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Shanghai Story: A WWII Drama Trilogy Book One Kindle Edition

by Alexa Kang (Author), Roberta Kagan (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 860
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A WWII saga in the heart of the world's most decadent city in 1936.

Returning home after studying abroad in America, Clark Yuan wants to see his own country rise like the West. Eager to lead China into a new era of modernization, he joins the Kuomintang, putting aside his duty to his family's business to help his government usher in democracy.

But in the dark world of politics, power and money are at stake. Every promise of hope demands a price. How much of his soul will he sacrifice to reach the greater good?

Fleeing the Nazi regime, Eden Levine and her family arrive in the dazzling city known as the Paris of the East. A thriving Jewish community welcomes her as she takes a job as a news reporter. She meets Clark, the worldly, influential son of a prominent Chinese family, and dares to dream of love across racial lines.

Until a heinous murder shocks the international community.

As her investigation takes her deeper into the shadowy corners behind the glamor and glitz, the new life she hopes to build may shatter before it starts.

What changes will they face as their world rumbles with the Communists’ threat of civil war while Japan’s unbridled ambitions loom?

- - -
"I dream of a day when all nations' flags would fly in unity of peace. I dream of a world where no law or human divide would stop two people from falling in love."
- - -

*** One of Hidden Gems' Best Books of 2018
*** Third place winner of the Asian Book Blog's Book of the Year of the Dog 2018


"A Historical Epic in Old Shanghai. If you're a fan of The Winds of War and other historical epics like it, then definitely give Shanghai Story a read.” — Amazon Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Shanghai Story...is the type of book I have not read in a long time. It is a luxury to sink into its pages and be transported to a different time and place. The writing in this novel was outstanding. I could see, feel and smell the beautiful city of Shanghai as it popped out of the page. I enjoyed the two main characters – Clark and Eden. I thought they were well described and gave us differing points of view of the situation. Clark going back to his homeland full of pride and excitement but with perspective only gained from living abroad. Eden escaping the hell of pre-WW2 Europe and hoping to find a new drama-free life in an enchanting new continent. This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. It was filled with love of different types – love of country, love of religion, friendship and romance. I really enjoyed it and was turning pages quicker and quicker to see what happened next. Thank goodness there is a trilogy! If you like wartime romances but want a different twist from the evil Nazis against the brave Europeans, then this is definitely a book I’d recommend to you." — Amazon Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Realistic and Thrilling. Beyond being true to history, the plot was so fast-paced and thrilling, that I had to finish reading it in one sitting. When my son asked me to do something and I was 90% done with the book, I said, ‘I'm sorry, I have to finish this. My heart is pounding.’” — Amazon Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I found myself not being able to put this book down…I can't find enough good words to say in this quick paragraph. Don't miss this book.” — Amazon Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 4
    Shanghai Story
  2. Print length
    516 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    18 May 2018
  6. File size
    1812 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B079WGD7XL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lakewood Press (18 May 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1812 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 516 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 860

About the author

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Alexa Kang

Alexa Kang

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Alexa Kang is an author of WWII and 20th century historical fiction. Her works include the novel series "Rose of Anzio", an epic love story that begins in 1940 Chicago and continues on to the historic Battle of Anzio in Italy; and the "Shanghai Story" trilogy, a saga chronicling the events in Shanghai leading up to WWII and the history of Jews and Jewish refugees in China. Her current work, the "Nisei War Series", is a collection of stories about second-generation Japanese-Americans in war situations around the world during WWII. Alexa's other works include the WWII/1980s time-travel love story "Eternal Flame" (a tribute to John Hughes), as well as various short stories, including those in the fiction anthologies "The Darkest Hour" (a USA Today Bestseller"), "Pearl Harbor and More: Stories of December 1942", "Christmas in Love", and "Wartime Christmas Tales".

You can sign up for Alexa's newsletter for new release announcements, sales, and special content at her website: http://alexakang.com/newsletter

You can also contact Alexa and her team at info@alexakang.com

Alexa grew up in New York City and has traveled to more than 150 cities, and she loves to explore new places and different cultures. She loves writing larger-than-life love stories and 20th century historical fiction, and hopes to bring you many more.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
860 global ratings

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Top reviews from Australia

Coral Luscombe
5.0 out of 5 stars People stick together through thick and thin.
Reviewed in Australia on 15 November 2019
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. Was shocked to realise just how many Dutch lost their lives. I really felt as if I was included in the story.
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megansawyer
4.0 out of 5 stars War in the East
Reviewed in Australia on 9 November 2019
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I liked the way the author made the on set of war come alive in this story. We hear of major battles but not the smaller ones. Or the effect war has on the local people.
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping story of unrequited love during times of strong cultural norms in China in prewar days
Reviewed in Canada on 3 August 2023
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The author described the pull between love and honouring family values with good insight ,,,I read all three books to follow the couples life journey ,,,well written , ..im recommending this to our book club in the fall. ,bm
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprised me in a very positive way.
Reviewed in the United States on 27 October 2022
Verified Purchase
I am a Caucasian male from Wyoming. I have been living in Shanghai for 21 years, Taiwan for 7 years and Shandong province for 2 years for a total of 30 years in Chinese speaking areas. I am a life long student of Chinese language. The afterward to the book mentions the "target market" this work is exactly the type of writing I enjoy.
The historical accuracy of street names and locations in the city was was well done. Additional the rich detailing around Jewish history in China was very admirable.
Early in the reading, I feared this might play out to be more about the romantic relationship between Eden and Clark thus losing the robustness of the history happening at that time. I am happy I continued through. Ultimately b their story played out exceptionally insight of the cultural expectations of cross race relationships at that time, particularly with an Asian male and Western female.
I am a little confused about the route explained in the book for the attempt to get to Kaifeng. Kaifeng is northeast of Shanghai, yet the route chosen to get there went through Nanchang in Jiangxi to the southwest?
All-in-all a well written book. I will definitely continue with this series.
Thank you Alexa Kang.
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Edith
5.0 out of 5 stars Shanghai Story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2024
Verified Purchase
Such a spellbinding book could not put it down. Alexa Kang is such a good writer.
I cannot wait to read the next book.
Thank you
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Do jump in!
Reviewed in Germany on 20 October 2019
Verified Purchase
If you are looking for something that is different from most WW2 fronts, wow, jump in. I'm already into #2 in this trilogy (and happy that book 3 has just been released). This is a great story and Kang does a very good job with the characters and situations. She does lean on some exposition. I prefer books that take me away with the story and allows me to figure things out by dripping things in. Kang is on mission. She wants to create strong awareness of the Asian side of the war, and she does this with compelling characters, surprising twists (to me, anyway) and all while delivering a satisfying read!
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anon
3.0 out of 5 stars Well-Researched, Nice...and Somehow Lacking
Reviewed in Canada on 29 March 2023
Verified Purchase
This novel is well-researched and interesting, but IMO the author lapses into explaining history a little too much, and some of the characters are a little too good to be true. For me the quintessential Holocaust book is the diary of Anne Frank, because in her honesty and self-awareness, she draws a true-feeling portrait of a warm-blooded, flawed, and highly lovable teenager. The Jews in this novel didn't evince one fault by the time I gave up reading. (I'm a Jew, by the way.) Ditto with the idealistic young Chinese. The idealists of my acquaintance are a flawed bunch. Anyway, the subject of Shanghai during the pre-war and war years is a fascinating one, and I suspect the author is going to improve her considerable talent by leaps and bounds with her next book or two. For Alexa Kang does have talent.
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