While Xiu peddled pipe dreams, a nightmare was waiting.Sensual and exotic, San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1870’s was filled with temptation and greed. Raised in this quagmire of vice, Xiu Jung caters to wealthy thrill-seekers with her elegant opium den, The House of Five Fortunes. With the help of Madison Hayes, the illustrious actor, she makes it the most fashionable salon on the West Coast. … Coast. But a string of murders is sweeping the city, coming closer and closer to Xiu. Madison said he would protect her, but could this mysterious outsider be trusted?
From Chinatown to Deadwood, Amanda Hughes once again takes you on a page-turning adventure of a lifetime.
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Amanda Hughes has written an astonishing novel that defines the book’s 19th-century time period and unusual setting. Her impeccable research and believable characters made the book beyond realistic. It was literally a slice of life that was so true-to-life, at times I felt as if I was there–immersed in another century, in another place, where life was beyond challenging and always unpredictable. A touching, emotionally realistic, simmering love story is the backdrop for a plot filled with unexpected twists and startling turns. I am in awe of the author’s writing ability and plan to read her other novels. Loved it!
Highly original story and an excellent read.
History Repeats
Xiu, such a brave, intrepid woman. Overcoming racism, disillusion and poverty, builds her life. Her adventure takes her from the West coast into the wild.
Interesting characters with a storyline that kept me interested and entertained. It was informative as well.
Learned so much about early San Francisco. The characters are captivating!
Historical information on how the Chinese were treated by American after they worked so hard to build the railroad. It is very tragic time of our history
I enjoyed this book. The story was original, the characters were believable and I liked the fact that it took place in the San Francisco area, my home town
The book is very informative, gives the picture of San Francisco during the Gold Rush time. People’s relationships and how they impact the lives of the main characters.
I enjoyed the historical information on the building of the west coast and interaction of different cultures.
I liked the historical setting.
Not great literature, but a fun read.
Enjoyed the book very different each character was very important in the story.
Great story. I enjoyed reading about a time and place in US history that I had never given a single thought to. It was very interesting and the story was satisfying. I very much liked the characters (well her younger sister was a bit of a disaster but still…) Well edited and the writing flows. I highly recommend this book.
It was very different and a informative story about the old west with the viewpoint of a Chinese woman. It is was a good story and worth the time to read it.
This story spans several generations of Chinese Americans living in San Francisco! It has romance (just enough). It’s historical fictional account of the lives of a family.
I really enjoyed it!
San Francisco in 1867 was a place of clearly delineated divisions. Surviving in an atmosphere of danger from challenging discrimination, the Chinese create colorful lives. The foster daughter of missionaries builds an empire in the opium trade as she fends off Chinese gangsters. Her inheritance, The Five Fortunes opium den, burns in a race riot which destroys Chinatown. The resilient heroine undertakes a trek through the Wild West. Plenty of good descriptions and adventure.
Gave an interesting look at San Francisco and the interactions between the white and Chinese cultures in the early days of California.
This was a very interesting book about the difficulties not only of women but of Asians in San Francisco and the “West” during the 1800’s. It was an easy read but brought out some historical points I hadn’t thought about before. It was an entertaining and worthwhile read.
I Enjoyed this book very much and learnt a lot about the time period. For example, I didn’t know that Chinese and Americans were segregated at that time.