Jeannie Lin
Autor(a) de Butterfly Swords
About the Author
Séries
Obras de Jeannie Lin
Love, Death & Lanterns (The Pingkang Li Mysteries, #4.5) 1 exemplar(es)
Red Blossom in Snow (The Pingkang Li Mysteries, #4) 1 exemplar(es)
Etiquetado
Conhecimento Comum
- Nome de batismo
- Nguyen-Rettig, Chi
- Outros nomes
- Lee, Liliana
- Sexo
- female
- Nacionalidade
- USA
- Locais de residência
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Los Angeles Area, California, USA - Ocupação
- teacher
technical consultant - Agente
- Gail Fortune (Talbot Fortune Agency Inc.)
- Pequena biografia
- Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy as well as Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Gold Heart Award-winning manuscript, Butterfly Swords, sold to Harlequin Mill & Boon. With two releases and four more upcoming titles, she's keeping her fingers crossed that this hard-sell genre will one day be hard to resist.
As a technical consultant, backpacker, and vacation junkie, she's traveled all over the United States as well as Europe, South Korea, Japan, China and Vietnam. She's now happily settled in St. Louis with her wonderfully supportive husband and she continues to journey to exotic locations in her stories. [from Pieces of Paper (2011)]
Membros
Resenhas
The Jade Temptress (Hqn) de Jeannie Lin
Through Jeannie Lin I have rediscovered my love of romantic mysteries! This slow burn was so well-paced that I read it in almost one sitting. I really love the setting of this series and I can't wait to read more!
Its important to note that while this is set during the Tang Dynasty, much like Lin's other novels, this could more appropriately be considered a Historical Mystery Romance. The intrigue surrounding the deaths and threats in the Pingkang li (North Hamlet, an infamous pleasure district) are as important, if not more so, then the romance of Yue-ying and Bai Huang.
Its because of these events that the two are able to spend time together at all. Bai Huang, who is more then the affable fool he portrays, ropes Yue-ying into being his accomplice in the investigation because of her keen observational skills. The groundwork for this story--why Bai Huang is at Mingyu's (Yue-ying's mistress) parlor so constantly, how Yue-ying becomes involved through no action of her own, how the stories intertwine around each other--can all be considered a string of coincidences. What if Bai Huang did not pay court to Mingyu--would he have ever gotten involved with the second murder? What if Yue-ying refused to speak to him at all instead of indulging her curiosity? I sometimes felt as if at any moment something could (and would) keep Bai Huang and Yue-ying apart.
There's also a decided lack of judgement in this book on Bai Huang's part. Oh others judge him for the act he puts on, but he doesn't judge Mingyu for her choices or Yue-ying for her past. He is sometimes critical of their choices within the framework of the investigation--he doesn't understand Yue-ying's loyalty to Mingyu (who only seems to treat her dismissively) or Mingyu's reluctance to act in her best interests, but he doesn't judge the lives they live.
Lin is also careful to craft a happy ending for Bai Huang and Yue-ying that isn't based on because romance demands it. Whether they ended up together or not was placed entirely on whether or not the two were strong enough to take that future in their hands. They needed to be able to acknowledge things wouldn't be easy and that a compromise would have to be met.
I recommend this book to not only historical romance fans (Lin captures the dark and light of what it meant to be a courtesan of the Pingkang li with a keen eye to detail, more on this later), but also fans of a good mystery. Huang an Yue-ying make for engaging amateur detectives, and the backdrop offers a landscape rife with red herrings and possibilities.
… (mais)
Its because of these events that the two are able to spend time together at all. Bai Huang, who is more then the affable fool he portrays, ropes Yue-ying into being his accomplice in the investigation because of her keen observational skills. The groundwork for this story--why Bai Huang is at Mingyu's (Yue-ying's mistress) parlor so constantly, how Yue-ying becomes involved through no action of her own, how the stories intertwine around each other--can all be considered a string of coincidences. What if Bai Huang did not pay court to Mingyu--would he have ever gotten involved with the second murder? What if Yue-ying refused to speak to him at all instead of indulging her curiosity? I sometimes felt as if at any moment something could (and would) keep Bai Huang and Yue-ying apart.
There's also a decided lack of judgement in this book on Bai Huang's part. Oh others judge him for the act he puts on, but he doesn't judge Mingyu for her choices or Yue-ying for her past. He is sometimes critical of their choices within the framework of the investigation--he doesn't understand Yue-ying's loyalty to Mingyu (who only seems to treat her dismissively) or Mingyu's reluctance to act in her best interests, but he doesn't judge the lives they live.
Lin is also careful to craft a happy ending for Bai Huang and Yue-ying that isn't based on because romance demands it. Whether they ended up together or not was placed entirely on whether or not the two were strong enough to take that future in their hands. They needed to be able to acknowledge things wouldn't be easy and that a compromise would have to be met.
I recommend this book to not only historical romance fans (Lin captures the dark and light of what it meant to be a courtesan of the Pingkang li with a keen eye to detail, more on this later), but also fans of a good mystery. Huang an Yue-ying make for engaging amateur detectives, and the backdrop offers a landscape rife with red herrings and possibilities.
… (mais)
First, its important to note that the brother from "A Lady's Scandalous Night", that betrays Li Tao and who is mysteriously pardoned at the end (off screen) in "Night" is Ru Shan (the bodyguard that Suyin sends to deliver a message for her). Wei Chen does not, to my recollection, show up in this book. Also I'm not entirely certain how the events of "Night" correlate with the timeline for Dragon since the scene when Ru Shan runs off plays out differently then how Wei Chen describes it in "Night".
Regardless.
Suyin is different from Ai Li. Whereas Ai Li was, more or less, sheltered from a lot of the harder aspects of life, Suyin grew up and thrived under such circumstances. She understood better then many of the characters what it meant to be trapped by your reputation and defined by it.
One of the telling scenes is when Li Tao and Suyin have a moment together and a secret is revealed. Its unfathomable to him that such a thing could be possible--both because of who Suyin was and who the Emperor was.
Li Tao wasn't very different from who he was in Butterfly Swords. He was still very controlled and serious, putting aside his wants for a sense of obligation and duty. Occasionally a mischievous spirit would kindle, in subtle jokes and inclinations, but Suyin (intentionally or otherwise) would snuff those moments out more often then not.
Their relationship was rocky and mostly sown with distrust. Neither trusted the other for the majority of the novel. Neither was truthful or forthcoming unless it became absolutely necessary. Suyin intentionally and Li Tao because that's who he was.
Interestingly they're both very damaged people. They wear their flaws like an armor though, challenging everyone to call them on these perceived faults so they can prove themselves better then who they once were. I liked watching them as they peeled back each other's protections, as they gradually grew to understand each other and their motivations.
The most fun for me was during the kidnapping of Suyin, later in the book. Demons of Li Tao's past come to take their pound of flesh, but nothing (and no one) is quite what they seem. Even though we spend a comparatively short amount of time with this group, they were fun and diverting.
It wouldn't be fair to say that Ai Li and Ryam were better people then Suyin and Li Tao, even though on the surface what Ai Li/Ryam do aren't as bad as what Suyin/Li Tao do. Suyin and Li Tao did what they had to in order to survive. Not without remorse or without some regrets, but their purpose wasn't to hurt others. Simply to do what they thought was right.
In many ways I enjoyed this book moreso then the first one, Butterfly Swords. Lin's writing is tighter and flows more fluidly, setting its own tone and drawing the reader in.
… (mais)
Regardless.
Suyin is different from Ai Li. Whereas Ai Li was, more or less, sheltered from a lot of the harder aspects of life, Suyin grew up and thrived under such circumstances. She understood better then many of the characters what it meant to be trapped by your reputation and defined by it.
One of the telling scenes is when Li Tao and Suyin have a moment together and a secret is revealed. Its unfathomable to him that such a thing could be possible--both because of who Suyin was and who the Emperor was.
Li Tao wasn't very different from who he was in Butterfly Swords. He was still very controlled and serious, putting aside his wants for a sense of obligation and duty. Occasionally a mischievous spirit would kindle, in subtle jokes and inclinations, but Suyin (intentionally or otherwise) would snuff those moments out more often then not.
Their relationship was rocky and mostly sown with distrust. Neither trusted the other for the majority of the novel. Neither was truthful or forthcoming unless it became absolutely necessary. Suyin intentionally and Li Tao because that's who he was.
Interestingly they're both very damaged people. They wear their flaws like an armor though, challenging everyone to call them on these perceived faults so they can prove themselves better then who they once were. I liked watching them as they peeled back each other's protections, as they gradually grew to understand each other and their motivations.
The most fun for me was during the kidnapping of Suyin, later in the book. Demons of Li Tao's past come to take their pound of flesh, but nothing (and no one) is quite what they seem. Even though we spend a comparatively short amount of time with this group, they were fun and diverting.
It wouldn't be fair to say that Ai Li and Ryam were better people then Suyin and Li Tao, even though on the surface what Ai Li/Ryam do aren't as bad as what Suyin/Li Tao do. Suyin and Li Tao did what they had to in order to survive. Not without remorse or without some regrets, but their purpose wasn't to hurt others. Simply to do what they thought was right.
In many ways I enjoyed this book moreso then the first one, Butterfly Swords. Lin's writing is tighter and flows more fluidly, setting its own tone and drawing the reader in.
… (mais)
All right folks I've said this before, but I'll say it again because I think it bears repeating--Jeannie Lin rocks. I may be predisposed to thinking like this, given my (almost obsessive) love of Asian dramas, but more then that Lin writes historical romances that are different.
Harlequin has a formula for their books, but its not any different then other romance publishers. Man and Woman meet, they maybe get along/probably clash/have this moment of awareness, repeated situations have them growing closer, possible misunderstanding/obstacle or two and viola! They end up together. That's your basic romance plot boiled down without all the artifices of plot.
What has Lin's books standing out though (aside from the different location/time period) is that her characters often face situations that force a change of circumstance. Regardless of how much I love my wallpaper historicals very few of the couples end up in drastically changed circumstances (for both of them. I'm not counting the courtesan to lady or guttersnipe to lord tropes).
This is no less true for The Sword Dancer. Neither Li Feng nor Han are living the life of luxury at the beginning of the story, but they are living different lives from each other. Li Feng is nomadic, wandering troupe to troupe in search of a life she barely recalls and living more or less a moral grey life. Han, though also wandering, has a purpose that calls to him desperately and determinedly seeks lawful justice. This becomes an important component of their relationship as they argue over which is a fairer way of life. Li Feng's almost Robin Hood approach (stole a horse from the State, gave it to a poor farmer) or Han's strict every crime deserves a punishment (that varies based on the severity).
Han believes in the system of Law while Li Feng has seen nothing but how it can be abused.
Throughout we follow as they chase each other, coming together at various points as it suits their needs, but as each meeting seems less about capturing a criminal and more about learning the truth the ease of familiarity deepens. More than the moments of passion between the two, I found myself enjoying when Li Feng would tease Han or when Han would flirt and catch Li Feng unaware.
The underlying conspiracy and mystery surrounding the jade pendent that Li Feng had unraveled quite nicely, as did the truth surrounding the night her mother told her to run. We hear the events from two different sources--the official record as well as from a child's memory, though the truth is more in the middle.
The change of circumstance occurs about a third from the end. Han comes to it quicker than Li Feng, realizing that a black and white outlook can breed just as much corruption. From the beginning Li Feng had more at stake and as such it takes her longer to realize that bending doesn't mean breaking, and loving doesn't mean forgetting.… (mais)
Harlequin has a formula for their books, but its not any different then other romance publishers. Man and Woman meet, they maybe get along/probably clash/have this moment of awareness, repeated situations have them growing closer, possible misunderstanding/obstacle or two and viola! They end up together. That's your basic romance plot boiled down without all the artifices of plot.
What has Lin's books standing out though (aside from the different location/time period) is that her characters often face situations that force a change of circumstance. Regardless of how much I love my wallpaper historicals very few of the couples end up in drastically changed circumstances (for both of them. I'm not counting the courtesan to lady or guttersnipe to lord tropes).
This is no less true for The Sword Dancer. Neither Li Feng nor Han are living the life of luxury at the beginning of the story, but they are living different lives from each other. Li Feng is nomadic, wandering troupe to troupe in search of a life she barely recalls and living more or less a moral grey life. Han, though also wandering, has a purpose that calls to him desperately and determinedly seeks lawful justice. This becomes an important component of their relationship as they argue over which is a fairer way of life. Li Feng's almost Robin Hood approach (stole a horse from the State, gave it to a poor farmer) or Han's strict every crime deserves a punishment (that varies based on the severity).
Han believes in the system of Law while Li Feng has seen nothing but how it can be abused.
Throughout we follow as they chase each other, coming together at various points as it suits their needs, but as each meeting seems less about capturing a criminal and more about learning the truth the ease of familiarity deepens. More than the moments of passion between the two, I found myself enjoying when Li Feng would tease Han or when Han would flirt and catch Li Feng unaware.
The underlying conspiracy and mystery surrounding the jade pendent that Li Feng had unraveled quite nicely, as did the truth surrounding the night her mother told her to run. We hear the events from two different sources--the official record as well as from a child's memory, though the truth is more in the middle.
The change of circumstance occurs about a third from the end. Han comes to it quicker than Li Feng, realizing that a black and white outlook can breed just as much corruption. From the beginning Li Feng had more at stake and as such it takes her longer to realize that bending doesn't mean breaking, and loving doesn't mean forgetting.… (mais)
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Estatísticas
- Obras
- 40
- Membros
- 1,451
- Popularidade
- #17,711
- Avaliação
- 3.6
- Resenhas
- 112
- ISBNs
- 107
- Idiomas
- 2
- Favorito
- 3