The dragon's lady
(Book)

"Ruth Greer, wealthy daughter of a shipping magnate, finds a young boy who has run away from his home in Chinatown--an area of gambling parlors, opium dens, and sing-song girls, as well as families trying to eke out a living. It is also home to a number of highbinder tongs, the infamous and deadly "hatchet men" of Chinese lore. There, Ruth meets the boy's father, Li Han-lin, the handsome, enigmatic leader of one such tong, and discovers he is neither as frightening, cruel, or wanton as reputation would have her believe. As Ruth's fascination with the lawless area grows, she finds herself pulled deeper into its intrigue and dangers, particularly those surrounding Han-lin. but the two are from completely different worlds, and when both worlds are shattered by the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 that destroyed most of San Francisco, they face their ultimate test" -- back cover.