Customer Reviews

The Sandalwood Princess

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In only 220 odd pages, Loretta Chase has managed to convey the complexities of plot and emotion and characterization that are typical of a 400 page historical. Quite a feat. When I put the book down, I had to read it again. Amanda Cavencourt, at 26, seems awfully naive and trusting, but she has reason to be. And she isn't *really* like that--how else does she manage to steal the Sandalwood Princess from an accomplished thief like the Falcon? And Brentick, who really is--well, I'll let you figure it out. In any case, he is a wonderful hero. Go out and find this book along with all of Chase's regencies. They are hard to find but definitely worth the hunt.

One of Lorettan Chase's best! I loved this book. The charaters Amanda and Philip are great together. It may be only about 200 pages but it's still great and keeps you enthralled with the story and charaters! I recomend this book to anyone who enjoys a great romance!

Having spent many years living in India away from her native England, Amanda Cavencourt is finally on her way home. A fairwell visit to a powerful Indian Princess gifts her with a precious wooden statue "The Sandalwood Princess" which is reputed to confer joy & fertility upon the bearer.

This idol is also desperately desired by a gentleman who enlists the help of an unofficial goverment spy to retrieve it. The notorious agent enlisted is known as "Falcon", and quickly wrests the statue away from Amanda.

When they both find themselves aboard the same England bound boat Amanda begins to plot to retreive the statue, and Falcon to guard it. Matters are greatly complicated by the illness and ensuing infatuation of the Falcon's aide with Amanda's handy maid Bella. Falcon himself is not proof to our ladies charm.

With much plots and conspiring, Falcon soon follows Amanda to her manor and with a tale of conspiracy & confusing a few identities, makes himself a job as her butler, and makes inroads on her heart..

Also travelling with Amanda is an unlooked for Indian servant - Padji. For tangled reasons he continues with her, and attempts to guard her against the notorious Falcon.

The story ends up back in India with a convincing twist of plot & is throughly delightful all the way.

Padji is a joy with hilarious utterly servile utterances & ridiculously elaborate forms of address. One suspects they are more suited to the Arabic forms of courtesy than the Indian, but are very enjoyable nonetheless.

Ms Chase has concocted a delightful froth and whipped it to perfection, allowing the reader to enjoy from the first page to the last.

I sighed a tear or two and my heart clenched in places, with the perfection of the discriptions and poignant plots.

Great reading - up their with Chase's other bests, like The English Witch, or the Devils Delilah.

kotori ojadis@yahoo.com

These characters were so complex and interesting I felt like I knew them! Loretta Chase did an excellent job of keeping them separated, even though they spent months together - all based in appropriate period behavior - I was yearning right along with Amanda! This book didn't have much of the humor I enjoyed in her later books but this one was engrossing just the same. Don't miss! (Anyone know what happened with this author? Is she still writing?)

I read this book a year ago, but did not get around to posting the review until now. I may have rated this a little lower than it deserved, because I was looking for romance and passion. At the time, I was disappointed that this was more women's fiction than a romance novel. Some of my thoughts about the story follow.

I laughed when Falcon became Amanda's butler for five months. I enjoyed how she said she'd never find someone able to translate and work as her assistant. Then Falcon sighs, picks up a book and begins translating it into English. She says "Oh". So he becomes her secretary as well as butler. I was intrigued when he kissed her as he stole it again and how she and Padji got it again in hotel. I enjoyed confessions at the end. I was not pleased with Rani. I did not believe that she was as all powerful in India. She knew about the Falcon and alsmost everyone else. She placed a curse on her early lover who left her. She received a statue from a goddess. This was all a little too unbelievable for me.

DATA:

Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: India and England. Copyright: 1990. Genre: historical women's fiction.

OTHER BOOKS:

For a list of my reviews of other Loretta Chase books, see my 5 star review of "Lord of Scoundrels" posted 2-19-08.

I wasn't sure about it at first because it started a bit slow, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. A very stylish romance. I highly recomment it.

Everything in this book was just too unbelievable. I actually disliked the characters, especially the heroine. Borrow this from the library if you really want to read it, but I wouldn't waste good money on this book.