Iโve always loved characters who are out of their element and trying hard to fit
in โ think Julia Roberts in
Pretty Woman or Reese Witherspoon in
Wild. Thereโs something about having to force your way through a
discomfort in order to grow, emotionally or spiritually or both, that appeals to
me. So when it came to writing
STAGES OF
DESIRE, my historical romance, I couldnโt help but use the trope for my hero
and heroine.
William, Earl of Abingdon, reluctantly comes to the title when his brother is
killed, after having trained as a physician and researcher. Science is his
first love, and heโs determined to find a cure for malaria to help his ailing
sister. But heโs sent off to track down the flighty ward of the duchess whose
daughter heโs been wooing, and finds himself penniless and on the road with a
ragtag bunch of actors. Itโs his worst nightmare, as he considers plays to be
silly entertainment and actors untrustworthy. During the course of the book he
is put through his paces, including having to appear onstage, and forced to
reconsider his presumptions.
Harriet Farley, on the other hand, was born into a family of strolling players
and sent to live with the duchess amid the grandeur of London society, as a
companion to the duchessโs daughter. Sheโs tried to please the duchess, but the
niceties donโt come easy. When Harriet runs away to save her father, she
blossoms into the woman she was meant to be, much to Williamโs shock.
Ultimately, they must decide if they dare risk the security of the familiar in
order to find true love.
What โfish out of waterโ stories or films are your favorite and why?
About STAGES OF DESIRE
To be or not to be โ in loveโฆ
As a ward of the Duchess of Dorset, Harriet can hardly expect more from a match
than the ringing endorsement of โfrom what Iโve heard, the man is financially
secure and his teeth are quite regular.โ After all, sheโs only the lowly
daughter of traveling actors, not the actual daughter of the duchess.
William Talbot, Earl of Abingdon is set to marry the duchessโs daughter. After
his elder brotherโs scandalous death, his familyโs reputation is paramount, and
heโll allow nothing to damage it again. But when Harriet disappears to save her
father from debtorโs prison, the scandal threatens William and his intendedโs
family. The simple task of fetching the duchessโs runaway ward turns complicated
when Harriet insists on traveling with her fatherโs acting company. Williamโs
forced to tag along, and finds himself entranced. The stage transforms Harriet
into a free-spirited, captivating beauty. But, someoneโs been sabotaging the
theater company, and instead of facing scandal, William and Harriet discover a
threat not only to their growing passion, but to their livesโฆ
About Julia Tagan
Julia
Tagan lives in New York City, where she worked as an actress before
venturing into writing. A journalist by training, she enjoys weaving actual
events and notorious individuals into her historical romances. Her favorite
activities include walking her dog in Central Park, scouring farmersโ markets
for the perfect tomato, and traveling to foreign cities in search of inspiration.
© 2003-2026