Blog Tour, Book Review and #Giveaway: The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark

About the Book:


From incredible storyteller and nationally bestselling author Elle Newmark comes a rich, sweeping novel that brings to life two love stories, ninety years apart, set against the rich backdrop of war-torn India.

In 1947, American historian and veteran of WWII, Martin Mitchell, wins a Fulbright Fellowship to document the end of British rule in India. His wife, Evie, convinces him to take her and their young son along, hoping a shared adventure will mend their marriage, which has been strained by war.

But other places, other wars. Martin and Evie find themselves stranded in a colonial bungalow in the Himalayas due to violence surrounding the partition of India between Hindus and Muslims. In that house, hidden behind a brick wall, Evie discovers a packet of old letters, which tell a strange and compelling story of love and war involving two young Englishwomen who lived in the same house in 1857.

Drawn to their story, Evie embarks on a mission to piece together her Victorian mystery. Her search leads her through the bazaars and temples of India as well as the dying society of the British Raj. Along the way, Martin’s dark secret is exposed, unleashing a new wedge between Evie and him. As India struggles toward Independence, Evie struggles to save her marriage, pursuing her Victorian ghosts for answers.

Bursting with lavish detail and vivid imagery of Calcutta and beyond, The Sandalwood Tree is a powerful story about betrayal, forgiveness, fate, and love.

About the Author:

Elle Newmark is an author whose books are inspired by her travels. Her work has been published into 16 languages and she lives in the hills north of San Diego with her husband, a retired physician. She has two grown children and five grandchildren.

To find out more about Elle or learn about her books visit http://ellenewmark.com

My Opinion:

This is my second book by Ms. Newmark, I reviewed her The Book of Unholy Mischief in October. It was one of my favorite books of last year. It did have a chef as the central character but it was the writing that made it so good.

This second book, The Sandalwood Tree is a very different book but just as good. The story is an entwining of two tales; the "modern" story that takes place in 1947 and the historical story from 1855 and on. In 1947 Evie, Martin and their young son go off on an adventure to pre-partition India so Martin can interview and learn the feelings of the Indian people about the departure of the British. Their marriage is on somewhat shaky ground since Martin's return from serving in the army during WWII. He is suffering from what we know today as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome but Evie does not know how to help him. He won't talk to her and he doesn't respond to her efforts to help.

In India she she settles into life in the countryside and tries to learn about the people and the culture in spite of the racist attitudes of the British ex-pats she meets there. While cleaning one day she finds some letters written in 1855 from one lady friend to another back in England and it sets her on a path of discovery about the two women and about India and herself. 

The book is written in a magical way; you can sit and read and feel the heat and humidity of India's backcountry. You can taste the fire in the cook's curries. You can see the glory of the Himalayas and you can feel the passion in the various loves found and despair in the loves lost.

I liked Evie and her determination to be herself. To stand up for what she felt was right and to recognize when she was wrong. She is a woman, I think, ahead of her time for 1947. A woman I think I would enjoy meeting and getting to know. Ms. Newmark has a way with creating characters and with bringing you into time and place.

The Sandalwood Tree is available on Amazon.com

Thanks to my somehow requesting to review this book twice - I REALLY wanted to read it, you see - I have an extra copy to give away.

How do you win? It's easy!

But first some rules:

US and Canada only

No PO Boxes

18 yrs old+

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Please let me know if you read The Book of Unholy Mischief. Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Like Elle Newmark on Facebook

2. Like Pump Up Your Book on Facebook

3. Like Shelf Awareness on Facebook

4. Follow @BrokenTeepee on Twitter and tweet the following (once per day)

#win The Sandalwood Tree @BrokenTeepee @http://tinyurl.com/3rdxbaz #giveaway

5. Share the giveaway using the share buttons at the end of the post (except StumbleUpon)

6. Like Broken Teepee on Facebook

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on May 3rd when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner. He/she will have 48hrs. to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure:  I received a gratis copies of The Sandalwood Tree from Pump Up Your Book Promotions and Shelf Awareness. Any opinions stated are my honest opinions and were not impacted by my receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.