A Certain Smile
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3.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling author Judith Michael brings together the magic of East and West in a passionate tale of heart-rending love as vivid and breathless as the pounding energy of Beijing.
An American clothing designer and widowed mother of two teenagers, Miranda Graham arrives in China and is immediately overwhelmed by the way of life in this faraway place. Then she meets Yuan Li, son of an American soldier and Chinese mother—and suddenly, two worlds, two cultures, and two hearts collide. As Miranda bravely explores vistas beyond the safe, ordered limits of her own life, she is inexorably drawn to Yuan, a man who embodies all the hardship, dignity, and mystery of China. Their love is an unexpected awakening of body, mind, and spirit—even as the intrusive government and Yuan’s ambitious son threaten their newfound joy, propelling them toward the most shattering choice two lovers can make.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
An exotic locale, a hint of danger, a dollop of fashion, a soup on of Confucian philosophy and a big dose of clashing cultures add up to tasty if unoriginal chop suey in the latest novel from the bestselling husband and wife writing team. Miranda Grant, a 40-year-old widow with two adolescent children, travels from her home in Boulder, Colo., to Beijing. Petite (size four) Miranda is, on the one hand, shy, fearful and mousy, and, on the other, artistic, creative and hungry for change. Her visit to China is a business trip, arranging knitting contracts for the cashmere sweaters she designs for a New York firm, but it becomes a two-week sojourn that will change her life. Although scenes detailing the textile negotiations add interest, the story focuses on Miranda's relationship with Yuan Li, a successful builder/construction engineer. The son of a Chinese mother and an American soldier, he becomes her soulful guide to China, romance and personal growth. Danger intrudes after Miranda innocently acts as courier for a letter from a former dissident, now in America; the authorities put Miranda and Yuan Li under round-the-clock surveillance. The supporting characters--Li's aloof daughter, scheming son, old friend's wife--contribute to the feel of an earnest and colorful travelogue and history lesson. The sense of being an American in a foreign culture is nicely conveyed as Miranda views such phenomena as the thick crowds of bicycle riders in Beijing, the dense army of terra cotta soldiers in Xi'an and the stunning architecture of the Forbidden City. This 10th offering from the practiced Michael will undoubtedly join its nine predecessors on the bestseller lists. Major ad/promo; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selection.
