Inside Sarah Ferguson’s Debut Romance Novel

The Duchess of York released her first romance book earlier this month as part of a book deal she made with the publishing house Boons & Mill.

The book, “Her Heart for a Compass”, is inspired by the romantic story of Sarah’s great-great-aunt Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott.

The novel follows flame-haired Margaret as she desperately falls for a Scottish gentleman despite her father’s strong disapproval.

It hit the shelves last Tuesday and has already garnered a slew of negative reviews, but it didn’t stop the 61-year-old Duchess from signing another deal with publishers.

“Her Heart for a Compass” Plot and Reception by Fans

Set at the heart of the Victorian era, “Her Heart for a Compass” explores the story of 18-year-old Lady Margaret as she is entranced in a forbidden love story. The heroine’s Scottish lover is loathed by her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, who are both close friends to Queen Victoria. When she rejects Lord Rufus Posonby, the Earl of Killin, the suitor chosen for her by her father, she incurs his wrath and as a result of that, was banished from being in polite society.

Lady Margaret, who hails from Dalkieth in Scotland and is fond of horses, falls madly in love with a priest, and later on, an older diplomat, who is also an acquaintance of her father’s, before moving on to make a future for herself as a writer.

The book is filled with racy details and enticing scenes, like when Margaret first reunited with her friend Donald after sometime of being apart, “…And the way he had kissed her hand. More perturbingly the effect that kiss had had on her senses.”

Some fans still pointed out that the romance in the book was too tame for a Mills & Boon book, and others thought that the writing was “insipid” and that the heroine was too annoying to be lovable.

Sarah Ferguson’s Inspiration For “Her Heart For A Compass”

Based on Sarah’s great-great-aunt, the book delivers an intimate knowledge of historical details, though still remaining purely fictional. In real life, Lady Margaret married Donald Cameron of Lochiel – who was an MP and 24th chief of Clan Cameron, in 1875. They had four sons, who were believed to have fought in WWII, together.

The novel dives deep into finding oneself and developing a sense of duty, family, and love, and how all that culminated in the story of a young woman who grew to seek freedom and independence in a strict and controlling society.

Throughout the book, readers get to have a sense of the heroine’s growth as a result of her experiences and how she came to value life outside the aristocratic family and follow her heart.

Sarah Ferguson, who is the author of many best-selling children’s books and several works of nonfiction, called it a “dream come true” to be a first-time novelist at the age of 61.

Reviewers of the book also accused it of not having one voice and said that the tone of writing jumps between contemporary and archaic.

Others highly recommended the book and the writing, praising it for the rebellious and strong-willed light it cast on its heroine.

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— SOS/CTS/HH (@SoapOperaSpy) August 11, 2021

Proper Lady

At the end of the day, Lady Margaret proved that she was not the “proper lady” to conform to the shaping of the society, but would rather contribute to shaping its course “in an age of astounding technological change and great social unrest.”

“Her Heart for a Compass” is a delicious costume drama rich in atmosphere, history, and color.

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