This book was fantastic! I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. A regency tale of two people who find themselves in situations forced upon them, you’ll immediately connect to Evan and Diana. With the perfect amount of sweet romance and difficult decisions, this book was a joy to read!

When Evan Eldridge returns from the Continent, a wounded war-hero, he has no idea what kind of reward the Prince Regent has in store for him. Having saved the life of the Regent’s godson, Evan finds himself in the bizarre position of being elevated to the peerage. And along with the title of earl and a broken-down manor house, the Regent is also bestowing on him the hand of a girl he’s just met. As Evan goes to the countryside with his new wife, he begins the herculean task of preparing the old ruin for a royal visit, recovering the memories he lost on the battlefield, and learning to know just who is Diana, the woman with whom he will be spending the rest of his life.

Diana Seaton had been looking forward to the escape that her London debut would bring from an abusive father, a malicious brother, and a life of closed doors and endless reproaches. When the Prince Regent (who, as everyone knows, cannot be refused) enjoins that she marry a commoner who has just been made the Earl of Whitelock, Diana finds an avenue to escape from her father’s manipulations and brutality. But even though she has been bred to be the perfect helpmeet for a lord of the manor, Diana may still be a liability in her husband’s eyes. How long will it be till he discovers the secret that she is bringing with her, and will they ever find love once he realizes her deceptions?

This adventure-filled romance contains all the tropes that make Regency novels so delightful. Although the reader must use a little suspension of disbelief at the beginning of the story, once the improbable set-up is established, the plot continues at a breakneck pace full of burgeoning romance, veiled mysteries, Napoleonic espionage, and attempted murder. The villains were quite easy to loathe, and the romantic couple quite easy to love. This book was a wonderful introduction to a new author, and I look forward to reading more by Erica Vetsch.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I adored this book! I felt like a breath of fresh air!
I thought Erica Vetsch brought some original twists and turns to this beloved era which made her story feel refreshing. I'm glad this is not the last we'll see of these characters!

As Evan Eldridge recovers from an injury sustained in the war against Napoleon, he wants nothing more than to get back to the fighting. Instead, the Prince Regent (who later became King George IV) makes him an earl, due to Evan saving the life of the prince’s godson in the same event where Evan was injured, not that Evan can remember much of anything about that day. The Prince Regent then insists that Evan marry his goddaughter Diana, whose father is looking forward to marrying her off to someone of his choosing, for his own gain. Diana and Evan both bring secrets into this marriage, and real lives are at stake.

This book hit so many right buttons with me. The characters are well-crafted, historical details are immersive, and the stakes are high in so many ways. I really liked the story that unfolded regarding Evan’s trauma and forgotten memory–his PTSD was real, and the mystery and intrigue culminated in an exciting climax.

Evan and Diana were both characters that I really connected with in some way, and together, they had a beautiful romance that was one of my favorite kinds in fiction. I wouldn’t classify it as actual “marriage of convenience,” but it’s similar, and I love that trope, especially in Christian fiction. Diana has some trauma of her own, in the form of an abusive father and brother. Together, they have a lot to overcome as husband and wife. I loved several of the supporting characters in this book as well and am especially excited to read the second book in this series, which focuses on one of those side characters.

There was one thing that happened, which I won’t explain in detail, that I felt was more of an obvious contrivance–something to keep the couple from being too happy too soon in the book. It bothered me, especially, when there was a clear opportunity for this thing to be addressed later, but it wasn’t, and I think that was a further contrivance for the plot. I only wish the author had chosen something less important, something the climax wouldn’t have hinged upon, if she wanted to throw a new wedge between the married couple.

One other thing, and this isn’t a fault with the book, is that the synopsis, in my opinion, gives away too much. I won’t say more, though, because it might be subtle enough if I don’t point out details. Small gripes aside, I loved this book and definitely recommend it to fans of Christian romance, historical or otherwise, and fans of Regency romance.

The Lost Lieutenant
by Erica Vetsch
Independent Publishers Group
Kregel Publications
Christian | Romance
Pub Date 21 Apr 2020   



I am reviewing a copy of The Lost Lieutenant through independent Publishers Group and Netgalley:






Evan Eldridge had never set out to be a war hero. He simply swanked to fight Napoleon for the good of his country. He did not think that saving the light of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when you save a life of someone dear to the Prince Regent , things can change quickly.







Evan now has new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he didn’t have was all his memories. He was traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, but Evan knows there is something he couldn’t remember, but it was important and dangerous and if he doesn’t remember it will jeopardize his marriage and someone’s very life.







Fans of Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love this new Regency center by Erica Vetsch.



I give The Lost Lieutenant five out of five stars!




Happy Reading!

Evan Eldridge just wanted to protect his country from Napoleon. He wasn’t searching for status, wealth, or a wife, but he landed all three after unknowingly saving the Prince Regent’s godson. Thrust into a society he neither knows nor cares for, Evan must navigate his new title, restore a dilapidated manor, and win over his stranger bride all without anyone uncovering the truth — he cannot recall the events of that fateful day. Evan knows that a dangerous secret lies amidst his missing memories. One that could cost not only his marriage but someone’s life if he fails to remember in time.

Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes when looking for a quick escape. The Lost Lieutenant does not disappoint. Although it took me a little bit to find my footing, once Evan and Diana married, I was hooked. Erica Vestch gives you characters to swoon over, characters to root for, characters to hate, characters to make you laugh (yes, I’m looking at you, Prince Regent), and characters for just about anything you can think of.

I enjoyed watching Evan grow into the role dumped upon him and Diana flourish in hers when no longer suffocated by the oppressive rule of her greedy and power-hungry relatives. The novel offers secrets, espionage, and danger; all things I love, and yet, it was watching the newlywed strangers work together to rebuild the manor that truly gripped me. Even in its rundown state, the author painted a captivating setting, brimming with possibility and hope. Confronted with these less-then-ideal situations, the protagonist shined the brightest. All the while, Vestch whet my appetite to learn more about a secondary character that I later discovered will star in book two, ensuring that I will come back for more.

I recommend The Lost Lieutenant to fans of regency romance and marriage of convenience stories.

Erica Vetsch is another new author for me. I understand she has a short short in another collection I have not read yet (but really need to), but this is her first full length Regency novel.

All in all, it was very good. The hero Evan is a former soldier suffering from whet we would now recognize as PTSD who gets raised to the nobility by the Prince Regent. The heroine Diana comes from an abusive and unhappy family situation. I would say this is a romance that develops by means of a marriage of convenience story, as the characters get married less than halfway though.

There are elements of intrigue (with a possible spy) and plenty of secrets on both sides, as well as a number of challenges for the characters to overcome, including the restoration of a mansion in only a few months.
Whilst The Lost Lieutenant is an enjoyable story that will certainly satisfy Regency fans, it's often been said that one of the weaknesses of this genre is the lack of communication between characters. That everything could be resolved if they simply talked more.

I do feel this was the case to a certain degree, as chapters would often end with one of the characters going off in a huff and then basically giving one another the silent treatment for days or weeks on end, because of some misunderstanding that could easily have been resolved. Although interestingly the characters to actually express this sentiment themselves at he end (things would have been easier if they had confided in each other earlier).

Despite this one minor gripe though, I like this novel and found the depiction of the Prince Regent interesting. A character who the characters had to be loyal to, but was annoying and a bit of a buffoon at the same time, which is consistent with a lot of what I've heard about him.

I look forward to the next novel which is about Marcus Haverly, Evan's best friend who seems to know everything about everyone.

Thanks to Kregel for approving my request to read an ARC of this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a pleasantly surprising historical romance for me to read. I'd started to think that all historical romances fit the same bill, but Vetsch created an enjoyable twist with this story. I look forward to reading the future works in this series!

I wanted to like this book, but I couldn't get into the story. And I even hated the characters. And for me in order to get into the story I have to have to at least understand while a character does what they do, but in this story that wasn't the case.

Erica Vetsch introduces an inspirational Regency series with this engaging story, filled with historical details, memorable characters, and plot twists.

In The Lost Lieutenant, Lieutenant Evan Eldridge is a soldier who unexpectedly saves the life of the Prince Regent’s godson. It earns him a title, an arranged marriage to the Duke of Seaton’s daughter, Diana, and an estate in disrepair – on top of his war injuries. While his body recovers, he still suffers from memory loss and flashbacks.

Diana’s abusive father tries to broker an arranged marriage that benefits his finances, but the Prince Regent makes other plans for Diana. When Evan realizes her father is abusive, he moves ahead with the marriage quickly. Will they be able to leave their past behind and embrace a future together?

Diana is caught between an abusive father and a stranger for her husband. She enters the marriage cautiously but wanting to make it a true marriage. Evan remains humble about his heroic actions, never clearly remembering exactly what he did to earn it, although his flashbacks give him glimpses. Will he recover his memories?

Vetsch pens an engaging novel filled with realistic characters, faith elements that are overpowering, historical narrative, and unexpected twists. Both Evan and Diana are on a faith journey as they learn to trust one another and accept God’s healing. The Lost Lieutenant is a clean historical romance, with some suspense thrown in. Readers will be eager for ther remaining novels, The Gentleman Spy, coming in July 2020, followed by The Indebted Earl in January 2021.

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

The Regency period is one of my favourite time periods to be in when it comes to historical romance. I’m so familiar with it that it almost feels like a homecoming to enter that world again, but that has its disadvantages, too, because I can be easily pulled out of the story world by little errors in detail. Happily, there was much more of the former than the latter happening with this story.

What most captured me about this story was the overall premise—a military man being suddenly elevated to the peerage after saving the life of the Prince Regent’s godson. This rags-to-riches, fish-out-of-water theme isn’t a new one to the Regency genre, but this still felt like a fresh take on the trope, particularly when you add in the fact that the estate Evan inherits along with the title has been in disrepair for some time. Not only does he find himself suddenly navigating a very different world, but he has his work cut out for him in making his inheritance both habitable and sustainable. And he’s embarking on this new life with a wife who’s a virtual stranger to him!

Being new to the peerage—even to the world of the landed gentry—meant Evan was prone to making social faux pas. Totally understandable, but I found the emphasis given to the social rules and his breaking of them gave the setting a slightly caricatured feel in the opening chapters of the novel. The other thing that niggled me (and yes, it’s a really small point, but it came up over and over again), was Diana referring to Marcus, the second son of the Duke of Haverly, as Mr. Haverly. That would, indeed, have been a social faux pas!* It isn’t a deal-breaker for me, but it did make me twitch each time it came up.

This story had a few subplots, including a very young ward, Evan’s PTSD (dealt with in an era-appropriate way), and the mystery over the memories that are missing from when Evan was injured at Salamanca. There was the occasional development here that felt a bit contrived, but overall, these subplots contributed to an engaging read as Evan and Diana learned to trust and love one another. I’m looking forward to reading Marcus’s story next!

* Not only should he have been addressed as Lord Marcus, but Haverly was his father’s title, not the family’s surname. Likewise, Diana wouldn’t have been Lady Diana Seaton, as Seaton was her father’s title (the Duke of Seaton) not the family surname.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Erica Vetsch is a new to me author who skillfully entered and captured the Regency period. The opening lines created one of the best hooks to make me feel as though I was already immersed in the story. Diana is poised, graceful, and deeply committed to honoring her sister’s dying request. Evan is a veteran, struggling with PTSD, and captured my heart and my full attention. The two are thrust upon each other in marriage, compliments of the Prince, and must learn to navigate the newness of all that this entails. I loved watching the love bloom between these two wounded hearts. The writing is enthralling and captivating and I highly recommend this for all clean Regency fans.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher on NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch introduces us to a commoner lieutenant invested with the Earldom of Whitlock by the Prince Regent and the duke's daughter he marries on the Regent's command. Both have secrets concealed from each other. Together they bring an abandoned estate back to life and prepare to host the Regent. Great regency romance. Splendid complications. Read and enjoy.

I loved this book. It’s a well-written, character-driven Regency story that immediately captured my sympathy for Diana. Her situation with her father is a dangerous one. Even though Diana is a beautiful and intelligent young woman, she finds herself in an impossible situation of being required to marry a man of her father’s choosing in order to protect someone she loves. Evan Eldridge finds himself a war hero, and is rewarded by the Prince Regent with a new title, Earl of Whitelock. Included with Evan’s new title is an estate that is in great need of repair. The Prince Regent also decides that Diana and Evan should marry, which throws everyone’s plans into disarray.

The Prince Regent’s “suggestions” to Diana and Evan add some fun to this storyline. At the beginning of their marriage, they face the almost impossible situation of renovating a manor that’s in shambles into a showplace worthy of a visit from the Prince Regent. There’s a serious side to this story, too, as Evan seeks to protect his wife from her treacherous father. There was never a moment in this book that I wanted to put it down. I highly recommend this one!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

rating: 3.5 stars maybe?

i did enjoy this one a lot but it got to a point where there was a direct correlation between the slow pacing of the story and my losing interest in the story. it did eventually pick up towards the end and i definitely enjoyed seeing the villains finally getting what they deserved.

i really enjoyed how the author constructed evan as a protective, byronic character—the way he took care of diana and made her feel worthy and important and even loved *swoons*. it certainly made him likeable as opposed to other detestable characters such as percival (diana's brother), duke of seaton and viscount fitzroy. i also really enjoyed marcus's fierce loyalty towards his friend and i am really looking forward to reading more about him in future books. diana's bond with cian was also admirable (to a point!).

however, these good things do not take away from the fact that there were some technical issues with the book, mainly with some of the actions taken by the characters. i feel like diana's naivity got to the better of her overall character development. granted she did eventually 'get her power back' but at times i wished she handled certain things in a better way. i also particularly didnt like evan's reaction when he learned of diana's secret—there was an internal remark he made about diana (which i wont reveal here since it can be potentially spoiler-y). i found the comment unnecessarily sexist and it made me lose respect for him there for a bit.

i definitely felt like there was a lot going for this story, but like i mentioned earlier i feel like it was stretched too much. it also took me a while to feel the chemistry between diana and evan—it kind of felt forced to me. i did eventually get around to enjoying the ending, but the 'journey' part didnt seem pretty convincing to me.

A beautiful take on PTSD, marriage of convenience. This story was a wonderful read. A first for me by the author, I enjoyed being caught up in the story and getting to know more about the characters.
Evan and Diana are both two broken people who were thrust together by circumstances and had to learn to adapt, living with each other and Evan having to learn to live as a society man he wasn't brought up to be. I loved how they dealt with grace every situations that came up. The bad guys too made the story more interesting. Definitely looking forward to the next story in the series and to get to know more about Marcus.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via JustRead Tours. All opinions expressed are solely mine

This is a beautiful story. Evan is struggling after being wounded in the British Army. Diana is struggling with a mean father and brother. Fate brings them together. The way the author grows these characters is so lovely. I cheered, and was saddened for them. Such a very good story. Looking forward to Marcus' tale.

The Lost Lieutenant written by Erica Vetsch is an excellent book set in the very aristocratic and highly turbulent regency era of England. This is the first installment of Ms. Vetsch's Serendipity and Secrets Series, which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially as my first taste of Ms. Vetsch's writings. I honestly was disappointed to finish the book because I enjoyed it so much, but I am eagerly anticipating Ms. Vetsch's continuation of the series in her book The Gentleman Spy coming this summer.
The main characters Lieutenant Evan Eldridge and Lady Diana, daughter of the Duke of Seaton have almost nothing in common, especially in the view of society; however, their paths cross in a most unusual way. The Lieutenant has just recovered from his wartime injuries and is struggling to fit back into his life. He struggles to keep from displaying his true struggles with the nightmares and what today would be called PTSD. When he is invited to come to court before the Queen and the Prince Regent in commendation of his brave actions in battle, Evan is on edge and is completely out of his element.
Lady Diana lives in a constant state of alertness and wariness with her controlling and deceptive father who's only concern is his wealth and status. Diana has no say in her future due to her father's negotiation of her marriage to anyone whom would benefit his status and bank account. When Diana is presented before the Queen she dreads the ensuing societal events where her fate will be decided. Although Diana is afraid for her future, there is more at stake than just what man she would be forced to marry and spend the rest of her life with. Diana promised her sister on her deathbed that she would protect and take care of her newborn son. Diana will do anything to secure the safety of her nephew.
When Evan is unexpectedly honored by the Prince Regent and named the Earl of Whitelock with all the land, money, and status that brings, he is flabbergasted. That is only the beginning of Evan's shock, when through unusual circumstances and several social gaffes, Evan is commanded by the Prince to marry a complete stranger to him, Lady Diana.
Will Evan and Diana be able to survive their wedding, let alone their marriage? Will they be able to keep their closely held secrets and struggles? What will become of Diana's nephew? Can they learn to trust each other enough to be honest with one another?
I absolutely enjoyed this delightful tale set in such a unique context. The struggles faced by each character were understandable despite the historical time, yet challenging and inspiring to see overcome. I always enjoy stories with military and war themes, and I appreciated the perspective this story gave to the struggles faced by military members returning to the home front even in a past time period. It was exciting, entertaining, as well as full of laughs and heartbreak. Overall, this was probably one of my favorite reads so far this year. I honestly loved the characters, their strange situation, as well as their sweet journey of love, faith, healing, forgiveness, and joy. What a well written and well enjoyed book! I highly recommend The Lost Lieutenant and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as well!
Disclaimer: Kregel Publications graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch is the first book in the Serendipity and Secrets series. It is a Christian Fiction Romance.


I am so glad to read a book by Erica Vetsch. I have been seeing this particular book on Facebook book groups and on Instagram pages of book bloggers. I am pleased to be given a copy by the publisher.


This is a Regency book set in England. I am a big fan of Historical Fiction books so I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.



I love Evan, Diana, Marcus and Shand. I was always looking forward to seeing their scenes in the plot. I favour Evan the more.


I love the hymn Diana sang to baby Cian. It is my favourite hymn.


I wish this book can be made into a movie. So much action and suspense. Indeed,this is a Christian fiction novel.


Theme of second born males acting as spares was buttressed in the book. I was shocked to discover that such ideology existed during the time and the setting of this book.

I love Marcus so much. You can’t help noticing him in this book.


My favourite quote from this book is “You don’t say no to the Prince Regent”.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Independent Publishers Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Curse or blessing?
Evan Eldridge can't remember saving the Prince Regent's godson in battle. But the rewards are great if you catch the eye and gratitude of Ol' Prinny. Evan suffers from what is now known as PTSD and memory loss but is quickly saddled with an earldom and an arranged marriage.
Diana has her own set of fears and trials. She will do anything for her dead sister's son and bargains away her agency for his safekeeping. When I was a kid, we used to say, "secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone." Diana has a lot of secrets and often to her own detriment, she keeps them with understandable cause. Diana has been emotionally and mentally abused, but she's strong in her own way. This type of character can be glum or mousy, but I really like her gumption and willingness to make the best of her circumstances.
This book is enjoyable if a little fantastically unbelievable. It's hard to imagine that it could actually have happened but if you aren't looking for historical accuracy, it is an entertaining, quick read.
This is my first book by Erica Vetsch and I'll happily pick up another. She has a diverting voice with a nice change of plot devices in an extremely popular genre.
Thank you, @kregelbooks and @NetGalley for the advanced copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.