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The Sandalwood Princess
Determined to uncover who stole her sandalwood statue, Amanda Cavencourt - an Englishwoman living in India - is shocked to learn the culprit is a notorious rogue known as the Falcon. Why would a man renowned for his dangerous and delicate missions indulge in petty thievery? Intrigued by the mystery — and rumors of the Falcon's devilish charm and good looks—Amanda sets out on the trail of the brazen blackguard. But what she stumbles upon is a man who just may be her perfect match....
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
83 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Chase
52 books3,663 followersLoretta Lynda Chekani was born in 1949, of Albanian ancestry. For her, the trouble started when she learned to write in first grade. Before then, she had been making up her own stories but now she knew how to write them down to share. In her teenage years, she continue to write letters, keep a journal, write poetry and even attempt the Great American Novel (still unfinished). She attended New England public schools, before she went off to college and earned an English degree from Clark University.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 19, 2019
3,5 Stars
An older (1990) little gem ascribing to the structure of a more traditional Regency, but with more zest and action than usual, spanning from India to England.
A stolen sandalwood statuette with a legend attached, two long lost lovers holding a grudge setting the plot into motion to have our hero and heroine meet. But nobody is what and who they say they are, though through ruses, shams and deceit love may find its way all the same.
A fun, quick read, smoothly written with flair and wit and already showing the then budding Loretta Chase’s potential.
November 25, 2012
The cover advertises this book as a "Regency" romance. True, it is set during the regency period, and part of the book does take place in Yorkshire. However, this is not one of those polite regency novels about manners, "the season" or ball gowns.
The book starts off in India. Amanda is given a statue by her good friend The Rani. A legend surrounds the statue, but Amanda has no idea the monetary value of the relic. Amanda has the statue for less than an hour before she is attacked and the statue is stolen from her.
Amanda, her lady's maid, chaperone, and Rani's "Cook" all board the ship where the renowned thief "The Falcon" must have booked passage.
After such a fast start, this part of the book started to seem a little boring. They were all on the ship for nearly eight months. There is a case of mistaken identity that allows Amanda to spend time with Phillip-aka- "The Falcon" while on the long voyage. So, their attraction to one another starts here. Although this section of the book may appear slow moving, there is a method to the madness, so hang in there.
The second half of the book picks up speed a little as we watch the doomed relationship between Phillip and Amanda develop. The question is: Who will betray whom?
I really enjoyed this short romance. Only 240 pages long, it is a quick read. Published in 1990, this book is a little older, but is not dated in any way. The sensuality is almost G rated. Kissing and very mild innuendo only. The story was so good though, I don't think you will miss that element. Overall an A-
The book starts off in India. Amanda is given a statue by her good friend The Rani. A legend surrounds the statue, but Amanda has no idea the monetary value of the relic. Amanda has the statue for less than an hour before she is attacked and the statue is stolen from her.
Amanda, her lady's maid, chaperone, and Rani's "Cook" all board the ship where the renowned thief "The Falcon" must have booked passage.
After such a fast start, this part of the book started to seem a little boring. They were all on the ship for nearly eight months. There is a case of mistaken identity that allows Amanda to spend time with Phillip-aka- "The Falcon" while on the long voyage. So, their attraction to one another starts here. Although this section of the book may appear slow moving, there is a method to the madness, so hang in there.
The second half of the book picks up speed a little as we watch the doomed relationship between Phillip and Amanda develop. The question is: Who will betray whom?
I really enjoyed this short romance. Only 240 pages long, it is a quick read. Published in 1990, this book is a little older, but is not dated in any way. The sensuality is almost G rated. Kissing and very mild innuendo only. The story was so good though, I don't think you will miss that element. Overall an A-
October 22, 2014
Amanda is gifted a carved fertility statue. Philip "The Falcon" is hired to steal said carved fertility statue. Which he does. Until they end up on the same boat together, traveling back to England. Except now they have feelings for each other! WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!
1. THIS COVER IS A MESS.
2. So here's what happens next: So Amanda doesn't realize that Philip is a dirty rotten thief face; instead, she thinks he's a valet! So their flirting is tinged with this weird sense of wrong-ness! And then Amanda successfully reclaims her statue and pisses Philip right the fuck off. So he hunts her down and ends up getting hired as her butler?? And more feelings? Before he ultimately betrays her?????
3. BASICALLY I don't know what I feel. It has all the elements of Chase that I live for: banter; a tinge of angst; a sprawling story that expanded the close confines of regency England; BANTER. That said, there was that requisite "grounding" period that makes trudging through the first quarter/third of a Chase book somewhat difficult. And the hero's kind of a major dick. And poor Amanda is just SO naive that it's almost painful. And parts definitely dragged while other parts flew by and it ended up feeling uneven. Parts were 4 stars; parts were 2.
4. I KIND OF LOVE THE RANI?
1. THIS COVER IS A MESS.
2. So here's what happens next: So Amanda doesn't realize that Philip is a dirty rotten thief face; instead, she thinks he's a valet! So their flirting is tinged with this weird sense of wrong-ness! And then Amanda successfully reclaims her statue and pisses Philip right the fuck off. So he hunts her down and ends up getting hired as her butler?? And more feelings? Before he ultimately betrays her?????
3. BASICALLY I don't know what I feel. It has all the elements of Chase that I live for: banter; a tinge of angst; a sprawling story that expanded the close confines of regency England; BANTER. That said, there was that requisite "grounding" period that makes trudging through the first quarter/third of a Chase book somewhat difficult. And the hero's kind of a major dick. And poor Amanda is just SO naive that it's almost painful. And parts definitely dragged while other parts flew by and it ended up feeling uneven. Parts were 4 stars; parts were 2.
4. I KIND OF LOVE THE RANI?
June 25, 2013
I really liked Amanda but the hero Philip was a selfish unlikeable ass who never actually improves. He steals the statue from her (assaulting her in the execution) for no other reason than money. He was a soldier and is now a lord, stealing as a spy for his country is acceptable, for cash when he has no need of the money is not. Then when Amanda cleverly steals (and is it even stealing when she is obtaining her OWN PROPRERTY) it back. Philip then rants about what a bitch she is for stealing from him and determines to get the statue and his revenge. Reality check a-hole you stole from her, it is HER property. Then he spends 5 months gaining her trust and seducing her all so he can trick her out of the statue. He knows she loves him and has no-one else, he even develops feelings for her but does any of that change his behaviour - no he holds her at gunpoint, dumps her on the side of the road & makes off with the statue. At no point does he even try to change or make it up to her. He then follows her back to India were she immediately forgives him and they live happily ever after. It made me sick. Amanda deserves SOO much better than Phillip. I cannot believe this hero came from the same pen as Rupert in Mr Impossible.
August 17, 2017
Up a star for unique setting and a far fetched plot she sold me on enough that I wasn't the least bit bothered. Depth full portrayal of India, intriguing nefarious characters and differing shades of morality. Well-sustained atmosphere of suspense, danger and mystery where required. I also like how much time passed in this book. Slow burn romances are the best. Everyone had more than sufficient time to get to know each other thoroughly.
December 2, 2016
4.5 stars. Another wonderfully written book by Loretta Chase. It was lush and exotic with its connections to Indian culture. Our hero and heroine have some MAJOR obstacles and their attraction builds slowly. Very light on sensuality, this is more in the style of traditional Regencies. Nevertheless, it reached into my emotions in a powerful way. Very good book.
October 13, 2023
So my star rating for this one is part of my special Loretta Chase Traditional Regencies Star Rating System. Here, a four-star book might not be as “good” as a four-star book in my Everything Else Star Rating System, but I still loved this one.
I’ve now read all of Loretta Chase’s traditional regencies, and this and Viscount Vagabond are my faves. The Sandalwood Princess feels very different from the rest, because a) it’s mostly set on a boat or in India and b) our hero Philip (and, you could argue, our heroine, Amanda) is morally gray with none of this “turning over a new leaf” nonsense at the end. And what I’m learning about myself is that I love a morally gray hero—not in the sense of “I’m a mafia kingpin but you can label me as morally gray because I’m a big softy for the woman I love” but truly morally gray, even to the heroine, all the way through. Philip, or the Falcon as he’s known, reminds me a lot of Jason in Edith Layton’s The Duke’s Wager. Yum.
Throughout, Philip is deceiving Amanda or Amanda is deceiving Philip, but Loretta is so good that you can still see how they’re falling for each other (even if you do feel paranoid that they’re fooling each other on THAT too, until quite late in the book) and how good they will be for each other once they get their HEA.
“Falling in love…. If it were merely that, she’d stand a chance. But she must have fallen in love lifetimes ago. Now she simply loved with it by day, and died a little of it, by inches, every night.”
This was twisty turny and never predictable in the details, and I loved it.
A note on the Indian setting: I felt uneasy at points about how India and Indians are talked about in this book but don’t feel qualified to know if it’s racist/offensive or not. I do feel like this book has to be read through a colonial lens, not a modern (2020s) one. Because many Brits of the time WOULD have spoken about India and its people in this way. It feels of its time, and by that I mean not 1991 but 1816. If that makes sense.
I’ve now read all of Loretta Chase’s traditional regencies, and this and Viscount Vagabond are my faves. The Sandalwood Princess feels very different from the rest, because a) it’s mostly set on a boat or in India and b) our hero Philip (and, you could argue, our heroine, Amanda) is morally gray with none of this “turning over a new leaf” nonsense at the end. And what I’m learning about myself is that I love a morally gray hero—not in the sense of “I’m a mafia kingpin but you can label me as morally gray because I’m a big softy for the woman I love” but truly morally gray, even to the heroine, all the way through. Philip, or the Falcon as he’s known, reminds me a lot of Jason in Edith Layton’s The Duke’s Wager. Yum.
Throughout, Philip is deceiving Amanda or Amanda is deceiving Philip, but Loretta is so good that you can still see how they’re falling for each other (even if you do feel paranoid that they’re fooling each other on THAT too, until quite late in the book) and how good they will be for each other once they get their HEA.
“Falling in love…. If it were merely that, she’d stand a chance. But she must have fallen in love lifetimes ago. Now she simply loved with it by day, and died a little of it, by inches, every night.”
This was twisty turny and never predictable in the details, and I loved it.
A note on the Indian setting: I felt uneasy at points about how India and Indians are talked about in this book but don’t feel qualified to know if it’s racist/offensive or not. I do feel like this book has to be read through a colonial lens, not a modern (2020s) one. Because many Brits of the time WOULD have spoken about India and its people in this way. It feels of its time, and by that I mean not 1991 but 1816. If that makes sense.
December 11, 2019
I enjoyed this story. The interaction between H and h was very well done. This tale starts in India, continues onboard a ship for the very long voyage to England. I was surprised by how much time was spent on the ship. Why is everyone interested in the sandlewood princess statue?
April 26, 2013
I have wanted to read this book for years but just got the chance this week thanks to ebooks. I didn't know exactly what to expect, just that it was well reviewed and not a typical regency romance. I can honestly say that this was definitely a different read. It was unique, surprising, alternately fast and slow paced, and contained some of the best writing I have read...ever. I have put off writing this review a bit because I just didn't know where to start.
First off, Ms. Chase has taken a relatively simple plot of revenge and thievery and turned it into what felt like to me, the shortest epic ever written. When I finished I felt like I had just put down an 800 page dynasty. The change of locations were taken with so much care that I felt like I was in India, on a ship for almost a year, and hidden away in the English countryside. The writing was so descriptive that the scenery almost became characters themselves as they drove the story forward. I've read a lot of books, but I have never read one transported me so completely to a ship.
Of course when you have such magnificent locations, the characters must keep up. Phillip and Amanda are wonderful as they both alternately use and succumb to each other. Neither is perfect or outmatched. They both use what talents they have at their disposal to get what they want and make the tough decisions as needed. I was continuously reminded of The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne throughout due to the excellent prose, snappy dialogue, and fully-developed characters that made me wish they were my neighbors ( well except for the whole thievery stuff). The roles of the servants were well-defined and they stayed true to their characters throughout.
After the twists and turns the story took, I was beginning to fear for any sort of happily ever after. It all worked out in the end with a couple more surprises thrown into the muddy waters. I was left with a feeling of certainty that the drama was done, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Rani Simha had a few more enemies to deal with.
I highly recommend this book with a five star rating. It is better than anything I've read lately. And it was only $2.99 on Kindle :)
First off, Ms. Chase has taken a relatively simple plot of revenge and thievery and turned it into what felt like to me, the shortest epic ever written. When I finished I felt like I had just put down an 800 page dynasty. The change of locations were taken with so much care that I felt like I was in India, on a ship for almost a year, and hidden away in the English countryside. The writing was so descriptive that the scenery almost became characters themselves as they drove the story forward. I've read a lot of books, but I have never read one transported me so completely to a ship.
Of course when you have such magnificent locations, the characters must keep up. Phillip and Amanda are wonderful as they both alternately use and succumb to each other. Neither is perfect or outmatched. They both use what talents they have at their disposal to get what they want and make the tough decisions as needed. I was continuously reminded of The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne throughout due to the excellent prose, snappy dialogue, and fully-developed characters that made me wish they were my neighbors ( well except for the whole thievery stuff). The roles of the servants were well-defined and they stayed true to their characters throughout.
After the twists and turns the story took, I was beginning to fear for any sort of happily ever after. It all worked out in the end with a couple more surprises thrown into the muddy waters. I was left with a feeling of certainty that the drama was done, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Rani Simha had a few more enemies to deal with.
I highly recommend this book with a five star rating. It is better than anything I've read lately. And it was only $2.99 on Kindle :)
January 13, 2022
Okay, let’s be clear - this is probably not actually a four star read, objectively, I just really like Loretta Chase and enjoyed the fact that the story bridged India and England, and that it was a spy/heist story with a winter in a castle interlude and essentially the ultimate female fantasy of a dude taking competent and uncomplaining care of the total domestic sphere including your kitchen, laundry and cleaning while you pursue creative endeavors in a library with a fireplace. Like, 4 stars for the fantasy right there, romance with questionable appropriation of Hindu culture be damned. Loretta does a great job of making alpha male characters who also don’t wave their dicks around too much and I like that.
August 15, 2023
I just didn’t enjoy it. Too much intrigue, violence, and drama for reason. Too much idolatry for comfort. Not nearly enough romance. People were poisoned so a woman could serve a cold dish of revenge. Yet all is forgiven. It’s fine, all the dreadful things that happened to a whole bunch of innocent people, all fine. She meant well. I guess even the great Loretta Chase can write a stinker.
December 20, 2014
I adore Loretta Chase's books. However, I do not adore: stories set in India, stories set on the high seas, and stories where the mystery overshadows the romance. Consequently, I did not adore The Sandalwood Princess.
March 25, 2016
This book closes for me the 'marathon read' of all Loretta Chase books, as it was the last one on my list.
Perhaps I'd enjoyed it more if I had read it among the first ones as after all it's an early written book in her career.
However, I didn't find it disagreeable, it has quite a nice story to it, although you can feel a little bit frustrated by an erratic pace throughout the book.
It starts in India, where we meet the two protagonists, a clever thief "The Falcon" and a young aristocrat who is sent back to England by her brother who has just married and thus settling his own home there. Actually, as I'm writing this down, I'm not really sure why Amanda has to go back to England when there's no-one, friends or family waiting for her there. But well. The Falcon, must also go back to England as he's somehow been uncovered, and to save his 'servant's' life who has been poisoned. You see, in truth, he's a kind of spy for the British government. Although his last mission, the theft of a little wood statue, has nothing to do with politics but more with the obsession of a marquess who once had a relation with The Rani, Amanda's best friend and sort of spiritual mother, but also, dangerous and cunning woman... who just offered her the statue as a parting gift.
So, really, those two were fated to clash against the other, one day or the other.
Then, it ensued a very veeeery long trip from Calcutta to England where basically, almost nothing happens. Almost I said. This trip takes about half the book, and believe me it's a very short book to begin with. I would have preferred the trip to be a bit shorter and more story after. Or she could have kept the trip that long but added an extra hundred or fifty pages to the rest of the story, to make it more balanced. Imo. But like I said it's an early book.
I don't really want to spoil that book for you, but there were some very funny and 'awww' moments in that book. I quite like both protagonists, which is kinda rare I think. They are both well written, I wouldn't have minded a thicker book. But no sex at all, pass you way if that's what you're after, but only very 'good' (well-behaved) romance and slow feeling building, but very, veeery slow. You've been warned.
So, I guess as an early book, it's quite a good one, in spite of some flaws, but if you compare it to, well, Dukes prefer Blondes, I'm afraid it won't stand the comparison. Which is a shame really, as it's quite a nice little story in the end, and quite funny too.
Perhaps I'd enjoyed it more if I had read it among the first ones as after all it's an early written book in her career.
However, I didn't find it disagreeable, it has quite a nice story to it, although you can feel a little bit frustrated by an erratic pace throughout the book.
It starts in India, where we meet the two protagonists, a clever thief "The Falcon" and a young aristocrat who is sent back to England by her brother who has just married and thus settling his own home there. Actually, as I'm writing this down, I'm not really sure why Amanda has to go back to England when there's no-one, friends or family waiting for her there. But well. The Falcon, must also go back to England as he's somehow been uncovered, and to save his 'servant's' life who has been poisoned. You see, in truth, he's a kind of spy for the British government. Although his last mission, the theft of a little wood statue, has nothing to do with politics but more with the obsession of a marquess who once had a relation with The Rani, Amanda's best friend and sort of spiritual mother, but also, dangerous and cunning woman... who just offered her the statue as a parting gift.
So, really, those two were fated to clash against the other, one day or the other.
Then, it ensued a very veeeery long trip from Calcutta to England where basically, almost nothing happens. Almost I said. This trip takes about half the book, and believe me it's a very short book to begin with. I would have preferred the trip to be a bit shorter and more story after. Or she could have kept the trip that long but added an extra hundred or fifty pages to the rest of the story, to make it more balanced. Imo. But like I said it's an early book.
I don't really want to spoil that book for you, but there were some very funny and 'awww' moments in that book. I quite like both protagonists, which is kinda rare I think. They are both well written, I wouldn't have minded a thicker book. But no sex at all, pass you way if that's what you're after, but only very 'good' (well-behaved) romance and slow feeling building, but very, veeery slow. You've been warned.
So, I guess as an early book, it's quite a good one, in spite of some flaws, but if you compare it to, well, Dukes prefer Blondes, I'm afraid it won't stand the comparison. Which is a shame really, as it's quite a nice little story in the end, and quite funny too.
March 27, 2014
The overall story was great.. Only problem was there was a lot (and I mean A LOT) of time jumps. This whole book's time duration is almost 2 years I think.. I think the time jumps when they were traveling was necessary but after that those weren't- and that's where I started to disconnect a little bit.
I did like the hero and the heroine and all the side characters and the overall regency-style story so I have no complaints really other than the time jumps. I still def recommend this if you're looking for a good regency- cuz even if it's her early works, Chase is still rocks:)
I did like the hero and the heroine and all the side characters and the overall regency-style story so I have no complaints really other than the time jumps. I still def recommend this if you're looking for a good regency- cuz even if it's her early works, Chase is still rocks:)
September 29, 2011
A very solid story, the best-paced and plotted of her six traditional Regencies. As opposed to the rest, this one doesn't have much action in London, so no boring Season, beaux, etc. (which can get tiresome after a while). Instead, it's an exciting tale that begins in India and travels with the characters through to England (and back).
October 29, 2013
This is a far-fetched but engrossing read that takes you from India to England and, finally, back to India. It is more than a romance. There is intrigue, alter egos, exotic heritage and much more. Julie's review is excellent in encapsulating the storyline and I heartily agree with her perspective. I would say this is 3 - 3-1/2 stars.
September 27, 2015
Eh. Not my favorite. I think I would have bailed out if it weren't Chase. Apparently, at some point, ListenAlaska bought her entire oeuvre. But, judging by the reviews here, some people LAHV it which...eh. Also, Padji? More than a little racist, my friends.
March 30, 2015
3 is a little generous. A so-so offering from Chase, who I find can rise to great heights and also write some truly terrible books. This falls in the mediocre middle.
April 3, 2019
I loved how h wasn't a pushover she was also devious:)
April 27, 2021
I found the heroine a little too impossibly naieve to be believable. Found the story a bit tedious and lacking in passion.
May 5, 2017
The Kindle version has a number of typos. I hate that!
****Spoilers follow****
I guess I'd give this a 3.5. Usually anything less than 4 means I didn't like the book, but this one did have some intriguing elements. I just didn't feel that these elements were completely woven into the whole. The issues became more understandable when I realized the original publication date was 1991. More themes were introduced into this book than necessary or possible to deal with well by a (then) less-experienced author.
It is pretty obvious from the beginning that the rani has planned for her young friend to fall for the thief, but that was OK with me. HR's aren't supposed to keep you guessing until the end. The rani is quite heavy-handedly "inscrutable" and therefore teetering on the edge of an unacceptable stereotype -- maybe some will think it goes over the edge -- but still a guiltily-enjoyed departure from the "all English all the time" characters of the books I've been drawn to reading lately.
What I didn't love so much was that the action in the book extends over a long time span, for a romance (18 months at least), but this is not conveyed well in the book itself, without resorting to flat out statements about "the seven voyage", "eighteen months in which he'd pursued her", etc. The H/h had such a long time to develop intimacy and dwell in hopeless longing and sweltering boredom, but this seemed rather skipped over.
There is a period where the H is serving as her butler in the country for several wintry months, which is lovely, but I just kept thinking that more could have been done with that time, to illustrate the passage of time.
There is an intriguing and recurring dream that the h describes to her accomplice, which is fun for people who like to interpret dreams, but just a short scene to get through if that's not your thing.
Interestingly, the H is prone to seasickness (in extreme conditions) and terrors left over from childhood torture. There is also a mention of his extremely slim hips. He is described as tall but is not described as muscled, although he is able to best the h in a fight. He is thin enough that a period of self-imposed confinement in a nasty little ship cabin leaves him under the weather. Just had to wonder if that might make him a beta hero??? Still trying to wrap my head around that term. I shouldn't think there are many like him in "adventure romance" and I did enjoy the contrast to, say, a Stephanie Laurens hero. (I'm a fan of SL, don't get me wrong! It's just that her heroes are more like those from an action movie, where despite being tied up in a basement for a week, and shot, they're still able to carry the heroine to bed, and perform heroically there, too.)
(Sensuality level of his book: quite tame, btw. Kissing.)
Finally, the childhood or parent-child relationship issues of the H/h seemed a bit formulaic to me. Especially for the h, the big reveal of the mother's long-term "illness" wasn't capitalized on because the fact that there even was a secret to be revealed was tossed in quite quickly. I don't think every character must have an issue in their backstory! The heroine had quite enough characteristics to make her stand out and therefore feel herself to be abnormal or to be picked on, being, as she was, interested in Indian culture and willing to submerge herself in it to the extent of learning Hindustani and apparently Sanskrit, being an author, being part Indian, being older (26!), etc. Her mother's dealer and adulterous lover is introduced into the story only to be summarily dropped after the h's reaction to a chance sighting of him brings out the information about her mother's addiction.
****Spoilers follow****
I guess I'd give this a 3.5. Usually anything less than 4 means I didn't like the book, but this one did have some intriguing elements. I just didn't feel that these elements were completely woven into the whole. The issues became more understandable when I realized the original publication date was 1991. More themes were introduced into this book than necessary or possible to deal with well by a (then) less-experienced author.
It is pretty obvious from the beginning that the rani has planned for her young friend to fall for the thief, but that was OK with me. HR's aren't supposed to keep you guessing until the end. The rani is quite heavy-handedly "inscrutable" and therefore teetering on the edge of an unacceptable stereotype -- maybe some will think it goes over the edge -- but still a guiltily-enjoyed departure from the "all English all the time" characters of the books I've been drawn to reading lately.
What I didn't love so much was that the action in the book extends over a long time span, for a romance (18 months at least), but this is not conveyed well in the book itself, without resorting to flat out statements about "the seven voyage", "eighteen months in which he'd pursued her", etc. The H/h had such a long time to develop intimacy and dwell in hopeless longing and sweltering boredom, but this seemed rather skipped over.
There is a period where the H is serving as her butler in the country for several wintry months, which is lovely, but I just kept thinking that more could have been done with that time, to illustrate the passage of time.
There is an intriguing and recurring dream that the h describes to her accomplice, which is fun for people who like to interpret dreams, but just a short scene to get through if that's not your thing.
Interestingly, the H is prone to seasickness (in extreme conditions) and terrors left over from childhood torture. There is also a mention of his extremely slim hips. He is described as tall but is not described as muscled, although he is able to best the h in a fight. He is thin enough that a period of self-imposed confinement in a nasty little ship cabin leaves him under the weather. Just had to wonder if that might make him a beta hero??? Still trying to wrap my head around that term. I shouldn't think there are many like him in "adventure romance" and I did enjoy the contrast to, say, a Stephanie Laurens hero. (I'm a fan of SL, don't get me wrong! It's just that her heroes are more like those from an action movie, where despite being tied up in a basement for a week, and shot, they're still able to carry the heroine to bed, and perform heroically there, too.)
(Sensuality level of his book: quite tame, btw. Kissing.)
Finally, the childhood or parent-child relationship issues of the H/h seemed a bit formulaic to me. Especially for the h, the big reveal of the mother's long-term "illness" wasn't capitalized on because the fact that there even was a secret to be revealed was tossed in quite quickly. I don't think every character must have an issue in their backstory! The heroine had quite enough characteristics to make her stand out and therefore feel herself to be abnormal or to be picked on, being, as she was, interested in Indian culture and willing to submerge herself in it to the extent of learning Hindustani and apparently Sanskrit, being an author, being part Indian, being older (26!), etc. Her mother's dealer and adulterous lover is introduced into the story only to be summarily dropped after the h's reaction to a chance sighting of him brings out the information about her mother's addiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2023
So many typos. Get a proofreader! I'm available. ;)
Refreshingly the story does not take place in the usual London Season setting, and also predates the current sexytimes trend. It is exotic (India) and suffused with intrigue and myth, but the pacing is off -- we didn't really need to be excruciatingly aware that 7 months had passed onboard a ship, did we. and then more months pass in Yorkshire -- yet the ending feels rushed because then the last crossing back to India by ship is dealt with in a paragraph. But at least that first long trip gave our protagonist time to develop feelings for the ostensibly completely inappropriate man of her choice. I couldn't warm to that man, nor did we ever get any reason at all to wish for a reunion of the Indian puller-of-strings with her erstwhile lover who betrayed her and set the whole plot in motion.
I did like the intrigue, and the webs woven to deceive; it was rather more interesting than what usually happens in Regencies. And nobody acted particularly stupid, though the heroine was rather too naive -- but I felt that was quite willful.
In conclusion, it was so-so but I could feel the roots of a better book within. It's barely a 3, for the setting and it standing out in its genre.
I gotta say, I haven't read a RITA winner yet that made me respect the prize.
Refreshingly the story does not take place in the usual London Season setting, and also predates the current sexytimes trend. It is exotic (India) and suffused with intrigue and myth, but the pacing is off -- we didn't really need to be excruciatingly aware that 7 months had passed onboard a ship, did we. and then more months pass in Yorkshire -- yet the ending feels rushed because then the last crossing back to India by ship is dealt with in a paragraph. But at least that first long trip gave our protagonist time to develop feelings for the ostensibly completely inappropriate man of her choice. I couldn't warm to that man, nor did we ever get any reason at all to wish for a reunion of the Indian puller-of-strings with her erstwhile lover who betrayed her and set the whole plot in motion.
I did like the intrigue, and the webs woven to deceive; it was rather more interesting than what usually happens in Regencies. And nobody acted particularly stupid, though the heroine was rather too naive -- but I felt that was quite willful.
In conclusion, it was so-so but I could feel the roots of a better book within. It's barely a 3, for the setting and it standing out in its genre.
I gotta say, I haven't read a RITA winner yet that made me respect the prize.
September 8, 2017
Surprisingly good! Very little 'sexy scenes', for a romance, which I actually liked a lot - I skimmed the whole, "oh, she was lost to his touch, etc. etc." bits because I find that quite boring, but the book stands on its own fairly well. I can't speak to the accuracy of the descriptions of early 19th century Calcutta, but I did find it interesting to read a Regency novel NOT set in England. I adore all things nautical, and I felt being confined to a ship gave dimension to the Amanda and Philip's witty repartee. I'm still shocked as to how much I liked this. I expect novels of this type to be schlock, fun schlock but schlock nonetheless, but The Sandalwood Princess actually felt well-written and tightly plotted to me. Yes, it was a bit far-fetched, but if you can get into the whole rollicking adventure thing, then I think you'll love this. One thing I wasn't into was Padji, I just wasn't sure how to take the character. He seems to be played for laughs, but hasn't he killed/poisoned people? Overall, though, a quick, fun read, and something that really stands above its genre. (Of note, this is NOT for historical accuracy purists, imo, so if that bothers you, steer clear.)
August 23, 2024
Novela que cogí con muchas ganas pero... se me hizo pesadísima y la acabé por puro coraje. Solo merece la pena si quieres leerte todo lo de la autora. Amanda Cavencourt se va a ir de la India a Inglaterra. Su amiga Rani le regala una figurita llamada «La princesa de sándalo» (a la que se refiere el título). Pero un osado ladrón se la roba. Ya en el barco de vuelta a casa conocerá a Philip Astonley, aristócrata británico, que en realidad es el ladrón y que intercambia papeles con su criado.
La singladura océana ocupa la mayoría del libro. Los personajes me resultaron poco interesantes. La trama consiste básicamente en «yo te robo a ti, y tú me robas a mí» la condenada figurita. Pasan muy poquitas cosas y la relación entre los dos protagonistas va avanzando poco a poco. Muy poco a poco. Para ser una de Loretta Chase, no he visto nada de su viveza, de su chispa habitual.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
La singladura océana ocupa la mayoría del libro. Los personajes me resultaron poco interesantes. La trama consiste básicamente en «yo te robo a ti, y tú me robas a mí» la condenada figurita. Pasan muy poquitas cosas y la relación entre los dos protagonistas va avanzando poco a poco. Muy poco a poco. Para ser una de Loretta Chase, no he visto nada de su viveza, de su chispa habitual.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
December 13, 2020
I thought I had read all of Loretta Chase books but I realized I hadn’t read this one. It is one of her earlier traditional regencies. It has signs of her later expertise but I found the plot quite bizarre. It is initially set in 1800 s India and then travels on a ship for 7 months no less and then another year or so, I lost count of the time period. Amanda, the heroine lands up in India to be with her brother after her parents' deaths in India. After a period of time, during which she becomes an expert in Hindu philosophy, she is sent back to England with a trusted companion. The twist in the tale is the gift she receives from her aunt, Queen Simi, a wooden statue which is being sought by a thief/ Lord Falcon. In a prolonged game of wits, they try to steal the statue from one another while falling in love. Lots of action followed by a long period of getting to know each other and the ending was really bizarre.
February 2, 2021
Interesting couple, not the typical ones, it is refreshing!
Another interesting fact: there is no steamy scene which is fine by me as I think it is more skillful to create the chemistry and dynamics between the couple without these scenes. The dynamic between these two is certainly fun to read.
Only bone to pick is the book cover of the digital edition I read (not the paperback version on this review). Why she look so plump when she is suppose to be slim? Also, it's about time publishers stopped putting sleazy, cheesy covers on these books! The adage 'don't judge a book by its cover' is so overrated! I do judge a book by its cover (who doesn't, be honest!). I will be attracted to read a book just because the cover is so beautiful or impressive but will not hesitate to chuck it when reading it becomes a dread.
Another interesting fact: there is no steamy scene which is fine by me as I think it is more skillful to create the chemistry and dynamics between the couple without these scenes. The dynamic between these two is certainly fun to read.
Only bone to pick is the book cover of the digital edition I read (not the paperback version on this review). Why she look so plump when she is suppose to be slim? Also, it's about time publishers stopped putting sleazy, cheesy covers on these books! The adage 'don't judge a book by its cover' is so overrated! I do judge a book by its cover (who doesn't, be honest!). I will be attracted to read a book just because the cover is so beautiful or impressive but will not hesitate to chuck it when reading it becomes a dread.
November 9, 2021
Delicious!
Different yet delicious. The setting and plot were unexpected. Padji is marvelous, as well as all the supporting characters. The lovers were savoury with a tinge of sweet, a perfect receipe blended just right and finished to perfection. I have always loved the older, wiser manipulating characters Ms Chase puts in her tales as well. Loved this when it first came out and it is still a treasure to me.
Different yet delicious. The setting and plot were unexpected. Padji is marvelous, as well as all the supporting characters. The lovers were savoury with a tinge of sweet, a perfect receipe blended just right and finished to perfection. I have always loved the older, wiser manipulating characters Ms Chase puts in her tales as well. Loved this when it first came out and it is still a treasure to me.
December 1, 2017
Sometimes, with Loretta Chase books, I feel the beginning a little confusing. And the ending a bit fast. Plus, why make the personality of the main couple so disturbed by their backgrounds if you are not going to explain fully what happened? The story was nice, with Indian culture as a background, and Padji was an incredible character, but all in all it was just ok.
July 20, 2019
This book was decent but would have been better shorter. It felt long, but also part of that was the characters decisions... a big part of each person's plans involved waiting for months! I enjoyed the book ok while I was reading it but it was ultimately pretty forgettable, and I'm sure it will quickly dissolve into a sea of similar books in my mind. If I hadn't been sick, I may not have ended up finishing it.
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