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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
4.5 Stars
Loretta Chase my beloved
The only thing I don't understand about books where the hero never started in live with a title and spends more than half of the time of the story as somebody else, why do they still end up getting a title during the last 5 pages? They could do very well without one.
Loretta Chase my beloved
The only thing I don't understand about books where the hero never started in live with a title and spends more than half of the time of the story as somebody else, why do they still end up getting a title during the last 5 pages? They could do very well without one.
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.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Probably my least fave of Chase’s straight regencies. The colonial england stuff is always too squick for me. It didn’t have the great tension of some of the previous ones maybe bc the plot meanders over the course of many months. I like the adventurous set up, but she almost does better in a more simple setting.
Though it was trying to be a bit too clever in having \twists\" in it, but it was quite enjoyable. ^^^^Padji, I felt, was a bit overdone as a character, but Amanda and Philip weren't too badly done."
I wanted to like this one, I enjoyed Foley's books about India & England set in this time period but I could not take the plot seriously. Not a fan of Padji which spoiled the book since he's on nearly every page. Wish they'd stayed in India.
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.
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-
3.5 stars
Philip Astonley, youngest son of the Viscount Felkoner, also known as the Falcon to a select few (which is surprising to me as it's not exactly a secret identity very different from his family name), is hired by the wealthy and powerful Marquess of Hedgrave to steal a sandalwood statue and bring it from India to England. He can barely believe his luck when he discovers that the statue is given as a gift to Miss Amanda Davencourt as a farewell gift from her dear friend, the Rani Simhi, also known in India as the Great Lioness. He ambushes Amanda on her way home and steals the statue, but discovers that the rani is close on his trail and has poisoned his servant, near fatally. In order to get passage on the next ship to London, he has to pretend that his servant is one of Hedgrave lawyers, while he is in fact said man's valet.
It just so happens that Amanda Davencourt is on board the same ship, along with her chaperone and one of the rani's most dangerous servants, who ran away to escape his mistress' wrath once he discovered that Amanda had been attacked. Amanda knows that Hedgrave wanted the statue, and suspects that his lawyer may have it in his possession. She fully believes Philip's ruse that he is a servant, though, which also causes difficulties on the long journey back to England as the Philip tries to get to know her to discover if she's one of the rani's clever accomplices or just as innocent and naive as she seems to be. As they spend more time together, Amanda and Philip grow more attracted to each other, and as she believes him to be a simple valet, it's not like anything can come from their shipboard attraction.
Amanda isn't quite as innocent and sheltered as Philip believes, and manages to steal the sandalwood statue back before Philip and his servant are about to leave the ship in Portsmouth. Having been promised fifty thousand pounds for the artifact, not to mention because his professional pride has been wounded, outsmarted by a spinster, Philip tracks Amanda down to her remote estate in Yorkshire and manages to convince her that he was fired when his employer discovered the statue was missing. He's hired to be her butler, and shortly after also takes the duties as secretary. Amanda is writing a book about Indian gods and mythology and while she is clearly a brilliant scholar, she's not very organised. Philip makes himself completely indispensable to her and her household, plotting and scheming how he can get Amanda to remove the sandalwood statue from her bank vault so he can steal it back. Meanwhile, Padji, the Rani's erstwhile enforcer and now Amanda's temperamental cook is deeply suspicious of Philip's motives and does whatever he can to keep the rogue and his beloved mistress from growing closer.
[b:The Sandalwood Princess|16179827|The Sandalwood Princess|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355395577s/16179827.jpg|1629629] is one of [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1210252194p2/76405.jpg]'s early romances, first published in 1990. Unlike most of her more recent romances, it's more in the style of [a:Georgette Heyer|18067|Georgette Heyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1336748892p2/18067.jpg]'s novels, with a very chaste romance and a very slow build-up. Anyone expecting crazy smexy-times must look elsewhere. For a lot of the novel, very little happens. Most of Philip and Amanda's relationship is gradually changed. It takes them months on board the ship back to London to get close to each other, and Philip spends at least two thirds of a year in Yorkshire as her devoted servant. All this while concealing his true motives and social rank from her. He's determined to carry out his mission, even after he falls in love with Amanda.
My favourite part of the book is absolutely the last third. Too much of the story just doesn't seem to go anywhere, even though I much prefer a slow-burning and gradual romantic development to a couple who fall madly in love with each other over the course of a week (or less). There are a few unexpected twists revealed towards the end of the book, that raises it from a mere three stars, and the constant scheming and double-crossing of the protagonists is a delight. I would say that this is a novel to check out if you are a [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1210252194p2/76405.jpg] completeist, but not the one to begin with if you're interested in trying her books. I would recommend [b:Lord of Scoundrels|5948657|Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels, #3)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327953198s/5948657.jpg|414437] or [b:Mr. Impossible|132606|Mr. Impossible (Carsington Brothers, #2)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388902394s/132606.jpg|127735] as good jumping-on points.
Philip Astonley, youngest son of the Viscount Felkoner, also known as the Falcon to a select few (which is surprising to me as it's not exactly a secret identity very different from his family name), is hired by the wealthy and powerful Marquess of Hedgrave to steal a sandalwood statue and bring it from India to England. He can barely believe his luck when he discovers that the statue is given as a gift to Miss Amanda Davencourt as a farewell gift from her dear friend, the Rani Simhi, also known in India as the Great Lioness. He ambushes Amanda on her way home and steals the statue, but discovers that the rani is close on his trail and has poisoned his servant, near fatally. In order to get passage on the next ship to London, he has to pretend that his servant is one of Hedgrave lawyers, while he is in fact said man's valet.
It just so happens that Amanda Davencourt is on board the same ship, along with her chaperone and one of the rani's most dangerous servants, who ran away to escape his mistress' wrath once he discovered that Amanda had been attacked. Amanda knows that Hedgrave wanted the statue, and suspects that his lawyer may have it in his possession. She fully believes Philip's ruse that he is a servant, though, which also causes difficulties on the long journey back to England as the Philip tries to get to know her to discover if she's one of the rani's clever accomplices or just as innocent and naive as she seems to be. As they spend more time together, Amanda and Philip grow more attracted to each other, and as she believes him to be a simple valet, it's not like anything can come from their shipboard attraction.
Amanda isn't quite as innocent and sheltered as Philip believes, and manages to steal the sandalwood statue back before Philip and his servant are about to leave the ship in Portsmouth. Having been promised fifty thousand pounds for the artifact, not to mention because his professional pride has been wounded, outsmarted by a spinster, Philip tracks Amanda down to her remote estate in Yorkshire and manages to convince her that he was fired when his employer discovered the statue was missing. He's hired to be her butler, and shortly after also takes the duties as secretary. Amanda is writing a book about Indian gods and mythology and while she is clearly a brilliant scholar, she's not very organised. Philip makes himself completely indispensable to her and her household, plotting and scheming how he can get Amanda to remove the sandalwood statue from her bank vault so he can steal it back. Meanwhile, Padji, the Rani's erstwhile enforcer and now Amanda's temperamental cook is deeply suspicious of Philip's motives and does whatever he can to keep the rogue and his beloved mistress from growing closer.
[b:The Sandalwood Princess|16179827|The Sandalwood Princess|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355395577s/16179827.jpg|1629629] is one of [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1210252194p2/76405.jpg]'s early romances, first published in 1990. Unlike most of her more recent romances, it's more in the style of [a:Georgette Heyer|18067|Georgette Heyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1336748892p2/18067.jpg]'s novels, with a very chaste romance and a very slow build-up. Anyone expecting crazy smexy-times must look elsewhere. For a lot of the novel, very little happens. Most of Philip and Amanda's relationship is gradually changed. It takes them months on board the ship back to London to get close to each other, and Philip spends at least two thirds of a year in Yorkshire as her devoted servant. All this while concealing his true motives and social rank from her. He's determined to carry out his mission, even after he falls in love with Amanda.
My favourite part of the book is absolutely the last third. Too much of the story just doesn't seem to go anywhere, even though I much prefer a slow-burning and gradual romantic development to a couple who fall madly in love with each other over the course of a week (or less). There are a few unexpected twists revealed towards the end of the book, that raises it from a mere three stars, and the constant scheming and double-crossing of the protagonists is a delight. I would say that this is a novel to check out if you are a [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1210252194p2/76405.jpg] completeist, but not the one to begin with if you're interested in trying her books. I would recommend [b:Lord of Scoundrels|5948657|Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels, #3)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327953198s/5948657.jpg|414437] or [b:Mr. Impossible|132606|Mr. Impossible (Carsington Brothers, #2)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388902394s/132606.jpg|127735] as good jumping-on points.
This book made me squeal. It has adventure, a smart heroine, different cultures and such a cool plot. Loved it.