A Cup of Light

As an American appraiser of fine Chinese porcelain, Lia Frank holds fragile beauty in her hands, examines priceless treasure with a magnifying lens.

But when Lia looks in the mirror, she sees the flaws in herself, a woman wary of love, cut off from the world around her. Still, when she is sent to Beijing to authenticate a collection of rare pieces, Lia will find herself changing in surprising ways - coming alive in the shadow of an astounding mystery.

As Lia evaluates each fragile pot, she must answer questions that will reverberate through dozens of lives: Where did these works of art come from? Are they truly authentic?

Or are they impossibly beautiful forgeries - part of the perilous underworld of Chinese art? As Lia examines her treasure, a breathtaking mystery unravels around her.

And with political intrigue intruding on her world of provenance and beauty, Lia is drawn into another, more personal drama - a love affair that could alter the course of her life.