Review: Gold Lust by Sky Robinson

Blurb: The 1901 gold rush brings people and excitement to Alaska, and recently widowed Emma Smith is in the middle of it all, ready to make her fortune. She’s definitely not interested in love or lust, but that all changes when she rescues her neighbor James Armstrong from an icy creek and she’s forced to lie naked with him to save his life. She’d been fighting her attraction to the burly mountain man for a long time, but with him so close, touching, skin against skin, she can’t deny it any longer. And soon sex with James is an addiction, something to warm every Alaskan night. Emma is sure a traditional man like James couldn’t accept an independent woman like her permanently. But as the dangers of Alaska keep bringing them together, the reasons to stay apart begin to fade.

My Review: It's been quite awhile since I picked up a hot little historical romance and this one caught my eye because of the time period and location. Set in Ketchikan, Alaska during the gold rush, Emma Smith is a widow trying to find gold. Her late husband was a reporter and had been told there was gold at their claim site, but no one has been able to find it. She's always been attracted to her mountain man neighbor, but she knows they would never work: she's an independent woman who is more comfortable climbing mountains wearing pants (gasp!) whereas he's a firm believer in women's traditional roles. The wilds of Alaska end up putting them in a situation where sparks ignite and they must decide whether they can accept each other for who they are or go their separate ways.

This is a quick, fun little read, and the first in a trilogy. I hope a subsequent story features Opal, the prostitute who rents a room from Emma in town. She's a character I particularly enjoyed and hope to read more about. If you like historical romances with more unusual settings I would definitely recommend picking this one up!