The Jasmine Wife: The perfect emotional page-turning historical fiction novel for 2023

I purchased the book yesterday and, unable to put it down, finished today. It is a page-turner by definition, and more than that it is a beautiful and intense read.A young Englishwoman marries an Englishman stationed in India where he eventually sends for his bride to live with him. Sara has been raised by a recalcitrant aunt and uncle having been orphaned as a child in India and sent to them as nearest of kin. She eventually meets her future husband, Charles, on leave in England.Her arrival/retutn to India brings forth strong snippets of remembrance of the country of her birth and begins with an extremely prosaic event upon docking. The sights, sounds and smells are described admirably by the author as are the thoughts and emotions of Sara as she begins her new life as the wife of a man she hardly knows.I have to give high marks to this author's keen ability to draw this reader into the story as Sara awakens to an unsatisfactory and unsavory life married to a man with limited abilities as a husband and abhorrent treatment of the native Indian people in his role as the English magistrate.In the meanwhile Sara is introduced to a half-caste Frenchman rumored to be a womanizer amongst other things. He is a fascinating enigma and Sara finds herself enthralled by his mystery as she strives to be a solid and loving wife to her rather hard husband. Charlie's attempts to constrain his wife's high spiritedness and compassion for the native community are stifling.The scenes are short but memorable. The characters well described and developed. The plot is outstanding.This is a definite recommendation, by me, to readers of historical fiction and romance. I absolutely loved this book.

Interesting story set in India in the days of British colonialism with its strict social rules and their attitude of superiority to the native people. The author evokes the lushness and richness of India and the sadness and poverty. The main character, Sara enters into a marriage to escape her life and relations in England, only realising too late that she has exchanged one stifling, rule bound life for another, which she tries to escape. The story follows her life as she tries to find a path for herself. I enjoyed the story and the description by the author of the Indian life, culture and scenery, and the anger and bewilderment from the British that Sara wanted to embrace India and from their perspective turn her back on Britain ad what it stood for.

I loved the entire book. I would highly recommend it.

This book is beautifully written. The imagery is top notch. I was absolutely transported and immersed in the sights and smells of Colonial India. The beginning is very reminiscent of The Secret Garden so I was a little concerned that it was going to be a cheap knock off version but after Sarah was swept away to England by her aunt the parallels ended and the story began to stand on its own legs. Sarah is a likeable character that you want to root for, she may be a proper English lady but she isn't the pushover that society expects her to be thank goodness, and as the story builds so does her self assurance and backbone. This is a love story of star crossed lovers, but it is also a tale of homecoming and destiny. Towards the end it seemed a bit hurried, I would have liked more drama in the (anti) climactic parts, but instead it sort of fizzles out.

The descriptions of India and all its beauty almost takes you into a fantasy world. Some really good shocking parts in this story,but during the middle you get the feeling like you're on a merry-go-round .Really shows you how these arranged marriages are doomed from the beginning. Love always wins out.

Immediately I was enthralled with this book and right to the conclusion. The characters were extremely well described and developed. The author has created a mesmerizing story; and I’m anxious to read her next book

No matter what the circumstances were the attraction and the understanding between two people was so strong they unite under all odds. The book gives a little window into British time in India and their life and struggles in foreign land. Enjoyed the book beginning to end.

I lived in this area as a young girl and was able to relate to the culture and other descriptions of the people. This was a simple and straight forward book with some small twists and turns. The character development was adequate and I loved how the author kept me engaged in the story. This is the first book I have read by her and like her style . I would recommend this book to those who are interested in historical romance and in India. I would read more books by this author.

Jane has done an excellent job, building a three-legged stool held upright by Sara, Ravi, and Charles.She superbly built the depth of characters Sara and Ravi while handling the shallowness of Charles' character brilliantly.I recommend it for the lovers of history/romance of the Raj Period.Ran.

This book started slowly and I wasn't sure of it first but by the third chapter I was hooked. The description of life in Madras during the colonial times was just fascinating. That intertwined with the personal background, tragedies and secrets of people has made this book amazingly interesting.

This book captivated me in that it is a grown ups fairy story interwoven with erotica and history. Not great literature but most enjoyable to pass the hours and fantasise.

It's an easy read that I am generally enjoying, until the author mentions, yet again, how Sabran 'shrugs his shoulders in a very French way', describes a woman's neck as 'creamy' (vomit), and describes at length how the protagonist losing weight from illness and depression makes her MORE ATTRACTIVE. It's really doffucukt for me to believe that the author is a woman. Ms. Jane Coverdale, do better.

Pleasant story