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Her Heart for a Compass

By: Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York
Narrated by: Sarah Ferguson, Ell Potter
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Summary

The Top 10 Sunday Times bestseller

‘An immersive, romantic historical saga’
Hello Magazine

‘Congratulations, you are now officially out in society.’

The words made her spirits plummet. Out in society. On the market. And firmly set on a well-worn path that had only one destination. Marriage.

London 1865

When one act of rebellion costs Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott her place in society, her life is swept onto a new course. One that will test her courage and resilience.

From the drawing rooms of Victoria’s court to the grand country houses of Ireland, and the bustling streets of New York City; Margaret embarks on a journey of self-discovery where she will meet like-minded, and equally spirited, companions who shape her world.

But as she navigates the challenges of forging her own path in life, will she find the greatest courage of all, to follow her heart against all odds…?

©2021 Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
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Critic reviews

"A tale of daring and determination, set against the glamorous heights, and the harsh restrictions of aristocratic society in the middle years of the British nineteenth century." (Sir Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age)

"Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York has looked deep into her own generous impulsive heart to write a compelling story of a young woman who rebels against the restrictive Victorian conventions of her time to find self-fulfilment and love." (Internationally best-selling author Jeffrey Archer)

"A brilliant and glittering jewel of a novel, replete with fascinating historical detail, lush lyrical language, and compelling, complex characters who leap from the page." (Allison Pataki, New York Times best-selling author of The Queen’s Fortune)

"A deliciously evocative romp through high society life." (Rosie Nixon, author of Just Between Friends and editor in chief of HELLO! Magazine)

What listeners say about Her Heart for a Compass

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Excellent. A charming yet riveting mix of history and romance.

Such a surprise to listen to a wonderful story so creatively constructed full of images so vivid that I felt I was present in the very moment with them. Touching and inspiring. Also a delightful experience to have love and romance presented allowing our imaginations to feel tenderness and passion free from hearing about the details of sex. Thank you to all involved.

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An unexpected delight

Beautifully narrated by both Sarah Ferguson and Ell Potter. I was totally captivated from beginning to end of this well thought out story. I often thought that Margaret was so very brave to go against her father, but so admired her. The determination she showed, would have paved the way for others (thank god) I will now get Sarah Ferguson's second book to enjoy.

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Wonderful!

Extremely well written and carefully researched with excellent narration. The development of the heroine as an independent, remarkable woman is a heartwarming journey without a trace of mawkishness.

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A lovely read

Just loved this book from the first page to the last, and so enjoyed the narration.
Just perfect, we’ll done Sarah

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Great story

Well written and descriptive story thoroughly enjoyed will be buying the second novel love the historical aspect

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Brilliant

Captivating and enjoyable listen that takes you on a journey with Lady Margaret Scott. Highly recommended.

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Great listen I couldn’t put the book down

I love the way this book a has been written by Sarah with a nod to her own story.

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Exceptional Book and Audio

Could not put the book down. The Audio was so expressive and in tune with the story. To date one of my favourite audible purchases. Looking forward to the next book.

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Strength of a Woman

I absolutely loved every second of this book. I have had a very traumatic time in my life lately, I wanted to read a gentle story, with no violence or too much drama and tragedy. This was the perfect, enough intrigue to keep me hooked and wanting to find out what Lady M would do. I was frustrated with her choices, but understood her reasoning. A strong cast of characters, the narrator was perfect. Thank you Sarah, Duchess of York!!

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Captivating.

Her Heart for a Compass is a really excellent debut novel by Sarah Ferguson, not surprising considering that Marguerite Kaye co-wrote it with her. With the Duchess' ideas, understanding of life in the royal family, and Marguerite's expertise in writing excellent romance novels, they make a perfect team.

The story takes place over many years and follows the life of Lady Margaret Montagu Scott. Not ready for marriage, especially to the man her father has picked for her, Margaret acts rashly on the night that their betrothal was to be announced. From that moment life for her really begins. It certainly isn't all sunshine and roses, equally, it isn't all doom and gloom for her. What she does, who she meets, her friendships, and loves, where she goes and what she makes of her life, all make fascinating, exciting reading. Although a work of fiction, knowing it is based on some real-life people and places made it all the more intriguing for me. The amount of research that went into the book shows and is very much appreciated. It really helps to set the scene when you can read all about what people are wearing and/or the places they are visiting etc.
The narrator, Ell Potter, is new to me. I am very impressed with her performance of the many characters and their many varied accents. Reading a book myself is great, but when listening to somebody else read it, especially when it's an excellent narrator, it really brings the story to life. I get far more involved in a story when I listen to it.
At the end of the story, Sarah Ferguson speaks about herself and how she sees a lot of herself in Margaret. She also talks about how she came to write the book, how Marguerite Kaye was introduced to her, and what characters were fictional and which weren't. It was a nice insight into the Duchess and the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am very happy to recommend it. I am also adding Ell Potter to my list of favourite narrators.

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