Review: Wonderful Romance In a Setting of Danger and Intrigue
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 2, 2012
Racing With the Wind's hero, Lord Ormond, "Knighthawk," first meets Lady Mary, nick-named "The Swan," as she races astride a black stallion and is appalled that she should be permitted these liberties by her guardian. Yet in spite of himself it is Mary's free spirit that draws him from the first, however much he fights it. And Mary, drawn to his brooding good looks and masculinity, resents his views concerning how women should behave.These two seem made for each other, yet they are also different enough in their beliefs and upbringing that they are constantly engaged in a clash of wills.Lady Mary resents society's constraints on women and has vowed from an early age not only to fight against them but to never become beholden to the will of a man by becoming his wife. Yet even as she goes around in Parisian society clinging to the arm of another suitor, her glance is never far from Ormond and the pull he has on her.I was particularly drawn to Ormond's love for his younger brother and felt that the relationship he had had with his kid-brother gave him a humanity and depth of character that distinguished him from the usual romance hero.The story takes place mostly in Paris after the fall of Napoleon and the restoration of the monarchy. The tumultuous events of the time are well-woven into the story as are the dangers inherent in spying for Britain, which is what this story is about, as Mary has convinced her uncle-guardian, who is a spy for the Crown, to allow her to accompany him so that she can gather bits of information for him whenever she can. Lord Ormond works as an agent with Mary's uncle so it's just a matter of time until he realizes the dangerous situations Mary is placing herself in.I enjoyed reading this historical romance and look forward to more books by this talented author.