Tag Archives: Regan Walker

The Strongest Heart (Clan Donald Saga 3) by Regan Walker-a review

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The Strongest Heart (Clan Donald Saga 3) by Regan Walker-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 26, 2023

In the late 14th century, the Kingdom of the Isles was under assault from the ambitious Albany Stewarts, who were taking advantage of Scotland’s empty throne to increase their own power. Jealous of the Macdonald lordship to the west, the ruthless Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, thwarted Donald, Lord of the Isles, at every turn.

A man of keen intelligence and strategy, educated at Oxford and a frequent guest of England’s kings, Donald did not intend to allow his legacy to be taken from him by traitorous royal thugs. The Earldom of Ross was the buffer he needed to keep the Isles safe. Not unmindful of all that was at stake, he took as his bride Mariota Leslie, heiress to the Earldom of Ross.

What he could not achieve through diplomacy or marriage, Donald was prepared to claim by right of the sword. In the greatest battle Scotland has ever seen, he would demonstrate the power of the Isles to be named the Hero of Harlaw

•••••

REVIEW: The Strongest Heart begins with Donald of Islay becoming the new Lord of the Isles following his father’s death. Donald has prepared for this role his entire life and steps into his father’s shoes, determined to keep all that is theirs. Though not yet married, his father had long ago arranged a marriage between Donald and Mariota, daughter of the Earl of Ross.

As Donald begins to navigate the political landscape of not only his isles but all of Scotland, he gathers those he trusts the most in order to address changes that appear to be coming. Once he has a plan laid out, he then sails to Ross to meet his intended. They are both smitten with each other, and it doesn’t take Donald long to know what an amazing wife and partner Mariota will be.

Donald is a man of strong faith and uses that to guide him in all his decisions. His masterful understanding of the current political landscape makes him a clever and powerful leader. When the Albany Stewarts decide they want all that Donald holds dear, he devises strategies and battle plans that he prays will lead them to victory. He also has a loyal relationship with the King of England which he nurtures throughout the story. As Donald navigates the many facets of his beloved lands along with those he holds close, he will prove that he indeed does have the strongest heart.

The Strongest Heart is a powerfully written story that, once again, pulls you in at the very beginning. Regan Walker’s ability to weave actual history into her sweeping tales is second to none. Ultimately, The Strongest Heart is a story of faith and honor, betrayal and redemption that spans from the Scottish Highlands to the Courts in England. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll never go wrong with one of Walker’s tales. Well done, Regan Walker!

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Summer Warrior
Bound by Honor

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

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Bound by Honor (The Clan Donald Saga 2) by Regan Walker-a review

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Bound by Honor (The Clan Donald Saga 2)by Regan Walker-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 24, 2022.

The friendship that changed the destiny of a nation…

In the waning years of the thirteenth century, two young noblemen form a bond that forever changes their destiny and that of Scotland’s. Their shared pledge of honor would endure for a lifetime to secure power in the Isles for Angus Og Macdonald and a crown for Robert Bruce. This is the story of their friendship, their times and the battle that secured their future.

Standing beside them would be two women from Ireland, Áine O’Cahan, the dark-haired beauty from Ulster, who captured the heart of the Lord of the Isles, and Elizabeth de Burgh, the fair Norman heiress who stood by her man, King Robert Bruce, though it would cost her dearly.

Enter the world of medieval Scotland and live the adventure!

••••••

REVIEW:Bound by Honor begins in 1286 with Angus Og Macdonald watching his father, Angus Mor Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, speaking with the captain of his galley. Angus Og had sailed with his father several times before and asked if he might again sail with him. His father agreed and Angus Og was even more intrigued with his father’s reply about the purpose of the trip: Scotland’s future. Being the second son, Angus Og’s older brother, Alexander (called Alex) would travel with them as well and be involved in the meetings their father had planned.

Once they arrived at their destination, Angus Og was introduced was introduced to Robert (referred to by his friends as Rob) Bruce, Robert the Noble’s grandson, along with others in attendance. Once the true meeting starts, Angus and Robert keep themselves busy talking and a game of chess. When the meetings are finally over, neither Angus nor Rob knew just how the pledge that bound their families together that fateful day would play out in their fight for Scotland’s freedom.

As Angus navigates the politics of Scotland and the King of England’s desire to possess it, he meets Aine O’Cahan, a widowed lady from Ireland. It doesn’t take either of them long to start having feelings for the other, although it takes one longer to admit. However, Angus is in high demand with his warriors and his fleet of ships and finds himself often in high demand as things heat up in Scotland. When duty calls, Angus answers knowing Aine will be there for him.

Bound by Honor is another wonderfully written book by Regan Walker. The characters are written extremely well. Angus’ loyalty knows no bounds and his sense of honor will endear him to all who read his story. Aine was the perfect match for him. Her loyalty and faith are what keeps Angus going battle after battle. Rob has his own love interest, Elizabeth de Burgh, but it is Aine who inspires him when he is at his lowest point in his quest for Scotland’s freedom. Angus and Rob’s friendship and support of each other is palpable. The respect they hold for each other is a thing of legend. The secondary characters are all well written as well. I did find myself lost a time or two trying to keep all of the characters straight, but it didn’t detract from the story. Once again, her effortless entwining of actual historical facts and characters with her stories is amazing. The worldbuilding is amazing and leaves you feeling the spray of the ocean or hearing the call of Aine’s birds. This story packs more history and details than any of Walker’s previous books, which does make it a longer tale. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll never go wrong with one of her books. Not only do you enjoy the story, but I always say I feel a tad bit smarter after I’ve read one of her books. Well done, Regan Walker! Very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

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Summer Warrior by Regan Walker-Dual Review & Interview

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Summer Warrior (The Clan Donald Saga #1) by Regan Walker-Dual Review & Interview

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 7, 2020

Somerled’s parentage was noble, of the Kings of Dublin, the royal house of Argyll and the great Ard Ri, the High Kings of Ireland. But when the Norse invaded Argyll and the Isles, his family’s fortunes fell with those of his people. All hope seemed lost when he rose from the mists of Morvern to rally the Gaels, the Scots and the Irish.

Sweeping across Argyll and the Isles like a fast-moving storm, brilliant in strategy and fearless in battle, Somerled began retaking his ancestral lands, driving away the invaders and freeing the people from the Norse stranglehold. In doing so, he would win the title Somerle Mor, Somerled the Mighty, Lord of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne and, eventually, Lord of the Isles.

This is the unforgettable story of his path to victory that forged the Kingdom of the Isles and won him the heart of a Norse king’s daughter.

•••••••

Sandy’s REVIEW: SUMMER WARRIOR is the first instalment in Regan Walker’s THE CLAN DONALD SAGA historical fiction series.

Lord Somerled MacGillebride, the new leader of the Gaels in the aftermath of an attack against the MacInnes Clan, and the resulting death of their Chief, must undertake a journey to stop the advance of, and the raping and pillaging by the Norse pirates along the coastal waters of Scotland and the Kingdoms of the Isles. Born of a Norse mother and a Gael father, Somerled, of the royal house of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne, set about to reclaim his family’s fortune, name and ancestral lands where he will come face to face with his future in the guise of Ragnhild, the Princess of Man, daughter of Olaf the Red, King of Man. But a potential war between England and the Scots is on the horizon, and Lord Somerled had previously pledged his support to King David and the Scots, and with the promise comes the likelihood and implied call to duty.

Meanwhile, Ragnhild Olafsdottir, the Princess of Man, chatelaine and daughter of King Olaf the Red, has fallen for our story line hero but King Olaf has bided his time in offering his daughter’s hand in marriage. With more than one suitor vying for her affection, Ragnhild must abide by her father’s wishes but secretly pines for a man whose duty first is to another king and people. Ragnhild is a beautiful, independent and strong willed female who knows her time with her father’s family may be coming to an end. Hoping to reclaim the lands for his son Prince Henry, King David’s call to arms gathers the Chiefs and clans, many of whom will not survive the war.

SUMMER WARRIOR, inspired by historical accounts, is the fictionalized retelling of Lord Somerled MacGillebride, Ragnhild the Princess of Man, and the war between King David and the Scots. Regan Walker’s world building is beautiful, magical and intricate; lifelike and credible. The romance between Ragnhild and Somerled takes a backseat to the wondrous imagery, yet, the attraction is tangible and unmistakable. A captivating and delightful story SUMMER WARRIOR is a fantasy for the mind.

________

Georgianna’s REVIEW: Summer Warrior is a story of historical fiction. The research for this story is excellent and detailed. The author really delves into the time period and marries research with the ability to weave a unique storyline.

The story begins in summer of 1135 A.D. off the coast of the Isle of Man. Somerled MacGillebride, a noble in the royal house of Argyll whose father and many warriors had been defeated by the Norse pirates, sailed near the Isle of Man on his way home. He spotted a white horse galloping across the plain above him and wondered at the rider. A girl with flaming red hair rode like the wind. His brother told him she was the daughter of King Olaf. He thought her spirit was one to be coveted, but he had lost all his lands and had nothing to offer the king for her hand.

Ragnhild, King Olaf’s daughter rode like the wind, running from the hint of marriage to Rognvald Kolsson, Earl of Orkney. She thought he was an evil man and that he’d murdered or had murdered his cousin to gain the title. He looked at her with lustful looks, and she knew he would ask her father for her hand. Her stepmother had just given birth to a male child and wanted her gone.

Okay, that’s pretty much the set-up, except that Somerled was approached by the MacInnes men after their chief had been slain by Norse pirates. They wanted him to lead them all in driving out the pirates and freeing them from Norse oppression.
This is a well-researched saga of the Clan Donald, its founding and recapturing the isles from the Norse. There are battles, wars, and castle building. The romance is light, with only one stolen kiss, but many thoughts of each other as Somerled gains titles and lands to gain the hand of the princess.

If you enjoy historical period adventures and world building, this is a fantastically bold story. The two are meant for each other, but there are no love scenes of stolen moments or anything like that. The love is chaste and yet fulfilling. The isles are well described, the characters are unique and the conversations realistic. The adventures are fierce and many.

Copies supplied for review

TRC:   Hi, Regan and welcome back to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of SUMMER WARRIOR.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow: Website /Amazon Author page /Facebook /Goodreads /Twitter/

I am a lawyer turned writer (though I still practice law on a part time basis). I love reading stories set deep in history and that led me to write my first novel, a Regency, in 2011. Since then, more Regencies followed and then I ventured into other eras. First it was the Middle Ages with the Medieval Warriors series set in England and Scotland and then it was the Georgian era (late 18th century) with dashing sea captains. I am just beginning a new series, The Clan Donald Saga. Book 1 is Summer Warrior.

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

I was always a writer but I didn’t always write fiction. I suppose my good friend, Judy, influenced me to go in that direction. She urged me to write one. That led to Racing with the Wind, my first Regency. Ultimately, my love for the ocean led me to write seafaring stories. Every morning, my dog, Cody, and I take walks on the beach. It is very soothing to the soul.

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first book?

There weren’t many, really. I had to get used to being inside a character’s head but I discovered I loved storytelling. Some of my books have given me pains in the middle when I’m not sure where they should go. Since my books are all based on real history, that usually helps guide me. I love research, so that is not a problem.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of SUMMER WARRIOR?

Since Summer Warrior is the first in the series and sets the foundation for all that follow, its central character is Somerled, the acknowledged founder of Clan Donald. The heroine, Ragnhild, daughter of the King of Man and the Isles, was a beauty and Somerled was smitten. He was, for all I could learn, a handsome charismatic leader, respected by the people of Argyll and the Isles. He built an independent Kingdom of the Isles and freed the people from the Norse stranglehold. When you are writing about the 12th century, there is a dearth of original sources. I read all the ones I could get my hands on and got all the books that spoke of the clan’s history (I have over 40 books for the series and that’s doesn’t account for my Google Books searches and my Internet research). The Internet sources conflict and are not reliable in all cases, however.

TRC:  What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning SUMMER WARRIOR?

I did research for weeks before I wrote anything. And the research didn’t stop after that. Often, I had to look up something while I was writing. I’m very visual so it’s important for me to know what things look like (there is a Pinterest storyboard for Summer Warrior: https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/the-clan-donald-saga-by-regan-walker/). I don’t plot but I do follow a historical timeline.

TRC:  Do you believe authors have a responsibility to be historically accurate when writing an fictional historical story line?

Let me put it this way, stories that are historically accurate are the ones I want to read. I know some readers don’t care. I do.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Absolutely. Covers will make me want to read a book and they will make me not want to read a book. Titles are also important. Titles that are flip or too cute tell me the author isn’t committed to historical authenticity. I always design my cover very early in the process, when I’m just beginning to write and then I write to the cover.

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Both. I get them in the place and in the scene and then they surprise me. One editor told me I was easy to work with because I knew my characters so well. I think that I do.

TRC:  The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

We must bring our characters to life, showing their hopes and their dreams along with their failures and fears so readers can identify with them. I like to make my heroines inspiring but realistic and my heroes noble of heart and drool-worthy. (I wrote a post on Rogues Who Make Readers Sigh: https://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/rogues-who-make-readers-sigh.html.) We fail if we make our characters superficial or trite.

TRC:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Yes and the music changes based on the era in which my book is set. For Summer Warrior, I listened to Nordic music and some medieval playlists depending on the scene. Music puts me in the era. And when I begin to play that music, it also brings me into my story. I don’t change the music for the characters but I do change the music for fight scenes and sea battles.

TRC:  What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Oh gosh. That’s a difficult one to answer. I know one of my friends told me she envied me my sex life (many of my Regencies have a graphic love scene or two). I laughed and told her that was all imagination. So, I suppose some readers think we have lived what we write about; not so.

TRC:   What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Here’s the short list: I was the football team mascot in high school (a dynamite stick). I learned to ride a motorcycle on an antique Velocette bike. I own a hand gun and shoot well. As a lawyer, people would be surprised to know I am a romantic, though you can see it in my stories. I have also served at high levels of government and some of that helped me understand the role of the Crown in my novels.

Antique Velocette:

TRC:  Who is your favorite author (living or dead)?

I have a list on my blog; it’s pretty long. For historical romance, the short list would include Virginia Henley, Kathleen Givens, Jan Cox Speas, Penelope Williamson, Joanna Bourne, Victoria Holt, Elizabeth Stuart, and Laurie McBain, to name a few. For historical fiction, it is probably Elizabeth Chadwick, who always has a love story or two in her novels.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

Now that Summer Warrior is launched, I’m doing research for the next in the series, which I expect will be set in 13th century Scotland.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

I have an award-winning blog, Historical Romance Review: https://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: seafood

Favorite Dessert: chocolate or coffee ice cream

Favorite TV Show: I don’t watch TV, only Amazon Prime and Netflix and those would be historical series or movies; I get my news on the Internet

Last Movie You Saw: Outlaw King

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark 70%

Secret Celebrity Crush: Sean Connery (at any age)

Last Vacation Destination: The Scottish Highlands (and I hope to go back next spring)

Do you have any pets? Yes. My dog, Cody, a 3-year-old wirehaired pointing griffon. He’s wonderful.

Last book you read: Sharon Kay Penman’s Time and Chance

Thank you Regan for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of SUMMER WARRIOR. We wish you all the best.

My links:

 

 

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Once Upon A Christmas Past Anthology with Regan Walker et al -a review

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Once Upon A Christmas Past Anthology with Regan Walker, Paula Quinn, Catherine Kean & Brenda Jernigan -a review

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

Christmas in Scotland or Christmas in England – it is the best time of the year.

NY Times & USA Today & Bestselling Authors present Once Upon a Christmas Past – 4 full books of Christmas and Love

A Secret Scottish Christmas by Regan Walker

Spies, Scots, and Shipmasters celebrate a very secret Christmas in Scotland as identical twins, Robbie and Nash Powell, spies for the Crown, compete for the love of the daughter of an Aberdeen shipbuilder.

A Highlander for Christmas by Paula Quinn

As the bard of the MacGregor clan, Finlay Grant is a natural-born charmer. He can easily win the heart of any lass . . . but somehow, the right words to express his love for stunning Leslie Harrison have eluded him. Yet as Christmastide approaches, Finn knows he must find a way to propose to the raven-haired beauty who has stolen his heart.

A Knight’s Redemption by Catherine Kean

Six Christmases ago, after refusing his kiss, Lady Mary Westbrook was locked in the dungeon by Lord Holden Kendall, a squire at Branton Keep. When an attempted child abduction days before Christmas brings Holden back to the castle, Mary must confront again what happened between them.

Holden is a grown warrior now, and he resolves to not only make matters right with Mary but finally win her kiss. Yet, as peril ensues, Mary must risk far more than a chance at true love.

Christmas in Camelot by Brenda Jernigan

Sir Nicholas the Dragon’s orders are clear. He is to fend off the enemy besieging Noelle’s castle and bring the lady safely back to Camelot for her wedding day to Sir Gavin. But spending time with the proud beauty awakens an irresistible hunger in Nicholas. Now, as desire does battle with duty, Nicholas has only two choices — to surrender the woman he loves to another man or fight to the end to make her his own.

••••••••••

REVIEWS:

NOTE: Vickie’s review covers A SECRET SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS by Regan Walker, and A KNIGHT’S REDEMPTION by Catherine Kean.

A SECRET SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS by Regan Walker

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!

__________

A Knight’s Redemption by Catherine Kean

A Knight’s Redemption begins at Branton Keep, where Lord de Lanceau and his wife have their annual Christmas celebration. Lord de Lanceau also announces whom this year’s Lord of Misrule will be. It’s an annual ritual that all look forward to, because whomever is chosen enjoys the privileges of being Lord until midnight. As the squires talk about whom they think will be chosen this year, Holden Kendall can’t help but notice the comely Lady Mary Westbrook, who is in attendance with her father. As Holden eyes Mary, she can’t help but be drawn to him as well. However, her father has other plans.

As the anticipation builds, Lord de Lanceau rises and announces this year’s Lord of Misrule is none other than Holden Kendall. As Holden ‘assumes’ the dais, he has one thing on his mind: he wants to kiss Mary. When he delivers his directive, she steadfastly refuses. Holden is shocked, and embarrassed, and tells her that if she refuses, she will be taken to the dungeon. To his even further shock, she still refuses and he has no other option than to see her taken to the dungeon. In the middle of all of this, he and the others are called out to battle a fire in town.

When he returns, he realizes that he has forgotten that Mary was still in the dungeon. He goes to free her and to apologize, but to say she’s livid would be an understatement. THIS is not how Holden had thought his quest for a simple kiss would turn out……………

Six years later, Mary is back at Branton Keep for the holidays. Thankfully, Holden no longer resides at the Keep. As she and Claire decide to go to town, they hear a baby crying and go to investigate. They see that two men are fighting and Mary reaches down to rescue the crying baby. She and Claire try to sneak away, only to be caught by one of the men, who demands the baby back. Mary thinks the man looks familiar, but is thankful when he loses consciousness.

Back at the Keep, Holden comes to and is questioned by those in authority there. When he explains that the baby is his nephew and someone was trying to kidnap the baby, they are wary, but agree to let them stay until Lord de Lanceau arrives and can vouch for who he says he is. However, once Mary goes to where Holden is being held, neither of them know the danger they will face, nor how much their running into each other after all of this time will change their lives forever.

A Knight’s Redemption is a wonderful written tale that draws you in from the very beginning. Even though it is a novella, the characters are masterfully written. Mary has struggled with her self-image due to her verbally abusive father and deems herself as not worthy of a male’s attention for most of her life. Her friend, Claire, does her best to dissuade her from believing so, but it is Holden who finally convinces her that she is worthy of so much more than just attention. The secondary characters in this book all have had their own books in the past, and even though I don’t feel like I missed anything due to not having read those, I do feel that the back stories would have enriched the story for me. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed Holden and Mary’s tale so much, that I will go back and read the others’ stories. If you’re a fan of this genre, you’ll be a fan of this story for sure. Well done, Catherine Kean! Very well done!

Copy suppled for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

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A Fierce Wind (Donet Trilogy #3) by Regan Walker -a review

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A Fierce Wind (Donet Trilogy #3) by Regan Walker-a review

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 23, 2018

Love in the time of revolution

France 1794

Zoé Ariane Donet was in love with love until she met the young commander of the royalist army fighting the revolutionaries tearing apart France. When the dashing young general is killed, she joins the royalist cause, rescuing émigrés fleeing Robespierre’s Reign of Terror.

One man watches over her: Frederick West, the brother of an English earl, who has known Zoé since she was a precocious ten-year-old child. At sixteen, she promised great beauty, the flower of French womanhood about to bloom. Now, four years later, as the Terror seizes France by the throat, Zoé has become a beautiful temptress Freddie vows to protect with his life.

But English spies don’t live long in Revolutionary France.

•••••••••

REVIEW: A Fierce Wind begins with Zoe Donet attending a rally with her family. She is smitten with a young general, who after the king and queen of France are killed, fights with the royalist army trying to rid France of the revolutionaries who are terrorizing her beloved country. When the general is killed, she vows to avenge his death in the only way she knows how…..joining the royalist cause and rescuing emigrants who are desperately trying to leave France. Putting herself in constant danger to do so does not please everyone, namely, Englishman Frederick West, who just happens to also be the brother-in-law of Zoe’s uncle, Jean Donet.

As the story progresses, Frederick grows uneasy with Zoe putting herself in harm’s way, only to have her uncle tell him that she will do what she wants. Her uncle does continuously send a couple of men with her to guard her when on her ‘missions’. However, it is when West is injured that Zoe starts to see him in a different light. They’ve been friends for a long time, but now, she sees him for what he really is: heroic, handsome and steadfast. Things take a sudden turn for West when England’s Prime Minister gives him orders for information gathering in order to aid the French, and he has to take Zoe with him. They embark on their journey where danger lurks with every step they take, which only adds to the developing feelings they have for each other.

A Fierce Wind is another beautifully written story by Regan Walker. Zoe is a well written character and readers will immediately be pulled in by her story. She is smart, loyal and stubborn, but even more, at least for me, she was a realist. She had no fantasies about the war, nor the ones fighting it. She knew that she could be captured, or killed, every time she went to help those in need. Frederick West was perfect for Zoe. Even though he worried over her, he also realized that, like he, she had to help in ways that she saw fit. The secondary characters are well written and leave you wanting more. As always, Regan Walker does a masterful job with her world building. As you read, you can feel the ocean breezes and hear canons firing and are drawn in from the very beginning. Intertwining actual historical events into her stories only adds to the appeal and has become a trademark for all that she writes. I’ve said it more than once…….I feel a little smarter and more informed after reading one of her books. I know she says this is a trilogy, but I’m hoping for more! Well done, Regan Walker! Very, very well Done!

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
To Tame the Wind
Echo in the Wind
A Fierce Wind

Copy supplied for review

Review by Vickie K

Regan 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.

Author website: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104

Regan Walker’s Readers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReganWalkersReaders/

Pinterest (storyboards for my books): https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RegansReview

Regan’s blog, Historical Romance Review: https://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/

Amazon link for the Donet Trilogy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B071JPXTT5/

 

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

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 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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Echo in the Wind (The Donet Trilogy #2) by Regan Walker-Review and Excerpt

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Echo in the Wind (The Donet Trilogy #2) by Regan Walker-Review and Excerpt

Echo in the Wind

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 23, 2017

England and France 1784

Cast out by his noble father for marrying the woman he loved, Jean Donet took to the sea, becoming a smuggler, delivering French brandy and tea to the south coast of England. When his young wife died, he nearly lost his sanity. In time, he became a pirate and then a privateer, vowing to never again risk his heart.

As Donet’s wealth grew, so grew his fame as a daring ship’s captain, the terror of the English Channel in the American War. When his father and older brother die in a carriage accident in France, Jean becomes the comte de Saintonge, a title he never wanted.

Lady Joanna West cares little for London Society, which considers her its darling. Marriage in the ton is either dull or disastrous. She wants no part of it. To help the poor in Sussex, she joins in their smuggling. Now she is the master of the beach, risking her reputation and her life. One night off the coast of Bognor, Joanna encounters the menacing captain of a smuggling ship, never realizing he is the mysterious comte de Saintonge.

Can Donet resist the English vixen who entices him as no other woman? Will Lady Joanna risk all for an uncertain chance at love in the arms of the dashing Jean Donet?

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW:  Regan Walker has once again written a tale that pulls you in from the very beginning. As the story begins, we immediately discover that Lady Joanna West is more than just a Lady of the ton. She is a strong and independent woman whose heart aches for the poor, and proves she will do just about anything to see to their well-being.

Lady Joanna and her brother, Richard, the Earl of Torrington, are hosting a party for the new English Prime Minister in their home, when Jean Donet makes his entrance. Joanna is immediately intrigued, as their paths have crossed before, although unbeknownst to him. Rumors of Donet’s past pique her interest even more. Richard has been trying to convince Joanna to travel to London with the family for her little sister’s first season, but she truly had no interest, until Jean Donet asked “Will you be coming to London, Lady Joanna:’. Little did she know that her simple answer of “why, yes”would have a profound effect on her future.

Echo in the Wind is another wonderfully written tale by Regan Walker. Joanna is such a great character. Her big heart, as well as her independent streak, draws you in immediately. However, it is Jean Donet, whom we met in To Tame the Wind, that will grab your heart and not let go. Having lost his first wife years before, he never thought, or even dreamed, that he’d be inclined to love again. His back story is heartbreaking, but it is his strong sense of honor and self that will endear him to all who read. Even though he was cast out by an overbearing father in his youth, he steps up to do what is right by his remaining family after his father and brother are killed in what seemed to be an accident. With tensions rising in France, unforeseen danger lurks in his home country as he tries to unravel not only what happened to his father and brother, but his growing feelings for Lady Joanna. “Like an echo in the wind, love had come to him a second time and he was more than grateful it had”.

Once again, no one, in my humble opinion, writes this genre like Regan Walker. You are always pulled into her tales immediately. You can feel the bumps as the carriage passes over the cobblestone streets and smell the salty sea air as the ship sails to each destination. Walker’s world building is second to none as you are swept from one beautiful and intriguing location to another. And, as always, if you’re a fan of this genre, you will never go wrong with reading any of Ms. Walker’s stories. I always think that once I finish one of her books that it’s my favorite…..until I read the next. Well done, Regan Walker! Very, very, very well done!

Reading order and previous review
To Tame The Wind
Echo in the Wind
A Fierce Wind (2018)

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie M

excerpt


Bognor, West Sussex, England, April 1784

Except for the small waves rushing to shore, hissing as they raced over the shingles, Bognor’s coast was eerily bereft of sound. Lady Joanna West hated the disquiet she always experienced before a smuggling run. Tonight, the blood throbbed in her veins with the anxious pounding of her heart, for this time, she would be dealing with a total stranger.
Would he be fair, this new partner in free trade? Or might he be a feared revenue agent in disguise, ready to cinch a hangman’s noose around her slender neck?
The answer lay just offshore, silhouetted against a cobalt blue sky streaked with gold from the setting sun: a black-sided ship, her sails lifted like a lady gathering up her skirts, poised to flee, waited for a signal.
Crouched behind a rock with her younger brother, Joanna hesitated, studying the ship. Eight gun ports marched across the side of the brig, making her wonder at the battles the captain anticipated that he should carry sixteen guns.
She and her men were unarmed. They would be helpless should he decide to cheat them, his barrels full of water instead of brandy, his tea no more than dried weeds.
It had been tried before.
“You are certain Zack speaks for this captain?” she asked Freddie whose dark auburn curls beneath his slouched hat made his boyish face appear younger than his seventeen years. But to one who knew him well, the set of his jaw hinted at the man he would one day become.
“I’ll fetch him,” Freddie said in a hushed tone, “and you can ask him yourself.” He disappeared into the shadows where her men waited beneath the trees.
Zack appeared, squatting beside her, a giant of a man with a scar on the left side of his face from the war. Like the mastiffs that guarded the grounds of her family’s estate, he was big and ugly, fierce with enemies, but gentle with those he was charged to protect.
“Young Frederick here says ye want to know about this ship, m’lady.” At her nod, Zack gazed toward the brig. “He used to come here regular with nary a con nor a cheat. He’s been gone awhile now. I heard he might have worked up some other business—royal business.” He rolled his massive shoulders in a shrug. “In my experience, a tiger don’t change his stripes. He’s a Frog, aye, but I trust the Frenchie’s one of us, a free trader still.”
She took in a deep breath of the salted air blowing onshore and let it out. “Good.” Zack’s assurance had been some comfort but not enough to end her concerns. What royal business? For tonight, she need not know. “Give the signal,” she directed her brother, “but I intend to see for myself if the cargo is what we ordered.”
Without seeking the position, Joanna had become the smugglers’ master of the beach, responsible for getting the cargo ashore and away to inland routes and London markets with no revenue man the wiser. She took seriously her role to assure the villagers got what they paid for. Their survival depended upon it.

Copyright © 2017 Regan Walker


 

About the author

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.

Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)
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King’s Knight (Medieval Warriors #4) by Regan Walker-a review

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King’s Knight (Medieval Warriors #4) by Regan Walker-a review

King's Knight

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 11, 2016

HE SEIZED LIFE BY THE THROAT

Dubbed the Black Wolf for his raven hair, his fierceness in battle and his way with women, Sir Alexander of Talisand attacked life as he did the king’s enemies. But acclaim on the battlefield and his lusty escapades did not satisfy. King William Rufus would bind him to Normandy through marriage to one of its noblewomen, but the only woman Alexander wanted was a commoner he had saved from a terrible fate.

SHE KEPT MEN AT BAY WITH HER BOW

The shame of being the child of a Norman’s rape dogged Merewyn’s steps from her youth. Determined never to be a victim of a man’s lust like her mother, in Wales she donned the garb of an archer and developed extraordinary skill with a bow. Despite her fair beauty, men now keep their distance. No longer in need of protection from other men, can Merewyn protect herself from Alexander when he holds her heart yet can never be hers?

••••••••••••••

REVIEW:  King’s Knight is a wonderful addition in Regan Walker’s Medieval Warrior series. Once again, the world that Ms. Walker continues to build in this series is superb, as is her storytelling .

Merewyn is a character that you will immediately feel a kinship with. She took the shame she felt as a child and turned it into something beautiful: pride and determination. Fiercely protective and loyal to those she loves, Merewyn will, more than once, prove that her determination knows no bounds. Alex is just as loyal and fierce and protective, which he proved as a child when he and Merewyn were children. However, it is defiance in later years that will endear him to all who read this story. It is truly a fairytale come true for them both. The historical aspects of this story, more than any other in this series, leapt from the page. Let me just say, THAT is saying something. I’ve said before that one of the earmarks of a great author, at least for me, is being able to actually see the scene in your mind. Regan Walker is unparalleled in accomplishing that fact.

It was so great to see this series move forward several years and see the original characters from previous books happy and healthy and their children taking lead roles in securing their own futures. Regan Walker has once again written a sweeping tale that pulls you in at the very beginning and doesn’t let you go. Along with a wonderfully developed romance, there is political intrigue, along with a cast of supporting characters begging for their story to be told. This is true medieval romance at its finest. Well done, Regan Walker! Very, very well done!

Reading Order and Previous reviews
The Red Wolfe’s Prize
Rogue Knight
Rebel Warrior
King’s Knight

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie M

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