GRR Reviews No Such Thing (San Francisco Gold Rush) by Mona Ingram

No Such Thing is a historical romance set in the California gold rush days. However, there were quite a few plot elements that didn't quite fit in history. The book is also mostly adventure, with not too much love or emotion involved. The book also felt like it should have ended somewhere but was forcefully continued.

Lily's life in Shanghai ended in a nightmare when her father died and she was sold to a sea captain to be taken to San Francisco as the new girl in a brothel. Being born in the year of the tiger, she was determined to survive upon arrival, and she seized her chance when her wagon overturned, and she escaped into the night, a stranger in a strange land... and was taken in by a kind family of brothers and sisters. Devon, the young Bostonian, vowed to protect her from harm, but the captain refuses to lose his investment. When Lily was recaptured, Devon and his gang had to mount a rescue mission, but will that be enough to win Lily's heart?

The problem with this book is I couldn't tell whether the story was supposed to continue or not, as the book went on to SEVERAL more adventures AFTER her rescue (Lily starting a business, Lily moving to Sacramento to start a vegetable farm, Lily saving Devon's business, etc.) The stakes didn't... escalate quite right. But it's still a fun story to read if a bit ahistorical (Lily finding gold near Sacramento).  It's as if it's written for a serial.

Category: Historical

Primary Plot: Young Chinese woman destined for a brothel in San Francisco was rescued by a kind man, but can she love him?

Overall Rating: 3/5

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