Abigail Merchant has something to prove -- to her father, who chose his career over his family, and to her mother, who urged her to have an adventure, chase after life and generally quit being so stodgy.

So she travels to Britain to take a job at the British Museum, where women still are not considered appropriate choices for the job of librarian. The principal librarian sticks her in the basement cataloguing boxes and boxes of books and papers that have been donated to the museum. In the mess, Abigail finds a treasure -- the papers of a professor whose research had pointed him to the location of the lost Great Library of Alexandria.

Now the adventure her mother wished upon Abigail really begins. Armed with knowledge garnered (where else!) from books, Abigail travels to India to find the library and prove herself to her father with the great discovery. Unfortunately, books don't adequately explain seasickness, and Abigail finds herself at the mercy of Apollo Smith when she's struck seriously sick. With ill-grace, Apollo nurses her through the journey, expecting never to see her again. He's on his own mission -- to seek revenge on the man who deserted him to prison and almost certain death.

No amount of reading or planning or research could have prepared Abigail for the turn her life takes. Apollo is wanted by the French Legion for desertion, and the soldiers are waiting at the dock. With her life inextricably tied to his through a series of unfortunate events, Abigail's adventure looks to be suffering.

Whew! I loved this book. Action, action, action and then lots of hot, sensuous love scenes. Abigail is adorable (and reminds me of myself years ago -- living through books and sure that she knows everything!) and Apollo is a terrific character. Great plotting, terrific pacing and characters you want to befriend (or at least join on an adventure) all add up to a read you can't put down. What fun!