A disenchanted wife sets sail across the Atlantic for a new life in Bouzaid’s romance novel.

The author chronicles the adventurous life of Sophia Lawrence, who falls into a spontaneous marriage with Edward Lawrence, a wealthy Boston attorney, in 1985. Though handsome and descended from a long line of British aristocrats, Edward is “boorish” even while introducing her to all the affluent perks of his illustrious pedigree: dual New England homes, a yacht, society soirees, and “an enviable position in society.” But after a restless decade of serving as Edward’s glorified “adornment” and tolerating his insolence and extramarital dalliances, Sophia abandons the marriage and flees across the Atlantic Ocean by sailboat. After nearly a month, she and her crew arrive in Ireland only to receive the tragic news that Edward had perished in an automobile accident back home. She returns to America to fight a hostile battle with Henry, Edward’s twin brother, over the dead man’s estate. She then travels to London, where she’s swept off her feet by Prince Abdullah bin Abbas of Arabia, who adorns her with lavish gifts and a proposal. An opulent life follows for the newly crowned Princess Sophia, but the culture shock of the Arabian desert makes her fully aware of how reckless her impulsive decisions really are. The author embellishes each of her characters with creatively drawn personalities and authentically regal qualities that will entice readers, particularly romance fans, into following their glamorous exploits. The frothy melodrama comes packed with plenty of sizzling seductions (“Her eyes followed his chest downward, taking in his well-muscled torso, his lean abs, and the cut of his V, down to the proof of his desire for her”) and unexpected plot twists. Despite the frenetic busyness of the novel, Bouzaid retains a firm control over all the action, keeping her protagonist scrupulously in character throughout. This is an auspicious debut for an author who displays a clear talent for romantic intrigue, complex characterizations, and turbulent emotional turmoil.

A brisk and boldly provocative romance rooted in the hard lessons learned in life and love.