Having worked my way, backwards, through Ms Chase's books I am finally at her earliest works, and it is clear that this is an early work. Nothing actually wrong with it, but it's very easy to put down, which cannot be said of her later books.
The plot is a little convoluted, the characters also, and the whole thing lacks the wit that characterizes her later work.
Not a keeper for me.
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
Wonderful!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
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.
Exceptional!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
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?)
Terrific! Great! Wonderful!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
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!
Tense, gripping--could easily have been a historical
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
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.
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