Rebel Warrior (Medieval Warriors #3) by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

Rebel Warrior (Medieval Warriors #3) by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

Rebel Warrior

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /Amazon.uk

About the book: Release Date May 17, 2016

When your destiny lies far from where you began …

Scotland 1072

The Norman Conqueror robbed Steinar of Talisand of his noble father and his lands, forcing him to flee to Scotland while still recovering from a devastating wound. At the royal court, Steinar becomes scribe to the unlettered King of Scots while secretly regaining his skill with a sword.

The first time Steinar glimpses the flame-haired maiden, Catrìona of the Vale of Leven, he is drawn to her spirited beauty. She does not fit among the ladies who serve the devout queen. Not pious, not obedient and not given to stitchery, the firebrand flies a falcon! Though Catrìona captures Steinar’s attention, he is only a scribe and she is promised to another.

Catrìona has come to Malcolm’s court wounded in spirit from the vicious attack on her home by Northmen who slayed her parents and her people. But that is not all she will suffer. The man she thought to wed will soon betray her.

When all is lost, what hope is there for love? Can a broken heart be mended? Can a damaged soul be healed?

Review:

Rebel Warrior begins with Catriona’s home being attacked and her beloved parents being murdered as she and Angus, her trusted guard, make their way home from a day of flying her falcon. Those whom the attackers didn’t kill, they took as prisoners. Thankfully, her brother was away as well and was spared. They were taken in by their uncle until the time came for Catriona and her cousin, Fia, to become ladies of the Queen’s court. Catriona was not very enthusiastic when it came to her duties at court, but soon fell into a routine and discovered that Queen Margaret is more than she first thought.

Steinar had become a valuable member of the King of Scots’ inner circle. He relished his duties, but practiced daily trying to regain his warrior’s body and strength from a wound that could have very well killed him. Once he sees Catriona, he is immediately drawn to her and is determined to get to know her. He soon discovers that she is betrothed to another, but can’t help his feelings for her.

Catriona can’t help but notice Steinar and is drawn to him as well. She steadfastly stays the course her father had laid out before her though. However, once she was betrayed by the one she was to marry, she immerses herself into a project helping Queen Margaret.

However, when King Malcolm decides to meet war head on, he and his men head out, leaving Queen Margaret and her court worried and anxious. It just so happens that Catriona is not the only one smitten with one of their King’s guards, so they do the only thing they know to do. Pray. What transpires will leaving you turning the pages and holding your breath at the same time.

Regan Walker has once again written a story like no other. Rebel Warrior is, without a doubt, one of the most well written stories I’ve ever read, by any author. The storytelling, as well as the world building, is phenomenal. I know I repeat myself when I review one of her books, but the weaving of actual historical events in with the story she tells is awe inspiring. As Walker starts to weave her tale, you will swear you can hear the clamor, whether in the dining hall, or in the courtyard. Catriona is a wonderfully strong and determined young woman. Even after witnessing the destruction of her own home, she stays true to the path that her beloved father had set in motion. Steiner is wonderful in his own right. Strong, intelligent and deeply loyal, he is the perfect match for Catriona. However, it is Catriona’s beautiful friendship that develops with Queen Margaret, that is truly life changing. Margaret not only gives Catriona a sense of purpose, but helps restore her faith. A faith that she had been struggling with ever since she was forced from her home. The secondary characters are well written as well, and I hope to read more about them in the next installment. Rebel Warrior is truly one of the most heartfelt and inspirational things I’ve read in years. The romance that develops between the two main characters is very touching, but it is Catriona’s renewed faith that will have you cheering and shedding a few tears. If you’ve not ready anything by Regan Walker, I will tell you once again…..it is truly your loss. Very well done Regan Walker! Very, very, very well done.

Series Reading Order and Vickie’s Previous Reviews
The Red Wolf’s Prize
Rogue Knight
Rebel Warrior

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Vickie M

Guest post

Reflecting Characters’ Faith Without Making the Romance Inspirational
by Regan Walker

It seems to me that historical romance authors who strive to accurately portray the era in which they set their stories should consider the element of faith, both in the culture of the time and their characters’ lives. I write mainline Georgian, Regency and Medieval novels and, in each case, I have found the historical setting often requires me to add this aspect to my characters. Not to do so would be to give the reader an inaccurate picture of the times in which my characters live.

For example, in my newest novel, Rebel Warrior, the hero and heroine meet in the court of King Malcolm Canmore in 11th century Scotland. The heroine, who has just suffered a devastating loss, becomes a lady in waiting to the devout Queen Margaret. I could hardly present Margaret any other way since she was a real historic figure about whom we know much. And her ladies in waiting would be expected to join her in prayer and good deeds, yet how would a heroine who doubted God’s love serve such a queen? To include this element does not mean the story is not full of action, sexual tension and romance, or that there isn’t a love scene, which there is.

Queen Margaret feeds the orphans

In my Regency romances, you might encounter the heroine going to church with her friends, especially on Christmas, as in The Holly and the Thistle or The Twelfth Night Wager. It was just something they did in the Regency era as a matter of course. The Church of England was very important to their lives.

Jane Austen wrote about the world of the Anglican clergy, which she knew well, her father being the Reverend George Austen. Often, she featured clerics as characters, sometimes favorably (Edmund in Mansfield Park) and sometimes unfavorably (Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice).

Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park

In the medieval era, one daughter or son in a family might be expected to serve the church, which made it terribly inconvenient should that character fall in love.

In Georgian England, it was the Protestant Church of England vs. the Catholics and sometimes a story must reflect it. In my novel To Tame the Wind, which begins in France with a Catholic heroine and ends with her being married to a Protestant Englishman by the Anglican Bishop of London, I could hardly fail to deal with the difficulties their love produced, especially when England was making it near impossible for Catholics to own land, retain a title or even marry. And if you were Irish, as my hero in The Shamrock & The Rose, you had even more issues!

To reflect the characters’ faith is not to make the novels inspirational, that is to say, novels with a decided Christian message. Rather, it is merely presenting the culture in which my characters live and love. And I think the stories are richer for it.

About the author

Regan WalkerRegan Walker is a #1 bestselling, multi-published author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval romance. She has been a featured author on USA TODAY’s HEA blog three times and twice nominated for the prestigious RONE award (her novel, The Red Wolf’s Prize is a finalist for 2015). Regan Walker writes historically authentic novels with real history and real historic figures. She wants her readers to experience history, adventure and love.

Her work as a lawyer in private practice and then serving at high levels of government have given her 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.”

Regan lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, who she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.

Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)
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Rogue Knight (Medieval Warriors #2) by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

Rogue Knight (Medieval Warriors #2) by Regan Walker-Review and Guest Post

Rogue Knight

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 7, 2015

York, England 1069… three years after the Norman Conquest

The North of England seethes with discontent under the heavy hand of William the Conqueror, who unleashes his fury on the rebels who dare to defy him. Amid the ensuing devastation, love blooms in the heart of a gallant Norman knight for a Yorkshire widow.

A LOVE NEITHER CAN DENY, A PASSION NEITHER CAN RESIST

Angry at the cruelty she has witnessed at the Normans’ hands, Emma of York is torn between her loyalty to her noble Danish father, a leader of the rebels, and her growing passion for an honorable French knight.

Loyal to King William, Sir Geoffroi de Tournai has no idea Emma hides a secret that could mean death for him and his fellow knights.

WAR DREW THEM TOGETHER, WAR WOULD TEAR THEM APART

War erupts, tearing asunder the tentative love growing between them, leaving each the enemy of the other. Will Sir Geoffroi, convinced Emma has betrayed him, defy his king to save her?

•••••••••••

REVIEW:

Rogue Knight begins with Emma of York hurrying home, only to discover some heavy-handed Norman Knights trying to take that which isn’t theirs, which has become all too commonplace in her beloved York. Crisis averted, this time, Emma makes her way home. She has family to see to. She has taken in twins, Finna and Ottar, whose parents were killed. She also has servants, Artur and Sigga who help her take care of the children and her home.

Sir Geoffroi is in the practice yard in Talisand when the king’s messenger rides in to see the Red Wolf. He can feel it’s not good news. When Geoffroi makes his way to the great hall, he is eventually able to see the Red Wolf, who is still recovering from an injury and not able to be up and around. King William has requested the Red Wolf and his knights head to York to try and quell any uprisings. However, since the Red Wolf is not able to go, he sends Sir Geoffroi in his stead along with his knights. As Geoffroi heads out, the words of the wise one and seer, Maugris, echo in his head. The wise one’s visions have never been wrong………

When Sir Geoffroi and his knights finally arrive in York, it doesn’t take him long to ascertain that things are not good. The people of York are angry and he fears things will only get worse. He spots a lovely woman and her hound headed into the bailey, and even though she scowls, he finds himself intrigued.

Later, as Emma dreams of death and destruction, she is awakened by yelling and discovers that the men from York are leading an uprising. When she discovers Ottar missing, she knows that he has sneaked out to be with the men leading the uprising. She also knows she has to find him and see him safe. Little did she know that decision would change the rest of her life. She had come to think that all of the Normans were barbarians, until she encounters Sir Geoffroi on her quest to find Ottar. When she does find him, Geoffroi, who recognizes her from the bailey, aids them and gets them safely back to their home. Almost unbelievably, Geoffroi comes to her aid several times throughout the havoc that has become York. With her father being one of the rebel leaders, can she trust Geoffroi with her secret? And, what of her heart? As war wages and secrets are revealed, can they find their way back to each other, even though Geoffroi would have to defy his king to do so? Well, my friends, you will just have to read it to find out. And what a wonderful read it is.

Regan Walker has once again written a wonderful story that pulls you in from the very beginning. I truly am almost at a loss for words. I feel that I repeat myself when I review one of her novels, but I just can’t help myself. The way she effortlessly weaves actual historical events and characters into her tales are inspiring. Emma of York is one of the most brave, compassionate and determined heroines that I’ve read in a very long time. The love she feels for her family, whether they are blood related or ones that she has taken into her home, leaps off of the page. Then, there is Sir Geoffroi. His internal struggles are many, and you feel every one of them. His sense of honor and loyalty is something everyone should aspire to. And, once again, Regan Walker’s world building is phenomenal. Whether we are in a field of wildflowers, trudging through the snow, witnessing a great battle or sitting by the hearth in Emma’s home, you absolutely feel like you are there. I can see it, I can smell it, I can hear it and I most definitely can feel it. The intrigue will pull you in and the beautifully developed romance will make your heart smile, but the depth with which she writes her characters will keep you coming back for more. If you’ve not read anything by Regan Walker, it is truly your loss. Well done, Regan Walker! Very, very, very well done!!

Review by Vickie M.

Copy supplied by the author

excerpt

Dear God.
She crossed herself and covered her mouth, fighting the urge to spew at the sight of so much blood and so many bodies strewn about the clearing, blood congealed on their clothing, their vacant eyes staring into space. Some of the blood had pooled on the ground to catch the rays of the sun. The metallic scent of it, carried by the wind, rose in her nostrils.

At her side, the hound whimpered.

So many.

Until the Normans had come, Yorkshire had been a place of gentle hills, forests and thatched cottages circling a glistening jewel of a city set between two winding rivers. A place of children’s voices at play, some of those voices now silenced forever, for among the bodies lying on the cold ground were mere boys, their corpses cast aside like broken playthings.

At the sound of heavy footfalls on the snow-crusted ground, she jerked her head around, her heart pounding in her chest.

A figure emerged from the trees, so close she could have touched him.

She cringed. A Norman.

A tall giant of a knight, his blood-splattered mail a dull gray in the weak winter sun, ripped off his silvered helm and expelled an oath as he surveyed the dozens of dead. The sword in his hand still dripped the blood of those he had slain. He was no youth this one, at least thirty. His fair appearance made her think of Lucifer, the fallen angel of light. A seasoned warrior of death who has taken many lives.
Had he killed people she knew? Her heart raced as fear rose in her chest.

Would she be next?

 

Guest postWhat’s in a name? Picking Character Names
by Regan Walker

Choosing my characters’ names is always a huge project. I do not choose names on a whim. I want the names to fit the characters and the story. For for my Medieval Warriors series, the names had to be right for the time period (11th century) and the setting (medieval York, England). They had to compliment the personality of the characters, too. Because there are Norman (French), English, Anglo-Scandinavian, Danish and Scottish characters, the names had to be historically accurate. Some of my characters were real figures.

Emma and Sir Geoffroi f

The French knights in both The Red Wolf’s Prize and my newest story, Rogue Knight, are all named for knights who actually accompanied William the Conqueror to England from Normandy in l066. (Yes, there is a list!) Geoffroi de Tournai, the hero in Rogue Knight, was one of them.

The Normans introduced the name “Geoffroi” to England where it became common among the nobility. It means “Peace of God.” I rather think it fits a knight who was so noble he rebelled against his king’s orders to do what was right.

The setting for my story is Yorkshire, which was Anglo-Scandinavian in culture at the time. Almost every street in the city of York had the Old Norse suffix “gata” meaning “street” and most of the personal names would have been Scandinavian, too. Hence I gave the characters from York, including my heroine, Scandinavian names, not Norman or Saxon names.

I chose to name the heroine “Emma” after Emma of Normandy, Queen Consort of England, Denmark, and Norway earlier in the century. She was also the mother of Edward the Confessor. Until 1043, Queen Emma was the richest woman in England with extensive lands in the East Midlands and Wessex. She died in 1052, a respected woman. My heroine was born in 1046 while the Queen Mother still lived.

Queen Emma and her sons being received by Duke Richard II of Normandy

Other characters in my story who populate York also have Scandinavian names: Magnus, Emma’s huge Irish wolfhound, named after a Norwegian king; Inga, Emma’s friend; and Ottar and Finna, the two nine-year-old twins Emma adopts when they are orphaned. You can see them all on my Pinterest board for the book: 

1-Magnus

Emma’s father Maerleswein is a real historic figure, a rich Danish thegn who was Sheriff of Lincolnshire until he joined the rebellion against William I in 1068. I thought long and hard before using him as a main character, but he was such an enigmatic figure with little known of his family (no record of a wife or children, yet he had to have had them), it seemed like it could work. I held true to everything we do know about him.

As in all my stories, there are real historic figures joining the fictional characters. Those I don’t have to name, but I do have to learn as much about them as I can so portray them as they truly might have been. In Rogue Knight, you’ll find not only William, King of England, but King Swein of Denmark, King Malcolm of Scotland and various Normans: William Malet de Graville, Sheriff of Yorkshire, Richard FitzRichard, the castellan of York, Gilbert de Ghent, castellan of the second castle in York, William FitzOsbern, the Earl of Hereford and Robert, Count of Mortain, half-brother to King William. All lived at the time and were, I believe, as I have portrayed them.

When I’m dealing with so many characters, I always include a character list to help readers, though they tell me they don’t have any trouble keeping track. (That’s always good news!)

~~Regan~~

About the author

Regan WalkerRegan Walker is a #1 bestselling, multi-published author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval romance. She has been a featured author on USA TODAY’s HEA blog three times and twice nominated for the prestigious RONE award (her novel, The Red Wolf’s Prize is a finalist for 2015). Regan Walker writes historically authentic novels with real history and real historic figures. She wants her readers to experience history, adventure and love.

Her work as a lawyer in private practice and then serving at high levels of government have given her 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.”

Regan lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, who she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.

Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)
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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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The Red Wolf’s Prize by Regan Walker-Review and Excerpt

The Red Wolf’s Prize by Regan Walker-Review and Excerpt

The Red Wolf's Prize

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

About the book: Release Date October 1, 2014

Sir Renaud de Pierrepont, the Norman knight known as the Red Wolf for the beast he slayed with his bare hands, hoped to gain lands with his sword. A year after the Conquest, King William rewards his favored knight with Talisand, the lands of an English thegn slain at Hastings, and orders him to wed the heiress that goes with them, Lady Serena.

SHE WOULD LOVE HIM AGAINST HER WILL

Serena wants nothing to do with the fierce warrior to whom she has been unwillingly given, the knight who may have killed her father. When she learns the Red Wolf is coming to claim her, she dyes her flaxen hair brown and flees, disguised as a servant, determined to one day regain her lands. But her escape goes awry and she is brought back to live among her people, though not unnoticed by the new Norman lord.

Deprived of his promised bride, the Red Wolf turns his attention to the comely servant girl hoping to woo her to his bed. But the wench resists, claiming she hates all Normans.

As the passion between them rises, Serena wonders, can she deny the Norman her body? Or her heart?

•••••••••••••••••••

Review: The Red Wolf’s Prize begins with Lady Serena of Talisand pondering her future. She has received word that King William decreed she is to wed the new Norman Lord of Talisand, who should be arriving any day. But, she knows that she could never love a Norman who battled his way across England and helped his king conquer her and her people. She knows her brother is to the north, in Scotland, and is determined to leave Talisand in order to reunite with him. Although she will miss her people, she knows she must leave to escape her fate. She would have done well to know that fate is a fickled mess sometimes………..

Sir Renaud, and his knights are exhausted, having fought across England for what seemed like forever. Once they are given their leave by King William, they head to Talisand and are pleased with the sight before them. Even though the people seem nervous, they are welcoming to Renaud, now Lord Talisand, and his fellow Normans. It doesn’t take Renaud long to realize that his promised bride, the beautiful Lady Serena, is not in Talisand and sends a contingent of his men to search for her. Good news? They find a small group of men and women and bring them back. The bad news? Lady Serena is nowhere to be found. However, there is a very attractive servant girl, Sarah, who catches the Lord’s attention and when he tries to woo her, things don’t go quite as he’d have liked them to.

As Lord Talisand becomes more comfortable with his new people, and they with him, he starts noticing that some of his men and some of the women of Talisand are growing more comfortable with each other as well. But when one of the local women is attacked by one of his men, only to be saved by Sarah, he knows that he is at a crossroads with his people and his next steps will either earn their trust or it will earn their ire. He has also noticed that Sarah is most fierce in her protection of all of the people of Talisand. How could he not be the same for his people and his new home? The one thing that would make it all better? His promised bride, Lady Serena at his side. But could she ever come to love him, or would she forever see him as a conqueror of her people and her land? 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 story that grabs hold and doesn’t let go. 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 are terrific in their own right. I truly can’t wait to read more about them.

The Red Wolf is another wonderfully written story by Regan Walker. If you have read my reviews of her previous books, you know that I have raved about her character building and her masterful world building, and this one is no exception. The way she weaves actual historical events into her stories is unparalleled. There is intrigue, action and a beautifully developed romance. As you read her stories, you can see it and you can most definitely feel it. The Red Wolf is ultimately a story of coming to terms with what is and what can be, and letting go of what was. This is Regan’s first foray into the Medieval genre, but from what I’ve read, thankfully, it won’t be the last. Very well done Regan Walker, very very well done.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Vickie M

 Click here for :  The Red Wolf’s Prize trailer

excerpt

 

 

Red Wolf Excerpt: the Red Wolf meets Serena, disguised as the servant, Sarah
Renaud lingered at the high table in the hall until he glimpsed the servant girl with the brown plait carry a pile of linen through the entry heading toward the stairs to the bedchambers. Slowly rising, he nodded to Geoff and followed after her.
Quietly, he stepped through the open door of his chamber. The girl had her back to him as she freshened the bed, the stack of clean linen resting on a nearby chest. He did not acknowledge her but went directly to the trestle table, poured a goblet of wine and sat, pretending to examine a drawing of the lands surrounding the manor.
She turned. “I can come back later, my lord.” She spoke meekly, barely looking at him as she hurriedly finished with the bed and began a hasty retreat to the door.
He replied in the English tongue, as he did to all save his men. “Nay, you may stay. Your work will not disturb me.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her back stiffen. Slowly, she retraced her steps and resumed her work. Her movements were rushed as if she were trying to complete her assigned tasks in haste. Was she nervous at being alone with him? Even with that, Renaud thought she was graceful as she walked to the shelves near where he sat. She held her head high, unusual for a servant in the presence of her lord. Though her long plait was the dull color of country earth, her profile was refined and her features delicate. He rose and silently moved to stand behind her where she dusted a carved box.
She must have sensed his approach.
“My lord?” she said, turning to face him.
Blue-violet eyes held his gaze only a moment before looking down at the floor. Set in her ivory face they reminded him of violets in the snow. So mesmerized was he that, for a moment, he forgot his question.
“Your name is Sarah?”
Keeping her eyes focused on the floor, she said, “Yea, my lord.”
“How long have you been at Talisand?”
“All my life, my lord.” Her voice was soft, a low purr, and with her words a flowery scent drifted to his nose. He was captivated and wanted to touch her. How long had it been since he’d had a woman? And this one was causing his manhood to stir.
Turing back to the shelf, she resumed dusting the carved box, as if to put an end to the conversation. His gaze shifted to her hand as she set down the box. Delicate fingers and ivory skin. It was not the hand of a kitchen wench.
“Let me see your hand.” She started at his request, and though he could see she wanted to resist, she did not fight him when he reached for her hand and brought it close to his body turning her palm upward.
It told him much.
“These blisters are new. You have not always worked in the kitchens nor done the wet work of the laundry, have you?”
She shook her head in silent agreement.
“What were your tasks before I came to Talisand?”
Looking down at her feet, she said, “I was with the Lady Serena, my lord.”
“Ah, a lady’s handmaiden then.” So that is where the girl learned to speak so well, for her speech was not that of an ordinary servant nor her manner that of a scullery maid.
He waited for her to say more but when she did not, he said, “Tell me about her.”
She looked up. “What would you know, my lord?” Blue violet eyes held his. He could get lost in those eyes.
“How does she look?”
“She is tall and her hair is the color of summer wheat, my lord.”
“And her character?”
Turning her gaze again to the floor, she hesitated before speaking. “She loves her people and her family, my lord. She is very loyal. Had she been a man, she would have fought with her father at Hastings. Most of all, she loves Talisand and would die for its people.”
Her voice, nearly breaking at the end, told him her words were spoken with deep emotion. She was close to the Lady of Talisand and to the old thegn.
“I’m told her brother took the lord’s place for a time,” he said, hoping she would continue to talk.
She raised her eyes to his. “Yea, Steinar did lead Talisand for a time, but then he was drawn away by other battles.” When she spoke the young man’s name, a tender look came into her eyes. Did she love the old lord’s son? Mayhap she was his leman. The possibility was not to his liking.
Still holding her hand, he looked down at her palm seeing other signs. “These are the calluses of an archer. How is it a lady’s handmaiden comes to use a bow?”
The girl’s eyes shifted to her hand where Renaud had begun moving his thumb across her palm in slow sensual circles. He was not unaffected and, he suspected, neither was she.
“Rhodri taught me, my…my lord.” She spoke in a halting whisper, confirming his touch was disrupting her thoughts. Then she added hastily, “I was not the only one. It was the old lord’s desire that Rhodri should teach all at Talisand who cared to learn.”
Renaud remembered that when the young servant women had been returned to the demesne, Sir Niel had taken several bows from them.
He stopped stroking her palm. She tried to pull back her hand but he had no intention of releasing her. “Who is this Rhodri?”
“He is a Welsh bard, my lord, who is also skilled with a bow. The thegn met him on his travels and invited him here. He lived among us for several years.”
“Where is the Welshman now?”
“I know not, my lord. Peradventure he is in Wales, though his music and his skill with a bow are much in demand. He may yet be in England.”
“A bard and a bowman…an unusual combination.” Renaud frowned in concentration as he considered the idea.
“Not for a Welshman,” she said, matter-of-factly.
Renaud smiled, amused. She was so serious, so insistent, this servant who acted like no servant he’d ever known. “Aye, mayhap you are right. Many Welshmen would have both talents.”
He let go of her hand, but remained close. He knew now what had attracted his men for he, too, was falling under her spell. She was beautiful and well spoken and something about her enticed him. If she had been the leman of this brother of Lady Serena’s or the bard Rhodri, it was possible she was not a maiden and would accept an invitation to come to his bed.

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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Wind Raven (Agents of the Crown 3) by Regan Walker-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Wind Raven (Agents of the Crown 3) by Regan Walker-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

 

Wind Raven
Agents of the Crown #3
by Regan Walker
Release Date: March 2014

Wind Raven

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release March 2014

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.

•••••••••••••••••

Wind Raven begins in the West Indies, where Captain Powell has gone into a tavern to meet up with an associate and to have a drink. He overhears a conversation by some rambunctious Americans about a woman serving as a crewmember aboard their ship! “What kind of woman would crew with men?”. Be careful of your thoughts Captain………….be very careful.

Tara McConnell has spent the last year in London with her aunt, who is a member of the ton. Tara’s father had sent her to live with her aunt and to become a lady. And, even though her Season was a success, Tara longed for home. She also longed to see her father and her brothers again. Even though she was grateful for her aunt’s guidance through her first Season, she just could not see herself marrying an Englishman. She’d lost one of her brothers in the war with Britain and she was convinced that they were all a selfish lot and she almost felt traitorous even attempting to enjoy their company. But, when word reaches them that her father has fallen ill, it becomes a race against time to get Tara home to Baltimore.

Her aunt insists that there is only one ship that she would feel safe sending Tara home on: The Wind Raven, captained by Nick Powell. Seems Tara’s aunt was a friend of Nick’s mother and she knew that Tara would be well taken care of. Unfortunately, neither Tara nor her aunt knew that Nick had an assignment to take care of for the Prince Regent. Not only were they not sailing directly to Baltimore, they were to see if they could ferret any information on a pirate, one Roberto Confresi, via the Caribbean. When Tara makes it to the ship and requests passage and presents her aunt’s missive, Nick knows that there is no way that he can say no, just as he knows that he can’t tell Tara of their mission for the Prince Regent. But, really, how much trouble can one woman with a full crew be? Well, if that one woman is Tara McConnell, be careful what you ask for…………………

Regan Walker has once again written a story that grabbed me from the beginning and did not let go. You will absolutely fall in love with Tara McConnell. She is fearless, loyal and, oh yeah, an awesome crew member! And, once she and Nick are drawn to each other, the chemistry is off the charts. He is my absolute favorite hero that Regan has written to date. And, that is saying A LOT. I’ve said of her stories before that she beautifully entwines fiction with history, but I don’t think until now that I’ve given her enough credit for her world building. You can absolutely hear the roar of the ocean waves and smell the sea as you read this book. Her descriptions are spot on without being over the top. That, in my humble opinion, is another characteristic of a great author. This book will have you on the edge of your seat at times, and tearing up at others. Wind Raven is ultimately a story about letting go of one’s past to see just how bright your future can be. And letting go of the preconceived constraints might not be so bad either……………..

Wind Raven is a wonderfully written story with a lot of action, a smidge of mystery and a whole lot of romance. This is, without a doubt, my favorite in this series. And, I have to confess that I’ve been a bit of a schooner fanatic for most of my life. I’ve actually sailed on one several times and words can’t express what an adventure it is. So, for Wind Raven to be set on a beautiful schooner? I was so on board……………….(pun intended!). Once again, if you’re a fan of Regency Romance, Regan Walker is the one for you. Well done, Regan Walker, very very well done!!

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Vickie M

 

Guest Post beige

History as a Character:
Research & Writing Historical Romance
By Regan Walker

For me, research and writing historical romance must include real history, as it’s a character in each of my books. What do I mean by that? Well, the historical setting is not just “background.” Rather, I am constantly weaving in historical events, attitudes and real historical figures into my romances. I don’t just refer to the food and dress either, though those can certainly require much research at times, but also what was actually going on in the time period that was of great import and who was involved.

Typically, I begin with an idea, a scene or a character. For my novel, Wind Raven, it was the sea captain, Jean Nicholas Powell, an arrogant Englishman who gave up on love (and virgins in particular) some years ago. Now he loves only his ship, his crew and his life at sea. For this man, I needed a worthy heroine, a woman he would come to respect who would defy convention and give him a major run for his money.

Enter the American patriot, Tara McConnell from the shipbuilding family of privateers who made the Boston Clipper ships that helped America run the British blockades in the War of 1812. Tara, who grew up on her father’s ships, disdains the English even though the war has been over for a few years. Yet she was forced by her father to spend a year in London with her aunt, a dowager baroness, and to have a Season. I had a real, historic model for Tara in Anne Chamberlyne, a scholar’s daughter and member of the gentry who, declining offers of marriage in 1690, at the age of twenty-three, donned a man’s clothing and joined her brother’s ship to fight the French off Beachy Head. Tara was just such a woman.

Once Tara becomes a passenger on Nick’s ship, the sparks start to fly. She wants to act a member of his crew and he wants her far from the action. It was important to me that I get all the ship scenes correct and use all the right terminology, particularly since both Tara and Nick well understood the workings of a schooner. I read my 4-inch thick Sailor’s Word Book and studied drawings of schooners of the period until I was seeing them in my dreams. I also took a ride on a schooner of the period to get a feel for the movement of the ship—and in doing so, found a friend and my consultant in the person of the ship’s gunner. We became fast friends and exchanged dozens of emails on technical subjects.

Schooner

The research that went into this book took over a year and included not just schooners and the War of 1812, but what was happening on Bermuda (where Nick makes a stop), how a schooner would weather a major storm at sea, and, most importantly, the life of the real pirate Roberto Cofresi. A tall, blond giant of a man from Puerto Rico, Cofresi preyed on all merchant ships not flying the flag of Royal Spain. And he had reason to do so, as you’ll see in my story.

About The Author beige

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)

Giveaway beige

Regan is offering an ebook copy of RACING WITH THE WIND (Agents of the Crown #1) or an ebook copy of THE TWELFTH NIGHT WAGER -winner’s choice.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. The giveaway is open where ever Amazon is available.

6. The giveaway runs from April 16  to April 20, 2014

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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?

Share

The Twelfth Night Wager by Regan Walker-Review and Interview with the Author

The Twelfth Night Wager by Regan Walker – Review and Interview with the Author

The Twelfth Night Wager

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

About the book: Release Date November 4, 2013

THE REDHEADED RAKE
It was a dull day at White’s, the day he agreed to the wager: seduce bed and walk away from the lovely Lady Leisterfield, all by Twelfth Night. This holiday season, Christopher St. Ives, Viscount Eustace, planned to give himself a gift.

THE INNOCENT WIDOW
She was too proper by half—or so was the accusation of her friends, which was why her father had to find her a husband. But Lord Leisterfield was now gone a year, and Grace was at last shedding the drab colors of mourning. The house felt empty, more so during the coming Christmastide, and so tonight her coming out would begin with a scandalous piece of theater. The play would attract rogues, or so promised her friend the dowager countess. It would indeed. The night would bring about the greatest danger—and the greatest happiness—that Grace had ever known.

Review:

The Twelfth Night Wager begins with Hugh Redgrave and Christopher St. Ives at White’s discussing Hugh’s “praise for his wedded state” and, in Hugh’s words, Christopher’s “tawdry existence” as a rake. Christopher is a little taken aback at Hugh’s description of his lifestyle and thinks there is nothing wrong with the way he chooses to live his life when it comes to women. So, Hugh entices Christopher with a little wager to test his methods of handling said women. The wager? He must seduce, bed and walk away from the beautiful Lady Grace Leisterfield by the twelfth night. Any other outcome will see Hugh as the winner. Christopher always did like a good wager……..

Grace is coming out of her mourning period. Her elder husband died suddenly a year ago and now is the time to put away the mourning wardrobe and step out into the ton. And who better to aid her than Mary, Hugh’s wife, and the dowager countess. They have several events planned and Grace looks forward to attending them all. And, of course, Christopher will be attending as well. Once Grace and Christopher are introduced, the attraction begins. The one problem? All of the single ladies of the ton are hoping they are the one to whom Christopher and Hugh have laid their wager on. So, in order to not set tongues wagging, and to keep Grace’s identity unknown, Christopher must spread his attention around. Another problem that he hadn’t counted on was his growing attraction to Grace. Maybe Hugh was onto something…………And, once Christopher realizes that someone is trying to blackmail Grace with some information about her dead husband, that if made public, would damage her reputation, as well as her stepson’s, he vows to help her no matter the cost and leave behind his rakish ways.

Regan Walker has once again written a beautiful story filled with a little mystery, a little fun and A LOT of romance. She has, in a very short time, become my favorite author in this genre. You will swear you can see the streets of the cities from long ago that she writes about. There is no unnecessary dialogue and no filler. She does a phenomenal job of making the reader feel as if they actually know the characters and you actually care what happens to them. We also get peeks into characters’ lives from previous books to see how they are faring as well. And, here I thought the dowager countess was the only match maker in this series. Who knew that Hugh would set things in motion that would warm our hearts? I, for one, can’t wait for the next installment. Well done, Regan Walker, very well done.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

__________________________________

Interview beige

TRC: Hi Regan and welcome to The Reading Cafe. We would like to congratulate you on the success of 2013 and the recent holiday release of The Twelfth Night Wager.

Regan: Thanks! I’m so happy to be on The Reading Café. You have given my books some lovely reviews and I always appreciate your thoughtful comments!

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

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Website / Twitter/ Facebook /

Regan WalkerRegan: Sure. I grew up in California and had a career as a lawyer for many years that included several stints in government, which gave me a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. So, not surprisingly, my first novels, all set in the Regency era, involve a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects are his private talent pool. I love to weave history and real historic figures into my stories. It makes them more real to me. My first novel in the Agents of the Crown trilogy, RACING WITH THE WIND, was published by Boroughs Publishing Group in 2012, and my second, AGAINST THE WIND was published in March of this year. WIND RAVEN, the third in the trilogy, will be released in early 2014.

I am a member of the Beau Monde and San Diego chapters of Romance Writers of America and frequently can be found at the Romantic Times Convention.

TRC: Do you believe your travel experiences and law degree have helped with your storyline premises and historical accuracies?

Regan: Oh yes. Having experienced the countries I am writing about helps me have a visual feel for the places. And the idea of delving into the past for my research is not new to me. I love it. Digging for the facts is a part of who I am. I can’t write the scenes until I have the setting and the history lined up. Also, my undergraduate decree is in field biology and that has helped me numerous times with flora and fauna, even wild beasts.

TRC: What was the deciding factor pushing you into the world of romance writing?

Regan: A good friend’s advice (after hearing me talk about alternate endings for some of the novels I was reading). She told me I thought like a writer and she could see me as having published novels. (She actually had a dream in which she saw nine of them on her bookshelf!)

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

Regan: A bit of both. I let history lead me to the scene, but once I get a feel for my characters I know what they would say and do and they “speak” on the page.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Regan: Again, a bit of both. I usually have the beginning and sometimes the ending in my mind before I begin to write. The first scenes come easily, but the middle is all pantster and it’s my greatest challenge. I never liked to outline in school, so I suppose my somewhat carefree approach comes naturally. I like structure but only when it comes to me as I write the story.

TRC: Has their ever been one of your characters that you would have liked to have re-written, perhaps change up the personality or characteristics-good or bad?

Regan: Funny you should ask. I have always wanted to write a real bodice ripper with an alpha male who is a tortured hero and only softened by the heroine. It may be coming in TO TAME THE WIND (the prequel for my trilogy) in 2015. But it’s hard to write those bad boys when you prefer gentlemen in real life. Most of my heroes are alpha males with a bit of an edge. If I were to change anything, I’d make them more edgy. My heroines are strong enough.

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 writers fail in this endeavor?

Regan: I imagine how I would feel as that character experiencing what she/he is experiencing. If the tears would fall, then my character cries. If I would hold it tightly inside trying to deny her emotions, then so does my character. But always I am in the character’s head so even as I try and conceive of how I would react, it’s not me; it’s her (or him). Some emotions are more easily felt than others. Anger is one of those.

As to how some authors fail, I think they are acting too much the narrator, distanced from their characters. A writer cannot do that. Too, I think there is pressure in some quarters to make the beginning of a romance cute, giving it a “hook” for hook’s sake, if you will. You can recognize them because the rest of the story doesn’t match up. I’m an avid reader of historical romance and I know when I pick up a worthy tale that I have to settle in and wait for the story to evolve. It might grab me on the first page; it might not. You have to slowly build the characters like leaves of an onion to make me cry with them when the sad part comes. I must be invested.

TRC: Your stories tend to revolve around actual historical events. How much research goes into that process? How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Racing with the WindRegan: Hundreds of hours. To give you an example, I’m writing a medieval now, THE RED WOLF’S PRIZE, set in 1068 in England. The prologue is set five years earlier in the County of Maine (France today). It’s a wolf attack described in two and a half pages. I spent three days researching that one scene. I had to know if a lone wolf would attack a man and, if so, under what circumstances; whether they had wolves in France in the 11th century; if red wolves were found in the area; what kind of horse a knight would ride once off the battlefield (it’s not a destrier!); and what was the weather that winter (if I could find it). Oh, yes, and I had to know what William, Duke of Normandy was doing that year so I’d have his knights returning from the correct battle.

I can’t explain how history and my fictional story weave together but they do. I don’t let history dominate. Rather, it permeates in a subtle way. Sometimes I am led by the character who may be an historic figure. I want to portray him (or her) as best I can based on what we know of that person. In RACING WITH THE WIND, Germaine de Stael is a character. I spent days researching her and her books to get a feel for how she would speak and what she would say.

TRC: How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of deadlines?

Regan: My publisher is very reasonable on deadlines. We negotiate them. Still, if I know I have one coming up, I may pass on a friend’s invitation to write. And then there’s the fact that, as a lawyer, I am used to deadlines. I never missed one. Shows you how compulsive I am.

Against the WindTRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?

Regan: I appear more intimidating than I really am. My dearest friend tells me I’m a “mushball” inside. How pathetic is that?

TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?

Regan: Aside from God, it would be my dearest friend, who sadly, moved several states away and now we have to have our tea together via Skype.

TRC: If you could be a contestant on a reality television program, which program would you chose and why?

Regan: I never watch reality TV shows. I really do prefer to read. But if I was forced, it would be one set in a historical period like that one I heard about called the Regency House Party.

TRC: On what are you currently working? Planned for 2014?

Regan: My pirate Regency, WIND RAVEN, will be released in spring of 2014 and I’m very excited about it. I had such fun learning all about schooners of the period (even did a ride on one), and my historical pirate, of course, who was a real historic figure. But that one is in the can, so to speak. Right now, I am writing the medieval I mentioned earlier. It’s a bit of a detour for me. THE RED WOLF’S PRIZE is a William the Conqueror romance set two years after the Conquest. I was fascinated by the effect on Saxon England of all those Normans stomping over their country. And what would a Saxon maiden do who was given to a Norman knight? Read it and see!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Regan: I just want to say how much I appreciate the Reading Café and all my readers who stay in touch (and especially those who write reviews. One of my readers suggested a scene to me for WIND RAVEN—and I used it (for which she will receive the novel free!).

LIGHTNING ROUND:

Dog or Cat: Dog (I have a close personal relationship with a Golden Retriever, but I include cats in my stories for my readers who love them)

Roses or Tulips: Roses (I am such a romantic)

Iron Man or Thor: Iron Man (love his brains)

Winter or Summer: Summer (unless I’m in the desert)

Last Movie you Saw: If on the big screen, it would be The Hobbit

Pet Peeve: Having to wait when I have an appointment (I post my reader pet peeves on my blog!)

Secret Celebrity Crush: Gerard Butler (a Scot, of course, and he’s tall!)

TRC: Thank you so much Regan!!

Regan: Ah, you’re welcome. I enjoyed your questions!

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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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