"What a captivating novel from Amanda Dykes!

Amanda Dykes has written a book that sets its readers on an adventure that they will never forget. The first thing that caught my attention about this book was the cover. As a lover of trains, I was immediately drawn to this novel, and I was not disappointed with my choice. Born of Gilded Mountains is one of those novels that makes you want to enter the settings of the novel and virtually experience the town of Mercy Peak, Colorado.

Set in 1948, the novel revolves around two main characters, Ruby “Rusty” Bright and Marybeth Spatts, aka Mercy Windsor. Mercy Windsor is a Hollywood actress who has been stripped of her fame and fortune. She retreats to Mercy Peak, a town where her childhood pen pal and best friend Rusty had lived, to start afresh and discover a treasure, in memory of a beloved friend. What was meant to be a hunt for buried treasure turns out to be an opening for new beginnings, not only for Mercy, but also for Rusty, a friend whom Mercy thought had been lost forever.

I loved this novel. Amanda Dykes writing is so satisfying to read. Her style of writing, born from an admirable talent with words, is something to be praised.

The themes in the novel—grief, adventure, healing, friendship, and new beginnings—were well incorporated. There were periods where I got a bit impatient reading because I felt that the story was dragging. Reading the novel to the end made me realize that there was no other way this novel could have been written. The message of healing and new beginnings woven around friendship, a town called Mercy Peak, and the disappearance of the Galloping Goose is best conveyed this way.

I will recommend this book to anyone who wants to go on a virtual adventure.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion."

A touching story of the power of friendship and coming of age.

Mary Beth and Rusty become pen pals in school, and continue their correspondence into their teens, but as time goes by they lose track of each other. Each enduring their own heartbreaks, and finding their own way. The story is told in the present and past, through various means, like letters, and a screenplay.

Written in beautiful prose, the story wends through the years and miles, in this compelling read. I will admit that the time jumping was a little confusing at first, but once I found my bearings I was hooked.

Overall, a well written read, with a compelling story of friendship, coming of age, grief, forgiveness, and restoration.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Amanda Dykes, NetGalley, and Bethany House for this #gifted book!
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Title: Born of Gilded Mountains
Author: Amanda Dykes
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Synopsis: “Flightless in flight, she seeks revolution. Tunneling blight, she keeps the solution. Coil the last tight, begin restitution.” When Mercy and Rusty become childhood penpals, the two form a deep friendship through writing and long to meet in person one day. But as the girls grow older, time pulls them apart until one day Mercy shows up to Rusty’s town of Mercy Peak, a mountain mining town with gold-rush history and deeply kept secrets. On her first arrival, Mercy hears of a funeral and mourns the loss of her dear friend. But when she returns and mysteries of her newly purchased manor begin to unfold, Mercy discovers that all is not as it seems and seeks to uncover the truth about Rusty and the secrets of the past.

Analysis: One thing Amanda is known for is her beautiful prose and emotional storytelling and this book contains her perfect signature! I love the beauty of the writing and was pleasantly surprised at the mysteries and riddles throughout the story. While the book did start a little slow for me, it definitely took an unexpected turn and I loved the ending! You’ll find yourself laughing and crying alongside Mercy and all the other people of Mercy Peak as you experience the friendship, love, and restoration of a close-knit community. I loved this book overall and found myself wanting to know more of these characters’ futures. If you’re looking for something with a little less romance but still a compelling and beautiful story, I highly recommend this one!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Marybeth Spatts (Mercy) and Rusty Bright have been friends since about 12 years of age. They were matched for a penpal program through their schools. They are both daughters living with their fathers and their mothers have passed away. The girls are great penpals through the years, though they never meet.
After Mercy’s acting career takes a sudden turn, she heads to the mountains of the Colorado Rockies which Rusty called home for her whole life. The women were estranged due to letters that never made it to their destinations. Mercy purchases the only house available, an estate of a town family son who lorded it over the townsfolk.
The author weaves a mystery and treasure hunt of huge proportions. Years ago, in Rusty’s hometown, the Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8 went missing. It completely disappeared, along with a coveted bag of mail that could have changed the lives of the townsfolk.
The story is about friendship, moving on, and second acts.

4.5 stars

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.” —Unknown.

Amanda Dykes’ Born of Gilded Mountains is a sweeping historical novel that beautifully blends history, faith, and romance, set against the rugged backdrop of Colorado’s mountains during the Gilded Age. Dykes is known for her lyrical writing, and this novel is no exception—it reads like poetry, with rich, atmospheric descriptions that draw you into the setting and the lives of the characters.

In 1948, Mercy Windsor, once Hollywood's beloved leading lady, seeks refuge in the remote Colorado town of Mercy Peak after a scandal topples her career. Determined to leave her past behind, she purchases Wildwood, an abandoned estate with a mysterious history, and sets about restoring it to its former glory. But as she works, she stirs up the hidden stories of the mountain, unraveling the fate of her long-lost pen pal, Rusty Bright, and the secret of Galloping Goose Engine No. 8, which disappeared years ago, along with a mailbag whose contents could change lives.

Set among the majestic Rocky Mountains, Born of Gilded Mountains is a tale of friendship, healing, and hope. Through letters, newspaper articles, screenplays, and interview notes, Amanda Dykes weaves a layered narrative that highlights the power of resilience and courage. The novel’s treasure-hunt adventure, historical detail, and themes of light in the darkness make it a heartwarming and uplifting read. 4.5 stars.

I doubt there is a more lyrical writer in the marketplace than Amanda Dykes. More still, a more unique approach to history.

With a whiff of Hollywood glamour and a cast of colourful, well-realized characters, Born of Gilded Mountains was quite unlike anything I read in the past while.

An abandoned estate, missing letters, and a woman who is determined to rewrite her history all feature in a breathtaking Colorado landscape.

It is amazing how Amanda Dykes has the same alphabet at her fingertips as the rest of us and yet how splendidly she arranges it into breathtaking description.

highly recommended!

“In Mercy Peak, the fingerprints of God himself are impressed upon the mountains. In Mercy Peak, my very soul is held in those same hands. Not ushered into hiding at the first sign of scandal. In Mercy Peak, the red carpet is a mountain that rises up to meet my humble feet and carry me to heights and depths I’ve never known. The air is wild, the winds are free, the people are good and real, and life is true.” — Mercy Windsor

❤️ MY THOUGHTS: Wow! Never have I read a book like this before! Though I struggled at first with the format and different timelines, I am grateful that I continued reading because this very well may be my favorite book of the year!

Amanda Dykes is a gifted storyteller whose writing is captivating, beautifully poetic, and beyond compare. With incredible imagery and attention to detail, I found myself completely immersed in this story of a mountain that is not only home to a secret treasure and a missing Galloping Goose, but also to a small community of people who have weathered together the high peaks and deep valleys of love and loss.

Though it is a story of mystery and intrigue, it is also one of family and friendship, hope and faith, healing and forgiveness, weakness and perseverance, redemption and restoration.

It is a story that subtly and ever so brilliantly illuminates God’s sovereignty and grace, as well as His love and mercy.

And it is an enchanting tale that takes you deep into the mountain and deep into the homes and hearts of its characters who by the end feel more like family.

💛 READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨Christian Historical Fiction
✨Rich atmospheric settings
✨Beautiful lyrical writing
✨Old Hollywood
✨Tight-knit communities
✨The lost art of writing letters
✨Ciphers and treasure hunts
✨Rich themes that honor the faithfulness of God

Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House, for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I get to the end of an Amanda Dykes book I am always left with a feeling that nothing else could ever match up to it. And this one is absolutely no exception. It moved me beyond words. The message of it feels as if it were written just for me.

If you have ever felt like life hasn’t turned out how you expected or wanted, you need to read this book. With every bit of the beauty and lyricism that we’ve come to expect from Amanda’s writing, she speaks healing to the heart whose life is not what they expected.

This is one of her best. Yes, it’s a story about a train, and an old Hollywood actress and a treasure hunt in the mountains. But even more than all those things, it’s a story of healing being brought to the hearts of those that life has not taken down the path that they expected. And it brought healing to my heart in the process.

I also loved how it incorporated random things like movie script excerpts, newspaper articles, letters and ads into the telling of the story. It was so different and just all felt like part of the magic. Please read it. It has touched my heart so deeply that I don’t have words beyond that. Just, please read it.

Born of Gilded Mountains is exceptionally creative. This author has such a way of creating a layered story. She also includes Easter eggs that harken back to her previous books. I love the inclusion of letters, news articles, and interviews in the narrative.

The characters are incredibly endearing. Though her recent years have been in the spotlight of Hollywood, Mercy’s early years were filled with turmoil and strife. She finds comfort and friendship in her pen-pal Rusty, whose own life has also been one of hardships. Both girls rely on the letters to get them through and remind them of hope-glimmers in life. When Mercy’s Hollywood career comes to a halt, she finds solace in renewing an old estate in her long-lost pen pals home town. What follows is a treasure hunt, a mystery, friends that become family, and a sprinkling of romance.

Mercy Springs and the occupants thereof sparkle and hum with life. The town seems like a secondary character in and of itself, and those that live and love there take care of their own. I love the theme of finding the good in the hard, and that’s so present in this story. The reminder that we can bear each other’s burdens is so needed, and I love the emphasis on friendship.

Readers looking for a story with heart, depth, and a bit of whimsy are sure to love Born of Gilded Mountains.

I received an advanced copy of this novel; a positive review was not required.

This was such unique story with quaint characters, an endearing setting and a mystery that entices the reader into turning the pages. The relationship between Mercy and Rusty was sweet and heartfelt. The different mediums of communication added a fun little twist to this book! Telegrams, letters, real estate flyers, it was a little out of the ordinary, but all the prices eventually come together as only Amanda Dykes can do. This story highlights the challenges of friendship, growth, and heartaches, but the characters added humor and levity in such a charming way!

My first Amanda Dykes read. I'd heard her writing style was unique. I'd like to explain quite a bit for those trying to decide if this one is for you.

WHAT I LOVED:
*absolutely wonderful faith journey content
*two main characters as B.F.F.s
*the author's descriptive, flowery writing style (excellent)
*the vintage vibe (1800s prologue, then jumps between 1928 & 1948)
*the personalities & word choices of Mercy Peak townsfolk (so cute)
*the entire premise

WHAT WAS CHALLENGING:
*the way the story was formatted
*I felt jostled & lost for the first several chapters
*At chapter 5 it became easier but...
*I had to work too hard to keep up. ;)

For reference, I began with an ebook copy and then picked up the audiobook at about 20% in, thinking that would help.....

1) I can do dual timeline.

2) I OFTEN read very difficult, original history texts and classic books for pleasure. I've read several books that are epistolary, and it's great.

This one just felt way more difficult to keep up with than it had to be. And didn't like the bogged down feeling I had. It's also around 390 pages.

EXAMPLE:
It starts out in 1894 for the prologue, then jumps to a screenplay sheet that's in three acts (one main character is an actress).

Then we get field note sheets, then narration in 1948, then a letter in 1928, then a recipe, then a letter by someone else in 1932, then back to narration in 1948, then flashback to an old letter, then back to ‘modern’ day 1948 with narration about that……and that’s just up to the start of chapter 5!

At chapter 5, it does get easier.

Nearing the midpoint, got bored, BUT THEN... two girls start to solve an old mystery of something that was stolen - they are digging around a late wealthy man’s home and out in the wilderness on the mountain.!

I was back in... liking it! Then I felt like it went on too long.

The writing is amazing. The storyline is unique and great. It made me smile in many places, made me cry a couple of times (grief talk and such).

No language, no spice, nothing inappropriate whatsoever. YAY!

So, I've come up with 3 stars because I appreciate ALL the positives.

I appreciate the complimentary advanced copy I received and all opinion is my own. I received this copy after the release date had already passed but will continue to share.

I have never read a book quite like this one 😍 Amanda Dykes elevates writing to a next level lyrically and creatively. She built a whole world for this historical fiction and then she added treasure hunt! It was such a fun, poignant, engaging read. And I loved the plot twists and relationships that were formed and restored. This book was very outside my usual preferences but I’m really glad I gave it a chance. I would have loved more faith elements, but otherwise a great read.

Things I loved:
- That there was an MC whose whole goal wasn't a relationship
- The mix of past and present
- The letters between the best friends were adorable

As always, Amanda Dykes sweeps you into another world through the power of words. More than any of her others, this one (due to so many formats and too many names/characters), was really difficult and confusing to get into. But, because of her incredible storytelling through previous publications, I knew it would be worth it and would come together in time. I loved each of the townspeople and so greatly appreciated a novel that isn't about a romantic interest, but two friends who are single. It's odd, that a book like this is unusual (at least in this genre). Though I found the frustration within the friendship's misunderstanding to be unfairly lopsided, frustratingly so at times, the core message of the book and the characters imagined from thin air deserve every bit of four stars.

I would be the first to admit, I have waited far too long to write this review. I eagerly opened Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes, and it embraced me like a warm hug. But I read it prior to some craziness at my job. And then a trip…and then another trip…and then more work stuff. It led me to pushing back reviewing anything farther and farther to the back of my mind. Born of Gilded Mountains, however, has stuck with me. Amanda Dykes’ books are “insta-buys” for me. I don’t need to know the plot or setting. She announces a new book, and I pre-order it. Born of Gilded Mountains is one of my favorite books of 2024.

As young children, fate paired up Mercy Windsor and Rusty Bright as pen pals. While many of their classmates stopped writing, Mercy and Rusty never did. They formed a friendship that spanned decades until their communication went silent. To escape the insanity of Hollywood, Mercy purchases a broken down estate in Colorado in Rusty’s small town. After reuniting with Rusty, the two women work together to hunt down the truth about what really happened to the missing Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8. The train’s contents—a mailbag and potentially treasure—could impact the lives of everyone in the town. But only if Rusty and Mercy can unlock the clues.

The women’s friendship reignites and grows with every page. So many Christian novels I read have two underlying themes: faith and romance. Particularly the novels written by female authors. I may be a woman, but I don’t always like to read romance. The books all begin to run together, and I lose track of which plot has which characters. Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes is about friendship. Two single women, supporting each other to reach a common goal. This was such a refreshing change of pace, and I adored it.

It reminded me of my own relationship with my closest friend. We met for the first time in 2011, though we didn’t forge a deeper relationship until 2012. We live in different cities, and most of our communication is via texts and phone calls. But the distance between us does not matter. Like Misty and Rusty, she makes me a better person. We do not always get along, but we work through our issues and put them behind us. We learn and we grow, and we make new memories while remembering the last ones.

Misty and Rusty have an imperfect friendship, which is what makes the book so realistic. Amanda Dykes creates a beautiful, relevant story, with marvelous characters, vivid imagery, and moments of humor. The plot is unlike any I have read. Intricate and thought-out, Born of Gilded Mountains flawlessly transports readers to historical Colorado. It is a story of forgiveness, memories, healing, and new beginnings.

This is a special book. It is a story of family and dear friends, of community and belonging. There's a big mystery or two to solve and it's fun watching the girls work their way through the complicated riddles. Along the way they have to face their fears, the past and have to learn to rely on each other again. It's wonderful. I appreciated how the town accepted newcomers in as their own as well.

The beginning format was a little odd. I wasn't sure what was going on. That wasn't really clear until over half way through the book. I enjoyed the letters the girls wrote to each other and how they encouraged each other through some really hard times.

There were many amazing words or quotes. "Don't you stop playing son. A gift's a gift, plain and simple. Not just when someone sees it. Audience or not, God gave it to you, you give it to Him. Simple as that. You keep on, and He'll take those notes wherever they were meant to go" (location 3474).

I'd highly recommend this book. It moved me. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Born of Gilded Mountains is a captivating novel that begins with two young girls, never having met, becoming pen pals. As their lives continue, life happens with betrayal, mystery, sorrow, faith, and forgiveness. Rusty and Marybeth are so different, and yet the friendship forged in childhood carries them through to adulthood, Readers who enjoy stories of courage, intrigue, sacrifice, and restoration will need to put this one on their To Be Read list. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

This book was one that I unexpectedly loved! I’m not a big historical fiction girlie—at least I thought I wasn’t. This story was so captivating and beautifully written that I may be rethinking my stance.

On the heels of her Hollywood fallout, actress Mercy Windsor flees to Mercy Peak, Colorado. She’s been aiming to go there ever since she began corresponding with her childhood penpal Rusty Bright.

Mercy Peak is Rusty’s hometown—and also the home of the mysterious disappearance of a steam engine, the estate home of an odd and paranoid deceased man with tons of secrets, and a fabled treasure to be unearthed.

This book was full of mystery and intrigue. The theme of friendship ran deep as well as reconciliation, healing, and grace. The writing was lovely and I was eager to know how the story would play out.

4.5 stars from me—I really, really enjoyed it! So grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review.

Amanda Dykes is an incredibly gifted writer in the way she can consistently deliver compelling stories wrapped up in lyrical prose that speak of the healing, peace, and hope that can be found through Christ. The sense that comes with reading one of her books is like standing atop a pinnacle and being able to glimpse the world beyond, seeing everything work out for good amidst the inevitable pain and heartbreak, tinted with a sense of wonder. And this book is no exception.

Throughout Born of Gilded Mountains, we follow two characters, priorly pen-pals, now grown into women who have experienced too much pain to remain the same idealistic children they were back then. Not quite jaded, but close. Rusty Bright, abandoned by the two people she cared the most about, seeks isolation, and Marybeth Spatts, bearing the guilt of her father's decline after a mining accident, seeks a career where she can lose herself. The restoration of their friendship, despite facing their respective traumas, and the efforts to right the wrongs of the past are what ultimately give this story a more hopeful tone and move them both toward gradual healing.

The mystery of finding a lost railcar and the letters on board kept the plot moving forward, but even then, Dykes balanced the "clue" scenes with slower, character-development scenes. It was like finding unexpected treasure scattered throughout the plot. Scenes like Willa and the lullaby, Casey speaking of Cal, Hudson and the letter destined for seventeen-year-old him. Admittedly, those hit me harder than anything that occurred plot-wise, because they felt so real and a testament to the healing that's soul-deep and goes beyond anything the world could offer.

In terms of romance, this book stands alone amongst Dykes' stories as one that doesn't feature romance as a prominent subplot. It's there, but barely. And while I love Dykes' romances and the depth they contain (despite being slightly idealistic at points), I appreciated the attention given to the process of restoring a friendship changed by time and misunderstandings. It evoked a bittersweet sense of nostalgia that I think is true of friendships in real life as well—sometimes we can feel like life moves too fast, and somehow along the way we've lost ourselves, lost the people we were in childhood when we were younger, when everything felt easier. But then we're pulled back to the present, where we scarcely recognize ourselves, let alone the friendships we've valued, but the encouragement that this book offers is that different doesn't necessarily equate to lost. That though those people may have changed, and so have those friendships, they don't have to slip away altogether. They can heal, they can grow, they can become something new in time.

Needless to say, this book carries such a beautiful message, and Dykes' heart for healing and redemption in the everyday ways shines strongly all the way through. While I got slightly confused by all the characters, certain points in the mystery felt a trifle too convenient, and the dialogue & humor felt forced at times—hence why I rated it a four stars, rather than a five—all those things didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story too much, and I'm sure some of the logistical details could be clarified through a re-read.

Overall, another strong story from Dykes!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Born of Gilded Mountains is multi-layered, dealing with relationships and the workings of this small Colorado community, set in 1948. I loved the unique setting and the lovely, lyrical writing, not to mention the women’s friendship, and a mystery.

I love the relationship between Mercy (Mary Beth) and Rusty. The two women have a long friendship, starting in childhood when they became penpals, and their letters to each other are sprinkled throughout the story. I loved the characters. Even the townspeople who weren’t on stage very often were very vivid in my mind and added a richness to the story. Interesting, easy to visualize characters always keep me reading.

It is a slower paced book, but it was never boring, and always had something happening on the page, whether dealing with the mystery or the characters’ emotional lives and their relationships.

Between chapters, the author uses small sections of newspaper clippings and stage plays, which was a little different, and it took some getting used to for me, likely because I use text to speech. Even so, after a while the style grew on me.

If you like slower paced, character-driven fiction, mystery puzzles, and a faith message, you may enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Mountain lore, a mystery, and mending of hearts are like the veins of gold in Colorado’s San Juan Mountain Range in Amanda Dyke’s dual timeline. A Blood Moon Pact between four ten-year-olds, heartfelt, girlish letters between pen-pals Rusty Bright and Marybeth Spatts in 1928, and the 1948 arrival of a fallen movie star in Mercy Peak, Colorado, sets the narrative in motion.
Like the “Galloping Geese,” hybrid train/automobiles used to climb the mountains, the pace of the novel transports readers slowly and deliberately to reach the peaks, then builds speed toward the station with a satisfying, uplifting arrival. Dykes’ narrative, somewhat epistolary through the pen pal letters, is also layered with newspaper articles, movie scripts, and interviews which reveal personal emotions and feelings, lending a realistic, captivating element. A riveting treasure hunt with ingenious clues and patterns along with the search for the Galloping Goose #8 leads readers to a fascinating discovery. The train’s mysterious disappearance and its missing mail bag adds suspense and personal connections to Mercy Peak’s citizens, some waiting years for life altering news. Throughout the narrative Dykes connects Mercy Peak’s residents of the present to the past through the possibilities of the mail bag’s contents. Also known for her love of symbolism, the mountains are cast as a character, representing life and the treasure they hold.
Themes of friendship, finding purpose, and hope are painted onto the canvas, Born of Gilded Mountains. The landscape, with glorious descriptions of mountain peaks and verdant valleys, is enhanced by the lure of the poignant tales and visions of those residing in the charming village of Mercy Peaks; filled with forgiveness, grace, courage and adventure. A soul-stirring, rewarding journey.