The Gold in These Hills

Written by Joanne Bischof

Narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9780785241379

Joanne Bischof

Joanne Bischof is an ACFW Carol Award and ECPA Christy Award-winning author. She writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the heartstrings. She was honored to receive the San Diego Christian Writers Guild Novel of the Year Award in 2014 and in 2015 was named Author of the Year by the Mount Hermon conference. Joanne’s 2016 novel, The Lady and the Lionheart, received an extraordinary 5 Star TOP PICK! from RT Book Reviews, among other critical acclaim. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her three children. Visit her online at JoanneBischof.com; Facebook: Author, JoanneBischof; Instagram: @JoanneBischof.

Reviews for The Gold in These Hills

[Brandi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully woven story. I enjoyed everything about it, from the way the author dealt with the broken hearts, to the way they found healing, and the way the past and the present were so connected. I felt like the characters were friends and I am going to miss them now the book is ended.

The narrator did a wonderful job and I would definitely seek out other books she has read.

[Britany Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved this story! Felt like I was watching the story unfold with the characters.

[Lorrie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the characters in this book. The author did an excellent job weaving characters and plot into a tender and moving story. I enjoyed the light touch to the back story. I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more of the authors’s books.

[janice pybas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This story was a passionate look at the hard lives of our ancestors. About love and endurance. A slow read but good at picture stories.Johnny’s character would have been enhanced by a strong male voice.

[tamidale · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Told in two timelines, this story is set around the mining town of Kenworthy, California. At one time, the town was bustling with activity, but the mine yeilded no profits, the people moved on and Kenworthy turned into dying town with only a few people remaining.Juniper Cohen was one of the residents who remained because her husband had disappeared and she was reluctant to leave in case he came back. Not knowing if he were dead or alive, Juniper prayed and wrote letters to him regularly, not knowing where to send them.In the modern timeline, the story centers around John, a newly divorced young father who bought the historic home that Juniper Cohen once called home. As John remodels the home, he reads about the history of Kenworthy and about the Cohen family. He also meets a young woman with a family connection to Kenworthy. Soon they develop a friendship that looks as if it will be headed to romance.I really had no idea about some of the things that happened during the mining era, so I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story. This is a very clean, Christian read with positive characters and a message of hope.Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas-Nelson-Fiction for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.

[eccl-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Gold in These Hills is a stand alone Christian historical fiction story by Joanne Bischof. This is a multi timeline story that take place near the 1900's and present day. In this story we see the loneliness Juniper suffers when her husband, John, disappears. We also see the regret John has for his part in falsifying the worth of the mine in the area. Fast forward to modern day, we see Johnny as his life is falling apart and he puts his energies into restoring the run down house.I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The story contains strong characters from both time periods. The writing is so clear it is easy to imagine being there watching the town empty leaving only a few strong people to carry on. I enjoyed reading how the characters worked together to survive. I also enjoyed reading how the modern day people connected to the house had an interest in the people connected to the homes past. This story focuses on devotion and second chances as well as going with your heart.I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[huberk-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

THE GOLD IN THESE HILLS by Joanne BischofThis book tells an interesting story, it jumps around from mainly three different points of view, Juniper (June) [who was a mail-order bride] Cohen, her missing husband John Cohen in the historical part, and Johnny Sutherland, a century later who has purchased their historic home and much of the land that used to be the boomtown of Kenworthy, California. Johnny is going through a painful divorce as he tries to make the cabin into a nurturing home for his children for their visits and runs his remodeling business.Johnny comes across letters that were written by June to her missing husband John. She stays true to his memory as she raises their 3-year-old daughter Bethany in what is becoming a ghost town.I like the story that is told, it seems to jump around a lot, though. It is a nice Christian, inspirational novel. Highly recommend.I am thankful for the complimentary copy of #thegoldinthesehills from #netgalley I was under no obligation to post a review.