I’ve always been a voracious reader. From the time I was little, I’ve always had to have at least one book going at all times. I’ve found that, as a homeschool mom, I’ve read fewer books. And often when I ask homeschool mamas what they’re reading, they’ll refer to a book that they’re reading with the kids.
While I’m all for the benefits of reading with your kids, I think it’s great for us to read books for ourselves as well- books that help us grow, books that help us learn, books that touch us emotionally and spiritually, and books that just help us to relax and “get away” in the moment. Christian fiction is great for this. And I’m excited to share a new Christian fiction read that you can enjoy, as well as an awesome giveaway (April 21- May 12, 2020)
Disclosure: I received a free book in exchange for review. All opinions are always my own, and I was not compensated in any other way.
The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch
I love historical fiction. It’s my favorite genre because I can experience life in another time as I enjoy the story. The Lost Lieutenant is Christian fiction that is also historical fiction set in the Regency period- early 19th century England. For readers who may be new to the genre and unfamiliar with the historical term, the Regency covers the period of 1811–1820 in England when the Prince of Wales stepped in as a substitute monarch (Prince Regent) for King George III, who was deemed unfit to rule.
The first release in Vetsch’s Serendipity & Secrets series, The Lost Lieutenant tells the story of Evan Eldridge and Diana Seaton. Evan never set out to be a war hero—he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. After being injured while saving another man on the battlefield, all he really wants is to get back to his regiment. Instead, his act of bravery leads to him being made the Earl of Whitelock. When the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry, and you don’t say no to the Prince Regent.
Lady Diana Seaton has little say over anything in her life. She finds herself in an untenable position trying to keep her promise to her deceased sister while also obeying her controlling father. It’s debutante season in London, and Diana’s father intends to marry her off to the man of his choosing—one who will go along with his less than honorable plans. She finds herself between the proverbial rock and a hard place. When the Prince Regent steps in with a plan all his own, the members of the Seaton family must fall in line, because it’s worth repeating, you don’t say no to the Prince Regent. Will the arranged marriage to the new Earl of Whitelock make matters better or worse for Diana?
While Evan has a new 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 as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there’s something he can’t quite remember. He also knows that whatever it is, it’s important, dangerous—and if he doesn’t recall it in time, it will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone’s very life.
Christian fiction fans can be assured they will find elements of faith in the story as well. Along with the characters, they will see that God doesn’t make mistakes, He is sovereign, and He is good. “I love that through the power of story, God can use what we write and reach the people He wants to reach and teach them what He has for them,” shares Vetsch. “Just as every reader brings their own imagination to a story when they read it, so too they bring their faith, their history, their experiences into the spiritual thread of the story. They start from where they currently are in their faith journey, and through the power of story, they can grow that faith and maturity through exploring the spiritual arcs of the characters.”
The Lost Lieutenant is a story of falling in love while learning to trust. Trust God. Trust your heart. Trust your spouse. 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. The second installment of the Serendipity & Secrets series, The Gentleman Spy, releases on July 28, 2020, to be followed by The Indebted Earl in 2021.
You can read an excerpt from the book from Kregel here.
About the Author
The author of The Lost Lieutenant is Erica Vetsch. She’s previously been known for her book set in the American West. This is her first venture into Regency fiction.
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.
Erica answered a few questions as part of an interview:
Q: Up until now, many of your books have been historical releases but set in the American West. Why the move to England for the new series?
If there is one thing my family and friends know about me, it is that I always want to be learning and researching new historical topics. Having written and researched so many books set in the American West, I found myself feeling as if I was in a bit of a rut. I was having difficulty coming up with something fresh and interesting, where I could really dive into the research.
I had been reading quite a bit of Regency, thanks to some recommendations from an author friend, and the more I read, the more I realized I didn’t know many specifics about the era. Suddenly, there were so many avenues to explore, like the aristocracy, the clothing, the amusements, the Napoleonic Wars, and much more! My imagination sparked, and I was hooked!
Q: For those who may not be familiar with the term, what is Regency fiction? Why do you think this genre is so popular with readers?
Regency fiction covers the period of 1811–1820 in England, though books set between 1800 and 1830 are often classed as Regency. There’s always a bit of literary license about writing fiction, isn’t there?
The Regency period occurred at the end of the Georgian era in England when King George III (monarch during the American Revolution) was deemed unfit to rule. Some historians believe he suffered from a blood disease called porphyria, which has cognitive side effects. Some believe it was schizophrenia or other mental illness. In any case, he was considered unable to fulfill his role as monarch, and in his stead his son, the Prince of Wales, became the Prince Regent. The near-decade of his rule as a substitute monarch is called the Regency.
Q: What role does faith play in the lives of your main characters, Diana and Evan?
Evan has a background and foundation of faith to draw on, being the son of a preacher. He has a good relationship with his father that helps him in his relationship with his heavenly Father. While Evan doesn’t always know what God is doing, he finds it quite easy to ask through prayer for God to help him make sense of things. He has enough faith to not fear asking and questioning when things aren’t going according to Evan’s plans.
Diana has some training, through a childhood teacher, about faith being more than a weekly ritual, about needing to have a personal relationship with God through His Son. She prays, but because her father is so domineering and mean, she wonders if God could possibly be good to her. She has very clear lines about what is right and wrong, but she also fears that if she crosses God, He will seek retribution.
Through seeing a godly man, her new husband, Diana is able to gain confidence that she is both loved and lovable, that a man can be kind and therefore demonstrate that God can be kind as well.
Q: Is there a spiritual takeaway that you hope will resonate with readers?
There’s not one specific takeaway or “lesson” I had in mind for readers. I love that through the power of story, God can use what we write and reach the people He wants to reach and teach them what He has for them.
Just as every reader brings their own imagination to a story when they read it, so too they bring their faith, their history, their experiences into the spiritual thread of the story. They start from where they currently are in their faith journey, and through the power of story, they can grow that faith and maturity through exploring the spiritual arcs of the characters.
Q: Without giving away too much, what can readers expect as the Serendipity & Secrets series continues?
Big things! There are two more stories in the Serendipity & Secrets series coming this summer and in early 2021, The Gentleman Spy and The Indebted Earl. And as a bonus, there’s a spin-off novella this Christmas in the Joy to the World novella collection. My story is “The Wonders of His Love,” and I think readers will enjoy visiting the characters in this series again. The Gentleman Spy is the story of Marcus, Duke of Haverly, and a crusading bluestocking named Charlotte. Readers first meet Marcus, who becomes a good friend of Evan, in The Lost Lieutenant. Marcus marries Charlotte and thinks he can relegate her to the margins of his life so he doesn’t have to change too much, but Charlotte is not one to be pushed aside and ignored.
The Indebted Earl is Sophie Haverly’s story of loss and newfound love. When Sophie’s fiancé is killed in the war, his best friend and commanding officer returns to England to repay a debt. Charles carries the weight of guilt, feeling himself to be responsible for his friend’s death. If he can fulfill his promise to look after Sophie, maybe he can pay part of his debt.
“The Wonders of His Love” in the Joy to the World collection is the story of transformation and spreading wings for widow Cilla Haverly. With no real place now in society, she wonders if her future is as bleak as it feels. Enter Hamish, a Scottish painter brought in for the holidays to paint the portraits of the new Duke and Duchess of Haverly. But Hamish creates more than just likenesses in oil on canvas. He also creates a longing in Cilla that she can’t deny.
Giveaway!
From April 21- May 12, 2020, you can enter to win your own copy of The Lost Lieutenant as well as a Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice scarf, a “Just one more page” pillow, and a “Between the pages” book-inspired candle. Enter the giveaway here to win!
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