Aspen Gold

Janet Dailey

Kit Masters is returning to Aspen a year after her father's death. She has been in a soap opera and is now ready to take a lead role in a movie that could propel her into stardom. She is accompanying superstar John Travis on the trip as they prepare to set up the movie on location is Aspen. Also, she owns the ranch where she grew up there in Aspen.

Bannon's father owns the larger ranch next to Kit's. Bannon takes care of the day to day running the ranch and raising his daughter. His wife had died right after their daughter was born in unusual circumstances. He and Kit grew up together and had been dating when he met his wife. Now he is dating his sister-in-law, Sondra Hudson. Sondra is the leading real estate agent in the Aspen area, especially for the rich and famous who visit the skiing vacation spot. She was the person who was able to clear Bannon from possibile charges when her sister died.

Kit feels there could be more of a connection with John than just a costar. She's not ready for an emotional entanglement - she thinks. Coming home and facing her past with Bannon will bring her to the future she could have with her career. It would also help her decide what to do with the ranch and the care for her mother with a dehabilitating illness.

Now Kit, John, Sondra, and Bannon are integral in the future growth of Aspen. The movie would make Aspen even more popular. Sondra would benefit from the increase in property worth around the city. Bannon is also a lawyer as well as a rancher. He is trying to keep Aspen affordable for the families who have lived there for generations but are unable to keep up with the rising prices. What they don't realize is that the current situation will bring back other echoes from the past. It may be more than property worth this is in danger.

Aspen Gold has a story line that is quite involving at times. I thought I could see where it was going, yet there are enough corners to look around that I couldn't be certain. I found myself rooting for three of the protagonists. The fourth remained iffy until the story was resolved. Unfortunately, the ending doesn't hold up. The book ends abruptly. The story and mystery are solved, but too many questions remain.

Janet Dailey is a good author and tells a good tale. This one holds together well until the end, which disappointed me enough to ruin the rest of the story.

Notice:  Strong sexual content

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