To Tame the Wind by Regan Walker

To Tame the Wind by Regan Walker
This is a prequel to the Agents of the Crown series.
Having lived her life inside the walls of the Saint-Denis convent, Claire Donet had no idea her father was a pirate. So when Simon Powell steals her away in retaliation of something her father did, she is taken by complete surprise.
Simon is furious that his ship and crew have been taken. In hopes of getting both back, he takes the one thing that means more than anything to the thief...his daughter. Simon didn't count on finding a mutual attraction with his captive.
Knowing that he will never get his crew and ship back if he gives into his passions, Simon fights what could be his toughest battle yet.
I really liked the storyline, but the writing was not as strong as the previous book I'd read by Walker. Maybe she was trying to convey an innocence in Claire which she tried to convey in her dialogue, but it just didn't satisfy me as a reader. It turned me off from the whole story. I usually devour a story in one or two sittings, but this one I could put it down and did...

You can purchase this book at the following retailers:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Thanks go out to Regan Walker for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

Guest Post: Twelfth Night in Regency England by Regan Walker plus Giveaway

Twelfth Night in Regency England by Regan Walker
While doing my research for The Twelfth Night Wager, my Christmas novella, I enjoyed vicariously living through Christmastide in Regency England (1811-1820), when Prince George reigned as Regent. Then, Christmas was a more subtle celebration than the one we observe today.   Christmastide began with Christmas Eve (though the evening of Christmas Day was “First Night”) and continued to Twelfth Night, or January 5th, followed by the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th when the wise men who followed the star of the new King, arrived in Bethlehem to behold the Christ child. 
 Twelfth Night has its origins in ancient Rome and was a mid-winter event observing pagan fertility rites, a festival of feasting and public celebration. At some point, this tradition became incorporated into the Christian celebrations and included feasting, drinking, games, plays, dances and masked balls. Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night, which includes characters disguised as people they are not, was intended to be performed on Twelfth Night.   

 In additional to all the revelry, there was a Twelfth Night cake, an ornate confection into which a bean, a coin or a tiny carved or cast metal version of the baby Jesus was placed (it could also be a bean). During early evening, the cake was cut and its pieces distributed to guests who were advised to chew carefully. The person who found the icon became the king, the “Lord of Misrule,” or the “Bean King.” His Queen Consort or the Queen of Twelfth Night was the woman who found a dried pea in the cake. The king and queen reigned for the evening, no matter their normal status in society.   By the late 18th century, the selection of Twelfth Night's "royalty" could also be accomplished by the distribution of paper slips with each piece of cake. The slips were opened and the person holding the one with a special mark inside was declared the king. 
 During Jane Austen’s life, the celebration of Twelfth Night was at the height its of popularity. Sets of “characters” were available to purchase from enterprising stationers. They were cut up into small papers and the slips were chosen from a hat. Whatever character the person drew became their identity for the evening. In my novella, The Twelfth Night Wager, the heroine hopes to play Susie Salamander. 

  Fanny Knight, Edward Austen Knight’s daughter and Jane Austen’s niece, wrote about some of her Twelfth Night Celebrations in Kent. Here’s her report on the celebration in 1809: 
 …after Dessert Aunt Louisa who was the only person to know the characters…took one by one out of the room and equipped them, put them into separate rooms and lastly dressed herself. We were al conducted into the library and performed our different parts. Papa and the little ones from Lizzy downwards knew nothing of it and it was so well managed that none of the characters knew one another ..Aunt Louisa and L.Deeds were Dominos; F.Cage, Frederica Flirt (which she did excellently); M.Deeds, Orange Woman; Mama, Shepherdess; Self Fortune Teller; Edward, beau; G, Irish Postboy; Henry Watchman; William, Harlequin; we had such frightful masks that it was enough to kill one with laughing at putting them on and altogether it went off very well and quite answered our expectations. 
 Though by Jane Austen’s time the cake may not have been used to assist in the choosing of characters, it was still an important part of the celebration. They were costly and complicated to make and, if they could afford to do so, many people bought them from confectioners’ shops. 
 In my Christmas novella, The Twelfth Night Wager, two men at White’s club, one of whom is known as the “red headed rake,” make a scandalous wager involving a virtuous widow. The wager, by its terms, must be won or lost by Twelfth Night. 
 The story includes all the fall activities in London and the countryside (pheasant shooting, fox hunting and riding), as well as the Christmastide celebrations leading up to Twelfth Night. Experience the season in Regency London!

You can get the book at the following retailers:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Giveaway To enter to win a Twelve Days of Christmas Charm Bracelet, please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. 
 Rules
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on December 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter. –

• Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. –
• Only one entry per household. –
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion –
• Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Twelfth Night Wager by Regan Walker & Giveaway

The Twelfth Night Wager by Regan Walker
Christopher St. Ives, Viscount Eustace, has been challenged by his good friend to seduce and walk away from Lady Grace Leisterfield, a prim and proper widow. Never one to turn down a challenge and already intrigued with the lady, Christopher sets out to win the bet. He never counted on his heart becoming engaged.
Learning of the bet from her friend, Grace is determined to thwart Christopher at every turn. But when danger comes knocking at her door, she is needs him to help protect her from danger. Can she trust that his interest in her is more than just the wager?
I really enjoyed this story.  Walker does a good job of getting the reader invested in the H/H in a short amount of time which can be difficult with a novella.  If you've read her Agents of the Crown series (which I haven't, but will now), you will get to visit with Hugh and Mary again.
Definitely a quick enjoyable read for the holiday season!

You can get the book at the following retailers:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Giveaway

To enter to win a Twelve Days of Christmas Charm Bracelet, please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below.   Rules
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on December 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter. –

• Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. –
• Only one entry per household. –
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion –
• Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Red Wolf's Prize by Regan Walker

The Red Wolf's Prize by Regan Walker. This is book 1 in the Medieval Warriors series. Having lost her father during the fighting with King William, Lady Serena of Talisandvcan't believe that the king has given her to one of his knights. Knowing that her "husband" will soon arrive, she dyes her hair, dresses as a servant and leaves with several of her people to join up with her brother.
Sir Renaud de Pierrepont can't believe that his intended bride has run off instead of stay and wed him. While searching for his intended, his men find several servants heading north. Returning with them is a servant girl that immediately attracts Renaud. He tries to woo the servant, who is actually his intended, with no success.  
Finally resigned to her fate, Serena reveals to her husband whom she is and they quickly marry. But what happens when Serena finds herself falling for the enemy?
This was the first book that I have read by Regan Walker and I really enjoyed it. She did a great job with telling the history of the time without overwhelming the reader with all the facts and overshadowing the romance of the story.  Having not read many story of this time period, I was happy to read the write-up at the end of the novel explaining a little more about the time period.
Walker did an excellent job of writing the conflict going on with Serena and her conscience. Serena wanted to hate her new husband because of what he was, but when she saw how he cared for her people she had to see the person he was and not what he was.  There was enough conflict between them to make it believable that Serena could have eventually falling in love with her enemy.
I loved all the secondary characters that Walker included and am happy to hear that some of them will be getting their own stories.
Walker is definitely an author that I will be putting on my TBR pile!

You can purchase this book at the following retailers:

Amazon

Thanks go out to CreateSpace for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.