Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes on June 18, 2024
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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When newcomer Mercy Windsor arrives in Mercy Peak in 1948 after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood's beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood--an abandoned estate with a haunting history--and begins to restore it to its former glory. But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of that mountain's lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal, Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Engine No. 8, which vanished years ago, along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention another fabled treasure that--if found--could right so many wrongs. Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.
A boyhood pact made in the Depression Era ‘30’s, a missing train and bag of mail, and a disgraced Hollywood starlet are all part of a story that begins and ends at struggling little Colorado mountain mining town of Mercy’s Peak. I can’t decide if it was the poetic title or that blurb full of curious elements that had me highly anticipating new-to-me author, Amanda Syke’s latest release.
Born on Gilded Mountains takes place in 1948, but the story is one strongly influenced by past events that lead to where things are in the present. Mercy’s Peak is a dying old mining town that seems to have slept until Mercy Windsor gets off the train and things start happening as she moves onto the old Wildwood Estate. Mercy has plans to restore the estate for a forest theater company and hopes to help revitalize the town as a tourist destination. Mercy is the catalyst who stirs up ghosts of the past and in so doing also stirs the locals who seem to have been merely biding their time for years.
Mercy’s arrival and her reasons for coming there and leaving Hollywood are a mystery to the reader that are slowly unpacked through her engagement with others and old letters between two childhood pen pals which illuminate matters, slowly. Mercy is one of those young girls long before she found success and was merely a poor mountain girl in a miserable situation and only her pen pal, Rusty’s descriptions of Mercy Peak kept her going. Those letters and some newspaper articles are slipped into the story along with the narrative portions.
Rusty and Mary (Mercy)’s friendship felt like the heart of this story. Mercy isn’t the only one who has a past. Rusty comes out of her self-appointed exile when she learns of Mercy’s presence and the friendship is there waiting for them. In fact, Rusty is only one of several people whose life seemed to have stalled out when the Galloping Goose and its mail went missing.
There is much going on with the plans for the theater production company, the finds on the Wildwood property, the clues to a treasure Rusty’s dad and the other boys in the Blood Moon pact were given years before. But, there is also a picturesque quality to Amanda Syke’s writing that doesn’t just simply state actions and thoughts, but gave depth, color, and complexity to a beautiful, inspirational tale of restoration and friendship. The people of Mercy’s Peak and the area were brought so vividly to life that I wish I could go there for a visit.
All in all, I felt this golden gentle story drew me in and made me part of the story so I felt and saw it all. Those who enjoy historical fiction with Christian elements with the focus on friendship and light mystery rather than romance should definitely add Born of Gilded Mountains to your reading stack.
About Amanda Dykes
Amanda Dykes’s debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, was the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She’s also the author of All the Lost Places and Christy Award finalists Yours Is the Night and Set the Stars Alight
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I love the sound of this one! And I never would have known about it if you hadn’t reviewed it. So thanks. 😀
Yay! Glad to put you onto it, Lark!
Oh that does sound like a good one.
It was a refreshing surprise from my usual reading. I loved that the focus was on the friendship and how the lost mail bag changed so many lives.
Great review!!!
Thanks for stopping by, Ani!
The historical mining town, the mysteries within and the relationships sound like a combination of story I’d really enjoy! Wonderful review, Sophia!
Yes, this one really hit the spot, Rachel!
Yes to all of this! It sounds amazing! I’m adding this one to my TBR immediately.
I’m so glad to put you onto it, Katherine. 🙂
Ooooo this sounds good, love the cover, love the title…
It was a great surprise, but yes, that cover, title, and blurb completely hooked me in from the start.