Skeleton Women is the story of a singer and a spy, a magician, and a gossip columnist scheming to survive the gang wars in the lawless, 1930ies Shanghai.

Reviews:

A guilty pleasure....enjoy the exotic location and characters.... This is a large, luscious box of chocolates. Go on. You know you want to." -- RTBook 4 star Review, June 2012

Entertaining diversion is (a strength of this book) Publisher's Weekly

Poignant and often heartbreaking story captivatin mix of worldly and ethereal, mystery and drama kept me interested and kept me reading with her journal cum memoir style that few authors pull off. I loved how she incorporated in her narrative Chinese customs, legends, myths and beliefs and especially how she quoted from long ago texts on war and strategies, it was her characters that dominated the pages. Bookclub.BarnesandNoble.com, June 1, 2012

What a phenomenal novel!! The characters are well-developed and the storyline is amazing and reads fast. So much is going on you won't be able to put the book down and you'll be turning the last page before you know it. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone. Great job Mingmei!!! -- Bookbag Lady, June 13, 2012

This is an intriguing story. The Shanghai background is credible and interesting; the story flows well; --Journey of a bookseller, June 18, 2012

As always, Mingmei Yip did not disappoint. Skeleton Women is a dynamic novel jam-packed with action, suspense, romance, lust, scheming, and twists and turns, an incredibly well written novel. The characters are not only complex but also have the ability to evoke an array of emotions in the reader. The plot for this book is original and mesmerizes the reader from page one to the very last sentence. Mingmei Yip proves once again why she is a master of creative writing, suspense, and romance. Paperbackdolls.com June 26, 2012

Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down. I adore Mingmei's writing style. It's very unique and makes the story flow so nicely. Beingalison.com, June 15, 2012

Camilla goes through a lot, a lot more than I have ever been through and emerges as a strong woman who can take care of herself. I loved her for that. and because she has awesome knife throwing skills. -- kariannalysis.com June 23, 2012

Song of the Silk Road is a romantic adventure on China's fabled route with the lure of a three million dollar reward.

Publisher's Weekly's favorable review:

“Yip’s lively new novel manages to be at once modern and traditional…Surprising and often funny….Part epic, part coming-of-age story, part modern fairy tale.”

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Praise for Mingmei's novels:
"Poignant...continues to linger in the reader's mind, with many scenes and words resounding...Peach Blossom Pavilion is sure to touch all who read it."  Mary Jo Putney, New York Times Bestselling author

“Lovely and evocative, provocative and unforgettable…book clubs will especially be fascinated.”  M.J. Rose, national bestselling author.

 "A serious, engaging of faith, devotion, and the commingling of cultures."  Booklist.

"Riveting...a rare peek into an exotic culture that is thrilling, captivating and moving." Shobhan Bantwal, award winning author

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Peach Blossom Pavilion is the first novel in English about a Chinese courtesan (geisha) who was a qin musician!

From Recent Reviews:

A riveting account of mysterious lifestyles in pre-Communist China, PEACH BLOSSOM PAVILION is filled with amazing characters and unique stories. Xiang Xiang begins her tales through the eyes of an adolescent, shocked, and heartbroken at her losses. Her strength and perseverance is brilliantly portrayed in this stunningly presented novelThe journey she eventually takes is both exciting and poignant as Xiang Xiang finds not only who she seeks, in many ways, but also discovers herself. Beautifully written, readers will not be able to put this book down until the last page is turned.
Jani Brooks, Romance Review Today

"From a prodigiously talented new Chinese author comes a marvelous debut novel about a woman who becomes China's most successful courtesan. Yip's work echoes 'Memoirs of a Geisha,' but with a sharper, more suspenseful pace." Powell's Books