Publisher and Publication Date: Kregel Publications. July 28, 2020.
Genre: Christian fiction. Inspirational fiction. Regency romance.
Pages: 304.
Source: I received a complimentary paperback copy from Kregel, but I was not required to write a positive review.
Audience: Readers of inspirational and regency romance.
Rating: Good.

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About the Author:

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.
 
Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

Summary:
He only wanted a duchess for a day–but she’s determined to make it a marriage for life
 
When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she’s meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life–as a secret agent for the Crown.
 
But his bride has other ideas. She’s determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society–the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she’d remain in the background as he ordered.
 
Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

My Thoughts:
The opening line of the story caught in my throat like a large pill I was trying to swallow.
“He supposed that someday he would have to forgive the child for being a girl.” Page 9.
I don’t like that statement, but it tempted me to read more.
The character who unsettled me is Marcus Haverly. A new circumstance forces him to create a new path. When I understood his situation I quickly forgave him.
One of the things I love best about this story is the main characters face their difficult situations with courage and resilience.

Marcus is a person who is not satisfied with a role of sitting on the sidelines of life. He wants to serve a greater good. Marcus is a character I admire. He is imperfect, but likable and believable.

Charlotte is bookish. She is easy for me to like. I am a bookish person. She is teased for having her nose in a book. I too am teased.

An uncomfortable scene at a party early in The Gentleman Spy introduces a conflict. It’s a family matter that is not really discussed but is to be accepted as the norm. “It” happens but it isn’t talked about. Charlotte is angry and wants her father to be responsible and do the right thing. She is angry that he is not who she thought he was. This causes a deeper wedge between the father and daughter. It causes a problem between mother and daughter, because the mother wants the problem to not be discussed. Charlotte has broken the code of conduct about this matter. The code is to remain silent.
This situation and the responses are incredibly sad. And the behavior and responses to it continue to the next generation. Unless, the people make a deliberate change.
This conflict showed me how people respond (ignoring is a response) to bad behavior. The husband does what he wants, and the wife ignores and looks the other way. She even makes excuses for him. While their daughter is in fear she will have the same kind of problem. While reading the story I wanted a satisfying resolution to this conflict.

Vetsch shows social and economic conditions for women in The Gentleman Spy. There are two polar places shown where women live and work. I feel this part of the story shows a tiny view of that subculture. The Gentleman Spy is Christian fiction. There is a strong boundary for what they will show in a story about this aspect. I feel the boundary takes away from me feeling a stronger pang for their plight.

Overall, The Gentleman Spy is a good story and wraps up well.