Book Review: Heart of Gold

About the Book:

Against Shannon’s wishes, love stakes its claim in her heart. Will she discover treasure or treachery?

When Shannon Adair accompanies her minister father to the western gold rush town of Grand Coeur, she’s certain she’ll never be happy away from her beloved Virginia, even though the South is still gripped in civil war.

Wells Fargo driver Matthew Dubois isn’t sure the lovely Shannon belongs in Idaho Territory either, but he is a desperate man. His widowed sister is dying and leaving her young son, Todd, in his care. Matthew wants to return to driving coach for the express company soon—so he’ll have to find a wife to look after the boy when he’s away.

Shannon is determined not to lose her heart to a man who is neither a Southerner nor a gentleman. But love stakes its claim. Now, will her heart survive learning the truth behind the courtship?

My Thoughts:

Heart of Gold is the tale of an unlikely romance set in the Idaho territory.

A southern family is transplanted to Idaho territory in the middle of the civil war.   A Wells Fargo stage driver is fenced in by the need to take care of his ailing sister and nephew.  A battle rages in the nation and a battle, no less divisive, reigns in the hearts of characters cut off from their dreams.  But, just maybe, God has a plan to unfold something better than they could have ever imagined.

When the story began I loved Delaney Adair’s character.  He is a pastor and a father.  We see him praying for his daughter and it was Delaney’s vision for who Shannon could become that drew me to connect with the character of the rather spoiled Shannon Adair.  And, as with all good characters, there is more to the person than at first meets the eye.  Hatcher did a masterful job of creating real characters with honest struggles and seeing Shannon grow to walk in love was my favorite part of the tale.

There is romance, adventure, heartache, joy, challenge, victory, friendship, love and lots of scripture packed into this delightful tale of hope.   A bit of the south, a bit of the west, a hint of missions and the heart of the Father God are all masterfully woven together to bring us a delightful novel.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Click on the book cover image to view this book at Amazon.  Release date: February 14, 2012