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

Susan Elizabeth Phillips
A fresh and exciting voice.

New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah
Golden Lies is an absolute treasure, a fabulous page-turning combination of romance and intrigue.

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Bestselling author Barbara Freethy is back with 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...

FROM THE CRITICS

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. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal