After being completely charmed by The Lost Lieutenant, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel, The Gentleman Spy. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long!
He only wanted a duchess for a day--but she's determined to make it a marriage for life
When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she's meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life--as a secret agent for the Crown.
But his bride has other ideas. She's determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society--the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she'd remain in the background as he ordered.
Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?
The Gentleman Spy is a great Regency romance. I definitely felt transported to Regency England as I read, I loved watching Charlotte and Marcus fall for each other, and I appreciated the spotlight on (and compassion for) women who were stuck in prostitution.
What I didn't love? Marcus.
I swear, that man needed to be smacked upside the head a few times! He was a good, kind man (for the most part), but so stubborn! I felt like it took him just a touch too long to come to his senses regarding Charlotte—and I loved that Charlotte was having none of his nonsense. I can't really say more without going into spoiler territory, but Marcus's actions toward Charlotte kept me from truly loving him as a hero. (I should point out that he did redeem himself, but to me it read as "too little too late." I do think I'm in the minority in regard to my feelings toward Marcus.)
Marcus aside, I really did love this book! Charlotte was such a spunky heroine that I couldn't help but pull for her. And the mystery of who was behind the assassination attempt on the Prince Regent (a plot line carried over from The Lost Lieutenant) was fun to unravel. (I did find a discrepancy in the parentage/motivation of the assassin, who was killed in the previous book. Not a huge deal, but noticeable.)
All told, I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I enjoyed The Lost Lieutenant, but I still liked it a lot! And I'm certainly looking forward to the next book in the series, which is teased at the end of this novel. 4 stars.
Buy the book (affiliate link).
Read my review of The Lost Lieutenant (4-1/2 stars).
Giveaway
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).
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review through Read With Audra. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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