The Secret Language of Women

Wayfarer Trilogy #1

by Nina Romano

Set in China in the late 1800’s, The Secret Language of Women tells the story of star-crossed lovers, Zhou Bin Lian, a Eurasian healer, and Giacomo Scimenti, an Italian sailor, driven apart by the Boxer Rebellion.

When Lian is seventeen years old, she accompanies her Swiss father, Dr. Gianluca Brasolin, fluent in Italian, to tend the Italian ambassador, at the Summer Palace of Empress Dowager, where she meets and falls in love with Giacomo.

Through voyage and adventure, their love intensifies, but soon is severed by Lian’s dutiful promise as the wife to another. Forbidden from pursuing her chosen profession as a healer, and despised because she does not have bound feet, she is forced to work in a cloisonné factory while her in-laws raise her daughter, Ya Chen. It is in Nushu, the women’s secret writing, that she chronicles her life and her hopes for the future.

Rebelling against the life forced upon her, she empowers herself to act out against the injustice and becomes the master of her own destiny. But her quest for freedom comes at a costly price: The life of someone close to her, lost in a raging typhoon, a grueling journey to the Yun-kang Caves, and a desperate search for beauty and love in the midst of brutality.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, China

372 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2015

About the author

Nina Romano's latest novel, Dark Eyes, a Russian historical thriller, hit #1 in Russian and Soviet Literature E-books on Amazon on 2/13/2023 Pre-order. The print release date was February 24, 2023.

The Girl Who Loved Cayo Bradley, a Western, Historical Romance is Book 1 in the Darby's Quest series and a stand-alone novel. It covers a great deal of Apache and Native American history and lore in New Mexico, is a well-researched novel, and a semi-finalist in the Laramie Book Awards. It was released October 2021 by Speaking Volumes, LLC.

Romano's Wayfarer Trilogy has been published by Turner Publishing. Book #1 of the Historical Saga: The Secret Language of Women was a Foreword Reviews Indie-Fab Book Award Finalist. The novel won the Independent Publisher 2016 IPPY Gold Medal in the Historical/Romance Book Awards. Book #2 of the series, Lemon Blossoms was a finalist in the Foreword INDIES Reviews Book #3, In America, was a finalist in the 2016 Chanticleer Media's Chatelaine Book Awards for Romance.

Nina Romano earned a B.S. from Ithaca College, an M. A. from Adelphi University and a B. A., and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from FIU. She’s a world traveler and lover of history. She lived in Rome, Italy, for twenty years, and is fluent in Italian and Spanish. She authored a short story collection, The Other Side of the Gates, five poetry collections, and two poetry chapbooks. Her most recent collection, Westward: Guided by Starfalls and Moonbows, was published from LLC Red Dashboard. She co-authored, Writing in a Changing World. Romano has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize.

Reviews

[Cynthia Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women by Nina Romano lives up to the promise of its intriguing title. This is an epic tale, as large and encompassing and treacherous as Homer’s The Odyssey, but with more heart and heartache. It’s rich with history, using China in the late 1800s as a backdrop, which adds additional drama to the story of a mixed-race girl apprenticing with her Swiss doctor father.
Lian loves her widower father and the gift of knowledge he has given her. Even though he’s a “foreign devil” practicing a blend of western and Chinese medicine, his services are much in demand. He trains his daughter so that she may one day become a doctor in her own right.
When he is called upon by the Empress Dowager to treat the Italian Ambassador at her summer palace, he brings Lian as his assistant. Though she is confident in her skills and knowledge, she is very insecure about her “ugly, unbound feet” and her green eyes, which singles her out as impure. Even the Empress Dowager notices her differences, stating she would be quite beautiful if it weren’t for those imperfections.
The course of Lian’s life is altered by this trip to the palace, not by witnessing life in that rarified environment, but by the brazen yet in some ways innocent kiss by an Italian sailor. Called on to care for the ambassador at the Italian embassy, Lian encounters her handsome sailor, Giacomo. Thrown together for the duration of the ambassador’s illness, a genuine and passionate love grows.
There are many forces standing in way of this new love: the Italian navy, Lian’s arranged marriage, and the uprising of Boxer forces determined to rid China of foreigners, to name a few. With the death of her beloved father, Lian’s life is no longer her own. But it’s not only for herself that she struggles to be free and pursue a career as a doctor. She goes to desperate lengths to escape and reunite with her one true love.
And there the real story begins.
Secret Language is a powerfully told saga, rich with emotion and redolent in the history and customs of a country I knew so little about. I now feel I’ve been given a peek at that culture and I feel less intimidated and more eager to learn about it. This book does what the best novels do: it opens up a new world while illustrating life’s complexities. I’m really looking forward to the next journey in the Wayfarer series!

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women is a great historical novel set in China around the time of the Boxer Rebellion. The novel tells the story of Lian, the bi-racial daughter of a Swiss doctor and Chinese woman, and Italian sailor, Gicoma Scomenti. After the couple meet, their passion for each other smolders, carrying the narrative forward, but this is more than just a romance novel. Meticulously researched, The Secret Language of Women transports the reader back to a time when China remained under the influence of western powers. If you like historical fiction, you'll love this novel.

[Lis Anna-Langston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very different genre than I normally read and I loved it. The language and characterization are rich with a palpable depth that is sometimes missing in fiction. Looking forward to the second book in this series. Highly recommend!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic historical romance set in early 1800s China that centers on a young, bi-racial girl named Lian, who wants to be a doctor, and an Italian sailor named Giacomo. In The Secret Language of Women (Book 1 of The Wayfarer Trilogy), Nina Romano has outdone herself. This superbly rendered tale portrays a rich time in history through elegant prose, literally breathing life into characters and settings. Add to that, layers of culture, mystery, and political intrigue. It is easy to get caught up in Lian and Giacomo’s dramatic, and sometimes heartbreaking, adventure, which is best described in Nina’s own words as a story about “the search for beauty and love in the midst of brutality.”

[Wendy Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary novel of love and self-forgiveness

‘The Secret Language of Women’ by Nina Romano is an exceptional piece of historical fiction. Ms. Romano’s exceptionally gifted writing style, and her use of language, knowledge of history, exquisite descriptions and profound dialogue combine for a most remarkable read. I was stunned by this astonishing novel, ‘The Secret Language of Woman’. And I still am!

The novel takes place before and during The Boxer Rebellion in China. Ms. Romano deftly brings this history into actuality with her novel’s characters, conflicts and choices. There is adventure, mystery, political tensions, the examination of cultures and belief systems and amidst all of this there is surrender to love, forgiveness and the realization that the course that life takes is sometimes larger than what we see.

Immediately within pages of starting ‘The Secret Language of Women’, I was reminded of the book “Memoirs of a Geisha’ because of Ms. Romano’s ability to convey through her writing a rich, palpable and sensual narrative. This sensual narrative is found in her descriptions of the simplest, and yet, most profound things in life: trees, scents, poetry, gazes of love, as well as looks of condemnation and scorn, and all the while Ms. Romano conveys an overwhelming sense of resilience and surrender to one’s circumstance.

This is an extraordinary book and piece of writing. Amazing!

[Barbara Stark-Nemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina Romano’s The Secret Language of Women is a fascinating saga that takes place at the turn of the 20th century, just as the boxer rebellion gets underway in China. This historical novel is a love story, a cross-cultural feast including recipes from a sea-faring Italian chef, Chinese herbal medicine and beautiful descriptions of China’s flora, the clash between classes and religions of the time, and the challenges faced by a strong, young, Eurasian woman attempting to determine her own fate. Romano is a poet, and her skill is evident in the imagery of the characters’ interior lives, their spiritual quests, and the every day world through which they travel. The secret language of the title is not only language that Zhou Bin Lian, the main character records her diary in and shares with the few women who work to save her, but also a metaphor for the timeless things that women of heart share. Nina Romano is such a woman. The Secret Language of Women is a complex, broad-reaching and memorable read.

[AJ Flamingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXTREMELY WELL DONE TALE

This book blew me away. The Chinese angle underscored with Italian was fascinating, heartrending, romantic, well-researched and educational. It was not predictable. The story pulled my mind out of my present circumstances and provided hours of relief by a fascinating plot which provided me a balm in the form of distraction from pain. I am fairly well read (see Goodreads) and I knew as I read it I had found something very special. Kudos to author Nina Romano!

[Pat Wahler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women is a fascinating tale of a girl named Lian who falls in love with a man considered unsuitable. At their inevitable parting, Lian endures heartbreak after heartbreak, yet her indomitable spirit is not crushed despite the harsh dictates of her culture.

Set in China, during the late 19th century, Romano deftly brought the setting and characters vividly alive. This story is thought-provoking and quite well-researched, without being heavy-handed. It will stay with me for a long time.

[Colin Ridyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women by Nina Romano is a tale of two extremes. On the one hand there is the sweet, sensual and unrestrained explosion of passion of two lovers joined spirit, body and soul and who would travel to the end of time itself to be in each other’s arms; and on the other hand, the stark, icy indifference of a man who beats and admonishes his wife and treats her as chattel.

The story has an interesting structure. It is told in first person from the heroine, Lian’s perspective and translated from her journals and diaries written in Nüshu – a unique dialogue used by women in Jiangyong County in the Southern Chinese province of Hunan. It is from this unique language the book derives its name, but more importantly carries its own powerful voice. The story also includes her lover, Giacomo’s perspective; however, this is given a third person point of view. There are other interesting supporting characters, including Ping, Lian’s laotong and Bulldog, Giacomo’s shipmate, both of whom, do their best to help the lovers throughout the book.

The initial calling to the Summer Palace where Lian first meets Giacomo and the description of her journey through Peking to get there is beautifully described and foreshadows the events in the story. On the one hand, the “garbage-littered streets” symbolise her fears of a loveless marriage to Lu whereas the Gingko trees in the parks are symbolic of Lian’s hope for a happy future with Giacomo. The Summer Palace is stunningly portrayed in its splendour and from her first-person perspective, Lian relates how whilst she respects her Empress, she asks the question why did the Empress and her court not “assist the poor and sick”? The question is posed alongside a rich, powerful metaphor describing a “full-faced, fat moon beaming down and a sky draped with candle-lit stars”. I was also really impressed with the powerful word play of the Empress’s fear of “foreign legions”.

Set in the run up to the Chinese Boxer Rebellion at the end of the nineteenth century and in a world very different to the one we know today, events quickly overtake the star-crossed lovers and Giacomo is compelled to leave Lian to her fateful arranged marriage, shattering her dreams of following in her father’s footsteps as a healer. It poses a powerful and potent question as to how far would you or anyone else go to be with their heart’s one true desire.

In conclusion, I have no hesitation recommending this book – not just because it is a really good story of lost love and the lengths lovers will go to reunite, but also because of the rich and skilful use of English language and how it so clearly demonstrates, even in the worst of situations we can still see the best in people. Nina has put a plot together with twists and turns at every juncture and the simmering tensions of rebellion in the background serve to heighten the tension as well as draw the reader into the story. This is a real page turner and an absolute must read to while away those sunny days on the beach or those long winter nights by a roaring log fire with a mug of hot chocolate. Enjoy!

[Sedona Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women by Nina Romano is hands down the best book I’ve read in a long time—maybe ever. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a story of great love and great loss, and of impossible courage. It’s Zhou Bin Lian’s life journey to find herself and her soulmate.

The story is set in China in the late 1800’s when women had no rights and no independence. Marriages were arranged, feet were bound, and women did as they were told. It was a time of great strife, with Boxer Rebellions seeking to rid China of foreigners and Christianity.

Lian is the daughter of an unlikely pairing—a Swiss doctor and a beautiful Chinese woman. Her father teachers her to be a healer, an occupation she loves even though it is unthinkable for a woman to become a doctor in those times. When Lian accompanies her father to the Summer Palace of Empress Dowager, she meets and falls madly in love with an Italian sailor, Giacomo Scimenti.

Lian and Giacomo’s love is fierce and passionate, their lovemaking hot and intense. But their flame is extinguished way too quickly when circumstances cruelly tear them apart. Lian does what she must to care for herself and her daughter even as she yearns to reunite with the man whose love she feels deep in her soul.

She finds the courage to flee a toxic situation and to search for her true love. As the two star-crossed lovers search for one other, one by land and one by sea, they experience major trials and tribulations, but through it all, their love endures. Lian documents her life journey in Nüshu, the secret language she learned from her mother. She writes for Giacomo, and at times her writing keeps her going.

The story is so beautifully written, it’s almost poetic. It’s rife with history and tradition, symbolism and wisdom. The story is both uplifting and tragic. In the end, it reminds us that true love does indeed exist, to appreciate the non-tangible things that matter most in life, and as Giacomo so eloquently stated, that “in life we must risk to get what we most want.”

The Secret Language of Women is a highly recommended story for readers of any genre looking for an inspiring and beautifully written story.

[Sandra Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so skillfully plotted in the midst of a divided and mystic China at the end of the nineteenth century, yet it is the courageous character of Lian that carries the reader through a place foreign to most of us. A conflicted young woman of mixed-race struggles to find her place where she’s endlessly judged, yet, through her Italian father’s eyes, she never ceases to learn and understand, to be bold. Her Nushu writings sustain her as well as allow her to ‘speak’ to Giacomo.
This is the most well-researched novel I believe I’ve ever read … the details, the history of a perilous China, the conflicting religions, cultures and customs, the mystical ties, the food, and, of course, the languages. Place is one of the strongest characters in this novel … and specific places that were haunting and frightening and reverent. The eye-catching Lian was the touchstone of this story as Ms. Romano so eloquently writes her tale in Lian’s voice, lays Lian’s heart on the page before us, and Giacomo was brought to life so adeptly in his flashbacks to his Italian youth.
The writing in Lian’s story is exquisite, such as “I was a walking dead, a hungry ghost with no ancestral home ….” and “Snow birthed a winter sun, white, weak, and young, and then a flange of light circled me.” Poetry. So many precious scenes, some spectral, in this novel, such as Lian’s feathery art gifted to the “grandmother,” the revelations of the gossamer pig-keeper (one of my favorite characters), Lian’s horse Snowflake through the harsh journey to the cave.

I loved this story and, oh my, what a wonderful movie this would be.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women is a powerful and enchanting read. A brilliantly well-written tale that takes readers on one woman’s journey. For fans of Romeo and Juliet this is a must read. The entire novel is told from Zhou Bin Lian’s point of view. I found it highly interesting to see things from an a smart, beautiful, and determined young Chinese woman. The story from eyes, makes readers feel like they are indeed right there with her while everything is happening. The most exciting or shall I say turning point is when she meets Giacomo for the first time. Loss, love, and duty all can be found in this masterpiece by Nina Romano.

Readers will fall for Zhou Bin Lian and for her lover, Giacomo. No matter what efforts the lovers put together fate always has a way of keeping them apart. Not only is the love kept pulled away but also, a rich culture comes to life, when reading these pages. Readers will also love how every chapter teaches them a little bit of the Chinese language. Sadness takes over Zhou Bin Lian’s heart, where she has lost many loved ones. Her mother, then her father, and then an unexpected death will occur. Tugging at readers’ hearts, The Secret Language of Women, is a vibrant and earth shattering novel. I would highly recommend this to fans of The Fault in Our Stars. This intriguing and heartbreaking story will capture the hearts of many just like that famous movie. Overall, I loved reading Nina Romano’s stunning piece, and I recommend it to readers world wide.

[Deborah Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an epic love story set in China during the Boxer Rebellion. The author's research shines through in every paragraph with realistic and fascinating detail. When Lian falls for Giacomo,little does she realize their love must survive such a long separation. Giacomo, an Italian sailor, must board his ship the Leopardo, and Lian must marry her arranged companion Lu, an uninspiring man, and one whose parents are determined to make all the decisions for Lian and her children.

There is heartbreak and tragedy, as the reader lives with them through typhoons and civil unrest. The Secret Language of the title is Nushu,taught to Lian by her mother, and the letters to Giacomo written in this language are poetic insights into Lian's life. If you like a novel full of the scents and sounds of old China, along with a great love story, this is a book you will easily get lost in. It's definitely a keeper for me and I will be reading the rest of the series.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unabashedly romantic book set against war and upheaval, an era infused with superstition, history, and exotic customs, and the Boxer rebellion which targeted all Westerners. Through extensive research, the author pulls us into the land that was China in 1900. Sesame, fish, turtles, dogs, peanuts, plum and black bean sauce, orangepeel, shrimp paste, tea, garlic, ginger, bridges, temples, herb shops, healers. And foreign troops circling about, wary of the uprising of the dangerous Boxers. One moment in a Chinese garden and the lovely Eurasian girl is forever tied to the handsome Italian sailor. Come death, loss, confusion, complications of place and time, they remain wedded in their hearts. “There is nothing else in life but love and the surety of death.”

[Rita Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader and writer of poetry, I admire Nina Romano's lyric style. The lush descriptions of landscapes are a pleasure to read. Romano is a master craftsman in terms of setting. I always felt rooted in both urban and rural settings in this book; Romano's images are so vivid. For me, the crux of the novel is when Lian goes on a spiritual journey--her travels are dangerous and exciting. Lian's sort of a female Odysseus in China. She's a courageous character. The trials experienced by Romano's female protagonist makes one reflect one what's really important in life. The Secret Language of Women has something for everyone: spirituality, history, romance, quests. Romano hits the mark in this first installation of the Wayfarer's Trilogy!

[Ruth Chatlien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an unusual and exotic story. Lian, a half Italian-half Chinese woman falls in love with Giacomo, an Italian sailor whose ship is patrolling the waters around China during the violent Boxer rebellion of the late 1890s when Chinese nationalists tried to drive all foreigners from their country. In such a difficult situation, the lovers' lives are endangered simply because of who they are, and their relationship only places them in more jeopardy. I don't want to say anything more about the plot for fear of giving too much away. But what I loved most about the novel was the way rich aspects of both Sicilian and Chinese culture are interwoven into the story and the way these two very different people realized they are kindred spirits.

[K.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women by Nina Romano is a breath-taking historical novel set in the 1800s during the Boxer Rebellion. Her flair for description is nothing short of brilliant, using the five senses to draw you into an exotic world thriving with turmoil, emotional struggles, and loss.

Romano's writing is poetic. Her characters are timeless. It is the story of a young girl named Lian and her lover Giacomo and their desire to be together at all costs. Their story is engaging and tugs at the heartstrings. The story has many twists and turns and surprises that will keep you turning pages.

I highly recommend The Secret Language of Women and look forward to more stories by this writer. Five stars.

[D.J. Niko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina Romano's first installment in the Wayfarer Trilogy is a richly detailed journey through China during the time of the Boxer Rebellion, circa 1900. The story follows Lian, the daughter of a Chinese mother and Swiss physician father, who struggles to find love and hope in spite of adversity. Lian's use of Nushu, the secret language used by Chinese women, to write about her life and dreams is fascinating and at times heartbreaking. The author is also a poet, and it shows in her lyrical language. Romano's beautiful descriptions of the setting and the characters' inner worlds draw the reader into the plot and build interest with every page. Highly recommended.

[M.K. Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Women displays Romano's skill with capturing bringing her setting to life: the cultural aspects, the scents and sights, the food, all played out against the background of the Boxer Rebellion as two star-crossed lovers fight to be together. You will vicariously learn language, customs and mythology of two very different protagonist as their story unfolds. First of the Wayfarer Trilogy now in print.

[Monica Daza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding!

This is a magnificently told love story set in war-torn China. The lovers and other characters were so real to me. The details of China brought the story alive. Trying to write a review to match the eloquence of this novel is impossible. I can only say that I very much admire Ms. Romano’s writing and her ability to keep me wanting to turn the pages, yet never wanting the story to end. I would read anything by this author! Her research was nothing short of magnificent!

[Margaret Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Very interesting in a historical way, also descriptive of life in China at that time. And ....if you've been fortunate to visit China - especially Guillin - memories of water-buffalo, and the little boats made from bamboo really bring memories back.

Characters are well developed so that the reader cares about them. The reader is given insight to the spiritual and healing philosophies of the people.

I can't wait to read the next part of the trilogy!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lian's journey from royal palace to poverty and beyond made a great plot (no spoilers!). Lush descriptions of China during the Boxer Rebellion, Nina Romano has crafted a breathtaking and epic tale of love and longing. Some interesting magical realism mixed in with history and fascinating characters. I'm anxious for the next installment of this trilogy!

[Jane Brownley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love historical fiction and a good love story, this is for you.
Lian is a Eurasian healer and Giacomo is an Italian sailor--- they meet in China during the boxer rebellion, and fall in love.
Romano's lyrical writing is just beautiful and the story is exciting and moving.
It's a great read and I loved it.

[Charis Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Secret Language of Women,” is a narrative woven by Nina that combines history, the beauty of China and beautiful prose. It is a love story between a Eurasian woman and an Italian sailor during the Boxer Rebellion. The book was long, engaging and well structured. Most of all, it was believable, dramatic and is highly recommended by this Reader! Brava Nina! Molto bene!

[Blake Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel, based during the Boxer Rebellion, where the author uses her great artisty to form the setting and the reader can visualize it instantly. I love reading historical ficiton and it was not too far of a stretch from my normal reading pattern. I enjoyed, "The Secret Language of Women," from the beginning, keeping me engaged to Lian's story. I really enjoy a story where the female lead is lacking in what society calls "normal," works through her troubles and holds on to her own identity no matter what. It is definitely a must read.

[Cari Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this evocative heart rending historical love story. Brave it its emotional descriptions. Accurate to its turbulent time. It is informative as well as poetic. Highly recommended.

[Leonard Tillerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is quite often said that there is "someone for everyone."  That we all have a soulmate somewhere on this planet.  A person that you simply could not possibly imagine being without.  Someone who understands you and can visualize your thoughts by merely looking into your eyes.  A wonderful notion is it not?  However, do you believe such deep connections are possible?  Do we all have a soulmate?  In her novel, The Secret Language of Women, author Nina Romano explores just such a concept.  Set in late Nineteenth-Century China, the novel explores the powerful and deep-seated love between two individuals.  Not only that however.  It also reveals what inevitably occurs when such a love is torn asunder.  The chain of events which follow in a desperate attempt to reunite.  For lovers of historical romantic fiction, which is entrenched with powerful human emotion, The Secret Language of Women should be a top pick!

Essentially, the story takes place in China in the late 1800's.  It was the time of the Boxer Rebellions which sought to expel foreigners and crush Christianity.  It is in this backdrop where we are introduced to Lian.  She is the biracial daughter of a Swiss Doctor and Chinese woman.  Seeking to follow her father's path as a healer, Lian accompanies him on many medical visits and inevitably meets an Italian sailor by the name of Gicoma Scimenti.  For those who believe in love at first sight, this is the proverbial case study!  The pair fall madly in love.  However, their time together is swiftly and cruelly ripped apart by circumstances beyond their control.

Giacomo is suddenly forced to leave port and Lian has ultimately been promised to marry another.  Having to follow through and marry against the true will of her heart, Lian is forced into a life of misery and abuse.  Due to her biracial background, which is easily revealed by her appearance and "horribly" unbound feet, Lian experiences many hardships as a factory worker and virtual servant of her in-laws.  Also, the birth of a child, who is ultimately her own and Giacomo's daughter, does not improve her position with the abusive in-laws.  Be that as it may, as time passes, Lian struggles against all odds and heartbreaking tragedy to find her true self again.  She also never abandons the idea of reuniting with her lost lover who he himself only has thoughts for his soulmate.  The love for one another are ultimately what keep the pair going.  Will they actually ever find one another again?  Or will they spend the rest of their lives in solitude, only able to remember what once was in their most treasured memories.

There can be little doubt that this is a top-notch historical romance novel.  The plot of the story is entirely engaging and keeps the reader continuously guessing as to what is coming next.  The theme of "love conquers all" is prevalent throughout the tale and supports the story's emotionally packed action.  The reader will find themselves full of hope and anticipation that the long lost lovers will reunite in one moment, only to have such prediction bring forth a new emotion as the plot goes in an entirely different direction.  These twists and turns keep the reader gleefully turning page after page in hopes of seeing this tearful reunion.  The author very capably manages to tap into the innermost emotions of the reader as they become wholly emotionally invested in the story.

The characters in the story are quite rich as well. While Lian and Giacomo are obviously developed in the most detail, there are a number of very interesting and intriguing supporting players.  For instance, I found Zhugong to be an entirely captivating character and we were able to explore his present and past which allowed him to resonate even further.  For me personally, Lian was my favorite character who was explored in the most depth.  She revealed genuine strength and resolve as she continually struggled to improve her situation.  She is a perfectly developed character who I would love to read more about in Romano's other work.

The author also has a beautiful and poetic flow to her writing.  It is essentially "art with words."  This is shown throughout the book, but is the most obvious in the setting description.  Nina Romano undoubtedly spent a great deal of time researching the time and place of her novel.  For instance, past cultural norms are explored and can be presented in contrast to present day.  More than anything however, she manages to describe the setting in such a way that it can be visualized and deeply appreciated, but not lose the reader's attention with endless details.

Overall I loved this novel and would give it my highest recommendation.  While  it is perfect reading for lovers of romance and history, it is also recommended for connoisseur of the written word which is transformed into an intriguing fictional tale.

5 out of 5 Powerful Stars for this one!

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazingly well-written, poignant story of love, cultural tradition, obligation, self-empowerment and heart-breaking sacrifice. I can't wait to read Lemon Blossoms, the second book in this series!

[Mark Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina Romano’s The Secret Language of Women is the first of her historical romance Wayfarer Trilogy. Historical Romance isn’t a genre I normally pay attention to, but I’ve read Romano’s The Girl Who Loved Cayo Bradley, and I discovered that her contributions to the genre were stories that were at once interesting, realistic, and enlightening. So, I decided to plunge in again, and The Secret Language of Women proved to be a fascinating, and at times an exciting, glimpse into late Eighteenth-Century China as it traced the trials of two young lovers separated by culture and insurrection.

Going in I didn’t know much about Chinese history, fashion, or culture, but I do now. There is much to learn about the era and the country, and Romano turns out to be a good teacher. The most important thing for me was that I felt as though I was there in late Eighteenth-Century China during the Boxer Rebellion. The descriptions are so detailed, I experienced the sight, sound, smells, and emotions of the time and place. I know now what it is like to live in fear of the insurgents, to deal with forced separation from your one true love, and what it takes to adapt and survive the reality you must face.

Only a skilled technician, a meticulous researcher, and an exceptional storyteller can pull that off. Nina Romano is all of those.

The fact that a secret language, Nushu, used exclusively by women even exists is intriguing in its own right. And by using this secret language as a device, Romano brings considerable insights and emotional detail into the world as seen through the eyes of Lian, a strong young woman who is herself, something of an outcast among the traditional Chinese culture. Lian is a healer, mother, and a force to be reckoned with. It’s Lian who you’ll remember long after you’ve turned the last page of the novel.

But it’s the love story that’s at the center of the tale, and that’s what pulls you in and keeps you reading from beginning to end. The idea of love-at-first-sight may well be a trope of romances, but what Lian and Giacomo experience is believable from the outset. And I have to admit I found myself rooting for them all the way.

I highly recommend The Secret Language of Women to anyone, even if you don’t normally read historical romances. Trust me, it’s well worth it.

[Mark Carnelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A read that will live long in the memory of the reader. It will in mine for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it was my first read in the romance genre, being an Historical Romance. Secondly, it opened my eyes to the wonderful poetry of words that the wonderful author, Nina Romano, fluently writes with. Lastly, it is in the realism of the story that lets you vividly picture each character, setting and scene, as well as feel the emotions of Lian, the 17yo daughter of a Chinese girl and Swiss doctor, and Giacomo, an Italian sailor. These two are the lovers, who find themselves in Peking, China at the start of the Boxer Rebellion.
Their love results in the birth of a daughter and because of the times and their professions they are separated. Can love conquer all, can the two lovers find each other again?
The story flows beautifully with the chapters alternating between the stories of Lian and Giacomo as they hold on to their single unified emotion of finding each other again.
Through their eyes we see the differing points of view of the turmoil that grips the countryside through which each of the two lovers travel in their search.
The authors research into that period of time allows you to be transported, to walk, ride or sail with Lian and Giacomo. You feel and understand the pain, frustrations and utter desolation each of them feels. But it also allows you to feel their never ending love for each other.
An emotion filled read in this first book Nina Romano’s “Wayfarer Trilogy”.
Thank you Nina for opening my eyes to an exceptional story and allowing me to fully enjoy a new genre.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for truly emotional read.