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Sandalwood
A story about life, loss, love... and sexual desire.
Giuliana Cilauro returns to Sydney after a self-imposed nine-year exile, with a Doctorate from Oxford, enviable experience at a London critical-issue advisory firm, and a 3-year-old Jack Russell named Smudge.
All Giuliana wants is a fresh start, but there are scents, people, pictures and places that keep pulling her back into a past overshadowed by grief and guilt. So, when she’s not speaking at press conferences, or managing the political fallout from a fossil fuel divestment strategy, or handling public relations for a billion-dollar global renewable energy project, she dances and she runs until it hurts to numb a different type of hurt.
Proudly adept at keeping herself emotionally detached, Giuliana prefers casual affairs and relationships of convenience over romance and commitment and she uses such trysts to satisfy her strong sexual needs. But the barriers she built to protect herself start to slip when she finds herself drawn to Christian Worne, the Managing Director at Worne Group, where she works in Corporate Affairs with his younger brother, Thomas.
Can Giuliana overcome Christian’s unpredictable behaviour towards her and the miscommunications between them, not to mention the corporate structure, and connect with him? And can she overcome her history, with all its heartache and loss, and trust herself to conquer the insecurities and bad habits that would normally send her running in the opposite direction?
Giuliana Cilauro returns to Sydney after a self-imposed nine-year exile, with a Doctorate from Oxford, enviable experience at a London critical-issue advisory firm, and a 3-year-old Jack Russell named Smudge.
All Giuliana wants is a fresh start, but there are scents, people, pictures and places that keep pulling her back into a past overshadowed by grief and guilt. So, when she’s not speaking at press conferences, or managing the political fallout from a fossil fuel divestment strategy, or handling public relations for a billion-dollar global renewable energy project, she dances and she runs until it hurts to numb a different type of hurt.
Proudly adept at keeping herself emotionally detached, Giuliana prefers casual affairs and relationships of convenience over romance and commitment and she uses such trysts to satisfy her strong sexual needs. But the barriers she built to protect herself start to slip when she finds herself drawn to Christian Worne, the Managing Director at Worne Group, where she works in Corporate Affairs with his younger brother, Thomas.
Can Giuliana overcome Christian’s unpredictable behaviour towards her and the miscommunications between them, not to mention the corporate structure, and connect with him? And can she overcome her history, with all its heartache and loss, and trust herself to conquer the insecurities and bad habits that would normally send her running in the opposite direction?
369 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2021
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Campbell
1 book6 followersRebecca Campbell (she/her) is an amateur cook, non-practising scientist, and inconsistent reader who lives in the New England region of northern New South Wales, Australia, with her husband, two stepsons, two cats, and a dog.
After studying and researching zoology, animal ecology, entomology, myrmecology and climate change for ten years, she realised academia wasn't for her and rediscovered her passion for creative writing.
When she’s not feeding people and sharing her love of food or favourite recipes, blogging about homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck and hyena clitorises, or recounting some of her best late-night, whisky-fuelled arguments with people who were wrong on the Internet, Rebecca writes women’s fiction with contemporary romance elements.
Her first novel, Sandalwood, touches on grief, sexual desire, the power of scent, and confronting the past. She is currently working on the three-book Triptych series, which tells the intertwined and concurrent stories of Yolanda, Annika and Imogen—three friends in their mid-40s who find themselves at a crossroads in life.
After recording some very ordinary backing vocals on her husband’s album, she now likes to think she's a little bit garage-punk when really she’s a little bit more perfume and red lipstick.
She needs you to know that myrmecology is the scientific study of ants, not mermaids.
After studying and researching zoology, animal ecology, entomology, myrmecology and climate change for ten years, she realised academia wasn't for her and rediscovered her passion for creative writing.
When she’s not feeding people and sharing her love of food or favourite recipes, blogging about homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck and hyena clitorises, or recounting some of her best late-night, whisky-fuelled arguments with people who were wrong on the Internet, Rebecca writes women’s fiction with contemporary romance elements.
Her first novel, Sandalwood, touches on grief, sexual desire, the power of scent, and confronting the past. She is currently working on the three-book Triptych series, which tells the intertwined and concurrent stories of Yolanda, Annika and Imogen—three friends in their mid-40s who find themselves at a crossroads in life.
After recording some very ordinary backing vocals on her husband’s album, she now likes to think she's a little bit garage-punk when really she’s a little bit more perfume and red lipstick.
She needs you to know that myrmecology is the scientific study of ants, not mermaids.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 5, 2021
An intellectual, emotional and overall captivating read, not to mention deliciously spicy!! The characters were relatable and fun with boatloads of personality. The storyline was super interesting and compelling and kept my attention throughout. In terms of readability, I was also a fan of the font style and size - it sounds stupid but god it made my brain/eyeballs happy!!
On a personal (and perhaps biased note), I’m so incredibly proud of the author - both as a first time author, and as an exceptional, intelligent, and beautiful woman who I am fortunate to know. You wrote a freakin book Bec!!!
On a personal (and perhaps biased note), I’m so incredibly proud of the author - both as a first time author, and as an exceptional, intelligent, and beautiful woman who I am fortunate to know. You wrote a freakin book Bec!!!
March 15, 2022
Rebecca Campbell’s debut novel is something to rave about. The central character Giuliana is a woman who is always ready - or is she? Her favourite 'go-to' phrase is just that, I’m always ready! We can relate to Giuliana on many levels, she represents everything that we want to be: strong, beautiful, smart, accomplished and independent. This gripping and fast-paced novel delves into the world of a very determined woman not to be messed with: she doesn’t suffer fools and she likes honesty, loyalty, respect, family and above all her faithful companion Smudge. There are people in her world that she keeps close to her heart but there are others that she keeps at arm's length and for good reason.
Giuliana has a tough exterior - a self-taught survival skill - although we occasionally get glimpses of her outer shell showing signs of cracking, but never crumbling. This resonates with just about every human being I know. We have all experienced tragedy, loss or disappointment in some way. What makes us the way we are? Choices. Life choices.
Giuliana knows and owns her strengths and weaknesses. She has distanced herself from the ghosts of the past, blaming herself for a single event for which she cannot shed her guilt....then she meets the love of her life. A future together is the way forward, but is she ready? Can Giuliana keep running away from the echos of another time? Will they catch up with her now and haunt her forever? You’ll just have to read it to find out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!
Giuliana has a tough exterior - a self-taught survival skill - although we occasionally get glimpses of her outer shell showing signs of cracking, but never crumbling. This resonates with just about every human being I know. We have all experienced tragedy, loss or disappointment in some way. What makes us the way we are? Choices. Life choices.
Giuliana knows and owns her strengths and weaknesses. She has distanced herself from the ghosts of the past, blaming herself for a single event for which she cannot shed her guilt....then she meets the love of her life. A future together is the way forward, but is she ready? Can Giuliana keep running away from the echos of another time? Will they catch up with her now and haunt her forever? You’ll just have to read it to find out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!
April 5, 2022
Sandalwood - a beautifully written contemporary work that took me on an emotional journey from page 1 all the way to 360!
The main character, Giuliana Cilauro, is a complicated woman who I struggled to connect with at the start of the book. She is sharp, unpredictable, detached, and most of the time frustrating as hell. As I approached the end of the book, however, I realised my struggle to like Giuliana stemmed from how realistically Bec, the author, had written her. I could see in Giuliana a lot of mistakes that I have made in life myself. The mistakes that arise from wanting to be strong enough to carry all the burdens from your past, but at the same time wanting to feel safe and loved. The mistakes that arise from trying to balance your strength and independence with your hidden desire to be vulnerable and cared for. The mistakes I am sure that every woman in her thirties has made, and is maybe continuing to make.
Many tears were shed at how Giuliana deals with the grief and loss in her life - despite the sadness I found this to be the most all consuming part of the book. So well written, and providing so much insight into the chaos that comes with loss, and how complicated having one less thing or person in your life really is.
I am so looking forward to reading more from Rebecca Campbell, and would recommend this to anyone looking to follow the life of a complex and well developed female lead who is unapologetically living her life. #girlpower
The main character, Giuliana Cilauro, is a complicated woman who I struggled to connect with at the start of the book. She is sharp, unpredictable, detached, and most of the time frustrating as hell. As I approached the end of the book, however, I realised my struggle to like Giuliana stemmed from how realistically Bec, the author, had written her. I could see in Giuliana a lot of mistakes that I have made in life myself. The mistakes that arise from wanting to be strong enough to carry all the burdens from your past, but at the same time wanting to feel safe and loved. The mistakes that arise from trying to balance your strength and independence with your hidden desire to be vulnerable and cared for. The mistakes I am sure that every woman in her thirties has made, and is maybe continuing to make.
Many tears were shed at how Giuliana deals with the grief and loss in her life - despite the sadness I found this to be the most all consuming part of the book. So well written, and providing so much insight into the chaos that comes with loss, and how complicated having one less thing or person in your life really is.
I am so looking forward to reading more from Rebecca Campbell, and would recommend this to anyone looking to follow the life of a complex and well developed female lead who is unapologetically living her life. #girlpower
September 12, 2022
This woman knows how to tell a story, and I can't recommend it more highly. Sharp, funny, driven, smart, steamy, and all the things you want from a romance book. I adore a ballsy woman claiming her life story. Giuliana is blunt and fabulous. I adored this book, and you should pick it up as soon as possible. Love the setting and the story. Well, done.
September 27, 2021
This book has it all - romance, sex, laughter, sex, tears, sex, drama... and did I mention the sex? Some of the best sex scenes I've ever read - consensual, relatable, and very steamy without being cringey. Well worth a read!
September 25, 2021
This book kept me intrigued right from the beginning. Powerful and beautifully written.
October 30, 2021
Great read from start to finish!!
November 2, 2021
Brilliant!
I laughed, I cried, I needed a cold shower.
I laughed, I cried, I needed a cold shower.
July 25, 2023
I was equally in love with and frustrated by Guiliana and Christian (Gules and Chris) from the get go of this intelligent novel about executive realness and life in general. Chris is the MD (Managing Director) and Gules his Marketing Manager, and their attraction is instant, if distant. Chris is wealthy AF, but Gules is solvent and doesn't need his money.
What she does need is sex, and plenty of it. Our Gules is a fiercely independent, confident woman, happy to indulge in no-strings assignations with a variety of men, and good for her! I found this refreshing, and was delighted when she satisfied her needs in this way. It was a refreshing change from the norm.
Her love story with Christian has a push/pull dynamic which the author teases us with throughout, setting up scenes (eg., pole dancing at a corporate event) then going nowhere with them, tender moments over coffee, then flare-ups over a ridiculous misunderstanding. These characters are mature professionals, yet at times they acted like gauche twentysomethings. But all that is okay, because they have genuine chemistry, and as a reader, I really wanted them to get on with it, which they eventually do.
Before all that though, there are great office scenes, setting up Guiliana as a force to be reckoned with. Whilst she can veer towards the histrionic and unpredictable out of the office, at work she is all business. She had a strong start in the book and I could forgive the slightly cringy flare-ups she was prone to later on. She did have a reason, after all, with a past steeped in tragedy and a broken heart to heal. Oh, and her dog, Smudge, is adorable. I loved it when he peed on a £20,000 vase. Go Smudge!
Chris is also reeling from a (very) recent break-up, and doesn't want to launch into another relationship straight away, especially with a new and already valued employee. The word "rebound," isn't uttered but that is what he is fighting against. So he sees Guiliana flirting harmlessly with hot Thomas (Christian's brother) and receiving flowers from satisfied suitors, and he fights a desperate case of blue balls for over half the book before finally getting on with declaring his feelings for her.
I enjoyed this story greatly. Yes, it was confusing at times, with the lack of breaks between jumps in time line, and I really didn't need the chapter on Arne's interview, because it added nothing to the story. (He was her professorial lover from Oxford) The plotting could have been tighter in places, but the writing is good and the author certainly knows her way around the corporate world. I just didn't need to learn so much about it, on the occasions when it got in the way of the real crux of the story. And these were the themes of love, forgiveness and acceptance, about moving on, about saying goodbye, about being independent and about not being afraid to ask for help.
Give this book a go, and be patient. The good stuff is there in little bursts of sweet and sour. You just have to peel away the corporate layers first.
What she does need is sex, and plenty of it. Our Gules is a fiercely independent, confident woman, happy to indulge in no-strings assignations with a variety of men, and good for her! I found this refreshing, and was delighted when she satisfied her needs in this way. It was a refreshing change from the norm.
Her love story with Christian has a push/pull dynamic which the author teases us with throughout, setting up scenes (eg., pole dancing at a corporate event) then going nowhere with them, tender moments over coffee, then flare-ups over a ridiculous misunderstanding. These characters are mature professionals, yet at times they acted like gauche twentysomethings. But all that is okay, because they have genuine chemistry, and as a reader, I really wanted them to get on with it, which they eventually do.
Before all that though, there are great office scenes, setting up Guiliana as a force to be reckoned with. Whilst she can veer towards the histrionic and unpredictable out of the office, at work she is all business. She had a strong start in the book and I could forgive the slightly cringy flare-ups she was prone to later on. She did have a reason, after all, with a past steeped in tragedy and a broken heart to heal. Oh, and her dog, Smudge, is adorable. I loved it when he peed on a £20,000 vase. Go Smudge!
Chris is also reeling from a (very) recent break-up, and doesn't want to launch into another relationship straight away, especially with a new and already valued employee. The word "rebound," isn't uttered but that is what he is fighting against. So he sees Guiliana flirting harmlessly with hot Thomas (Christian's brother) and receiving flowers from satisfied suitors, and he fights a desperate case of blue balls for over half the book before finally getting on with declaring his feelings for her.
I enjoyed this story greatly. Yes, it was confusing at times, with the lack of breaks between jumps in time line, and I really didn't need the chapter on Arne's interview, because it added nothing to the story. (He was her professorial lover from Oxford) The plotting could have been tighter in places, but the writing is good and the author certainly knows her way around the corporate world. I just didn't need to learn so much about it, on the occasions when it got in the way of the real crux of the story. And these were the themes of love, forgiveness and acceptance, about moving on, about saying goodbye, about being independent and about not being afraid to ask for help.
Give this book a go, and be patient. The good stuff is there in little bursts of sweet and sour. You just have to peel away the corporate layers first.
September 8, 2022
Sandalwood tells the emotional journey of a woman who went through moments of tragedy in her life which deeply affected her. Giuliana grew up to be an independent woman. She studied hard, got her degrees, built a life for herself, and she’s ‘always ready’, as she likes to say. But all this is a way to cope with her inner struggles, and the thoughts everybody she loves will end up leaving her at one point. With that in mind, her relationships are many and shallow, since she is afraid to get attached to everyone until she meets Chris.
Chris is somewhat aloof in the beginning. Their Age-Gap is about 15 years, and he also has some scars from his past and a broken relationship to add to the table. As the story goes, he is a lovable, patient, supportive man. He falls hard for Giuliana and wants her in his life.
Guiliana’s story is intriguing,and the mechanism she uses to deal with loss show how hard everything is for her. She always keeps herself busy, so she doesn’t need to think, or relies on pain so she can’t feel. Her story is full of ups and downs, tears, laughter and sexiness, lots and lots of sexiness. The characters are well built. They are easy to relate to. The second characters add a lot of color to the story, making it even more interesting. You root for them and want them to thrive. You cheer for them to overcome their scars, together, and find their happily ever after.
Some of Giuliana's attitudes made me cringe, she was quick to judge sometimes, and would make a mountain out of a molehill. Also, there were passages in the book that just didn’t need to be there, deeply slowing the pace, like some reminiscing coming out of nowhere, or an entire chapter about a professor’s lecture, making me skim or skip the part and move forward.
Overall, the story is beautiful, and I enjoyed it a lot. If you like to read Age-Gap romance about a woman who struggles with her weaknesses and losses and learn that letting the right people in only strengthens us, this book is for you. Adding a beautiful and sexy as hell man to the stir up, just makes the reading even more delightful.
Chris is somewhat aloof in the beginning. Their Age-Gap is about 15 years, and he also has some scars from his past and a broken relationship to add to the table. As the story goes, he is a lovable, patient, supportive man. He falls hard for Giuliana and wants her in his life.
Guiliana’s story is intriguing,and the mechanism she uses to deal with loss show how hard everything is for her. She always keeps herself busy, so she doesn’t need to think, or relies on pain so she can’t feel. Her story is full of ups and downs, tears, laughter and sexiness, lots and lots of sexiness. The characters are well built. They are easy to relate to. The second characters add a lot of color to the story, making it even more interesting. You root for them and want them to thrive. You cheer for them to overcome their scars, together, and find their happily ever after.
Some of Giuliana's attitudes made me cringe, she was quick to judge sometimes, and would make a mountain out of a molehill. Also, there were passages in the book that just didn’t need to be there, deeply slowing the pace, like some reminiscing coming out of nowhere, or an entire chapter about a professor’s lecture, making me skim or skip the part and move forward.
Overall, the story is beautiful, and I enjoyed it a lot. If you like to read Age-Gap romance about a woman who struggles with her weaknesses and losses and learn that letting the right people in only strengthens us, this book is for you. Adding a beautiful and sexy as hell man to the stir up, just makes the reading even more delightful.
March 10, 2023
It's not often that books this spicy are also equal parts bittersweet and heart-achingly lovely, with realistic characters and relatable moments. Sandalwood is, essentially, about a woman’s struggle to confront the past and her grief, instead of just burying it beneath overachievement.
We meet the main female protagonist, Giuliana, when she’s 18 and watching the aftermath of a car accident that killed her brother and father. Fast forward 16 years and Giuliana Cilauro PhD, returns home only to discover that time, distance and professional success haven’t healed her.
Sandalwood is also a love story. It’s love between best friends, old friends, mother and daughter, and love in all its other forms, including romantic love. And it’s that unflinching love that ultimately helps Giuliana realise she doesn’t have to heal alone, but it’s a heart-wrenching journey that takes her there.
There is laughter and excitement, tears and devastation, and all set against a backdrop of corporate Australia, with some academic references thrown in (if you know you know). There is also a realistic antagonist and Giuliana enjoys an active and refreshingly healthy sex life.
I was deeply invested in Giuliana and the other characters and finished the book in two sittings. The first half is a slow burn between Giuliana and Christian, but with lots of other things happening that kept me turning the pages. The second half takes off at lightning speed and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was desperate for more.
We meet the main female protagonist, Giuliana, when she’s 18 and watching the aftermath of a car accident that killed her brother and father. Fast forward 16 years and Giuliana Cilauro PhD, returns home only to discover that time, distance and professional success haven’t healed her.
Sandalwood is also a love story. It’s love between best friends, old friends, mother and daughter, and love in all its other forms, including romantic love. And it’s that unflinching love that ultimately helps Giuliana realise she doesn’t have to heal alone, but it’s a heart-wrenching journey that takes her there.
There is laughter and excitement, tears and devastation, and all set against a backdrop of corporate Australia, with some academic references thrown in (if you know you know). There is also a realistic antagonist and Giuliana enjoys an active and refreshingly healthy sex life.
I was deeply invested in Giuliana and the other characters and finished the book in two sittings. The first half is a slow burn between Giuliana and Christian, but with lots of other things happening that kept me turning the pages. The second half takes off at lightning speed and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was desperate for more.
May 8, 2023
Sandalwood is a refreshing look at the complexity of a woman. Giuliana is an intelligent woman with a handle on most of her emotions. I appreciated how Giuliana expresses her feelings to both the men in her life and the women who support and try to destroy her. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read more from this author.
March 11, 2023
Sandalwood is a riveting, can’t-put-down read that takes you on a steamy roller coaster ride as you get to know the complex but intriguing characters. Our book club heartily enjoyed the journey it took us on- especially the steamy bits! Five stars, congratulations on a brilliant debut novel!
May 27, 2023
I loved how strong the main character in this book was. Guiliana is a real woman - intelligent, mature, knows her own mind, chases what she wants, but with a vulnerable side, too. And it's set in Sydney - I always love reading books set in places I know!
December 24, 2022
A fresh take on a romance novel.
An intriguing look into the life of a grieving public relations executive. I love female protagonists that are strong yet human enough to feel and struggle, and Sandalwood delivered. Giuliana, stubborn yet a team player, is a dynamic, intelligent protagonist who defies convention as expressed through her hobbies and romantic pursuits. As a Canadian I loved getting the insight Campbell gave me into Italian-Australian culture. Campbell has a distinct voice and tells Giuliana’s story with authority. If you enjoy a combination of contemporary fiction and romance, look to Sandalwood.
An intriguing look into the life of a grieving public relations executive. I love female protagonists that are strong yet human enough to feel and struggle, and Sandalwood delivered. Giuliana, stubborn yet a team player, is a dynamic, intelligent protagonist who defies convention as expressed through her hobbies and romantic pursuits. As a Canadian I loved getting the insight Campbell gave me into Italian-Australian culture. Campbell has a distinct voice and tells Giuliana’s story with authority. If you enjoy a combination of contemporary fiction and romance, look to Sandalwood.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews