Golden Lies [Kindle Edition]

Barbara Freethy (Author)

Book Description

Customers who like books by Nora Roberts, Carla Neggars, Kristin Hannah and Karen Robards will enjoy this romantic and suspenseful book from #1 NYT Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy.

Every family has secrets -- some too intriguing to resist ... some too dangerous to ignore ...

A novel about three remarkable families -- the fifty-year-old promise that once bound them together, the fiery betrayal that tore them apart, and the ancient bronze dragon that could destroy their future ...

Riley McAllister, Paige Hathaway, and Alyssa Chen come from very different worlds. Tough guy Riley has overcome the hard knocks of a working-class upbringing. Paige struggles to define her place as the heir to a famous antiques emporium. And Alyssa feels trapped by the restrictions of her family's old world attitudes. Now this unlikely trio of strangers must come together to follow an elusive trail through the streets of San Francisco -- from glittering Pacific Heights to colorful Chinatown to trendy south of Market. Each will have to make the impossible choice between romantic love and family loyalty, between sheltering lies and revealing truth. Once the door to the past is opened, there's no turning back ...

Reviews for RITA finalist Golden Lies ...

"Golden Lies is an absolute treasure, a fabulous, page-turning combination of romance and intrigue. Fans of Nora Roberts and Elizabeth Lowell will love Golden Lies." Kristin Hannah

"Freethy's smooth prose, spirited storytelling and engaging characters, are sure to send readers on a treasure hunt for the author's backlist books." Publishers Weekly

"A priceless Chinese artifact, an ancient curse, and a decades-old betrayal set the stage for this gripping story, which unites the grandchildren from three diverse, yet strangely linked, families and sweeps them from the rarified world of high-priced antiques to the fragrant alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown on an urgent quest to unravel the past's secrets. Multidimensional characters at all levels (especially the strong-willed hero and heroine), realistic and sometimes funny dialog, and a well-constructed plot that Freethy unwraps with such consummate skill that the conclusion is at once surprising and totally logical result in a rich and compelling tale." Library Journal

"The lives of three families collide and intersect in this wonderfully intriguing new drama by bestselling author Freethy." Romantic Times Magazine

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The reappearance of a long-lost Zhou dynasty dragon is the catalyst that reunites three mismatched families in this lively romp from Freethy (Summer Secrets, etc.). When security expert Riley McAllister helps his grandmother haul a wagonload of old junk to the Antiques on the Road show, he doesn't think she'll get more than five dollars for the lot. But the moment the dragon hits TV screens, collectors are on them like a pack of hungry wolves, especially the owner of the House of Hathaway, San Francisco's most prestigious antiques emporium. Against his better judgment, Riley entrusts the dragon to Paige Hathaway for appraisal, which turns out to be a big mistake when the dragon goes missing. Paige and Riley's search for the object d'art takes them on a fast-paced adventure through the streets of San Francisco, from fashionable Union Square to funky Chinatown, where Paige discovers the existence of her half-sister Alyssa Chen. A WWII pact between the protagonists' fathers, a 1,000-year-old legend and romance between Riley and Paige and between Alyssa and an old love add depth and richness to the story. Those charms, combined with Freethy's smooth prose, spirited storytelling and engaging characters, are sure to send readers on a treasure hunt for the author's backlist books.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Riley McAllister reluctantly agrees to escort his grandmother to a televised traveling antique show. Much to his surprise, the ugly bronze dragon they found in her attic turns out to be a rare artifact worth a fortune. Suddenly, it seems as though every antique dealer around wants to appraise the dragon, including Paige Hathaway. Paige, daughter of David Hathaway, owner of the prestigious House of Hathaway, knows that a find of this magnitude would be a real coup for their company. Riley's grandmother picks the House of Hathaway because they're renowned in San Francisco, and because they offer new clients an incredible tea ceremony. But Paige's father disappears, and so does the dragon. Riley and Paige then embark on a treacherous search that reveals some startling family scandals. Freethy, author of Summer Secrets [BKL My 1 03], is a master at conveying emotion, and readers who enjoy the lyrical voices of Patricia Gaffney, Kathryn Shay, and Mary Alice Monroe will add her to their list of favorites. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 541 KB
• Print Length: 387 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Signet; Kindle Edition edition (March 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004Q9TI54
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,716 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 98 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensational! February 6, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I am a big Barbara Freethy fan and ordered this one early in eager anticipation of another good story. What I got instead was a GREAT story. I absolutely loved this book -- couldn't put it down. The premise of an ancient Chinese dragon being publicly valued on an Antique Roadshow type of program hooked me at once. I don't want to give away too much, but what happens to everyone involved with that dragon is a fascinating story --actually mutiple stories that all come together at the end. I loved the San Francisco setting, especially the scenes in Chinatown. And I have to admit I did not know how this one was going to end -- how all those seemingly disparate stories would converge -- and I was on the edge of my seat until I got there. What a fabulous journey it was! I cannot recommend this book too highly.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My first Barbara Freethy book May 27, 2011

By Becca

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this for a whole .99 cents , i read the reviews, downloaded it onto my kindle. After reading several of Scott Nicholson short stories i figured i needed something a little milder & softer. This was perfect, a touch of romance with family lies, and a Chinese twist. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, as mentioned in my title this was my first Barbara Freethy book, now that i have gotten a taste of her great writing, i will be reading another one her books as soon as i can.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story April 3, 2006

By E. J. Binnig

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Barbara Freethy is an amazing storyteller and I found it hard to put the book down. This book opens with Riley McAllister and his grandmother going to an antique show with an assortment of items from her attic. A bronze dragon catches the eye of the appraisers and eventually leads them to the House of Hathaway and Hathaway heir, Paige Hathaway. The dragon appears to be not only priceless, but powerful as it leads Riley and Paige to Alyssa Chen and the three discover how their lives are entwined and their families have more secrets in common than they could ever imagine. The audio version is well done by Julia Gibson.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars My attention is wandering March 30, 2012

By Suzanne

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoy most of this authors books, so eagerly picked up this one, the price was right too! This is not one of her best stories. It dragged in places and I found myself losing attention and interest. I felt the chemistry was forced between the two leading characters, and actually was far more interested in the lives of a secondary couple. This book felt long and ultimately unsatisfying in my opinion, try something else from this author.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars really a 2.5 August 22, 2011

By BONFOGLIO

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I thought for .99 i would try a new mystery author. I did not realize there was so much romance involved. Situated in san francisco, i thought this was the perfect new author book. I enjoyed the mystery but, the book was way too mushy for me

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I got what I paid for. . . March 30, 2012

By drmaxdog

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was looking for a cheapie book for my kindle and this one had an interesting recap and mostly positive reviews, so I spent the big bucks (less than 2 of them) to download this. It is not horrible, I did actually finish the whole book. But in my opinion, it is just not written very well. When I am reading a really good book, I get wrapped up in the story, the characters come to life. When I read this book, I noticed every painstakingly pointless description of what characters looked like and what they were wearing, and how sexy they looked in whatever they had on. Yes, I know that character description is important, but it should be seamlessly written into the story - I shouldn't cringe while I am reading it. It was awkward writing - just not very good. Nothing I would recommend or read again, and I most certainly would not read anything else this author wrote.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Golden Lies March 5, 2012

By Laura Lien

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have read a couple of Barbara Freethy books and found them to be ok but nothing I would rave about. There are parts of the book that really holds my interest but there are many that I feel I have to drudge through to get to the meaty parts. I don't feel like I really get to know the characters like I do with some other authors, such as Diane Chamberlain. They're just names on a page and easily forgotten. As I said, it was ok and the price was good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun and exciting book March 22, 2012

By JLL

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this book, though I didn't quite love it. The mystery was great--interesting, good pacing, and kind of a unique story. I thought the dynamics of Paige's family were fascinating. The drama between her parents was sad but richly portrayed, especially given that it wasn't the main story line. It's not often that a romance novel captures that kind of complexity and ambiguity. The other families weren't portrayed quite as adeptly, but they did add to the ambiance of the story. My favorite character was Alyssa and I wished we got to hear more from her. She seemed like a strong personality who had a lot to say, and her own little romance was sweet and touching. (And if you're reading this Ms. Freethy, write Alyssa's story too! I'd buy that book in a heartbeat.) I wasn't as enamored with the two main characters, though. Paige was ok and I liked her transformation throughout the book, although I would have liked to hear a little more about her own motivations and feelings. I found Riley kind of forgettable. He's pretty much the cliched alpha male, never willing to commit and bossy beyond belief. Still, I think the book is definitely worth a read.