Rory’s dredging operation in Alaska is on the brink of disaster. Ben, a former Navy diver, could be her salvation — and she can’t help falling for him. But time is running out, the danger is running high, and he has his own secrets… turns, and adventures with characters that you would like for friends. Aurora’s Gold felt like a real-life look into the Alaska gold dredging life. K.J. Gillenwater has written a book embracing so many genres and hitting all of them right on the head…I highly recommend Aurora’s Gold to everyone.” – Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers’ Favorite
A page-turning mystery suspense tells the story of a female underwater dredge miner who becomes obsessed with saving her family business from disaster.
On a sunny summer day, underwater dredge owner Buck Darling almost drowns in a gold diving accident in Nome, Alaska. His daughter, Aurora, must pick up the pieces and find a way to overcome financial ruin as the only woman dredge operator on the Bering Sea.
Forced to hire Ben, a mysterious former Navy diver, Aurora suspects he may have a criminal background. As she uncovers the dark truth surrounding his past, Aurora comes face-to-face with her burgeoning feelings for the man — and some in the small, isolated Alaska town aren’t happy about it.
Her digging unearths a painful truth about the legacy of her father: a legendary figure in Nome. For Aurora, another lie connected to her seemingly cursed family background pushes her over the edge. Driven by curiosity and a need for the truth, Aurora, with the aid of her best friend, is drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery.
But time is running out, the danger is running high, and getting on the gold may be her only salvation.
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Aurora’s Gold grabbed my interest from the start and did not let go until I was finished reading. This is a new Author to me. Aurora is a dredge operator on the Bering Sea she hires Ben, a mysterious former Navy diver. Their story has suspense, drama, danger, villains, secrets, and romance. The story was well worth reading. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There were several things that made this book a 5-star read for me:
1) Setting: I love, love, love anything set in Alaska.
2) The heroine of the book, Aurora Darling, is the first female gold dredger in the state. She is young, impulsive, and hard–on herself and others–and it’s interesting seeing how she changes and grows throughout the novel.
3) Many fiction readers love learning real information in the form of a novel. K.J. did an excellent job with this. Aurora shows you how dredging works, the various points of danger and complications that can occur, and the importance of knowing what you’re doing. The author does this seamlessly though, so it doesn’t feel like you’re reading a textbook, but rather that a close friend is filling you in on her unusual job duties.
4) The writing–I know this one is obvious, but really great writing isn’t always something I come across in new-to-me authors. I could tell before reading her bio that K.J. had either gotten her degree in English and/or worked as a journalist/professional writer. And I was right on both counts!
Great pacing, fantastic characters, enough questions, and concerns to keep you engaged. This is a book I’ll be recommending to other adventure/outdoorsy nature-lovers like myself who also love mystery with a little romance in the mix.
This was the first time I came across this author with her novel calling my name. I have been devouring alot of thrillers and such, suspense and mysteries inbetween other stuff. I also know this one was able to hold a reader’s interest on many levels. How many books have you read with a female dredge owner? Aurora holds her own in this along with Ben whom has his own colorful background. Some of that being a mystery that will call your name. Where their is gold you know what follows-greed and followed by deceit. This will speed up in places but it will be filled with danger and followed with some romance also. Big picture of how trust must come to work in this along with that love. This certainly had the power to keep a reader in the depths of this one.
This was an interesting story. It was heavy with description and explanation how gold mining in Nome was done. I loved that Rory was determined to be the best despite the danger and attitudes around her. She was so confident until things changed and that danger got to her. Ben was such a strong, silent, brooding type that had a soft spot for Rory and her plans. As things escalated toward the end of the book, I had tears in my eyes as Rory’s pain was well written. I enjoyed this story and recommend it.
I received a copy through CBR Services, and this is my unsolicited review.
The real treasure
Aurora (Rory) Darling is the daughter of a mother who abandoned her, and a dredge gold miner in Nome, Alaska. Stubborn, untrusting oof anyone but her father, she takes over the mining operation when he suffers a life-threatening accident. She’s done with her old boyfriend, she’s done with her father’s former partner, she won’t listen to her stepfather or half sister when they tell her to give it up, and the pile of back bills, medical bills, and business expenses grows… At the nth hour she finds a diver- Ben – and they start dredging for gold. But the old partner harasses her for money he claims her dad owes him. The former boyfriend is acting strange. Ben becomes the voice of reason, the helping hand, the other half of her team. Then Rory discovers Ben is a wanted fugitive. Who can Rory trust? A circle of threats closes around her and the mining operation, and Rory has to learn how to believe in her self and make her own dreams. Moderately suspenseful, and slightly steamy, but it’s Rory’s inner journey that takes center stage in this in this complex tale of finding ‘true North’. This is a voluntary ARC review.
Very strong female character. Entertaining and detailed account of dredging business, it is so well described that I felt like I was underwater. Rory has some maturing to do in relationships and her stubbornness works for and against her. Ben is a mystery, strong silent type but importantly very dependable. Enjoyed the ride as they iron out the wrinkles in their search for pure gold. I received a free copy without obligation and am voluntarily reviewing.
I really enjoyed reading Aurora’s Gold and learning about the world of underwater dredge mining.
The characters are well developed, strong, and have great chemistry together. The storyline is well written and interesting with drama, suspense, action, adventure, and some romance. The author has obviously done her research on the dangerous practice of dredge mining.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Dredge mining in Nome, Alaska
Rory Darling is the only female gold dredge operator/diver in the Bering Sea outside Nome, Alaska. After her father ends up in the hospital she needs help…fast. So she ends up hiring ex-Navy diver Ben Abel who just flew into town.
He ends up learning quickly and maybe this season won’t be a total loss. But they end up fighting other dredgers and Ben’s mysterious past as they work feverishly to dredge while the weather is still tolerable.
I liked all the different characters in this book. I also liked learning about the dredging history and about Nome. I’ve been to Alaska but never that far north.
This was a quick, interesting, fun read and I enjoyed it.
I received this book from the author through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.