The Last Rose of Shanghai: A Novel

In 1940 Japanese-occupied Shanghai, Aiyi Shao, a young heiress and nightclub owner, meets Ernest Reismann, a Jewish refugee who fled Germany. When she hires him to play piano at her club, defying social convention, his talent revives the venue's popularity. The two discover a shared passion for jazz and develop a deeper connection, but their different backgrounds and Aiyi's existing engagement create obstacles. As war intensifies, Aiyi and Ernest face increasingly difficult choices between love and survival. A series of events unfolds that fundamentally alters both their lives. The novel follows their relationship across Shanghai's jazz clubs and war-torn streets, exploring themes of love and redemption during a lesser-known period of World War II history.