The Secret Language of Women by Nina Romano

Val Penny ♦ June 10, 2018 ♦ Leave a comment

Have you ever come across a book that delights you? I had never read any novels by Nina Romano previously, but The Secret Language of Women was recommended to me by so many people, that I decided it would be churlish to ignore this book. I am so glad I picked it up.

The Secret Language of Women is set in nineteenth century China during The Boxer Uprising or Yihetuan Movement. This was a violent anti-foreign, anti-colonial and anti-Christian uprising that took place in China between 1899 and 1901, toward the end of the Qing dynasty. This rebellion has driven apart the lovers, Zhou Bin Lian and Giacomo Scimenti.

Lian is only seventeen years old when she accompanies her Swiss father, a doctor to help the recovery of Italian ambassador. It is here that she meets and falls in love with Giacomo. Their love deepens as the novel weaves its way through a series of adventures.

However, Lian is promised to another in wedlock. She is also unable to follow her chosen path to become a physician.

Lian is also discriminated against because her feet were not bound and she must work in a factory separated from her daughter, Ya Chen. Lian is a determined character and empowers herself to fight against the injustice and determines her destiny. She reveals the story of her life and her hopes for the future in Nushu, the women’s secret writing.

It is a delicious, original story. It would be an excellent book for a book group. I have also discovered that The Secret Language of Women is the first book in the Wayfarer Trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the other novels in this series.

Nina 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 appeared 2/16/16 and, Book #3, In America, was released 7/19/16 and is 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 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 from Bridle Path Press. Romano has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize.

Val Penny