The Princess Stakes by Amalie Howard

The Princess Stakes Series: Daring Dukes series book #1
on June 29, 2021
Pages: 352
Goodreads

Born to an Indian maharaja, Princess Sarani Rao has it all: beauty, riches, and a crown. But with a British mother, her mixed blood makes her a pariah and a target. And when Sara's father is murdered, her only hope of survival is to escape on the next ship out―captained by the boy she once loved...and spurned.

Captain Rhystan Huntley, the reluctant Duke of Embry, has a place in the English fleet, which he's loathe to give up. But duty is calling him home, and this is his final voyage. Leave it to fate that the one woman he's ever loved must escape India on his ship.

The Princess Stakes is book one in the Daring Dukes series by Amalie Howard. Howard is one of my favorite authors. She always writes out of the box plots that are so creative and engaging. In this book, the heroine is a beautiful Indian princess named Sarani Rao. Her character is well developed and reflects the struggles a woman of her time might face with prejudice and intrigue. The hero Rhystan is the new Duke of Embry and also a sailing captain. He and Sarani have met before. Their relationship ended in heartbreak and confusion. Is it possible for them to find love again? There are quite a few very steamy scenes in this book, sometimes, a little too much for my taste. Overall, a very well written book by one of my favorite authors. I checked out this book from my local library.