Racing with the Wind by Regan Walker

Lady Mary Campbell has no desire to have a coming out but knows she must finally do so after delaying it for a few years to please her mother.  At the ball, no one really captures her attention, as her attention is drawn to more un-ladylike pursuits, riding astride, helping her uncle with spy work and the like.  She has no interest in marrying and having a chance at losing the one she loves, as she lost her father so many years ago.  Yet one man manages to grab her attention with his dashing good looks and they share a smoldering kiss.  Hugh Redgrave, Marquess of Ormond, knows his mother wants him to settle down and marry but he has no desire to do that after suffering a traumatic loss as a child.  Once he sees the lovely Mary flying on her beloved black stallion, he thoughts adjust and as they spend more and more time together, he starts to think that Mary could be the one to finally make him want to settle down.  However, her love for adventure, and in the process-danger, sets him on edge especially with his work work as an undercover agent.  Can this headstrong, bold woman and this dashing rogue bent on protection find a way to compromise their interests to discover a deep, lasting love?

I have read quite a few debuts this year and each one has been a hit for me and I can add Racing with the Wind to that list now as well!  I always enjoy stories where the heroine is a bit unique and in this case Mary is headstrong, outspoken, intelligent and determined with her desires to wear mens clothing to ride astride and desire to aid her uncle and country with undercover work.  When Mary unknowingly stumbles into a dangerous mission in Paris, Hugh knows he must get her safely back to London.  Convincing Mary to abandon her desires to aid her country almost prove deadly and she agrees to his plan.  They travel from safe house to safe house and in the process, lose themselves in their passion.  I really liked how Mary spoke her feelings, positive and negative, to Hugh as she felt them but Hugh was a bit closed off.  It takes a dramatic ending for him to reveal his love and I wished he would have said them sooner, before the twists at the end.  Hugh was strong, sensual and once he realized the depth of his feelings for Mary, nothing...and no one, including a vicomte or his own past, would stand in his way.  Political intrigue is always hard for me as it just doesn't really interest me on a personal level but I did not feel overwhelmed at all in this story.  There were wonderful tidbits of history sprinkled throughout and even some real life heros from the past make appearances and added to the story.  I really enjoyed the attention to the fashion and felt like they were described in such a lovely manner, I could picture them in my mind.  The attraction between Hugh and Mary is quick and the build up, with their sharp, quick dialogue and their hot kisses lead up to a beautiful, passionate relationship.  This will surely please fans of action packed romances with a strong, determined couple not looking for love but when it finds them, they get swept off their feet.  4 stars

Review copy provided by the author, thank you!

Agents of the Crown series
???  To be announced....I can't wait to see who is next as some great secondary characters were introduced in this book and I wonder if they will have their own stories to tell. . .