Amanda Dykes is an author that burst onto the Christian Fiction scene just a few short years ago and she quickly became a must read for all of us. Born of Gilded Mountains reminds us once again of the stories she is able to write. Friendship, love, family, treasure hunting, and a happily ever after all rolled into one. Just not in the way you would expect.
Mercy Windsor leaves Hollywood in disgrace. She heads to the one place that feels like home, even though she has only been once and not even for a full day.
What follows Mercy's decision makes for a read that you are sure to enjoy just for the setting of the book alone. It is a talented write, blending different styles, letters, new stories, and even interviews, to make this a book that will quickly climb to the top of must reads for 2024.
I loved getting to know Mercy and the gang of friends she gathers around her. They are quirky, loving and strong. They boldly stand with Mercy when she is finding her way, while entertaining us all.
If you read one book this year, you should seriously consider this one.

Born of Gilded Mountains
by Amanda Dykes
Pub DateJun 18 2024
Bethany House |Bethany House Publishers
Christian| General Fiction \(Adult\)| Historical Fiction



Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of Born of the Gilded Mountains for review:


There are legends tucked into every fold of the Colorado mountains surrounding Mercy Peak, a quaint town where residents are the stuff of tall tales, peaks are even taller, and a lost treasure has etched mystery into the earth itself.



In 1948, Mercy Windsor arrives in a forgotten Colorado haven after being shattered by a scandal in Hollywood's gilded world as a leading lady. After purchasing Wildwood, an abandoned estate with a haunting history, she begins to restore it to its former glory!

As she does so, every move she makes pulls at the lore of the mountain, uncovering the fate of her long-lost pen pal Rusty Bright, and finding out where the Galloping Goose Railcar No. Thousands of years ago, the mailbag it carried vanished--and its contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention the fabled treasure that--if found--could right so many wrongs.Not to mention the fabled treasure that, if found, could correct so many wrongs.

Against a backdrop of towering mountains, ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide.


I give Born Of The Gilded Mountains five out Of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Amanda Dykes is on my must-read list because of the way she weaves such creative plots throughout her stories. Born of Gilded Mountains is her newest release and it reveals again how much care she puts into the storytelling aspect itself.

This one has a slightly different style in that it weaves letters, press releases, interviews, play scenes into the story itself. There are two primary characters in this story: Rusty Bright and Marybeth Spratts/Mercy Windsor. They "meet" by accident through a pen-pal program when they are in elementary school and that's all it takes for their friendship to grow in epic proportions until they are more sisters than friends--even though they never meet. Based on that friendship, MaryBeth knows that after her family tragedy, the one place she can go is to Rusty's. But when she arrives, she finds that Rusty has died. And so MaryBeth closes the door on what might have been and moves forward--ultimately becoming a Hollywood Starlet Mercy Windsor--Mercy taken from the place Rusty lived Mercy Peak. When a tragedy (which we don't find out exactly what happens until 50% into the book) forces Mercy out of HOllywood--she goes the one place she knows no one will find her. Mercy Peak. She's determined to experience life as if Rusty was with her...

ANd that's where the story BEGINS.

Throw in a tale about the missing Galloping Goose (the train engine like car) and it's mysterious lost bag of mail that occurred the day Mercy had originally arrived back when she was 19...and the riddle that was left for four old friends to complete--but now Mercy is going to solve.

There is a story of second-chances. Redemption. Forgiveness. And the power of friendship.

It's a beautiful tale and one that I hope you will consider diving into. Oh and even better the author throws in Easter Eggs from previous books of hers! I recognized most--if not all of them. Oh and I love that this isn't a romance--it has happily ever afters, but it's not a romance.

Oh and I LOVED all the old Hollywood references to movies and actors/actresses. I knew EVERY SINGLE ONE! Including the reference to Brigadoon. One of my favorite musicals.

*I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own!

** “How could the ‘now’ have any less purpose than whatever’s on the other side? I think God made each moment and each moment matters.” **

Amanda Dykes delivers an incredible story that spans many decades in “Born of Gilded Mountains,” a story of friendship, grief and redemption.

After four boys make a pact in 1894 to share any riches found in the mountains, a treasure hunt is created that lasts until the 1940s.

When Marybeth Spatts of North Carolina and Rusty Bright of Colorado are brought together through a pen pal program, they quickly become fast friends. But when tragedy separates them, Marybeth becomes Mercy Windsor, a famous actress who eventually runs to Rusty’s home after another tragedy.

What follows is a story filled with grief and hope and redemption. Mysteries abound as Marybeth meets an intriguing stranger. Can they solve the puzzles left behind about possible missing treasure?

Dykes does an incredible job of creating a story filled with twists and turns, heart-warming moments, and times of both sorrow and celebration. Told in a traditional manner, as well as filled with different written forms — such as letters, news releases, scripts and texts from radio programs — she creates an interesting format that is also filled with great characters.

She also fills “Born of Gilded Mountains” with great themes, like risk versus regret (“The risk of ‘too much’ is better than the regret of ‘too little,’ I think”); be the sunshine for someone else; “use what you got”; just take one step at a time; put on courage; finding purpose and the proper timing of it; dealing with grief; finding hope; and we all have treasure to find (“Sometimes being a friend means being a keeper of their treasure in the times they can’t hold onto it”).

Fans of dual-timeline novels, as well as authors like Jaime Jo Wright and Kate Morton, will love “Born of Gilded Mountains.”

Five stars out of five.

Bethany House Publishers provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Born of Gilded Mountain by Amanda Dykes is an incredible story. Mercy Windsor comes by galloping goose to Mercy Peaks to hide after her life is turned upside down in Hollywood. She buys an old estate, attempts to solve a mystery, and is wants to find out what happened to her pen pal, Rusty Bright. In the beautiful setting of the mountains, she takes a deep breath and becomes who is she meant to be.

I was enchanted by this book written in the most unique way. The story is shared through letters, news articles, plays, and storytelling as it moves back and forth through time. The beautiful setting of the Colorado mountains and the wonderful map of the town of Mercy Peak helped me to imagined myself there. The characters were so engaging and I was very invested in seeing what would unfold. I found myself finding excuses to slip away and read the story.

Born of Gilded Mountain by Amanda Dykes was one of the most beautifully written books I have read in some time. The author weaves in themes of redemption, friendship, and healing to create a memorable story that will stay with you long after you read the last page. Born of Gilded Mountain will be one of my top books of 2024 and I very highly recommend!


I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Amanda Dykes writes the most beautiful sentences and her way of seeing the world works deep down into your soul as you traverse the landscapes of her novels. Born of Gilded Mountains contains all the signature beauty that I’ve come to love from one of her tales.

I will say this one was harder to get into than most. There was a lot of jumping around in time and place and generations at the beginning. There were also screenplay inserts before I understood why they were there. But once I made it past the initial backstory setting the stage for the narrative I was able to track with the flow a lot better. If you feel stuck at the beginning please keep reading. It’s worth it.

Marybeth and Rusty become pen pals and they become the kind of friends that everyone dreams of having. It puts me in mind of Anne of Green Gables bosom friend and left me longing for a pen pal of my own. They see the best in each other and get each other through dark times. They share their hearts and Rusty shares about the hidden treasure of Mercy Peak. Then it all goes sideways.

The setting is stunning. The relationship and characters are complex. They mystery is intriguing. The loss and the hope practically drip off the pages. It’s truly a beautiful story.

Finally, I loved the re-occurring theme that showed up in the pages of the novel. The author described it like this:

“Each of them [the characters], in different ways, knew or hoped for one life-and then something happened, or didn’t happen, resulting in a life that looked very different from what they’d once imagined. In this, there was hardship. In this, there was healing. In this, there was hope.”

And isn’t this the kind of story that can speak to our hearts. We all, in different ways, live lives that look different from what we once expected. Born of Gilded Mountains may just be the the hope that you need for your own story.

I received a free digital copy of this novel in exchange for my review, but my opinion is my own. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, for this enjoyable read.

Where have I been? This author is fantastic. I enjoyed this book so very much. It stayed with.me for days. I am still ruminating over it.

The characters and story are just incredible. I wish I could get everyone I know to read this one.

I will be reading.more books by Amanda Dykes@

Highly recommend.

BORN OF GILDED MOUNTAINS by AMANDA DYKES is a story of friendship and restoration, which takes place in the little town of Mercy Peak, Coorado, in the Rocky mountains.
The story starts in 1894 with the four Blood Moon boys making a pact that if they found treasure they would use it for the good of the town, and carries on in 1948 with Mercy Windsor, nee Marybeth Spatts, who, after her film career has imploded, settles in Mercy Peak to fulfil a promise to her childhood penpal, Rusty Bright……..
The book is based on Psalm 72:3, “The mountains will bring peace to the people….”
As the story unfolds, we see the good people of Mercy Peak standing together with Mercy and Rusty to restore what has been lost……
Add to all this a treasure hunt with confusing clues, broken people who need mending, an abandoned estate, a missing rail car and abandoned mines, and you have an exciting and worthwhile read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Just finished this absolutely exquisite book.
It will be one of (if not the one) my favorite and most loved and memorable reads of the year.
It will take awhile to write my full review.
I didn’t think I’d read an Amanda dykes book I’d like more than All the Lost Places… but this one definitely surpasses it!!
I loved the characters, especially the two girls - Rusty and Mercy. I loved reading about their sisterhood/friendship.
I also thoroughly loved the treasure hunt. And learning about those galloping geese.


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Fabulous!!!! One of the best books I've read this year. Truly a pleasure to read this beautifully written story of hardship, healing, and hope. Author AmandaDykes is one of the most talented storytellers I've ever read! (And I read over a hundred books a year). Her thoughtful, lyrical stories are an absolute delight to read. Born of Gilded Mountains starts with young pen pals who become close friends through their charming letters, and shine light into each others lives for a time. It includes a wonderful cast of characters, a treasure hunt, friendship, banter, courage, finding light in the darkness, the unexpected paths our lives take, and a theme of 'it's never too late'.

I absolutely cherished each page, each journey, and each clue. The story had me gently turning pages and savoring every moment. Told through narration, letters, interviews, field notes, news articles, telegrams, screenplays, a pact between four friends, riddles, and coded messages, I couldn't out it down! I didn't race through it, and yet I still found myself not wanting it to end. Bravo AmandaDykes!

In embracing the ordinary, her characters find the extraordinary. "I think God made each moment and each moment matters."

I HIGHLY recommend Born of Gilded Mountains! My preordered copy has a special place on my keeper shelf!

Love the quote by Joan of Arc in the Author's Notes "Go forward bravely. Fear nothing. Trust in God; all will be well."

Born of Gilded Mountains give you the same feeling as if you were meeting with an old friend. Instead of rushing through, you want to soak in every moment and experience every word of every sentence.

Amanda Dykes weaves this story together in such a poetic way that the words practically sing to you.

You will be drawn to the characters and feel heartbroken for their pain, and be overjoyed when they overcome the shadows that haunt them.
Rusty and MaryBeth have such a unique friendship, where they connect through pen and paper. They support each other from a distance and give each other company across the miles.

The added treasure hunt and detective work gives this story a dash of adventure and thrill, and the diverse side characters make this story shine even more.

Amanda Dykes does it yet again and writes a story you won't want to miss.

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

Magnificent!!! The author has pinned another lyrical tale full of hope, healing, and second chances that will quickly leave a special imprint on your heart. I really enjoyed the addition of field notes, letters of friendship, and screenplays that helped bring the story all together. Although I got lost in certain places, I still savored each and every page.

When Mercy Windsor, movie actress, travels to Mercy Peak Colorado after a 1948 scandal that leaves her feeling jilted, she finds an abandoned estate with such an eerie history that she wants to transform it into something glorious to bring the town more visibility. This story centers on how Mary Beth, aka Mercy, and Rusty reconnect in Mercy Peak after writing letters to each other that suddenly stop. I enjoyed seeing how the Galloping Goose had a part in this. It was rather intriguing. This small town has seen its hardships but it hasn’t stopped the people from being there for each other. I truly enjoyed reading about their journeys but also their struggles. This author shows that when you have God at the center of your life he’ll lead you through the darkness.

“What do we do when both our worlds are dark? We do what you said. We both go out and see it. We defy the dark.”

I highly recommend Born of Gilded Mountains! I received an advanced copy from the author. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions stated here are my own.

“Born of Gilded Mountains” is another incredible, moving story by Amanda Dykes, which is why anything this author writes is a must-read for me. Once again, I’m moved by unforgettable characters, and wooed by beautifully poetic writing and stunning storytelling.

This is a touching second-chance, restoration, and friendship tale that completely captivated me. It’s kind of stories within a story so I got even more than I’d hoped for. The 1940s setting was brought to life and the characters were difficult to leave once I reached the end.

I love friendship stories. Steep it in history, adventure, memorable characters, and a charming setting, and it’s oh-so-satisfying. I love how it shows the hardships we overcome are also the ties that bind. Don’t miss this story. You’re sure to be inspired, entertained, and blessed.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last! This book was simply beautiful.

The setting. The characters. The friendship.

The storytelling was unique and it pulled me in right away. This was a beautifully written story about friendship and hardships and healing.

Definitely recommend this one!

I am still reeling from the awe-inspiring experience of reading this book. I started it six weeks ago, and I couldn't figure out why it was taking me so long to get through it. I loved the writing, the setting, the characters, so why was I being led to read it in small increments, a chapter here and a chapter there?

I was probably two-thirds of the way through the story before I figured out why. Some stories are not meant to be quick reads. You need to give your head and your heart time to ponder and absorb them. This was that sort of tale for me. This is not a book that is meant to be read fast. You're meant to chip away at it, little by little, until you unearth the gold nuggets that your soul needs within. This is not escape fiction--this is the kind of fiction that heals, and healing takes work and time.

I already know this book is going to be on my shelf of favorites for years to come, and will undoubtedly be one of my top reads of 2024. Thank you, thank you, to author Amanda Dykes for putting her heart on the page and leading me to truths I needed in the same way that Martin Shaw leads those he leaves behind. I love every character in this book, from the Bastion of Civility Priscilla to violin-playing Hudson Jenks and his precocious daughters to two brothers who share a business with a line down the middle because sometimes siblings can be really hard to get along with. I will be coming back to Mercy Peak because I think it will always feel like home to me, just like it does for Marybeth Spatts and Rusty Bright.

I believe in the power of friendship through pen pals, and this book is a tribute to the people who hold us and support us, both the ones close by and the ones far away.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to review. I wasn't required to leave a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Title: Born of Gilded Mountains
Author: Amanda Dykes
Narrated by: Sandy Rustin
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: Approximately 14 hours and 11 minutes
Source: Audiobook purchased from Amazon.com. Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for the physical copy of the novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour, and to NetGalley for the ebook.

Which fictional character would you love to have as a best friend? I’ve always thought Jo from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott would make a great friend.

Born of Gilded Mountains is the story of two friends. They started as pen pals as children, but an unfortunate misunderstanding has cut the ties between them. One of them has become Mercy Windsor, a famous actress. After a scandal, she decides to purchase an abandoned estate in Mercy Peak Colorado, the home of her old pen pal, Ruby/Rusty Bright. What happened to Rusty? What happened to the Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8 which disappeared years before carrying mail that could have changed the lives of many?

My thoughts on this novel:
• There was a lot going on in this novel and I liked it. It was a story of friendship, a story of an entire town, and an engaging mystery. It moved at a gentle pace throughout the story.

• I really wanted to know what happened to Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8 and enjoyed the suspense as the main characters solve this mystery.

• There is also a fun treasure hunt that involves Rusty’s father and his friends leaving clues to the treasure.

• Speaking of characters, I LOVED the characters in this novel. Mercy Peak had a lot of interesting characters. I felt like I got to know them throughout the novel, and I enjoyed reading about them so much. I felt sad when the novel ended.

• I always enjoy the golden age of Hollywood, so I liked the snippets about Mercy’s (Marybeth’s) time in Hollywood and the scandal that brought her down.

• I also enjoy stories about mining and enjoyed the bits about mining in this old Colorado mining town.

• This is also a story of grief.

• This is a clean read and a good Christian story. The theme was how God redeems and restores the broken parts of our lives.

• There was a sweet romance in this novel, but the true focus was on friendship.

• I enjoyed the unique storytelling. There are flashbacks to help with the treasure hunt, and newspaper articles. There are also scenes written like a screenplay of Mercy Windsor’s life.

• As I have been doing a lot lately, I listened to this book on audiobook during my drive time. Sandy Rustin was a great narrator and really brought the story to life.

Overall, Born of Gilded Mountains was a beautiful story of friendship and community, while also a riveting suspense and mystery.

This book has many of the things that I love in a story, including a mystery, an inspiring message, and a unique setting. It could also be labeled an "all-star extravaganza' because of its cast of amazing characters! Ruby/Rusty and Marybeth/Mercy are the two who immediately stole my heart, but they are supported by so many others, including one that's actually a missing train car.

Born of Gilded Mountains is a story of a friendship that endured through years of pain, grief, and loss, and author Amanda Dyke's poignant descriptions helped me feel them all. I could imagine a flight from Hollywood, and I was allowed to laugh and dream in a special place called Mercy Peak. Her words are lyrical, the emotions are sometimes raw, and even when hope seemed diminished, she never allowed it to be destroyed. I loved the friendship that began when two 10-year-old girls became pen pals, the efforts to restore an abandoned estate, and the eventual meeting between Mercy and Rusty. Add a missing mailbag of letters that could change everything, mix in a treasure trove of clues and details, and the results are pure magic!

Grab a copy of this book if you're looking for a mesmerizing tale that will keep you glued to the pages. Born of Gilded Mountains is truly storytelling at its very best!

I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

Loved the Hollywood starlet who goes back to her roots to rediscover herself and old friendships. This theater lover enjoyed this book!

A story to savor, a story to cherish… A new, beloved favorite from author, Amanda Dykes, a masterful storyteller who has again delivered a beautiful, deeply rewarding tale of friendship, grief and perseverance in the face of loss.

I loved everything about this book and expected nothing less. A new, delightful tale with a story so spellbinding, I was wholly captivated - mind, body and spirit. Between a creative medley of narrative, screenwriting, epistolary correspondence, telegrams and field notes, I found myself immersed in mining the majestic Colorado mountains, caught up in the glamor of 1940’s Hollywood and deeply felt the characters’ joy, heartache and triumphs. There is heart, there is humor and there is wonder… With the magic of mysterious riddles, codes, breathtaking waterfalls, trains, forest gardens, kindred spirits and a friendly, rustic community of mountain dwellers, I had the feeling of being wrapped up in the pages of this story, much like snuggling in a cozy blanket beside a warm, crackling fire on a blustery winter day (or perhaps, sitting in a treetop beneath a canopy of remnant parachutes with the late afternoon sun glistening overhead).

Rusty Bright and Mercy Windsor are magnetic characters with a friendship as strong and as kindred as L.M. Montgomery's Anne and Diana. Amanda Dykes has expertly woven two resilient characters who both together, and separately, face the hardship of loss, grief and pain while giving readers an independent, single heroine who is comfortable in her path and another heroine whose story touches the heart of the romantic with first love, life after loss and a hint of something new.

Born of Gilded Mountains is not just a story to be read, it is a story to be felt. A beloved favorite, one to return to time and again. This is not the type of book you cannot put down. No, it is the type of book that you hold close instead. A story of wonder that will resonate through time, something joyful and rich… A tenderly crafted story of friendship, hope, healing and love.

Simply put, a must read.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

Dearest Amanda,

Your book is stunning. Absolutely incredible. As with every other book of yours I’ve read, I was immediately transported to a new place, where my soul was immersed in another’s life, in the ups and downs, ebbs and flows of living. And I loved every single minute of the experience.

The beginning of the relationship between Rusty and Marybeth was the sweetest thing ever. I loved how these two little girls, each hurting in their own ways, found solace and a kindred spirit through their letters. The letters are so cute, and it’s really fun how you get to know the girls and their history through the occasional letter excerpts.

As adults, their relationship goes through a lot of heartache and mistakes, but I absolutely loved how they slowly learned to trust each other again and became the sisters they had been as children.

There were so many twists and turns and unexpected things in this story, that I stayed on the edge of my seat throughout the entire thing. The mysterious elements of your book were so intriguing. I never did figure out a single thing, or guess what would happen. Also, the entire town of Mercy Springs is kind of my favorite and I would dearly love to visit and attend the town’s events and the theatre and sit in the little town store.

I am genuinely, wholly in love with your book. Your lyrical narrative and the way you weave all the lives of these people together is truly beautiful. Your books are not just words on a page, they are fully immersive experiences, and I can’t wait to pick this one up again and enjoy the place that is Mercy Springs once again.

Your devoted fan,
Jessica


*TW/CW: some death, including in mines; dangerous fire; grieving; secrets and mystery

**Many thanks to Bethany House, NetGalley, and AustenProse for the copy. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.