Rogue’s Holiday (Agents of the Crown #5) by Regan Walker-a review

Rogue’s Holiday (Agents of the Crown #5) by Regan Walker-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 7, 2019

Even a spy needs a holiday…

Robert Powell’s work as a spy saves the Cabinet ministers from a gruesome death and wins him accolades from George IV. As a reward, the king grants him a baronetcy and a much-deserved holiday at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton where he thinks to indulge in brandy, cards, good horseflesh and women.

But when Muriel, Dowager Countess of Claremont, learns of Sir Robert’s intended destination, she begs a favor…to watch over an “errant child” who is the grandniece of her good friend living in the resort town. Little does Robbie know that Miss Chastity Reynolds is no child but a beautiful hoyden who is seemingly immune to his charms.

Chastity lives in the shadow of her mother and sisters, dark-haired beauties men admire. Her first Season was a failure but, as she will soon come into a family legacy, she has no need to wed. When she first encounters Sir Robert, she dubs him The Rogue, certain he indulges in a profligate lifestyle she wants no part in.

In Brighton, Robbie discovers he is being followed by friends of the conspirators who had planned to murder the Cabinet. Worse, they know the location of Chastity’s residence.

••••••

REVIEW:Rogue’s Holiday begins with Robbie Powell spying on behalf of the Crown. Once his mission is complete and the traitorous men are apprehended, a more than thankful King George IV bestows on him the title of baronet making him Sir Robert Powell. The King also offers up his Royal Pavilion in Brighton so that he may vacation for the summer. Robbie gladly accepts and invites his uncle, Jack Donet to accompany him. Before Robbie leaves, Muriel, the Dowager Countess of Claremont, asks a favor of him. Her dear friend’s grandniece, who is also a bit of a hoyden, will be in Brighton as well and needs watching over.

Chastity Reynolds feels like she doesn’t feel like she fits in with her family, except for her shoe designing father. She, too, likes to design shoes and is close to her father. Her sister’s wedding planning is the last thing she wants to deal with. Her mother is aware of Chastity’s nature, and suggests that she and her best friend, Rose, go to Brighton to stay with her Aunt Agatha in Brighton. Chastity jumps at the chance. On their trip to Brighton, Chastity goes downstairs at a hotel they’re staying at, only to run (literally) into a good-looking man who doesn’t apologize for the collision. Instead, he places a kiss upon her lips that leaves her reeling. She is not only offended, but also intrigued as the rogue saunters away.

Once Robbie arrives in Brighton, he and Jack meet Chastity and Rose. To say they are all a bit taken with each other would be true, but Chastity is still offended by Robbie’s roguish behavior. However, Robbie makes it his mission to win Chastity over. Unfortunately, Robbie senses that he’s being followed and when he receives a threatening letter from an anonymous source, he and Jack have to step up in order to keep not only themselves safe, but Chastity as well.

Rogue’s Holiday is a wonderfully written addition to the Agents of the Crown series. Chastity has an independent streak, but that doesn’t keep her from wanting to do the right thing. Robbie has intrigued me since the first time I read about him. His family is one of my favorites in all of the fiction I’ve ever read. As always, Regan Walker’s effortless weaving of historical facts into her stories leaves me in awe. The world that she creates pulls you in from the very beginning and always leaves you wanting more. The secondary characters are always well written and pertinent to the story. If you’re a fan of Regency Romance with great character and world building, you’ll never go wrong with one of Regan’s stories. Well done, Regan Walker!! Very, very well done!

Reading Order and Previous reviews
To Tame The Wind
Against the Wind
Wind Raven
A Secret Scottish Christmas

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

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A Secret Scottish Christmas (Agents of the Crown #4) by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

 Secret Scottish Christmas (Agents of the Crown #4) by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

A Secret Scottish Christmas

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.au / Amazon.uk /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 6, 2017

Spies and Scots and Shipmasters, oh my!

Scotland 1819 – Twin brothers Nash and Robbie of Powell and Sons Shipping, London, sail with their fellow Agents of the Crown to Scotland for a secret celebration of Christmastide, a holiday long considered pagan by the Scottish Kirk. But more than Christmas is being kept secret. The two brothers have accepted an assignment from the Home Secretary Lord Sidmouth to ferret out a fugitive fomenting rebellion among the Scots.

Aileen Stephen, the only daughter of an Aberdeen shipbuilder, had to be clever, devious and determined to gain her place in the family business. She succeeded to become a designer of highly coveted ships. One night, a man’s handsome face appears to her in a dream. When two men having that same face arrive on a ship full of Londoners, Ailie wonders what her second sight is telling her. Is the face she saw a portender of the future, a harbinger of danger, or both? And which of the two Englishmen is the one in her dream?

Older than Nash by a mere five minutes, Robbie has always been protective of his twin. When he realizes Nash is attracted to the sister of their Scottish host, he thinks to help matters along. But Nash wants no help from his brother, not where Ailie Stephen is concerned because Robbie is attracted to the girl himself!

Two brothers vie for the affection of the Scottish lass but only one stirs her passion. Which one will it be? And what will she do when she learns both are spies?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: A Secret Scottish Christmas begins with a group of people traveling from England to Scotland to celebrate Christmastide, albeit a secret celebration, with friends. Once the group arrives in Scotland, it doesn’t take long for the Powell twins, Nash and Robbie, to notice not only Aileen’s beauty, but also her fiery spirit.

As the story progresses, the twins put their secret plan into motion, in hopes of making their mission a successful one. However, as the twins get to know Ailie, it becomes apparent that one is more enamored than the other when said twin starts questioning their mission altogether.

A Secret Scottish Christmas is a great addition to the Agents of the Crown series. Ailie is a wonderfully written character. She is intelligent and feisty, but also has a loving heart for those she holds dear. The Powell twins were wonderfully written as well. I love the fact that they love each other as you would expect, but what drew me in was their sense of independence. Regan Walker did a phenomenal job of making each one of them their own person with their own identities. I also loved that Ailie picked up on their nuances that were written so brilliantly. Walker has also, once again, woven actual historical events into her story seamlessly and built a world that you can vividly see in your mind. Whether it is the sound of a dog barking, feeling the wind in your face as you sail away or seeing a landscape covered in new snow, you will find yourself noticing all of the details she meticulously sets for us to truly feel as if we are a part of. Reading Regan Walker’s books is, at least for me, like watching a movie. You are swept into her world from the very beginning and you truly do hate for it to end. Added to all of this the fact that we get to see so many couples from previous books throughout the entire story makes it one of my favorites of everything she has written. If you’re a fan of historical romance, you will most definitely love A Secret Scottish Christmas. There is a beautifully developed romance, political intrigue and such well developed characters that you’ll swear this is your favorite as well….until the next one. Well done, Regan Walker! Very, very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie M

Guest Post-Black and Blue

Scot, Scotsman, Scotch or Scottish… how to refer to the Scots?

By Regan Walker

For my new Christmas Regency, A Secret Scottish Christmas, I wanted to make sure I referred to the Scots as they would want, so I did a bit of scouting. What I discovered was that the terminology can be confusing. Robert Burns, Scotland’s beloved poet, referred to the people of Scotland as “Scots”.

As you know from reading my stories set in Medieval Scotland, the people have always been “Scots” and their kings were never Kings of Scotland, but Kings of the Scots, the people being of first importance, not the land.

The Scots refer to their stories and language as “Scottish” but, in past times, they used the word “Scotch” in place of “Scottish” or “Scot”, something not done today.

In Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character by Edward Bannerman Ramsay, first published in 1857, the author looks back “forty years” (which would be to the Regency era) and describes the unique “Scottish dialect” spoken at the time. In one place, he says, “I recollect old Scottish ladies and gentlemen who really spoke Scotch.” He also refers to the people of Scotland as “the Scotch” and describes himself as “an out and out Scotchman”. So there you have it. Clear as haggis… er, mud.

I hope you enjoy my Christmas story set on the Northeast coast of Scotland. The people there in 1819 would have spoken a unique dialect, except in prominent families such as the Stephens, who spoke the King’s English. (The journals of the Scottish upper classes read like ones written by the English at the time). They might have spoken with an accent, of course. Most of the common people would have spoken the Doric dialect. Since Doric would be hard for readers to understand, I used it sparingly and sprinkled the book with a few Scottish expressions to give you a flavor for the local speech, particularly in the taverns and for the heroine’s grandfather from Stonehaven.

About The Author Black and Blue

Regan WalkerRegan Walker is an award-winning, Amazon #1 bestselling author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval romances. A lawyer turned full-time writer, she has six times been featured on USA TODAY’s HEA blog and nominated six times for the prestigious RONE award (her novel, The Red Wolf’s Prize won Best Historical Novel for 2015 in the Medieval category). Her novel The Refuge: An Inspirational Novel of Scotland won the Gold Medal in the Illumination Awards in 2017. And her novel To Tame the Wind won the International Book Award for Romance Fiction in 2017.

Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government have given Regan a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown”. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding sovereign who taps his subjects for special assignments. Each of her novels features real history and real historical figures. And, of course, adventure and love.

Regan’s website: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076BBG6HV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104
Regan’s Author page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Regan-Walker/e/B008OUWC5Y
Pinterest Storyboard for the book: https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/a-secret-scottish-christmas-by-regan-walker/

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To Tame The Wind by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

To Tame The Wind (Agents of the Crown Prequel) by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N /

About the book: Release Date May 9, 2015

France 1782…AN INNOCENT IS TAKEN

All Claire Donet knew was the world inside the convent walls in Saint-Denis. She had no idea her beloved papa was a pirate. But when he seized Simon Powell’s schooner, the English privateer decided to take the thing his enemy held most dear…her.

A BATTLE IS JOINED

The waters between France and England roil with the clashes of Claire’s father and her captor as the last year of the American Revolution rages on the sea, spies lurk in Paris and Claire’s passion for the English captain rises.

Review:
To Tame the Wind begins with Claire having sneaked out the convent in order to see for herself the masquerade ball that she’s heard so much about, only to discover that her young and frail friend, Elise, had followed her into the night. Even though Claire tries to convince Elise that she needs to return home, her young friend will not hear of it. Claire relents and allows Elise to tag along. Once the two girls near the grand estate where the ball is being held, the music floats through the air and Claire is immediately drawn in. She tells Elise to stay put as she seeks a spot closer in order to see the party for herself. Claire climbs a tree and the sight before her has her completely enthralled. She sees gloriously dressed men and women dancing and longs to maybe someday be a part of such a scene.

It’s not long before a man with golden hair, and a woman dressed as a hussar walk out into the night, and end up at the tree where Claire is perched. Things turn a bit amorous between the wayward partygoers and Claire can’t believe her eyes, nor the feelings that stir within her. Suddenly, a streak of lightning lights up the sky and things go a little haywire for Claire as she falls out of the tree and is discovered by the handsome Englishman with the golden hair and the amber eyes, who initially mistakes her for a party guest, but soon realizes she’s an innocent young woman and sends her on her way. As she and Elise frantically make their way back home, they are completely drenched by the storm. Little does she know how much her life will change due to her decisions made that night.

The story then fast forwards two years and finds Claire still in the convent. She has made the decision to take a vow to become a member of the Order, only to find out that her papa has arranged her marriage. The Reverend Mother doesn’t think that Claire is wanting to take her vows for the right reasons, and also doesn’t think that her papa will allow it, but she leaves it up to Claire to convince her papa. But, that convincing will never get the chance to come to fruition as Claire is awakened in the middle of the night and kidnapped from the convent. Once she sees her captor, she almost can’t believe her own eyes, because before her is the ever handsome golden haired Englishman that had unknowingly set her heart aflutter so long ago. Unfortunately, he tells her things that she just cannot believe. Her beloved papa was not a pirate, but a “man of business”. But, Captain Simon Powell assures her that there are things in motion that her beloved papa will have to address if she is to be freed. It doesn’t take Simon long to realize that Claire is not as meek as she first seemed, but more like a wild wind blowing through and determined to make her own place in the world. Claire soon realizes that Captain Simon Powell is a man of his word and realizes that he would never harm her. Along with the new found knowledge that privateers, pirates and spies abound, will Claire be able to resist the noble Captain who only wants to get his ship and his men back safely? And, will Simon be able to tame the wind? Well, my friends, you’ll have to read to find out. And, oh, what a read it is!

Regan Walker has once again written a wonderful story that will have you hooked from the first page. Claire Donet is such a wonderfully written character. She is kind and compassionate, as well as fiercely loyal and loving. I love the rebellious streak that we are privy to, as does Simon. The chemistry between these two is palpable. He is just as loyal and compassionate and loving as Claire, but will move heaven and earth to make things right. And, once he decides on all of the things that need to be righted, nothing will stop him. I’d love to say more about what transpires between them, but do not want to spoil what is a great story.

I’ve told you before, but I feel I need to tell you again. No one writes like Regan Walker. She effortlessly weaves historical facts into her fictional stories so well that you will find yourself questioning your own history lessons. You can absolutely feel her passion for her craft as she tells her tales, whether on the high seas of the English Channel, or on the cobble stone streets of London or Paris. And, I don’t just mean her passion for writing a story. I mean her passion for making sure that her stories ring true, whether it’s the sound of the ocean, the smells in the air or the character’s feelings. Her world building is phenomenal. There is political intrigue and a bit of mystery and a beautifully developed romance, but I’ve come to expect nothing less from Regan Walker. The only problem I have with her stories is that I have to wait for the next one! I have it on good authority that the next installment will be Claire’s beloved papa, Jean Donet’s story. If you’re a fan of this genre, you are sorely missing out if you’ve not read any of Ms. Walker’s books. Well done, Regan Walker! Very very very very well done!!

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Vickie M

Guest Post

Making Characters Endearing and Believable by Regan Walker

Vickie asked me to share how I develop my characters. And I will. But first, I thought to share what some reviewers have said about them:

For Racing with the Wind:

26 reviewers “I loved the characters and story.”
23 reviewers: “This author has researched and presented an historically accurate world for the actions of her characters.”

And from my first medieval, The Red Wolf’s Prize:

25 reviewers: “The plot was interesting, and the characters well written.”
And “very endearing characters.”

Vickie’s own review:

“Serena is absolutely my favorite heroine dreamed up by Regan Walker to date! Her loyalty, her fierceness and her heart will endear her to everyone who reads this story. Her understanding of what her people want and need is so touching. She is truly a force to be reckoned with. Renaud is a perfect match for her. He is as loyal and fierce as she is, and their chemistry is palpable. The cast of supporting characters is terrific in their own right.”

To me this just proves how important characters are to readers. They want to fall in love with the heroine as well as the hero. If you have endearing secondary characters, so much the better. I know that’s what I look for in a romance. Since I was a reader before an author, that is also how I think about my characters.

How do I do make my characters believable and endearing? For me, it’s all about the story. First I research the historical setting. Then I come up with the idea of the hero or heroine, sometimes both at once. I look for traits that would make them endearing in that time in history. All of my heroines are strong and the heroes who win them are stronger still. I let the history lead me to who they are. Would he be a British lord masquerading as a gallant spy on Napoleon like Lord Ormond in Racing with the Wind? Or, might he be a jaded sea captain sailing off to investigate a pirate for the Prince Regent as Captain Nick Powell in Wind Raven? Or, perhaps the hero might be a privateer spy for the Crown wrestling with a French pirate, and resisting the charms of the innocent heroine as in my latest work, To Tame the Wind?

Once I have my history and the lead characters I begin to write the opening scenes. Then, other characters come to me, companions and acquaintances of the hero and heroine. I move into their environment in my imagination, whether it’s a mansion, a schooner or a medieval castle. I get a feel for it visually, the daily life and who’s doing what. Since The Red Wolf’s Prize, I now use Pinterest for my image research for my characters and setting. Once I light on an image, I write to it.

When I found this image, I knew I’d found Elijah, the wizened old bosun on the Fairwinds in To Tame the Wind:
Elijah from To Tame the WindWhen I first conceived of Elijah he didn’t wear a knit cap or smoke a pipe. But once this image was in my head, ever thereafter he did. I could see him using his pipe to gesture and his hair blowing around his face when the wind captured a few strands. Being able to visually conceive of your characters adds details you might have overlooked otherwise. And it helps you make characters distinctive and endearing. Of course, I have always done this, even before I began using Pinterest.

Lord Ormond, the hero in Racing with the Wind looked like a young Clark Gable to me:

Clark Gable as Lord OrmondAnd he acted just like him, arrogant and sure of himself and what he wanted, including Lady Mary Campbell. So it was no surprise to me when he began ordering her around or when she informed him she would not do as he asked.

Once I have my main characters, it’s like watching a movie in my head. I put them int he setting and watch them interact. I learn about them as people. That’s how I knew that Claire Donet, the heroine in To Tame the Wind, would be a constant trial to the nuns in her convent school in France. It was no surprise to me when she snuck out to watch a masquerade ball. And I knew, notwithstanding her rebellious nature, she’d have a soft heart that would break more than once during the story.

I force my characters to act consistently. If my heroine would rebel but never whine, then she never whines. If my hero would not apologize, then he never does, at least not until something happens that changes him.

To me, my characters are real. Oh I don’t mean they are real people—though some are real historic figures—but my image of them is so real I see them as people I could have known if I’d lived in that time in history. I imagine some of them as friends, and some as evil miscreants. When I finish writing a book, I experience a sense of loss. It feels like a friend has moved away. I miss the world I’ve created and the characters in it. I can’t wait to dive into the next book and meet a whole slew of new characters. See if you don’t agree when you read my books!

about the author

Regan WalkerI didn’t start out as a writer of romance, oh no. Although I loved to write stories as a child, by the time I got to college, more serious pursuits were encouraged. So, naturally, I became a lawyer. Who needs adverbs as a lawyer? But after years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government, I decided it was time for a change. My work had given me a love of international travel (I’ve been to over 40 countries…) and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence, my first novels are all about a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool.

I promise my novels will always sweep you away to another time and another place. I want you to experience adventure as well as love.

I live in San Diego with my wonderful Golden Retriever “Link.” I have one son who is a young entrepreneur and, though he looks like a Highlander of old, he would never read a romance novel. So like a man, no?

Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)
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Cover Reveal-Wind Raven (Agents of the Crown #3) by Regan Walker

Cover Reveal-Wind Raven (Agents of the Crown #3) by Regan Walker

Wind Raven

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date TBA

Ordered by the Prince Regent into the Caribbean, English sea captain and former privateer Jean Nicholas Powell has no time for women onboard the Wind Raven, especially not Tara McConnell. The impudent American forced herself aboard, and so she’ll get more than she bargained for: Instead of a direct sail to Baltimore, she’ll join their quest to investigate a rampaging pirate, the infamous Roberto Cofresi.

But the hoyden thinks she can crew with his men, and though he bans her from the rigging, Nick is captivated watching her lithe, luscious movements on deck. Facing high seas, storms, cutthroats and the endless unknown, he must protect his ship, his passenger, his crew. But on this voyage, with this woman, there is a greater danger: to his heart.

About The Author beige

Follow: Website/ Goodreads / Facebook

Regan WalkerI didn’t start out as a writer of romance, oh no. Although I loved to write stories as a child, by the time I got to college, more serious pursuits were encouraged. So, naturally, I became a lawyer. Who needs adverbs as a lawyer? But after years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government, I decided it was time for a change. My work had given me a love of international travel (I’ve been to over 40 countries…) and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence, my first novels are all about a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool.

I promise my novels will always sweep you away to another time and another place. I want you to experience adventure as well as love.

I live in San Diego with my wonderful Golden Retriever “Link.” I have one son who is a young entrepreneur and, though he looks like a Highlander of old, he would never read a romance novel. So like a man, no?

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Against The Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

Against The Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

against the wind

Links to order Against the Wind: Amazon Kobo/ Amazon.uk

 

Against the Wind by Regan Walker is her second book in her Agents of the Crown series.

 

Description:
A night in London’s most exclusive bordello. Agent of the Crown Sir Martin Powell would not normally indulge, but the end of his time spying against Napoleon deserves a victory celebration. Yet, such pleasure will not come cheap. The auburn-haired courtesan he calls “Kitten” is in truth Katherine, Lady Egerton, a dowager baroness and the daughter of an earl as elusive as she is alluring. She flees a fate worse than death. But Martin has known darkness, too, and he alone can touch her heart—as she has touched his. To the English Midlands they will steal, into the rising winds of revolution.

 

Review:
Against the Wind
begins with heart breaking tragedy for Sir Martin Powell.  Seems his enemies were closer that he imagined and he suffers a terrible loss while in France working for the Crown as a spy.  Once he returns a few years later to England at the end of his service, he finds out that there is one more mission the Prince needs his help with.  There are murmurs of a rebellion in the Midlands, and the Prince himself sends word that Martin is to look into what’s going on and report back.  So, staying with the Ormonds, whom we meet in Racing with the Wind, he decides on a night out in London at an exclusive bordello before he heads to the Midlands.  Who knew that choosing the wrong door at the right place would have such a profound effect on his life?
 
Lady Katherine “Kit” Egerton has seen tragedy of her own.  He much older husband died not long after their marriage and her sister, Anne, married a cruel man, the Earl of Rutledge.  To complicate things, Anne had taken very ill and Kit had moved in to help take care of  her sister.  Anne’s death sets into motion a series of events that take the length of the book to come full circle.  Seems Anne’s husband had wanted Kit all along, and with Anne’s death, nothing, or no one, would stop him from having what he wanted.  But Kit had other ideas.  Once she escapes his attack, she heads to the only person she knows that can help her.  Abby, a former nanny to Kit & Anne, and owner of Willow House, an exclusive brothel in London.  Of course Abby takes Kit in and puts her in a room where she can rest and not worry about Rutledge until she can figure out what she wants to do about her situation.  No money, no place to stay and no family………..  Who knew when her bedroom door opened that fateful night, that her life would be forever changed?
 
Against the Wind is another wonderful story in the Agents of the Crown series.  I think I’ve said before that I always feel a little smarter after I read one of Regan Walker’s books.  She does a fantastic job of weaving her story through actual events of the time.  From the author’s notes:
 
After the war with France ended in 1814, England suffered from great social, economic and political problems. Many of the major issues were the direct result of the war, but others were the necessary product of the changes occurring throughout society, some of which had begun earlier. The discontent that this change brought, and the distress in the lives of the working people, culminated in the series of events that occurred during 1811-1819, including the attack on the Prince Regent’s carriage, the March of the Blanketeers and the Pentrich Rebellion in 1817. 
 
And, even as I type this review, fantastic does not do Regan justice in how she tells her stories.  The fiction is brilliantly entwined with the history and grabs your attention before you know it.  Her characters are always relatable and totally believable.  From the footman to the Earls and Countesses, each character is tantamount to the story as she tells it.  Kit is a wonderful heroine who has suffered so much loss in her short life that you find yourself rooting for her right from the beginning.  And, Martin grabs hold and never lets go.  If I had any complaint about the book, it would be that he kept Kit in the dark too long as to what they were doing in the Midlands, but, I also know that was probably the way of things back then.  There is romance, more political intrigue, heartbreak and so much love in this book that you will not be able to put it down.  And, I love the way she keeps her already established characters from previous books relevant.  The next installment, Wind Raven, I believe comes out this year and I for one can’t wait!!!  Again, Regan Walker delivers a MUST READ for any fan of this genre!!
 
Reviewed by Vickie

 

Copy provided by Author

 

About The Author Black and Blue


Regan WalkerFrom Goodreads:

I am an avid reader/reviewer of romances–mostly historical romance. And, since 2012, I am a published author of Regency romances. My work as a lawyer working issues across the globe gave me a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown.” Hence, my first novels feature dashing heroes who are drafted by a demanding Prince Regent for “special assignments.” I hope my stories will sweep you away to another time and another place for adventure as well as love.

Follow Regan: Website / Goodreads/ Facebook/ Twitter

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Racing With the Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

Racing With the Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

Racing with the Wind by Regan Walker is the first book in her Agents of the Crown Trilogy.

Description:
The intrepid daughter of an earl leaves Regency London for the Parisian court of Louis XVIII, where she finds adventure, mystery, and above all, love.

THE NIGHTHAWK
Hugh Redgrave, marquess of Ormond, was warned. Prinny had dubbed Lady Mary Campbell “the Swan,” but no ordinary man could clip her wings. She was a bluestocking hellion, an ill-advised match by every account. Luckily, he sought no bride. His work lay on the continent, where he’d become legend by stealing war secrets from Boney. And yet, his memories of Lady Mary riding her stallion were a thorn in his mind. He was the son of a duke and in the service of the Prince Regent…and he would not be whole until he had won her hand.

THE SWAN
It was unheard of for a Regency debutante to postpone her first season, yet Lady Mary had done just that. Far more interested in politics than a husband, she had no time for foolishness or frippery. Already she had assisted her statesman uncle in Paris, and she swore to return to the court of Louis XVIII no matter the danger. Like her black stallion, Midnight, she would always run free. Only the truest heart would race beside her.

Review:
Racing with the Wind takes place in England and France.  Napoleon (Boney) has been overthrown in France and Lady Mary’s uncle Adrian, Lord Baynes, is an integral part of the Prince Regent’s (Prinny’s) diplomatic force that travels abroad to ensure England’s place in world affairs.  Lady Mary’s father died when she was a child and her uncle has been more of a father figure than an uncle.   And she is more than interested in the political climate than she is in attending balls and galas in order to find a husband.  She does give in and attends a gathering where Hugh Redgrave catches her eye, and she catches his.  And, they both have reputations.  She as a hellion who won’t be told what to do, and he as a rake.

Hugh, who also works for the Prince Regent, goes to see Lord Baynes and is fascinated to see a woman riding a black stallion astride and in breeches…… Lady Mary.  Hugh meets with Lord Baynes and is invited to join then for lunch.  When Mary enters the room, she is surprised to see Marquess Redgrave sitting at their table.  They all make polite conversation, which grates on the Lady’s nerves, so she steers the conversation to politics.  Hugh is totally taken aback to see that Lady Mary is very knowledgeable in the political climate of England and France and is even more surprised to learn that she has accompanied her uncle to Paris on a diplomatic mission and was actually involved.  And, somehow, he knows his life will never be the same.

Once Lady Mary and her uncle Adrian arrive in France, she is caught up in political intrigue and the social scene in Paris.  Unbeknownst to her, Hugh Redgrave is in Paris as well.  Once she sees him, things start to happen quickly.  Mary is instrumental in helping gather information against those that would want Napoleon reinstated as ruler of France.  And Hugh is bound and determined to help keep Lady Mary safe.  Little did he know what a job that would be.

This was a wonderfully written story.  There is political intrigue, romance and a bit of mystery.  The descriptions of England and France were refreshing and not overdone.  And what a wonderful character Lady Mary was to read about.  She was determined to be her own person in a time where that sort of thing was frowned upon, but she never wavered from her convictions.  And Hugh Redgrave was the perfect companion for her. 

I have to say that if it were left up to me to read this book based on the description, I probably would not have picked it.  Thank God the author sent it and I had agreed to review it.  The story is intriguing from the beginning and it only grows from there.  There were times when I wasn’t sure who was the good guy and who was the bad guy and times when I could not turn the pages fast enough.  This book grabbed me and didn’t let go.  I loved this book so much that I contacted the author when I found out that it was book 1 in a trilogy and had to know when the next came out.  She was very gracious and humored me.  The next book in the trilogy, AGAINST THE WIND, should be out sometime around the end of this year, to be followed up by WIND RAVEN some time next year.  The next books are definitely on my MUST READ list.  I don’t really know what genre this series would fall in.  Historical romance, mystery…………  But I do know what category it falls in:  GREAT READ!!!

 Reviewed by Vickie    

Copy provided by Author

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