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Rivers of Gold
After burying her last remaining relative, Amity Jones answers an agency's advertisement for prospective wives for men of substance overseas. The result is a proxy marriage and a journey to Alaska to meet her husband for the first time. But there she also meets an adventurer who discovers gold.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
295 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Janet Edmonds
27 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 23, 2011
When I started this book I was quite flustered, and didn't really believe what I was reading. I decided to surf the web to find some summary of the book to reassure the text. However, I was unable to find any decent review on this book. Although I didn't enjoy this book, I will provide a somewhat detailed review for future readers who find this book and plan to read it.
To start, this book begin with a young housemaid whose mother has deceased. She receives an offer for marriage by the local rich butcher, however, the main character, Amity, earnestly hopes to deny the offer and rather be selected to live a new life out in the new land of America filled with new inhabitants. Amity is overjoyed when she receives a response to her request to a be a candidate for the program, being offered two men who are in need of a wife. Amity decides to inform her employer of her leave, and refuses the offer from the butcher. As Amity sets out, she has decided she will choose the offer of a middle-aged man known as, Samuel York, living out in a vast territory. After a long journey, and meeting of her new husband, Amity quickly lears that her husband is a man of few words and restricted feelings. She learns upon Samuel's true love for his land, and the fear of prospectors in search of gold invading his serene territory. After Amity's first child, David, grows older, Amity insists on using the small portios of hidden gold for David's tuition as David is quite a smart boy and earnest learner. Samuel, however, denies the idea causing Amity to set out in a blizzard in frustration. Amity is rescued by a fellow mate she had become acquainted with along her journey to her new husband's home. Although the two share a deep intimacy in mind, they diregard their feelings, and Amity's rescuer, Jake, returns Amity to her to Samuel yet again. Time passes, and Amity becomes silent upon the gold matter, although her son happens to find gold in the nearby river by the Yorks' cabin. Amity diregards the gold although hiding it from her son in the safe place with the rest of the discovered gold, and Samuel informs his son that it is "Fools Gold". Althouh one day 3 men spot David picking out pieces of gold from the river, and question the boy if he knows of any other stored gold from previous searaches...Amity pretends to not have noticed the men interrogating her son, and calls David in. The men approach Amity with force questioning her of where any other gold is hidden. Amity disregards the 3 mens' questions, and as a result Samuel is killed leaving David in shock with no voice, and Amity is ill-treated by all three men. The three men leave the cabin on fire which aweakens Amity as she learns of what has happened, and in shock she learns of her husband's death and leaves inform of the misdeeds hoping for a set retribution to the three men. Amity is unable to get her point across with setting up a trail, and decides to start her life anew in a new territory. While trying to file for a court case, she learns that her husband had been married prior, and had never filed for divorcce. This alarming statement makes Amity, Samuel's mistress and David fatherless in law. Amity is rejoined with the help of Jake who helps Amity re-establish herself in the new territory. Amity soon realizes that she is pregnant once again, and is pretty positive the child isn't Samuels. She forces Jake to leave, and proceeds with the silent birth of her new child. The novel continues as Amity learns that 2 of the 3 men who had caused the misfortune upon her family die leaving the one who had caused the birth of her second child to come into her established territory made with Samuel's real wife who had threatened to file a case in court that she had not received the fair share of gold. The books ends with the death of the 3rd harasser, and the hopes of Jake and Amity to start a new life in a new territory.
To start, this book begin with a young housemaid whose mother has deceased. She receives an offer for marriage by the local rich butcher, however, the main character, Amity, earnestly hopes to deny the offer and rather be selected to live a new life out in the new land of America filled with new inhabitants. Amity is overjoyed when she receives a response to her request to a be a candidate for the program, being offered two men who are in need of a wife. Amity decides to inform her employer of her leave, and refuses the offer from the butcher. As Amity sets out, she has decided she will choose the offer of a middle-aged man known as, Samuel York, living out in a vast territory. After a long journey, and meeting of her new husband, Amity quickly lears that her husband is a man of few words and restricted feelings. She learns upon Samuel's true love for his land, and the fear of prospectors in search of gold invading his serene territory. After Amity's first child, David, grows older, Amity insists on using the small portios of hidden gold for David's tuition as David is quite a smart boy and earnest learner. Samuel, however, denies the idea causing Amity to set out in a blizzard in frustration. Amity is rescued by a fellow mate she had become acquainted with along her journey to her new husband's home. Although the two share a deep intimacy in mind, they diregard their feelings, and Amity's rescuer, Jake, returns Amity to her to Samuel yet again. Time passes, and Amity becomes silent upon the gold matter, although her son happens to find gold in the nearby river by the Yorks' cabin. Amity diregards the gold although hiding it from her son in the safe place with the rest of the discovered gold, and Samuel informs his son that it is "Fools Gold". Althouh one day 3 men spot David picking out pieces of gold from the river, and question the boy if he knows of any other stored gold from previous searaches...Amity pretends to not have noticed the men interrogating her son, and calls David in. The men approach Amity with force questioning her of where any other gold is hidden. Amity disregards the 3 mens' questions, and as a result Samuel is killed leaving David in shock with no voice, and Amity is ill-treated by all three men. The three men leave the cabin on fire which aweakens Amity as she learns of what has happened, and in shock she learns of her husband's death and leaves inform of the misdeeds hoping for a set retribution to the three men. Amity is unable to get her point across with setting up a trail, and decides to start her life anew in a new territory. While trying to file for a court case, she learns that her husband had been married prior, and had never filed for divorcce. This alarming statement makes Amity, Samuel's mistress and David fatherless in law. Amity is rejoined with the help of Jake who helps Amity re-establish herself in the new territory. Amity soon realizes that she is pregnant once again, and is pretty positive the child isn't Samuels. She forces Jake to leave, and proceeds with the silent birth of her new child. The novel continues as Amity learns that 2 of the 3 men who had caused the misfortune upon her family die leaving the one who had caused the birth of her second child to come into her established territory made with Samuel's real wife who had threatened to file a case in court that she had not received the fair share of gold. The books ends with the death of the 3rd harasser, and the hopes of Jake and Amity to start a new life in a new territory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
Rivers of Gold by Janet Edmonds is a captivating and beautifully crafted historical adventure that shines with both rich detail and a compelling emotional core. Edmonds doesn't just describe the California Gold Rush; she immerses the reader in it, making you feel the gritty dust on your skin and the feverish excitement of the hunt.
The novel centers on Clara, a formidable young woman who travels to the unforgiving Sierra Nevada with more than just a dream of striking it rich. Driven by a personal tragedy, she seeks a different kind of fortune—one that can only be unearthed by confronting the harsh realities of the frontier and the ruthless characters who populate it.
A Masterpiece of Historical Detail
What sets Rivers of Gold apart is Edmonds's meticulous attention to historical accuracy. The makeshift camps, the camaraderie and competition, and the sheer physical toll of panning for gold are all rendered with such authenticity that the setting becomes a character in itself. The author masterfully balances the grand sweep of history with the intimate, personal struggles of her protagonist.
Clara is a truly memorable hero. Her intelligence and resilience make her a force to be reckoned with, but it is her vulnerability that makes her so compelling. The story’s true treasure isn’t gold, but the evolution of her character as she learns that strength is measured not by what you find, but by what you leave behind.
A Minor Quibble
The narrative is tightly plotted and well-paced for the most part, though a few of the secondary characters could have been more fully explored. Additionally, a late-stage plot twist, while satisfying, may feel somewhat predictable to seasoned readers of the genre. These are minor quibbles, however, and do not detract from the overall power of the story.
In the end, Rivers of Gold is a magnificent journey. It’s a book that reminds us that the greatest adventures often take place within ourselves, and that a truly valuable life is forged not from precious metal, but from unyielding courage. It's a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone who loves a powerful story of perseverance.
The novel centers on Clara, a formidable young woman who travels to the unforgiving Sierra Nevada with more than just a dream of striking it rich. Driven by a personal tragedy, she seeks a different kind of fortune—one that can only be unearthed by confronting the harsh realities of the frontier and the ruthless characters who populate it.
A Masterpiece of Historical Detail
What sets Rivers of Gold apart is Edmonds's meticulous attention to historical accuracy. The makeshift camps, the camaraderie and competition, and the sheer physical toll of panning for gold are all rendered with such authenticity that the setting becomes a character in itself. The author masterfully balances the grand sweep of history with the intimate, personal struggles of her protagonist.
Clara is a truly memorable hero. Her intelligence and resilience make her a force to be reckoned with, but it is her vulnerability that makes her so compelling. The story’s true treasure isn’t gold, but the evolution of her character as she learns that strength is measured not by what you find, but by what you leave behind.
A Minor Quibble
The narrative is tightly plotted and well-paced for the most part, though a few of the secondary characters could have been more fully explored. Additionally, a late-stage plot twist, while satisfying, may feel somewhat predictable to seasoned readers of the genre. These are minor quibbles, however, and do not detract from the overall power of the story.
In the end, Rivers of Gold is a magnificent journey. It’s a book that reminds us that the greatest adventures often take place within ourselves, and that a truly valuable life is forged not from precious metal, but from unyielding courage. It's a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone who loves a powerful story of perseverance.
September 24, 2017
Set in the pioneering days of the Klondike Gold Rush, this tells the story of Amity Jones, who answers an add for brides for farmers in Canada. With her own family now all dead Amity takes the chance for a better life, little knowing that her farmer lives in the remote wilderness. On the long journey to her new husband Amity learns to fish and shoot - skills she will need if she is not to starve. Amity's life, often hard and lonely, takes us through her children's births, hardships, gold prospecting and running a business on a goldfield. It is beautifully written and captures the pioneer spirit of the time.
August 25, 2019
Janet Edmond's Rivers of Gold was honestly an excellent read! As a reader you know there will be a gold rush as a result of the title/time period/location, yet there is a lot of intrigue as to when and how it may happen in this story! This story made me interested to learn more about the klondike gold rush and I was not dissapointed in how she imagined this novel to play out at all. I would have given 5 stars except I believe the ending could have been developed a tiny bit further, maybe i'm just greedy for more? Anyways I loved it! Great & easy read!!!!
November 5, 2021
Good story. Interesting setting. Plenty of action and drama.
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February 1, 2025Liked it 2 of 4 from readers digest
March 26, 2022
RDCB Vol. 3 1994 ~ Timeline 1896. Having buried her mother and thus her last tie to England, Amity Jones became a mail~order~bride to the taciturn Samuel York in the wilds of Alaska. Amity refused the butcher's (her neighbour in England) marriage proposal in her determination to forge a future for herself in her own terms. Having burned her boats, she faced the good and the bad with great Courage. Written in a way that the reader could not help but agree, understand and appreciate the choices she made to get on with her life as a rape victim... as a widow, thus a single parent... as a woman alone in a vast wilderness with a dubious reputation, given the circumstances that led to her flight with her traumatized son who witnessed his father's murder... the blow to his head rendered him unconscious to his mother's rape by the gang of thieves and murderers.
December 31, 2014
The author had too many awkward and confusing sentences. Also why would Amity marry another man without knowing anything about him, for all she knew Jake could have been a convict in Australia. Didn't she learn her lesson from marrying Mr. York (whom she never met before marrying him) who was already married to someone else and Mr. York did not tell Amity. This author leaves too much unanswered.
June 25, 2012
Admito que de início cheguei a temer que a história sobre a jovem noiva por procuração descambasse para a típica lamechice previsível, mas revelou-se um surpreendentemente bem escrito e duro relato sobre viver e vencer na fronteira.
September 18, 2015
An exciting adventure for a strong female protagonist.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews