Spirit of the Seas — Judy Kentrus

Ross Padgett steps into the captain's role for the first time aboard the Leighton Line's revolutionary steam-powered vessel, the SS Spirit of the Seas. Faced with an unexpected challenge, he is determined to lead his ship in a high-stakes race, competing for a lucrative contract to deliver the mail and newspapers from Liverpool to Boston, ensuring the future of the line.Upon arriving in Liverpool to collect a letter of intent to enter the race, Ross learns the race's victor has already been decided.  The odds are against him, but he sets sail with a fierce resolve to prove himself, only to confront sabotage and the threat of mutiny among his crew. Complicating matters, a captivating female passenger ignites emotions he believed were long extinguished after the tragic loss of his wife and son—until her hidden truths threaten to upend their budding romance. Lady Francesca Reina Isobel Delgado has spent the last two years fleeing the clutches of her ruthless stepfather, who will stop at nothing to claim her mother's estate. Disguised as a commoner and living in the shadows, Reina finds solace in caring for horses by day and dazzling the crowd with her Flamenco dancing by night. She defies the corrupt cantina owner in a dangerous game of deception involving a handsome American. She becomes the target of a deadly plot when the cantina owner's son is killed.  She manages to escape with a bounty on her head, but she's afraid her past will catch up with her before she can gain her freedom and start anew.After a chance encounter with a señorita fleeing for her life, Reina forms an alliance that could offer her a path to freedom.  When they board the ship to Boston, she discovers that the charming Americano who caught her eye is none other than the ship's captain. Reina must navigate a treacherous world of betrayal and hidden identities, while keeping her past a secret from the one man who holds the key to her heart and their future.This is a gripping journey of resilience, intrigue, and the destiny of two hearts.