TEMPTED TIGRESS

Author: Jade Lee ISBN: 0843956909 6/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: DORCHESTER
Time Period: China, 1876-1900

A Dangerous Current Not only did China's Grand Canal trasnport food, slaves, and deadly opium, today it was a woman's path to freedom. But her flight would end in the arms of the emperor's enforcer, wehere another journey would begin. Orphaned and stranded, Anna Marie Thompson could trust no one, especially not her dark captor. Not when his eyes hold secrets deadlier than her own. His caress was liquid fire, but Anna was an Englishwoman and alone. She could not trust that they could tame the dragon, as he whispered, or that sadness and fear could be cleansed by soft yin rain. Safety and joy were but a breath away. And perhaps love. All was for the taking, if she would just give in to temptation…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

TEMPTED TIGRESS by Jade Lee is fascinating on so many levels. It begins with an introduction to the opium trade in China, and the Emperor's Enforcer, a man who seems to be without either heart or soul. When Anna tries to flee China, she is captured and finds herself on a boat, at the mercy of one who she knows has not shown mercy to others. The images are vivid, and leave nothing to the imagination. I could see clearly each scene in this tale, see and feel and even hear it all-the sway of the boat, the sweet scent of opium, the cry of children at the Benedictine mission where Anna is raised. This is an erotic tale, and the passionate scenes are tender and beautiful.

Each chapter ends with a glimpse into the past via a letter, and it is through these letters that the story of Anna's childhood unfolds. This is such clever storytelling that I found I was waiting for each new letter, wondering what happened next in the sad tale of one white child amidst a sea of Chinese faces. TEMPTED TIGRESS is a hauntingly exotic tale, one that tempts the senses while it satisfies the heart.

Kay James