MY REVIEW:
When pastor Adair felt called by God to leave his Virginia home to minister to the western town of Grand Couer in the Idaho territory, his loving and obedient daughter accompanied him. Unhappy with leaving the comfortable and refined life she was accustomed to in her lifelong home, Shannon had some difficulty adjusting to the rough and rowdy customs of her new home and also had difficulty hiding her negative attitude about it. Matthew Dubois, a Wells Fargo stagecoach driver, thrives on the adrenaline from driving at top speed. He cannot imagine any other profession and realizes that there is no place for a wife or children in the life he has chosen. When his widowed sister and her young son move in with him so that she can recover from an illness, he gradually becomes attached to them and to Shannon who has stepped in to help care for his sister who is more seriously ill than he believed.
As usual, Robin Lee Hatcher has penned a story that kept me turning the pages until I reached the end. I enjoyed reading about Shannon’s personal growth and her spiritual journey and watching as Matthew transformed from an independent and solitary soul to a loving family man. Alice’s faith in the midst of her suffering was inspiring and her son Todd was adorable. With a well paced plot and a storyline that included interesting historical facts pertinent to the location and era, “Heart of Gold” also included plenty of action, suspense, humor, a satisfying romance, and at least one moving scene that called for a box of tissues close at hand. A mystery involving stagecoach robberies and their connection to the war added an extra dimension to the story. I also want to say that the cover art for this book is just gorgeous. I felt like it expressed the them of the book perfectly.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Heart of Gold” and would recommend it to all who enjoy historical romance novels. I sincerely hope that it will be the first of a series because I hated for it to end.
This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publisher’s BookSneeze program.
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?
Read an excerpt from “Heart of Gold” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. She discovered her vocation after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 60 novels.
Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. Several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying plays under the stars. She makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with Poppet, the high-maintenance Papillon, and Princess Pinky, the kitten who currently terrorizes the household.
Learn more about Robin and her books on her WEBSITE.
