My Lady Compelled

The Archangels #1

by Shirl Anders

Erotic romance regency. Lady St. John is purchased from a shameful "wives sale" by a long-ago admirer and now ex-spy, the Duke of Kitteridge. Lord Kitteridge intends to command and seduce his newly purchased lady away from her too strict English morals. Erotic passions battle amidst adventure and old secrets are revealed launching the Archangels into a new mission to save Gabriella.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Erotica, Romance, Regency, Erotic Romance, Ebooks

Nook

First published September 25, 2008

About the author

I have been writing genre erotic romance since 1998. My love is science fiction mixed with erotic romance or just plain sweet romance. But I write mostly historical erotic romance, because well, ... that is what sells : )

Reviews

[ChasingLeslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh…I wanted a quick sex filled story and the plot sounded interesting. But I was actually bored. Could have been decent with just the barest character development, but the hero came off as a caveman and the heroine a ninny. Shame, it could have been good.

[Auj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn, okay, so this book was SEXY

Just what I needed tbh, because all the books I've been reading lately have been really lacking in that department.

This is erotic romance. A lot of the sex scenes were good...However, some of the descriptors for Gabriella's vagina, for instance, calling it an orchid, were odd & a little cringey. I thought about what it must be like writing an erotic novel because you can only call parts by the same name before it becomes repetitive, so I do get it.

Drummond (weird name though) was hot in an older, debonair way. I got some James Bond vibes from him. (At the beginning of "No Time to Die", the latest James Bond movie, I thought that he was way too old for his love interest, who could be his daughter. But by the middle of the movie, I thought he was so attractive lol.)

Only thing that really could have made me enjoy this book more would be a stronger emotional connection between the characters...but that's what normally happens in erotica. Some romance gets sacrificed for the sex. Is it too hard to ask for both though? A really strong connection between the hero & heroine, with good conversation so you get why they like each other, & then hot sex??

Moreover, why Gabriella married Reginald instead of Drummond was never fully explained, besides him raping her in her bedroom, which he entered via the key her father gave him . She has a strong personality, and I just can't imagine her marrying her rapist...even with all the societal rules.

[Margo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zero character development. Boring sex.

[Janett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars
Erotic period romance

I stumbled on this freebie by pure accident and was immediately drawn in by the “Billionaire’s Boys” Club" vibe. I admit, I'm a total sucker of powerful men being brought to their knees by the most unsuspecting of women.

I don't prefer Regency age stories. My wheelhouse is the mid to late 1800’s but I figured as long as this wasn't heavy on the history I could manage. It ended up being a very nice surprise which was light on the history! Yay!

I loved the opening scene where we meet our group of wealthy Lords all gathered around a game of Monte. This group of friends referred to as the Queen's “Archangels” were spies for England during the war against Napoleon. They were known as a fearsome band of men, the sort one didn't dare cross. With the war now over these men attempt to find their new role in a society that doesn't require their services any longer.

The first book, “My Lady Compelled” focuses on the alpha leader of the Archangels, Drummond Penhurst, Duke of Kittridge. We briefly meet the other 4 Lords all who have been physically scarred by this war but aside from this minor detail the author doesn't delve much into their personal histories. But what we do know is that this group will give their lives for one another.

Drummond is informed that Lady Gabriella St. John has been put up on the auction block by her husband after 25 years of marriage since she is barren but his mistress is now pregnant with his heir. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to handle this! My ears were already burning with fury! Anyway, Drummond wins the auction for Gabriella who we find out had jilted him 25 years earlier for the man who was now selling her off like chattle.

Enter the dom/submissive trope.

Drummond wastes no time exercising his dominance over Gabriella and the sexy scenes hit you fast and hard. Totally unexpected! Gabriella, of course is no pushover but having been trapped in a loveless marriage for 25 years makes her a prime subject to become Drummond’s submissive.

Shirl Anders weaves a very erotic period romance, heavy on the erotic which doesn't take away a woman's power which I totally loved. As Gabriella discovers the joys of intimacy in the hands of Drummond and allows herself the freedom to explore her own sexuality the story molds into something powerful and engaging.

I enjoyed both of the main characters as they discover the boundaries of love and sexuality.

Again, this book is heavy on the erotic. There isn't much content to a story but I didn't find a need to drag this out for what it was. We get the gist but the emphasis here is on sexuality and anything outside this realm was just icing on the cake.

This was my first read from author Shirl Anders and won't be my last as I look ahead to the next books in her “The Archangels” series.

This book was a short read of 80 pages so if you're looking for a quickie, light on story line but HOT in the bedroom and several other places you might enjoy picking this one up!

[DKC · Rating 1 out of 5]

And this little literary cowpat, folks, is why I'd almost prefer to read sci-fi or paranomal erotica. Because this book isn't historical, in the same sense that calling a cat "Socrates" doesn't make it a Greek philosopher. Yes, this is that bad!

If I'm going to willingly suspend my disbelief (trust me, this book requires that ability in large quantities), then for f*&k's-sake, at least write in complete sentences! If I'm going to read cheap smut, please make it interesting cheap smut!

For those who don't get how bad this was:


1. This story read as though the author saw a bunch of historical romance tags, thought it'd be grand to do a mashup of all of those tags, and then tried to. No, she didn't really succeeded -- but she tried to.

2. Women didn't have damn mani-pedis in the 1820, 30's, 40's! (This is "set" supposedly, in the 1820s.) There were nail pastes, which would stain the nail for a time, or mimic a healthy hue. Got it? The fact that she mentions the heroine's shiny, long, bright red fingernails and toenails NUMEROUS times is ludicrous at best. I had to face-palm every time, too. Anyone want to make a drinking game out of this?

3. Writers who like to imagine that their precious story doesn't need clear grammatical structure -- for reasons such as the flow of the plot, descriptions, dialog, and character building -- are delusional. After the first chapter, I could not do more than scan the text, because giving my full attention to the first chapter almost gave me a seizure. It was the literary equivalent of flashing a damn strobe light into my brain, and not in a pleasant, rave-like way, either. It was somewhat akin to being forced to stub my toe at irregular intervals. Which, by the way, isn't pleasant!

4. Really goofy plot, plot "twist", and denouement. Too much, too late!

Honestly, I wish I could say something good about it, but even the sexy bits were hilari-bad. If there was a half-star rating, I'd be using it for this one. It's such a pity, too; I actually had a different book of hers on my "Want to Read" list, but now I'll have to remove it, before I'm tempted to give her a second chance, only to have my large intestine leap up and strangle my brain in an effort to save me from myself.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love historical romance. I would not put this book in that category. This is erotica that is set in the past. I could not finish the entire book due to the fact that he calls her madame nearly every time he talks to her! Annoying

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd reading: hot and sexy. Enjoyable reading. I've read this sexy series - its fab! 4☆

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just Horrible

This book was really, truly, honestly, straight up badly written. (Can you tell I'm trying to fill my word quota?)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

[Sharon Eikenberry-Deary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Past to presence to a love lasting forever

Gabriella was baron no use to her husband so he would sell her. Drummond felt his dream come true. With either not knowing they loved each other many years ago. Her husband arranged this sell. His mistress would give him and heir. Drummond is a dominant man but he'll give you pleasure like unknown. Will teach you about what of something, pleasure to lust. Her husband so effortlessly threw her to the side but why not Drummond? But truly he is her savior. In a short time she felt her strength in Drummond. Drummond in his dominant ways has showed her that it is ok to be wanton and lustfully. Just because polite society thinks it is wrong. She didn't care he has shown her so much. Showed her she is worthy of love being cherished and treated special. After 25 yrs the love still last. Drummond showed Gabriella how to love in a completely different way.

[Genevieve Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't completely get the 'historical' aspect of this book, but it was clear that this was supposed to be in, say, the Victorian age.

A woman is sold by her husband to the husband's friend because she can't pump out babies. She's still young and attractive, however, so the friend decides she'd be a good sex toy for himself. But first he has to 'compel' her to behave correctly. ("I aver, gentlemen, that most women need us to thrust through their inbred moral objections and show them the way.")

She's defiant at first, but the sex is so good she has no choice but to comply.

Some of the sex scenes were pretty well done. The plot was pretty basic. I guess, all in all, I got what I was looking for.

Rated 3.5

[Angie Kregg · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were way too many typos and misplaced commas for me to really enjoy the story. Some of the phrasing was awkward and seemed too modern for the time period. And while I liked the idea of the men being involved in a group of spies, there was no background given about this at all. The story would have been the same without that aspect to it.

[Zena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously hot!
Seriously hot with very descriptive amorous scenes. This is a second chances romance with a difference.
What did I like about this story? Well, mainly that this was a second chance for both of the main characters which worked out for them under most unusual circumstances and also that the 'husband' got what he deserved in the end.

[iDreem2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 overall stars

Couple 3.0
Plot 3.0
Story 2.5
Sex 3.5
Series 2.5

[lili kydland · Rating 5 out of 5]

hot

[GossamerMyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sizzling Sexy Story of a past love reunited and the sinful delights one can gave when they look beyond the bonds of society norms and give in to their basic instincts and hidden passions.

[L JONES · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me May 2022

Didn't get past the first chapters just didn't like the style and definitely didn't like the theme of this book

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly erotic Regency romance with emphasis on the "erotic." When Drummond found out that Gabriella, Lady St. John, was being "sold" by her husband in a "wife sale," he could not resist buying her. In truth, they had been a first love for each other, and Drummond was still puzzled after 25 years why Gabriella married someone else. This is a novella about the way Drummond stripped away Gabriella's false modesty and her socially correct and false perceptions about the true passionate nature of love between husband and wife. As leader of a now inactive spy organization called the Archangels, Drummond had the resources to prevent her husband from "buying her back" as he now knew he couldn't go on without marrying her as he had hoped to do 25 years earlier. A short story jam packed with hot loving and some exciting interaction of the Archangels as they enable Drummond and Gabriella to find the HEA.

[Mey Buentipo · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first book from this author. I got this book from kindle because it is free. I didn't know that this an erotica book. Anyway, I liked the plot that is why I got intrigued of it. Honestly, I am disappointed with this book. I just hoped that the author organized the story well. I don't like the characters of the h/h. It would be better if there is something more from it. I love my erotica novels to have story inspite, of the smexy scenes.

For the smexy scenes, well I read a better version of it. It is not really that hot from the other erotica books that I read.

I included it in my BDSM book because of the spanking part, but I think it is not that kind of book. I am very interested about the Archangels story, but I am hesitating about how the story will go.

For me this book is 2.5 stars. If only the author will organize and put some characters in the h/h this will go to 4 stars.

[Aղցela W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of historical and this book had a lot of The grammar errors in the text detracted from the story somewhat. Lady Gabriella is sold by her husband because she is barren. Drummond is the buyer. Full of sexual encounters between the two lovers. I found some of the things in the book unbelievable like being married 25 years and never seeing a naked man really. I have yet to decide if I want to continue with this series.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big historical fan but I really liked this one. Lady Gabriella is sold by her husband of 25 years because she is baron and the person that buys her was her suitor 25 years earlier before she married her jerk of a husband. Drummond has always loved Gabriella and never understood why she didn't marry him. This is their second chance at love.
I will also say that at 90% (the last chapter) I was laughing so hard that I had tears in my eyes.

I look forward to continuing this series.

[Diane Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much typical erotica to me -- lots of sex, not much plot. The characters were OK, but their relationship was a little hard to understand, especially at first. At least the book was cheap and short!

[Tiffany Tinkham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady St. John is purchased by a man that used to be in love with her and still is from her husband of several years. Drummond has to convince his love that the purchase was for her own good and that she also still had feelings for him as well. Pretty good read and not too long of a story either!

[Bags · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book from this author. I really enjoyed this first book in the series, and am about to get the rest.

It's a quick read with a really nice story line AND lots of hot lovemaking throughout the book.

[Gdgetgrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Maura Rossi]

I love this love story, rescue is one of my favorite themes. FIrst sex scene is a fantasy of many. I'm not usually into BDSM, but this is light on the B. S, M and heavy on L O V E!

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erotic historical. Loved this story.

[Amoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

I found it to be a great book I recommend it, from start to finish it had met, quite intriguing really. I love books written in this era and I was not disappointed.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 2 out of 5]

too.much sex and not enough story...prefer the other way around.

[Bebe Four · Rating 3 out of 5]

2+