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Sandstorm
This racy debut novel leaves reader’s gasping for more! Full of characters you love - and love to hate, Sandstorm is the perfect beach read for this summer.
“This spicy tale of romance, jealousy & one-upmanship is hard to put down.”
Lovable rogue, and top Arabian horse trainer, Arjan Vermeulen seems to have it all. He lives in a grand three-hundred-year-old house set in fifty acres, runs a famed training centre for Arabian horses, and for eight years has been dating beautiful fellow trainer Rin Risley. They make a glamorous and successful couple.
Sienna Stevens is the new girl in the spotlight. Dewy fresh in looks and sensitive and romantic in nature, she has shot from being invisible to overwhelmed as her fledgling PR business ‘Essentially Arabian’ has taken off, making her hot property among those in the know.
Meanwhile, the noble and passionate Alejandro Orlando Suarez manages an Arabian horse farm in the Middle East, where his long hours, the heavy demands of his boss mixed with sharing a home with his ex-wife and their children leave him little time to think about love – let alone let it in.
When these three worlds collide be prepared for fireworks as lives unravel, lusts are revealed, and true love is sought.
Against the mystical and provocative backdrop of the Middle East and the show-rings of Europe, Sandstorm is set in the exciting and mysterious world of the Arabian horse. If you are a fan of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins, then you are sure to love Sandstorm.
“A well written gripping story with lots of twists & turns.”
“You don't need to be horsey to enjoy this…the characters have more than enough going on outside of the ring to keep you turning the page.”
“Jilly Cooper has a rival.”
“This spicy tale of romance, jealousy & one-upmanship is hard to put down.”
Lovable rogue, and top Arabian horse trainer, Arjan Vermeulen seems to have it all. He lives in a grand three-hundred-year-old house set in fifty acres, runs a famed training centre for Arabian horses, and for eight years has been dating beautiful fellow trainer Rin Risley. They make a glamorous and successful couple.
Sienna Stevens is the new girl in the spotlight. Dewy fresh in looks and sensitive and romantic in nature, she has shot from being invisible to overwhelmed as her fledgling PR business ‘Essentially Arabian’ has taken off, making her hot property among those in the know.
Meanwhile, the noble and passionate Alejandro Orlando Suarez manages an Arabian horse farm in the Middle East, where his long hours, the heavy demands of his boss mixed with sharing a home with his ex-wife and their children leave him little time to think about love – let alone let it in.
When these three worlds collide be prepared for fireworks as lives unravel, lusts are revealed, and true love is sought.
Against the mystical and provocative backdrop of the Middle East and the show-rings of Europe, Sandstorm is set in the exciting and mysterious world of the Arabian horse. If you are a fan of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins, then you are sure to love Sandstorm.
“A well written gripping story with lots of twists & turns.”
“You don't need to be horsey to enjoy this…the characters have more than enough going on outside of the ring to keep you turning the page.”
“Jilly Cooper has a rival.”
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Published April 19, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 5, 2020
Captivating and exciting, easy to sink your teeth into.
September 23, 2020
Brilliant book from start to finish, bought three copies, one for my best friend and one for my twin sister - all three of us thought, shame this book was not longer, we all felt 'of no we have finished it'. We all can't wait for the next one in the series, which will also have us not wanting to put it down once started. Well done Samantha for a fantastic first book. Sue Little
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May 16, 2022Sandstorm is set in the wonderful world of the Arabian horse shows, it is fast paced, racy at times and the twists and turns of the characters lives kept me spellbound .
It was so well written by Sam that I almost felt I was there watching it all unfold.
I will not give anything away but I do hope Sam continue to explore these wonderful characters lives In her next book .
A couldn’t put down book . Hi
It was so well written by Sam that I almost felt I was there watching it all unfold.
I will not give anything away but I do hope Sam continue to explore these wonderful characters lives In her next book .
A couldn’t put down book . Hi
September 7, 2020
Gripping is how i would describe this wonderful book, i went through an emotional journey from start to finish. Characters i loved then hated. This book had fantastic twists, so well written. I am really looking forward to rhe second book.
September 16, 2020
Read it in 3 days on holiday last week - loved it. A real galloping tale with a clever open ending. Looking forward to your next one x
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August 16, 2020A captivating and well written debut novel by Samantha Mattocks, Sandstorm would appeal to Jilly Cooper fans of all ages.
Though I love horses myself, it is not a prerequisite to enjoying Sandstorm, set in the heart of the Arabian horse show world. All the character descriptions instantly caught my attention and were imprinted on my memory. I began reading late one night when very tired, so this was no mean feat.
This book is riveting from start to finish.
We will certainly be hearing much more from this author in the future. Well done Samantha Mattocks. Look forward to the next one!
Though I love horses myself, it is not a prerequisite to enjoying Sandstorm, set in the heart of the Arabian horse show world. All the character descriptions instantly caught my attention and were imprinted on my memory. I began reading late one night when very tired, so this was no mean feat.
This book is riveting from start to finish.
We will certainly be hearing much more from this author in the future. Well done Samantha Mattocks. Look forward to the next one!
September 25, 2020
What a fabulous story. Full of captivating characters who you feel you know from the deep character familisation throughout the book. It kept me gripped from start to finish and I didn’t want to put it down!
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October 2, 2020This book is a great read that draws you into the world of Arabian showing . Thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to Sams next one.
June 2, 2022
🍷Are you looking for something that will completely transport you to another world? Then this is your book, this is one of those summer reads with extreme grand settings that are worth drooling over. I was constantly bombarded with settings that gave me those vast, grand and sometimes those royal vibes. The book definitely isn't exactly about royalties but it's no less. It's about people who love working intense settings in all aspects.
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Sandstorm is a blend of romance with a bit of fantasy having those hot yet peachy vibes. The author's imagination and character development is top notch. The way they're developed, they feel absolutely real and are worth admiring, each one is different from one another but yet so same, made of blood and love, longing for success, love and lust. The back drop of Arabian horse and Middle East is one of the most interesting combination to read about.
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I loved all the twists that were planted because I couldn't see them coming and I was mesmerized by everything that was happening, I loved the good and bad vibe of each character so it took me a lot of time to form opinions about each of them. The romantic aspect of the book is just so amazing, everything is unpredictable and everything is possible, even what you thought would not happen will happen.
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I felt like I literally watched a great movie, by this I mean in a way the storyline has utmost potential to be turned into a movie or a Netflix series, if this happens I would be the happiest.
This is a definitely recommended, I truly enjoyed it. It's meant for romance readers and for anyone who wanna reads something that will entertain, make curious and intrigue all at once.
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Rating: 4.25⭐️
February 9, 2026
Sandstorm by Samantha Mattocks is a thrilling, racy debut romance that blends high-stakes love, intrigue, and glamour with the exotic world of Arabian horses. Readers are immediately drawn into the intertwining lives of Arjan Vermeulen, Rin Risley, Sienna Stevens, and Alejandro Orlando Suarez, navigating jealousy, ambition, and passion across Europe and the Middle East.
Mattocks’ storytelling is immersive, full of dramatic tension, witty dialogue, and characters that are both lovable and maddening keeping the reader constantly engaged. The novel balances romance, personal ambition, and interpersonal conflict with deft pacing, ensuring every twist and turn is satisfying. Fans of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins will recognize the same mix of glamour, sensuality, and high drama, making Sandstorm a perfect beach or escapist read.
The book shines in its depiction of the equestrian world without alienating readers unfamiliar with horses, grounding the narrative in human emotion and compelling relationships. Overall, it’s a gripping, character-driven romance with enough heat and intrigue to keep readers hooked from start to finish.
Mattocks’ storytelling is immersive, full of dramatic tension, witty dialogue, and characters that are both lovable and maddening keeping the reader constantly engaged. The novel balances romance, personal ambition, and interpersonal conflict with deft pacing, ensuring every twist and turn is satisfying. Fans of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins will recognize the same mix of glamour, sensuality, and high drama, making Sandstorm a perfect beach or escapist read.
The book shines in its depiction of the equestrian world without alienating readers unfamiliar with horses, grounding the narrative in human emotion and compelling relationships. Overall, it’s a gripping, character-driven romance with enough heat and intrigue to keep readers hooked from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews