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When The Lotus Blooms: A time-travel YA romance
A love that defies time. A legacy worth fighting for.
In the vein of Outlander, The Untamed, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, Moon Scarlet Heart Rye, Mr. Queen, or The Time Traveler's Wife, this sweeping time-travel romance blends historical intrigue, emotional depth, and a touch of the fantastical.
In 2020, college student Ren Jiayi’s obsession with 16th-century medicine becomes more than academic. It becomes fate. When a mysterious twist of destiny transports Jiayi back in time, she finds herself in the heart of YaoHugong Imperial Pharmacy, under the watchful eye of its enigmatic master, Lord Xiao Shirong. What begins as a bewildering detour soon becomes a transformative journey, as Jiayi sheds her spoiled past and embraces the grit and grace of a world 500 years older than her own.
But danger brews beneath the surface.
A ruthless drug lord threatens to dismantle Lord Xiao’s legacy and seize control of the Imperial Pharmacy. As Jiayi and Lord Xiao fight to protect what matters most, their bond deepens into love.
Can love rewrite history?
As betrayal looms and the stakes rise, Jiayi must decide whether her heart and her courage are strong enough to alter the course of fate. Will their love become a beacon of hope, or will YaoHugong fall to the shadows of ambition, changing written history forever?
Perfect for fans of lush historical settings, emotionally complex characters, and romances that defy the boundaries of time.
Tropes you might enjoy in When The Lotus Blooms- Time-travel romance, Slow Burn, Found Family, Mutual Healing, Fish out of water, Sacrificial Love, The Chosen One, Coming of Age, Adopted Child, First Kisses, Forced Proximity, Grumpy Sunshine, Red thread of Fate or fated lovers, Stoic Protector, Honor Vs. Heart, Apothecary Wisdom, Lingering Glances, etc. Oh, and there's a really cute bunny who gets a cameo or two.
In the vein of Outlander, The Untamed, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, Moon Scarlet Heart Rye, Mr. Queen, or The Time Traveler's Wife, this sweeping time-travel romance blends historical intrigue, emotional depth, and a touch of the fantastical.
In 2020, college student Ren Jiayi’s obsession with 16th-century medicine becomes more than academic. It becomes fate. When a mysterious twist of destiny transports Jiayi back in time, she finds herself in the heart of YaoHugong Imperial Pharmacy, under the watchful eye of its enigmatic master, Lord Xiao Shirong. What begins as a bewildering detour soon becomes a transformative journey, as Jiayi sheds her spoiled past and embraces the grit and grace of a world 500 years older than her own.
But danger brews beneath the surface.
A ruthless drug lord threatens to dismantle Lord Xiao’s legacy and seize control of the Imperial Pharmacy. As Jiayi and Lord Xiao fight to protect what matters most, their bond deepens into love.
Can love rewrite history?
As betrayal looms and the stakes rise, Jiayi must decide whether her heart and her courage are strong enough to alter the course of fate. Will their love become a beacon of hope, or will YaoHugong fall to the shadows of ambition, changing written history forever?
Perfect for fans of lush historical settings, emotionally complex characters, and romances that defy the boundaries of time.
Tropes you might enjoy in When The Lotus Blooms- Time-travel romance, Slow Burn, Found Family, Mutual Healing, Fish out of water, Sacrificial Love, The Chosen One, Coming of Age, Adopted Child, First Kisses, Forced Proximity, Grumpy Sunshine, Red thread of Fate or fated lovers, Stoic Protector, Honor Vs. Heart, Apothecary Wisdom, Lingering Glances, etc. Oh, and there's a really cute bunny who gets a cameo or two.
- GenresFantasy Romance
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2025
About the author
Jinna Dennis
2 books7 followersJenifer is a disabled woman author whose debut novel, When the Lotus Blooms, was published in August 2025. A lifelong storyteller, she draws inspiration from Asian culture and history, weaving emotional depth and symbolic nuance into her work. Her writing reflects a deep respect for tradition, transformation, and the quiet power of mystery. In addition to her fiction, Jenifer is also a screenwriter with two short film credits, bringing a cinematic sensibility and layered storytelling to multiple formats. Her creative journey is rooted in resilience and a desire to preserve narrative as a living legacy. She hopes that her love of storytelling will be passed down to her grandchildren, continuing the tradition of sharing meaningful, culturally rich stories across generations.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 22, 2026
Slow-burn romance + time travel? Yes please!
“When the Lotus Blooms” is a quiet, emotionally rich story about healing, resilience, and finding beauty after hardship. It took me a minute to get hooked on the book just because of the unfamiliar names for people and places. But as soon as the character traveled back in time to 15th century China, I was completely hooked and could not put the book down!!! The writing feels gentle but intentional, drawing you into the character’s inner journey in a way that feels both personal and relatable. I appreciated how the story leaned into growth and self-discovery without rushing the process. It’s the kind of book that lingers with you, reminding you that even in the darkest moments, something meaningful can still bloom. I want to go back to YaoHugong!
My favorite quotes:
“I know you’re not from here,” Meili continued, voice steady despite the tremble in her chest. “I called you.”
“Because in this world… real love stories never have endings.”
“When the Lotus Blooms” is a quiet, emotionally rich story about healing, resilience, and finding beauty after hardship. It took me a minute to get hooked on the book just because of the unfamiliar names for people and places. But as soon as the character traveled back in time to 15th century China, I was completely hooked and could not put the book down!!! The writing feels gentle but intentional, drawing you into the character’s inner journey in a way that feels both personal and relatable. I appreciated how the story leaned into growth and self-discovery without rushing the process. It’s the kind of book that lingers with you, reminding you that even in the darkest moments, something meaningful can still bloom. I want to go back to YaoHugong!
My favorite quotes:
“I know you’re not from here,” Meili continued, voice steady despite the tremble in her chest. “I called you.”
“Because in this world… real love stories never have endings.”
August 19, 2025
Interesting throughout, an enjoyable read. The themes of family and honor in this story were a joy to explore.
July 18, 2026
I listened to the audiobook version of When The Lotus Blooms by Jinna Dennis and will most definitely be reading the paperback version to enjoy the story again!
This book was a beautiful representation of culture, history, devotion, family, and a love that spans centuries. We begin the story in modern day, until college student Jiayi is transported back into a time when anything different is considered a threat, political motivations devastate kingdoms, and the history she knows unfolds before her very eyes, but this time she's now part of it.
By the end of this book, my heart was happy, I was feeling all warm and fuzzy, and truly wondering what masterpiece I had just read. There was so much detail to this book from the political machinations of the antagonist, the science in finding a cure for the plague, the incredibly slow burn of the romance, the growing relationship between our MC Jiayi and Meili, and so many more aspects, this book does not receive the recognition it deserves!
In a beautifully written, time-travelling romance that combines history, medicine, friendship, family, and a romance that waits until the last moment to bloom, readers of Outlander and The Time Traveler's Wife will love When The Lotus Blooms by Jinna Dennis!
This book was a beautiful representation of culture, history, devotion, family, and a love that spans centuries. We begin the story in modern day, until college student Jiayi is transported back into a time when anything different is considered a threat, political motivations devastate kingdoms, and the history she knows unfolds before her very eyes, but this time she's now part of it.
By the end of this book, my heart was happy, I was feeling all warm and fuzzy, and truly wondering what masterpiece I had just read. There was so much detail to this book from the political machinations of the antagonist, the science in finding a cure for the plague, the incredibly slow burn of the romance, the growing relationship between our MC Jiayi and Meili, and so many more aspects, this book does not receive the recognition it deserves!
In a beautifully written, time-travelling romance that combines history, medicine, friendship, family, and a romance that waits until the last moment to bloom, readers of Outlander and The Time Traveler's Wife will love When The Lotus Blooms by Jinna Dennis!
January 22, 2026
From the very first chapter, When the Lotus Blooms pulled me into a world that felt rich, dangerous, and emotionally alive.
January 8, 2026
This work is amazing beautiful and you can tell the author poured her heart into writing it. The creative journey of Jaiya is one that is beyond relevant. The resilience and a desire that comes through in this beautiful love story beings me to tears. This story has heart and drive that brings the historical elements to life. This story and it's characters will sweep the readers into a living legacy of Asian culture that has been empowered by the beautifully descriptive writing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews