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The California Gold Rush Romance Collection
Rush to California after the 1848 gold discovery alongside thousands of hopeful men and women. Meet news reporters, English gentry, miners, morticians, marriage brokers, bankers, fugitives, preachers, imposters, trail guides, map makers, cooks, missionaries, town builders, soiled doves, and more people who take advantage of the opportunities to make their fortunes in places where the population swelled overnight. But can faith and romance transform lives where gold is king?
448 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2016
About the author
Dianne Christner
23 books93 followersDianne Christner - Christian Fiction Author - writes Christian romance novels. She writes both Historicals and Amish Fiction. Raised in the Mennonite church, she brings authenticity to "The Plain City Bridesmaids" series.
She keeps a lighthearted reality blog called plaingirl romanticizing.
Her passion is reading and connecting with other readers and writers.
She keeps a lighthearted reality blog called plaingirl romanticizing.
Her passion is reading and connecting with other readers and writers.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 20, 2016
The California Gold Rush Romance Collection of nine stories. These stories include:
The Price of Love by Amanda Barratt
The Best Mn in Brookside by Angela Bell
Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician by Anne Greene
The Lye Water Bride by Linda Farmer Harris
A Sketch of Gold by Cyntiha Hickey
Love Is a Puzzle by Pam Hillman
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola
Gold Haven Heiress by Jamie Jo Wright
These stories are fabulous. My favorites are Amanda Barratt's The Price of Love and Jamie Jo Wright's Gold Haven Heiress.
What wonderful Collection.
Highly recommended.
5 plus stars.
The Price of Love by Amanda Barratt
The Best Mn in Brookside by Angela Bell
Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician by Anne Greene
The Lye Water Bride by Linda Farmer Harris
A Sketch of Gold by Cyntiha Hickey
Love Is a Puzzle by Pam Hillman
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola
Gold Haven Heiress by Jamie Jo Wright
These stories are fabulous. My favorites are Amanda Barratt's The Price of Love and Jamie Jo Wright's Gold Haven Heiress.
What wonderful Collection.
Highly recommended.
5 plus stars.
September 9, 2016
The California Gold Rush Romance Collection is a delightful collection of stories from nine talented and very creative authors. The plots are diverse, and I’ve never seen such an eclectic group of heroes and heroines in one book!
I enjoyed all of the stories in this book, but I was especially interested in Jaime Jo Wright’s Gold Haven Heiress, which is an unusual love story with interesting characters. Jack Taylor is a man who grew wealthy by taking advantage of gold rush miners. He’s a changed man now, and he’s using his ill-gotten riches to help others by building a community in Gold Haven, an abandoned goldmining town, to be a place of redemption, where people can come to be healed and live safely together. He didn’t expect to find the cast-off “soiled dove” Thalia Simmons hiding in the deserted town, and while he is drawn to her, she struggles to reconcile concepts of a caring man and a loving God with her painful history.
Thalia is well-drawn. Ms. Wright did a good job of portraying the prickly, shell-shocked woman. Throughout the book, her impulsive words, actions and choices are consistent with her character and circumstances. I liked the development of her friendship with Celeste. It’s hard to squeeze a story into a short novella, but this author succeeded in bringing it all together – characters, setting, plot and all.
Civilizing Clementine was another fun story in this collection, and The Golden Cross was an interesting story about the Chinese culture during the gold rush.
I enjoyed all of the stories in this book, but I was especially interested in Jaime Jo Wright’s Gold Haven Heiress, which is an unusual love story with interesting characters. Jack Taylor is a man who grew wealthy by taking advantage of gold rush miners. He’s a changed man now, and he’s using his ill-gotten riches to help others by building a community in Gold Haven, an abandoned goldmining town, to be a place of redemption, where people can come to be healed and live safely together. He didn’t expect to find the cast-off “soiled dove” Thalia Simmons hiding in the deserted town, and while he is drawn to her, she struggles to reconcile concepts of a caring man and a loving God with her painful history.
Thalia is well-drawn. Ms. Wright did a good job of portraying the prickly, shell-shocked woman. Throughout the book, her impulsive words, actions and choices are consistent with her character and circumstances. I liked the development of her friendship with Celeste. It’s hard to squeeze a story into a short novella, but this author succeeded in bringing it all together – characters, setting, plot and all.
Civilizing Clementine was another fun story in this collection, and The Golden Cross was an interesting story about the Chinese culture during the gold rush.
July 21, 2016
An entertaining set of new novellas centered on all of the people brought together in search of California gold in the 1850's!
From all the corners of the world and various walks of life, many people came out of desperation, and others for an adventure. Some went home again with their newfound wealth, hoping to change their family's status, like in the story by Angela Bell. Still more decided to stay and continue working among the down-and-out miners, and those who had sunk low, like in Anne Greene's, Dianne Christner's and Jamie Jo Wright's tales. Others came to work, report what they saw and help settle the newest state in the Union, like in Amanda Barratt's, Linda Farmer Harris', and Pam Hillman's stories. Many were driven by dire circumstances to leave their homes behind, as in Cynthia Hickey's, and Jennifer Spinola's tales, facing danger and prejudice in hopes of a better life.
I enjoyed every one of these novellas--they were all good! Particularly liked Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner, that had fun characters attempting a young woman's makeover, in the vein of My Fair Lady. Also really enjoyed Love is a Puzzle by Pam Hillman, and The Golden Cross by Jennifer Spinola.
Adventure, history, and romance wrapped together with threads of faith make this an enjoyable collection. Recommend!
4.5 stars
(Book provided by NetGalley and Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.)
From all the corners of the world and various walks of life, many people came out of desperation, and others for an adventure. Some went home again with their newfound wealth, hoping to change their family's status, like in the story by Angela Bell. Still more decided to stay and continue working among the down-and-out miners, and those who had sunk low, like in Anne Greene's, Dianne Christner's and Jamie Jo Wright's tales. Others came to work, report what they saw and help settle the newest state in the Union, like in Amanda Barratt's, Linda Farmer Harris', and Pam Hillman's stories. Many were driven by dire circumstances to leave their homes behind, as in Cynthia Hickey's, and Jennifer Spinola's tales, facing danger and prejudice in hopes of a better life.
I enjoyed every one of these novellas--they were all good! Particularly liked Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner, that had fun characters attempting a young woman's makeover, in the vein of My Fair Lady. Also really enjoyed Love is a Puzzle by Pam Hillman, and The Golden Cross by Jennifer Spinola.
Adventure, history, and romance wrapped together with threads of faith make this an enjoyable collection. Recommend!
4.5 stars
(Book provided by NetGalley and Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.)
August 29, 2017
If you love American history, you gotta love the California Gold Rush! The 1800s had many tales worth telling, but as a reader, I often find them so similar it is hard to distinguish the difference. If you're looking for an array of women's romance stories from that era, you can't go wrong with this collection of nine, all steeped in the Christian faith.
The first story is from Amanda Barratt, called The Price of Love. A young woman who is a writer accepts a bet from her employer that she can't go to California, write stories about what's happening with the gold rush, and not fall in love. There are so many men and so few women, that her boss is sure she will find a man to marry. When she balks at the challenge, he offers her a promotion if she wins. But she doesn't count on a handsome writer meeting her at the dock upon her arrival.
Next is a story from Angela Bell titled The Best Man in Brookside. This story has two main characters, a man and a woman. Although the story starts out with Donovan Gallagher panning for gold, he doesn't stay there long. He soon has his pockets full, so he heads home to reclaim his little sister and also to confront Sophia Heyer, the woman who fired him for stealing from her estate. Now that he is a rich man, life will be different.
Dianne Christner is the next author with her story, Civilizing Clementine. Clementine Cahill is an interesting character! She is a real "backwoodsy" type of gal who is uneducated and often dirty, uncouth, and pretty rough. Her father decides to fix that and hires two women to turn Clementine into a fine lady. There are lots of comedic moments, but it's not a story that stuck with me too long.
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician is by author Anne Greene. The "marriage broker" is Eve Molloy, who has taken it upon herself to find husbands for the 18-yr-old girls who are no longer welcome at the orphanage home due to their age. She loads them up and hauls them off to Eureka, California to find husbands for them. That's when Eve meets the mortician, (two interesting professions for the 1850s) and although he finds her charming and adorable, she is not so sure about him. This story had several turns that just seemed to be dropped in for no apparent reason, but still, it was entertaining.
Linda Farmer Harris wrote The Lye Water Bride, which featured Jo Bass, a banker in Dry Diggins, California. Thad is Jo's brother, although most people in town think they are husband and wife, not brother and sister. They are co-partners in the banking business and they give value to the gold nuggets that the prospector's want cashed in. But when Jo hires a man to help her at the bank, things start happening that makes her and other folks suspect he might not be on the up-and-up.
A Sketch of Gold by Cynthia Hickey is a wonderful story about nineteen-year-old, Rose, whose father talks her into dressing and acting like a boy while they pan for gold, so that untrustworthy men will leave her alone. Soon, they meet an artist who came west to sketch. Before long they find out he is also a minister. He suspects Rose is a girl, not a boy as she appears, but how in the world do you ask someone that? This story ranks near the top for me in this collection.
Next in line is Pam Hillman's story, Love is a Puzzle. This is not just a romance, it is also a light mystery with an interesting subject! Shanyn Duvall leaves her home and heads west in search of her missing father. He is a surveyor mapping the Sierra Nevada mountain region and she hasn't seen or heard from him for over two years. Last she heard, her father was looking for a new place for them to call home. When Shanyn hears that her father is dead, but can't get more details, she starts investigating. I would have liked to have heard more about her father, because not only was he a mapmaker, but he made puzzles and was also an artist. This was an interesting story and was one of my favorites.
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola is not the usual Gold Rush story. Although beautifully written, this story is heavily laden with religious overtones, almost to the point of overshadowing the story itself. Ming and her uncle are from the Canton Province of China. Just like all the other Forty-Niners, they wanted a better life and they thought San Francisco was on a mountain of gold and that all the pebbles were gold nuggets. But after arriving in San Francisco, they find the real world is very different from the one they imagined. Soon, they open a Chinese and/or Cantonese restaurant, which simply comes to life through this writer's hands. This is a story worth reading.
Last, is Gold Haven Heiress by Jamie Jo Wright—Although she's no ghost, Thalia Simmons has taken up residence in a ghost town! Thalia is a "soiled dove," scarred and shamed. But she has escaped that life, only to find a new man knocking on her ghost town door. The abandoned town of Gold Haven has more to offer than Thalia ever imagined. Wonderful story!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced.
The first story is from Amanda Barratt, called The Price of Love. A young woman who is a writer accepts a bet from her employer that she can't go to California, write stories about what's happening with the gold rush, and not fall in love. There are so many men and so few women, that her boss is sure she will find a man to marry. When she balks at the challenge, he offers her a promotion if she wins. But she doesn't count on a handsome writer meeting her at the dock upon her arrival.
Next is a story from Angela Bell titled The Best Man in Brookside. This story has two main characters, a man and a woman. Although the story starts out with Donovan Gallagher panning for gold, he doesn't stay there long. He soon has his pockets full, so he heads home to reclaim his little sister and also to confront Sophia Heyer, the woman who fired him for stealing from her estate. Now that he is a rich man, life will be different.
Dianne Christner is the next author with her story, Civilizing Clementine. Clementine Cahill is an interesting character! She is a real "backwoodsy" type of gal who is uneducated and often dirty, uncouth, and pretty rough. Her father decides to fix that and hires two women to turn Clementine into a fine lady. There are lots of comedic moments, but it's not a story that stuck with me too long.
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician is by author Anne Greene. The "marriage broker" is Eve Molloy, who has taken it upon herself to find husbands for the 18-yr-old girls who are no longer welcome at the orphanage home due to their age. She loads them up and hauls them off to Eureka, California to find husbands for them. That's when Eve meets the mortician, (two interesting professions for the 1850s) and although he finds her charming and adorable, she is not so sure about him. This story had several turns that just seemed to be dropped in for no apparent reason, but still, it was entertaining.
Linda Farmer Harris wrote The Lye Water Bride, which featured Jo Bass, a banker in Dry Diggins, California. Thad is Jo's brother, although most people in town think they are husband and wife, not brother and sister. They are co-partners in the banking business and they give value to the gold nuggets that the prospector's want cashed in. But when Jo hires a man to help her at the bank, things start happening that makes her and other folks suspect he might not be on the up-and-up.
A Sketch of Gold by Cynthia Hickey is a wonderful story about nineteen-year-old, Rose, whose father talks her into dressing and acting like a boy while they pan for gold, so that untrustworthy men will leave her alone. Soon, they meet an artist who came west to sketch. Before long they find out he is also a minister. He suspects Rose is a girl, not a boy as she appears, but how in the world do you ask someone that? This story ranks near the top for me in this collection.
Next in line is Pam Hillman's story, Love is a Puzzle. This is not just a romance, it is also a light mystery with an interesting subject! Shanyn Duvall leaves her home and heads west in search of her missing father. He is a surveyor mapping the Sierra Nevada mountain region and she hasn't seen or heard from him for over two years. Last she heard, her father was looking for a new place for them to call home. When Shanyn hears that her father is dead, but can't get more details, she starts investigating. I would have liked to have heard more about her father, because not only was he a mapmaker, but he made puzzles and was also an artist. This was an interesting story and was one of my favorites.
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola is not the usual Gold Rush story. Although beautifully written, this story is heavily laden with religious overtones, almost to the point of overshadowing the story itself. Ming and her uncle are from the Canton Province of China. Just like all the other Forty-Niners, they wanted a better life and they thought San Francisco was on a mountain of gold and that all the pebbles were gold nuggets. But after arriving in San Francisco, they find the real world is very different from the one they imagined. Soon, they open a Chinese and/or Cantonese restaurant, which simply comes to life through this writer's hands. This is a story worth reading.
Last, is Gold Haven Heiress by Jamie Jo Wright—Although she's no ghost, Thalia Simmons has taken up residence in a ghost town! Thalia is a "soiled dove," scarred and shamed. But she has escaped that life, only to find a new man knocking on her ghost town door. The abandoned town of Gold Haven has more to offer than Thalia ever imagined. Wonderful story!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced.
May 23, 2018
Rush to California after the 1848 gold discovery alongside thousands of hopeful men and women. Meet news reporters, English gentry, miners, morticians, marriage brokers, bankers, fugitives, preachers, imposters, trail guides, map makers, cooks, missionaries, town builders, soiled doves, and more people who take advantage of the opportunities to make their fortunes in places where the population swelled overnight. But can faith and romance transform lives where gold is king?
I recommend this to anyone looking for some short stories or clean romance.
My thoughts on each story below:
The Price of Love by Amanda Barratt: This one reminded me a lot of movies out there. Where the woman is career minded and wants nothing to do with love. Not one of my favorites of this collection, can’t exactly say why without ruining the story.
The Best Man in Brookside by Angela Bell: I honestly don’t remember what this one was about.
Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner: This was an interesting read about a young woman who doesn’t have class and has no desire to wear a skirt. I have to admit this one was a little too long for me. I guess it just didn’t hold my attention and I really wanted to get to the next story.
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician by Anne Greene: This was about a young woman who sets young ladies too old to stay at the orphanage to be mail order brides but has no desire to marry herself especially to a man who is a mortician.
The Lye Water Bride by Linda Farmer Harris: This one was about a brother and sister who many people think are married running a bank business. This one confused me and I had a hard time keeping the characters straight.
A Sketch of Gold by Cyntiha Hickey: This story is about a girl dressing like a boy because her father is worried about her being around men looking for gold. They soon meet a preacher who sees right through it. I have to admit this one was one of my favorites and made me giggle a lot.
Love Is a Puzzle by Pam Hillman: This one was about a young woman looking for her father who painted puzzle pieces. Very interesting story line when you stop to think about it. I loved the romantic ending to this one.
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola: I really enjoyed this story. It was about a Chinese culture and being missionaries where you are at. You never know what 5 minute interaction could do for a persons faith.
Gold Haven Heiress by Jamie Jo Wright: I have to admit I only picked up this collection to read this new release by Jamie, my favorite local author. I enjoyed this love story. It was full of interesting characters and lots of twists and turns full of suspense.
I rate this collection a 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend this to anyone looking for some short stories or clean romance.
My thoughts on each story below:
The Price of Love by Amanda Barratt: This one reminded me a lot of movies out there. Where the woman is career minded and wants nothing to do with love. Not one of my favorites of this collection, can’t exactly say why without ruining the story.
The Best Man in Brookside by Angela Bell: I honestly don’t remember what this one was about.
Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner: This was an interesting read about a young woman who doesn’t have class and has no desire to wear a skirt. I have to admit this one was a little too long for me. I guess it just didn’t hold my attention and I really wanted to get to the next story.
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician by Anne Greene: This was about a young woman who sets young ladies too old to stay at the orphanage to be mail order brides but has no desire to marry herself especially to a man who is a mortician.
The Lye Water Bride by Linda Farmer Harris: This one was about a brother and sister who many people think are married running a bank business. This one confused me and I had a hard time keeping the characters straight.
A Sketch of Gold by Cyntiha Hickey: This story is about a girl dressing like a boy because her father is worried about her being around men looking for gold. They soon meet a preacher who sees right through it. I have to admit this one was one of my favorites and made me giggle a lot.
Love Is a Puzzle by Pam Hillman: This one was about a young woman looking for her father who painted puzzle pieces. Very interesting story line when you stop to think about it. I loved the romantic ending to this one.
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola: I really enjoyed this story. It was about a Chinese culture and being missionaries where you are at. You never know what 5 minute interaction could do for a persons faith.
Gold Haven Heiress by Jamie Jo Wright: I have to admit I only picked up this collection to read this new release by Jamie, my favorite local author. I enjoyed this love story. It was full of interesting characters and lots of twists and turns full of suspense.
I rate this collection a 5 out of 5 stars.
June 26, 2023
I love reading analogies for the simple reason of having multiple stories all in one book and how the pages are cut with the uneven edges.
So many ups and downs in people trying to make a new life for themselves in a strange new world. Nor can I imagine starting out with literally nothing in that new life.
It’s hard to pick a favorite amongst all these great stories of these brave pioneers but I like “Love Is a Puzzle” by Pam Hillman and “The Golden Cross” by Jennifer Rogers Spinola!
Awesome writing!!!!!
I’d highly recommend this book!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. This is opinion is my own.
So many ups and downs in people trying to make a new life for themselves in a strange new world. Nor can I imagine starting out with literally nothing in that new life.
It’s hard to pick a favorite amongst all these great stories of these brave pioneers but I like “Love Is a Puzzle” by Pam Hillman and “The Golden Cross” by Jennifer Rogers Spinola!
Awesome writing!!!!!
I’d highly recommend this book!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. This is opinion is my own.
February 19, 2024
The thing with the collections is that the ratings sometimes will vary based on the whole collection. I wish I could give individual ratings. But since I can't a 4 is the lowest I want to go, given that most were in the 4/5 star range.
Individual ratings...
5 stars:
A Sketch of Gold - Cynthia Hickey
Love is a Puzzle -Pam Hillman
4 stars:
The Price of Gold - Amanda Barratt
Civilizing Clementine - Dianne Christine
Gold Haven Heiress - Jaime Jo Wright
3 Stars:
The Best Man in Brookside - Angela Bell
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician - Anne Green
2 Stars:
The Lye Water Bride - Linda Farmer Harris
The Golden Cross - Jennifer Rogers Spinola
Individual ratings...
5 stars:
A Sketch of Gold - Cynthia Hickey
Love is a Puzzle -Pam Hillman
4 stars:
The Price of Gold - Amanda Barratt
Civilizing Clementine - Dianne Christine
Gold Haven Heiress - Jaime Jo Wright
3 Stars:
The Best Man in Brookside - Angela Bell
The Marriage Broker and the Mortician - Anne Green
2 Stars:
The Lye Water Bride - Linda Farmer Harris
The Golden Cross - Jennifer Rogers Spinola
February 23, 2017
Everyone, from all walks of life, is caught up in gold fever during the California gold rush. The anthology richly captures a slice of life during this tumultuous and exciting time in American history.
Nine authors come together to give a unique perspective on the robust era of the gold rush.
Amanda Barratt pens the story of Lorena Quinn, in The Price of Love. Lorena is a struggling new reporter who jumps at the chance to cover the gold rush and to prove her boss wrong. Women don’t need men to take care of them, even if the woman is unbecoming with unfashionably red hair.
The Best Man in Brookside by Angela Bell focuses on Donovan, an Irish immigrant to England. However, Donovan had to flee England after being falsely accused of theft. He feels himself a failure for having to leave his little sister and wants to vindicate himself. So, he seeks his fortune in gold in America, hoping to free himself and his sister.
Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner, introduces us to Clementine Cahill, forced to return to San Francisco with her Chilean friends after her father is injured in a logging accident. Motherless Clementine begins to feel betrayed when her invalid father badgers her to clean up her grammar and start wearing dresses.
Ann Green’s story, The Marriage Broker and the Mortician, opens with the robbery of Eve Malloy, while she was at a boarding house. Rafe Riley, happening upon the scene 15 minutes later, offers to assist her and takes her to dinner when none of the multitudes of men at the boarding house seem to care.
Jo Bass is made known to us in The Lye Water Bride by Linda Farmer Harris. Jo and her brother Thaddeus run the local bank. However, Thaddeus falls ill, leaving Jo with the chore of caring for day-to-day operations.
Cynthia Hickey writes the story of Rose McIroy in A Sketch of Gold. Poor Rose is forced to cut her hair to hide her muliebrity. She can’t believe her father's latest get rich quick scheme involves trying to pass her off as a male and call her boy all the time.
Pam Hillman’s tale, Love is a Puzzle, presents the story of Shanyn Duvall and her aunt who traveled from the tip of South America to Sacramento in the hopes of seeing Shanyn’s father. They learn he has passed away, and during this time, Sacramento is not a friendly town for two single women.
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola centers on Ming and her uncle, who travel from China to California. Ming feels God called her to be a missionary to America, and her uncle is hoping they can find riches in the gold-rich state.
Golden Haven Heiress, by Jamie Jo Wright, is about Jack Taylor and Thalia Simmons, residents of a ghost town. Thalia, trying to escape her past, moved to Golden Haven to be left alone, then Jack shows up and disrupts her peaceful life.
The stories in the Gold Rush Collection differs in their seriousness of Biblical applications. However, each author does a fitting job of presenting Christian principles.
I thoroughly delighted in each story and each author’s interpretation of the gold rush time frame. I also enjoyed the ability to read as many or as few stories as I wanted in one sitting.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nine authors come together to give a unique perspective on the robust era of the gold rush.
Amanda Barratt pens the story of Lorena Quinn, in The Price of Love. Lorena is a struggling new reporter who jumps at the chance to cover the gold rush and to prove her boss wrong. Women don’t need men to take care of them, even if the woman is unbecoming with unfashionably red hair.
The Best Man in Brookside by Angela Bell focuses on Donovan, an Irish immigrant to England. However, Donovan had to flee England after being falsely accused of theft. He feels himself a failure for having to leave his little sister and wants to vindicate himself. So, he seeks his fortune in gold in America, hoping to free himself and his sister.
Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner, introduces us to Clementine Cahill, forced to return to San Francisco with her Chilean friends after her father is injured in a logging accident. Motherless Clementine begins to feel betrayed when her invalid father badgers her to clean up her grammar and start wearing dresses.
Ann Green’s story, The Marriage Broker and the Mortician, opens with the robbery of Eve Malloy, while she was at a boarding house. Rafe Riley, happening upon the scene 15 minutes later, offers to assist her and takes her to dinner when none of the multitudes of men at the boarding house seem to care.
Jo Bass is made known to us in The Lye Water Bride by Linda Farmer Harris. Jo and her brother Thaddeus run the local bank. However, Thaddeus falls ill, leaving Jo with the chore of caring for day-to-day operations.
Cynthia Hickey writes the story of Rose McIroy in A Sketch of Gold. Poor Rose is forced to cut her hair to hide her muliebrity. She can’t believe her father's latest get rich quick scheme involves trying to pass her off as a male and call her boy all the time.
Pam Hillman’s tale, Love is a Puzzle, presents the story of Shanyn Duvall and her aunt who traveled from the tip of South America to Sacramento in the hopes of seeing Shanyn’s father. They learn he has passed away, and during this time, Sacramento is not a friendly town for two single women.
The Golden Cross by Jennifer Rogers Spinola centers on Ming and her uncle, who travel from China to California. Ming feels God called her to be a missionary to America, and her uncle is hoping they can find riches in the gold-rich state.
Golden Haven Heiress, by Jamie Jo Wright, is about Jack Taylor and Thalia Simmons, residents of a ghost town. Thalia, trying to escape her past, moved to Golden Haven to be left alone, then Jack shows up and disrupts her peaceful life.
The stories in the Gold Rush Collection differs in their seriousness of Biblical applications. However, each author does a fitting job of presenting Christian principles.
I thoroughly delighted in each story and each author’s interpretation of the gold rush time frame. I also enjoyed the ability to read as many or as few stories as I wanted in one sitting.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2021
3.5 is my rating.. I usually love these anthologies, but this one was not one of my favorites. Although there was a lot of variety in the 9 stories, I just felt some of the tales weren't as polished and well-written as I've come to expect. Some of them felt rushed and caused me to feel a disconnect. However, there were others that met my expectations and were fun and enjoyable. This is why I give it a 3.5.
June 1, 2020
Each story in this romance collection left me smiling. All were well crafted and page-turners. They were so realistic, I felt as if I were experiencing the gold rush era through these stories. I was sad when the book ended.
Could I choose one or two favorites? No, because they were all fantastic in my opinion.
Could I choose one or two favorites? No, because they were all fantastic in my opinion.
June 4, 2019
Good but not crossing the country to get here. But people that got to California a different way.
August 20, 2021
Gold Haven Heiress by Jaime Jo Wright was a super sweet read!
Read
October 14, 2023Just read Gold Haven Heiress by Jaime Jo Wright.
August 8, 2016
The California Gold Rush Romance Collection
9 Stories of Finding Treasures Worth More than Gold
by Amanda Barratt, Angela Bell, Dianne Christner, Anne Greene, Linda Farmer Harris, Cynthia Hickey, Pam Hillman, Jennifer Rogers Spinola, Jaime Jo Wright
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Barbour Books
Christian, Romance
Pub Date 01 Aug 2016
I was given a Copy of The California Gold Rush Collection through the publisher and their partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
The first story in this collection takes us to New York where Lorena Quinn is a lady writer for a magazine but finds out she will soon be leaving the comforts of New York to board a ship to San Francisco, where she runs into desperate men, but also finds herself caring for a baby girl she found in a rubbish heap.
Lorena Quinn does not expect to find love in San Francisco but soon finds herself falling for Caleb Maddox.
In the Second Story The Best Man in Brookside we are introduced to Donovan and Sophia. Sophia is the youngest of six, but at twenty five she is tired of being treated as if she is a child incapable of giving their frail Father the care he deserves. Finally her sister Gertrude sends her a letter if she succeeds at the Brookside Annual fair, they will leave her alone.
Soon Sophia and Donovan find themselves falling for each other despite the different backgrounds.
In Civiling Clementine, Clementine finds herself headed to San Francisco from there Camp when her Father is injured, in search of a doctor to set his broken leg, which he is at the risk of loosing.
The Doctor soon takes a liking to Clementine but is put off by the fact she does not act lady like. Soon Clementine is going through etiquette training where she learns how to be more lady like.
In the Marriage Broker and the Mortician we are introduced to Eve Molloy and Rafe. Eve Molloy is struggling to make due and Rafe is a Mortician who has taking a liking to Eve but she is stubborn. Will Eve let her stubbornness win?
The Lye Water Bride we are transported back to 1849 in Dry Diggins where we meet Jo Bass, who with her brother owns The Dry Diggins Bank, but everyone seems to mistake her brother for her husband.
When Jo hires Hawkins as a teller, Zeke Keller tries to warn her of the trouble he was in, In New York, he wants her to know the man can not be trusted.
Soon errors start to show up, but they are mistakingly put on Zeke Keller because like he did in New York Hawkins is framing him.
In a Sketch of Gold we are taken to 1851 where we meet Rose Mcllroy and Jackson, Jackson the minister quickly finds himself falling in Love with Rose.
Will Rose and Jackson end up marrying find out in The Sketch of Gold.
In Love is A Puzzle we are taken to 1850 Sacramento Territory where we meet Shanyn Duvall where her and her Aunt arrive to find Shanyn's Father but discover he died. But Shanyn does not believe that and soon finds out there was a mistake.
Nick quickly finds himself wanting to come to Shanyn's rescue, wants to keep her safe. Will Shanyn come to realize he is falling in love with her, does she feel the same way?
Find out in Love Is A Puzzle.
The Golden Cross takes us from The Canton Province China in 1850 where we meet Ming who travels to America with her Uncle in search of a better lif and in order not to be married to a man she does not love, and she also wishes to share The God of the Bible with others but the journey there is hard and she is often sea sick.
One day in her restraunt Ming meets up with the Christian man she met up on the boat, the man that prefers to be called Jonah. But will this reunion lead to something more?
In Gold Haven Heiress we meet Jack Taylor and Thalia Simmons who quickly chases Jack off her property.
Thalia Simmons tells Jack she is a whore, but Jack sees the pain in her eyes.
Can Thalia make room in her hurt heart for a man named Jack Simmons, a man who does not hold her past against her.
I give the stories In the California Gold Rush Collection five out of five stars.
Happy Reading.
August 26, 2016
Sometimes, I've found that these novella collections can be a bit hit or miss. Many of the stories don't have enough length to remain entertaining or there is too much that is trying to be packed into one story. But I was impressed with this collection. While I don't know if it will be a standout collection for me, it was fun to use these stories as a changeup once in awhile from reading novels. Most every story was entertaining and well written. Overall, it is a collection that I would reccommend if you are looking for a decent set of novellas.
THE PRICE OF LOVE by Amanda Barratt
I love a good tale that involves a stubborn female protagonist. This little story certainly had that. This was certainly a strong first story to this collection. While there were a few moments that they story felt a bit rushed (and I think this story idea really could have been a novel on its own), I was still swept into the gold rush and loved every moment of it.
THE BEST MAN IN BROOKSIDE by Angela Bell
This particular story did not feel nearly as goldrush-y as the rest. But I enjoyed it. It was one that will certainly stand out as it takes place in England (don't worry, gold still plays a bit of a role). But this was a cute story and I really enjoyed it.
CIVILIZING CLEMENTINE by Dianne Christner
I honestly felt this little story was downright funny. Maybe a bit over the top at times, but every once in awhile those types of stories are fun to read. And honestly, there were a couple of interesting twists in this one that I didn't expect. The story worked well for it's shorter length and didn't ever feel too short or too rushed.
THE MARRIAGE BROKER AND THE MORTICIAN by Anne Greene
This story was quite interesting for me. I don't think I've ever come across a novel with a mortician as a main character... and honestly, I loved it and catching a glimpse into what that job would have been like during the Gold Rush.
THE LYE WATER BRIDE by Linda Farmer Harris
For whatever reason, this story read very disjointedly for me. Everything was there for a good story, but at times I just felt like the storyline jumped around a bit out of order or something. I had a hard time following it.
A SKETCH OF GOLD by Cynthia Hickey
A Sketch of Gold was a sweet story about a woman who travels with her father. To keep her safe, she ends up cutting her hair and dressing as a boy. But a newspaperman discovers her secret and also decides to win her heart. The story was a fun read, and quick.
LOVE IS A PUZZLE by Pam Hillman
I adored this story, and it was probably one of my favorites form this collection. Everything from an interesting premise (a girl trying to solve the puzzles her father left to find him) to the characters, I was charmed.
THE GOLDEN CROSS by Jennifer Rogers Spinola
I found this story to be very unique in this collection. Starting in China, it follows the tale of an impoverished woman and her uncle as they make their way to California to find enough gold to survive. While the story relied heavily on dreams from God, I did overall enjoy this tale.
GOLD HAVEN HEIRESS by Jaime Jo Wright
Gold Haven Heiress made a wonderful ending to this collection. This particular story read almost as an allegory to the message of salvation. For it's short length, I found that it packed in some wonderful themes wrapped in a simply sweet story.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
THE PRICE OF LOVE by Amanda Barratt
I love a good tale that involves a stubborn female protagonist. This little story certainly had that. This was certainly a strong first story to this collection. While there were a few moments that they story felt a bit rushed (and I think this story idea really could have been a novel on its own), I was still swept into the gold rush and loved every moment of it.
THE BEST MAN IN BROOKSIDE by Angela Bell
This particular story did not feel nearly as goldrush-y as the rest. But I enjoyed it. It was one that will certainly stand out as it takes place in England (don't worry, gold still plays a bit of a role). But this was a cute story and I really enjoyed it.
CIVILIZING CLEMENTINE by Dianne Christner
I honestly felt this little story was downright funny. Maybe a bit over the top at times, but every once in awhile those types of stories are fun to read. And honestly, there were a couple of interesting twists in this one that I didn't expect. The story worked well for it's shorter length and didn't ever feel too short or too rushed.
THE MARRIAGE BROKER AND THE MORTICIAN by Anne Greene
This story was quite interesting for me. I don't think I've ever come across a novel with a mortician as a main character... and honestly, I loved it and catching a glimpse into what that job would have been like during the Gold Rush.
THE LYE WATER BRIDE by Linda Farmer Harris
For whatever reason, this story read very disjointedly for me. Everything was there for a good story, but at times I just felt like the storyline jumped around a bit out of order or something. I had a hard time following it.
A SKETCH OF GOLD by Cynthia Hickey
A Sketch of Gold was a sweet story about a woman who travels with her father. To keep her safe, she ends up cutting her hair and dressing as a boy. But a newspaperman discovers her secret and also decides to win her heart. The story was a fun read, and quick.
LOVE IS A PUZZLE by Pam Hillman
I adored this story, and it was probably one of my favorites form this collection. Everything from an interesting premise (a girl trying to solve the puzzles her father left to find him) to the characters, I was charmed.
THE GOLDEN CROSS by Jennifer Rogers Spinola
I found this story to be very unique in this collection. Starting in China, it follows the tale of an impoverished woman and her uncle as they make their way to California to find enough gold to survive. While the story relied heavily on dreams from God, I did overall enjoy this tale.
GOLD HAVEN HEIRESS by Jaime Jo Wright
Gold Haven Heiress made a wonderful ending to this collection. This particular story read almost as an allegory to the message of salvation. For it's short length, I found that it packed in some wonderful themes wrapped in a simply sweet story.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
September 22, 2016
The gold rush years in America were an interesting time. Our country was young and growing and the west coast had an influx of people from all over the world. This collection from Barbour Books is centralized around this fascinating period of history. Most of the novels in this collection center around women and what a difficult yet opportunistic time it was for females during the gold rush.
All of the novels in this collection are well done with good story lines and really good character development. They do vary on their depth of a Christian based message, some have a very strong Christian messages and some have a positive message overall but what I would call Christian light, and one (Love is a Puzzle) doesn't really mention God or Jesus at all.
My personal favorite is Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner it is funny, well written and an easy read. It also has a great salvation and redemption message. Dianne did a really good job of incorporating a strong Christina message without it becoming at all preachy and I just loved her supporting characters, they are really well developed. Overall I think you will enjoy The California Gold Rush Romance Collection by Barbour Publishing the stories are all well done and you will learn about this time period in America.
I was given this book by Barbour Publishing for my honest opinion. You can read all of my reviews at Blessings N Bloggings
All of the novels in this collection are well done with good story lines and really good character development. They do vary on their depth of a Christian based message, some have a very strong Christian messages and some have a positive message overall but what I would call Christian light, and one (Love is a Puzzle) doesn't really mention God or Jesus at all.
My personal favorite is Civilizing Clementine by Dianne Christner it is funny, well written and an easy read. It also has a great salvation and redemption message. Dianne did a really good job of incorporating a strong Christina message without it becoming at all preachy and I just loved her supporting characters, they are really well developed. Overall I think you will enjoy The California Gold Rush Romance Collection by Barbour Publishing the stories are all well done and you will learn about this time period in America.
I was given this book by Barbour Publishing for my honest opinion. You can read all of my reviews at Blessings N Bloggings
October 4, 2016
It is no secret that I love these Bride Collections from Barbour. I pick which ones I want to read based on the theme and, usually, a single author that I already know and enjoy. In this case, it was solely an author that had me requesting an ebook through NetGalley. Having previously enjoyed Angela Bell's contribution to the Lassoed By Marriage Romance Collection, I was excited to see what she would do for the Gold Rush theme and how she would take it to England and add her signature twist with well-researched steam based technology. Her story, The Best Man in Brookside, was definitely a favorite as Irishman Donovan returns to England with his fortune in gold, determined to care for his sister and exact revenge on Sophia, the Englishwoman who blackened his name in the village of Brookside. I especially enjoyed how his accent bled into the third person narrative whenever it was focused on his point of view.
As with this story, my two other favorites also took us away from the actual mining. Jamie Joe Wright gives us a wounded soiled dove and a rich man on a mission to transform the ghost town she inhabits. Dianne Christner treats the reader to a rough and tumble Clementine whose father hires the Last Resort Traveling Etiquette School to refine her after a potential suitor’s rejection.
The other stories continue to entertain with a variety of settings and characters. Amanda Barratt's story tells of two newspaper editors unwittingly in competition for the same promotion. Anne Greene sets her story of a marriage broker determined not to wed and a mortician in Eureka, California. Linda Farmer Harris features a banker and a fugitive, Cynthia Hickey a newspaperman/artist/preacher and a woman forced to masquerade as a boy, and Jennifer Rogers Spinola adds a bit of diversity with her story of Chinese immigrants. In the one story that actually had me saying “Awww,” Pam Hillman takes us into the wilds of California Territory with a surveyor and a cartographer.
Overall, another solid collection from Barbour that is entertaining and a satisfying romance read with nine Happily Ever Afters. Definitely would make my top 10, if not top 5 of the Bride Collections I’ve read so far.
This review refers to a review ebook copy I read for free, courtesy of the publisher, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own. My original, unedited review can be read at http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-1CK
As with this story, my two other favorites also took us away from the actual mining. Jamie Joe Wright gives us a wounded soiled dove and a rich man on a mission to transform the ghost town she inhabits. Dianne Christner treats the reader to a rough and tumble Clementine whose father hires the Last Resort Traveling Etiquette School to refine her after a potential suitor’s rejection.
The other stories continue to entertain with a variety of settings and characters. Amanda Barratt's story tells of two newspaper editors unwittingly in competition for the same promotion. Anne Greene sets her story of a marriage broker determined not to wed and a mortician in Eureka, California. Linda Farmer Harris features a banker and a fugitive, Cynthia Hickey a newspaperman/artist/preacher and a woman forced to masquerade as a boy, and Jennifer Rogers Spinola adds a bit of diversity with her story of Chinese immigrants. In the one story that actually had me saying “Awww,” Pam Hillman takes us into the wilds of California Territory with a surveyor and a cartographer.
Overall, another solid collection from Barbour that is entertaining and a satisfying romance read with nine Happily Ever Afters. Definitely would make my top 10, if not top 5 of the Bride Collections I’ve read so far.
This review refers to a review ebook copy I read for free, courtesy of the publisher, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own. My original, unedited review can be read at http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-1CK
August 2, 2016
Great book about riches from the heart!
I loved reading about all the history of the gold rush and the inspiring stories from that era. Here are a few of my favorites.
The story ‘Civilizing Clementine’ the way Clementine’s pa sought out two ladies to refine Clementine in this story had quite the comical scenes that kept me smiling and wanting to find out how things worked out for her. What a hoot!
In ‘The Marriage Broker and the Mortician’ from Eureka CA 1850 well let’s just say, that was an interesting way to make a living! Eve Molloy gets robbed first thing and if that isn’t enough to grab you, her long curly hair and green eyes makes her a beauty to remember plus that she brings brides to find husbands is unforgettable! Rafe Riley has his eyes set on making her his bride but he will have to work extra hard to make that happen as Eve is set on never being a bride herself.
In ‘Love Is a Puzzle’ what I loved in this story is that Shanyn Duvall never gave up on finding her father Obadiah, when others thought he was probably dead. Her father made beautiful puzzles out of wood and painted pictures on them along with clues to make one wonder. Plus he taught this talent to his daughter Shanyn. She kept going with her Aunt Skee and never hesitated that she would find her father; as a bonus she finds wide-eyed romance along the way. That is how faith is supposed to be.
Last ‘The Golden Cross’ what a vast unwavering faith Ming and her uncle Wang have! They travel from their native country China to America. They have enormous faith in God that he will answer their prayers to provide for their needs.
On their way to America, Ming meets someone who tells his endearing story and she ends up with his cross necklace which she keeps in hopes of finding him again.
After Ming and her uncle, come together again, she finds not everything is golden.
But she does find a way to make end meet through the way she cooks their soup. Ming’s soup is not just nourishment it is also comfort for the soul and heart.
Outstanding stories about faith, hope, and love.
If you like reading about the gold rush history and romances that come from the heart, then this book will give you some joyful reading.
I, was given this book, by Netgalley.com for review purposes.
I loved reading about all the history of the gold rush and the inspiring stories from that era. Here are a few of my favorites.
The story ‘Civilizing Clementine’ the way Clementine’s pa sought out two ladies to refine Clementine in this story had quite the comical scenes that kept me smiling and wanting to find out how things worked out for her. What a hoot!
In ‘The Marriage Broker and the Mortician’ from Eureka CA 1850 well let’s just say, that was an interesting way to make a living! Eve Molloy gets robbed first thing and if that isn’t enough to grab you, her long curly hair and green eyes makes her a beauty to remember plus that she brings brides to find husbands is unforgettable! Rafe Riley has his eyes set on making her his bride but he will have to work extra hard to make that happen as Eve is set on never being a bride herself.
In ‘Love Is a Puzzle’ what I loved in this story is that Shanyn Duvall never gave up on finding her father Obadiah, when others thought he was probably dead. Her father made beautiful puzzles out of wood and painted pictures on them along with clues to make one wonder. Plus he taught this talent to his daughter Shanyn. She kept going with her Aunt Skee and never hesitated that she would find her father; as a bonus she finds wide-eyed romance along the way. That is how faith is supposed to be.
Last ‘The Golden Cross’ what a vast unwavering faith Ming and her uncle Wang have! They travel from their native country China to America. They have enormous faith in God that he will answer their prayers to provide for their needs.
On their way to America, Ming meets someone who tells his endearing story and she ends up with his cross necklace which she keeps in hopes of finding him again.
After Ming and her uncle, come together again, she finds not everything is golden.
But she does find a way to make end meet through the way she cooks their soup. Ming’s soup is not just nourishment it is also comfort for the soul and heart.
Outstanding stories about faith, hope, and love.
If you like reading about the gold rush history and romances that come from the heart, then this book will give you some joyful reading.
I, was given this book, by Netgalley.com for review purposes.
June 22, 2016
Whenever I see that Barbour Publishing has a collection to read, I jump on it like a rabbit on a carrot. These are nice little novellas to read to fill an hour when you don't want to be too involved in the plot of the book. A lot of them do fit the Romance Novel Formula, but they still will have a few surprises. But there is one more aspect to the formula I haven't really hit on, and that is by the time the first chapter or two is over, the reader knows which boy and which girl are going to end up together.
The California Gold Rush Romance Collection is really no different than any other romance collection, but there are a couple of stand-out novellas. The Golden Cross and Gold Haven Heiress are two that don't really fit into the mold and really are intriguing. The Golden Cross tells the story of a man and his niece immigrating from China to find gold, but they find something more they can do that is more valuable than gold. The Gold Haven Heiress tells the story from Thalia's viewpoint, and Thalia is a girl who has lived a long life for her few years. She has settled in the ghost town of Gold Haven because it allows her to be alone. When Jack Taylor moves in, that messes up her plans to live a solitary life.
This is a strong four star book.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
The California Gold Rush Romance Collection is really no different than any other romance collection, but there are a couple of stand-out novellas. The Golden Cross and Gold Haven Heiress are two that don't really fit into the mold and really are intriguing. The Golden Cross tells the story of a man and his niece immigrating from China to find gold, but they find something more they can do that is more valuable than gold. The Gold Haven Heiress tells the story from Thalia's viewpoint, and Thalia is a girl who has lived a long life for her few years. She has settled in the ghost town of Gold Haven because it allows her to be alone. When Jack Taylor moves in, that messes up her plans to live a solitary life.
This is a strong four star book.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
August 4, 2016
Nine authors come together to write historical romance novellas centered on the California gold rush. Each author takes a different look at the hardships, triumphs, and relationships that steamed from the fervor the gold caused. The connection between each story is the faith that is woven throughout the plot, the location and topic of each story, and the romantic story.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a great glimpse into each author's writing style. Some of these are authors that I've enjoyed in the past, but a few were new to me. A couple of the stories felt very rushed in the timeline of the romance. But overall, all of these were sweet, romantic, filled with faith, and were a wonderful entertainment on a rainy day. The stories are short and since they aren't really connected can be read alone. This makes this a great book for those times when you only have a short time to read. Overall, I think this was an entertaining book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys clean, historical romance novellas.
I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a great glimpse into each author's writing style. Some of these are authors that I've enjoyed in the past, but a few were new to me. A couple of the stories felt very rushed in the timeline of the romance. But overall, all of these were sweet, romantic, filled with faith, and were a wonderful entertainment on a rainy day. The stories are short and since they aren't really connected can be read alone. This makes this a great book for those times when you only have a short time to read. Overall, I think this was an entertaining book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys clean, historical romance novellas.
I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 4, 2016
This is a cute little collection of California Gold Rush centered short stories. Nine authors with mostly different perspectives and writing styles, and stories entertaining enough—and, honestly, short enough—to keep me engaged. I've been on a frontier kick of late, plucking up all the books and movies I can on the theme. This hit a sweet spot, which was nice since the last couple of books I read were further off the mark. I think this compilation is perfect for anyone looking for reads that don't require much time or effort, or those wanting to sample bits from authors in the genre they've not tried before. These are well crafted, easy to read, and a fun way to pass the time.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Barbour Books, who furnished an ARC of this book for my honest opinion, which this certainly is.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Barbour Books, who furnished an ARC of this book for my honest opinion, which this certainly is.
June 5, 2016
This is a truly beautiful collection of stories that leave you with a good feeling as you complete each story. They stretch from China to Ireland obviously including California on the way. The stories were so different from each other that they are easily remembered including a Chinese uncle and niece that have reached well below the poverty line with no friends in China as they don't worship the household gods of the neighbourhood to a girl who has moved into an abandoned village only to find it overtaken by a rich prospector cum businessman and a female newspaper reporter sent to report on the gold rush.
Overall a very enjoyable and diverse collection of stories which I thoroughly recommend.
ARC from NetGalley for an honest and impartial review.
Overall a very enjoyable and diverse collection of stories which I thoroughly recommend.
ARC from NetGalley for an honest and impartial review.
August 20, 2016
This book drew me in with the very first story when it says, "Gold fever is on everyone's lips, drummed into everyone's brain, and dreamed about on everyone's pillow." This sums up the book. This book nine authors and each author is gifted and you know who gifted them by reading the book when you read GOD is intertwined with each story. Each novella stands alone and well it should have because each tugs at the heartstring and each is better than the last if indeed that is truly possible. It communicates to the readers Historical Romance and how correct each one is. You are surprised by some of it. You read each one and you fall in love with each character and the one thing that I hated about the novellas is that they were over.
October 19, 2016
Read this collection all the way through and loved how the last story was post gold rush so even in the collection we can see the history of the gold rush as well as the beauty of the romances. Some very unique stories and lovely romances. My only complaint was that the last story seemed more like a marriage of convenience even athough the end, not a really a romance? Very worthwhile collection to read!
November 12, 2016
I received this book as a prize in a contest. I hadn't read a paperback book in ages; it was fun to hold a book in my hands again. This was a delightful read! Every story was exceptional; each author approached the period history from a different point of view. The characters were well developed and believable. I'm so glad I got this book; I'm always looking for new Christian authors. I feel as though I can trust these new "friends" to provide me with clean, enjoyable reading.
October 12, 2018
Wonderful collection of nine stories. Each is well written and very enjoyable. I love the Barbor collections. This is a collection I will want to read again.
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