This month the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson released her first-ever romance novel. The royal has previously penned memoirs, children’s books and historic non-fiction, but this is her first foray into the raunchy realm of period drama and forbidden love. Her Heart for a Compass is a historical-fiction venture focussing on the Duchess’ great-great-aunt Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott.

Her Heart for a Compass is available on Amazon for £11.99.

Within Ferguson’s novel, the protagonist escapes the confines of an arranged marriage, prompting her banishment from polite society.

Included in the story – which the Duchess wrote with Scottish historical romance author Marguerite Kaye – are real-life people from history, including Queen Victoria and her daughter, Princess Louise.

Ferguson recently said in an interview: “Lady Margaret helped me become exactly the person who is talking to you right now.”

Although the book is marketed as a romance novel, it doesn’t hit the saucy moments seen in some other entries, such as Outlander or Bridgerton.

READ MORE: Elvis Presley girlfriend Peggy Lipton: ‘King was virtually impotent’

Ferguson said on this: “I decided I would remove bodice-ripping from this book, number one.”

Despite this, she added: “But I’m now on book number two with Marguerite… and I have got a real bodice-ripping coming for you.

“This is going to make Fifty Shades of Gray just a walk in the park!”

Although this promise sounded enticing, Kaye offered: “She’s teasing you.” (Via Town & Country)

Ferguson, who was married to Prince Andrew from 1986 to 1996, went on to make a comment about her own love life.

She said her it is now “similarly chaste,” adding: “There is no romance.”

Kaye later revealed the Duchess of York was eager to be heavily involved in the writing of the book.

She said: “Right from the start it was clear she wasn’t going to be sitting in the back seat on this.”

Kaye added: “She had a clear vision for what the story was that she wanted to tell, and she wanted to be involved in every stage of the process.”

Reviews for Ferguson’s debut romance novel have been somewhat mixed.

Melanie McDonagh of The Evening Standard called the novel “amiable tosh” and “a perfect example of the genre”.

Hannah Betts from The Telegraph described the book as “underwhelming”.

Sarah Ferguson’s Her Heart for a Compass is out now – order here on Amazon.

SOURCE

This article contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about. This article was written completely independently, see more details here.