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The Gold in These Hills

By: Joanne Bischof
Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith
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Publisher's summary

When mail-order bride Juniper’s husband vanishes, she writes to him—but fears she's waiting for a ghost in a ghost town. A century later, Johnny Sutherland discovers her letters while restoring her abandoned farmhouse. Can her loving words from the distant past change his present?

1902: Upon arriving in Kenworthy, California, mail-order bride Juniper Cohen is met by the pounding of the gold mine, an untamable landscape, and her greatest surprise of all: the kind and charming man who awaits her. But when the mine proves empty of profit, and when Juniper’s husband, John, vanishes, Juniper is left to fend for herself and her young daughter in the dying town that is now her home.

Juniper pens letters to her husband but fears she is waiting on a ghost. Perhaps worse, rumors abound claiming the man she loves could be an outlaw. Fighting for survival, she befriends the few people left in Kenworthy and refuses to leave, resolving to be exactly where her husband left her in case he comes home. Surviving in a ghost town requires trusting the kindness of a few remaining souls, including the one who can unlock the mystery of her husband’s disappearance.

Present day: Trying to escape the heartache of his failed marriage, Johnny Sutherland throws himself into raising his children and restoring a hundred-year-old abandoned farmhouse in what was once known as Kenworthy in the San Jacinto Mountains. While exploring its secrets he uncovers Juniper’s letters and is moved by the handwritten accounts that bear his name—and as a love story from the past touches his own world, Johnny might discover yet that hope and resilience go hand in hand.

With The Gold in These Hills, acclaimed and beloved author Joanne Bischof returns with an absorbing masterpiece of faith, perseverance, and love that changes the course of history.

  • Sweeping, Inspirational fiction with historical and contemporary timelines
  • Stand-alone novel
  • Book length: 93,000 words
©2021 Joanne Bischof (P)2021 Thomas Nelson
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What listeners say about The Gold in These Hills

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Easy Listening Book

This book was a little different writing style than what I am used to from this author. It was a dual time story, and there was really no romantic element. It was written in first person POV, and there was very little conversation, more the character's thoughts, sometimes written in letters. I still liked the book, and felt the message of hope after heartache was beautifully done.

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Good historical information, mixed with life lessons.

I thought the writer was excellent, as well as the reader. I’m excited to find this author. I will be reading more of her books. 

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Excellent story!

I am married to an Alaska Nativr man and have over the past 50 years learn much about his culture and traditions. I so enjoyed this story about a different American Indian peoples and their traditions. The author writes with such insight and compassion. I am looking forward to reading more of her stories.

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1 person found this helpful

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Such a beautiful story!

This has been one of my favorite books by Joanne Bischof! Beautifully written, I loved it from the beginning!

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Enjoyed

The storyline was very good. Kept my attention and was very interesting The narrator was great. Will be interested to read more by this author.

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Good story

It keep you want to keep reading to find what happens next and I like how it reminded you of God in everyday life.

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I'd give it 10 stars!

This is my first book by Joanne Bischof. I've recently been reading faith based or Christian novels. I've read some I really like, but nothing like this one. Its November and this is the best book I've read (listened to) all year. I normally don't like stories that bounce back and forth in time. But this one is very well done. If you hesitate to get this book because of the 'faith' aspect. Don't let that stop you. It is very uplifting. I'll be listening to this book over and over again. It has trial and tribulations. Loss and heartache. But it ends with a very satisfactory HEA. The narrator is new to me, but she did a great job. I'll be looking at more books by this author. Highly recommend.

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A reminder that old west towns were inhabited by people of grit and courage

I love history and appreciate when a book recreates a long ago time and place as it might have been. Thins the line between then and now so I perhaps get a glimpse into what life was like then.
The author having visited and explored Kenworthy’s location is exactly what I would do. I’m glad she did. Thank you for letting me out of this 21st century for a while.

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Breathtaking and Beautiful

Where to begin? I am truly at a loss in trying to rate this book by Joanne Bischof. To be honest I often feel that way after reading Joanne Bischof‘s books.

Truly every page of this book evokes so much emotion that It could only have been written by someone who has also been through similar valleys of near despair, with a fractured heart and broken spirit, only to eventually feel the hand of God and sense His very presence bringing her through to the other side.

In The Gold In These Hills we experience two different timelines — with Johnny and his children on one end, and Juniper, John, Bethany, Edie and Santiago on the other end. How I love every one of these people. How I want to know them still, to sit with them and hear how they’re doing, to experience firsthand their joys and victories and stand alongside of them in times of grief and loss. I want John and Santiago to share again how God revealed Himself to them in their deepest despair, to stand alongside of Juniper and Edie and Johnny and hear how God strengthened them and shed His grace upon them in times of brokenness and loss, and then gradually revealed His light in and through them in the midst of a broken world. I want to see the beautiful joyful spirit of Bethany as this young child ministers to others in all her innocence.

As Johnny feels when thinking how he will someday get to sit with these people of long ago face-to-face in heaven, to truly know them and experience firsthand their strength and ultimate joy, I would like to think that I would someday be able to do the same.

Although these are characters in a book, truly I believe they must really represent many of God‘s people with whom we will one day gather in love and peace and joy - where there are no more tears to be shed and we will get to experience the true grace and mercy and love of God our Savior first to face.

I Cor 13:12 “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

I highly recommend this book. It seems trite to even give it five stars. Please do yourself a favor, read this book and let yourself be immersed in this world.

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A fantastic story

I believe one thing that makes this story so interesting is it always kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had it figured out, something else happened that proved me wrong.
It’s very easy to follow. Some that go back and forth get me confused. However, this one was easy to understand.
I listened to all 11 hours in one day. No way could I put it away.
This is my second book. Now I’m on the hunt for my third.

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