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Aspen #1
Aspen Gold
Book by Dailey, Janet
Hardcover
First published April 1, 1991
390 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
396 books1,848 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 28, 2018
Not a guy worthy to be called the hero in this book.
Update;
The more I think about this book the more I hate it. In the present he was also sleeping with his dead wife’s sister who had always been obsessed with him. He seemed to lack all morals and decency I mean bad enough to completely forget heroine once he sees the ow but then to also sleep with the ow’s sister after her death? He was gross!
Update;
The more I think about this book the more I hate it. In the present he was also sleeping with his dead wife’s sister who had always been obsessed with him. He seemed to lack all morals and decency I mean bad enough to completely forget heroine once he sees the ow but then to also sleep with the ow’s sister after her death? He was gross!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2009
Per Wikipedia: In 1997, another best-selling romance writer, Janet Dailey, admitted to repeatedly plagiarizing from Nora Roberts' work. The practice came to light after a reader read Roberts' Sweet Revenge and Dailey's Notorious back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the Internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Roberts sued Dailey. Dailey acknowledged the plagiarism and blamed it on a psychological disorder. She admitted that both Aspen Gold and Notorious lifted heavily from Roberts's work. Both of those novels were pulled from print after Dailey's admission. In April 1998 Dailey settled the case. Although terms were not released, Roberts had previously indicated that any settlement funds should be donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America.
April 27, 2018
Did not finish -- cowboys and Indians go great together, cowboys and movie stars not so much.
July 1, 2009
This book is a soap opera. I wouldn't consider this a romance novel. People betraying people, people sleeping around, really anything goes in this book. I found it engrossing, but because I went in thinking this book was a "romance" novel, I didn't enjoy it much.
However, I am sure fans of Jackie Collins and other women's fiction will adore this book filled with drama.
SPOILERS from here on:
There are 3 main characters in this novel: The heroine, and 2 heros. The theme is, who will she choose to be with.
The first hero and the heroine grew up together in Aspen and were childhood sweethearts. Then, the boy met a beautiful girl, fell in love at first sight, and drowned into raging lust with this other girl, shortly after he marries this other girl. Yea, lets forget about the main heroine who he supposedly loved but I guess not enough. A year after the marriage, the other girl died after giving birth. The hero didn't get over his wife's death.
The other hero is a famous movie star, who is known to be a womanizer.
Heroine is a enchanting soap opera actress.
9 years later, they're all back together in Aspen. Childhood hero is now sleeping with his wife's sister, and that sister is helping him raise his daughter.
The heroine hasnt gotten over the childhood sweetheart who broke her heart but she's attracted to this other famous actor, whom she's sleeping with...
Book reads like this, lots of twists, its not boring, but I wouldn't consider it a "pure" romance novel.
However, I am sure fans of Jackie Collins and other women's fiction will adore this book filled with drama.
SPOILERS from here on:
There are 3 main characters in this novel: The heroine, and 2 heros. The theme is, who will she choose to be with.
The first hero and the heroine grew up together in Aspen and were childhood sweethearts. Then, the boy met a beautiful girl, fell in love at first sight, and drowned into raging lust with this other girl, shortly after he marries this other girl. Yea, lets forget about the main heroine who he supposedly loved but I guess not enough. A year after the marriage, the other girl died after giving birth. The hero didn't get over his wife's death.
The other hero is a famous movie star, who is known to be a womanizer.
Heroine is a enchanting soap opera actress.
9 years later, they're all back together in Aspen. Childhood hero is now sleeping with his wife's sister, and that sister is helping him raise his daughter.
The heroine hasnt gotten over the childhood sweetheart who broke her heart but she's attracted to this other famous actor, whom she's sleeping with...
Book reads like this, lots of twists, its not boring, but I wouldn't consider it a "pure" romance novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2009
i was browsing and puff eyes caught this book with, bought it simply because of janet dailey...!
and am quite disappointed--- well i was expecting that it has more romance in it, but turns out differently oh well let me just give credit of having the name of heroine as "kit" so yeah that's something cool--- but nevertheless the story is bland and i don't like it! i even jump to each pages just to able to finish it (ugh... guilty!?) anyway, i even own a copy ugh... and i only read it once, no plan on repeating it--- i dont even have any plan to recommend it!? haha
peace!
:p
and am quite disappointed--- well i was expecting that it has more romance in it, but turns out differently oh well let me just give credit of having the name of heroine as "kit" so yeah that's something cool--- but nevertheless the story is bland and i don't like it! i even jump to each pages just to able to finish it (ugh... guilty!?) anyway, i even own a copy ugh... and i only read it once, no plan on repeating it--- i dont even have any plan to recommend it!? haha
peace!
:p
October 6, 2014
This is an interesting read for a Romance novel. Taking an up and coming movie star, Kit Masters, out of "Tinseltown" to film a movie in her very own hometown of Aspen, Colorado; to face her first love once again, was a rather brilliant idea, actually. I loved becoming acquainted with the interesting array of characters in this novel. I also enjoyed discovering a quite surprising aspect; that at least ONE of the female characters is what could be described as, none other, than a coldly calculating, murderous sociopath.
October 11, 2016
Modern romance. Read 27 pages but couldn't get into.
November 30, 2012
I had to give this book only 1 star for a couple of reasons. I am pretty busy right now and don't seem to have the time to read and the book wasn't pulling me in.
January 7, 2015
I found this book boring. I hate that, especially since the author has since passed away. I've thoroughly enjoyed other books by this author.
April 7, 2023
The book just stopped at the climax of the story. It took a long time to even build up to the climax and then ot just ended. Kind of lame.
September 6, 2025
All of my newer “want to read”s were on hold months out on Libby and I remembered I hadn’t read one of Janet Dailey’s in a while. Written in 1995, this one had all the elements of a standard romance novel with a bit of wisdom:
‘“That's right. The mountains don't get angry or struggle or cry. If man does, it's of his own making and his own foolishness. This land knows that nothing man destroys will remain destroyed.
Beside every fallen tree that man cuts, you'll find seedlings to replace it. Walk down any street and you'll find grass growing in the cracks. Man builds his houses, his towns, and his roads over it, and the land lets him, but the fertility is still there, underneath it all. When man steps aside, the land will reclaim what he left and erase all marks of it. Look at that old mine shaft and the brush taking over its tailings, covering up the tracks the miners left. That's the power of the land. Remember that."
‘“Gramps, you don't know a lot about pollution, do you?" She gave him a pitying look. "Acid rain has killed whole forests. Our entire environment is threatened by toxic wastes."
‘He stopped her. "But the land will come back. Maybe not in your lifetime or even your grandchildren's, but the day will come. Man can destroy man, but he can't kill the land. When the last human has disappeared from the face of it, the land will still be here. The power of the land is endless, its fertility indestructible." He paused to suck on his empty pipe, testing its draw. "All this talk about ozone layers, polluting the water and the air, it isn't about man's fear of what he's doing to the land, but what he's doing to himself. Man doesn't want to protect the land; he wants to protect his own existence. Man knows, somewhere deep down inside, that the land will take care of itself just fine."’
‘“That's right. The mountains don't get angry or struggle or cry. If man does, it's of his own making and his own foolishness. This land knows that nothing man destroys will remain destroyed.
Beside every fallen tree that man cuts, you'll find seedlings to replace it. Walk down any street and you'll find grass growing in the cracks. Man builds his houses, his towns, and his roads over it, and the land lets him, but the fertility is still there, underneath it all. When man steps aside, the land will reclaim what he left and erase all marks of it. Look at that old mine shaft and the brush taking over its tailings, covering up the tracks the miners left. That's the power of the land. Remember that."
‘“Gramps, you don't know a lot about pollution, do you?" She gave him a pitying look. "Acid rain has killed whole forests. Our entire environment is threatened by toxic wastes."
‘He stopped her. "But the land will come back. Maybe not in your lifetime or even your grandchildren's, but the day will come. Man can destroy man, but he can't kill the land. When the last human has disappeared from the face of it, the land will still be here. The power of the land is endless, its fertility indestructible." He paused to suck on his empty pipe, testing its draw. "All this talk about ozone layers, polluting the water and the air, it isn't about man's fear of what he's doing to the land, but what he's doing to himself. Man doesn't want to protect the land; he wants to protect his own existence. Man knows, somewhere deep down inside, that the land will take care of itself just fine."’
August 14, 2025
I was afraid I'd be the only one star reviewer and everyone else would find something good in this bat crap story, so I'm glad to discover everyone shares my opinion!
It's tough to believe that the same author who wrote "Masquerade" wrote this mess!
The H and h were both crappy. Years ago, he got butt-hurt because the h chose to spend time with her ailing mother rather than him (poor baby, life's so unfair) so he rebounds to another woman and marries her, has a crappy one year marriage and ends up a widower with a baby girl when his wife "mysteriously" dies after she's born. (It was no mystery to me, I knew whodunit from the start!)
The h, meanwhile, searches for Hollywood fame and fortune and seems about to get it (as well as some bedroom action from her sexy co-star) when the story begins, back in her hometown of course, where she and the H meet after a decade apart.
The biggest weakness in this story is that you never get the feeling that anything's there between the couple. On her side, it feels like she's reliving a high school crush, while on his, it's as if she were just some girl he dated a long time ago and hadn't thought about since. That's the vibe I got, so the old " true love", "soul mate", "destiny" thing sure didn't work here!
Meanwhile, he's sleeping with his former sister-in-law and she's on the verge of doing the same with her co-star.
In other words: YECK!!!!!
Skip this mess!!!
It's tough to believe that the same author who wrote "Masquerade" wrote this mess!
The H and h were both crappy. Years ago, he got butt-hurt because the h chose to spend time with her ailing mother rather than him (poor baby, life's so unfair) so he rebounds to another woman and marries her, has a crappy one year marriage and ends up a widower with a baby girl when his wife "mysteriously" dies after she's born. (It was no mystery to me, I knew whodunit from the start!)
The h, meanwhile, searches for Hollywood fame and fortune and seems about to get it (as well as some bedroom action from her sexy co-star) when the story begins, back in her hometown of course, where she and the H meet after a decade apart.
The biggest weakness in this story is that you never get the feeling that anything's there between the couple. On her side, it feels like she's reliving a high school crush, while on his, it's as if she were just some girl he dated a long time ago and hadn't thought about since. That's the vibe I got, so the old " true love", "soul mate", "destiny" thing sure didn't work here!
Meanwhile, he's sleeping with his former sister-in-law and she's on the verge of doing the same with her co-star.
In other words: YECK!!!!!
Skip this mess!!!
May 1, 2022
O Ouro de Aspen é um livro que pode ser interessante ler não pela trama ou pelos personagens, mas porque sua reimpressão foi proibida e o livro foi recolhido após a autora ser acusada de plágio.
Janet Dailey foi acusada por Nora Roberts em 1997. Embora ela não tenha chegado a ser julgada, esse livro e também Notorious (que nunca chegou a ser publicado no Brasil) foram retirados de circulação.
Assim, se você conseguiu botar as mãos nesse exemplar, terá a oportunidade de comparar com trabalhos da autora supracitada.
Quanto a O Ouro de Aspen, a história é típica daqueles romances de banca. Uma atriz famosa (mas "gente como a gente") volta a sua terra natal para gravar um filme e se vê num triângulo amoroso entre a paixão de infância (Tom Bannon) e John Travis (o astro do filme).
O que torna o livro um pouco diferente do estilo é o fato de que nenhum dos mocinhos presta. Tom é um adúltero que pegava a própria cunhada e o Travis é desenvolvido como antagonista.
Janet Dailey foi acusada por Nora Roberts em 1997. Embora ela não tenha chegado a ser julgada, esse livro e também Notorious (que nunca chegou a ser publicado no Brasil) foram retirados de circulação.
Assim, se você conseguiu botar as mãos nesse exemplar, terá a oportunidade de comparar com trabalhos da autora supracitada.
Quanto a O Ouro de Aspen, a história é típica daqueles romances de banca. Uma atriz famosa (mas "gente como a gente") volta a sua terra natal para gravar um filme e se vê num triângulo amoroso entre a paixão de infância (Tom Bannon) e John Travis (o astro do filme).
O que torna o livro um pouco diferente do estilo é o fato de que nenhum dos mocinhos presta. Tom é um adúltero que pegava a própria cunhada e o Travis é desenvolvido como antagonista.
Read
October 3, 2020Like The Bechdel Test, I have something I call The Holcomb Test. I couldn’t get past page 5, but it failed two out of three of these already:
1) Is a major character running away from something by moving to a new place, or moving because of an inheritance?
2) Is anyone’s name explained, or are we told how to pronounce it?
3) Is coffee or beer described as anything but, every time, usually “strong brew” or “foamy liquid.”
Bonus point for the main character cooking something delicious without a recipe, most often a potato and ham casserole or a soufflé.
1) Is a major character running away from something by moving to a new place, or moving because of an inheritance?
2) Is anyone’s name explained, or are we told how to pronounce it?
3) Is coffee or beer described as anything but, every time, usually “strong brew” or “foamy liquid.”
Bonus point for the main character cooking something delicious without a recipe, most often a potato and ham casserole or a soufflé.
October 3, 2020
2.5/5 This book seemed to end mid story which is weird. It stopped at page 330 in a pivotal rescue scene so not sure if it was missing pages or what? Read like a soap opera. Kit is an aspiring actress returning to her home town of Aspen to film her big breakout film. Bannon is her childhood friend she always thought she would marry but didn't. Bannon is now widowed with a young daughter and has an evil sister in law. It's like an episode of Dynasty.
February 27, 2024
I did enjoy this story despite some of its storylines, reminding myself that it was written 30 years ago and the film industry has had to clean up its behaviour since then. There’s the sense that there can only be one ending and yet the behaviour of the characters is a bit jarring at times. I also was left feeling it ended abruptly, that there was more that needed to be explored. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I would be happy to add the author to my list.
March 5, 2019
The story gains momentum to quite a suspenseful end, although a little predictable and the authors voice stronger than the individual characters identity, still a surprisingly fun read. However the constant spelling and grammatical errors throughout this kindle edition of the book prove to be quite distracting.
October 9, 2021
Oh how I enjoyed harlequins. So I found this is the used book store. Hardback even. So bad so cliché. Others have given story won’t repeat. This book just made me mad, like an epilogue was missing or was there supposed to be a part 2. The only male worth mention is the grandfather, he comes across as salt if the earth.
August 6, 2025
AspenGold by Janet Dailey
Spellbinding, breathtaking. Ms. Dailey captured the beauty of Aspen, the greed of the characters inhabiting her story, the deep grief that comes with the death of a loved one and the true love between two people in this amazing novel. Reviewed by Heide Katros, Winter Haven News , Florida
Spellbinding, breathtaking. Ms. Dailey captured the beauty of Aspen, the greed of the characters inhabiting her story, the deep grief that comes with the death of a loved one and the true love between two people in this amazing novel. Reviewed by Heide Katros, Winter Haven News , Florida
June 15, 2017
ERRORS. ERRORS. ERRORS.
The story line was interesting; however, there are so many spelling errors. The book may have been published in the '90's, but the ebook is new. The author has a responsibility to her reader to make sure her material is proofed and edited before it is sold.
The story line was interesting; however, there are so many spelling errors. The book may have been published in the '90's, but the ebook is new. The author has a responsibility to her reader to make sure her material is proofed and edited before it is sold.
January 31, 2019
A story set in beautiful Aspen Colorado -- and yet it is not all surface 'glamour'. This is a gritty sort of book, pointing out the beauties of what is there and also the underlying 'fake' -- and under that the bottom line beauty that the area and people can have and are.
August 17, 2020
This is the second Janet Dailey book I have read and I like her style of writing. Her vivid descriptions of the beautiful Aspen mountains can easily put you there without too much effort. Her characters are well-rounded and interesting too. She has an insight into human nature that she is not afraid to explore including the darker side that is easier to avoid rather than face head on. I look forward to reading more of her work. Recommended.
March 4, 2023
I enjoyed the plot, but the many typos, misspellings etc distracted from the flow of reading. The book just stopped in the middle of the story with THE END. Maybe this was the author's way of getting the reader to buy the sequel.
April 30, 2023
Worst book I've read in a while
Tragically bad storyline, characters more caricatures and the standard of editting is appalling, mis-
spelt words throughout, bits missed out and others repeated ..need I go on..
Tragically bad storyline, characters more caricatures and the standard of editting is appalling, mis-
spelt words throughout, bits missed out and others repeated ..need I go on..
June 13, 2023
Western romaance
Relaxing change from the literary novels I have been reading. Twist at the ending was good but I felt like it needed a bit more detail and was a bit incomplete. Also the editing was noticeably lacking on spelling.
Relaxing change from the literary novels I have been reading. Twist at the ending was good but I felt like it needed a bit more detail and was a bit incomplete. Also the editing was noticeably lacking on spelling.
September 2, 2023
Obvious ending
I wasn't too enthralled with the Hollywood scene but I did like the character, Bannon. I skipped over the acting chapters and my heading us because by the middle of the book, you knew that Kit and Cannon would end up together.
I wasn't too enthralled with the Hollywood scene but I did like the character, Bannon. I skipped over the acting chapters and my heading us because by the middle of the book, you knew that Kit and Cannon would end up together.
September 15, 2025
Disappointing
The story was good, but the descriptive writing style was often too wordy and boring. I also saw several typos and punctuation errors which seemed very unprofessional. The ending was so abrupt that it just left me frustrated.
The story was good, but the descriptive writing style was often too wordy and boring. I also saw several typos and punctuation errors which seemed very unprofessional. The ending was so abrupt that it just left me frustrated.
May 31, 2017
Review
I loved the story and the characters. I never expected it to end the way it did. I had to sleep but thoughts of the story kept me awake for quite awhile
I loved the story and the characters. I never expected it to end the way it did. I had to sleep but thoughts of the story kept me awake for quite awhile
April 9, 2018
enjoyed this book
May 25, 2019
pretty good romance novel, but the ending was abrupt.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews