My Fair Concubine
Indulge your fantasies of delicious Regency Rakes, fierce Viking warriors and rugged Highlanders. Be swept away into a world of intense passion, lavish settings and romance that burns brightly through the centuriesTHE NOBLEMAN WHO TURNED A TEA GIRL INTO A PRINCESS… Yan Ling tries hard to be servile – it’s what’s expected of a girl of her class. Being intelligent and strong-minded, she finds it a constant battle… Proud Fei Long is unimpressed by her spirit – until he realises she’s the answer to his problems…He has to deliver the Emperor a ‘princess’. Can he train a tea girl to pass as a noblewoman in two months? Yet it’s hard to teach good etiquette when all Fei Long wants to do is break it, by taking this tea girl for his own…‘Beautifully written, deliciously sensual, and rich with Tang Dynasty historical and political detail… Exceptional.’ – Library Journal on The Dragon and the Pearl
Читать My Fair Concubine онлайн беплатно
As always, I have to thank my editor, Anna Boatman, and my agent, Gail Fortune, for their continued insight and support, no matter where my writing takes me. This story owes a lot to the Tuesday critique group: Amanda Berry, Shawntelle Madison, Kristi Lea and Dawn Blankenship. Thank you for all the feedback, brainstorming and gossip sessions. To my last line of defence: Little Sis, Inez Kelly and Bria Quinlan—I don’t know how I’d be able to ever let a story out of my hands without you. Finally, a special thanks to Inez’s husband, Ryan, and Louise Harrison for their help in the archery scenes.
Praise for Jeannie Lin:
THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL
‘Chang Ai Li flees her wedding and her enraged bridegroom in Lin’s exciting debut, an adventure tale set in turbulent eighth-century China.
Especially vibrant writing describing the culture,
clothes, and countryside …’ —Publishers Weekly starred review
‘If Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon merged with A Knight’s Tale, you’d have the power and romance of Lin’s dynamic debut. The action never stops, the love story is strong, and the historical backdrop is fascinating. —RT Book Reviews
‘In BUTTERFLY SWORDS, Jeannie Lin tells a classic
tale of courage, adventure, and impossible love—and she sets it in a fascinating new world: Tang China, where a warrior princess must fight for her family and her country with only a barbarian swordsman to help her. Jeannie Lin is a fresh new voice in historical romance, and BUTTERFLY SWORDS rocks!’ —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of NEVER LESS THAN A LADY
‘Swords, warrior princesses, and a barbarian to love!
BUTTERFLY SWORDS was a delight!’ —Jade Lee, USA TODAY bestselling author
‘What is this?’ he asked slowly. His gaze swept briefly over her face. The frown line between his eyes sharpened.
Her face burned so hot that she doubted she needed the rouge on her cheekbones.
‘We purchased some make-up at the East Market yesterday.’
Fei Long’s lip curled. ‘You look ridiculous.’
Her heart squeezed tight. Then it plummeted, like a crushed and ruined butterfly.
In so few words he had scattered all her confidence, all her hopes. There was no pleasing Fei Long. Not looking at him, she scrubbed at the tint until her lips were raw. She wanted it off—all of it. The powders, the perfume, and all pretence that she could be a lady worth any notice.
‘Yan Ling.’
He rose from his desk to move towards her. She tried to slip past.
In the next moment she caught a glimpse of Fei Long’s face, of his dark and tortured eyes. A muscle tensed along his jaw before he lowered his head …
AUTHOR NOTE
This story was a little bit of a departure from the high drama of my previous works. The Tang Dynasty was a golden age of Chinese culture, and I wanted to explore the vast capital city of Changan with its infamous entertainment district and teeming marketplaces. MY FAIR CONCUBINE allowed me to play a little with a beloved classic theme while adding a Tang Dynasty twist of my own.
For history buffs, the practice of heqin, or peace marriage, was a very important diplomatic practice which the Tang rulers used more than in any other era to keep the peace with neighbouring kingdoms such as Tibet and Khitai. The alliance brides ranged from daughters or nieces of the Emperor to palace women to daughters of court officials. A substantial body of poetry and writing exists about and by the heqin brides, and they achieved a certain legendary status. A famous poem by Princess Xijun, lamenting her marriage ‘to the other side of heaven’, is referenced in the book.
The collection of characters in this tale allowed me to explore people from more humble origins, and their actions unfolded before me like the scenes of a play. There is not much detailed writing on the lives of servants, tea house girls or actors, so I took liberties to fill out the players with my imagination. I hope you enjoy the journey through tea houses and city parks, as well as an adventurous jaunt to the bawdy, seedier side of the imperial capital.
I love hearing from readers. For more information about my stories, or to contact me, I can be found online at www.jeannielin.com
About the Author
JEANNIE LIN grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and 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 science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart>®-winning manuscript, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, was sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon.
As a technical consultant, backpacker and vacation junkie, she’s travelled 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 continues to journey to exotic locations in her stories.
You can visit Jeannie Lin online at: www.jeannielin.com
Previous novels from this author:
