The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch

The Indebted Earl
by Erica Vetsch

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: March 23rd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Captain Charles Malvern 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 Malvern to escort the man's grieving fiancee 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.


My Review:
The Indebted Earl is a romance set in 1814 in England. This is the 3rd book in the series. Though you can read it as a standalone novel, you'll probably understand this book better if you read the books in order. Charles loves being a captain of a Navy ship and doesn't know what to do with himself in peacetime. He agrees to take his dead friend's belongings back to the man's fiancée, Sophie, and make sure that she is taken care of. She doesn't want help since she's the one who always helps others. But she does want things that he can provide her, like a way to avoid her mother's matchmaking.

Sophie was kind and caring, but also rather naive and idealistic. Charles was very methodical and determined, though he used these traits in a good way. Charles and Sophie had misunderstandings and guilt to work through, but they supported each other. Still, the guilt felt forced. Rich was the one to make the mistake. Everyone but Charles quickly understood that he was not directly at fault but he seemed determined to argue for his unforgivable guilt.

Historical details were woven into the story, with some parts feeling highly researched. However, there were a lot of little things that didn't seem right for the time period. For example, everything started with an admittedly rude family not sending a letter to Sophie's house to announce their arrival and intentions upon arrival. That was such basic manners that it felt forced to create a crisis. And when Charles suddenly became the new Earl, everyone should have assumed that his duties were now that of an Earl. Since he had no close relatives or son to inherit if he died, why would he be given a ship when there were plenty of competent men that could do that job? But everyone just accepted that he'd quickly get a ship. He also didn't know what a solicitor and a barrister did, which would be like an American adult not knowing what a lawyer does. And so on.

There were no graphic sex scenes. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel to those who aren't picky about historical details being accurate.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.