China in 848 AD is a land of Rebels And Lovers. Having read some of the earlier books in this series I was keen to find out more. A man called Bao Yang who is wanted in another province has returned to seek friends in Fujian province. He encounters a young lady, Jin-Mei, in A DANCE WITH DANGER. Unlike previous heroines in this medieval series, Jin-Mei is a well-off young lady living in the house of her influential father. The suggestion that Jin- Mei might have been compromised by standing in shade with a man is enough to make her father insist on marriage.

Magistrate Tan is a wily man and while he does not draw attention to Yang's marriage to his daughter, it is possible that he does not expect Yang long to survive the wedding. After all, being widowed is a perfectly respectable state for a young lady, especially if nobody knows her husband was a rebel. Jin-Mei knows nothing of this as her step-mother gives her some basic instruction in preparing for the wedding night. Rich girls are kept ignorant. After the polite ceremony, however, matters don't even get that far before Yang has vanished, rumoured killed.

A warlord, General Wang, is a familiar name from other books, as is the beautiful Li Feng, a sword dancer, and conspiracies and dangers abound in the densely-layered atmosphere. Jin-Mei decides to strike out alone, buying passage on a ship with a bolt of silk, learning to be capable and decisive. I enjoyed meeting Lady Daiyu, the ship's captain, willing to aid another woman. All the ship's crew carry knives, for pirates are on the water - and they form part of the salt smuggling trade. Simple meals include rice and egg porridge, while bamboo is a staple building material, and the wild country outside towns is referred to as the rivers and lakes. Clay pits and potters' kilns are also part of the story, as we see the backbreaking work needed to fuel an economy.

Jeannie Lin consistently recreates medieval China for us and brings us larger than life heroes and heroines, danger and deceits. A DANCE WITH DANGER is a worthy addition to the adult romance series in which a sampan can carry warriors or traders and a girl's first love can bring treachery from where it is least expected. My admiration for this author continues to grow with each book.

Book Summary

Rebels and Lovers #2 - Sequel to The Sword Dancer

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?