Today we are welcoming Regan Walker to A Chick Who Reads!
Mary’s Unusual Black Stallion in Racing with the Wind
When I began to write Racing with the Wind, I envisioned Midnight, the horse ridden by the heroine, Lady Mary, as a huge black stallion few women could handle. Certainly, few women in the Regency would have ridden a horse that large and powerful. When I began to write the scene when the horse is first described, I just wrote what I saw in my mind as the hero watches Mary ride across the green pastures of her home, Campbell Manor: “The horse’s muscles rippled along its huge flanks, and its long mane and tail trailed out behind like great black flags as it galloped in front of him.” Interestingly enough, I discovered the breed of horse I described only after the book was finished and had been through my editor and was with the copyeditor. I was busy creating the cover with cover artist Kim Killion, and gave Kim a picture of the exact horse I pictured as Midnight. She included it in the cover we were designing together. Very proud of the result, I sent a friend the new cover. She took one look at it, and the horse, and said, “Great cover. And, oh, that’s a Friesian—my sister raises them.” Immediately, I was in panic mode, worried the breed might not have been around in 1816, the year of my story. Quickly, I researched the Friesian breed, and much to my relief, I learned it originated in the Netherlands and was imported to England-‐-‐and used in trotting races during the time of my story. Whew, that was close. I breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to add the label “Friesian” to Lady Mary’s horse in my story. It was a nice add, and I owe it all to a friend with a horse breeding sister! It seems no matter how thorough your research is there is always something to consider you may have missed. That's why it's good to have beta readers who know the genre and care about details. I've added some beta readers to my lineup since then.
Blurb: 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 illadvised
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.
Buy: Racing With The Wind
Review: This book reminded me why I have always loved regency romance. Because of the time period you always have a little bit of intrigue and the romance part is never too hot and spicy. I started reading regencies back when I was in junior high.
I really loved the characters in this book. Lady Mary is a bluestocking. God I love that word! It always makes me laugh! Why it was so totally unacceptable for a woman to have a brain then? And Lady Mary is more then just a bluestocking, she's a forward thinking woman. She knows her own mind and isn't going to let a husband take over for her.
Mary is the kind of heroine you expect from a regency. She's smart and she's always getting into trouble because she wants to be her own person and she's not ready for marriage.
Then there's Hugh. He's the Nighthawk and a night in shining armor. He's the kind of hero everyone hopes to have around. I didn't find him nearly as arrogant as Mary made him out to be. After all, they were living in a time of unrest in Europe and
I really found this book to be well written and well researched. The characters were so good and the historical accuracy spot on. It really made you feel like you were in Regency England. Hugh did have some rights when it came to wanting to protect her. (Mostly from herself).
The only thing that I had the slightest problem with was the pregnancy of Hugh's former mistress. It just didn't seem to help the story along. There could have been another way to add one last bit of conflict for the two characters.
This is a definite must read for anyone that loves historical or regency romance!
~ Review copy provided by Innovative Online Book Tours in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4 flowers
Author Info: As a child, Regan loved to write stories, particularly about adventure-loving girls. But by the time she got to college, more serious pursuits were encouraged. One of her professors thought her suited to the profession of law. Regan says, “I became a lawyer because I thought it would be better to be a hammer than a nail.” Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the "Crown" on its subjects. Hence, her first romance novels involve a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool. Regan says her stories will always involve adventure as well as love.
Regan lives in San Diego with her Golden Retriever, Link, who she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.
Author: Terry Irene Blain
