Multi-layered storyline. blending the past w/ the present. Adventurous. Well rounded characters. Historical. Contemporary. Another winner by Kimberley Woodhouse. Five stars.

Bridge of Gold is yet another great addition to the Doors to the Past series. I have loved this series and Kimberley Woodhouse’s contribution was not a disappointment. It was a great tale that takes readers to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. As Kayla and Steven become quite the team when they have to investigate unsolved murders and newly discovered treasure from the Gold Rush era. I was hooked right the start and was captivated all the way to the end. I found myself wrapped up in the mystery and had to find out how it would be solved.

I am giving Bridge of Gold a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical romantic suspense.

This is an absolutely incredible dual-time romantic suspense novel!

All of the main characters are incredibly well developed. I fell in love with all four of them. Their personalities were presented in a way that I felt as if I could meet them in my own community.

Margo and Luke have so much difficulty in everyday life living in 1933. It was wonderful getting a look at how the depression affected each person that was alive. I loved reading about the type of equipment that was used and the problems that were faced by the divers who were working to build the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Kayla and Steven had things much easier when they were diving around the south tower in present day diving equipment. Though they still had all of the problems with visibility and current to contend with. It just fascinated me.

The mystery and suspense that arose around the skeleton that was found was fantastic. It completely sucked me in and had me staying up much later than I should have to finish the book and get the answers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

This New Split-Time Series Keeps Getting Better and Better
I’ll just say it. Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse is wonderful. I can’t decide if the history behind the story is what gives it so much depth and richness or if the contrast and similarities between yesteryear and today makes that difference. All I know is this book kept me riveted from the moment we met Luke and Margo until the last page of Kayla and Steven’s story.

When you have four main characters of a book, it’s easy for them to become a bit homogenous, but even in the characters’ similarities, they are very distinct, unique people. Add a few flaws combined with the personality virtues, and you have protagonists I just love!

I will say if I have a criticism, it’s that the villains/antagonists are more of a one-note. They all have gold fever and it just comes out in all the same ways. Not gonna lie, though. I really didn’t care. The book was too good for me to care.

Even better?
Spiritual arcs. With four protagonists, there are four. And they’re all unique, rich, and yet simple, too. Woodhouse didn’t overthink the changes and growth her characters needed, and because of that, she didn’t overwork them either.

Seriously, you have two wonderful stories full of rich history and fascinating lives that converge into a novel you’ll be thinking of for ages. Seriously, if I hadn’t promised this book to a friend, it would get a permanent place on my shelf. And yes, that means I’ll probably be ordering myself another copy.

Recommended for lovers of both historical and contemporary fiction, split-time fiction, and suspense/mystery. It has them all. I am so grateful to the publisher for providing the review copy, but as I said. I’ll likely be buying myself a new one.

I have a particular affinity for books set in places I've visited before. And San Francisco is unique in that I've been there multiple times and have already visited several locations I first read about in Christian-fiction books.

So, that itself boded well as I started reading 'Bridge of Gold,' the third book in the Doors to the Past series. I may have read this one out of order, after discovering with Book 4 (Rachel Scott McDaniels' 'Undercurrent of Secrets') that there even was a series - but that's part of the series' beauty, as each installment is standalone.

The San Francisco setting came to life vividly for me in this read. I could easily picture the weather, the bay, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge--and realized just how long it's been since I was last there (11 years, if you were curious). I loved learning more about the bridge's construction; much like the author, I infinitely prefer breathing above water and not being a diver, either in present day or the 1930s. I'll take a hard pass on that, thank you!

The book really kind of had a 'National Treasure' or 'Night at the Museum' vibe to it that I absolutely loved. Frankly, I couldn't get enough of the history and setting ... and maybe post-pandemic (I hear life outside pandemics exists ...!) I'll pay the pretty city another visit. In the interim, this is a great read to take me there virtually. The characters were charming and endearing, and I learned a great deal about the bridge's construction and diving across the ages.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Bridge of Gold by Kimberly Woodhouse

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

This delightful dual time read will have you cheering for the romance and praying against the evil that's hiding just out of sight.

Dual time stories have to be done right if readers are going to enjoy them. They have to tie together well and make you look forward to reading both stories. Kimberly does this very well with this story based in San Francisco. Steven Michaels has been contracted by the Mayor to refurbish the Golden Gate bridge supports and is thrilled with the contract. He and his team love this type of work, preserving the past for the future. When a sunken ship is discovered near one of the main supports, the Mayor insists on the inclusion of Kayla Richards, a well-known underwater archeologist. What they find in the holds of the ship brings is a pleasant surprise - a treasure long rumored but never found. But they are not the only ones who know about the treasure, and there are some who would do anything to ensure it's not turned over to the city - even murder. But Kayla and Steven are more interested in the journals and photographs they find from the original building of the bridge. It seems that this is not the first time that this treasure has been found nor is it the first time that tragedy has happened because of it. Luke and Margo are a 1930s couple who were engaged at the start of the dedication of the bridge site. Luke is a diver on the build crew and hopes to finish this job soon so they can start their lives together. But when he discovers a treasure ship near the site of a bridge support, Luke sees the chance to make life better for him and Margo. However, there are others who know about the ship and someone knows that Luke has found it. Is the chance at treasure worth the cost of his life or the life of his fiancee? Luke will have to decide what matters most to him. Kayla and Steven are left without the end of the story, given that the journal ends before telling what happened. As they seek out the journal writer and work to bring the treasure from the deep, they will have to watch their backs because someone is aiming to get them out of the way - one way or another.
Everything about this story was wonderfully done. From the dual time plots to the descriptions of diving, both from the 1930s and present day, to the romances between the couples, each piece of the story worked together to create a story you didn't want to end. I loved the multiple references to food and eating places in the San Francisco area.; those parts of the story made me laugh. I learned quite a lot about the diving field as well as the building/preserving of the Golden Gate bridge. My family visited SF a few years ago and I loved driving over the bridge and touring the site of it's dedication. It was fun to revisit this landmark in my mind and learn more about how it came about. I will certainly be recommending this book to others as a marvelous read that's not to be missed. It's definitely one that I'll be adding to my shelves to read again as well.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Don’t be surprised if it only takes you a couple of chapters before you are fully immersed in this entertaining story – that’s all it took for me! I love fiction that blends the past with the present, and this story set amongst the backdrop of San Francisco and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge was filled with intrigue and romance from beginning to end. Normally, I find myself wanting to read more of one particular timeline, but both timelines in Bridge of Gold were intertwined so well together that you couldn’t read about the present timeline without having the background of the past. They were both necessary to get the full picture.

This was my first Kimberley Woodhouse novel, but it definitely will not be my last! She has a fun style of writing that reads like she’s sitting next to me, and telling me the whole story like I’m one of her best friends. So refreshing to find in a split-time novel, and in Christian fiction as a whole. I can’t wait to read more from her as well as more books from the Stories from the Past series from Barbour!

Interesting historical facts:
It was fascinating learning about the construction of the Golden Gate bridge and specifically about the conditions that the divers endured. I enjoyed the author's notes regarding her research and the historical facts.
It was mysterious, suspenseful and intriguing during both timelines which was nice as often times it is only true for one of the storylines. There were plenty of twists and turns and I found myself eager to find out what was going to happen next. Overall however I thought it was a bit slow going as the plot only progressed in short increments before switching to another timeline or character. Some of the action felt a bit scripted and I would have liked a greater feeling of suspense.
There was a light romantic thread and I enjoyed Margo and Luke's sweet relationship which was set during the Great Depression of the 1930's. It was also nice seeing Kayla and Steven connect although I would have liked to feel more of a chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This novel has something for everyone. There’s a contemporary storyline, a historical storyline, suspense, danger, action, and even some romance. You really can’t go wrong reading it. But just in case you weren’t totally convinced, there’s also history, mystery, and faith. Woodhouse has outdone herself with this novel. It is my favorite from her to date.

Dual timeline novels seem to be the rage these days, and I must admit that I am a huge fan. But they have to be done right. The storylines need to make sense both on their own, and linked together. The author needs to hold your interest in both time periods by providing well written characters, intriguing plots, and enough action to keep you turning the pages. Woodhouse does all of this. All. Of. This. And she does it effortlessly. I couldn’t pick a favorite time period, I was hooked to both of them. I read the book pretty quickly. Why? Because at the end of each chapter, while not necessarily leaving cliff hangers per say, Woodhouse does leave it slightly unresolved that you can’t help but keep going. Good thing I didn’t start it late at night – it would have been an all nighter for sure!

What really stood out to me what the research that Woodhouse must have done to be able to write this book. We’re talking about divers here, and not just them diving down and looking at stuff, but specifics about the current, how divers are carried underwater, the equipment, and the length of time they can be underwater. And she does this in both time periods my friends. And even further, she includes the history of the Golden Gate Bridge and a little bit in how it was constructed. I found it absolutely fascinating, and appreciated all the time she took to research that! I promise you that author research is not a quick process, nor is it an easy one. I commend authors who take the time to do so much research for their books.

Like I said before, Bridge of Gold has something for everyone. Contemporary, suspense and historical fiction fans alike will absolutely fall in love with the characters, the storyline, and the mystery. I highly recommend the latest release from Kimberley Woodhouse! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse is a Historical Fiction novel that is the third in the series ‘Doors of the Past’ series. This story is a dual timeline story that takes place in 1930’s and present day. Ms. Woodhouse does an excellent job juggling both timelines and they flow together seamlessly.

The story is about the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. The timeline for the 1930’s focuses on the actual building of the bridge particularly the south tower. Historically it educates the reader on the difficulty that was faced by the divers during construction. It is so interesting to learn about what the diver’s had to wear and the dangers they faced while building the bridge. The present day story discusses the diving as well but mostly in comparison to how modern advancements in diving have been made safer and lighter.

Villains and their dastardly deeds abound in both timelines juxtaposing themselves with believers who ask God for guidance. Faith plays a very important part of the characters lives in both timelines.

The story has all the ingredients to keep the reader invested. There is history, love, danger, relationships, good and evil. The ending was perfectly tied up and answering questions that were earlier left unanswered. I personally have read all three of the ‘Doors of the Past’ series. This third one makes a wonderful addition to the series. I am now very curious and looking forward to where the series will take us next.

I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, Ms. Woodhouse and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Too many pieces to the puzzle were missing…”

In this multilayered split time novel, the mysteries could prove dangerous. As history seems to be repeating itself, divers lives are put at risk by working on the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. The history in the conquest for California gold and the mysterious abandoned ships made for a great mystery. Seeing the life of an archaeological diver was super interesting, too. Kayla was very personable and engaging. I loved seeing through the eyes of early and modern divers.

“As the sea engulfed her, she closed her eyes for a moment and pushed everything aside. She needed to get rid of all the noise. God hadn’t given her a spirit of fear. But He’d given her a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.”

This book is full of choices and the paths those choices lead you down. Whether right or wrong it was interesting seeing what happened when people choose good versus evil and vice versa. I was really engaged watching couples learned to trust in God’s plans throughout the generations, too. The romance was sweet and the adventures they had really made me want to visit San Francisco for myself. I really loved both the couples portrayed in “Bridge of Gold.” It was totally romantic, while providing a great educational mystery too. Totally engaging and kept my curiosity from start to finish. I loved it!

“Certain moments in life define a person. Moments that invoke physical feelings that can’t be described. That flood the heart and soul with more emotions than could possibly be fathomed.”

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley Shelf by the publisher. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.

Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse is the third novel in Doors to the Past series. I thought Bridge of Gold was well-written with developed characters. It is a time slip novel told from two time periods and from multiple points of view. It can be confusing in the beginning until you adjust (learn the characters). I like that we also get the villains point-of-view in both time periods. It makes the story more intriguing, and I like figuring out the identity of the bad guy. The author did her research for this book. She captured the 1930s and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was interesting learning what went into making this beautiful and lengthy bridge. The divers had their work cut out for them with the shifting currents and steep drop off. I loved the addition of a sunken ship with treasure. I like how the author tied the past and present together with a satisfying conclusion. I appreciate it when the author makes sure that there are no loose ends. I also liked how faith was incorporated into the story. I enjoyed the descriptions of San Francisco along with those below water. The authors word imagery allowed me to imagine seeing the treasure ship for the first time along with feeling the excitement. The romances were clean and the historical one was sweet. The author expertly weaves together the past and present into one pleasing tale. Each novel in the Doors to the Past series can be read on its own. Bridge of Gold is a compelling novel with greed, murder, a buried ship, sought after treasure, faith, and love.

This is book 3 that is part of the Doors to the Past series. This is the story of the gold rush era and how ships were full of gold had sunken to the bottom of the ocean and still are under the water off the coast of San Francisco. The story takes us back and forth from past to present. It is the story of the present and how Kayla is hired to help do repairs on the Golden Gate Bridge. Kayla and her diving partner find bodies in the ship under water and the mystery begins. The story of the past explains who, what and why the bodies are under the water.

If you love a good historical mystery then you will love this book. It is another great read from this collection. It has the history of the Gold Rush era along with suspense, drama and could it be murder? This is a great collection to this series. You can read each book of the series as a stand alone because each book is of the a different scenario in different times of the past. Great afternoon read, you can't put down.....

Bridge of Gold by Kimberly Woodhouse is the 3rd offering in Barbour Publishing’s Doors to the Past series, a series combining history, romance, and suspense. Each book in the series stands alone and is excellent. Bridge of Gold is no exception.

In this dual timeline story we meet underwater archeologist Kayla Richards and bridge reconstruction specialist Steven Michaels as they work together when renovations to the Golden Gate Bridge reveal a sunken ship and human remains at the site.

The historical timeline takes us back to the 1930s and the construction of the Golden Gate Bride. Meticulous research is evident as we learn about the construction of the Bridge, about the Depression, about the San Francisco gold rush, and about San Francisco then and now.

The story is exciting, filled with mystery and intrigue; the descriptions are vivid and authentic; the characters are well developed and believable; and a sweet love story rounds it out. This is a fast-paced book that flows seamlessly between timelines.

History, action, romance, and faith make this one not to be missed. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would!

Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book. The opinions are my own.

Bridge of Gold is part of series exploring two stories connected but set decades apart. You don't have to read the other books in the series for this to make sense as they don't link in any way apart from this premise. That said, they were good books so I do recommend reading them.

I really liked the crime, mystery and romance threads through both stories. I was compelled to keep on reading until I knew all the in and outs of the stories. I also liked hearing the historical context of the story and not coming from the area that the book was set in, learnt something about that too.

I got this free in exchange for an honest review. This was a pleasure to read and I wouldn't mind paying money for this as it was a good read.

A diver in 1933 discovers a boat full of gold while working on the foundation of the Golden Gate bridge. An underwater archeologist in present day discovers human remains on the same sunken ship. Both timelines are full of mystery, suspense and a little romance. This was an interesting read full of historical details and wonderful, interesting characters. I loved learning about diving procedures throughout the last century, as well as small details of how the Golden Gate bridge was first built. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genre and when you add in a little drama and suspense -you have me hooked.

Bridge of Gold is a Christian Historical Fiction book that is written by Kimberley Woodhouse. I would also say that this is a romantic suspense since there is a mystery to solve. This is a dual timeline storyline and it flows so nicely together. Dual timelines is something I’ve discovered I’m enjoying reading.



We meet Margo and Luke. They are newly engaged in 1933. Luke is trying to make a living to give Margo a good life and he’s diving to help build the Golden Gate Bridge. However when his dive goes deeper then he expects, he stumbles upon a nugget of gold. He’s nervous but excited since he knows that this is life changing. His luck doesn’t stay positive for long.



Fast forward to current day. There are renovations going on at the Golden Gate Bridge. They call in Underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson when they discover a sunken ship. Kayla is the expert in her field and is up for the challenge. She is paired with the renovation head, Steven Michaels. They dive together to try and figure out what is going on. Someone doesn’t want them to find out the truth.



Flipping between the two time periods is easy to follow. The author weaves everything together seamlessly. She gives a great background on her characters to where you feel like you’ve known them. She did extensive research on the history of the Golden Gate Bridge. I love stories where I can learn something from also.



This book has well written characters. The storyline is suspenseful. The writing flows nicely. Carve time out to read this book. You will not want to stop once you start reading.



I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

San Francisco is a city full of history, and Bridge of Gold takes readers into the history behind one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks: Building the Golden Gate Bridge.

The past story is set in 1933, as divers excavate the area around where the bridge’s south tower will be built. This means twenty-minute dives in hundred-plus-foot depths where it’s almost pitch black, wearing a diving suit that weighs thirty or forty pounds, amidst rough currents and right next to an underground cliff. Fall off the cliff—or get dragged off by the current. That could kill the diver, who can only breath through a hose connected to a boat on the surface.

Those early divers are a testament to humanity’s endurance and ability to work in tough circumstances. This is why I read historical fiction—to find out something new and unusual. It’s a bonus when the new and unusual is about a location I’ve visited.

Anyway, back to the story … The past story is about Luke Moreau, a diver on the bridge, and his fiancé, Margo. During one dive, Luke is swept over the edge of the cliff and he finds a ship embedded in the mud. Inside the ship, he finds gold … which could change everything for him and Margo in the middle of the depression. Unfortunately, someone else knows about the ship, and is prepared to go to any lengths to stop Luke.

The present story is centered around the discovery of the wreck of the Lucky Martha by Steven Michaels, when he and his crew are engaged on restoration work on the bridge. Once he discovers the ship, he is joined by marine archaeologist Kayla Richardson. They expect to be searching for relics and rumoured gold, but their first find is more macabre: a skeleton wrapped in chains.

And it seems Steven and Kayla aren’t the only people searching for gold …

Bridge of Gold hit all the right notes for me. First, it’s got a real-life engineering triumph—building the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ve been there, but I didn’t know how hard it was to build.

Second, the main characters—Luke, Steven, and Kayla—are all experts in their field. I enjoy reading books about people who are good at things, especially interesting things like diving and archaeology. Intelligent, hard-working, competent people also make good romance characters, because it’s easy to understand what the other character sees in them.

Third, the plot was excellent, with just the right blend of romance and suspense in each timeline. Finally, the writing was excellent, delivering a novel that was hard to step away from.

Recommended for fans of dual timeline novels or historical fiction with a unique perspective.

Thanks to Barbour Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse is the third book in the Doors to the Past series and a definite must read if you love books where the past collides with the present and is filled with faith, history, mystery and romance.
When repairs are being done on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco not only is a century old murder uncovered, but gold is found that dates back to the time of the California gold rush.
As more clues are uncovered Kayla Richardson and Mark Andrews find themselves in danger, but is it enough that someone would want them dead over?
I'm looking forward to reading more books in this wonderful series !

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

I always look forward to a new book by Kimberley Woodhouse! I love that they're Christian, for one thing... which doesn't mean that they're, necessarily, preachy but free from disturbing language and actions.

And the last few have been historical, an added bonus. For instance, I had no idea that the city of San Francisco was built on top of sunken ships! Throw in a little mystery and romance, and you have a hit! I am already recommending this book to others.