Battle Smoke — Adam Hardy

ONLY THE RUTHLESS SURVIVE

Years on the high seas had taught George Abercrombie Fox that running a ship and winning battles with it were only for the brave and the brash ... for the men who would die rather than surrender to the sea or the enemy.

Now, with the Furieuse barely afloat, with the captain barely in command of his crew, with the French preparing another attack, only Fox can maneuver them back home. The big question is: at what price?

Fox is a genius at whipping ships and men back into shape. But few can tolerate his tough and demanding standards of excellence. Once again, he must defy men of power and influence for the honor of his ship and his men. Even if it means fighting an entire squadron. Which bigod, he is prepared to do!

This is the eighth novel in the Fox naval adventure series. Fox is not the noble hero of traditional fiction. He is a fighting man who transcends heroism -- mean, cunning and vicious when trapped ... ruthless and ambitious when up against the murderous crash of broadsides and the reek of battle smoke. There's no way to outfox Fox!