Indian born Sara Archer longs for the country of her birth. Eager to escape her narrow-minded aunt's clutches she marries Charles Fitzroy, a British civil servant and returns with him to India. However, all is not as it seems as she comes face-to-face with her new husband's bigotry and narrow mindedness.

With time Sara realizes that she may have swapped one intolerant situation for another. Will her love for India and sense of justice move her to take the steps to follow both her conscience and her heart?

A provocative and compelling novel, this romantic and suspenseful story will be difficult to put down.

The story is well written and captured my attention throughout the book.
However it was lacking the romance and that was a huge disappointment
This wasn’t a bad book but it was just missing content

This book was beautifully written and very detailed that it's almost as if you can feel the heat 🥵 and the rain 🌧, smell the air of spices, and most of all the jasmine and other flowers in India. I think of this book not just a romance, but a novel about a woman's journey in life and in this story its Sarah Archer.
I like the banter and chemistry of Sarah and Ravi, even the supporting characters they were believable and sound authentic to the era of maharajas and petticoats. Although there were times that the story was dragging towards the middle, I'm still giving this 5 stars 🌟.
From the beginning until the end I felt the romance and enjoyed their story, it was as if I was watching the story unfold before me.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone who loves to read not just romance, but also history and anyone who loves India. Finished this book in one seating (meaning I can't drop the book .... even though my cat wants me to pet her). I can't hardly wait to see this book in Bookstores and especially in audiobook.

A Jasmine Wife was the name for a British young woman in her full bloom who would follow her husband to India and then in a short time whiter away.


But Sara Archer is not new to India when she comes to join her husband there at the beginning of the 20th century. She was born in India but lost at a young age both parents and was raised in a rather loveless household of a paternal aunt and uncle. When a bachelor seems to be interested in her and who moreover is stationed in India she falls head of heels for him. But is it him or India she is in love with? In his case it seems he sees marriage more as advantages to his career.


Upon arrival in India she barges into half French - half Indian Ravi Sabran who keeps shocking the circles of polite British society in Madras by living in sin with the wife of an Indian Maharaja who ran from her husband and being filthy rich and a bit of a bandit and who keeps ignoring the fact that the British matrons cannot overlook his Indian ancestry.


The British in Madras are more old fashioned and stuck in the Victorian times as what she experienced in England and are showing not the best characters. For instance when the local Maharadja visits they all try to get jewels off him by praising them.


In India Sara starts looking for her own past and information about her own parents and by doing this meets Ravi again.


We see a ugly naive countrygirl slowly develop in an independant beautiful woman.


The novel digs into the prejudice of those days. It has also a hint of mr Collins and Lady Catherine de Bourgh from "Pride and Prejudice" due to the fact that Charles cannot stop praising the local leading lady in the British circle. That element is often very funny.


It is a light romance novel that guarantees a day of pleasant reading. And right from the start you expect who will end up with whom but that is always the case with this kind of novels.

This was such a lovely book.
Sara was a really well rounded character, I found myself getting really invested in her story and wanting the best for her. I think the dynamic between she and Charles was very believable, especially for the time.
I do think the Ravi relationship was a little forced. It was a slow burn, and then very sudden. I would have liked to see it be a bit more build up instead of launching straight into affair. At that point, it wasn't even clear if Sara herself was interested.
Other than that, it was a lovely, lovely book and I'm glad to have had the chance to read it.

I requested this based on the 5 star reviews that other readers had left and because I have always had a love of India. Unfortunately it left me cold and part way in I gave up on it.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

Historical romantic fictions is soooo my genre and with the TV programme Beecham House - this was such a welcome read

I loved this - evocative and vividly written - so atmospheric

A wonderful summer read

Highly recommended

This was the first book I read which featured British life in colonial India and it felt good to see someone write about the true barbaric way in which the English treated the Indians. It's something that many don't talk about and something that needs to be written more on.

The Jasmine Wife revolves around an Anglo Indian woman (Sara) who finds herself repulsed by the ways of her husband and other English people living in India treating Indians cruelly. She finds herself connecting to her hidden Indian roots and also getting attracted to a French-Indian man (Ravi) who is a supreme enemy of the English people.

All in all, the story itself is okay. It's majorly focused on the romance between Sara and Ravi, which doesn't really start until 80% of the story is done, hence the built up before it becomes a little monotonous and dragging. Given that the genre was Historical fiction and romance, it would have been nice to see a bit more of the historical setting and it would have made the story more interesting as well. A few things were historically incorrect too so that turned me off a bit.

All in all it was an okay read. Hence, a 3/5★ for me.

Sara Archer remembers bits and pieces of her early childhood in India. A tragedy took her parents and she was forced to live in England with her aunt and uncle. When she meets Charles Fitzroy she accepts his proposal of marriage so she can escape England and her aunt and uncle to return to the country she faintly remembers from her childhood.

When she gets to India she discovers a life full of English rules and snobbery and that her husband is only concerned with his image and exerting control. Circumstances cross her path with Ravi Sabran—a half French, half Indian man of wealth and intrigue. She is told to avoid him at all costs, but fate is determined that Sara and Ravi are connected and they are drawn together even though they both try to resist.

This story is more of a story of the growth and strength of Sara as she learns her past and her place in the world as well as a well worded description of life in India during this time period than an all consuming romance between Ravi and Sara, but an enjoyable immersive read all the same.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review

Historical romantic fiction set during the time of British held India. One of my favorite genres, this book had it all and was very enjoyable. The author, one I've never read before, did excellent research for this novel and set my imagination on fire. Highly recommended.

Right off the bat, this book hooks me in to the setting, the characters, and the reader feels she is actually IN the novel. I love Coverdale's writing, and while this is my first book I've read of hers, it won't be the last!

Jasmine wilts and fades! This historical romance intrigues!

"Sara Archer, a good plain name for a good plain girl, though with her unusual colouring and high cheekbones she should have been a beauty."
Magical story of a young English woman, born in India during the time of the British Raj, and sent to family in England when her parents died.
A free thinker and member of a Female Emancipation group, Sara decides to marry Charles Fitzroy and return to India to the warmth she remembers, physically and psychologically. Her return to India is put off for months as her aunt falls seriously ill.
Unfortunately in India Sara finds herself in the middle of very uptight, narrow minded compatriots and having to "fit in" to a hidebound society she wants freedom from, who see the Indians and their culture as inferior and barbaric. This flies in the face of her memories and her emancipation thoughts.
Upon her arrival in Sara she meets the mysterious Ravi Sabran, a half French and half Indian gentleman, under distressing circumstances. This meeting will Place Sara on a life changing path, as if it were fated. It will challenge her, even as the man she married in England, dear Charles, reveals himself to be a racist prig, a cruel master and not at all what she expected. On the other hand Charles had expected that Sara, "despite her shortcomings", was a good choice "as a potential wife because he was sure she adored him, even though she did at times have an annoying habit of contradicting him on matters he felt she should know nothing about."
Memories and personal mysteries about her life before being sent as an orphan to England will also unravel for Sara.
Scents and sounds will lead the way. "Patchouli! ... no other perfume ... spoke the essence of India with as much power."
I enjoyed every minute of Sara's developing life's story. I could envision the colors, the sights and the smells. A well written exotic historical romance with just the right amount of tension and intrigue to keep me guessing.

A Harper Impulse ARC via NetGalley

I could not put this book down! It was such a terrible wrench to leave behind the fragrant, exotic landscapes of India and return to real life. The author truly has a gift for effortlessly immersing you in this world of contradictions and clashing cultures. The mystery of Sara's past is continually intriguing as it slowly reveals itself and her transformation from when we first encounter her is fascinating. It's impossible not to root for her as she comes to terms with her circumstances amongst the stifling confines of society and her marriage. As historical fiction goes, this is the best I've read in a long time.

I really enjoyed this story!

I have recently changed the genres that I read and I have started to pick up more historical fiction sagas and I am so glad that I did as I thought that this story was lovely.

This was a really good read, the details were excellent and the author has clearly done their research. The author has an excellent writing style, she brought the book to life for me - I could believe I was with them throughout their journey and the book has a gorgeous cover too!

It is 5 stars from me for this story, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish – very highly recommended!

Jane Coverdale so wonderfully takes you back to the era where Great Britain still occupied India. She so distinctly describes the sights, sounds, and smells, it feels as if you are really in India! It is quite apparent she has been to this country. The historical context she uses to describe gender roles and the different ideologies of two conflicting cultures that were forced to intertwine are very accurate. Women were expected to be like trophy wives to the elite male race. They used them to gain higher regards with greater elite. The men serve as the bread winners during the day, but live a life of gambling and drinking together by night. Whatever premiscuous tendencies they may give off are merely brushed off as "men being men," while women are not allowed to go anywhere outside the home alone as they could be perceived as being unfaithful to their husband.

Sara is no exception. She is nervous arriving in India from a ship sailed from France. She has yet to see her husband, Charles, since their wedding in England. She also is plagued with broken childhood memories of when she grew up in India, though she doesn't remember her parents' names or why they died, or why she was separated from her care taker, Ayah. Upon her arrival at the docks, she meets the ever intriguing Ravi, whom is greatly hated by the British for his rather loud stance against British power over India. After numerous run ins with him, and a need to ensure the little orphan girl that he adopted from the dock is well taken care of, she feels the need to visit him regularly. After her arrival to India, she also must stumble along the path of succumbing to serving Charles as an obedient wife, a task much harder for her strong willed mind. Coverdale highlights on the expectations of women in early 20th century and how some women, like Sarah, had to change their way of thought and want of lifestyle to conform to society and survive their husbands at times. In Sarah's case, she slowly learns that she cannot survive living the English way of life in India when she consistently witnesses the joys and freedom Indian women around her have. As she searches for answers of her unknown past, she also finds courage to make an unheard of decision for her own well being.

The writing style of Jasmine Wife was a bit difficult to follow until I got a few chapters into the book. Flashbacks occur throughout the book, but some are hard to determine so until you reach the next paragraph break. The symbology of a jasmine flower is so wonderfully used here. A jasmine flower's petals are quite beautiful until they are touched, and then suddenly they turn brown and wilt. Life in India for British women is similar. They appear so beautiful and pure, until they are touched by the sight of Indian culture and realize what they could have but are forbidden against due to British customs. It is then that they wilt like a jasmine flower.

As a student currently pursuing my history degree, I absolutely loved this book! If you are a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend you snag a copy of this book!

A gripping historical romance set in india. Loved the descriptions and atmosphere. It really transported you there and set the scene wonderfully. The characters were well written and interesting. Overall a really good read.

A great novel, beautiful depiction of the characters with some tense moments thrown into the mix. Will definitely pick more books by this talented author.

When I first came across The Jasmine Wife while browsing through NetGalley my interest was immediately sparked since I have been enjoying historical romances lately. Unfortunately while I thought the story was well written and kept my interest I didn't feel the epic romance I was lead to believe I would experience. I actually found the whole story rather disappointing. Most of the story was a tedious day in and day out of a large group of bigoted Englishman. The supposed epic romance between Sara and Ravi didn't happen till 80% of the story and was over quickly until they are reunited at the very end. The secrets and lies were obvious from the beginning and while it wasn't necessarily a bad book it just didn't work for me.

The atmosphere was fantastic. I had no trouble getting right into the story, particularly the first half. The main character, Sarah, wasn't all that wise, but she was clever enough. I didn't care for either of the men in her life, not even the second one, but that's personal taste. I would have liked to have known more about what exactly Ravi was doing behind the scenes.

Turns out I'm not a big fan of people using fate, etc. as an reason to do things that will harm others. Because of that, I wasn't really rooting for anyone. The big mystery was hinted at enough that it wasn't much of a surprise, but maybe it wasn't meant to be. Four stars, because of the atmosphere and because I stayed interested enough to keep reading til the end.

The Jasmine Wife, A sweeping epic historical romance novel for women, by Jane Coverdale

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance

Well, this one doesn't feature my usual bete noir, the “womens fiction” category, but that runner just after the title? “Novel for women” - it means much the same and just makes me think, Why? Why alienate a potential swath of readers? Men write romance, men read romance, its time we stopped categorising stories as men/women reads.

Anyway, the story. I love books set in other countries, especially India/China/Japan, and especially set in a period of history where life was so very different not only between sexes but between races.
I loved this book, really made me feel there with Sara, feeling the heat, enjoying the rich aromatics, the colourful landscape, the busy markets and shops.

Its a good story too, what happens to Sara was what sadly happened so often then. Orphaned, brought up by relatives, and encouraged to marry rather than stay with the family. Didn't really matter whether the match suited her, the fact that someone with a position in India chose her was enough. For those without connections there was the notorious “ fishing fleet” where desperate girls came on spec, hoping someone needed a wife.
Its hardly a romance a marriage like this, more a match of suitability. Perhaps, they don't really know each other well after all. Sara thinks she loves Charles but barely knows him, and the man she meets in India, after a years absence is very different.
By her background, her childhood in India with very open minded, liberal parents though she sees the locals as people, while the British enclave here now are determined to treat them as lesser, as unfeeling, as beneath any decent treatment. What this books shows is just how it was in reality, and the sheer, breathtaking arrogance of people just because the are British is incredible. Its always amazed me how one tiny, little country became such a world power.
Of course Sara is lovely, way to good for Charles and the British Enclave in Madras. Charles is ambitious, and not above using Sara's beauty to further his position, and insidiously bullies her into behaving with those who can influence his future. He sees her as a tool more than a wife, but then sadly he's not alone. Women were regarded that way, possessions to be used, to be paraded out with, to show off, while they kept an Indian woman for what they saw as their baser needs. Wives weren't allowed or expected to enjoy sex, but remain above such things, while men had “needs”...... Incredible how men who denigrate Indians in public still wanted them kept quietly somewhere for those needs. Sadly that was the norm, accepted even, and the poor ladies, Indian or British, had no say.

Sara gets a rapid eye opening about her husband, and of course the wonderful, attractive Ravi is a temptation she can't resist. I loved the idea of their meeting being fated, that the signs, the gurus, Sara's history, all meant it was inevitable according to Ravi. This idea of fate v personal choice always fascinates me, and there are times when things seem impossible but somehow work out, as if fate lent a helping hand.

Stars: Five. A gorgeous read, transporting me to India, desperate for things to work out for Sara, for her to be happy.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers