeing the romantic relationship between Evan and Diana grow in complexity, even while the secrets between them multiply. Seeing them untangle their own reservations and circumstances with each other’s help makes for some sweetly romantic moments and chivalrous opportunities. In the midst of the swoony moments, hints of a spy and enigmatic acquaintances add to the tension and thrilling reveals. I appreciate how the value of truth and integrity is subtly woven through this story, as is God’s provision in seemingly insurmountable circumstances.
I’m intrigued by the character of Marcus, and looking forward to his story in book 2: The Gentleman Spy!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
Author Erica Vetsch’s inclusion of the Napoleonic wars through Evan’s veteran experience contrasts with his rise to privilege, ultimately offering a unique perspective of society that’s amusing and enlightening. Diana is a wonderful counterpart to his reserved and unfamiliar nature, proving herself a formidable and intelligent help to him while she handles her own familial challenges.
I loved seeing the romantic relationship between Evan and Diana grow in complexity, even while the secrets between them multiply. Seeing them untangle their own reservations and circumstances with each other’s help makes for some sweetly romantic moments and chivalrous opportunities. In the midst of the swoony moments, hints of a spy and enigmatic acquaintances add to the tension and thrilling reveals. I appreciate how the value of truth and integrity is subtly woven through this story, as is God’s provision in seemingly insurmountable circumstances.
I’m intrigued by the character of Marcus, and looking forward to his story in book 2: The Gentleman Spy!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
July 18, 2022
A fun marriage-of-convenience story between a battered veteran and a society girl. Their relationship progresses forward with a number of surprises but stayed discreet enough that I didn’t have to blush over scenes. I was really intrigued by Evan’s friends and am looking forward to the rest of the series. I wasn’t expecting the blackmail angle that popped up and it could easily have made the story a tragedy!
Trigger warning: physical abuse by a woman’s male relatives, emotional abuse by same
Trigger warning: physical abuse by a woman’s male relatives, emotional abuse by same
May 17, 2020
It has been so long since I have read a Regency and now I wonder why I have waited so long. This book was hard for me to put down. It was fun to read about the English ton and its customs along with bits about the military and the various settings made this story come to life for me.
When two strangers are thrown together in a marriage ordered by the Prince Regent to unite his goddaughter and a common military hero, there are a lot of unknowns that the two have to discover about each other as well as earning the other's trust. And it is a union that no one wants, especially the father of the bride. It was a journey fraught with many obstacles, mostly caused by deceitful, selfish people. For me, emotions ran the gamut from anger, frustration, and disgust to feelings of delight and happiness as the main characters interact with each other and against others. There is also a deeper plot going on that is hinted at but not answered until near the end. This is a book that stayed with me when I wasn't reading it and I expect it will for a while. Loved it! Great book and first that I have read by the author but I am looking forward to the next story in the series.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kregel Publications through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
When two strangers are thrown together in a marriage ordered by the Prince Regent to unite his goddaughter and a common military hero, there are a lot of unknowns that the two have to discover about each other as well as earning the other's trust. And it is a union that no one wants, especially the father of the bride. It was a journey fraught with many obstacles, mostly caused by deceitful, selfish people. For me, emotions ran the gamut from anger, frustration, and disgust to feelings of delight and happiness as the main characters interact with each other and against others. There is also a deeper plot going on that is hinted at but not answered until near the end. This is a book that stayed with me when I wasn't reading it and I expect it will for a while. Loved it! Great book and first that I have read by the author but I am looking forward to the next story in the series.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kregel Publications through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
July 30, 2020
A really enjoyable read. When two strangers meet at the royal court, they have no idea how their lives are about to change. With a hero who is thrust into a new life when the prince makes him an earl, and a heroine who escapes a terrible situation by walking into the unknown. Add a baby who has to be protected and a setting that must be restored and you have a compelling story. The. Add intrigue and a touch of mystery, and this novel was designed to be inhaled. It has everything to make a regency lovers’ heart smile.
May 18, 2021
The Lost Lieutenant is a regency romance set in 1813 England during the Napoleonic Wars. But it is not your normal Regency with pomp and pageantry. Instead it focuses on the hearts of the main characters. Evan Eldridge has just been released from hospital after fighting as a sniper for the English in the Napoleonic Wars and being wounded as he rescued the godson of the Prince Regent. He has now been declared a duke by the Prince Regent and given a title along with a rundown castle. This is a role for which he is totally unprepared. Another gift from the Regent (to whom no one ever says no) is Lady Diana the daughter of another duke whom the Regent thinks is the perfect wife for Evan. Both Evan and Diana are hiding secrets. Will a rundown castle pull them together or tear them apart? With all the elements of a perfect Regency: social class distinctions, debutantes, balls, fashion, marriages of convenience, nobility, romance, and a little mystery, this was definitely a book I couldn't put down.
August 2, 2021
I liked it a lot, but for some reason, there was something missing. Perhaps in the character development. However, I definitely want to read book 2 for Marcus (!!).
July 22, 2025
I loved this book! The author is new to me and I have already downloaded the second book in the series. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was wonderful!
March 23, 2020
'He was a fraud in a society of frauds.'
Erica Vetsch begins a new series with this book and it is absolutely exceptional! A most excellent Regency. Evan Eldridge has suddenly been conferred an earldom by the prince regent and must learn how to conduct himself properly in the ton. He's also been given a wife the prince regent and one just does not say no to the prince regent. Diana Seaton, daughter of the Duke of Seaton, is the one Evan must marry, but even though she jumps at the chance to leave her abusive father's home, she is afraid there she must stay.
I have read many of Vetsch's books before, but she totally shines here! Brightly shines, I may add. She has created wonderful characters and even the bad guy characters are well done. The plot is perfect and her hero is swoon worthy to the absolute max! The secondary characters were also well done and two will have their own story soon. At least, I hope it's soon. I stayed up into the wee hours reading this book until I could stay awake no longer. I rushed through chores to get back to it and finish. I love feeling this good about a book. I highly recommend this book!
*My thanks to Kregel Publishing for a copy of this book. The opinions stated here in this review are entirely my own.
Erica Vetsch begins a new series with this book and it is absolutely exceptional! A most excellent Regency. Evan Eldridge has suddenly been conferred an earldom by the prince regent and must learn how to conduct himself properly in the ton. He's also been given a wife the prince regent and one just does not say no to the prince regent. Diana Seaton, daughter of the Duke of Seaton, is the one Evan must marry, but even though she jumps at the chance to leave her abusive father's home, she is afraid there she must stay.
I have read many of Vetsch's books before, but she totally shines here! Brightly shines, I may add. She has created wonderful characters and even the bad guy characters are well done. The plot is perfect and her hero is swoon worthy to the absolute max! The secondary characters were also well done and two will have their own story soon. At least, I hope it's soon. I stayed up into the wee hours reading this book until I could stay awake no longer. I rushed through chores to get back to it and finish. I love feeling this good about a book. I highly recommend this book!
*My thanks to Kregel Publishing for a copy of this book. The opinions stated here in this review are entirely my own.
May 16, 2020
This was my first Erica Vetsch book, but it won’t be my last. This book was so good! The storyline was was so original. I read most of this in one day! I was so wrapped up in this book that I didn’t want it to end! Now I am left sitting here trying to wait patiently for the next book. I highly recommend this book for Regency fans!
July 8, 2020
Enjoyable Regency Romance. Initially, the long chapters were a distraction for me, but I soon became accustomed to them. The hero and heroine were equally lovely. I adored the way that Evan approached so many things from a military point of view. Hoping book two will be about Marcus.
June 1, 2020
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and JustRead Tours. These are my honest thoughts.
How do I even begin?
I was a little nervous going in to this one. See, I’d only read a couple of westerns by Mrs. Vetsch. Sometimes the quality of books, the attention to detail, lags a bit in the first book exploring a new genre for an author. Rest assured, my friends, that was not at all the case with this author. This Regency era novel perfectly captured the time period, including the settings, costumes, and the hierarchy of the British nobility.
The people populating this fictional world Mrs. Vetsch created were fantastic, even those I found rightfully abhorrent. From the leads (Diana and Evan) to the supporting characters (Louisa, Shand, Marcus, Cian, and Beth) to the antagonists (who I’ll keep secret for you to discover for yourself), they each brought something important and unique to the story. Because their personalities popped off the page so well, I was completely engrossed in their journeys, good and bad and every twist and turn in between. Of course, the hope for certain somebodies to find their fictional comeuppance kept me flipping those virtual pages quickly. But it was the hope strung throughout that kept my heart so intimately connected to the journey of the leads to the very end.
Newlyweds’ stories are typically tough for me to read, because often they come with details I’d rather not read about. Not so, my friends! Mrs. Vetsch perfectly handled the newlywed angle, steering clear of the intimacies yet creating such wonderful empathy that those moments that found the newlyweds quite alone became some of my favorites for how special and sweet they were. This book is definitely a newlyweds-done-right story that hit the sweet spot my clean-romance-loving heart craves so much.
Okay, may I just say that the war horses were amazing? Happy sigh! I adored how the author used these precious steeds. I wish I could say more, but this portion of the story is definitely best discovered on one’s own. Check out the book to see just how amazing these horses were.
The timing of reading about these horses was perfect too, because I just finished reading Joey by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, which was about a blind horse that became a therapy equine. What an emotional book! If you have the opportunity, go ahead and read that book right before or after The Lost Lieutenant. I believe these books pair up well, even though they’re set in vastly different eras.
Content: alcohol, gambling
How do I even begin?
I was a little nervous going in to this one. See, I’d only read a couple of westerns by Mrs. Vetsch. Sometimes the quality of books, the attention to detail, lags a bit in the first book exploring a new genre for an author. Rest assured, my friends, that was not at all the case with this author. This Regency era novel perfectly captured the time period, including the settings, costumes, and the hierarchy of the British nobility.
The people populating this fictional world Mrs. Vetsch created were fantastic, even those I found rightfully abhorrent. From the leads (Diana and Evan) to the supporting characters (Louisa, Shand, Marcus, Cian, and Beth) to the antagonists (who I’ll keep secret for you to discover for yourself), they each brought something important and unique to the story. Because their personalities popped off the page so well, I was completely engrossed in their journeys, good and bad and every twist and turn in between. Of course, the hope for certain somebodies to find their fictional comeuppance kept me flipping those virtual pages quickly. But it was the hope strung throughout that kept my heart so intimately connected to the journey of the leads to the very end.
Newlyweds’ stories are typically tough for me to read, because often they come with details I’d rather not read about. Not so, my friends! Mrs. Vetsch perfectly handled the newlywed angle, steering clear of the intimacies yet creating such wonderful empathy that those moments that found the newlyweds quite alone became some of my favorites for how special and sweet they were. This book is definitely a newlyweds-done-right story that hit the sweet spot my clean-romance-loving heart craves so much.
Okay, may I just say that the war horses were amazing? Happy sigh! I adored how the author used these precious steeds. I wish I could say more, but this portion of the story is definitely best discovered on one’s own. Check out the book to see just how amazing these horses were.
The timing of reading about these horses was perfect too, because I just finished reading Joey by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, which was about a blind horse that became a therapy equine. What an emotional book! If you have the opportunity, go ahead and read that book right before or after The Lost Lieutenant. I believe these books pair up well, even though they’re set in vastly different eras.
Content: alcohol, gambling
May 16, 2020
One of the best Regency books I have had the pleasure of reading.
Erica Vetsch plus Earls, Dukes, the Prince and a damsel in distress is a recipe for Regency Gold! This start to a new series is beyond impressive. She even writes her reprehensible villains with panache.
Evan Eldridge and Diana Seaton find themselves in daunting circumstances which are compounded by an edict to wed from Prinny himself: “You don’t say no to the Prince Regent.”
A grateful Prince bestows a title on Evan along with a holding that is in shambles. He finds he is ill equipped to be a part of society, much less manage an estate. Evan is still dealing with injuries incurred in battle. “The nightmares stalked him, the sense of impending doom, the panic he tried to lock away but that swarmed over him like a breach in the line every time he let down his guard.”
Diana is in an untenable position, a veritable pawn in the hands of her father. She has secrets to keep from her new husband.
Ms. Vetsch writes plausible situations and fresh characters. She gives Evan and Diana a background of faith that they draw on and has them struggle to do what is right and what is expected of them.
Ms. Vetsch has proved why I come back to the Regency Era time and again. She writes a romantic, compelling tale that has you yearning for more. She includes a good portion of the first chapter of the next book to whet your appetite for the continuing story.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Kregel Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Erica Vetsch plus Earls, Dukes, the Prince and a damsel in distress is a recipe for Regency Gold! This start to a new series is beyond impressive. She even writes her reprehensible villains with panache.
Evan Eldridge and Diana Seaton find themselves in daunting circumstances which are compounded by an edict to wed from Prinny himself: “You don’t say no to the Prince Regent.”
A grateful Prince bestows a title on Evan along with a holding that is in shambles. He finds he is ill equipped to be a part of society, much less manage an estate. Evan is still dealing with injuries incurred in battle. “The nightmares stalked him, the sense of impending doom, the panic he tried to lock away but that swarmed over him like a breach in the line every time he let down his guard.”
Diana is in an untenable position, a veritable pawn in the hands of her father. She has secrets to keep from her new husband.
Ms. Vetsch writes plausible situations and fresh characters. She gives Evan and Diana a background of faith that they draw on and has them struggle to do what is right and what is expected of them.
Ms. Vetsch has proved why I come back to the Regency Era time and again. She writes a romantic, compelling tale that has you yearning for more. She includes a good portion of the first chapter of the next book to whet your appetite for the continuing story.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Kregel Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
May 4, 2020
This is the first book I’ve ready from Erica Vetsch, and I can honestly say that I’m eagerly anticipating reading more from her in the future! If ever there was a binge worthy book, this is it! Right from the very first chapter I was swept off my feet and into this exciting story.
Evan Eldridge is such a swoony hero! Beyond his own struggles, he valiantly fights to protect others. Yes, he makes mistakes, but he owns up to them. And while his past and where he comes from defines him in the eyes of others, he finds a way to rise above that and blaze his own path.
This isn’t just another marriage of connivence story set in the Regency period. This story stands head and shoulders above the others. Witty dialogue, exciting adventure, spies, a secret-agent, tender romance, and page-turning drama are sure to warm you heart and keep you reading long past your bedtime. Snag your copy to today and settle in for a story that you won’t want to put down!
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
Evan Eldridge is such a swoony hero! Beyond his own struggles, he valiantly fights to protect others. Yes, he makes mistakes, but he owns up to them. And while his past and where he comes from defines him in the eyes of others, he finds a way to rise above that and blaze his own path.
This isn’t just another marriage of connivence story set in the Regency period. This story stands head and shoulders above the others. Witty dialogue, exciting adventure, spies, a secret-agent, tender romance, and page-turning drama are sure to warm you heart and keep you reading long past your bedtime. Snag your copy to today and settle in for a story that you won’t want to put down!
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
June 4, 2020
5 Stars!
By the end of the first chapter, I was drawn into both the hero and heroine’s underdog plights to escape their unknown and potentially bleak futures. The characterizations were fascinating. The vile were vile, the lovely were lovely, and the honorable were outstanding. With it's perfect blend of angst, suspense, and swoon, I loved it from beginning to end. I think I had a dreamy smile on my face for a large portion of the story.
May 10, 2020
As crappy as 2020 has been so far, I can honestly say that is has been an incredible time for bookworms everywhere. I'm reading more than ever before and the stories have been top notch! The Lost Lieutenant is one of the best books I've read all year and Erica Vetsch is the best Christian regency author since Julie Klassen. The book has absolutely everything I love including a fabulous marriage of convenience plot and some royal intrigue that involves discovering an assassin and saving the Prince Regent.
I've read Vetsch's books in the past and she is the mistress of sweet romances, but The Lost Lieutenant is just...everything! I love this direction she has taken and am already anticipating the continuation of the series in The Gentleman Spy. I'm not gonna lie, as amazing a hero as the gentle but tortured soul Evan is, Marcus is my new book crush. I'm so glad his story gets told so soon, even though waiting until July is still going to be a struggle for me.
Ms. Vetsch has written a book that is a must-read for historical fiction readers. If you're like me, a fan of both Christian fiction and regency romance, you will find something to enjoy in the spiritual threads and interwoven swoon-worthy love story of The Lost Lieutenant and his new bride. It is absolutely a 5 star read for me and hopefully you, too!
~ My Rating 5 out of 5 stars! ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
I've read Vetsch's books in the past and she is the mistress of sweet romances, but The Lost Lieutenant is just...everything! I love this direction she has taken and am already anticipating the continuation of the series in The Gentleman Spy. I'm not gonna lie, as amazing a hero as the gentle but tortured soul Evan is, Marcus is my new book crush. I'm so glad his story gets told so soon, even though waiting until July is still going to be a struggle for me.
Ms. Vetsch has written a book that is a must-read for historical fiction readers. If you're like me, a fan of both Christian fiction and regency romance, you will find something to enjoy in the spiritual threads and interwoven swoon-worthy love story of The Lost Lieutenant and his new bride. It is absolutely a 5 star read for me and hopefully you, too!
~ My Rating 5 out of 5 stars! ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
Read
November 14, 2021The Prince Regent was not exactly a man with whom I’d want to be friends. He was a womanizer, a glutton, a drunk, and a spendthrift. Had his marriage to a twice-widowed, Roman Catholic woman named Maria Fitzherbert been recognized, he would’ve been removed from the line of succession to the throne and the Regency era might’ve been vastly different. But I digress. What I’m trying to say is that the future George IV was not a popular person, and I wondered how he might be portrayed when I learned that he would be featured in the new novel by Erica Vetsch.
But even the worst of men has his friends. Enter the ghastly Seaton family; a father, his pathetic son, and a daughter whose only use is her inheritance. But the Prince Regent interrupts Seaton’s scheme when he strongly suggests the new Earl of Whitelock marries Diana Seaton, and everyone knows you don’t say no to the Prince Regent!
Let’s look at the negatives first. Vetsch’s first foray into Regency romance uses a couple of characters I’ve seen in other novels set in the same era. There’s the motherless daughter, the uncaring father, the scandal-causing rake who believes he can get away with anything, and the loyal employees. And the Prince of Wales, but that’s not Vetsch’s fault. The only portrayal of him I’ve liked was comedically played by Hugh Laurie back in 1987.
And the good stuff in The Lost Lieutenant? How about the sidekick, Marcus Haverly, who takes Evan under his wing and guides him through a social minefield? Given the timing of his first appearance, I did initially wonder if he was to play the “bad guy” role, but he stayed true to his character throughout. I had a couple of suspects for that role, but the real “bad guy” wasn’t on my radar. Even when he was revealed to readers, there was still suspense to be had in terms of what he might do and how he would be discovered. Also, I enjoyed reading about the renovations to the house Evan is given. I would’ve loved seeing the before and after pictures of White Haven!
Do I want to read future titles in the Serendipity and Secrets series? While I’m not sure I can put up with more of the obnoxious Prince Regent, the answer is yes. Besides, the next book in the series features my favorite character; the aforementioned Marcus Haverly. The Gentleman Spy is scheduled for release at the end of July and is available for pre-order.
Disclaimer: Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog review tour, the words and opinions below are my own.
But even the worst of men has his friends. Enter the ghastly Seaton family; a father, his pathetic son, and a daughter whose only use is her inheritance. But the Prince Regent interrupts Seaton’s scheme when he strongly suggests the new Earl of Whitelock marries Diana Seaton, and everyone knows you don’t say no to the Prince Regent!
Let’s look at the negatives first. Vetsch’s first foray into Regency romance uses a couple of characters I’ve seen in other novels set in the same era. There’s the motherless daughter, the uncaring father, the scandal-causing rake who believes he can get away with anything, and the loyal employees. And the Prince of Wales, but that’s not Vetsch’s fault. The only portrayal of him I’ve liked was comedically played by Hugh Laurie back in 1987.
And the good stuff in The Lost Lieutenant? How about the sidekick, Marcus Haverly, who takes Evan under his wing and guides him through a social minefield? Given the timing of his first appearance, I did initially wonder if he was to play the “bad guy” role, but he stayed true to his character throughout. I had a couple of suspects for that role, but the real “bad guy” wasn’t on my radar. Even when he was revealed to readers, there was still suspense to be had in terms of what he might do and how he would be discovered. Also, I enjoyed reading about the renovations to the house Evan is given. I would’ve loved seeing the before and after pictures of White Haven!
Do I want to read future titles in the Serendipity and Secrets series? While I’m not sure I can put up with more of the obnoxious Prince Regent, the answer is yes. Besides, the next book in the series features my favorite character; the aforementioned Marcus Haverly. The Gentleman Spy is scheduled for release at the end of July and is available for pre-order.
Disclaimer: Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog review tour, the words and opinions below are my own.
February 26, 2022
4.5 stars
"No French soldier, no cannon fire, no smoke or broken, bleeding bodies. He wasn't on the battlefield . . . He wasn't fighting for his life. He was in the hospital. Still."
Evan Eldridge is suffering from terrible wartime flashbacks, insufferable nightmares and has no recollection of the battle that could have easily ended his life, rather than his career; making him wonder if some will deem him insane. Instead, to his complete astonishment, Evan is recognized by the Prince Regent as a hero, being awarded a title, property and a lovely, young bride. . . . . who is bringing secrets of her own into their union.
"What would it be like to live in a peaceful, happy home, where people were kind and treated one another with respect? Did such a household even exist?"
Diana Seaton has been viewed as a valuable commodity by her father for quite some time, but on the eve of being "sold to the highest bidder", she is suddenly paired with the newly titled Earl of Whitelock. The new earl seems like a kind man, but Diana's only experiences with men have not been pleasant ones, and yet as she is being whisked away to a new life, Diana makes a rash decision; the consequences of which have the potential to dramatically change the course of her new family's future. What has she done?
Allow the magnificence of this story to settle in, for readers will not only develop an instantaneous bond with Evan and Diana as they carefully navigate the dangerous relationship thrust upon them,
but they will also appreciate the carefully crafted surrounding cast, several of whom do not have the newlywed's best interests in mind. Conversation by conversation, hurdle by hurdle, one misunderstanding at a time; two solitary hearts cautiously tiptoe toward a union of hearts, and it's a beautiful thing to behold.
"No French soldier, no cannon fire, no smoke or broken, bleeding bodies. He wasn't on the battlefield . . . He wasn't fighting for his life. He was in the hospital. Still."
Evan Eldridge is suffering from terrible wartime flashbacks, insufferable nightmares and has no recollection of the battle that could have easily ended his life, rather than his career; making him wonder if some will deem him insane. Instead, to his complete astonishment, Evan is recognized by the Prince Regent as a hero, being awarded a title, property and a lovely, young bride. . . . . who is bringing secrets of her own into their union.
"What would it be like to live in a peaceful, happy home, where people were kind and treated one another with respect? Did such a household even exist?"
Diana Seaton has been viewed as a valuable commodity by her father for quite some time, but on the eve of being "sold to the highest bidder", she is suddenly paired with the newly titled Earl of Whitelock. The new earl seems like a kind man, but Diana's only experiences with men have not been pleasant ones, and yet as she is being whisked away to a new life, Diana makes a rash decision; the consequences of which have the potential to dramatically change the course of her new family's future. What has she done?
Allow the magnificence of this story to settle in, for readers will not only develop an instantaneous bond with Evan and Diana as they carefully navigate the dangerous relationship thrust upon them,
but they will also appreciate the carefully crafted surrounding cast, several of whom do not have the newlywed's best interests in mind. Conversation by conversation, hurdle by hurdle, one misunderstanding at a time; two solitary hearts cautiously tiptoe toward a union of hearts, and it's a beautiful thing to behold.
May 1, 2021
Hello there, awesome book.
YAS. Alright, this was pretty good! Actually, "pretty good" is an understatement. I seriously can't find any other complaints about this book, other than the fact that the chapters were just longer than I liked. BUT! Even with long chapters, the beautiful writing and storyline pulled me in completely. While the first few chapters were harder to get into, the writing (again, very beautiful) was so captivating and the characters were wonderful!
And gosh, Diana certainly didn't make it hard to connect with her! Everything about her drew me to her, and she was really the one reason that made me persevere through those first few [long] chapters. It's not like I was "forced" to give her character a chance, but she captured my heart from the beginning, and I wanted to know more about her, and I knew that she was a character I wanted to journey through in the book. It was her that I was concerned about from the very beginning, and I just could not put aside reading her story!
The Lost Lieutenant isn't my super-big-fan favorite, but it was so worth reading because #1 the writing style was SUCH a pleasure to read, #2 the romance was pretty sweet with some tension throughout, and yes, some awesome kisses and #3 Diana and Evan are characters worth knowing through their POVs. So, I might be sounding petty with my constant complaint of the long chapters (they took quite a bit of brainpower to get through sometimes, okay), but I GREATLY enjoyed the book, and I CANNOT resist but to start book #2 right now!
YAS. Alright, this was pretty good! Actually, "pretty good" is an understatement. I seriously can't find any other complaints about this book, other than the fact that the chapters were just longer than I liked. BUT! Even with long chapters, the beautiful writing and storyline pulled me in completely. While the first few chapters were harder to get into, the writing (again, very beautiful) was so captivating and the characters were wonderful!
And gosh, Diana certainly didn't make it hard to connect with her! Everything about her drew me to her, and she was really the one reason that made me persevere through those first few [long] chapters. It's not like I was "forced" to give her character a chance, but she captured my heart from the beginning, and I wanted to know more about her, and I knew that she was a character I wanted to journey through in the book. It was her that I was concerned about from the very beginning, and I just could not put aside reading her story!
The Lost Lieutenant isn't my super-big-fan favorite, but it was so worth reading because #1 the writing style was SUCH a pleasure to read, #2 the romance was pretty sweet with some tension throughout, and yes, some awesome kisses and #3 Diana and Evan are characters worth knowing through their POVs. So, I might be sounding petty with my constant complaint of the long chapters (they took quite a bit of brainpower to get through sometimes, okay), but I GREATLY enjoyed the book, and I CANNOT resist but to start book #2 right now!
April 13, 2021
This was... okay/good. It was okay for the first half and got better towards the end. It's a 3 star for me.
The story had a lot of potential and overall the plot was good. There wasn't a lot of depth or layers in the character development. Instead of conversations being had between the hero and heroine there was a lot of relaying of what the character's were thinking and not a whole lot of interaction. I found this a little bit annoying and it caused a disconnect between me, the reader, and the characters and their circumstances. Overall it was an easy, okay read. The story was engaging and the characters were sweet. It had potential but left me wanting more. I'm not sure if I'll read the rest in the series.
The story had a lot of potential and overall the plot was good. There wasn't a lot of depth or layers in the character development. Instead of conversations being had between the hero and heroine there was a lot of relaying of what the character's were thinking and not a whole lot of interaction. I found this a little bit annoying and it caused a disconnect between me, the reader, and the characters and their circumstances. Overall it was an easy, okay read. The story was engaging and the characters were sweet. It had potential but left me wanting more. I'm not sure if I'll read the rest in the series.
April 6, 2020
"Love was more than regard, more than trust, more than companionship. It was getting everything without reservation, without secrets."
A friend gifted me The Lost Lieutenant because she knows I adore Regency era stories. Well, this one was an incredible tale! I was captivated from beginning to end. My emotions went for a wild carriage ride that came to a spectacular happily ever after ending. I'm looking forward to the next book in this exciting series filled with intrigue and blessings. There's a sneak peek of The Gentleman Spy at the end and oh my....Marcus Haverly is going to be amazing.
A friend gifted me The Lost Lieutenant because she knows I adore Regency era stories. Well, this one was an incredible tale! I was captivated from beginning to end. My emotions went for a wild carriage ride that came to a spectacular happily ever after ending. I'm looking forward to the next book in this exciting series filled with intrigue and blessings. There's a sneak peek of The Gentleman Spy at the end and oh my....Marcus Haverly is going to be amazing.
May 10, 2020
A Regency romance that includes the Prince regents as a side character. I think that’s the first time I’ve actually seen him featured on the page. And boy did he have a hand in these characters lives— a bit like Pharoah to Joseph— land, wealth, and a wife! Loved watching how the hero grew into the responsibilities foisted upon him and how the two newlyweds went from strangers to partners. An enjoyable read!
April 28, 2020
I was thrilled to know that the author had a new book releasing. The story is set in Regency England where Lords, Dukes and such preside. The breathtaking details had me transported back in time as I witnessed the waltz and dresses flowing gracefully across the ballroom. Evan is quite the catch for some lucky woman. I must go back a bit and explain just who Evan is. The funny thing is Evan doesn’t remember much since his injury while serving his country. He somehow managed to save a noble’s life. Everything that was common in his life is about to change. I loved his gentlemanly ways and his integrity. He is someone you can count on to protect those he loves. Evan suddenly finds himself with a title and attention he never wanted. I could hear the announcement, “May I introduce you to the Earl of Whitelock,” as the trumpets sound with authority.
If there was ever a damsel in distress it would be the lovely Diana. The Duke of Seaton who is Dians’s father is the most vile man in the world. His greediness is horrible as is his hatred for Diana. He will do whatever it takes to get her inheritance and Diana is helpless as she wants to protect an innocent baby. I think I wanted to slap The Duke of Seaton many times during the story. The writing is superior as the characters are very well developed.
I won’t give many details about the plot so without further ado I give you an arranged marriage, evil men who are out to destroy Evan and Diana, an innocent child, love and secrets. I loved reading about the place Evan and Diana were to reside in. Let’s just say any fixer upper show would run the other way once they caught a glimpse of the place. I hear a challenge ahead for the couple. I also enjoyed reading about Evan and his flashbacks. It is an important part of the story that will find Evan worrying about the consequences if his mental state is found out. Well there you have it. All the makings for an adventure worthy of one of my favorite 2020 reads .
I received a copy of this book from Read With Audra Blog Tours. The review is my own opinion.
If there was ever a damsel in distress it would be the lovely Diana. The Duke of Seaton who is Dians’s father is the most vile man in the world. His greediness is horrible as is his hatred for Diana. He will do whatever it takes to get her inheritance and Diana is helpless as she wants to protect an innocent baby. I think I wanted to slap The Duke of Seaton many times during the story. The writing is superior as the characters are very well developed.
I won’t give many details about the plot so without further ado I give you an arranged marriage, evil men who are out to destroy Evan and Diana, an innocent child, love and secrets. I loved reading about the place Evan and Diana were to reside in. Let’s just say any fixer upper show would run the other way once they caught a glimpse of the place. I hear a challenge ahead for the couple. I also enjoyed reading about Evan and his flashbacks. It is an important part of the story that will find Evan worrying about the consequences if his mental state is found out. Well there you have it. All the makings for an adventure worthy of one of my favorite 2020 reads .
I received a copy of this book from Read With Audra Blog Tours. The review is my own opinion.
September 17, 2025
Regency romances are not my typical cup of Earl Grey. And honestly, I might not have picked this one up if I had realized just how much of a romance it was. The back cover description seemed to indicate more emphasis on the intrigue and suspense, so that’s what I was primarily expecting when I decided to give it a try. However, I’m glad I did. Erica Vetsch’s writing style drew me in much faster than I expected, especially since some of the tropes involved aren’t my favorite. Bad-father tropes and marriages of convenience/necessity are often poorly written or simply not to my taste, but this story kept me turning pages.
Watching common-born career soldier and pastor’s son Evan suddenly dropped into the deep end of an earldom (some have greatness thrust upon ’em, as Shakespeare said) was highly entertaining. Diana was a sweet heroine who had a lot of courage…except for when she didn’t, but I found both protagonists to be relatable human beings who were trying to do the right thing. And Marcus was a wonderful character who definitely deserves his own book—so glad he gets it! Although this book is set a decade or two after the England of The Scarlet Pimpernel, I could easily imagine Marcus as a member of the League.
Since this is Regency England under the profligate Prince of Wales (more of a full-blown creep in real life than he was portrayed in this book, I believe), there’s a fair dose of scandal among the aristocracy that does play into the story. I could easily see why William Wilberforce had such a fight on his hands as he worked for justice and reform, although those particular issues don’t appear in this story.
Also, since this is a marriage of necessity, there are certain romantic elements some readers will want to be aware of. I’m usually one of those readers, so I was pleased that overall, both the scandal and the mentions of marital intimacy were handled with maturity and discretion. Personally, I thought most of the interactions between Evan and Diana were sweet and illustrative of genuine love. Even the misunderstandings, deception, and lack of communication didn’t bother me as much as those elements often do, perhaps because the characters recognized they were both in the wrong and eventually responded with maturity. Some readers may still find some elements uncomfortable, so use your own discernment.
One more small pet peeve—Evan calling his father dad in the early 1800s even though that wasn’t common usage by adult speakers until the mid 1900s. But overall, this was a fun read, and I’m looking forward to giving Marcus’s story a go. (Also, I read this after watching the 2005 Pride and Prejudice and the 2020 Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical, and I think Evan stole that cover outfit from Mr. Darcy’s wardrobe.)
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Watching common-born career soldier and pastor’s son Evan suddenly dropped into the deep end of an earldom (some have greatness thrust upon ’em, as Shakespeare said) was highly entertaining. Diana was a sweet heroine who had a lot of courage…except for when she didn’t, but I found both protagonists to be relatable human beings who were trying to do the right thing. And Marcus was a wonderful character who definitely deserves his own book—so glad he gets it! Although this book is set a decade or two after the England of The Scarlet Pimpernel, I could easily imagine Marcus as a member of the League.
Since this is Regency England under the profligate Prince of Wales (more of a full-blown creep in real life than he was portrayed in this book, I believe), there’s a fair dose of scandal among the aristocracy that does play into the story. I could easily see why William Wilberforce had such a fight on his hands as he worked for justice and reform, although those particular issues don’t appear in this story.
Also, since this is a marriage of necessity, there are certain romantic elements some readers will want to be aware of. I’m usually one of those readers, so I was pleased that overall, both the scandal and the mentions of marital intimacy were handled with maturity and discretion. Personally, I thought most of the interactions between Evan and Diana were sweet and illustrative of genuine love. Even the misunderstandings, deception, and lack of communication didn’t bother me as much as those elements often do, perhaps because the characters recognized they were both in the wrong and eventually responded with maturity. Some readers may still find some elements uncomfortable, so use your own discernment.
One more small pet peeve—Evan calling his father dad in the early 1800s even though that wasn’t common usage by adult speakers until the mid 1900s. But overall, this was a fun read, and I’m looking forward to giving Marcus’s story a go. (Also, I read this after watching the 2005 Pride and Prejudice and the 2020 Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical, and I think Evan stole that cover outfit from Mr. Darcy’s wardrobe.)
Join my email subscribers here for monthly book recommendations, plus a free short story, author updates, and more.
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