"The Gold In These Hills" by Joanne Bischof

The California mountains come alive in this dual timeline story. Our historical heroine is Juniper Cohen, whose husband has disappeared into the hills, leaving her with their young daughter while the mining community drifts on to find another strike. In modern times, Johnny Sutherland seeks to restore the only building left standing—Juniper's home—in the ghost town of Kenworthy even while fighting for his marriage, his kids, and the life which has unexpectedly turned upside down on him.

Juniper doesn't know where her husband is, or if he'll return. Fighting for survival, she befriends the few people left in Kenworthy. She refuses to leave, wanting to be exactly where her husband left her in case he comes home. 

Johnny doesn't want to sign the divorce papers his wife has drawn up. Her infidelity doesn't cancel his love for her or the desire to raise their family together. As he connects with the history of Kenworthy, and especially that of Juniper Cohen, he finds kinship and comfort in the least likely places.

I really enjoyed this story. It is extremely character-driven, so it is not for readers who like a lot of action. Both Juniper and Johnny face deep hardship and have to make difficult decisions over the course of the novel, but there is always gentleness, truth, and God's faithfulness in the mix. I liked how the past and present storylines wove together, and there were some surprises along the way that took the story to places I wasn't expecting.

Like our characters, I could relate to this quote from late in the novel: "This is the story that God has woven for us, and I am learning to trust that He knows the way."

If you are a fan of the character-driven novel, please consider checking this one out.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.