Another beautifully written story by this author. A dual timeline with well developed characters. I always enjoy reading the stories this author writes.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy

I'm in awe! I just finished a beautiful book by Joanne Bischof called The Gold in These Hills. It is classified as Contemporary Christian Fiction. Please don't let that scare you away. It is not in your face Christian. Joanne Bischof is a new author for me and as soon as I finished this book, I was looking to see what else she has written that I could read. She did a phenomenal job with this book.

There were two timelines in this story that took place on the same piece of property. How awesome is that? The first timeline took place a hundred years ago when property was part of a ghost town. The modern timeline includes the house that was built for the town founder that still stands and was recently used as a museum. My only problem with the book was that I loved both timelines and since the each chapter went forward and backward, I found myself not wanting to leave the time period I was reading. I wanted more of each one!

Bischof's writing had a nice and easy flow. It was a piece of art. The characters were well developed and not one dimensional. I fell in love more than once with a character or two or four in this book.

The Christian parts of the book only made you think of blessings and hardships and how all our lives go through them. It made you think a little bit.

I would highly recommend this book to my best friend. It was entertaining and thought provoking. If your looking for a read that will give you all the feels, this book is it. I'm looking forward to reading more from Bischof.

I received a copy of this book from #Netgalley/#FirstEditions/#ThomasNelson for a fair and honest review. Thank you!

I loved this book! Joanne Bischof’s beautifully written The Gold in These Hills tells the individual stories of Juniper Cohen and Johnny Sutherland, who lived a century apart. Their dual timeline stories seamlessly intertwine with an old home, letters, and the town of Kenworthy. Johnny has purchased the former home of Juniper Cohen, and as he digs deeper into its history, his life, which is in turmoil, will forever change. The Gold in These Hills is a story of second chances, healing, and how the past affects the present. Bischof has given her readers a treasure of a book, one that will leave her readers wanting more. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel!

1902 - Juniper is waiting for her husband to return, she doesn’t even know if he will return, she doesn’t know if he is still alive. She met her husband as a mail-order bride but has come to love John. They have one daughter, Bethany, and while she waits for him to return, she writes letters to him. She feels his betrayal with the mine, with everything she thought to be the truth.

Present time - Johnny Sutherland doesn’t want his marriage to dissolve but his former wife, Emily has already moved on. He has recently bought a house in Kenworthy, California with the intention to flip this house, it’s what he does. He is grieving what he can’t have anymore, he adores his two young children, he simply delights in them.

Both Johnny and Juniper have had to make hard decisions, and then they need to move forward after those choices have been made. This was a lovely story about forgiveness, love, and trust in what we don’t understand. This story is simply beautiful.

Gratitude to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Gold In These Hills by Joanne Bischof is a beautifully written book with a duel time line. The prose is poetic and rich in details. I'm not certain what I was expecting. But this tale in both time lines is heart wrenching. I found myself with tears in several of the chapters. With that said, the author ends the book with doses of hope. I had to ponder this book for a while. The world is messed up and things happen in life that we didn't ask for, or expect. I love how the author shows how trusting in the Lord, we can put one foot in front of the other. And that was very encouraging.

Classic Joanne Bischof. Beautifully written. Believable characters. Thought-provoking storyline. Dual intersecting themes. Treat yourself to this masterpiece. Five stars.

Joanne Bischof is a fantastic writer who is a master at creating realistic, engaging characters and placing them in intriguing situations. In this dual-time novel of life in the mountains of Kenworthy, California in the early 1900s and then again at present time, I felt as if the ghost town was almost a character in itself. I loved the history included in the story. It took me a while to really get into the story, and as is sometimes the case, it was a little jarring to me to slip back and forth between time periods. However, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more from this author. She writes beautifully and always has obviously engaged in much research into the geographical setting of the book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Joanna Bischof’s latest, Gold in These Hills, was absolutely stunning. Told in dual perspective/ time periods, Bischof unveiled a tale ripe with mystery, heartache, love, and determination. With a writing style full of poetic prose, gripping descriptions, and depth of character, this story utterly captivated me. On more than one occasion I was brought to tears as I rooted for the hero and heroine and felt the depth of their struggles.

This is a story of healing, of reconciliation, and of perseverance - a story that completely engulfed my mind and heart. As I ended the book, I couldn’t help but long for more, desiring more than anything to continue on with characters who had taken over my heart.

This book is not one to overlook. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

I received the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is a well written dual timeline story that holds your attention from the first page until the last. The two timelines are woven together beautiful and are full of hope and inspiration. This is a book you don't want to miss. I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof is one of my all time favorite books, and dual timelines are one of my favorite book types. To put it mildly, I was really looking forward to finding out how the author of one of my favorite books was going to tackle a dual timeline.

The Gold in these Hills caught me up in the story rather quickly, and I felt my heart breaking for everything that Juniper (in the past) and Johnny (in the present) were having to navigate through. Their marriages have gone in directions that neither of them could have ever seen coming, and they're both left wondering is this all there is to life? When Johnny ends up purchasing a fixer upper historic property that belonged to Juniper many, many years ago, he feels a connection between the two of them as he navigates through some of her old belongings to help a new friend try and make sense of her story. Poignant, thought provoking and engaging, I ended up enjoying certain parts of this one, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting.

I want to clearly state that I loved how strong the faith element is in this one, and how in many situations, Juniper especially, uses what she's going through as a visual representation of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. I loved how it felt both authentic and realistic, and that part really stuck with me.

However, I can't say that I loved this one, and it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. I kept feeling like the story felt like it was missing something, and while I really enjoyed the first half of it, the second half fell flat and ended up feeling to me like the story was incomplete. I wasn't left feeling satisfied with how everything wrapped up, and ended up with more questions than answers. It really missed the mark for me, and while I appreciated how effortlessly the two timelines weaved together for the reader, it isn't one of the better dual timeline books I've read over the years, and I don't foresee myself rereading it.

Final Rating: 3/5.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Deeply moving story about pain, loss and forgiveness. I enjoyed the two timelines, but I wished for more resolution in the current day timeline. I also wanted to know more about what happened to the secondary characters Edie & Santiago. The story developed slowly and at times I wished for it to move a bit more swiftly. Historical information about gold mining and ghost towns was interesting. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys dual timeline novels.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you’re as unsure as I was about the current trend of dual-timeline sagas, start with this one. Joanne does it again!

TW: infant loss

The Gold in These Hills
by Joanne Bischof
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Thomas Nelson
Women's Fiction
Pub Date 31 Aug 2021 | Archive Date 30 Sep 2021

Don't miss this beautiful novel! I found this to be a well-written dual timeline story. It was great to have a male perspective as well. Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC. Thumbs up!!

4 star

4 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 15 August 2021.


Mail order brides were not uncommon in the late 1800s. Men would be in camps that were full of men, no women to be found. At least, not the marrying kind. So when John Cohen places an ad in a San Francisco paper for a wife, Juniper thinks this is the man for her.

Juniper and John reside in the town of Kenworthy. A mining town in the San Jacinto mountains of California that is built by millionaire Harold Kenworthy. A town built practically overnight with a school, hotel, and mercantile, but it’s built on a dream. It is suspected the mine was “salted”, or planted with gold. One day John disappears and Juniper is lost. Raising a small child in a dying town on her own, she writes letters to John daily, never sending them. She befriends the mercantile owner, and together they try to get by in a town that no longer exists.

Flash forward to present day, and Johnny is buying a home in the San Jacinto mountains. It is the original Kenworthy mansion where both Harold Kenworthy, and later John & Juniper Cohen resided. Once a local museum, it is now in disrepair. But Johnny wants this house to start his life over, and perhaps win back his estranged wife Emily. He envisions a place where their kids can run free and they can grow old together.

As Johnny pieces his life back together, he finds himself entranced with the story of John and Juniper Cohen, and the letters and journal from each of them. While piecing their history and home back together, it gives Johnny strength to move forward in his own life.

While this book is published by Thomas Nelson (a Christian publisher,) it is not overly religious in theme or presentation. I loved the interwoven history between the past and present. Kenworthy is an actual town in the San Jacinto mountains, with a shady history. While the Cohens and other town residents are fictional, the story is based in truth. Bischof writes rather lyrically, beautiful prose and characters with depth. This novel is a wonderful blend of a bit of mystery and romance, but also honesty. I would definitely recommend and read her other books as well.

Juniper is a woman whose husband has mysteriously disappeared, leaving her to raise her daughter alone in the soon-to-be ghost town that gold miners have given up on at the start of the 20th century.
In the present-day, Johnny is reeling after his wife leaves him and struggles to make a new home for his two children.
The Gold in these Hills is the story of how these two lives are woven together, despite being separated by a century.
There are some strong points here, including the themes of forgiveness, resilience, and friendship. But the overall reading experience fell a bit flat for me. For starters, the first half of the book went slowly and it was hard to get momentum in my reading. I also felt like the metaphors were forced some of the time; over-explaining rather than letting the reader infer for himself or herself.
This isn’t a bad book, but it was lacking some polish that would have made it a great book. If you’re ok with a slower paced read and enjoy the multiple storyline format, you may really enjoy this!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the advanced review copy. The Gold in These Hills releases on August 31, 2021. All opinions expressed are my own.

A split time story often works well for a plot like this. Juniper is struggling in a dying town in 1903. Johnny is struggling with accepting his marriage is over. It’s a good way to intertwine the stories and the author does a good job in connecting the characters and time span. I liked that one angle of,the story is from a man’s perspective. It provides depth to the plot and showcases how men are affected by the demise of a relationship and how to begin the healing process. I liked all the California history Bischof included. It’s a gentle read.

Two timelines, both filled with heartbreak and loss. I enjoyed the beautifully written descriptions of the ghost town and cabin. Readers will be transported back into the early 1900s through both Juniper and John's words. The pain Johnny is going through is heartbreaking. I liked learning about the history of mines and mining towns. I had heard of salting the mines but never knew were that meant. Recommended!

This story is about an abandoned town in the mountains where the gold mine that it was built around was shut down. It also is about the person that bought the property in modern times and his and others' interest in the people that had inhabited it. It combines well researched historical fiction and genealogical research, both of which I am interested in. I highly recommend this book.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

This inspirational, beautifully executed dual timeline jewel drew me in with the first line and kept me in its grip to the end. The author’s expressive prose, vivid descriptions, beautiful imagery, and attention to detail bring to life these stories of hope and forgiveness in the face of trials and sorrows. The characters are realistic and memorable. The stories are also rich in history and spiritual truths which I greatly appreciated. This book is one of the best books I have read this year, and I highly recommend this heart-stirring satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The Gold In These Hills is a very well written inspirational time slip novel. Well crafted plot and characters. The two time periods are woven together perfectly. I highly recommend this book.