Sara Adrien joins us this week to discuss The Spanish Riding School and the story behind A Taste of Gold
What was the rest of Europe like during the Regency-era? When crafting the opening chapters of A Taste of Gold, I wanted Vienna to shimmer with all the elegance, mystery, and gravitas that the period offered—and no place captured that better than the Spanish Riding School.
Nestled in the heart of Vienna, within the grand Hofburg Palace complex, the Spanish Riding School has been enchanting visitors for over 450 years. Known for its white Lipizzaner stallions and their breathtaking classical dressage performances, it remains one of Austria’s most visited cultural landmarks—and for good reason. Watching the stallions glide through their “airs above the ground,” it feels as though time slips backward, landing you squarely in the refined yet turbulent world of aristocratic Europe. I’ve been there myself. For my heroine in A Taste of Gold, Vienna marks the start of her journey—geographically, yes, but emotionally and romantically as well. I chose the Spanish Riding School not just for its visual splendor and historical appeal, but because it reflects the tension at the heart of my characters: elegance beneath pressure, discipline concealing passion, a love story unfolding in carefully measured steps until it can no longer be contained.
The school has always been more than spectacle. Founded in 1572, it became a place where tradition, strength, and beauty converged, passed from one generation to the next. That legacy mirrors what my characters are grappling with—inheritance, identity, and the cost of freedom. Although the narrative eventually shifts to England, Vienna—through the lens of the Spanish Riding School—sets the stage. It’s the beginning of the dance, the first crack in composure, and a place where the golden threads of longing first begin to shimmer.
Whether you’re reading A Taste of Gold or planning your own trip to Vienna, I hope the scenes at the Riding School stir your imagination as deeply as they stirred mine. I share more about my historical research in my Substack at authorsara.substack.com.
About the Book: A Taste of Gold
Her silence protects the man she loves and hides the woman she is.
Miss Maisie Morgenschein is very good at pretending everything is fine. Guardian to an orphaned marquess, she remains calm and protects a dangerous truth: nobody must know her real name—which makes it impossible for her lost love to find her, and that’s what she wants most. She still writes him letters she can’t send, not knowing where he is. A connection to her might lead the villain to him.
Dr. Felix Leafley, Harley Street’s most sought-after dentist, uses an English alias to keep hispatients—and the other doctors at the practice—safe. Years ago, he was a medical student with Maisie in his arms. When circumstances tore them apart, they vowed to find each other. But passion refuses to stay polite, and secrets refuse to stay buried.
She can’t use her real name to find him. He can’t use his to be found.
The result? A duel of aliases, near-miss letters, and one dangerously perfect kiss. But just as Felix and Maisie dare to speak their names, the villain closes in—and the truth may cost them the one thing neither believed possible: a future together.
From nostalgic Vienna to elegant historical London, A TASTE OF GOLD is a steamy, heart-forward romance about second chances, found family, and the courage to claim your life. This full-length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after and no cliffhangers. It is part of a series that can be read in any order.
- Second-chance romance
- Secret identities & hidden pasts
- Found family
- Redemption and reunion
- Medical romance
- Guardian-ward family stakes
- Tortured hero with a heart of gold
- Powerful antagonist / villain
- Slow burn with steamy payoff
- Pining for years
- Near-miss / almost-meet tension
- Brotherhood of doctors
- outsider hero
Read for FREE on Kindle unlimited or purchase it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZL49HT4
Miracles on Harley Street series
Book 1: A Sight to Behold
Book 2: The Scent of Intuition
Book 3: A Touch of Charm
Book 4: The Sound of Seduction
Book 5: A Taste of Gold
Book 6: Bring Me A Winter Miracle
Read Book 5 of Miracles on Harley Street now!
Get the whole bundle about the Jewish Regency romances I wrote here:
https://saraadrien.com/products/12-book-bundle
About the Author
Bestselling author Sara Adrien writes Regency romances brimming with passion, intrigue, and unforgettable characters. While many of her stories include a Jewish twist, her books also feature a vibrant array of professions and talents—from doctors and nurses, foreign princes and princesses, Crown jewelers to treasure hunters, and culinary heroines. A former law professor, Sara masterfully weaves together historically rich subplots and sizzling love stories that leave a lasting impression. Fans of smart heroines, sexy heroes, and the timeless charm of the Regency era will fall in love with her books. Her series include Infiltrating the Ton, Diamond Dynasty, Check Mates, Miracles on Harley Street, Wedding Fever, and several Lyon’s Den novels.