The Gold Rush Bride The Brides of the Klondike Book #1
Historical Romance, Western Romance, Women's Fiction
FireHouse Publishig
Nov 9, 2023
Kindle
216
Amazon
Sadie Thompson was twenty-seven-years-old and suddenly an orphan when she decided to take her father's place in the Klondike gold fields.
Barnaby Drake, her father's partner, wanted to buy out her half of the claim, but Sadie refused. To protect her from potential claim jumpers, Barnaby proposed marriage in name only.
Homer Gaines had designs on both Sadie and on her and Barnaby's mining claim. What lengths was he willing to go to acquire them? Would he even commit murder to achieve his goals?
Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Sadie Thompson’s life went from happy to grieving after getting a telegram informing her of her father’s death. Her father went off to the Klondike in search of gold, it was his money each month that kept her able to live a good life and now with no skills to obtain work she had a big decision to make. She could try to survive in St. Louis or travel to the Klondike and take over working her father’s claim.
Along with the telegram was an offer from his partner, Barnaby Drake, to buy her out and she didn’t even consider the offer because she was going to work on the claim and take care of herself. She also was ready to begin a new life. With everything she required to make the move she set off to begin what she hoped would lead to a successful future.
When she came face to face with Barnaby and told him of her decision, he tried to discourage her because as a woman she would always be in danger. The men way outnumbered women and living at the claim site she would stick out like a sore thumb. The only other solution was to marry, which she did. She is now Barnaby Drake’s wife and an equal partner in their gold claim.
Panning for gold is backbreaking, long days, working in freezing water and picking little pieces of gold at a time. The weather in the Canadian Territory is rarely pleasant, winter is a nightmare and even summer can be difficult, but Sadie is there to work hard and do whatever is necessary to work the claim. They live in a tent which just adds to the daily hardship but together she and Barnaby learn to live together.
Sadie makes breakfast, bakes and makes the bread while Barnaby does lunch and dinner, which sometimes is not enough, but they make do. I learned about Sourdough starter and what it is since I take all that for granted when I just buy a loaf and enjoy it out of the package. Sadie finally concludes that the marriage should be consummated, something Barnaby is more than happy about.
Panning for gold is not only hard but dangerous since you always must be on alert for claim jumper’s men who want the easy way out by stealing as opposed to working. Barnaby and Sadie are a great team, and she falls in love with her husband only she is sure he doesn’t feel the same way. His first wife died along with his infant son, and she is a ghost that lives between them. Losing his son has hardened his heart to ever wanting more children something she wants desperately.
When a claim jumper attacks Sadie while Barnaby is out, and she is hurt Barnaby insists that she not be left alone again. But the man not only wanted the claim he wanted a woman so it’s certain that he will not stop till he gets what he wants. That is just one of the things that Sadie must fear, the weather, a man she fears will be back for her and a husband she is sure doesn’t love her and won’t want children with her. Of course, when they have sex multiple times a day what are the chances she won’t conceive.
Every time I am given a Cynthia Woolf book to read and review, I know I am in for a wonderful story with wonderful characters, romance, secrets and suspense. If you are not familiar with her books, then I recommend starting and I am sure once you read one you will not be able to stop.