The Lady's Guide to Egyptian Curses: a darkly gothic romance, in 19th century Egypt

by Emmanuelle de Maupassant

Exploring a mysterious temple in the Egyptian desert, hidden for centuries, Onora awakens a dark force.
Assailed by disturbing dreams, she questions her sanity, until she learns of the temple's terrifying cult, and the curse of the twelve scarabs.
Is it possible to escape her fate, and who can she trust?
Brooding Lord Seton, to whom she is betrothed, or enigmatic archaeologist Jack Balfour?

What to expect: this darkly steamy romance features a secret society, a sinister plot, and a heroine in peril. Prepare for suspenseful, twisty, ‘must devour another chapter’ excitement.


Discover more in 'The Lady's Guide' series
The Lady's Guide to Being Snowbound with a Scottish Laird
The Lady’s Guide to Tempting a Transylvanian Count
The Lady’s Guide to Escaping Cannibals
The Lady’s Guide to a Highlander's Heart
The Lady's Guide to Mistletoe and Mayhem
The Lady’s Guide to Deception and Desire
The Lady's Guide to Scandal
The Lady's Guide to Well-Endowed Dukes
The Lady's Guide to Marrying a Viscount

Each can be read individually and in any order.

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2025

About the author

Emmanuelle lives in a medieval tower house in the Highlands, with her husband and Ernie McFloof (connoisseur of bacon treats and squeaky toys).

She writes historical romance filled with adventure, suspense, and red-hot passion.

Visit her website - www.emmanuelledemaupassant.com - to find a FREE story to download, and to sign up for her newsletter (monthly gossip, giveaways and goodies).


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Emmanuelle lebt mit ihrem Mann (Hersteller von Tee und Obstkuchen) und ihrer Schnüffelnase, Ernie, auch bekannt als ihr liebstes Fellknäuel und Liebhaber von quietschenden Spielzeugen und Schinken.

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Emmanuelle de Maupassant vive con il marito e ama i suoi fagottini pelosi a quattro zampe (che sono dei grandi intenditori di giocattoli da mordere e snack al bacon).

Iscriviti alla newsletter di Emmanuelle per ricevere direttamente nella tua casella di posta notizie in anteprima sulle nuove uscite, ricevere degli omaggi, e per dare un’occhiata dietro le quinte.

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Emmanuelle de Maupassant vive con su esposo y ama las mascotas peludas de la variedad de cuatro patas (expertos en juguetes ruidosos y golosinas de tocino).

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L'auteure publie (des romances historiques) sous trois noms de plume : Annabelle Quinn, Anna Quinn et Emmanuelle de Maupassant.

Elle vit avec son mari et a un sérieux penchant pour les terriers à poils longs (amateurs de jouets qui font pouêt-pouêt et de gourmandises au bacon).

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Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read! This starts out as a travelogue of sorts, and I desperately wanted to travel to Egypt, albeit the Egypt of the Victorians, rather than the present day. The heroine is a young woman who is rather naive, forced by circumstances to rely on traveling companions who are a little mysterious, and yet, possibly entirely proper. One of the joys of reading this author’s works is her ability to evoke both the language and nuances of the ear, yet create a heroine with modern sensibilities. She does not disappoint, and the story comes at last to a rollicking conclusion

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I was expecting something different just because the story is based in Egypt, but I wasn’t expecting that.

From the very beginning, I had the feeling that something was off. I got bad vibes from Lord Seton and I just knew something sinister was going to happen to Onora. I just wasn’t sure what.

The tension in the story screamed from the screen. The tone was dark and eerie; a definite ten on the creep scale. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next.

I don’t want to put in any spoilers, but I do need to say a little about the story. Onora Montague was promised to Lord Seton by her father while she was still a teenager. Her father was killed in a tragic accident in Egypt at an archaeological dig. She grew up in Egypt and is returning from England to marry the widower Lord Seton, who is also an archaeologist.

Jack Balfour is Seton’s nephew and has somehow fallen out of favor with his uncle. It sounded like he was an archaeologist too, but his uncle had him doing other things other than digging in the sand. Jack was put out by this, but bided his time.

The story is unpredictable. I didn’t know who was going to end up with whom, especially considering the circumstances. This combined with all the other factors mentioned earned this a solid five stars.

*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.

**Although this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a Lady's Guide book and this one is a good old romp through the desert.

[Ann Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and sensual gothic romance set in Egypt that was so enjoyable and entertaining with a cast of intriguing characters. Lots of steamy scenes, mystery and danger made this a story that had me enthralled. Fabulous.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense with a Vengence!
This author promised a "suspenseful, twisty, ‘must devour another chapter’ kind of excitement" in this, her 7th book of the series and she sure delivers it!
I loved the heroine, Onora and the brooding Jack, but Seton had the hairs of my arms rising and cold shivers running up and down my spine whenever he appeared. So which of them would win her heart?
The romantic side of this tale was intriguing and I was never very sure who would finally land up as the lucky man to win her heart.
This is the kind of book which simply has to be read if you enjoy reading a romance where the darker side of mysticism and curses is very much part of the story. There appears to be much of that buried in the far north of Africa where Egypt is located.
I really enjoyed reading an early copy of this story and am very happy to leave my voluntary review.

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All is not as it seems
Wow! This story sure went in a different direction than I thought it was going.
In saying that, I loved it.
There was mystery, strange happenings, spicy scenes and some really weird guests to contend with, who get their just desserts in the end.
A short read set in Egypt in the late 1800’s featuring Onora, betrothed to Lord Seton and Jack, Lord Seton’s nephew.
Which one wins the Lady?
Another great addition to The Ladies Guide series.

[Linda Collister · Rating 5 out of 5]

An arranged marriage and a forbidden romance. Can Onora escape the curse triggered when she was a child? Can Jack open her eyes to the truth about Seton and his friends? A real page turner. I loved it!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Lady's Guide to Egyptian Curses, one of the books in The Lady’s Guide to Love series, author Emmanuelle de Maupassant combines a traditional time with an unusual place and provides an intriguing, satisfyingly dark and spooky gothic romance.

The story takes place in the late 1800s, the very end of the 19th Century and the Victorian Era. Many astonishing inventions and discoveries have taken place, but British social mores are still rigid and strict; the class system is still alive and well. Most women are not in charge of their own lives and must answer to a father, a brother or a husband. Even in faraway lands.

Onora is in Egypt, exploring temples of old. She spent much of her youth there with her father, and after his death several years ago she is back with an expedition headed by the man her father betrothed her to. Lord Seton is a middle-aged man of his time, accustomed to getting what he wants. And what he wants is Onora as his wife – soon. She believes she has a choice in the matter even if this was her father’s wish and arrangement, but she may be mistaken.

She has unpleasant memories of her father’s death the last time she was in Egypt, and that feeling of being unsettled is now compounded by invasive thoughts, as if someone, some presence, is inside her head, controlling her thoughts. If that’s not bad enough, the thoughts are shockingly lewd and carnal and she is unable to conrol them or her actions. To make matters worse, Seton and the rest of the party are acting strangely, secretive, mysterious, frightening.

She is befriended by – and attracted to – Seton’s estranged nephew Jack Balfour. He’s her own age, handsome, easy to talk to and be with. But is she really attracted to him or is that “thing” taking over her mind forcing the desire? And she’s promised to Lord Seton. How could she escape even if she wanted to?

The Lady's Guide to Egyptian Curses is spellbinding. Exciting, mystical, disturbing. As the story progresses Lord Seton and the rest seem more secretive, more threatening – evil, part of a cult, or maybe just mad? The action will keep you enthralled, the budding relationship between Jack and Onora will keep your heart going pitter-pat and the steamy scenes will have you needing some ice water. Totally satisfying as are the rest of the books in this series. Well-developed characters, rich descriptions of a past time of curses and blind beliefs and an overall good story. I received an advance copy of The Lady's Guide to Egyptian Curses from the author and recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

[Anneke Schep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another “A Lady’s Guide” book in this series. The story starts in Egypt at an archaeological site, where a young Onora -our heroine- is sneaking out to see a specific room. Her father has shown her everything except this room and she just has to see it. She is found by her father and on their way back to their sleeping arrangements a deadly accident happens with her father. The story continues four years later. Onora stayed with her aunts in England for several years and is now traveling back to Egypt to her betrothed Sir Seton. An arrangement made between her father and Sir Seton.
From the start I liked Onora, but Seton creeps me out. Strange things starts to happen when they arrive at the archeological site; by a curse or by human hands? Besides several other characters in this book there is Jack, a nephew from the late Mrs. Seton. He comes to Onora’s rescue more than ones. The plot thickens… A big fat 4.5 stars!
If you like historical gothic romances, with adventure, mystery and perhaps an ancient old curse, you definitely want to pick up this book.

I received an ARC from the author through BookFunnel and I am happy to share my honest opinion.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars for me. I loved the archaeological details as this story played out and the parlor tricks for sneaky purposes. Onora had been on digs with her father until his death. When she grew up, she was to marry Lord Seton who was taking her back to the dig where her father died. On the way, they were to get to know each other better. Jack was Lord Seton's nephew and remembered Onora as a child. He was considerate of her but easily deceived into thinking the worst. There was some romance and plenty of mystery. I did enjoy this story and the Egyptian setting.

I received an ARC, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Linda Collister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onora lost her father to the temple as a child, now she's haunted by dreams she can't explain. An arranged marriage to Lord Seton is finally to take place but something is not right. She's drawn to Jack and driven to question things after he warns her about Seton. Jack will try to protect her and Onora must discover the truth about the strange dreams and the artifact she took from the temple as a child. Atmospheric and engaging. I loved the story and couldn't put the book down. I received the free arc of this book and am freely leaving this honest review.

[Ly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspense and mystery!

I liked the novel's unusual setting. It gives it an original and special touch. I was intrigued by both main characters, Onora and Jack, but I didn’t like the whole dynamic of their relationship; however, the mystery and suspense surrounding their romance kept me engaged until the end. The pacing is fast, and I went through the book before I even realized it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmanuelle de Maupassant weaves a mesmerizing story of romantic suspense, danger, and intrigue. Set in historical times at an archaeological dig that had taken her father way too soon. Nora had been betrothed to Lord Seton before his death. Jake Balfour, his nephew, was drawn to Onora. But that’s all I will relay. You’ll definitely need to read this book in the Lady’s Guide to……….. series. I was drawn in since I have read many in this series. A Definite Must Read!!

[Victoria Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark gothic romance
Egypt is an original setting for a gothic romance, but it works excellently. This book is VERY dark, and it’s full of suspense, peril, twists and turns, and steamy scenes, and I read it in one sitting. Highly recommended.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of the ebook, and I’m leaving a voluntary review.

[Loreli Jessee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, wow, this book is full of surprises, drama, over the top characters and so much more. You will be pulling for Onora to get her hearts desires. I loved all the exciting details and gripping details. To be the first to see what came before is so amazing. I so enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful and twisty tale. The author has a way of penning words that puts you directly in the scene. I won't give it all away, but I knew that Seton and others were up to something sinister. They all got their just desserts. I do wonder what happened to the Temple, though? It is as if it disappeared by magic (pun intended). Onora and Jack got their HEA. A great read!

[Linda]

This historical gothic romance had me captivated!

I loved the suspense!

Talk about a creepy anti-hero…WOW! Wait until you meet him!

Thank goodness for Jack multiple times over!

Enjoyed Onora! A perfect heroine for the time period!

Totally immersive and so descriptive.

I loved it!

[Rodin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful romantic historical drama.
Onora is betrothed to Lord Seton.
Enter Jack Balfour.
A Lady’s dream romance!
Floating down the Nile! What more could a lady want!
Great plot.
Beautiful characters.
Sensational descriptive prose.
Five white hot shooting stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Maureen Metcalfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable light read by Emmanuelle. Although you assume who the HEA is going to be with, the 'how she gets there' leaves you guessing all the way through. As usual highly recommended to readers who like easy reading romance novels that aren't overly sloppy.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! This short book reeks of atmosphere and suspense. Emmanuelle is SOO good at using language and descriptions to mesmerize the reader and transport them to another time. This story brings up images of the old black and white movies of Egyptian ruins and tombs and curses. From the start there is an undercurrent of mystery and evil that builds to the grand shocking, steamy and perfect ending of the book. I enjoyed all the classic aristocratic characters with their eccentricities, feelings of entitlement and interest in finding foreign treasures. Onora gets caught up in her betrothal but finds it harder to ignore the mystery and danger surrounding her in Egypt. All the books in this series continue the theme of the little book, The Lady's Guide to Everything Useful, that gives advice to the young women and adds fun and delight to the story.

[Poppet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obviously from the title, this story is based in Egypt so a glossary of various Egyptian words is kindly provided. But the setting does take a little getting used to. This is the story of Onora, the daughter of an archaeologist who grew up moving around dig sites until age 17 with her late father. Her father had long arranged a marriage to Lord Seton who funded his digs when she became of age. Onora returns to Egypt with her aunt once 21 to fulfil the arrangement. However Onora cannot pinpoint it but something is wrong regarding Seton and she has understandable anxiety about returning to the site where her father died. Lord Seton presents as a gentleman but comes across as an increasingly controlling and unpleasant character. The side story is Jack, the nephew to Lord Seton’s first wife who Seton treats with disdain. Odora encounters Jack first at the hotel and later he comes to her rescue twice at the dig site. Rather suddenly things change between Odora and Jack.
But Seton has a plan for Odora that she does not know about and he will do absolutely anything for that plan to come to fruition. This is a story about Egyptian goddesses, gods, folklore and myths which the characters of the story seem deeply affected by - not necessarily in a good way. I appreciate it is a novella, but the story jumps steps rather dramatically at points which interrupts the flow. The latter part of story is a little far-fetched in my personal view, but there is a happy ending so all works out in the end.

I was generously gifted an ARC of this story and freely offer my review.