Review: A dark hero with secrets and a headstrong beauty meet in a climate of danger and intrigue.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 26, 2012
Writing Fiction 101 says, "Start your novel with a grabber," and that is just what Regan Walker did in Racing with the Wind (Agents of the Crown) chapter one. In the first paragraph she hooked me with a scene reminiscent of The Scarlet Pimpernel and later A Tale of Two Cities. Racing with the Wind is a story of intrigue and romance set in early Nineteenth Century England and Post Napoleonic France, a period turbulent and lavish at the same time.Walker lays an accurate historical foundation without belaboring the facts ad nauseum. She keeps the pace lively with engaging storyline, sprinkling the chapters with just the right amount of historical detail.There was enough mystery intertwined with romance to make me think of the long forgotten novels of Mary Stewart (if you remember her, bravo!) and the plot held me especially since the romance was extremely engaging, and I was eager to learn about the time period with its colorful players.Although I liked Lady Mary, Hugh Redgrave, the Marquess of Ormand was the character with whom I connected. He was dashing and dangerous, tough and clever yet Walker made him vulnerable enough to be believable. Because of Hugh Redgrave, I am eager to read the next in the series and sincerely hope we see more of Hugh's exploits as The Night Hawk.There is no question that Regan Walker has done her homework before the completion of her debut novel. It is excellent. It is rich in historic detail, fast paced and filled with steamy love scenes. It is my sincere hope that she will release her second in the series before the year is out. We will be waiting.