Chinese Pearl

Author Patrick Aaron dips into his knowledge of early 1900s Nanking, China, to give readers Chinese Pearl, a well-crafted romantic adventure novel.

Midwife Xiulan isn't expecting her dream of raising her own child to come true when she's summoned to help a mother give birth to a baby boy. When the boy's birth is followed by an albino girl with white hair, the grandmother urges Xiulan to dispose of her into the sea. Xiulan refuses, instead saying she'll take the child and raise her.

The young Zhu's looks aren't the only thing unique about her. Her psychic ability draws customers to the family's apothecary as mentor Mrs. Mah and her grandson Li help Zhu control and use her powers. But those powers draw the wrong attention when Nazi SS Captain Eckhart decides the young Zhu would be the perfect gift for his boss, Heinrich Himmler.

It will be up to Kaminski brothers John and Ron, both China National Aviation Corporation pilots, to save their friends as the Japanese capture the city of Nanking. Not everything goes to plan, however, as they attempt to escape the nightmare that Nanking has become.