title: The Way of Tenderness
author: McGrath, Niall
description: "A fire - the rain alight  ... I see a fork in a road - you take both paths; but one is much longer than the other, leads to your true destiny."When Nathan, a young Boston ship's officer, is sent on his father's ship to trade in China, just as American independence is declared, he finds himself questioning his Chinese/American heritage: to which does his true self belong?Ju, a talented singer and songwriter, will do anything to reach the top and leaves the tea farm to set out on her own exotic adventure with her childhood friend, Gui.Through oceans, cities and villages, each follows their heart but song-stealing singer Peng, the mysterious Madame Fen and Nathan's powerful father conspire against them. Can Ju forgive Nathan for her family's tragedy? Then there is the question of Martha ...As China weaves its spell around Nathan and Ju pursues success, will they find the way of tenderness?"