Sweet Ivy's Gold
GENRE
ACTION DRAMA ROMANCE HISTORICAL FICTION
Core Theme
LOVE, RESILIENCE
TIME PERIOD
19th Century
COMPARABLE TITLES
BREATHING LESSONS, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, MOTHER LODE.
CHARACTER LIST
• IVY BARTON/MONTANA
MCCRORY: 30S. LEAD.
PRAGMATIC, RESILIENT,
DETERMINED,
LONG-SUFFERING.
• LANGDON RUNNELS: 35.
LONE WOLF, MASCULINE,
SEDUCTIVE, ASPIRING,
CHARMING, COMPLEX,
MANIPULATIVE.
Logline
Sweet Ivy's Gold is the story of Ivy Barton who, in 1891 must assume the identity of another woman in order to survive. She finds herself the owner of a non-producing gold mine and a run-down saloon and is confronted by a gambler known as Langdon Runnels who knows her true identity and with whom she falls in love.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Colorado gold fields/Denver
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: with a Publisher
Publisher: HarperCollins and self-published
Year Published: 1993
Starting Description
A fire-breathing locomotive takes Ivy Barton, along with her ner-do-well husband to the gold fields of Colorado. Behind her is her shattered Southern innocence, ahead, redemption. Her husband's foolishness forces her to assume the identity of another woman in order to survive.
Ending Description
Ivy has survived a devastating fire, a United Mine Workers revolt, and the betrayal of her husband to become a wealthy woman. She leaves her husband but takes his illigetimate child with her to join Langdon in Texas, where he is exploring for oil.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
Information not completed
Mature Audience Themes
Language/Profanity
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message, Twist, Happy Ending, Philosophical Questions
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth
Main Character Details
Name: Ivy Barton, Later Montana McCrory
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Desperate, Engaging, Honorable, Naive, Insecure, Modest, Underdog, Aspiring, Charming, Complex, Empathetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Langdon Runnels
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Lone Wolf, Masculine, Seductive, Unapologetic, Aspiring, Charming, Complex, Manipulative, Sophisticated, Adventurous, Aggressive, Badass
Additional Character Details
Name: Diana Pollard
Age: 40
Gender: LGBT
Role: Mentor
Key Traits: Blunt, Complex, Empathetic, Honorable, Outspoken, Uneducated, Badass, Flexible, Lone Wolf, Perseverance, Selfless, Strong Moral Code, Decisive
Additional Character Details
Name: Lida Armstrong
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Role: Tempter
Key Traits: Flexible, Manipulative, Underdog, Uneducated, Seductive, Beautiful, Engaging, Insecure, Romantic
Brief
To get out of a desperate situation, a proper farm wife takes over the identity of a woman quite her
opposite. With perseverance and determination, she defies the odds, carving out a meaningful life
running a successful gambling parlor and mining company while grieving the tragic loss of her
daughters, her husband’s serial affairs and her own unrequited love.
What We Liked
- Strong female lead;
- Ivy’s entrepreneurial prowess during a time when women were not respected in the
workplace is inspirational;
- The character development is deep and impactful;
- There is a sweeping, almost epic feel to the story;
- The old west setting is charming and interesting;
- The outrageous story of how Ivy Barton became Montana McCrory is an emotional
rollercoaster full of quirky characters, a romp through the United States historical period of
the boom towns during the Gold Rush and a tale of forbidden romance;
- It takes the audience along to witness the tender unfolding of a woman who emerges
triumphant after heartbreak, setbacks and impossible odds;
- Her journey is an inspirational character study, a charming story and a testament to the
strength of the human spirit.
Synopsis
Ivy Barton and her husband Alex are making their way from Tennessee to Colorado in an attempt to
escape the pain left by the tragic loss of their daughters. Ivy is prim and not accustomed to the more
flamboyant ways of the wild west. Meeting rugged gambler, Langdon Runnels, and overripe and
recently widowed gambling hall proprietor, Montana McCrory, on the train makes her feel even more
out of her element.
When Montana falls ill and dies unexpectedly and Alex’s land investment turns out to be a scam,
making him a target for murder, Ivy thinks on her feet and figures out a way for her and Alex to
survive. She takes over Montana’s identity and rides into town as the new owner of the Golden Palace
gambling hall. Now using the name Montana, she wins over the confidence and friendship of the
bartender, Diana, and passes Alex off as her brother. Just as she thinks all is well, Langdon arrives
looking for Montana. When he sees Ivy’s ruse, he blackmails her into giving him a partnership in the
business in exchange for keeping her secret.
As Alex begins to have affairs all over town, Montana and Langdon fall in love. However, Montana
refuses to leave Alex even after she is made aware of his affairs. Montana uses her business acumen
to invest in a gold mine. She and Langdon partner up to fight the unions and start a successful mining
company. When Alex accidentally sets the town on fire and impregnates a dancer, Montana is forced
to start all over again.
When Langdon can’t convince her to leave Alex, he leaves to start a new life out of state. Montana
discovers Alex’s illegitimate daughter, Alexis, during her friend Diana’s deathbed confession. When
she realizes that Alex is not who she thought he was, she finally gets up the nerve to leave him. She
takes Alexis and joins up with Langdon in Texas to fulfill her destiny.