The Gentleman Spy (#02 in Serendipity & Secrets Series)

Marcus, the Duke of Haverly, has to be one of my favourite heroes. The reluctant position that should never have been his. He was the second son to a Duke, free to do as he pleases and secretly a spy for the crown. Which position does he choose or can he be both? There's another problem, now he's mother is adamant he needs to marry. He meets Charlotte Tiptree an Earl's daughter who is intelligent and threatened by her parent's to marry or be shipped off to her Aunt's as a companion. They marry, for their own reasons but can Marcus keep his secret from her? Charlotte finds out that her father had an illegitimate daughter to a mistress that none knew about. Charlotte finding out opens the door to the world of prostitution in the Regency Period. Can she help these women? What can she do and how can she save her sister and break down the invisible wall that is in her marriage?

I love when writer's are willing to enter into these sensitive issues with well studied details. Marcus is an ideal man figuring out how to be all that he needs to be in his different worlds but how long can he keep Charlotte out? I love stories of two strangers choosing to make a marriage work, learning to give and accept forgiveness through honest communication.

Well written and you can't wait to see what is next.

I was vastly pleased to see much less mistakes in this book. There was a clanger in the first chapter, but it had little to do with the main story, and by in book 3, Erica even briefly mentions the mistake as a mistake. It's pleasing to see a writer is teachable for accuracy not just entertainment, and Erica is very entertaining. I was sucked into the story despite the fact I do not like plots where a heroine deals with a philandering father. That's why I scored this as three stars even though Erica handled the topic very well. I am so glad I took a chance on continuing the series, although I probably wouldn't have purchased the book (I borrowed it from my local library). As long as one doesn't mind the topic of rescuing harlots and battling hypocritical fathers, it's a good read with great depth.