The author weaves together plot lines in a story of friendship and healing. Readers are immersed into the rolling mountain setting with its isolated beauty. Mercy has her reasons for leaving Hollywood and starts over in Mercy Peak. It’s there she hopes to find out what happened to her long lost pen-pal, Rusty. There’s also a missing train engine, and a hidden treasure mystery put into play. The author writes elegantly with descriptive phrases and attention to detail. The concept was interesting and held surprises. The story flows at even pace as new clues and glimpses into the past are unearthed. The letters between Mercy and Rusty are read in between the storyline along with a unique narrative making up the different perspectives. Complex and lyrical this story takes the reader on journey through a range of emotions. The story takes an emotional twist and ends on a beautiful note from the author.

Born of Gilded Mountains was a delight to read from beginning to end. It is many things: part mystery, part treasure hunt, part fable, part tale of lost love and above all a story of the healing power of the love of friends and found family. Two motherless girls from different parts of the country are matched as pen pals in elementary school, and become close friends and confidants, though they do not meet in person. When they reach adulthood and it seems they will finally meet, tragic circumstances come between them. This book opens 10 years later, and we gradually learn who these women are, what happened, what will happen, and all about the remarkable community that surrounds them. I don't want to spoil the mysteries here, but I wasn't able to put it down until I read every word. This is the first time I have read anything by Amanda Dykes, but I will certainly search out more of her books.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#BornofGildedMountains #NetGalley
A promise made by friends if gold was ever found. The town of Mercy Peak is a mining town in Colorado, hearts that hurt a riddle to be solved and a town that holds secrets.
Mary Beth Spatts, as a young girl in grade school, gains a pen pal, Ruby Bright, who is known as Rusty. The letters between Rusty and Mary Beth continue long after grade school. Mary Beth goes on to be a Hollywood star named Mercy Windsor, who mourns her friends from passing when she visits the town of Mercy Peak on the day of Rusty's funeral The years in Hollywood come to a screeching halt, and Mercy makes her way to Mercy Peak to find healing. This book has many things you can learn from its pages.1

Born of Gilded Mountains
by Amanda Dykes
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
A lost treasure. A riddled quest. The healing power of friendship.

Legends are tucked into every fold of the Colorado mountains surrounding the quaint town of Mercy Peak, where residents are the stuff of tall tales, the peaks are taller still, and a lost treasure has etched mystery into the very terrain.
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.
Published by Bethany, I recommend this book for those who enjoy Christian fiction.

I loved this book. The characters felt like friends and I didn’t want it to end. Very well written and engaging story. I am definitely going to look for more by this author..

This book will live in my heart for a long time. It shares the story of a broken friendship between a bereft fiance living in the mountains and a former miner's daughter who became a silver screen star, fallen from grace. When hardship drives them together, they must learn to look past misunderstandings and differences as they solve a decade-old mystery. Somewhere in the mines and mountains, the whole town's hopes and dreams are lost in a missing bag of mail. What they discover as they search for it will change both of them forever.

I loved the unique story and setting of this book, and I also enjoyed having a break from the usual romantic thread that weaves through most women's historical fiction. There's a little romance, but both main characters are single women and the story is focused on solving a mystery and rebuilding what's broken between them. This was a masterfully told and truly beautiful story that made me cry.

Thanks to the publisher for a complementary ARC of this book.

Born of Gilded Mountains by @amanda_spins_stories

“A lost treasure. A riddled quest. The healing power of friendship.”

🏔️About the book…
Mercy Peaks is a place of mystery and lore, where locals spin tall tales and keep the significance of the long-lost missing treasure secretly stashed away in their hearts. It’s not until outsider Mercy Windsor arrives to restore the rundown Wildwood estate that unearthing the whereabouts of the treasure becomes a possibility.

Alongside some of the quirky towns people, Mercy begins to uncover what the mountains have hidden away. This is a beautiful story about friendship, courage, and healing.

Publisher: @bethanyhousefiction #bhpfiction
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction
Themes: Forgiveness, Restoration, Singleness, Unmet longing, Mystery, Regrets, Friendship, Healing
CW: Father Hurt and childhood abuse, Alcoholism, death, accused murder, avalanche.
Release Date: June 18th 2024
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🗺️What I loved…
“Blood moons were made for pact-swearing. Four boys orbiting ten years old knew it, and so did the mountains standing witness.”

The opening line captured my heart and inner-child’s desire for wonder and adventure. The promise of discovering the long-lost treasure carried me through the story, and the reconciliation stirred my soul. The mountain setting, with summer thunderstorms and secret places seemed mystical and ethereal; I wanted to be in this place.

🗺️This book is for you if…
You love lyrical prose and deeply intricate storytelling. This novel demands to be read with your full attention (and in book form) so you can flick to and from important dialogues, letters, movie scenes and memories. I’ll admit, sometimes the jumping to and fro was a little jarring, and it was occasionally difficult to discern who was talking as many of the characters has similar stories or ways of talking. This was my only minor quibble with the novel.

📚Book Club Read?
Yes!!! I’ll link Amanda’s book club guide on blossomingthroughbooks.online or comment TREASURE and I’ll send you the link.

Thank you @netgalley , @bethanyhousefiction and @amanda_spins_stories for access to this ARC 🙏🏻

I must say that the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous! Wow!
It's definitely a Mary Poppins want to jump in a be there cover.
I really liked this one. I was all in from the beginning until the end.
I'm going to say that this is my 2nd favorite story by this author.
Great characters! I loved in getting to know them especially the mystery lady!
I really loved the mystery part of the story. It was what kept me turning the pages.
I lost some sleep but it was oh so worth it! A wonderful story indeed!
Hard to put down and it was tough saying goodbye to my new friends.
This book is also going on my favorite shelf.
5 stars for an entertaining read! I highly recommend!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

DNF - I really wanted to love this but it's not working out. I love the romanticized style of writing and the beautiful turns of phrase, but there needs to be more distinction between characters. All characters male, female, young, old - have the same voice and poetic phrasing. I would keep going but it's just far too distracting to me 😭 I wish the flowery writing had been saved for one character, but it's across every page and it's just not believeable 😭

Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes is a lyrical story of best friends, a missing train, and opening your heart. As I read this tale, I was captivated by Dykes descriptions of the Gilman mansion and the small town of Mercy Park. I felt like I was transported to this small mountain town, and I honestly, did not want to leave. The characters were a delightful bunch of actors that I have ever read. They hurt and loved together. The story held hidden clues which brought healing to this small town. I loved it. I did not see that aspect of the plot coming. It takes a lot for a story not to have plenty of suspense and action that will capture my attention, but Dykes has done it again. I loved this story. Plus, the cover is fabulous. I really can't wait to own the physical copy of this book. If readers have not read Dykes stories, this is a good one to start with, then I would recommend all of her other stories too.

I received a complimentary copy of Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

The first book in a couple of years for Amanda Dykes. Set at the turn of the century so if you enjoy mystery and historical fiction, this is a book that you will enjoy. The story starts off with speculation about the main character and as you progress through the book, everything becomes obvious (no spoilers in this review!).

Fans of her previous books will enjoy this story.

I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.