3.5 Stars


Discovering Gold by Sam Ledel is set in the 20’s in a small town in Colorado. The author crafted the setting with attention to detail. The sense of community was captured perfectly and gave the read a warm vibe of belongingness.

I also appreciate how the hardships of the early frontier living was highlighted like the negative side of mining, the dangers of falling ill and the great possibility of death and the downside of living in a small community where everyone knows everyone’s business.

I would categorise the main characters’ romantic development as slow burn and quite sweet. However, the self-doubt and indecision going back and forth was quite tiresome the third time it reoccurred. Maybe once or twice but the third time felt like it was overdone and got tedious to read through.

In summary, Discovering Gold was a comfortable read with minimal tension and a cozy found family vibe.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

this book was a good one. its setting and location was one ive not read of before so it was an eager choice and im glad i did. i could really captrue the time in the authors words. i was able to see the judgements and feelings surrounding so much of what occurred at that time. it wasnt an easy time especially if you suddenly had it tough.
so when Eleanor finds herself left by her husband one night she knows she has to take this all on herself. and she vows to. ignoring or trying to ignore the whispers and judgment she vows that all she will do now is make sure her son is ok. everything esle is closed. she loses her hope and it breaks her heart. its not an easy life. and retreating further from others and into herself just seems to be a given.

Julia has her own troubles. shes not like the others. or should i say not like the others say she should be. she never has been but vows never too be. she wont be pushed into roles she isnt meant to be in. not in her mind anyways. so when her own doings means she needs to leave her place of home she goes with the sister she loves to this new town. the town where Eleanor lives. and lets just say she doesnt get off to the best start there either.
Julia needs a new life. so she promises herself to keep at it. the sheriff has other ideas.
then she meets Eleanor. and Eleanor meets Julia and there is a meeting of something missing for each of them. there in each other a spark lights and a chink in their armour is formed. but both will need to be brave. both will need to heal. can they do that. can they do it together. and can they fight for what they both actually deserve and want. it wont be easy. but these girls are strong enough for the both of them.

I love a good historical book and thus the settings of this one intrigued me. It is played out in the 1920’s in a small town in Colorado. It is interesting to read about how things may have been in those days and to add a good romance adds and extra layer.

I loved how struggling single mum Eleanor copes on her own despite all challenges after her husband left. When Julia comes to town to support her sister Rose she is kind of a wild one to start with but after meeting Eleanor things slowly change. They are sweet together and all you want is for them to be happy together and not judged for being two women loving each other.

The pacing of the book is a bit dragging at times but overall an enjoyable read.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this lovely book

based in the early frontier years eleanor answers an ad to become a wife to a lonely miner in idaho springs colorado but when he disappears one night leaving her with her son to fend for themselves eleanor decides to retreat from everyone and their judgmental ways and just concentrate on her son..... its a hard life for her and takes in washing to keep afloat

julia holte is the tom boy of the family and not at all like her dainty sister but they love each so much that when things become to much julia decides to travel with her sister and new hubby to idaho springs to start a new life for themselves

julia though cant resist a challenge and is soon in trouble with the sheriff and finds herself most days in jail just because he can.... the sheriff has taken an instance dislike to julia and her ways and has taken it upon himself to police her activities to the hilt....

as julia and eleanor get to know each from the mining office they each recognise a need in each other.... but with the sherriff breathing down their necks and the judgement of the town its not easy for them to become friends ....

ohhh man this storyline was very addictive love a good cowboy/western storyline and this one hit the right buttons for me...early life settlers did have it hard but as the town mostly pulled together it was great to see this one doing that as well....

my second book by this author and this one is my favourite by far

Discovering Gold is the first story I have read by this author. This is an historic sapphic novel, set in the 1930s of a mining town in Colorado. We meet Eleanor who wakes up to find her husband has abandoned her and her young son, shunned by gossip of not being able to keep a husband she learns to survive by becoming the sole provider to her asthmatic son. By chance she meets Julia an ex rancher who now lives here with her family to restart her own life following her own tragic mistakes, charmed and intrigued by the cowgirl a spark of something blooms between them.

This was very well written but for me the pace was slow and some of trauma and self blame at times just felt a too much and repetitive. It is a slow burn however I think this works for the setting the tone of the story, it’s not a modernist tale so both MCs do have to be careful as god fearing and gossip could ruin them both. I can’t say I really felt the tension of both of them yearning for each other but it was a sweet coming together of found family and community.

This was a gentle read of trust, longing and the possible consequences of actions, very hallmark worthy. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an opportunity to read this as part of an ARC prior to realise in the 13th May.

Eleanor and Julia made a wonderful couple, and Peter was a sweetie. The secondary characters were well developed, as well as the MC’s. The story was interesting and I was anxious to discover the conclusion. I am not familiar with the author, but I look forward to reading more of her work.