After the murder of her father the Prince of Joor, Princess Sarani Rao has no choice but to flee India for her own safety. She finds a ship to transport her to England, captained by none other than her former sweetheart Rhystan, the Duke of Embry, whose heart she broke five years earlier when he was a British officer stationed in India. Rhystan has never forgiven Sarani's betrayal, and he's furious when he finds her stowed away. As Sarani slowly learns the ropes as a deckhand, Rhystan starts to feel admiration for her, along with a still-smoldering desire. The story moves swiftly, from the grime of the ship to the glittering ballrooms of London, where Sarani faces her most formidable foes yet: the racist scorn of polite society, and Rhystan's disapproving mother. Luckily, Sarani's wits are as sharp as the knives she carries; she'll need them to help her navigate the shark-infested waters of London society and win the heart of the man she loves. This novel was substantially revised and retitled after readers of the ARC criticized its depiction of British rule in India and characterization of Sarani's Indian heritage. VERDICT Readers looking for historical escapism will be swept up in Sarani and Rhystan's high-seas adventures.--Kathryn Howe, Saint John Free P.L., NB