Regan Walker Prize Package Giveaway

Regan Walker Prize Package Giveaway

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Today’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY prize package giveaway has been graciously donated by Regan Walker. Regan is donating ONE ecopy of her new release THE SHAMROCK AND THE ROSE.

Shamrock_COVER_smaller

Click HERE for the author’s website.

TO ENTER: Giveaway open to 18 years of age and over.

NOTE: Register at The Reading Cafe using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook etc, please post your email address with your comment, as Twitter etc does not account for email contact.

1. Giveaway is open to INTERNATIONAL

2. Please post a comment telling us to enter you in the giveaway.

3. Giveaway runs until February 28, 2013

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The Shamrock and the Rose by Regan Walker

The Shamrock and the Rose by Regan Walker

The Shamrock and the Rose

Description:

Set in London in 1818, it’s the story of Rose Collingwood, daughter of a baron, who wanted to play Portia in The Merchant of Venice. To accept the part at the Theatre-Royal at Haymarket, the very proper young lady assumes the disguise of Miss Lily Underwood, the actress. Who knew all of London would soon be at her feet sending her love notes? One such Valentine goes awry only to be found by the dashing Irish barrister, Morgan O’Connell. Though he would have seduced the actress, Morgan must court the lady. Given three choices much like Portia’s suitors, can she resist the handsome Irish rogue? And who is it who is following her. 

Review:
The Shamrock and the Rose by Regan Walker, begins with Morgan O’Connell attending a production of The Merchant of Venice, and he’s immediately drawn to the actress playing the part of Portia.  He seems to have grown tired of the women he’s been keeping company with while in London……….

Seems Miss Lily Underwood, the actress, is actually Rose Collingwood, and is fulfilling a dream of being an actress and getting out and seeing the world a bit.  However, no one can know that she is actually Lily Underwood, as actresses of the time were deemed somewhat lower in social circles.  She is bombarded with tokens of affection and love notes from prospective suitors.  While staying in London, she has been entrusted by her family into the keep of the dowager countess.

Morgan finds a note meant for Miss Underwood and takes it upon himself to find out where she is staying.  He approaches the countess’ home and once the countess meets Morgan, she immediately invites him to dinner so that he can deliver the note himself.  Once he meets Miss Underwood and discovers that she is actually Rose Collingwood, they are immediately drawn to each other.  However, the countess had invited a couple of other possible suitors to dinner as well……..  The countess ALWAYS has something up her sleeve, it seems.  And, with St. Valentine’s Day just around the corner, things could get a little steamy.

Rose has been receiving more and more notes from one person in particular, unsigned and the notes are becoming more desperate sounding.  Seems he will stop at nothing to have “Miss Underwood”.  Fortunately for Rose, Morgan has other ideas.

The Shamrock and the Rose is a wonderfully written story.  I love how Regan Walker weaves history into her storytelling.  With Morgan being Irish, we get to find out a little about the Catholic Emancipation goings on in Ireland and their desire to receive the benefits of being a part of Britain..  She always places real historical places into the story as well, so I always feel a little bit more educated after reading her stories.  This is a sweet, romantic short story and, oh, how I love getting to see other characters from previous books.  And, I think every circle needs a dowager countess playing cupid!  I literally can’t wait for her next novel, Against the Wind, set to release in March.  If you love Regency Romance, Regan Walker is definitely the author for you!!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Author

Regan has graciously offered a Giveaway to help celebrate The Reading Cafe’s Anniversary Celebration.  Check tonight’s Giveaway!

 

 

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Cover Reveals-February 1, 2013

Cover Reveals-February 1, 2013

Against the Wind

 

TITLE: Against The Wind

AUTHOR: Regan Walker

SERIES: Agents of the Crown

RELEASE DATE: March 2013

 

 

 

Magic Rises

 

TITLE: Magic Rises

AUTHOR:  Ilona Andrews

SERIES:  Kate Daniels

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

His Submissive

 

TITLE: His Submissive

AUTHOR: Lisa Renee Jones

SERIES: Rebecca’s Journals

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

 

 

My Master

 

TITLE:  My Master

AUTHOR:  Lisa Renee Jones

SERIES:  Rebecca’s Lost Journals

RELEASE DATE: May 2013

 

 

 

Forest of the Forsaken

 

TITLE: Forest of the Forsaken

AUTHOR: Joanne Brothwell

SERIES: Y/A

RELEASE DATE: 2013

 

 

 

The Space Between Apr 2013jpg

 

TITLE: The Space Between

AUTHOR: Victoria H. Smith

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

 

 

crossing the Line april 13

 

TITLE: Crossing The Line

AUTHOR:  Katie McGarry

SERIES: Pushing the Limits (1.5)

RELEASE DATE:  Apri 2013

 

 

 

Midnight's Kiss

 

 

TITLE:  Midnight’s Kiss

AUTHOR:  Donna Grant

SERIES:  Dark Warrior

RELEASE DATE: June 2013 

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The Holly and the Thistle by Regan Walker-a review

THE HOLLY AND THE THISTLE by Regan Walker-a review

The Holly and the Thistle by Regan Walker

About the book: Release date November 24, 2012

A chance meeting at Berry’s wine shop, a misunderstanding and Christmastide all come together to allow the most handsome Scot in London to give Lady Emily Picton the best Christmas gift ever: a marriage not of convenience, but of love.

Review:

The Holly and the Thistle begins with Lady Emily Picton hurrying along the rain soaked streets of 1818 London, trying to reach Berry’s wine shop in order to procure a favorite wine for a Christmas affair being thrown by the Dowager Countess of Claremont. Upon entering the wine shop, Lady Emily looks less the lady and more the “bedraggled chit” due to unfortunate events involving rain, mud and carriages. She encounters a handsome “store clerk” who fetches the wine for her. She leaves the store in a snit, and, to add insult to injury, is that laughter she hears?

Lady Emily, widowed three years earlier, knows that the Countess will be up to her old tricks: trying to play matchmaker, but the Countess has become a dear friend and Emily would never refuse her invitation. Emily arrives early for the party where the Countess informs her that indeed there is a Scottish gentleman whom will be attending the party the she wants her to meet, Mr. William Stephen.

As the guests arrive, Lord and Lady Ormond, (whom we first meet in Racing With the Wind), are chatting with Emily as the Countess brings a gentleman over to introduce to her. Mr. Stephen and Lord Ormond attended college together and are old friends. When the introductions are made between Emily and William, she is surprised to see the “store clerk” whom she encountered in the wine shop, who obviously, is not a store clerk at all, but a wealthy Scottish businessman who builds ships. They recognize each other immediately and the attraction is instantaneous. But, Lady Emily has vowed to remain a widow. Her first marriage only lasted three years and he was definitely not a gentleman. She has no desire to go through that kind of turmoil again. William knows that he has his work cut out for him and knows that she will be worth the effort. So he sets out to prove that all men are not created equal. Does true love conquer all? Does this Christmas season turn out to be the happiest of all for Lady Emily? You’ll have to read to find out.

The Holly and the Thistle is a short story that had me from the beginning. Emily and William are great together and I loved the strength in each of them. There was a teary moment or two in this for me and I love the small cast of supporting characters. And, of course, I looooved getting to see Lord and Lady Ormond again and see their ever growing family. Truly a great Christmas read. The one problem with this short story? The word SHORT!! I wanted it to go on and on………… Regan Walker has been added to my list of authors that are must reads and I suggest you do the same.

ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble/ KOBO

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Racing With the Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

Racing With the Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Reviewed by Vickie    

Copy provided by Author

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