The Lady's Desire

Abbey Mead #1

by Audrey Abbott

In the Spring of 1812, sorrow and dread lurk within the serene countryside of Surrey, England. In the village of Abbey Mead, Lady Anne Westmeare finds herself in possession of a hollow title, an empty bed, and a cold, indifferent husband. To Anne, the Viscount Westmeare is an enigma. But when Scottish Captain William Ferguson rides into her life, Anne discovers the companion and champion that she has always desired. Their attraction is immediate and mutual. Nevertheless, they strive to resist that attraction. But can William and Anne ignore their desires when the very man who should wish to keep them apart is driving them together? Fate carries this pair of star-crossed lovers to the vast subcontinent of India. There they endeavor to forget each other, but providence draws them together. Their love deepens as together they endure the terror and anguish of kidnap, torture, and even death. Through it all, their devotion to each other prevails. Through it all, William whispers to his beloved Anne, “I will love ye, lass, as long as I have breath.” Through it all, the lady’s desire becomes her destiny.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2018

About the author

Tidbits of my life:

I grew up an only child in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Married to my college sweetheart, we have two amazing daughters and three precious grandchildren.

When I traveled to Scotland in 2014, I fell in love with the countryside and the history. That excursion certainly enhanced my writing of The Lady's Desire.

I am a librarian, a writer, a reader of books.
Actually, I have an unhealthy obsession with books. When I start a good book I simply cannot put it down. The dust bunnies may be calling, but I manage to ignore them…

​My other secret passions are bacon, caffeine, chocolate, and strawberries! The four basic food groups!

​My favorite author: Charles Dickens, of course! Bytheby: Dickens visited Pittsburgh in 1842! Yes. He was really here!! Sadly, I only missed his arrival by 176 years!

​What do I write? I write adult historical suspense romance, YA historical fiction, and nonfiction. I am a member of Romance Writers of America, Three Rivers Romance Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Pennwriters.

​I hope you enjoy the Abbey Mead series, beginning with The Lady's Desire.

I'd love to hear from you at audreyabbottauthor@gmail.com

Visit my website: www.audreyabbottauthor.com

Reviews

[Kathryn Bashaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually read romances, but this one is a cut above the usual. The characters are thoroughly likeable, the author really does a good job of putting her reader in 19th-century England and India, and there is plenty of peril and mystery. Everyone who reads my reviews knows that I like books that put their characters in trouble, and Anne Tuttle and William Ferguson get more than their share of that.
The story opens as Anne’s life has just been shattered by the death of her father. Not only are they grieving, but she and her sister and brothers are about to lose their home: their father was the parson, and upon his death they must leave the parsonage for the next parson. The family seems destined for destitution - until Anne receives a surprise marriage proposal.
Anne has always wanted a marriage of love, like her parents had. But Lord Westmere’s proposal will save her family from poverty. So, with grave misgivings, she accepts – end experiences a decidedly unusual wedding night.
True love enters her life on horseback in the person of Army Captain William Ferguson. Anne faces the perils of a husband she doesn’t understand, a long sea voyage to India, and an illicit passion that grows ever harder to resist. Lord Westmere actually seems to be trying to throw her and William together. But why?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next one in the series.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistress: https://www.bing.com/search?q=amazon....

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual type of a book, but I enjoyed the twist on the typical English historical romance that took them to India. Compelling main characters. Quick read. Will keep my eyes out for the next installment.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

What to say about this book? I read it for the Battle of the Books Pittsburgh and it worked in a category for the Popsugar 2019 Challenge. TBH, the cover and the title led me to believe this was a romance novel. Who doesn't enjoy a good steamy book in the middle of winter?! Nobody, that's who. Have mercy, this book was not was I was expecting. For a debut novel, the writing is above average, but the plot line was a complete 180 from my understanding. I mean, look at the cover. I came for the bodice ripping. I left disappointed and slightly unsettled at the use of the word "thugs" to categorize subjugated natives in a colonized country. There's a LOT of emphasis on marriage, purity, the white savior complex, praying, virginity, chastity, and did I mention monogamous bedchambers? It's a strange romance novel that doesn't introduce romance until mid way through the book. I appreciate the author's perspective, her clear mastery of language and history, and that she's local to my new town. I just couldn't wrap my head around what, if anything, this book was trying to convey.

***Popsugar 2019 Challenge: A Debut Novel

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for Battle of the Books
Romance is not my favorite genre, by a long shot.

[Jenny Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I even started reading this novel, I had my Goodreads review in mind. As it was a local author publishing her debut novel through a small press, I wasn't expecting a literary masterpiece. Still, I had hopes that it would be entertaining, and seeing the author's photo inspired me. I know it's not polite to speculate on a lady's age, but I think it's fair to say that there is something really cool about seeing a senior citizen realize a dream by publishing a novel. It gives me hope that my own life might have any number of adventures ahead. The review I was writing in my head was going to acknowledge the inevitable weaknesses of any first time author, but quickly brush them aside in favor of admiration for what Abbott accomplished.

I'm not going to write that review.

Unfortunately, Abbott made that impossible for me by writing a horrible caricature of a gay man as the villain of her novel. He could have been a fascinating character, but instead Abbott opted for a gross stereotype of a depraved, violent pervert. It was lazy writing and cruel. In all honesty, I think she was let down by her publisher who (in addition to apparently not hiring a decent editor) was unable to accomplish simple printing tasks. The page numbering restarted every chapter. From reading the acknowledgements, I also believe this vanity press conned her into splitting one novel into three. I would like to think these next two books will walk back some of the unfortunate characterization in the first book, but I will not be reading them. What I had hoped would be evidence of a kindred spirit's second act now seems more like the sad story of a woman of a certain age getting manipulated by a cash-grabbing sham of a publishing house.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne and William are infatuated with each other. Unfortunately their deep feelings cannot be acted on without impropriety. Anne is married to a man she does not love and even less understands; hers is a marriage for the sake of the well-being of her siblings. Her husband only wants an heir but does nothing to procure one. He is distant, cold and not a little odd. On a visit to some acquaintances she first spies Captain William Ferguson. When they meet here and there on social occasions they both find a mutual attraction to each other.
The story starts off in Britain but eventually wends its way to India where Anne's husband, Lord Westmeare, is stationed and Captain Ferguson also finds himself as part of the East India company. Anne arrives a bit later at the request of her husband. The tale takes place in the early 1800s and is immersed in the political climate of India at that time and the interactions and troubles arising between the British and the native population. The locale and the small details of everyday life there for the transplanted Brits is interesting.
The story is not concluded in this book so I will have to await the next in the series to find out what happens in the lives of the main characters.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the title and description, I thought this book would be one in a series, each of which would have separate H & h and an HEA. After starting to read the book, I thought the future books would feature some of Anne's siblings in the own HEA stories. I was very wrong. This series will continue featuring Anne and William, and presumably Anne's husband. While I do not mind series with the same main characters through out the series, I wish I had known this book was part of such a series. If so, I would have waited until the rest of the series was published before I read this book. I have no idea when the next book will be published, as no indication is provided by the author either at the end of this book or on her website.

The story itself is fine but not remarkable. However, the author clearly has an idea of the issues surrounding the attempted rule & colonization of the Indian subcontinent by the English.

[ASHLEY · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based off the description and the cover, I thought this was going to be a steamy, angsty, historical romance. The only part I was right about was that it was historical. At the beginning, it felt like it was going to be more inspirational. Then, halfway through the setting changes from England to India and the story just got progressively more boring and offensive.

As far as the romance, it wasn't there for me. We only get like two conversations between Anne and William and now they're in love? I could have used more scenes of them together as opposed to all the time devoted to the boat trip

[Claire Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

William and Anne are characters that stay with you. And the historical settings are just as vivid as the characters. These "star-crossed" lovers face a truly unique set of challenges as their separate adventures unfold. And when they are finally together in the same setting, the real danger begins. Quite an enjoyable read! I look forward to the next installment.

[Stephanie Claypool · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to get an ARC of Audrey Abbott's debut novel. The story is rich with historical details of setting, language, and everyday living. The narrative is near poetic.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to learn the fates of Anne and William.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually haven't finished it yet. I own it so I can finish whenever I think about it.

[Anthony P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual genre, but enjoyed it very much. If you are a reader of "historical fiction." but are put off by the "Romance" label, you should give this well researched, well written "Historical Romantic Fiction" book a try.