by Virginia Fortner (Author)
Adventuresome educator Regina knows only three words of Mandarin when she sets off to teach English in China. She isn't prepared for the East in 2004, with its unfamiliar sights and smells, engulfing sounds, and truly overwhelming sea of people. When a U.S. State Department agent tasks her with sharing cultural and political information, Regina decides to do her patriotic duty and share information via Matt, a taciturn assistant on Capitol Hill-or so she supposes. But Regina is about to find herself in the middle of complex situations that she feels ill-prepared to handle.
China Conundrum is an exciting, fast-paced read that braids the trappings of a travel narrative with strands of intrigue and political thrills. As Regina travels into villages with communist workers, shares festival moon cakes, and learns to express appreciation for the Chinese way, readers learn more about the vast country where Regina finds herself and just how widely their ways of life differ.
As Regina learns more about the political situation she's embroiled in, the once-quaint city of XiAn shifts for her into a paranoia of double-locked doors, eavesdroppers on her phone, and eyes following her on the street. How will a naive Midwestern woman sort out her complex personal feelings, overcome traditional expectations, and maintain her personal safety so far from home? And just who can Regina really trust?