Author Patrick Aaron dips into his knowledge of early 1900s Nanking, China, to give readers "Chinese Pearl," a well-crafted romantic adventure novel.

Midwife Xiulan isn't expecting her dream of raising her own child to come true when she's summoned to help a mother give birth to a baby boy. When the boy's birth is followed by an albino girl with white hair, the grandmother urges Xiulan to dispose of her into the sea. Xiulan refuses, instead saying she'll take the child and raise her.

The young Zhu's looks aren't the only thing unique about her. Her psychic ability draws customers to...