Book Review: A Dance with Danger by Jeannie Lin

Author: Jeannie Lin

Title: A Dance with Danger

Series: Tang Dynasty #5

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 282

Published: April 21, 2015

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

A promise sworn on the edge of a sword…

After a failed assassination attempt on a corrupt general, Bao Yang is a wanted man. Taking refuge with an ally, Yang accidentally compromises the man's daughter when they're discovered alone. To save her honor, he must marry the beautiful Jin-mei immediately!

In Yang's arms, Jin-mei feels alive for the first time. She's determined not to lose him, even if it means joining his perilous mission… But when she realizes just how destructive Yang's path could be, can she convince him that their life together could be so much sweeter than revenge?

Review:

It's been soooooo long since I read the others of the series. I'm glad this did well as a standalone. Hahaha. If a past character showed up...I didn't remember them, but that was fine.

Here we have Jin-mei and Yang. After a failed assassination attempt on a corrupt general, Yang is now a wanted man so he is on the run. He takes refuge with an ally and whoops...he accidently compromises his ally's daughter. To save her honor, he marries her. Jin-mei joins Yang on his perilous mission, but she soon realizes that Yang's path could destroy both of them. Can she convince him to give up revenge and live happily ever after? 

I simply loved that fact that they got a chance to talk and fall in love. There wasn't any major drama with each other. Sure some issues to weed through, but the main issue is external with his whole I-Need-Revenge thing! Lots of talking. Lots of learning and listening. Cute. 

The drama does bubble up and it was good. I had no idea how everything was going to be resolved!! Oooooo men....so damned stubborn......

Now, I did like Jin-mei and Yang. Both are very sweet, but....I struggled to see the passion between them until damn well near the end. I don't know and I can't really explain it. I guess I didn't buy the chemistry until the very end. 

Speaking of which....I hope there will be more books in this series, because HOW CAN YOU LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!? So open-ended. I needed more. What...what do they do? Where do they go? I doubt there will be more unless there is a spin-off because this was the last one and it was written in 2015. No epilogue? Gah!

I am curious to re-visit the rest of the series one day. I really did like some of the others too. It's been a long time that is for sure. 

All-in-all, I did like this. Nice characters learning about each other and falling in love. It took me a while to actually buy the passion and chemistry, but it does flare up eventually, for me, near the end. I'm bummed that the end didn't give me more answers, but it was sweet. I highly recommend this series. It was good. I barely remember the others since it has been YEARS so I am tempted to revisit. I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Pleasant

Challenge(s):

- Romance Reading Challenge #12 (Non US/UK Setting)

Audiobook Review: Peony in Love

Author: Lisa See

Narrator: Janet Song

Title: Peony in Love

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy

Format: Audiobook

Published: June 26th 2007

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

In seventeenth-century China, three women become emotionally involved with The Peony Pavilion, a famed opera rumored to cause lovesickness and even death, including Peony, the cloistered daughter of a wealthy scholar, who succumbs to its spell only to return after her death as a "hungry ghost" to haunt her former fiancé, who has married another

Review:

I've been wanting to read this book for a long, long time. Sighs...I was scared to actually dive in because it seems people LOVE it or HATE it. Finally got myself to check it out. I decided to do the audio version since I like the narrator. 

We are in seventeenth-century China and three women like so many others become emotionally involved with the opera called The Peony Pavilion. This opera is rumored to cause lovesickness and even death. This happens to Peony who is the cloistered daughter of a wealthy scholar. She succumbs to the opera spell and after her death, she returns as a hungry ghost to haunt her former fiance.

HEAD'S up...there are some spoilers here because I just could not help myself. I tried to control myself so I avoided BIG spoilers just little ones so move forward with caution. ;) 

Okay...I will admit I struggled tremendously at first. I had issues with Peony, her parents, and the world overall. They want these girls to be pure and be sheltered to the point of madness sometimes. They call it lovesickness....but these girls want love and freedom. They want it so bad that they cannot see past it and just decide that they are done with life. They can't control anything but what they put in their mouths...so they starve. Poor things.

Now...my issue was how selfish Peony was. Yes, yes, I get that she can't help but be in love with the first non-family dude she sees because of how sheltered she was. BUT girl legit knew him for 3 days. He thinks he loves her too but they do nothing. "Well - we are engaged to others soooo byeee.", and in protest of marrying another man, she goes all emo. Writes sad poems and starves to death??? SIGHS. Maybe WAIT and see who it is that you are engaged to. You never know!!! And lo and behold it was your dream guy. Tragic so tragic. How dare you do that your beloved father and mother. You are their only child. How could you be so selfish and dramatic about a guy you knew for not even 3 days. You talked for just a few hours overall. GAH.

Of course, everyone blames the opera that she got to watch. "YEP, just another girl who becomes cursed." OKAY...........MAYBE, JUST MAYBE IT IS THAT SHE HATES HER LIFE! Maybe she wants to know who she is marrying. Maybe she wants to go to town or just be treated like a human and not a goat being sold. Crazy thought...maybe talk to her........see what's going on. Maybe tell her who the to-be-hubby is. I know, I know it was the world and it was that bad for these girls so it was realistic. It just drove me insane. 

After she died things got really, really interesting. I couldn't stop listening. I had to know what was going to happen next. It was an interesting view of what the afterlife is like. It was so sad in so many ways. 

I loved when Peony realized as a ghost she has certain abilities. So cool. Wrong on how she used it at first, but we all would do the same thing. I know I would for sure. It was nice seeing her use her abilities for good near the end.  

Watching Peony grow and mature as a ghost was the best part of the story. I honestly wept when she and another ghost (don't want to give away BIG spoilers) did what they did at the end to bring happiness to people who deserved it. It brought a tear to my eye.

This was a really emotional book. I think we are supposed to have strong feelings throughout this which I did. I hated Peony and the human world. I was sad when she died and had to say goodbye. I felt scared for her as she was trying to find her way as a ghost. I wept when her parents seemed to have neglected her and didn't finish the funeral rites they needed to. I felt her anger and pain seeing her love remarry. I felt her desires and wants to be loved and remembered. I felt her despair and her joy. I felt all the emotions. When this ended I couldn't help but smile and wipe a tear away. 

I honestly think the narrator really helped with this. I do not think I would've liked it as much if I had to read it. The narrator is amazing. She really brings so much life to the characters and story. Fantastic! She did great. 

Okay...okay...I'll stop while I'm ahead. I can honestly ramble about this because there is soooo much to discuss. Perfect for a book club I think.

I'll give this 4 stars. It would be 5, but I did struggle at first. 

Challenge(s):
- #35 for Audiobook challenge

Audiobook Review: China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

 

Author: Kevin Kwan

Narrator: Lydia Look

Title: China Rich Girlfriend

(Crazy Rich Asians #2)

Genre: Chick Lit, Fiction, Comedy, Romance, Fiction

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 378 

Published: June 16th 2015

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

On the eve of her wedding to Nicholas Young, heir to one of the greatest fortunes in Asia, Rachel should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond from JAR, a wedding dress she loves more than anything found in the salons of Paris, and a fiance willing to sacrifice his entire inheritance in order to marry her. But Rachel still mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won't be able to walk her down the aisle. Until: a shocking revelation draws Rachel into a world of Shanghai splendor beyond anything she has ever imagined. Here we meet Carlton, a Ferrari-crashing bad boy known for Prince Harry-like antics; Colette, a celebrity girlfriend chased by fevered paparazzi; and the man Rachel has spent her entire life waiting to meet: her father. Meanwhile, Singapore's It Girl, Astrid Leong, is shocked to discover that there is a downside to having a newly minted tech billionaire husband. A romp through Asia's most exclusive clubs, auction houses, and estates, China Rich Girlfriend brings us into the elite circles of Mainland China, introducing a captivating cast of characters, and offering an inside glimpse at what it's like to be gloriously, crazily, China-rich. 

Review:

I could not resist when I seen this as available at my library as an audio. Yayy. Continue the craziness. 

A couple of years have passed. Rachel and Nick are about to get married. Rachel should be happy! But she still has not been able to find her biological father. Until....a meddling mother-in-law is able to find him and will draw Rachel and Nick into the Shanghai world of the super rich. Here she will meet bad boy Carlton, fashion-obsessed Colette, and Rachel's father. At the same time, Nick's cousin, Astrid, is soon to discover that there is a huge downside to having a newly minted tech billionaire husband. 

Poor Rachel. She just wants to find her father who saved her and her mom. She wants to have a dad be there on her wedding day. Yesss, she finds him. But...she is dragged back into the world of the terribly rich and snobby. Granted she gets to meet Carlton who is a bad boy, but he does have a good heart, but still.....being the bastard child of a rich guy? That is awkward and makes a lot of enemies among those rich folk. 

I liked Carlton a lot. I want him to be happy. 

I adore Astrid. I want her happy too. That hubby of hers needs to go. 

LOLLL I love Kitty too. Curious to see what she has in store for us in book 3. She is a hooligan and I love it. Never change girl!

This had just as much crazy drama and crazy rich stuff as the last. This was just as fun. There is a lot of secrets and drama. I felt like there was more here in a way and I liked it. Esp with what happens at the end!!!!! DANGGGG!!!!! Curious to see how everything plays off in the last book. And yessssss, I do want to continue on with book 3. I have to see how everything plays out esp with Nick and his family. 

And Kitty! And Astrid! And even Charlie (gotta feel bad for him). And Carlton now too!

I need to see how this all plays out. I am addicted to these rich folk. It reminds me of a soap opera for sure....less cheesy....but still cheesy in a way. There is a lot of drama and secrets going on. And yessss some comedy, but this one felt a little more serious than book 1, which I think worked really well.

The narrator is good. I for sure will want to continue this series with the narrator. She does good with all the accents and people. It is a large cast and she makes it seem easy. 

All-in-all, this series is good so far. I am addicted. I can't wait to get my hands on book 3. I must knowwww! I for sure recommend this series so far. Read book 1 first though...there is a lot of drama and back story you will need for book 2 and I'm sure for book 3. I'll give this 5 stars. I liked this more than book 1. 

Challenge(s):
- #13 for Audiobook challenge

Audiobook Review: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Author: Kevin Kwan

Narrator: Lynn Chen

Title: Crazy Rich Asians

(Crazy Rich Asians #1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Humor

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 544 

Published:   June 11th 2013

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should--and should not--marry.

Review:

Been meaning to read this book for a while. I want to watch the movie so bad, but I really wanted to start with the book first. Finally got myself to crack this open when I got the audio version!

We follow Rachel Chu and Nick Young mainly. Rachel agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend. She is excited to finally meet his family and see where he grew up. What she didn't expect is that Nick is one of Asia's most eligible bachelors and his family is rich beyond comprehension and not everyone is thrilled that Nick is bringing her home...especially his formidable mother. 

I knew this was going to be a hot mess for Rachel from the moment I realized Nick did NOT at all prepare her for his world. What the heck man? I would be pissed if I was Rachel. Sure - I get talking about one's family wealth is tacky and frowned upon....but tell her SOMETHING. She was for sure tossed into the snake's pit unprepared. 

Besides for Nick being an idiot, I really liked him. I felt so bad for him. So many vipers in that world! I can see why he wanted to live in New York and enjoy a simple life. I don't blame him. As much as I would love buying everything my heart desires and having a private jet....I like my simple life. 

Poor, poor Astrid. I want her to be happy. Screw you Michael! 

Gah. Everyone sucked except for Nick, Astrid, Rachel, Nick's BFF, and the BFF's wife-to-be. Stuck-up jerks. BUT it was so entertaining watching all the unneeded drama and cat-fights. Rich people are so dumb! Hahaha. 

OOOOOO that last minute twist had me so upset. I wanted to shake Rachel and shake Rachel's mom. I hope we get more resolution in the next book. This CANNOT BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. GAH!

I loved the author's writing style. It felt so breezy but it was loaded with a lot of information. The author did a great job making it clear who was who. 

The narrator helped too. I was a wee bit nervous because normally with big casts I try to avoid audio because it makes it hard to remember all the details of each person who pops up. The narrator did fantastic! Everyone had different voices. Sure some seemed similar but they all felt different. Kuddos to the author and the narrator! 

All-in-all, I really did enjoy this. It was a lot of unneeded drama because rich people are bored. I hated nearly everyone, but the ones I liked I loved. I am curious about book 2 mainly because that last minute twist had my head spinning. GIMME MORE PLEASE! I'll give this 4 stars. 

 

Challenge(s):
- #4for Audiobook challenge

- # 3 for Bingo

Not US/UK setting

 

Audiobook Review: The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin

Author: Jeannie Lin
Narrator: Sarah Lam
Title: The Sword Dancer
(Lovers and Rebels, #1; Tang Dynasty, #4)
Genre: Historical Romance, Fiction, Mystery
Pages: Audiobook
Published:  January 1st 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



Sword dancer Li Feng is used to living life on the edge of the law—a woman alone in the dangerous world of the Tang Dynasty has only her whirlwind reflexes to trust. She will discover the truth about her past, even if that means outwitting the most feared thief-catcher of them all...

Relentless, handsome and determined, Han sees life—and love—as black and white. Until he finally captures the spirited, courageous Li Feng, who makes him question everything he thought he knew about right and wrong. Soon he's faced with an impossible choice: betray the elusive sword dancer he is learning to love, or trust his long-disregarded heart and follow her to dangerous, tempting rebellion... 

Been meaning to start on this one! The first 3 of the series was really good. I was worried at first since it has been sooooo long, but this does well as a standalone, so I am happy. 

The story follows Li Feng who is a sword dancer. She is alone in the world and has a single mission...finding out what happened to her family. On her trail is the handsome and relentless Han. He is a notorious thief-catcher. Li Feng makes him question his black and white view of the world. The two dance around each other and stumble upon a mystery that they require them to team up. 

I really enjoyed this. The beginning was a touch slow for me character-wise. Lots of action, but it takes a while for the two to really blossom to each other and the reader. They were so 2D at first, but after a couple of chapters, we got to see them and their demons. Lots of hurt and issues they needed to get through before they could come together in love. Which worked well. 

The mystery was good and bigger than I thought it would! That huge twist left me mouth agape. Did NOT see that coming. I am happy though with it. 

I was so worried for these guys...the HEA seemed SO impossible. However, it was able to happen at the end there. It always does...but it seemed so impossible. The author didn't cheapen this by giving it a cheesy, unrealistic ending. It worked seamlessly. It was good and made sense to me. 

OOOOOOO that baddie! *shakes fist* Evil!!!!! 

Now...the narrator...I go back and forth. I feel like I've heard her before. I can't remember. But I liked her...but at times I was meh. So I guess I'll say she was okay. I feel like they could've used the 2nd voice for Han. She was okay for Li Feng though. 

Overall, I liked this a lot even with my on-the-fence feelings for the narrator. Great character development and story-telling. I'll give this a 4. 

Book 14 of 16/25

Gonna use my free space on this one!

Book Review: Gold Mountain by Sharon Cullars

Author: Sharon Cullars
Title: Gold Mountain
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: ebook
Published: Feb 2010
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

In 1865, the hope for gold has spurred many to seek their fortunes in California, the place the Chinese call Gum San or "Gold Mountain." Amidst this backdrop, Quiang, a new Chinese immigrant, works the dangerous rails hoping to save enough money to send home to his parents. In town, Leah and Clara, two enterprising women from New York, have plans of their own to grow a restaurant and laundry business. However, both plans go awry when Quiang and Leah meet one fateful day. What starts as a budding attraction soon grows into tumultuous desire despite the cultural and language barriers between them.

Initially resistant, Leah succumbs to passion following a tragic loss that leaves her vulnerable and alone. With hopes for a future that now includes Leah, Quiang embarks on a perilous path as he leaves the railroad behind for a more profitable position as a courier for The Tong, henchmen for the dangerous Triad. Quiang soon finds that navigating the secretive life of a courier brings more danger than he has ever faced on the railroad, dangers that not only threaten to tear him and Leah apart, but may cost them their lives as well.

I've read a few reviews about this book. Some good, some horrible. I've wanted to read this for myself, but it has never really been available at a library or for cheap, so I honestly forgot about this for a long, long time. Black Friday happened and I found this book again for really cheap on Amazon, so I decided to give it a try after all these years. lol

I am on the fence with this one. I didn't LOVE it and I didn't HATE it. It was simply just okay. I will say that I am glad that I waited for it to be cheap. 

The story follows Leah and Quiang during the Gold Rush. Leah is a young black woman who is trying to make something of herself with her pal. Quiang is a young Chinese man trying to make some money to send to his family back home. Everyone is trying to make something of themselves in this little town. 

I am glad that the author was true to the times. It was a rough time for anyone not white male and of privilege even in the middle of nowhere. There was SO much racism and SO much sexism back then and I am glad the author showed this and didn't shy away from it. Super sad, but in a way it really helped with the love story. It made it feel even more special that these two found each other in a world full of hate. 

Quiang really upset me when he decided to join the Triad. Idiot. Big ol' fool. Bleh!

Now, the story was interesting and I enjoyed the journey. Some eye-rolling moments, but it was going well. And then the last 25% of the story happened and I wanted to throw my Kindle. No! I was reading this to watch the two lovers find their ways to each other and to freedom, but I was robbed. The adventure to get free was literally stopped and then it was the epilogue. Wh....wh...what? *looks around* NO! You can't just do that. I feel SO robbed. Them running away was supposed to be the climatic part of the story and it just ended and fast forwarded to them being old with their children. NO! 

In the end, this was just okay. The ending really ruined the higher rating I was contemplating giving this story. I really feel I was robbed. It left me going, "WHATT?" I also was really upset with the fool Quiang. I loved him at the beginning, but he turned out to be a fool. Sighs. I did like the story a lot before the ending happened. I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

Book Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Author: Lisa See
Title: Shanghai Girls (Shanghai Girls #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 319
Published: May 2009
Where I Got It: My shelf (Aamazon)

In 1937 Shanghai—the Paris of Asia—twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree—until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth. To repay his debts, he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from Los Angeles to find Chinese brides. As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, from the Chinese countryside to the shores of America. Though inseparable best friends, the sisters also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. Along the way they make terrible sacrifices, face impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are—Shanghai girls.

This has been on my shelf for a while. I'm not sure why I avoided it. Maybe because I knew it was going to be sad? Not sure, but I regret waiting so long to read this. 

Yes, I was right that this was sad. It was a realistic sad. May and Pearl come from Shanghai. They are close and love each other, but they are polar opposites. Bad things happen and they lose everything. More bad things happen and they are forced to flee China to the US. It was all sad, but there was always an element of hope which made all the sadness bearable. 

I liked Pearl and I saw a little of myself in her which made me like her more. May? Parts of me liked her, but as the story went on I liked her less and less. Yes, I felt bad for her in many ways, but she was a little snot. Same can be said of Joy. Joy needed a smack outside of the head. 

Not only was this entertaining and sad. It also really shows a side of immigration that people should read. People even back then were not the nicest to legal and illegal immigrants. It's horrible how racist some people can be. 

This felt so real and it was beautifully written. I really liked the author's writing style and I want to read more. Beautiful world-building...beautifully written characters...just great all around. 

There is a sequel and I want to read it. Not because I want to find out what happens to Joy, but what is going to happen to Pearl. Joy doesn't deserve a second thought...but who am I I guess? *grumbles* Spoiled, little brat. 

Anyways, this was great. I loved it. I highly recommend that you read this if you even remotely like Historical Fiction. Out of five stars, I'll give this a full 5. 

Book Review: The China Bride by Mary Jo Putney

Author:  Mary Jo Putney
Title: The China Bride (The Bride Trilogy #2)
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 439
Published: 2000
Where I Got It: My Shelf (B&N)

Born to a Scottish father and now living in China, Troth Montgomery grew up speaking several languages and thinking of faraway England as home. Enduring life as a concubine, she never imagined that one day she would leave the Orient, arriving in bitter winter at the estate of a stranger--the brother of the man who had briefly been her husband. Kyle Renbourne, Viscount of Maxwell, had taken Troth as his bride shortly before his apparent execution in a Chinese prison. Now, as his widow, she is entitled to the home she always dreamed of but remains haunted by the memory of a dashing husband and the brief, forbidden love they shared.

Then Kyle seemingly returns from the dead. Though he has survived, his mind and body are badly wounded. He needs time to heal and retreats from the exotic wife he barely knows. Bitterly aware that she will never be a fitting English wife, Troth defiantly embraces her foreign traditions, hoping that the ancient arts of her ancestors will restore Kyle's spirit and her own battered heart. Together they embark on a miraculous journey of hope and faith as Kyle becomes enchanted with the intimate tranquility he shares with his bewitching Troth. But before he can win back his China bride, Kyle must first face a deadly menace that has followed them halfway across the world. . . .

This book two in the series. I read book one an eon ago and I enjoyed it. The first book followed Dominic and Meriel. This one follows Kyle, Dom's twin brother, and Troth who meet in China. Kyle is heartbroken from his old mistress dying and Troth is now orphaned and being forced to be white person escort and a spy on the side.

I liked the first book. I liked Kyle's side-story so I was excited to read forward...however...I was let down. Kyle was different than what I remembered in the first book. He was an idiot and annoying. Troth was interesting, but she bugged me too overall.

The beginning was really good but then it was downhill. I think the scene that marked my downfall with this book was the scene when Kyle discovers Troth is a woman. It was really forced and really kind of silly how Kyle went about it. He had no decorum or class. He was kind of offensive and overly blunt. Troth had an interesting complex about her but she was boring overall. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the jumping between time. It didn't flow well.

After the one scene, I started skimming. The ending got a hair better with all the drama, but I just didn't get into it like I did the first book.

The first book wasn't amazing, but it was good. This one? A super bummer. I couldn't connect with the characters and I couldn't stay on track with the story. Maybe if the story didn't time jump and I liked the characters even an ounce more could've made this better? Out of five stars, I'll give this one. 

Book Review: The Courtesan by Alexandra Curry

Author: Alexandra Curry
Title: The Courtesan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 416
First Published: September 8th 2015)
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

The year is 1881. Seven-year-old Jinhua is left an orphan, alone and unprotected after her mandarin father’s summary execution for the crime of speaking the truth. For seven silver coins, she is sold to a brothel-keeper and subjected to the worst of human nature. Will the private ritual that is her father’s legacy and the wise friendship of the crippled brothel maid be enough to sustain her? 

When an elegant but troubled scholar takes Jinhua as his concubine, she enters the close world of his jealous first wife. Yet it is Jinhua who accompanies him—as emissary to the foreign devil nations of Prussia, Austria-Hungary, and Russia—on an exotic journey to Vienna. As he struggles to play his part in China's early, blundering diplomatic engagement with the Western world, Jinhua’s eyes and heart are opened to the irresistible possibilities of a place that is mesmerizing and strange, where she will struggle against the constraints of tradition and her husband’s authority and seek to find “Great Love.”

I have heard of Jinhua in the past, but I admit I know pretty much nothing about her or her journeys. She was orphaned, became a courtesan, and then a legend. Unlike many Chinese women of the day, she was able to travel and learn about the world. She learned so much in her travels. She grew to love the Western world and brought that love back to China. However, as we all know, the Boxer Rebellion starts as she comes back. 

The beginning was rough to get in. It started dark and it was hard to read. Poor little orphan. Her parents are killed and she is sold to a whore house at a very young age. It took a while for me to become immersed in the story. Very dark. But it certainly got better as hope was brought to life and Jinhua began growing to the woman she was supposed to be. I was utterly hooked from there. 

I go back and forth on how I liked the multiple POVs. Some were okay, but some annoyed me and I skimmed them. I would have preferred just Jinhua's and maybe a couple key ones like Suyin's or Madame Hong's. Some were essential, some were not. I think cutting some and extending others would have been a huge benefit to the story and made it flow a little better. Some of the POVs made the flow choppy. 

Other than that, I enjoyed this story. It was dark, yes, but there was hope and I want to learn more about Jinhua. There is little ACTUAL knowledge about her since she was merely a woman and a Courtesan, but there is some.

In the end, I highly recommend this if you like historical fictions or just a good people story. The beginning was rough for me and some of the POVs were non-essential to me, but the rest of the story was addicting. I could hardly put this down! I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

Movie Review: Police Story Lockdown (2013)

Length: 1 hr & 50 mins
Released: 2013
Genre: Action/Adventure & Drama
Rating: N/A (I would say PG-13 at minimum)
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:
A man looking for the release of a long-time prisoner takes a police officer, his daughter, and a group of strangers hostage.

TRAILER:

N/A (Can't find one anywhere - GAH)

REVIEW:

When first reading the summary, I wasn’t really interested in watching the film for multiple reasons. One, it is technically part of a series and I feel like a cheat and worried I’ll be lost. And two, I didn’t think I would like it. However, Boyfriend informed me that Jackie Chan was the star and I was game at that point. Now, Jackie Chan is always fun to watch. Not the greatest actor, but he does well. I mostly love the fact he does 99.9% of his own stunts. He is amazing when it comes to this. He is old in this film, but he still stayed true to his word he will always do his own stunts. So major kudos to him on that.

The story was sometimes hard to follow, because never seen the past movies. I had to ask a few questions about who was who and what a certain reference meant. Luckily this didn’t happen ALL the time, only a few instances popped up. Also, the whole situation seemed SO impossible. Intriguing? Yes. Was I worried and on the edge of my seat? Why, yes. HOWEVER, it seemed SO impossible.

I was very cynical about who was truly the bad guy. I liked this. Who really is to blame? Is there really anyone TO blame to what happened to the girl? I can’t say much else, but I do love when movies really make you have to think and nothing is as it seems. Nothing was black and white in this and that made me happy. 

The ending left me perplexed. Did I like it? No. Did I dislike it? No. It was just that…an ending. It was cliffhanger-ish, but not really. I’m really sure how to describe it. It really went into the flow with that nothing is as it seems. The story, I can tell you, is not done since the main character is still a cop and has things to do. 

The acting was meh. Only Jackie and the main “baddie” did well. The rest…they were just meh.

The fight scenes. Good and realistic. However, I wanted more. Just a little more would’ve made me happy.

Overall, this film was just okay. Better than I had expected, but still okay. The acting was lacking and I wanted more fight scenes. The ending left me perplexed which is good, but bad. So much confusion going on! I do regret not watching the other film that technically came before this, but what can you do? I’m not even sure how many they had made before this. I know for sure there is one from the 1980s. Anyways, I shall stamp this with 2 stars. 

Re-watch?: No