Rogue's Holiday is the fifth book in the Agents of the Crown series by Regan Walker, a well-crafted and engaging historical novel with rock-solid characters. Robert Powell is a spy and, thanks to him, the Cabinet is saved from a well-orchestrated murder plot. This earns him the good graces of George IV, who offers Robert a royal title and a holiday at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Sir Robert plans to make the best of his time there, and this includes booze and women. So when Muriel, Dowager Countess of Claremont, asks for help, Robert is surprised to discover that the person spoken about as a girl turns out to be an insanely beautiful woman. Chastity Reynolds is irresistible but she thinks Robert is just a rogue. Can his charms work on a woman who has no plans involving men?

The characters are strong and carefully built to create the conflict that moves the plot forward. The encounter with the Dowager Countess of Claremont establishes the link between Robert and the young lady. It is interesting to note that Chastity doesn't turn out to be the child Robert has been made to believe she is. Chastity Reynolds is an unusual character who has never considered getting a husband and the reader gets the strange feeling that she doesn't even fit into her own family. What develops between the two characters and how this happens makes this novel a page-turner. The setting is colorful, the prose exciting and gorgeous, and the dialogues reflect the historical world in which the narrative takes place. Regan Walker makes readers fall in love with the characters because she keeps them real and well-fleshed out. The strong plot explores the theme of romance, but it is spiced by a powerful threat to the Cabinet.

The story in Rogue's Holiday by Regan Walker is set after the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 when a band of conspirators emerges in 1820 condemning the government for the killings in Manchester. Robert “Robbie” Powell, a government spy, overhears one of the conspirators' angry sentiments on one chilly evening. He plans a trap for the conspirators which succeeds to some extent. A few of the conspirators, however, escape. They keep track of Robbie, waiting for the right moment to retaliate. Meanwhile, Chastity Reynolds is sent to Brighton by her mother to spend time with her great-aunt, a highly respected woman of indisputable character. Great-Aunt Agatha will surely be able to handle and guide the boisterous Chastity. While in Brighton, Chastity is not charmed by the roguish Robbie, having had a heart-breaking experience with a man of similar character. Will Robbie convince her of his love and his ability to change his ways?

The language used in the work transports readers back to the 1820s. The conversations are lively and entertaining. They also reveal the personalities of the characters in the work. The initial conflict between the two main characters, Chastity and Robbie, makes the story captivating as the plot develops. Chastity is high-spirited. Some of her perceptions also differ from the points-of-view of her conservative mother and sister. Robbie is also not your typical good-natured gentleman. The blend of fact and fiction in the novel makes it feel even more real. The ominous feeling that follows Robbie as he keeps a lookout for the conspirators adds an extra layer of depth to the work. Rogue's Holiday by Regan Walker is an absorbing Regency romance novel that features authentic conversations and characters.