I have to admit that it took me a minute to get into this story. I have been reading SO MANY split time books lately that it's starting to get a little old... However, once I did get into it, I found that it is a really good story! The story on both sides of the split time, holds much sadness, but it shows the characters coming through that sadness, and learning from it. Unfortunately, life does hold much sadness, but it's how we choose to respond that makes the difference.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy. The opinions are entirely my own.

I was drawn to this story because of the Old West, Gold Mine, Ghost town element with Juniper Cohen as the main character. She is a mail-order bride, left behind by her husband who has disappeared. Left to raise her daughter alone, in a town that is disappearing before her eyes. Through it all she remains loyal to her absent husband, unsure of where he is or why he has gone.

"But for us women, we are the caregivers of all that they leave behind"

While I was drawn in by the historical element (I never knew what "salting a mine" was before this book), I stayed for the modern timeline including Johnny Sutherland, recently separated from his wife.

We walk along these two characters as they deal with heart break and begin to heal in the same mountains and cabin, although a century apart.

This book was beautifully penned, with many lines underlined and highlighted. Words that hold golden truths. A lovely, gentle read about hurt and healing.

"and I have spent too many bleak hours in despair to bot fight toward hope."

I was given a free eARC from #NetGalley of #TheGoldInTheseHills in exchange for an honest review

Beautifully written, like all Joanne Bischof books. The setting in the California gold mines is full of interesting history. The dual timeline flows smoothly together in this beautiful story of love and loss, faith and the glory of what’s possible. I love the wisdom in this quote: “It is a heart that has been forged in gold… Perhaps the mine has always been empty, but we have a fortune that cannot be dug from soil. Instead it is in the lessons we have learned, the people we’ve come to love, the way our faith grows in the desert and deep in the mountains.” Don’t miss this beautifully touching tale of pain and hope.

"The harsh truth about a ghost town is that you’re not supposed to still live here."

A year ago I went out on a limb and claimed I had found my book of the year. In July 😂 guess what? I was completely right. And well, I'm doing it again. When you know, you know.

The Gold in These Hills opens in the early 1900s. I immediately felt the desperation, isolation and determination of our main heroine, Juniper Cohen. Juniper is raising her daughter in a ghost town. She was originally brought to the mountains of California during a boom, as a mail-order-bride. Now nearly everyone has disappeared, including her husband, and Juniper is left holding the pieces, merely trying to survive. Faithful to her husband, despite how the circumstances may seem, she pens letters to him in his absence, simultaneously longing for his heart, but fearful of the truth.

A century later, Johnny Sutherland is wounded in these same mountains. His heart has been shattered by a painful divorce and he is trying his best to move on. In his newly acquired farmhouse, he finds Juniper's letters which give him reason to see hope in the darkness and a future for himself that he thought had been lost forever.

I savored every single line of this book. I had never even heard of this author until now, but boy is she on my radar now. Joanne Bischof has it going on, I am telling you! For those of you who have followed me for a while, you will know how big of a deal this is when I say it. Are you ready? Okay here goes. The Gold in These Hills is like Amy Harmon and Charles Martin MIXED TOGETHER. And for the Christian, this book is theologically sound. Helloooooo to seeing Romans 5:8 used at a massive turning point in the story. Bravo, Bischoff 👏 To the non-Christian, this book is still one to savor. The characters' faith is raw, disciplined and a wonderful depiction of humility and forgiveness. If I have one complaint, it is simply that I wanted 200-300 more pages 😂

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. ALL MY STARS AND A SPOT ON THE FOREVER SHELF: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+❤

⚠️ TW: stillbirth

3.5.
Joanne Bischof dips her feet into a poignant dual time slip novel with this one. It took me a bit to get into the story, but it was easy to feel for Juniper, the strong heroine in the old west portion of the story. In the present, it was good to see how these folks were remembered. Bischof has always proved her writing talent.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers via Net Galley. The opinion here is expressly my own.

Joanne Bischof's "The Gold in These Hills" is a touching story that takes place in two different centuries. It will leave the reader searching to solve the mysteries that two main character's deal with in both the past and the present. The message of the book is one of hope and perseverance. The setting is the same in both centuries. A house with a history and a mystery that the reader will know by the end but not necessarily the modern character, who will be left with hope of a better future. The book was well written and enjoyable. It held my attention and kept me turning pages. It touches very briefly on romance but I enjoyed it mainly as a story of fortitude and survival during the most difficult of times.

A split-time history and love story

Juniper (June) Cohen is a loving mother, friend, and wife, who has found herself in a very challenging situation. Her husband has disappeared, and she continues to wait for him while living in the now almost abandoned town of Kenworthy. When she discovers he may not be the man she has always believed him to be, she must decide the best way to move forward.

Johnny Sutherland’s (present day) wife has not only abandoned their marriage, she is for sure not willing to reconcile. Determined to parent well and provide a safe and loving environment for their two small children, general contractor (check this) Johnny purchases a 100-year old farmhouse in the former boomtown. When he discovers writings and information from Juniper’s life, he is moved by how they connect to his own.

The author utilizes story, letters, and several strong characters to paint a wonderful message of redemption and forgiveness. The cultural impact and setting are wonderful to read about and I very strongly recommend this book (and author)!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

“I guess the secret to life just might boil down to counting our blessings one moment at a time. And that maybe, as we do, we realize that even though the sun isn’t right overhead, it’s been light all along.”

Having loved Joanne Bischof’s previous novels, I couldn’t wait to read The Gold in These Hills. Unlike the others I’ve read by her, this one is less of a romance and more women’s fiction that drips like honey as the tales are told of Juniper Cohen in 1902 and Johnny Sutherland in present day, their stories connected by an old California mountain home. While the prose is less flowy than her other books, I loved the vivid descriptions of a time and landscape that I wasn’t familiar with. The tone and feel are a little shaded, including themes such as divorce, custody arrangements, and infant loss, but the characterizations are deep, making you hope for each person.
The vulnerability is a beautiful testament to how the Lord can work through the most agonizing of situations, and while I didn’t exactly adore this one as much as I'd expected, I did appreciate the heartfelt emotion thrumming throughout the entire novel. There was never a cliche moment, and the historical richness, symbolism, and spiritual threads were well done. I’m glad to add another Joanne Bischof novel to my shelf.


(*Slightly spoiler-ish trigger warning: Scenes involving a stillbirth are included. This was a difficult point for me, so I felt like I needed to add a disclaimer. *)

**Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an e-copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.**

A beautifully written, thought provoking story set along a dual timeline.
This author pens such lyrical, almost prose-like lines that often had me stopping and rereading them before moving on. The landscape descriptions were like word pictures, setting the mood. This isn't a happy, light read, but one that is punctuated with hope in the midst of deep loss and trials. The characters from the past and present share the same setting, with the history being revealed through journal entries and letters, old photos and glimpses into the town's past; their life experiences parallel each other in many ways.
The author seems well acquainted with grief as she accurately describes what the characters are feeling and how they move through it. After recently losing a parent, I could identify well with their soul struggles. They have hope through their faith and true friendships, light in their darkness shines through, and the ending leaves the reader with the feeling that they will keep moving forward in a good direction.
An excellent book, well-written, appealing to readers who like character driven stories set in the past and present. A contemplative read, not to be hurried through, but savored. 5 stars

What a simple, yet deceptively difficult book! Full of faith, bravery, of making hard decisions and living with difficult trials. I loved the dual story of Juniper and Johnny, as well as Edie, Santiago, and Sonoma. I would have loved the ending to be a little more rounded out though.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Gold in These Hills
by Joanne Bischof

Storyline 2 stars
Depth 3 stars
Faith 4 stars
Love Story 2 stars
Overall 3 stars

These two chicks on lit anxiously await any book that comes out by Joanne Bischof. However, this one felt very different from her previous books. Sadly, we just had a hard time getting into it. It is very slow and quite depressing. While it had many lessons of faith woven throughout, which we appreciated, it just missed the mark for us. The writing itself is in true Joanne fashion and in and of itself is beautiful. The flow of going back and forth between past and present is also done well. Readers who don't mind a slow paced book and enjoy historical fiction will more than likely enjoy this one. While this one wasn't our favorite, we will definitely read the next one!

This is a then and now type of story. Then is the early 1900's where June and her young daughter are struggling to survive after her husband John disappears. June lives in a gold mining town that has dwindled to only a few people because the mine is bare. She takes odd jobs to put on the table. And then learns John has been arrested and is in prison.

Now we meet Johnny a soon to be divorced man who is about to purchase a piece of property that had once been part of a historic museum for a previous mining town. He wonders about the history of items he finds in the house as well as the barn. The sellers are an older couple who can no longer care for the property but have asked him to locate some items they wish to keep. In the mean time he meets a young woman doing research and feels this property may hold answers to her own family history. They will learn and wonder more as they make discoveries.

This was an interesting book and flowed easily between the Then and Now transitions.

I do recommend this book especially if you like historic books.

This book is told in the past and the present. It was descriptive, you could feel the isolation in the beginning of the book. The heartbreak and then the joy that follows. Both stories are interesting and certainly kept me turning the pages. The book has a nice message within the story.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

The Gold in These Hills by Joanne Bischof is a beautifully written, historical saga set in two timelines, one in the early 1900s and the other in present day. This is a story about grief, patience, and forgiveness.

Juniper Cohen and her daughter Bethany, are alone in the town of Kenworthy, California after her husband, John disappeared. The mining town is dying after the discovery the mine had been salted and is not a viable gold mine after all. Juniper’s life is hard as she takes in laundry from the remaining townsfolks as she awaits word from her husband, who suddenly disappeared after the discovery of the salted mine. She has a friend, Edie, who runs the mercantile and eventually takes on a border, Mrs. Parsons, who was the schoolteacher until the school shut down due to lack of students.

In the present-day timeline, Johnny Sutherland is still reeling from his separation from his wife and their impending divorce. In order to provide a home for their two children and hope for shared custody, Johnny buys an old farmhouse. He discovers historical treasures in the old barn and works to discover the history of the farmhouse.

I sure enjoyed this historical saga. The use of the alternating timelines helped the book’s pacing, however, it did get a bit bogged down in historical details in the middle. But, the ending is very worth it to get to. The characters in both timelines have to deal with grief and learn patience and understanding. This deeply emotional tale will tug at your heart and the characters feel like they are living with you through their journey.

The historical details in the book brought me an understanding of the history of the gold mines in California and the Cahuilla tribe that I never knew before reading this book.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was not what I have come to expect from this author. It had a very different feel than her most recent works. I found it hard to get engaged in the story and it gave me a hopeless feeling for the historical character right from the start. I think some people might find it romantic to wait around for someone who leaves you to come home, I struggle to understand why anyone would and so I really didn’t identify with the heroine. Apart from that this plot is almost exactly like the plot of Dearest Josephine by Caroline George. I’m not sure why this lost letter plot seems to be popular. It’s not something I loved when I read that book and I don’t find that this plot from Joanne Bischoff intrigued me any more. I am not interested in finishing this book. I am not appreciating all of the depressing and hardship filled plots that 2021 is doling out.

A poignant dual-time novel that effortlessly drew me into the storyline. I so enjoyed the unusual Old West setting, which felt very alive with detail. Bischof's poetic prose shines through in this book as it does in her others. I enjoyed getting to know each of these characters, in particular the firebrand Edie. The modern-day divorce scenario felt realistic, and it underscored the events that occurred in the past--in particular, Juniper's period of waiting and not knowing what was coming next. Another memorable tale of loss and love by Bischof.

I have never read anything by this author before but I really enjoyed this book. It took me a little while to engage with the story but once I did I was hooked. There is so many deep insights in this book and I really enjoyed the dual storyline.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Read a very interesting tale of a small California mining town, built on false hope when the mine turns out to be salted. Along with the brave few who stayed behind after the town turns to a ghost town-like living, is a much more recent side by the story of a new house owner seeking to restore the old glory of his newly purchased historical home. Both centuries carry hurt, betrayal, and loss. But despite the tragedies of life, the love of God shines bright and brings hope and healing to those hurting.
Woven into the plot is some history about the Cahuilla people who lived and roamed in the nearby area.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The setting of this story was the most interesting part for me. I'm fascinated with ghost towns and the Old West. By reading this book, I learned things about mines that I never known before. Such as the term 'salting' and what it entails. I love that I can learn through fiction!

I really felt for Juniper, the historical heroine. Being one of the very few women in a struggling mining town, she faces a lot of struggles. This book is a little different than the author's other works, but her style still shines through with beautiful imagery and a thought-provoking picture of redemption.

*I received this story from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed previous books by this author. I wasn't sure what to expect or where she was going at first. It did take me a little while to become invested in the stories and the story-line. Joanne Bischof does a great job of building strong member-able characters, as she did in this novel. The happenings were very true and accurate for this time period, I am quite sure, but it did not feel like a Christian romance. Thank you to Thomas Nelson through NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.