HEARTS OF GOLD

Author: Janet Woods ISBN: 9780727867612 7/2009 HISTORICAL FICTION Publisher: SEVERN HOUSE
Time Period: Australia, 1894, England, 1898

A romance set against the background of the Australian Gold Rush. 1890, Western Australia. 14-year-old Sarette Maitland is orphaned when her father dies of a snake-bite on the goldfields. Rescued by a wealthy adventurer, John Kern, she takes the place in his heart of his own dead daughter. Several years later, he sends her back to England, to learn the manners society expects of a beautiful young woman. At Kern's family home in Dorset, Sarette is introduced to her mentor's nephew, Magnus, who has been appointed her guardian. When Magnus learns that his beloved uncle has left the entrancing Sarette a considerable fortune, both his honesty and his heart are tested...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

HEARTS OF GOLD, the story of Sarette Maitland, could very well be one of my favorites of all time. Sarette is a solid, well-written character, full of spirit, pride, and a zest for life. She is probably one of the most well developed heroines I have ever had the pleasure to read about, and the things that she had to endure brought tears to my eyes. Sarette is strong, willful, and resourceful; even when things seem to be at their worst, they have a way of looking up.

Because of the sheer depth and strength of Sarette's spirit, it is not hard to understand how throughout this book she manages to make everyone she meets love her. The relationships Sarette forms with the secondary characters are almost the best part of the entire book. First, her relationship with John Kern that brought her to England after she is left for dead in the Australian goldfields. Then, there are the relationships she forms with all of John's friends and family when she is thrust into this wonderful group of people who have no idea what to make of her!

While I think that the progression and development of all of the characters in the book was fabulous, I have to mention the relationship between Magnus Kern and Sarry. It is a slow, lovely journey towards a big finish for these two characters as they learn about each other, come to respect and love one another, and it is a beautiful piece to Sarry's puzzle.

Janet Woods never disappoints me when she writes. I cannot think of any of her books that have ever left me disappointed or feeling unsatisfied. She is a fabulous writer who can take a handful of characters and make them come alive on the pages, as if they are in front of you, living out their story.

Kristal Gorman