Everyone said Quillen McCain's father was crazy to look for gold in the old family mine. In fact, his obsession killed him. Now Quill doesn't want anything to do with the mine except have it closed in. The land around the mine she leases to the Renaissance Committee. During the festival she walks around the grounds as a tale teller. She meets a medieval necromancer and they strike up a friendship. However, she questions her judgement when she finds out that Tucker Ferris is the nephew of the man that wants her land and will stop at nothing to get it. Tucker tries to convince her that he is not in cahoots with his uncle. Quillen wants nothing to do with the TAINTED GOLD but she does not want to sell her land to become an amusement park. Nothing will change her mind either, not a gas leak in her home or almost being blown to bits by dynamite.

TAINTED GOLD kept my interest from the first page until the last. Readers can't help but be drawn into the story and can't wait to see what will happen. I loved the description of the Renaissance Festival, from the booths to the costumes. The picture Ms. Michaels paints makes you think you are right there seeing the period fashions and hearing the tales told of olden days. The dialogue between Quill and Tucker is cute and funny, and you can't help but crack a smile as you are reading it. Each of them are strong characters in their own right but together they are a force to be reckoned with. There are minor characters in Quill's friends Cal and Jason, her tenant Mrs. Sipp and Tucker's uncle Desmond Cassil that enhance the story along the way. I had not read a book by Ms. Michaels before and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. It's a good mystery with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure.