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Tell Me No Lies
Lindsay Danner is an expert on Chinese bronzes who has an uncanny ability to separate fake from real. She is also a woman alone whose deeply buried memories bring her to screaming wakefulness in the small hours of the night. In the daytime, she has just one requirement of the people and objects in her life—honesty.
Jacob MacArthur Catlin was known under many names in the past, especially Dragon. Intelligent, ruthless, deadly, he became a legend in the shadow world of spies. His life was constructed of lies, deceit, and treachery. When he left that world, he never looked back. And never wanted to.
Then a man comes to Catlin bearing one half of an ancient Chinese coin. The past comes to dangerous life, a danger the sweeps up Lindsay. She is utterly unprepared for a life of lies. Catlin isn’t. Only working together can they survive layer after layer of deadly lies and shattering truths—and one of those truths is love.
Jacob MacArthur Catlin was known under many names in the past, especially Dragon. Intelligent, ruthless, deadly, he became a legend in the shadow world of spies. His life was constructed of lies, deceit, and treachery. When he left that world, he never looked back. And never wanted to.
Then a man comes to Catlin bearing one half of an ancient Chinese coin. The past comes to dangerous life, a danger the sweeps up Lindsay. She is utterly unprepared for a life of lies. Catlin isn’t. Only working together can they survive layer after layer of deadly lies and shattering truths—and one of those truths is love.
576 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1986
149 people are currently reading
1002 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Lowell
208 books1,923 followersIndividually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and one work of non-fiction. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. Her novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery. After working in contemporary and historical romance, she became an innovator in the genre of romantic suspense.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
April 21, 2018
2/5
No puedo decir más que "Por fín terminado!!"
Creo que ha sido el que menos me ha gustado de todos los que llevo del #RetoRita2
Una trama liosa, sin pies ni cabeza que pretende ser algo entre novela de espías y romántica y se queda todo en nada. Ni espías, ni romance ni na de na.
El desarrollo de la relación entre los protagonistas no existe. Dos personas con un pasado que parece ser muy decisivo en cómo son en la actualidad pero del que apenas esboza cuatro cosas.
En resumen un bluf.
No puedo decir más que "Por fín terminado!!"
Creo que ha sido el que menos me ha gustado de todos los que llevo del #RetoRita2
Una trama liosa, sin pies ni cabeza que pretende ser algo entre novela de espías y romántica y se queda todo en nada. Ni espías, ni romance ni na de na.
El desarrollo de la relación entre los protagonistas no existe. Dos personas con un pasado que parece ser muy decisivo en cómo son en la actualidad pero del que apenas esboza cuatro cosas.
En resumen un bluf.
April 20, 2011
This is a great romantic suspense read with a heartwarming ending, lots of sizzle between the protagonists and some fascinating information shared about Chinese art, the very Chinese concept of 'face', and how international politics game is played by the big boys. It is a mid-90s release and a book I re-read fairly regularly.
The story revolves around a possible theft of literally priceless antiquities from China. The FBI wants to find them [or better yet, NOT find them] while protecting their information sources from the Chinese who are also investigating. To this end they bring in Lindsay Danner, an American expert on Chinese bronzes whose reputation is utterly impeccable.
The story is set at the time when Capitalism had just started to edge its way into the Chinese culture, shepherded by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Several of the 'committee' sent to investigate the supposed thefts would love to find evidence of the theft with US fingerprints on it and use it as a slap against Xiaoping and his policies... All would like to find out as much about the US information gathering system and sources as they can - and the 'theft' gives them that chance.
Enter Chen Yi, titular head of the Chinese committee and a man with many agendas. One of which is to protect Lindsay - her parents were Chinese missionaries and her mother once saved Chen Yi and Chen Yi's son. To this end he uses Jacob MacArthur Catlin, current expert in Pacific Rim relations and ex-CIA agent, by requiring him to repay a debt he owes to the Chen family. His only job is to aid Lindsay in finding the bronzes and protect her along the way. To accomplish this they plan to set up a 'sting', lure the sellers to where they can be caught. To do this they must appear to be lovers...
The search is a convoluted and fascinating trip through the high-end art world. As the book progresses Lindsay is exposed to the seamier side her reputation had protected her from - but as Catlin's lover and art expert she is assumed to be more 'flexible' than previously thought. Revelations are made that show her own truths in a new and sometimes painful light.
Lindsay is a strong and independent woman but one who is relatively innocent of the uglier truths about international politics, black market art dealing, and the pain associated with living a lie. Catlin knows all those arenas well and he understands betrayal at his deepest core. But he has never met a woman like Lindsay...
The interaction between Catlin and Lindsay is compelling - he promises never to lie to her and he doesn't, even when the truth is unpalatable. Even so he is gentle and tender with her, helping her to persevere. But Lindsay is not a woman who can easily lie to the world and she starts losing track - about what is truth and what is lies... And is Catlin lying to her, giving her what she needs to maintain - or is the attraction real?
It's a keeper for me.
The story revolves around a possible theft of literally priceless antiquities from China. The FBI wants to find them [or better yet, NOT find them] while protecting their information sources from the Chinese who are also investigating. To this end they bring in Lindsay Danner, an American expert on Chinese bronzes whose reputation is utterly impeccable.
The story is set at the time when Capitalism had just started to edge its way into the Chinese culture, shepherded by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Several of the 'committee' sent to investigate the supposed thefts would love to find evidence of the theft with US fingerprints on it and use it as a slap against Xiaoping and his policies... All would like to find out as much about the US information gathering system and sources as they can - and the 'theft' gives them that chance.
Enter Chen Yi, titular head of the Chinese committee and a man with many agendas. One of which is to protect Lindsay - her parents were Chinese missionaries and her mother once saved Chen Yi and Chen Yi's son. To this end he uses Jacob MacArthur Catlin, current expert in Pacific Rim relations and ex-CIA agent, by requiring him to repay a debt he owes to the Chen family. His only job is to aid Lindsay in finding the bronzes and protect her along the way. To accomplish this they plan to set up a 'sting', lure the sellers to where they can be caught. To do this they must appear to be lovers...
The search is a convoluted and fascinating trip through the high-end art world. As the book progresses Lindsay is exposed to the seamier side her reputation had protected her from - but as Catlin's lover and art expert she is assumed to be more 'flexible' than previously thought. Revelations are made that show her own truths in a new and sometimes painful light.
Lindsay is a strong and independent woman but one who is relatively innocent of the uglier truths about international politics, black market art dealing, and the pain associated with living a lie. Catlin knows all those arenas well and he understands betrayal at his deepest core. But he has never met a woman like Lindsay...
The interaction between Catlin and Lindsay is compelling - he promises never to lie to her and he doesn't, even when the truth is unpalatable. Even so he is gentle and tender with her, helping her to persevere. But Lindsay is not a woman who can easily lie to the world and she starts losing track - about what is truth and what is lies... And is Catlin lying to her, giving her what she needs to maintain - or is the attraction real?
It's a keeper for me.
July 13, 2010
Of all the books I've read this summer, and there have been a lot, this is probably my favorite. It combined the thrill of a mystery, the suspense of a high-speed plot, and a thorough education of the subject. Most of Elizabeth Lowell's novels are great for education as well as pleasure reading. Tell Me No Lies was all about Chinese Bronze from the Qin Dynasty. Lowell did such a wonderful job of combining words and story lines that, an otherwise complex and unknown subject, became a pleasure to learn about. The story was somewhat romantic, but it was not the overall theme of the book. I would recommend most of Lowell's books to anyone who wanted to read a romantic suspense that is not a mindless bore, but would educate while weaving a great story.
March 8, 2017
I thought I'd read all of Lowell's older titles and was happy to find this one, which is an enjoyable read, but not Lowell's best, even if one acknowledges it was written long ago. First, I don't know anything about Chinese bronzes, but I'm assuming Lowell did her research, because it all sounds very realistic. As to our heroine, Lindsay, it's worth noting that she reads far younger than her life and experience would indicate. She's 30 and divorced, and should be far less naive than she is. Which brings us to my biggest problem with this book. It's true that this is an older title, and romance has changed along with societal norms, but Lindsay forgives Catlin's initial deception far too easily, especially for a woman who inspired the title "Tell Me No Lies." I understand it's a romance, and there must be a Happily Ever After, but she should have made him work harder to earn her trust.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
April 26, 2008
It is my opinion that this is one of the finest examples of contemporary romance. I find something new every time I read it. I am overwhelmed by all of the levels to this book. I read this book for the first time just before going to the Sackler Museum in Washington. When I entered the Sackler, I felt as if I was walking into the pages of the book. Elizabeth Lowell had done her homework. I could easily recognize the exact bronzes that she used as set pieces. While in the Sackler, I bought a book on Chinese art and history. Again Ms. Lowell had done her homework. As a art teacher, I was thrilled by her interweaving of Chinese art, ancient and modern, and history. Her grasp of cultures in collision is dead on. On top of all of that, it is a terrific romance of suspense and intrigue, where nothing is as it seems, and finally everything false is stripped away to answer the ultimate questions, "What is truth?", and "What is worthy of trust?" This book was published in 1986, but it still accurately reflects China's relationship with the United States and the rest of the world.
March 18, 2023
*This is a TBRChallenge review, there will be spoilers, I don't spoil everything but enough, because I treat these reviews as a bookclub discussion.
Y'all, how am I picking these insane books for the TBRChallenge every year??? What kind of a gold mine tbr am I sitting on?!? Anyway, this review is a couple days late because this turned out to be 570ish pages of an HBO limited series. I feel wrung-out but less because of emotional wreckage, as I was with The Lotus Palace, and more just my god that was A STORY. I'm not sure how I'm going to talk about this so, long story short, twist and turns spy romance about possible stolen Chinese bronze statues that is a sticky web with multiple parts made by multiple spiders as the People's Republic of China is newish Communists with some liking that and others not and, of course, the United States wanting to stick their noses in there. A museum curator gets thrown in the mix with only a former CIA spy to help her out. Mind games of is it real or not. If you liked something along the lines of HBO's Chernobyl but with Romance!, and want to take reading slower and get immersed in the world, find this and pick it up.
Grab a glass of wine, thank your lucky stars you're not in a book club with me, and let the rambling begin...
"Is there really a possibility that relations between the U.S. and China could be destroyed over the Qin bronzes?"
The story opens with Catlin as he's presented with half an ancient Chinese coin. He's a retired CIA spy who deep undercover went by the name Jacques-Pierre Rousseau. Some think Rousseau is dead and others think he's now involved in a Pacific Rim Foundation. Catlin, real name Jacob MacArthur, is not happy to have the half a coin presented to him. It's a debt he owes for when his life was saved when the woman he thought he loved and loved him almost murdered him on the orders from Tran, a pimp and smuggler in IndoChina. Chen Yi is the one calling in the favor from Catlin, and Comrade Minister of Archaeology, Province of Shaanxi, People's Republic of China. It's come to the attention of the new government that rumors of a charioteer, chariot, and horses inlaid in gold and silver from the, supposed to be reburied, ancient Emperor Qin's grave are going to be up for sale in America.
Look, this was published in 1986, so I'll forgive people if they're not up on their history of the political atmosphere at this time (I had to go brush up myself after I read about 30% of this). Suffice to say that not all Chinese are a fan of the Western capitalism or communism turn their country is taking, so we have a pit of Mao purists and Deng progressives, with Chinese Nationalists from Taiwan and the United States wanting to keep an eye on communist China thrown into the overreaching arch of the story. (in case it needs to be said, this is Fiction, so yeah, grain of salt) It all boils down to does the bronze charioteer exist to be sold, who is selling it, and what is the network that got it to the United States. Chen ropes Catlin into this because of his undercover persona and familiarity of the culture. Chen wants Catlin to be a bodyguard for a Lindsay Danner.
There were parts of her childhood she had forgotten how to remember. There were other parts that she remembered only in dreams and woke up screaming and wondering why.
Lindsay was born in China and raised there until twelve years old by Christian missionary parents. With the recent death of her mother (her father already died years ago) her nightmares of an incident when she was seven are keeping her up at night. She thinks her uncle was killed but she can't really remember anything. As the curator of Ancient Chinese Bronzes for the Museum of the Asias and an uncanny ability to tell real bronze from frauds, her reputation is spotless. It's obvious to the reader that Chen is maneuvering things to have Lindsay picked, by the FBI that is allowing and working with Chen to conduct a mission to find out if there are Qin bronzes for sale and if they're real, but the reader doesn't know why, just that he wants Catlin to prepare and protect her for the quagmire she's about to get involved with. Catlin meets Lindsay and instantly thinks she's too innocent to get involved in having to do what needs to be done for the mission and their connection definitely tells romance readers something could flare up between the two. Lindsay sees the mission as a way to keep relations between China and the US good, so even though she's going to have to ruin her reputation as an honest bronze dealer, pretending to fall so in love with Catlin that she'll buy smuggled bronzes for him, thus getting the possible smugglers to contact them so everyone can find out the truth of who and how of a possible smuggling operation.
"If she is hurt, most honorable Chen Yi, you will wish that you had not gone fishing with a dragon."
Just know, my quick simplifying of political webs and relations is actually covered in the 500 pages of intricate character relations and building that slowly gets covered and revealed with new players and layers. Catlin does his best to prepare Lindsay for the ramifications of ruining her reputation while trying to keep his eyes on all the players, moves, and getting pulled in with his feelings for Lindsay. The FBI is represented by the head of counterintelligence, Stone, and his Special Agent O'Donnell. They have their own long scenes, especially towards the end where they are trying to keep shadows on Catlin and Lindsay as they are being driven to the ultimate moment to discover if the bronzes are real and who the players are. It's a scene that did heighten the stress and danger but also made me want to skim read. Which is what I battled sometimes in this book. Newer published contemporary, vast majority, just doesn't have this slower meticulous overreaching plot. At times I was celebrating the completeness, adding in and at others I felt like I was warring against the newer genre tone and beat I have been trained in as I thought the story had some bloat. This is a story you're going to have to want to invest in and take slower, it just is. I enjoyed the hell out of that at times and others, yeah, bloat.
From now on she would know that she could touch Catlin all the time-and believe him none of the time.
Lindsay and Catlin had full backstories but as they're more doled out and almost to the background, sometimes chapters later my mind would be like, oh yeah, they've both been married and divorced, Catlin was involved in the fall of Saigon, and more front and center, Lindsay's incomplete memory of how her uncle died. It's more slow reveals, Lindsay's incomplete memory is one of the strands to the web and Catlin's background, namely his emotional Baggage (and you didn't think I was going to get the TBRChallenge monthly theme in there, shame on you), plays into the romance aspect as they spend all the time together and are slowly falling for each other for real as they pretend. I loved the touching these two had between each other and their bedroom scenes. So much now seems to be slamming to get to the orgasm, the destination, the touching between these two was all about the journey. To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins is a newer publication that I enjoyed the intimacy between leads but because the characters are more slowly developed throughout the story, I would say these two don't start off with intimacy but it builds and their last sex scene was incredibly hot because of this building (thank you for that previous work because otherwise the snap crotch thingy Lindsay was wearing and the why did you have to remind me mustache of Catlin would have been a personal buzzkill).
"Christ, Lindsay," he grated, "we'll burn down the night."
Around 70% Lindsay remembers the full story of her nightmares and more is learned about some characters, I feel like romance genre readers will have an idea about what's really going on with one of them. The ending brings everyone together, Chen, FBI, a father figure of Lindsay's, and the truth of the bronzes. It's a scene that, after a dangerous decision Lindsay comes to, kind of ends somewhat air out of balloon feeling as Catlin is too good at his job. Catlin then gives into his emotional baggage (ha, again!) and we get a “How could this possibly end in a HEA???” Just kidding, even with only 5% romance readers can't be fooled and I actually loved how this ended.
As Lindsay looked down at the small, ancient coin, her breath caught and she went very still. The halves had been welded together, revealing the complete outline of a flying bird.
But yeah, I'm wrung-out from all the layers, players, and just general full story, I'm stuffed! The political intrigue, who's lying and maneuvering, the romance, trying to discern the truth behind Catlin's motivations and feelings, and just general tv limited series feel of it all. If you're in for a 1986 published fictional book about political relations with China, told in cover with spies and ancient bronzes in a romance genre world, this book was an experience.
*Did Sam Wang ever get his own story??? I Need it.
Y'all, how am I picking these insane books for the TBRChallenge every year??? What kind of a gold mine tbr am I sitting on?!? Anyway, this review is a couple days late because this turned out to be 570ish pages of an HBO limited series. I feel wrung-out but less because of emotional wreckage, as I was with The Lotus Palace, and more just my god that was A STORY. I'm not sure how I'm going to talk about this so, long story short, twist and turns spy romance about possible stolen Chinese bronze statues that is a sticky web with multiple parts made by multiple spiders as the People's Republic of China is newish Communists with some liking that and others not and, of course, the United States wanting to stick their noses in there. A museum curator gets thrown in the mix with only a former CIA spy to help her out. Mind games of is it real or not. If you liked something along the lines of HBO's Chernobyl but with Romance!, and want to take reading slower and get immersed in the world, find this and pick it up.
Grab a glass of wine, thank your lucky stars you're not in a book club with me, and let the rambling begin...
"Is there really a possibility that relations between the U.S. and China could be destroyed over the Qin bronzes?"
The story opens with Catlin as he's presented with half an ancient Chinese coin. He's a retired CIA spy who deep undercover went by the name Jacques-Pierre Rousseau. Some think Rousseau is dead and others think he's now involved in a Pacific Rim Foundation. Catlin, real name Jacob MacArthur, is not happy to have the half a coin presented to him. It's a debt he owes for when his life was saved when the woman he thought he loved and loved him almost murdered him on the orders from Tran, a pimp and smuggler in IndoChina. Chen Yi is the one calling in the favor from Catlin, and Comrade Minister of Archaeology, Province of Shaanxi, People's Republic of China. It's come to the attention of the new government that rumors of a charioteer, chariot, and horses inlaid in gold and silver from the, supposed to be reburied, ancient Emperor Qin's grave are going to be up for sale in America.
Look, this was published in 1986, so I'll forgive people if they're not up on their history of the political atmosphere at this time (I had to go brush up myself after I read about 30% of this). Suffice to say that not all Chinese are a fan of the Western capitalism or communism turn their country is taking, so we have a pit of Mao purists and Deng progressives, with Chinese Nationalists from Taiwan and the United States wanting to keep an eye on communist China thrown into the overreaching arch of the story. (in case it needs to be said, this is Fiction, so yeah, grain of salt) It all boils down to does the bronze charioteer exist to be sold, who is selling it, and what is the network that got it to the United States. Chen ropes Catlin into this because of his undercover persona and familiarity of the culture. Chen wants Catlin to be a bodyguard for a Lindsay Danner.
There were parts of her childhood she had forgotten how to remember. There were other parts that she remembered only in dreams and woke up screaming and wondering why.
Lindsay was born in China and raised there until twelve years old by Christian missionary parents. With the recent death of her mother (her father already died years ago) her nightmares of an incident when she was seven are keeping her up at night. She thinks her uncle was killed but she can't really remember anything. As the curator of Ancient Chinese Bronzes for the Museum of the Asias and an uncanny ability to tell real bronze from frauds, her reputation is spotless. It's obvious to the reader that Chen is maneuvering things to have Lindsay picked, by the FBI that is allowing and working with Chen to conduct a mission to find out if there are Qin bronzes for sale and if they're real, but the reader doesn't know why, just that he wants Catlin to prepare and protect her for the quagmire she's about to get involved with. Catlin meets Lindsay and instantly thinks she's too innocent to get involved in having to do what needs to be done for the mission and their connection definitely tells romance readers something could flare up between the two. Lindsay sees the mission as a way to keep relations between China and the US good, so even though she's going to have to ruin her reputation as an honest bronze dealer, pretending to fall so in love with Catlin that she'll buy smuggled bronzes for him, thus getting the possible smugglers to contact them so everyone can find out the truth of who and how of a possible smuggling operation.
"If she is hurt, most honorable Chen Yi, you will wish that you had not gone fishing with a dragon."
Just know, my quick simplifying of political webs and relations is actually covered in the 500 pages of intricate character relations and building that slowly gets covered and revealed with new players and layers. Catlin does his best to prepare Lindsay for the ramifications of ruining her reputation while trying to keep his eyes on all the players, moves, and getting pulled in with his feelings for Lindsay. The FBI is represented by the head of counterintelligence, Stone, and his Special Agent O'Donnell. They have their own long scenes, especially towards the end where they are trying to keep shadows on Catlin and Lindsay as they are being driven to the ultimate moment to discover if the bronzes are real and who the players are. It's a scene that did heighten the stress and danger but also made me want to skim read. Which is what I battled sometimes in this book. Newer published contemporary, vast majority, just doesn't have this slower meticulous overreaching plot. At times I was celebrating the completeness, adding in and at others I felt like I was warring against the newer genre tone and beat I have been trained in as I thought the story had some bloat. This is a story you're going to have to want to invest in and take slower, it just is. I enjoyed the hell out of that at times and others, yeah, bloat.
From now on she would know that she could touch Catlin all the time-and believe him none of the time.
Lindsay and Catlin had full backstories but as they're more doled out and almost to the background, sometimes chapters later my mind would be like, oh yeah, they've both been married and divorced, Catlin was involved in the fall of Saigon, and more front and center, Lindsay's incomplete memory of how her uncle died. It's more slow reveals, Lindsay's incomplete memory is one of the strands to the web and Catlin's background, namely his emotional Baggage (and you didn't think I was going to get the TBRChallenge monthly theme in there, shame on you), plays into the romance aspect as they spend all the time together and are slowly falling for each other for real as they pretend. I loved the touching these two had between each other and their bedroom scenes. So much now seems to be slamming to get to the orgasm, the destination, the touching between these two was all about the journey. To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins is a newer publication that I enjoyed the intimacy between leads but because the characters are more slowly developed throughout the story, I would say these two don't start off with intimacy but it builds and their last sex scene was incredibly hot because of this building (thank you for that previous work because otherwise the snap crotch thingy Lindsay was wearing and the why did you have to remind me mustache of Catlin would have been a personal buzzkill).
"Christ, Lindsay," he grated, "we'll burn down the night."
Around 70% Lindsay remembers the full story of her nightmares and more is learned about some characters, I feel like romance genre readers will have an idea about what's really going on with one of them. The ending brings everyone together, Chen, FBI, a father figure of Lindsay's, and the truth of the bronzes. It's a scene that, after a dangerous decision Lindsay comes to, kind of ends somewhat air out of balloon feeling as Catlin is too good at his job. Catlin then gives into his emotional baggage (ha, again!) and we get a “How could this possibly end in a HEA???” Just kidding, even with only 5% romance readers can't be fooled and I actually loved how this ended.
As Lindsay looked down at the small, ancient coin, her breath caught and she went very still. The halves had been welded together, revealing the complete outline of a flying bird.
But yeah, I'm wrung-out from all the layers, players, and just general full story, I'm stuffed! The political intrigue, who's lying and maneuvering, the romance, trying to discern the truth behind Catlin's motivations and feelings, and just general tv limited series feel of it all. If you're in for a 1986 published fictional book about political relations with China, told in cover with spies and ancient bronzes in a romance genre world, this book was an experience.
*Did Sam Wang ever get his own story??? I Need it.
March 25, 2013
A lot more substance than your typical romantic suspense (or at least the modern ones I've read so far) on a lot more levels. It is not only about international politics but also about art and they come together very well. Questions about deceit and authenticity, market forces and saving or loosing "face" apply to both and the book is quite adept in raising them.
It is also very adept in playing dress up and appearing to be well researched. It's probably too stereotypical a story to read if you really know something about Chinese culture just to avoid being confronted with old Chinese men wandering around, constantly sprouting enigmatic words of ancient wisdom. But I was perfectly fine with that.
I appreciated the (moral) complexity of some of the characters and on a far lesser extent of the politics.
Ultimately my problem was the heroine and her realationship with the international man on mystery she falls in love with. She was an intelligent, beautiful, poised and classy art expert but confronted with her recruitment by the FBI she regressed into a scared and permamently confused child finding solace only in the strong arms of the hero. She's forced to lie (a thing she naively abhorrs) both on a professioal as well as on a personal level and I can see how big a toll that may take. Her emotional honesty was her strongest character trait but I would have preferred if she'd got herself together and started playing the game despite of it.
It is also very adept in playing dress up and appearing to be well researched. It's probably too stereotypical a story to read if you really know something about Chinese culture just to avoid being confronted with old Chinese men wandering around, constantly sprouting enigmatic words of ancient wisdom. But I was perfectly fine with that.
I appreciated the (moral) complexity of some of the characters and on a far lesser extent of the politics.
Ultimately my problem was the heroine and her realationship with the international man on mystery she falls in love with. She was an intelligent, beautiful, poised and classy art expert but confronted with her recruitment by the FBI she regressed into a scared and permamently confused child finding solace only in the strong arms of the hero. She's forced to lie (a thing she naively abhorrs) both on a professioal as well as on a personal level and I can see how big a toll that may take. Her emotional honesty was her strongest character trait but I would have preferred if she'd got herself together and started playing the game despite of it.
January 3, 2013
I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. It took me a while to get into the story but once I did I was hooked. Lowell obviously did a lot of research and the information about the political climate between the People's Republic of China and the U.S.A. (circa 1986) was fascinating. I also enjoyed all the information about Chinese bronze art as it evolved throughout the various dynasties. The characters were interesting and the plot kept me guessing. I found it VERY distracting the way she constantly described various characters smoking. I think the text would have been better spent on information regarding Lindsay, Catlin, their pasts or even more history of Lindsay's parents.
August 13, 2015
Another old favorite. Well-matched protagonists, an intriguing archeological scam, and lots of Chinese history and culture make for a enthralling read. Add some of the best villains in romance and you have a romantic suspense classic. Great book!
February 3, 2013
One of Elizabeth Lowell's early books (1986)) and one of her best. Lots of intrigue and history of Chinese art. Little bit of romance thrown in for for hotness. :)
July 8, 2021
SPOILER ALERT
As I read and finished this book I was reminded of readers interviewed about their impressions upon rereading a beloved book from the past. A book that changed their lives, their perceptions, their thinking no longer holding the reverence it once had. Though not a book of deep thinking but a romantic suspense, as I put aside one after another of one of my "to be read" pile, not engaging my needs at the time, I turned to this once thought of as the best of Lowell, and of the genre. This reading just proved that my tastes and tolerance have changed dramatically. As I completed the nearly 500 pages, I knew that it was at least 100 pages too long. After the repeated thinking and declarations of Jacob MacArthur Catlin that he is not good enough for Lindsay, and Lindsay Danner that it is all an act, that her growing love for Catlin cannot be reciprocated, and various incantations of the same, it became to much...much to much that the lady and the gentleman doth protest too much.
The story's premise that Chinese bronzes, specifically a chariot and charioteer have been taken from Xi'an, the emperor's tomb, and are headed for the US, is speculated on for its ramifications of the different political factions of China. What the act could mean for the tenuous relationship between the two countries. It is a complicated issue. Working for the Museum of the Asias in Washington DC, Lindsay is an expert on Chinese bronzes, and with uncanny ability to tell whether the piece is real or a fake. She has a sterling reputation for telling the truth. She is recruited by the FBI, as the choice of the People's Republic of China for authenticating the bronzes should they show up. Catlin is recruited by Chen Yi, Minister of Archaeology, another player from China, to protect Lindsay. His past association with her mother has given the desire to keep her safe in what will be a very dangerous game. The FBI and other alphabet agencies believe that the PRC has set up the problem as a way of spying on the US and reviewing their intelligence. Catlin is a former CIA operative, named Jacques-Pierre Rousseau, who was ruthless and dangerous, his abilities in martial arts phenomenal. They are to pose as lovers, Lindsay surely losing her pure reputation and horrifying those of her closest friends losing their respect for her, as Catlin reminds her time and again. She vows to never say she didn't know if he agrees to never say I told you so. The put themselves out into the collectors' community with Catlin looking for Han bronzes, especially the Xi'an charioteer. Catlin nearly makes love to her public at times, and the tide turns on her reputation quickly, especially with her long time family friend Hsiang Wu, who will turn out to be other than Lindsay thought, in fact, a spy for Taiwan, and a smuggler. He had been the conduit for the people smuggled out by her parents, both missionaries, her father and her uncle Mark dying for the Christian Militant cause. Lindsay has nightmares about an event that happened when she was a child that she one sees in rivers of blood. As the story unfolds the event is revealed as the death of her uncle, for which she blames herself, as she lead the betrayers to him.
Eventually the bronzes show up and in inspecting them for the various players Lindsay makes a monumental decision to lie for the first time and calls them fakes...thereby setting the stage of one direction of Chinse politics. I'm not sure I understood just who would or would not win, but the Chinese people would not find themselves at the mercy of a rigid ideological belief that would leave them starving.
The culture of the Chinese, their love of family woven throughout their lives and art is beautifully described in the story. We get wonderful pictures of the bronzes, especially the tiger that is crated by Sam Wang, and that Lindsay reveals is high art and not old as presented for sale. It is perfect representation for the symbol of the dragon for which Catlin is known. Sinuous and deadly. As is completely predictable, Catlin returns to sweep Lindsay into his arms three weeks after leaving her saying her love is all an adrenaline created fiction that will fade with time. He confesses he started off giving himself six month before he returns to her to see if indeed she is not in love with him, though he is with her. She confesses that if he returned three years later or in a lifetime, she would still love him. He presents her with a ring made from the two halves of the coin, melded together finally, the return of which began the story...a debt repaid.
As I read and finished this book I was reminded of readers interviewed about their impressions upon rereading a beloved book from the past. A book that changed their lives, their perceptions, their thinking no longer holding the reverence it once had. Though not a book of deep thinking but a romantic suspense, as I put aside one after another of one of my "to be read" pile, not engaging my needs at the time, I turned to this once thought of as the best of Lowell, and of the genre. This reading just proved that my tastes and tolerance have changed dramatically. As I completed the nearly 500 pages, I knew that it was at least 100 pages too long. After the repeated thinking and declarations of Jacob MacArthur Catlin that he is not good enough for Lindsay, and Lindsay Danner that it is all an act, that her growing love for Catlin cannot be reciprocated, and various incantations of the same, it became to much...much to much that the lady and the gentleman doth protest too much.
The story's premise that Chinese bronzes, specifically a chariot and charioteer have been taken from Xi'an, the emperor's tomb, and are headed for the US, is speculated on for its ramifications of the different political factions of China. What the act could mean for the tenuous relationship between the two countries. It is a complicated issue. Working for the Museum of the Asias in Washington DC, Lindsay is an expert on Chinese bronzes, and with uncanny ability to tell whether the piece is real or a fake. She has a sterling reputation for telling the truth. She is recruited by the FBI, as the choice of the People's Republic of China for authenticating the bronzes should they show up. Catlin is recruited by Chen Yi, Minister of Archaeology, another player from China, to protect Lindsay. His past association with her mother has given the desire to keep her safe in what will be a very dangerous game. The FBI and other alphabet agencies believe that the PRC has set up the problem as a way of spying on the US and reviewing their intelligence. Catlin is a former CIA operative, named Jacques-Pierre Rousseau, who was ruthless and dangerous, his abilities in martial arts phenomenal. They are to pose as lovers, Lindsay surely losing her pure reputation and horrifying those of her closest friends losing their respect for her, as Catlin reminds her time and again. She vows to never say she didn't know if he agrees to never say I told you so. The put themselves out into the collectors' community with Catlin looking for Han bronzes, especially the Xi'an charioteer. Catlin nearly makes love to her public at times, and the tide turns on her reputation quickly, especially with her long time family friend Hsiang Wu, who will turn out to be other than Lindsay thought, in fact, a spy for Taiwan, and a smuggler. He had been the conduit for the people smuggled out by her parents, both missionaries, her father and her uncle Mark dying for the Christian Militant cause. Lindsay has nightmares about an event that happened when she was a child that she one sees in rivers of blood. As the story unfolds the event is revealed as the death of her uncle, for which she blames herself, as she lead the betrayers to him.
Eventually the bronzes show up and in inspecting them for the various players Lindsay makes a monumental decision to lie for the first time and calls them fakes...thereby setting the stage of one direction of Chinse politics. I'm not sure I understood just who would or would not win, but the Chinese people would not find themselves at the mercy of a rigid ideological belief that would leave them starving.
The culture of the Chinese, their love of family woven throughout their lives and art is beautifully described in the story. We get wonderful pictures of the bronzes, especially the tiger that is crated by Sam Wang, and that Lindsay reveals is high art and not old as presented for sale. It is perfect representation for the symbol of the dragon for which Catlin is known. Sinuous and deadly. As is completely predictable, Catlin returns to sweep Lindsay into his arms three weeks after leaving her saying her love is all an adrenaline created fiction that will fade with time. He confesses he started off giving himself six month before he returns to her to see if indeed she is not in love with him, though he is with her. She confesses that if he returned three years later or in a lifetime, she would still love him. He presents her with a ring made from the two halves of the coin, melded together finally, the return of which began the story...a debt repaid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2021
One of the best I've ever read. Been some decades but every now and then I go back and reread the story again and again. It has a very well-researched background and astute grasp of the global politics and the GAME. The romance tale stays alive and suprisingly contemporary. What's more, what an exceptionally beautiful language. I wish it was a much wider and longer story! And I know if the name on the cover was male, it would be recognized equal to the Jason Bourne franchise.
November 29, 2024
Love this book!
This book is one of my all-time favorites. It’s been long enough since its original publication that the setting can be viewed as historical, not something that is out of date. Lowell’s prose is masterful, drawing the reader in and carrying one on the emotional ride. The plot is complex with surprising twists and turns and revelations.
Elizabeth Lowell has been one of my favorite authors for years, and will continue to be.
This book is one of my all-time favorites. It’s been long enough since its original publication that the setting can be viewed as historical, not something that is out of date. Lowell’s prose is masterful, drawing the reader in and carrying one on the emotional ride. The plot is complex with surprising twists and turns and revelations.
Elizabeth Lowell has been one of my favorite authors for years, and will continue to be.
March 11, 2025
This was a re-read from an old book. I kept this book because I liked the story and decided to open it again. Some of the ideas are dated but the information on China and the struggle of the Chinese people is still of interest. The discussions on the bronzes of different periods is fascinating and the cultural information is interesting. This story would have been categorized as part of the romance genre but it gave the reader so much more. I am glad I kept it.
December 19, 2022
I cannot say enough good things about Lowell’s books. There is a reason she is my favorite romance author. Another good romance novel. I always recommend her books to anyone who loves a good and well written romance novel.
May 12, 2017
I so enjoy Elizabeth Lowell. In addition to steamy romance, her books are so rich in culture. Who doesn't love a dragon?
May 26, 2017
Deep and intricate plot. Fantastic characterizations. At times repetitive details slowed the pace.
June 6, 2017
I read this book years ago in paperback and loved it. So glad to get it on ebook and 're-read it. it's got suspense, romance and intrigue - what more could you ask for.
April 23, 2018
Enjoyed the characters and plot but the China details lost me. I felt it really got bogged down in the china information. I always enjoy Lowell but i did skim a lot of the China stuff.
March 22, 2019
I enjoyed this book for what it taught me about bronzes and about China. It has intrigue, mystery and romance. A great combination for a great read.
November 28, 2019
3.5 Great suspenseful novel. Good romance, great characters, amazing attention to Chinese culture and art.
May 1, 2020
I love the main and background characters. Loved the flow of the book, it keeps me glued.
All ways wanted to see what came next.
All ways wanted to see what came next.
March 12, 2025
Vrij spannende spionagethriller met een vleugje romantiek en een toch wel wat complexe politieke achtergrond.
August 3, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much that I reread the last chapter again before I returned it to the library.
October 8, 2022
I didn't mind struggling to understand the plot nor the speechifying in place of exposition. What I disliked was the monotonous repetition of once Lindsey agreed. Chapter after chapter of emotional waffling while nothing happened. I was never so happy to read a sex scene, since I assumed that the plot would then move forward. Which it did.
February 22, 2023
Corny asf to the point of being unbearable
March 6, 2017
Good book
January 18, 2017
This book really messed with my mind. I am 45 years old. I started reading romance novels in elementary school. Let's just acknowledge the 80's and 90's of romance literature as Serious Old Skool Chauvinism. Yep, unabashed "oh the little heroine is weak and needs to be protected by alpha males!"
We've come a long way, baby. I'm writing this review in 2017 and even in historical bodice rippers there are a plethora of gun-toting, ascerbic-wit wielding, extremely capable female main characters.
I like my heroines strong. I don't want to read about trembling, breathy, overly-sensitive international experts in authenticity of Chinese bronzes who are unable to make decisions about who they want to care for and must be told how to act by the alpha male ex-spy as she clings to his hard arm-muscles.
Except that while I know I don't want to read about that-- I actually enjoyed reading about it.
Sigh.
Lindsey grew up in China, but now makes her living in the states working for a museum and for private clients dealing with ancient bronzes. Into her life comes both an official from the People's Republic of China with ties to her traumatic childhood as well as an ex-spy who is charged with both using Lindsey to flush out stolen Xi'an bronzes as well as to protect her from the consequences of getting tangled up in China-U.S.-Taiwan espionage and politics and gangsters.
Somehow, the spy has to do this by pretending to be her lover and making her compromise her impeccable reputation for honesty. This involves alot of shepherding her around by the arm, kissing, and telling her she shouldn't get attached to him.
I know, right? So much fun! Not to mention this book is chock-full of information on ancient bronzes and the politics of China as Deng was trying to pull China out of Mao's Cultural Revolution. While I winced at some of the emphasis on stereotypes (concept of face and family) and the overly formal/flowery language when the author translated Mandarin into English, it really is quite informative in a fun, thriller-y kind of way.
So do I recommend this book? Can you overlook the Old Skool alpha male mansplaining to the trembly heroine all the time? Are you interested in Chinese art history or the glamourous world of Asian bronze dealing? Then by all means you'll enjoy this book. Just don't say I didn't warn you.
We've come a long way, baby. I'm writing this review in 2017 and even in historical bodice rippers there are a plethora of gun-toting, ascerbic-wit wielding, extremely capable female main characters.
I like my heroines strong. I don't want to read about trembling, breathy, overly-sensitive international experts in authenticity of Chinese bronzes who are unable to make decisions about who they want to care for and must be told how to act by the alpha male ex-spy as she clings to his hard arm-muscles.
Except that while I know I don't want to read about that-- I actually enjoyed reading about it.
Sigh.
Lindsey grew up in China, but now makes her living in the states working for a museum and for private clients dealing with ancient bronzes. Into her life comes both an official from the People's Republic of China with ties to her traumatic childhood as well as an ex-spy who is charged with both using Lindsey to flush out stolen Xi'an bronzes as well as to protect her from the consequences of getting tangled up in China-U.S.-Taiwan espionage and politics and gangsters.
Somehow, the spy has to do this by pretending to be her lover and making her compromise her impeccable reputation for honesty. This involves alot of shepherding her around by the arm, kissing, and telling her she shouldn't get attached to him.
I know, right? So much fun! Not to mention this book is chock-full of information on ancient bronzes and the politics of China as Deng was trying to pull China out of Mao's Cultural Revolution. While I winced at some of the emphasis on stereotypes (concept of face and family) and the overly formal/flowery language when the author translated Mandarin into English, it really is quite informative in a fun, thriller-y kind of way.
So do I recommend this book? Can you overlook the Old Skool alpha male mansplaining to the trembly heroine all the time? Are you interested in Chinese art history or the glamourous world of Asian bronze dealing? Then by all means you'll enjoy this book. Just don't say I didn't warn you.
February 14, 2017
The underlying story was good, tho I found it a bit confusing at times due to all the politics. Did have a few naughty bits, didn't expect them to be so graphic.
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