"Skillful Storytelling"

Kyle Renbourne, tenth Viscount Maxwell, has been traveling the world in order to satisfy his curiosity and his sense of adventure. He has no wish to settle down to the life of responsibility he was born to. He also is dealing with his grief over the death of his beloved wife. He realizes that the time has come for him to return home to England, and he intends to do so after one last adventure. He wants to see China, most of which is forbidden to white men. Once in China he enlists the aid of a Chinese interpreter, a young man named Jin Kang, to smuggle him further into China so that he can visit an old Temple he has dreamed of seeing for 20 years.

Jin Kang has dreams too. The product of a union between a Scottish father and a Chinese mother, Troth Mei-Lian Montgomery was orphaned at an early age and brought into the household of a powerful and rich merchant, Chenqua. Since females of tainted blood had no value in society, Chenqua made use of Troth's bilingual skills and intelligence by dressing her as a boy, re-naming her Jin Kang, and setting her to spy on the Europeans who sought trade with his country. Troth is grateful to Chenqua for taking her in, but she dreams of traveling to her father's country where she believes she will be accepted for herself and not forced to live a lie. When the English Lord Maxwell asks for her help in smuggling him into China she agrees to accompany him if he will provide her with the means to travel to England and Scotland.

The ensuing journey into China is eventful and brings much danger to Troth and Kyle, who soon discovers that his guide is not what he seems to be. The pair share a sense of excitement and adventure which brings them an emotional closeness they have not felt with any other. When Troth at last makes her way to England she must do so alone. Once there she discovers that things are different than she had dreamed. She must also come to terms with her feelings for Kyle and her grief over losing him.

I really enjoyed the parts of the story that took place in China. Ms. Putney's descriptions of China, circa 1832, are fascinating and informative. She weaves the threads of the story between England and China with great skill, keeping the reader's interest and creating much anticipation. I did feel that the story lagged a bit when the focus shifted from the intimacy the couple shared in China to the struggle to adjust to life in England but, over all, this was a very good read that I highly recommend.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted January 16, 2002

Summary

Born to a Scottish father and a Chinese mother, Troth Montgomery dreamed of someday traveling to Scotland, until the death of her father condemned her to a shadowy life as an interpreter in Canton. Then Kyle Renbourne, viscount and adventurer, discovers Trothís true identity and persuades her to be his guide on a dangerous journey into the heart of the Celestial Kingdom.

A meeting of minds flares into searing passion, an idyll that ends when Kyle is captured and condemned to death. A reckless prison cell marriage the night before his execution sends Troth to England, where she arrives at the estate of Kyleís brother. Though accepted as bride and widow, she is haunted by the memory of her dashing husband. Then the past reaches out to Troth, bringing passion, despair, and danger. Now she must draw on her unique heritage to save all she holds dearóand become the woman she is destined to be.