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Heart #1
Heart of Gold
ASIN moved from less recent edition
2021 Goldie Finalist
Sometimes to be yourself, you have to become someone else.
Thomasina Miller knew from a young age she wasn't like other girls. She didn't want to be a rancher's wife, so she makes the harrowing decision to leave all she's known, risking everything for the chance to choose her own fate in life. Now going by 'Thomas' she realizes hiding her identity is a rather small price to pay for the freedom to live her own life and the Klondike Gold Rush is the perfect opportunity to help her fund her endeavor.
Rachel Harkes knew that marrying Roy would be her ticket out of her small town in Kansas. Two years into their marriage and still looking for more adventure, Roy decides they should try their luck and join the Klondike Gold Rush.
When tragedy strikes and Thomas and Rachel are brought together at the top of the world in the unforgiving, arduous search for gold, can Thomas navigate her relationship with Rachel without revealing her secret? Will Rachel reconcile what she's known with the new, seemingly overwhelming reality she now finds herself in?
2021 Goldie Finalist
Sometimes to be yourself, you have to become someone else.
Thomasina Miller knew from a young age she wasn't like other girls. She didn't want to be a rancher's wife, so she makes the harrowing decision to leave all she's known, risking everything for the chance to choose her own fate in life. Now going by 'Thomas' she realizes hiding her identity is a rather small price to pay for the freedom to live her own life and the Klondike Gold Rush is the perfect opportunity to help her fund her endeavor.
Rachel Harkes knew that marrying Roy would be her ticket out of her small town in Kansas. Two years into their marriage and still looking for more adventure, Roy decides they should try their luck and join the Klondike Gold Rush.
When tragedy strikes and Thomas and Rachel are brought together at the top of the world in the unforgiving, arduous search for gold, can Thomas navigate her relationship with Rachel without revealing her secret? Will Rachel reconcile what she's known with the new, seemingly overwhelming reality she now finds herself in?
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2020
109 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
L. Dreamer
10 books105 followersLuc Dreamer is a transman, dad, and full-time wanderer. He writes queer stories with heart and soul.
Check out his website and subscribe to his newsletter if that's your thing: www.lucdreamer.com
Check out his website and subscribe to his newsletter if that's your thing: www.lucdreamer.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
May 13, 2020
Now and again, someone suggests a debut book to me. Honestly, I feel both delight and a little trepidation because I don’t know what I might get in the bargain. To be fair, most are decent reads. But I think I’m like many in that I live for that rare time when I’m made giddy from discovering somebody new that’s an absolute gem. Heart of Gold is one of those special debuts.
In the dark of night, Thomasina Miller escapes her parents‘ home to avoid being married off to a stranger. In order to be safe when she’s on her own, she becomes Mr. Thomas Miller in appearance and identity. Then rather than focusing on Thomas’ transformation, the writer moves the narrative 4 years into the future. That’s a power move on the part of the author because it jumps us right into the energy of the story rather than giving us a lengthy background. The year is 1897 and thousands are heading north to the Klondike to stake a gold mine claim. Thomas is one of those “stampeders” and on the journey, he befriends a married woman, Rachel, much to the chagrin of her insufferable husband, Roy. There’s undeniable chemistry between Thomas and Rachel, albeit a respectable friendship.
Tragedy strikes in the wilderness and I found myself awake at 2am fully invested in the main characters as they battled hardships and achingly fell in love. The details are just enough to give us the flavor of the time. Supporting characters are strong. There’s one historical figure in the cast which could be hokey but the author humanizes him so it works.
Heart of Gold is a standalone but appears to be the beginning of a series. It’s a fast moving adventure, but also a slow burn romance that will have you wondering and rooting for two loving people trying to find their way to one another.
Available on KU.
In the dark of night, Thomasina Miller escapes her parents‘ home to avoid being married off to a stranger. In order to be safe when she’s on her own, she becomes Mr. Thomas Miller in appearance and identity. Then rather than focusing on Thomas’ transformation, the writer moves the narrative 4 years into the future. That’s a power move on the part of the author because it jumps us right into the energy of the story rather than giving us a lengthy background. The year is 1897 and thousands are heading north to the Klondike to stake a gold mine claim. Thomas is one of those “stampeders” and on the journey, he befriends a married woman, Rachel, much to the chagrin of her insufferable husband, Roy. There’s undeniable chemistry between Thomas and Rachel, albeit a respectable friendship.
Tragedy strikes in the wilderness and I found myself awake at 2am fully invested in the main characters as they battled hardships and achingly fell in love. The details are just enough to give us the flavor of the time. Supporting characters are strong. There’s one historical figure in the cast which could be hokey but the author humanizes him so it works.
Heart of Gold is a standalone but appears to be the beginning of a series. It’s a fast moving adventure, but also a slow burn romance that will have you wondering and rooting for two loving people trying to find their way to one another.
Available on KU.
April 26, 2023
OMG I f'ing LOVED this book. I could not put it down - read it all in one day. Thank god it is a series because I can't wait to continue the story of these two remarkable MCs. Is Thomas a tiny bit too perfect? Maybe. Do I care? Not at all. She is brave, strong and true and all the things you want your heroine to be.
The writing is great. The characters are great. The story is interesting and well plotted. If the premise sounds the least be interesting to you, (woman posing as a man to make her way in the world as she wants during the turn of the century) this should be the very next book you read.
Luc Dreamer - thank you! I can't wait to read the next one.
The writing is great. The characters are great. The story is interesting and well plotted. If the premise sounds the least be interesting to you, (woman posing as a man to make her way in the world as she wants during the turn of the century) this should be the very next book you read.
Luc Dreamer - thank you! I can't wait to read the next one.
October 13, 2021
"Heart of Gold" was a pleasant surprise. I read this a few months ago and still remember it quite well and how I felt reading it so that's something.
Jae's "Backwards to Oregon" was a history lesson on the trials families and individuals faced on the Oregon Trail. This story focuses on those that tried to cash in on the Klondike Gold Rush up in Canada, where a spot could be secured for one year to have the chance to strike it rich or go home empty handed. I had no exposure to this part of history so it was a fun way to learn about it.
Overall, this was a really smooth read. Compared to other lesfic stories this was really low on angst and I appreciated that. Of course there are the obstacles of Rachel having a husband already and Thomas masquerading as a man and how that will be taken BUT the delivery was executed in such a way that, as the reader, we knew we'd get the happy ending or even middle.
The joy in the story is the friendship that gets developed between Thomas, Rachel, and Jack London (yes, that Jack London) and how they cope with the tribulations of just *getting* to the Klondike and then how they set up their homestead for the year.
Thomas is a wonderful, lovable character as is Rachel. The story unraveled organically and has a warm fuzzy feel despite hardships. There's definitely a sense of being pulled into history and is one of those stories where hours of reading go by without realizing it.
Definitely recommend. 4.6 stars
Jae's "Backwards to Oregon" was a history lesson on the trials families and individuals faced on the Oregon Trail. This story focuses on those that tried to cash in on the Klondike Gold Rush up in Canada, where a spot could be secured for one year to have the chance to strike it rich or go home empty handed. I had no exposure to this part of history so it was a fun way to learn about it.
Overall, this was a really smooth read. Compared to other lesfic stories this was really low on angst and I appreciated that. Of course there are the obstacles of Rachel having a husband already and Thomas masquerading as a man and how that will be taken BUT the delivery was executed in such a way that, as the reader, we knew we'd get the happy ending or even middle.
The joy in the story is the friendship that gets developed between Thomas, Rachel, and Jack London (yes, that Jack London) and how they cope with the tribulations of just *getting* to the Klondike and then how they set up their homestead for the year.
Thomas is a wonderful, lovable character as is Rachel. The story unraveled organically and has a warm fuzzy feel despite hardships. There's definitely a sense of being pulled into history and is one of those stories where hours of reading go by without realizing it.
Definitely recommend. 4.6 stars
October 5, 2021
Gold rush.
I'm so happy to have found this book on KU. It's the first book in the Heart series by Luc Dreamer. I've been looking out for books like this one ever since reading Jae's Backwards to Oregon. Before that, I hadn't even liked historical romances, but that book sparked an interest in me I never knew I had. I really love the whole premise of women dressed up and living as men in the 19th century and falling in love with a femme. They tend to be gentlemanly and the romances are definitely sweeter against the backdrop of the harsh realities of the 19th century. I really love the dynamics of the relationship between Thomas and Rachel and Dreamer did well navigating issues like gender equality and gender roles realistically and with finesse. The harshness of Klondale was also portrayed really well here.
If anyone has similar books to recommend besides those written by Jae or Dreamer, do let me know.
I'm so happy to have found this book on KU. It's the first book in the Heart series by Luc Dreamer. I've been looking out for books like this one ever since reading Jae's Backwards to Oregon. Before that, I hadn't even liked historical romances, but that book sparked an interest in me I never knew I had. I really love the whole premise of women dressed up and living as men in the 19th century and falling in love with a femme. They tend to be gentlemanly and the romances are definitely sweeter against the backdrop of the harsh realities of the 19th century. I really love the dynamics of the relationship between Thomas and Rachel and Dreamer did well navigating issues like gender equality and gender roles realistically and with finesse. The harshness of Klondale was also portrayed really well here.
If anyone has similar books to recommend besides those written by Jae or Dreamer, do let me know.
November 29, 2020
This book had been on my shelf for quite some time and I am super glad to have gotten over myself to read it. Since the last couple of months I've been increasingly lax about reading and reviewing in general. Reading has always been my go to escape land whenever life decided to act like a jerk. Unfortunately for some reason my escape land seemed out of reach for a while. This particular stretch of reading slump was very nasty.
Anyway after a lucky streak of reading quality books like this one, my lesfic loving heart is back in order. Heart of Gold did a good job reminding me why I fell in love with this genre in the first place. If you're looking for a slow burn romance with characters that honestly are too good to be true at times and supremely daft otherwise, then you'd be pretty happy with the book. There were sappy moments that were a bit too sweet but considering the premise and the circumstances the book is based on you'd digest those portions without much difficulty.
4.5 stars
Anyway after a lucky streak of reading quality books like this one, my lesfic loving heart is back in order. Heart of Gold did a good job reminding me why I fell in love with this genre in the first place. If you're looking for a slow burn romance with characters that honestly are too good to be true at times and supremely daft otherwise, then you'd be pretty happy with the book. There were sappy moments that were a bit too sweet but considering the premise and the circumstances the book is based on you'd digest those portions without much difficulty.
4.5 stars
June 9, 2020
Stayed up til midnight to finish this.
I adored it. I never thought I would like historical fiction, but I became enthralled!
An epic adventure with many interesting developments that were well fleshed out and equally emotional.
So much happened it certainly was not a simple story. I highly recommend this one, even if you're not into historical fiction.
I adored it. I never thought I would like historical fiction, but I became enthralled!
An epic adventure with many interesting developments that were well fleshed out and equally emotional.
So much happened it certainly was not a simple story. I highly recommend this one, even if you're not into historical fiction.
September 21, 2020
The other day, I saw that Heart Sings: Heart Series Book 2, book 2 in Luci Dreamer’s Heart of Gold series, would be coming out soon (tomorrow!). I had not read book 1, so I checked the reviews, and since most of my favourite reviewers seemed to have enjoyed it, I decided to go for it.
When I opened it, I realised I hadn’t read the blurb (I don’t always read blurbs) so I didn’t expect to find myself in 1894. I don’t read historical fiction often, but I don’t dislike it at all. I just tend to forget it exists.
Heart of Gold opens with Thomasina buying men’s clothes after her father introduced her to his new business partner and announced that she will marry him. The older man is a widower with four children and becoming his wife is not what eighteen-year-old Thomasina wants out of life. So she runs away and becomes Thomas, a young man on his way to Klondike and the gold rush. During the journey, Thomas meets Rachel, a young woman married to Ron, a less than impressive guy. Soon, Thomas falls for Rachel, to Ron’s noisy displeasure.
I liked Thomas from the start. She’s brave and determined and so very sweet, with the cutest dimples (I can almost see them in my mind). She’s also annoyingly stubborn in her desire to do the right thing. Honestly, I don’t know how Rachel, who deserves so much better than Ron, could have resisted her. I also love how Thomas navigates between genders, the way Dreamer describes the physical differences depending on whether Thomas is in character or not.
There were a few editing glitches and I wasn’t always sure the tenses were right, but I enjoyed this story very much. There’s a lot happening and many endearing characters (including none other than Jack London…). I look forward to book 2, which I will get to real soon.
When I opened it, I realised I hadn’t read the blurb (I don’t always read blurbs) so I didn’t expect to find myself in 1894. I don’t read historical fiction often, but I don’t dislike it at all. I just tend to forget it exists.
Heart of Gold opens with Thomasina buying men’s clothes after her father introduced her to his new business partner and announced that she will marry him. The older man is a widower with four children and becoming his wife is not what eighteen-year-old Thomasina wants out of life. So she runs away and becomes Thomas, a young man on his way to Klondike and the gold rush. During the journey, Thomas meets Rachel, a young woman married to Ron, a less than impressive guy. Soon, Thomas falls for Rachel, to Ron’s noisy displeasure.
I liked Thomas from the start. She’s brave and determined and so very sweet, with the cutest dimples (I can almost see them in my mind). She’s also annoyingly stubborn in her desire to do the right thing. Honestly, I don’t know how Rachel, who deserves so much better than Ron, could have resisted her. I also love how Thomas navigates between genders, the way Dreamer describes the physical differences depending on whether Thomas is in character or not.
There were a few editing glitches and I wasn’t always sure the tenses were right, but I enjoyed this story very much. There’s a lot happening and many endearing characters (including none other than Jack London…). I look forward to book 2, which I will get to real soon.
September 9, 2021
Lovely historical romance. Nice characters, a little bit of angst and excitement and wel written.
September 21, 2021
Well put together book -? Was this before or after Jae's, Backwards to Oregan, felt similar. No less good for that, enjoyed it. Recommended.
March 26, 2021
A nice read
This was a nice read. I kept comparing it to Backwards to Oregon, which is one of my favorite, but this one is different. The journey Thomas and Rachel take is to Klondike for the gold rush. I dont have much knowledge about that so I don't know how historically accurate it is but it was a fun journey. The drama is subtle but the all the characters are done pretty well. You know who the villains are and the heroes and I personally like that in a read like this.
Overall I enjoyed this read and am about to start book 2 of the series.
This was a nice read. I kept comparing it to Backwards to Oregon, which is one of my favorite, but this one is different. The journey Thomas and Rachel take is to Klondike for the gold rush. I dont have much knowledge about that so I don't know how historically accurate it is but it was a fun journey. The drama is subtle but the all the characters are done pretty well. You know who the villains are and the heroes and I personally like that in a read like this.
Overall I enjoyed this read and am about to start book 2 of the series.
July 25, 2020
This is a really emotional read with a sweet love story that slowly unfolds.
Set in the unforgiving Yukon during the Gold Rush, this book follows Thomas, a well-mannered and thoughtful woman who decides to live as a man and finds the role more suitable to her than she ever thought. On her journey, she is joined by Rachel, who longs for adventure and a life outside the narrow confines of polite society. Rachel is married to Roy, which makes the love story extremely slow-burn, especially since Thomas isn’t able to reveal her true nature to anyone and fears Rachel’s reaction if she finds out.
There are a few close calls, which keeps things interesting and the journey itself is fraught with danger. The members of their travel party are also interesting and nuanced, particularly Jack London who plays a big part in the story.
The POV is mostly Thomas and Rachel, but we get a few scenes from other characters. It’s fascinating to see how the characters view each other, especially with regards to Thomas.
The love story is slow and sweet, tinged with melancholy because Thomas doesn’t believe Rachel could return her feelings. The descriptions of the setting and the time period are interesting and detailed. The story pulled me in and I fell for both Thomas and Rachel and was cheering them on from the sidelines.
I devoured this book and I’m excited to find out a sequel is in the works!
This is a debut novel and has a few rough patches, but overall the writing flows well and the story kept my interest.
My rating: 4.5 stars
I received this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Set in the unforgiving Yukon during the Gold Rush, this book follows Thomas, a well-mannered and thoughtful woman who decides to live as a man and finds the role more suitable to her than she ever thought. On her journey, she is joined by Rachel, who longs for adventure and a life outside the narrow confines of polite society. Rachel is married to Roy, which makes the love story extremely slow-burn, especially since Thomas isn’t able to reveal her true nature to anyone and fears Rachel’s reaction if she finds out.
There are a few close calls, which keeps things interesting and the journey itself is fraught with danger. The members of their travel party are also interesting and nuanced, particularly Jack London who plays a big part in the story.
The POV is mostly Thomas and Rachel, but we get a few scenes from other characters. It’s fascinating to see how the characters view each other, especially with regards to Thomas.
The love story is slow and sweet, tinged with melancholy because Thomas doesn’t believe Rachel could return her feelings. The descriptions of the setting and the time period are interesting and detailed. The story pulled me in and I fell for both Thomas and Rachel and was cheering them on from the sidelines.
I devoured this book and I’m excited to find out a sequel is in the works!
This is a debut novel and has a few rough patches, but overall the writing flows well and the story kept my interest.
My rating: 4.5 stars
I received this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
May 9, 2022
A gritty, grimy, heart pounding romance adventure with leads Thomasina/Thomas and Rachel that gripped me and I read through the night to the end. The wild Klondike Goldrush and American West Coast are aptly described by the author. She weaves a thrilling adventure with romance, danger and drama around characters struggling against odds to better their lives in a rip roaring man's world. Throw in a supporting character like Jack London and L. Dreamer's debut novel is a hit.
April 10, 2022
I am new to author L. Dreamer but have become a big fan. Historical fiction is a favourite genre of mine and Heart of Gold tells the tale of prospectors heading north during the Yukon gold rush. The descriptive narrative is exquisite and you can feel the struggles and duress our main characters feel. This is a very well written novel that gathers you into the story quickly and holds you there until the end.
May 19, 2020
Definitely the best book I've read so far for 2020!!
June 6, 2020
I gotta love a lesbian historical romance. Especially one that is set in the west. This one takes place during the Klondike Gold rush at around the turn of the 20th century. Thomonisa Miller takes on the persona of Thomas Miller to escape an arranged marriage to a man that was nearly twice her age. When she learns of the Klondike gold rush, she heads off from Seattle, Washington to try her luck in the gold rich streams of the Yukon. Along the way she meets and grows close to the beautiful and intelligent Rachel Harkes, who along with her husband yearned for the adventure the Yukon promises.
I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing and sense of adventure in this one. It hit all the right high notes for a book set in anyone of the gold rushes that occurred in the mid 19th century and early twentieth century. I even enjoyed some of the little easter eggs there that we had - like Rachel lamenting not being able to buy something out of a Sears catalog, or that the ladies meet a lovely man by the name of Jack London who saves a wolf pup. Great stuff there. I also enjoyed the side characters, each had strong personalities, and even Rachel's sister gets to have a short character arc that I didn't think I needed.
With all that aside though, I thought two things brought this down for me. one is the use of modern colloquialisms that I felt was jarring. It is a nitpicking thing that I have, but I don't mind it as part of the narration (it is sometimes needed for context, or if an old word isn't used anymore) but when characters actually use it in their speech, it just takes me right out of it. I thought the dialog relied a little too heavily on modern phrasing or diction a little too much near the beginning, but once the story got going, that fell by the wayside. My second complaint was with Rachel's husband. He is supposed to be a one note character, but there were times where he got really stupid to the point where he lost all common sense. He was meant to be a petulant idiot who couldn't handle the work of the adventure he wanted so much to go on, but there were times were I could not believe how dumb he was. He didn't bother me so much as the modern language usage but he was still there.
Overall, I'd say this is a good enough read for those who are looking to quench their need for lesbian historical romances (there aren't a ton recently). It boasts a beautiful setting, some interesting characters, awesome adventure scenes, and a lovely romance. If you are willing to look past some jarring dialog and an idiot, then this is a must read.
I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing and sense of adventure in this one. It hit all the right high notes for a book set in anyone of the gold rushes that occurred in the mid 19th century and early twentieth century. I even enjoyed some of the little easter eggs there that we had - like Rachel lamenting not being able to buy something out of a Sears catalog, or that the ladies meet a lovely man by the name of Jack London who saves a wolf pup. Great stuff there. I also enjoyed the side characters, each had strong personalities, and even Rachel's sister gets to have a short character arc that I didn't think I needed.
With all that aside though, I thought two things brought this down for me. one is the use of modern colloquialisms that I felt was jarring. It is a nitpicking thing that I have, but I don't mind it as part of the narration (it is sometimes needed for context, or if an old word isn't used anymore) but when characters actually use it in their speech, it just takes me right out of it. I thought the dialog relied a little too heavily on modern phrasing or diction a little too much near the beginning, but once the story got going, that fell by the wayside. My second complaint was with Rachel's husband. He is supposed to be a one note character, but there were times where he got really stupid to the point where he lost all common sense. He was meant to be a petulant idiot who couldn't handle the work of the adventure he wanted so much to go on, but there were times were I could not believe how dumb he was. He didn't bother me so much as the modern language usage but he was still there.
Overall, I'd say this is a good enough read for those who are looking to quench their need for lesbian historical romances (there aren't a ton recently). It boasts a beautiful setting, some interesting characters, awesome adventure scenes, and a lovely romance. If you are willing to look past some jarring dialog and an idiot, then this is a must read.
dnf
July 28, 2021DNF @ 20%
There are tons of glowing reviews for this, and it's a time period that's interesting and little used, so I had hopes. The writing is good, and the author clearly researched this time period and the gold rush in the Klondikes. Unfortunately, I just wasn't feeling connected to the characters. Thomas/Thomasina was perfect in every way. Roy, Rachel's husband, was a lush and only became more so as the story progressed. I had hoped at the start that the man might have some layers to him, but alas. He's just a douche. Rachel is nice. She and Thomas have an obvious connection. Of course, we can't like Roy too much since Rachel is going to end up with Thomas before this is over, so making him a jerk accomplishes that. 🙄 I could see the drama coming and I'm just not in the mood right now to deal with it, especially when I feel no pull towards the story anyway. So it's onto the next!
There are tons of glowing reviews for this, and it's a time period that's interesting and little used, so I had hopes. The writing is good, and the author clearly researched this time period and the gold rush in the Klondikes. Unfortunately, I just wasn't feeling connected to the characters. Thomas/Thomasina was perfect in every way. Roy, Rachel's husband, was a lush and only became more so as the story progressed. I had hoped at the start that the man might have some layers to him, but alas. He's just a douche. Rachel is nice. She and Thomas have an obvious connection. Of course, we can't like Roy too much since Rachel is going to end up with Thomas before this is over, so making him a jerk accomplishes that. 🙄 I could see the drama coming and I'm just not in the mood right now to deal with it, especially when I feel no pull towards the story anyway. So it's onto the next!
October 10, 2023
This story is like a burger with the lot. It had everything, from adventure, romance, heartbreak, friendship, trans man and dare I say murder? And of course assholery from ehem, men, but of course, not all of them, and this time no sarcasm. Thomas and Rachel’s gold rush adventure is fraught with challenges with Klondike front and centre. I’ve never read a book based on the gold rush era so this was such a “rush” 😅
December 24, 2021
4.5 stars. This was a fantastic read. Almost immediately from the beginning I was hooked to the story and had to finish it. Especially considering this is a debut book I think it’s a great accomplishment. It is the first part in a series, and I need more!
The story is written in the 3rd person from the POV of Thomas and Rachel. The story starts almost immediately with the trek to the Klondike region in Canada in search for gold. Thomas (previously Thomasina) lives her life as a man to prevent an arranged marriage and to obtain freedom to build the life she wants. She decides to travel to the Klondike region hoping to find gold so she can fulfill her dream, starting her own ranch. During the trek she meets Rachel and her husband Roy. Rachel and Thomas become friends although Thomas tries to keep her distance to Rachel as she doesn’t want any trouble with Roy and she has to protect her secret. Roy is simply put an enormous ass and as the book progressed he became extremely irrational due to jealousy and stubbornness. One could argue the believability of his character, personally I thought it was a bit over the top and not really necessary. That aside, fate brings Rachel together with Thomas and Jack (a fellow traveler). Thomas has resigned to living a life of solitude, but being so close to Rachel makes her long for more. However, Rachel doesn’t know she’s a woman, will a future together ever be possible?
The trip to the Klondike region is rough and full of danger and is beautifully described. As I didn’t know too much about the Klondike gold rush I also learned a thing or two as a bonus. I thought a large part of the book would cover this travel, but this was actually less than I imagined. A large part of the book takes place at the Klondike region, setting up their place to live and starting to mine for gold. Initially I felt disappointed by this, as I like the adventure of traveling and thought the story might start to drag once they were at one location, but this was certainly not the case and the book did not lose my interest at any point.
Thomas is super caring and sweet (perhaps too good to be true at moments) and she’s well respected. Rachel is an adventurous and strong woman, but at the same time she also has a very nurturing nature. The development of the relationship between Thomas and Rachel was nicely done, a believable slow burn romance with some apparent obstacles.
There are some parallels to the Backwards to Oregon series from Jae, so if you enjoyed those books, chances are you will enjoy this book too. The time period is roughly 50-60 years later. The book has a good pace and the writing flows nicely. I can’t comment on the accuracy of the historical facts and way of living as I don’t know too much about that.
If you’re looking for a historical slow burn romance with a lot of adventure I can definitely recommend this book.
The story is written in the 3rd person from the POV of Thomas and Rachel. The story starts almost immediately with the trek to the Klondike region in Canada in search for gold. Thomas (previously Thomasina) lives her life as a man to prevent an arranged marriage and to obtain freedom to build the life she wants. She decides to travel to the Klondike region hoping to find gold so she can fulfill her dream, starting her own ranch. During the trek she meets Rachel and her husband Roy. Rachel and Thomas become friends although Thomas tries to keep her distance to Rachel as she doesn’t want any trouble with Roy and she has to protect her secret. Roy is simply put an enormous ass and as the book progressed he became extremely irrational due to jealousy and stubbornness. One could argue the believability of his character, personally I thought it was a bit over the top and not really necessary. That aside, fate brings Rachel together with Thomas and Jack (a fellow traveler). Thomas has resigned to living a life of solitude, but being so close to Rachel makes her long for more. However, Rachel doesn’t know she’s a woman, will a future together ever be possible?
The trip to the Klondike region is rough and full of danger and is beautifully described. As I didn’t know too much about the Klondike gold rush I also learned a thing or two as a bonus. I thought a large part of the book would cover this travel, but this was actually less than I imagined. A large part of the book takes place at the Klondike region, setting up their place to live and starting to mine for gold. Initially I felt disappointed by this, as I like the adventure of traveling and thought the story might start to drag once they were at one location, but this was certainly not the case and the book did not lose my interest at any point.
Thomas is super caring and sweet (perhaps too good to be true at moments) and she’s well respected. Rachel is an adventurous and strong woman, but at the same time she also has a very nurturing nature. The development of the relationship between Thomas and Rachel was nicely done, a believable slow burn romance with some apparent obstacles.
There are some parallels to the Backwards to Oregon series from Jae, so if you enjoyed those books, chances are you will enjoy this book too. The time period is roughly 50-60 years later. The book has a good pace and the writing flows nicely. I can’t comment on the accuracy of the historical facts and way of living as I don’t know too much about that.
If you’re looking for a historical slow burn romance with a lot of adventure I can definitely recommend this book.
August 3, 2022
If you are into WLW historical fiction, you will likely enjoy this book and the sequel. Thomasina Miller is a woman living as a man who meets and falls in love with Rachel, a married woman bound for the Canadian gold fields in the 1890s. It's hard not to root for the appealing protagonists.
In addition to the slow-build romance, readers are treated to a glimpse into the rugged of life of the Klondike Gold Rush "Stampeders." Without being preachy in the least, Luc Dreamer weaves in astute social commentary on issues of 19th-century gender-role inequality, societal prejudices and legal barriers to women living independently of men.
I also enjoyed the second part of this series, Heart Sings, set a few years later in the Sacramento area, but it had some issues. If you do choose to read both, I strongly recommend you read them in order.
Side note on Jack London: Luc Dreamer's idealized portrayal of Thomas's reliable and good-hearted pal Jack London is pure fiction. Much as I like Jack London as a writer and a progressive figure, the contemporaneous records reveal him as a sloppy drunk and a womanizer who kept a veritable harem of women; in real life, his wife Bessie (another side character) ultimately sued London for adultery, opening herself up to public scorn. (See The Gilded Edge: Two Audacious Women and the Cyanide Love Triangle That Shook America, a non-fiction account of that era and Jack London's social circle.)
In addition to the slow-build romance, readers are treated to a glimpse into the rugged of life of the Klondike Gold Rush "Stampeders." Without being preachy in the least, Luc Dreamer weaves in astute social commentary on issues of 19th-century gender-role inequality, societal prejudices and legal barriers to women living independently of men.
I also enjoyed the second part of this series, Heart Sings, set a few years later in the Sacramento area, but it had some issues. If you do choose to read both, I strongly recommend you read them in order.
Side note on Jack London: Luc Dreamer's idealized portrayal of Thomas's reliable and good-hearted pal Jack London is pure fiction. Much as I like Jack London as a writer and a progressive figure, the contemporaneous records reveal him as a sloppy drunk and a womanizer who kept a veritable harem of women; in real life, his wife Bessie (another side character) ultimately sued London for adultery, opening herself up to public scorn. (See The Gilded Edge: Two Audacious Women and the Cyanide Love Triangle That Shook America, a non-fiction account of that era and Jack London's social circle.)
June 18, 2020
Well, that was an interesting read. Sometimes hard to put down. I hope the next one is even better.
4.25 stars
4.25 stars
May 10, 2022
Absolutely loved this book. It was so hard to take break for sleep and food once I started it. I feel so much for Thomas and Rachel. I was rooting for them from the beginning! I loved the friendship they shared from the beginning and I was so worried that Rachel wouldn’t be able to overcome Thomas’s secret. I also loved the adventure of making it to the Klondike and looking for gold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2020
Surprised to see that this was a fanfic book I read over a year ago about Wayhaught. Still great as different characters!
May 27, 2020
Simply amazing!
July 20, 2020
This was really great. I wondered how everything was going to come out and I was not disappointed with the drama that unfolded. I look forward to the next book in the Heart Series.
July 15, 2020
So Sweet!
Thomasina didn’t want the life mapped out for her and the marriage planned by her father so she left the life she knew for one of opportunity with a new identity as Thomas. Along her travels in the search for her dream of finding the life she wants in the Gold Rush, Thomas meets a couple and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Rachel. Throughout the adventure to their new lives, Thomas and Rachel encounter hardship, difficulties and hardship but the whole while Thomas has to keep her secret and worries what the consequences will be if she is found out and will it threaten her life.
As a debut novel this was absolutely brilliant! I loved every second of the adventure and how much I learned from the story about the times. It was fascinating to follow Thomas’ journey to her freedom and really encounter the obstacles she faced with her head on. It was angsty, drama filled and also beautifully sweet and romantic. A forbidden and secret love story is always a win, and Luci Dreamer has delivered a great story.
There were a lot of surprises along the way, not only for the reader but for the characters. I am so glad this is part of a series because I am excited to see what the future holds in store for Thomas and Rachel after this first testing adventure for them both. They both endured such emotional circumstances in finding freedom and living their dream, and it wasn’t without difficulties that they had to face and will no doubt continue too.
I highly recommend this story. It was easy to get drawn in and not want to put it down and was very sweet, emotional and a great read.
Thomasina didn’t want the life mapped out for her and the marriage planned by her father so she left the life she knew for one of opportunity with a new identity as Thomas. Along her travels in the search for her dream of finding the life she wants in the Gold Rush, Thomas meets a couple and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Rachel. Throughout the adventure to their new lives, Thomas and Rachel encounter hardship, difficulties and hardship but the whole while Thomas has to keep her secret and worries what the consequences will be if she is found out and will it threaten her life.
As a debut novel this was absolutely brilliant! I loved every second of the adventure and how much I learned from the story about the times. It was fascinating to follow Thomas’ journey to her freedom and really encounter the obstacles she faced with her head on. It was angsty, drama filled and also beautifully sweet and romantic. A forbidden and secret love story is always a win, and Luci Dreamer has delivered a great story.
There were a lot of surprises along the way, not only for the reader but for the characters. I am so glad this is part of a series because I am excited to see what the future holds in store for Thomas and Rachel after this first testing adventure for them both. They both endured such emotional circumstances in finding freedom and living their dream, and it wasn’t without difficulties that they had to face and will no doubt continue too.
I highly recommend this story. It was easy to get drawn in and not want to put it down and was very sweet, emotional and a great read.
November 30, 2020
I'm not crying, you're crying.
JFC this lovely story got me right in the feels. Historically (see what I did there?), I have little time and less patience for slow-burn anything, but these characters were so endearing (not you, Roy...and that other one) and their adventure so well depicted I was riveted.
It's been a long time since my phone wasn't the first thing I picked up off the nightstand when I first woke up.
The setting and descriptions were fabulous (I even googled words and learned shit because everyone really should know what a whipsaw looks like).
There was great tension and all the struggles, failures and triumphs really felt earned.
Really well done, LD. I look forward to getting hold of the next.
JFC this lovely story got me right in the feels. Historically (see what I did there?), I have little time and less patience for slow-burn anything, but these characters were so endearing (not you, Roy...and that other one) and their adventure so well depicted I was riveted.
It's been a long time since my phone wasn't the first thing I picked up off the nightstand when I first woke up.
The setting and descriptions were fabulous (I even googled words and learned shit because everyone really should know what a whipsaw looks like).
There was great tension and all the struggles, failures and triumphs really felt earned.
Really well done, LD. I look forward to getting hold of the next.
May 27, 2021
A great adventure/romance set during the Klondike gold rush in the 1890's. This was well written and the descriptions put me on the trail and in the miner camps. You can tell the author did her research. Characters are 3 dimensional and distinct voices. It took me awhile to realize one important character was a famous writer. A wolf dog is also in the story. The romance was convincing and moved at the right pace. The next in this series with Thomas/Thomasina and Rachel is on my list.
February 18, 2021
New author for me...
But, seriously not one I'm going to forget anytime soon.
This is a real harsh adventure. Klondike, harsh weather and conditions looking for the vein of gold that will make all your dreams come true.
Doing this as a man back then was hard. But a woman masquerading as a man. Well you go girl.
Yes, I know it's historical and women didn't do that but the did and succeeded.
It's really well written. Easy to read. And you'll shiver from the cold. Your muscles will even groan. Yes it's that well written.
I enjoy historical literature because I have a love of history. It's these women who paved the way. Heroes in disguise.
Give it ago. I don't think you'll regret it. Enjoy!
But, seriously not one I'm going to forget anytime soon.
This is a real harsh adventure. Klondike, harsh weather and conditions looking for the vein of gold that will make all your dreams come true.
Doing this as a man back then was hard. But a woman masquerading as a man. Well you go girl.
Yes, I know it's historical and women didn't do that but the did and succeeded.
It's really well written. Easy to read. And you'll shiver from the cold. Your muscles will even groan. Yes it's that well written.
I enjoy historical literature because I have a love of history. It's these women who paved the way. Heroes in disguise.
Give it ago. I don't think you'll regret it. Enjoy!
October 4, 2020
Really excellent historical romance...loved how she included Jack London in the story. Stayed up late to finish this book and thought this was every but as good as Jae’s iconic Backwards to Oregon book that I loved. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2020
This is such a beautiful and wonderful story. There's a haunting undertone when Thomasina has to live her life as man, but she makes the most caring, kind, and handsome man among them all. She's hardworking and falls hard for Rachel when they meet on their travels towards a year-long search for gold. I'm not usually a fan of historic pieces but I really enjoyed this one, it is clear how much research the author did to make it a realistic story that really sucks you in. I got completely lost in this reality. It's a truly lovely romance, both main characters are adorable, and even more minor characters like Jack and Charlotte are loved. This book has action, love, friendship, day-to-day life, and everything in between. I can't wait to read book 2!
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