The Indebted Earl

By Erica Vetsch

Book Overview

Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business--or will it turn into something more? Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man's grieving fianc?e and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell. When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience. Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards. It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she'll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825446198
• ISBN13: 9780825446191
• Release Date: March 2021
• Publisher: Kregel Publications
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Simply delightful

"Duties are not burdens when they are performed out of love." I have been a huge fan of Erica Vetsch's Serendipity & Secrets series and this latest installment is such a delightful addition to a wonderful series. It can totally be read as a stand-alone but reading the series in order will help the reader appreciate all the subtle nuances in the plot and characters. Sophie is an unusual duke's daughter in this Regency era, full of independence and stubbornness but also brimming with compassion and tenderness. Her patient loving care of her fiance's aging and struggling mother is so heart-warming and tender. Her grief at all she's lost is real and raw yet her determination to forge ahead and make the best of her situation is incredible. Charles is a swoony hero - brooding and stern with a strong sense of duty, loyalty, and integrity yet a pure softie underneath his gruff exterior. This unlikely friendship between a high society lady and a Royal Navy captain is angst-ridden, refreshingly honest, and filled with longing as it turns into something more. Throw in an unwanted peerage title, an unexpected guardianship of three girls, and a strangely mysterious vibe and undercurrent in the town of Charles' inheritance and you have a perfectly crafted tale that will keep you up way past your bedtime. It's a must-read Regency romance with a twist of mystery and suspense! I received the book from Kregel Publication via JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

Sweet Romance

The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch is the third book in her Serendipity & Secrets series. Captain Charles Wyvern owes a huge debt to his best friend, Major Richardson, who sacrificed his life to save the captain. The Major’s dying wish was for Charles to look after his fiancé, Sophie. The guilt that Charles felt for surviving the war when Richardson didn’t is not an uncommon occurrence. When he meets Sophie that guilt is intensified. Sophie works through her grief at losing her fiancé by helping others. It was awesome to see the connection between the Captain and Sophie grow throughout the story. I loved the way that Sophie still took such good care of Mamie, even though she wasn’t her mother-in-law after all. There were a few intense action moments in the story but overall, it was a sweet romance. I received this book from Reading with Audra for my honest review.