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.