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The Laramie Series #5
Gold Mountain
A Remarkable Woman. An Unforgettable Love Story. When Dinah Hudson leaves China in 1901, she hopes to leave behind dark memories of violence and sudden death, as well. Spending time with her sister in San Francisco will be just what she needs to help her forget China’s murderous Boxer Uprising. Dinah’s life in California takes an unexpected turn when renowned reformer Donaldina Cameron enlists her aid in rescuing young Chinese girls smuggled into the U.S. for slavery and prostitution. For Dinah, the venture soon becomes a passionate calling. But every calling comes with a price, and for Dinah Hudson that price may prove very high indeed. Because not everyone shares her zeal for freeing enslaved girls, especially not men that profit from human trafficking. Men that hide behind position and power. Faceless men that live in the shadows. Ruthless men that allow nothing and no one to get in their way. Truth is that every man in Dinah’s glittering but treacherous San Francisco world, whether a wealthy financier or a virile policeman or a brash entrepreneur with the face of a Greek god, is suspect. Dangerous. Even deadly. A determined woman must learn that when her heart gets in the way of her good sense she should ignore deceptive emotions and stay focused on the cause. It’s either that. Or die trying.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 15, 2014
This book is, to me, 2.5 stars (COME ON GOODREADS, how about implementing a 1/2 STAR RATING SYSTEM!!!)
Pros:
Good characters, character development and interaction.
Good plot line.
Reasonable description of the historical issue framing the book.
Easy to read.
Cons:
Very slow story development. Not really tedious to read, but slow.
I like an historical novel to present more insight into the history that is the basis for the story than this novel did.
Pros:
Good characters, character development and interaction.
Good plot line.
Reasonable description of the historical issue framing the book.
Easy to read.
Cons:
Very slow story development. Not really tedious to read, but slow.
I like an historical novel to present more insight into the history that is the basis for the story than this novel did.
May 10, 2016
Gold Mountain takes place in San Francisco during the early 1900's. Our heroine leaves China to escort a young friend meeting her grandparents, and to visit with her sister who resides in San Francisco with her husband. Upon leaving the dock, Dinah thinks she sees a Chinese girl that she recognizes from her home in China. This leads to the search for her missing young friend who may have been sold into slavery or prostitution. While one would think this would be the main focus of the story, it seems to fall into second or third place while the romance of Dinah takes precedence. Dinah does become involved with another woman who is trying to save Chinese women from horrible fates and they do rescue several, but the search for the girl at the dock seems to fall flat leaving us wondering where she is or what has become of her. The writing of this story reminded me a lot of M. Louisa Locke's books, The Victorian San Francisco Mysteries. Overall, a decent read that kept my attention.
May 6, 2016
Great reading
On to book six . Haven't been disappointed yet. Karen Hasley is great writer. Enjoying the series very much. Thanks
On to book six . Haven't been disappointed yet. Karen Hasley is great writer. Enjoying the series very much. Thanks
September 9, 2019
A wonderful book. Hard to put down.
I chose this rating because it's a great book. An extraordinary one. It has surprises, mysteries, and is a clean, Christian book, the only kind I read.
I chose this rating because it's a great book. An extraordinary one. It has surprises, mysteries, and is a clean, Christian book, the only kind I read.
September 8, 2021
A quick read I happened to have on my Kindle but it was eye-opening. It takes place in the early 1900s in San Francisco. The main story is of human trafficking of young Chinese girls and of the people who fought this business with many risks to themselves and their families. I came to realize as I read this book that while we’ve come a long way with child welfare and protecting our children (I thought), we really are not that much better off than we were over 100 years ago. It’s an interesting story, a sad story, a story of where we’ve come from as women, and how much farther we have to go.
April 4, 2018
Gold Mountain > think about that!
Another excellent read . Apt descriptions of San Fran Cisco . Again I am very thankful to the author for being able to write a book without foul language. This book has ethics , excellent characters & good language and the storyline that you do not want to put down.
Another excellent read . Apt descriptions of San Fran Cisco . Again I am very thankful to the author for being able to write a book without foul language. This book has ethics , excellent characters & good language and the storyline that you do not want to put down.
December 1, 2022
Wonderful gritty book
This is a visit to the early days of the beautiful gritty city of San Francisco, California. Wonderful and sentimental words tells the reader about the underbelly and elite society intermingling. Intelligent and outrageous pictures fill the pages and delight the reader. As a California native, I loved this book.
This is a visit to the early days of the beautiful gritty city of San Francisco, California. Wonderful and sentimental words tells the reader about the underbelly and elite society intermingling. Intelligent and outrageous pictures fill the pages and delight the reader. As a California native, I loved this book.
January 3, 2019
History , romance and intrigue
This novel touches on the Chinese female trafficking in the early 1900s and sets the stage for adventure, intrigue, love and civility. It keeps you invested in the story and ties all the loose ends, leaving you satisfied.
This novel touches on the Chinese female trafficking in the early 1900s and sets the stage for adventure, intrigue, love and civility. It keeps you invested in the story and ties all the loose ends, leaving you satisfied.
August 30, 2019
Gold Mountain
Excellent historical fiction about turn of the century San Francisco and the illegal buying and selling of Chinese girls. Characters that are interesting and relatable make for a very entertaining storyline.
Excellent historical fiction about turn of the century San Francisco and the illegal buying and selling of Chinese girls. Characters that are interesting and relatable make for a very entertaining storyline.
September 4, 2019
A superb tales of Smuggling and intrigue
A very original and unusual story, of kidnapping and greed. Very believable. Plot, plus the characters are so real and alive you are with them.
A very original and unusual story, of kidnapping and greed. Very believable. Plot, plus the characters are so real and alive you are with them.
September 12, 2019
Loved this book
This was such an enjoyable book. The characters were well written and well developed over the course of the book. The story line and the time period seemed well done too.
This was such an enjoyable book. The characters were well written and well developed over the course of the book. The story line and the time period seemed well done too.
September 25, 2020
Terrific!
Such a great book! The history, the characters, the story . . I enjoyed it thoroughly and wished it weren’t ending, even though I was rushing to the finish to see how it ended.
Such a great book! The history, the characters, the story . . I enjoyed it thoroughly and wished it weren’t ending, even though I was rushing to the finish to see how it ended.
January 19, 2022
Enjoyable. I am enjoying the history in each of this author’s novels. This one featured San Francisco. While the main character is always a strong woman, the love story part of the novel is becoming quite predictable yet I will still read the next in this Laramie series.
October 10, 2025
wow! so much history and strength!
It makes me wonder what role I might have played during those times. Strong women must stand their ground. Never settle for less than you deserve.
It makes me wonder what role I might have played during those times. Strong women must stand their ground. Never settle for less than you deserve.
April 21, 2019
An excellent author. As always another great read. Huge fan. Love her work.
June 4, 2019
I really enjoyed the book. There were too many "loose ends" tied up in the epilogue, however.
Want to Read
August 28, 2019EBook Bargains
September 3, 2019
Consuming
Wonderful characters and excellent storytelling. History woven throughout the story, and strong women fighting for the weak. Love this book!
Wonderful characters and excellent storytelling. History woven throughout the story, and strong women fighting for the weak. Love this book!
September 17, 2019
Least liked of the previous 4 books. Seeing same formula of characteristics in the main female throughout the series. I do enjoy catching the connection between the books.
September 20, 2019
First book for me by this ahthor
I highly recommend this book. I loved the characters as well as the storyline. Didn't want to put it down, and then didn't want it to end.
I highly recommend this book. I loved the characters as well as the storyline. Didn't want to put it down, and then didn't want it to end.
September 26, 2019
Gold mountain
I enjoyed this book a lot. Interesting to read about Chinese immigrants and the trials that they went through. Hope there is more books like this.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Interesting to read about Chinese immigrants and the trials that they went through. Hope there is more books like this.
September 30, 2019
Good old-fashioned love story
This is a well written, old - fashioned love story, complete with drama, action, stubbornness & excitement. I highly recommend it.
This is a well written, old - fashioned love story, complete with drama, action, stubbornness & excitement. I highly recommend it.
April 23, 2020
Great love story
Mystery and love
Very descriptive made me feel like I was there, liked the way it tied in with the series
Mystery and love
Very descriptive made me feel like I was there, liked the way it tied in with the series
June 23, 2020
Engaging
Another wonderful story in the series, although I rather think this one should have been #4. A fine weaving of the history and feel of the time period.
Another wonderful story in the series, although I rather think this one should have been #4. A fine weaving of the history and feel of the time period.
February 4, 2023
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the writing and the story (more than I expected), but the resolution was a bit lacking.
May 26, 2018
A Good Story
This is a good story with characters you can easily see in the story. These are enjoyable and easy reads.
This is a good story with characters you can easily see in the story. These are enjoyable and easy reads.
October 3, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. This is the third Karen Hasley book I have read and each of them has been quite good. Karen is a very talented writer. I look forward to reading more of her books.
April 1, 2014
Between sci-fi and dystopian fiction, I love to take a break and go back to the 'good old days' with women who have a purpose. This book centers around a woman who comes back to the US after living with her missionary family in China. When she discovers young Chinese girls are being prostituted and sold like cattle in her new home in San Francisco, she's determined to find a way to stop it.
September 4, 2014
Set in the early 1900's in San Francisco, Dinah Hudson has a passion to save the young Chinese girls who are brought to California (Gold Mountain) to satisfy men's pleasures. With the help of Jake Pandora, the two try desperately to clean up the S.F. waterfront of the filth that wealthy men bring to the area. Many S.F. landmarks are mentioned throughout the book. Good read.
November 11, 2015
Gold Mountain is a fabulously well-written book that takes heroine Dinah and hero Jake Pandora through the winding alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown in search of a young Chinese girl, smuggled into the city by unscrupulous men. Karen J. Hasley's attention to the historical context of time and place as well as her addition of a touch of romance make this book an excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews