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Heck and Hope #3
Heck's Gold
A heartwarming tale of courage and young love on a rugged frontier...
After completing their fort, the residents of Heck’s Valley brace for winter. Many speak of spring—and the possibility of staying here and working together to build a town in this breathtaking wilderness.
Heck and Hope don’t know what the future holds, but so long as they are together, they face it with confidence.
But life on the frontier is never easy.
They have to guard their stock, keep the peace, and prepare defenses for spring, when the Sioux warriors who killed Seeker’s parents will again come raiding.
Meanwhile, Heck must decide what to do about his amazing discovery.
Will Heck’s gold bless the Valley… or tear it apart?
After completing their fort, the residents of Heck’s Valley brace for winter. Many speak of spring—and the possibility of staying here and working together to build a town in this breathtaking wilderness.
Heck and Hope don’t know what the future holds, but so long as they are together, they face it with confidence.
But life on the frontier is never easy.
They have to guard their stock, keep the peace, and prepare defenses for spring, when the Sioux warriors who killed Seeker’s parents will again come raiding.
Meanwhile, Heck must decide what to do about his amazing discovery.
Will Heck’s gold bless the Valley… or tear it apart?
- GenresWesterns
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2023
725 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
December 29, 2025
GREED IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL & HECK'S GOLD PROVES THIS TO BE TRUE
12/26/25 Review:
☆☆☆☆☆
Heck's Gold: Heck and Hope, Book 3 by John Deacon is another great installment in the Heck Martin series that will intrigue and inspire you at the same time bring to the forefront of how greed for someone else's possessions and revenge will bring the downfall of even the wealthiest who have everything but at the same time wants everything someone else has just for the fun of possessing something of someone else's.
The main characters are well written and the heroes of the story are easily related to as well as the villains are ones that are clearly brought to life in a way that leaves you wishing you were in the thick of the skirmishes so you too can help bring the bad guys to their knees or better yet, six feet under.
If you haven't read any of John Deacon's books, I highly recommend them to you, just start with the first book in the series and you will be hooked and will be glued to the pages in each book until you are finished and this third installment is no exception. Heck and Hope Martin's love for each other, their family, and their fellow community members of Hope's City inspires the reader through their struggles to maintain their life, properly, and provide a community that pulls together for each other no matter the cost to themselves for the benefit of others.
I really can't do justice in stating just how good this book is, the previous two books, and the remaining two (which I have completed prior to writing this review). If you enjoy reading about a great man with a great woman by his side, with friends and family that love, support, and fight together for what's right against those who are unbelievably greedy and downright evil, you'll love this book and series.
Quotes:
"Greed didn't make them fools of men. It made monsters of them.”
12/26/25 Review:
☆☆☆☆☆
Heck's Gold: Heck and Hope, Book 3 by John Deacon is another great installment in the Heck Martin series that will intrigue and inspire you at the same time bring to the forefront of how greed for someone else's possessions and revenge will bring the downfall of even the wealthiest who have everything but at the same time wants everything someone else has just for the fun of possessing something of someone else's.
The main characters are well written and the heroes of the story are easily related to as well as the villains are ones that are clearly brought to life in a way that leaves you wishing you were in the thick of the skirmishes so you too can help bring the bad guys to their knees or better yet, six feet under.
If you haven't read any of John Deacon's books, I highly recommend them to you, just start with the first book in the series and you will be hooked and will be glued to the pages in each book until you are finished and this third installment is no exception. Heck and Hope Martin's love for each other, their family, and their fellow community members of Hope's City inspires the reader through their struggles to maintain their life, properly, and provide a community that pulls together for each other no matter the cost to themselves for the benefit of others.
I really can't do justice in stating just how good this book is, the previous two books, and the remaining two (which I have completed prior to writing this review). If you enjoy reading about a great man with a great woman by his side, with friends and family that love, support, and fight together for what's right against those who are unbelievably greedy and downright evil, you'll love this book and series.
Quotes:
"Greed didn't make them fools of men. It made monsters of them.”
December 18, 2023
Gosh
What can I say. I love this series. So many good things in them. But this one is my favorite “so far”. Great characters, wonderful story and last, but not least, a very talented author.
What can I say. I love this series. So many good things in them. But this one is my favorite “so far”. Great characters, wonderful story and last, but not least, a very talented author.
September 8, 2024
Most of the wagon trainload of folks who stopped in Hector Martin's valley in 1850 while traveling to California decide to just settle in the valley for good instead of proceeding further. Heck finds a huge nugget-boulder of gold worth thousands, bringing excitement to his close group of family and friends but his mother-in-law warns of the trouble it will cause.
"Heck's Gold" is the third entry in this series and I'd recommend reading the other two first. It is a newer Kindle-style, light frontier tale with a Christian fiction edge to it.
While the middle third gets a little too much into the weeds as these various characters plan the future city and settlement, discussing amongst themselves the role of law and order, Deacon's strengths as a storyteller really ramp up in the back-third. Heck and his friend Jim Bridger visit San Francisco to take care of some legal issues surrounding his claimed valley. His visit to the crime-riddled town reads smart and adventurous, with twists and turns, a smart ruse, and an action-packed ending.
Verdict: John Deacon is now one of my favorite western writers and I recommend starting with "Heck's Journey" if you are looking for a new, easy, short, wholesome, and fun western adventure series. The Heck books are also appropriate for younger readers.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
"Heck's Gold" is the third entry in this series and I'd recommend reading the other two first. It is a newer Kindle-style, light frontier tale with a Christian fiction edge to it.
While the middle third gets a little too much into the weeds as these various characters plan the future city and settlement, discussing amongst themselves the role of law and order, Deacon's strengths as a storyteller really ramp up in the back-third. Heck and his friend Jim Bridger visit San Francisco to take care of some legal issues surrounding his claimed valley. His visit to the crime-riddled town reads smart and adventurous, with twists and turns, a smart ruse, and an action-packed ending.
Verdict: John Deacon is now one of my favorite western writers and I recommend starting with "Heck's Journey" if you are looking for a new, easy, short, wholesome, and fun western adventure series. The Heck books are also appropriate for younger readers.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
April 11, 2023
Wow this is a lot to unpack! The book starts out where the last one left off, with 100# of gold. Great place to start, right? When Heck is finally able to be up and move around, he see lots of changes. Buildings going up by the immigrants, just to survive the winter. Many will move on come spring, but most want to stay in Heck's Valley. Seeker gets the fort named after him and the new town is appropriately named Hope City. Lots of problems too, like what to do about a flash flood that wipes out a good portion of their road, and dealing with renegade Indians. Then there is the matter of the gold. How to get it to San Francisco to get it assayed and to get the deeds to the property he has claimed More than enough action to keep the story interesting. throughout.
May 16, 2023
The harsh conditions in the old west draws all kinds of people with various intentions of life on the frontier. Heck’s Valley is being settled with men and women of talents all needed to make up a town. Of course, there are always a few bad apples, as the saying goes, and that tests the goodness and will of the settlement. Heck, Hope and the coming baby, are at the heart of the people when gold is found. I loved this book and couldn’t put it down when the good, bad and ugly came into their lives. Excellent writing.
June 11, 2023
Second time around Heck’s Gold is very good!0
A few years have past and I am reading the Heck and Hope series again because there is a new book and I really couldn’t remember it very well. I read so many books and series it is hard to remember. However, as I read it, it all comes back very quickly and is an exciting read. Heck found a 100 lb nugget of gold—how cool. Gold brings blessings but much trouble as we all know. Man, San Francisco sounds like an overpriced hell hole. No wonder that city has suffered many fires that burned the city to the ground!
A few years have past and I am reading the Heck and Hope series again because there is a new book and I really couldn’t remember it very well. I read so many books and series it is hard to remember. However, as I read it, it all comes back very quickly and is an exciting read. Heck found a 100 lb nugget of gold—how cool. Gold brings blessings but much trouble as we all know. Man, San Francisco sounds like an overpriced hell hole. No wonder that city has suffered many fires that burned the city to the ground!
April 2, 2023
Best one yet!
Heck’s adventures in Heck’s Gold were exciting and riveting. Just when we finished reading about wiping out the Indian attack, Heck decided to go to San Francisco to sell his gold nugget. I am impressed with Heck’s thinking ahead of each move to ensure his and his friends safety. The last chapters were so exciting I could not put the book down. Can’t wait for the next book!
Heck’s adventures in Heck’s Gold were exciting and riveting. Just when we finished reading about wiping out the Indian attack, Heck decided to go to San Francisco to sell his gold nugget. I am impressed with Heck’s thinking ahead of each move to ensure his and his friends safety. The last chapters were so exciting I could not put the book down. Can’t wait for the next book!
November 5, 2023
Heck’s Gold
This was an absolutely great Book with a solid 5 Star Rating!! Probably one of the very best Western Romance Novel’s that I have ever read!! The main characters in this storyline were absolutely the greatest in keeping totally interested from page 1 to the greatest ending ever! This Author of these series of books is absolutely incredible…. Thank you for such an incredible read!
This was an absolutely great Book with a solid 5 Star Rating!! Probably one of the very best Western Romance Novel’s that I have ever read!! The main characters in this storyline were absolutely the greatest in keeping totally interested from page 1 to the greatest ending ever! This Author of these series of books is absolutely incredible…. Thank you for such an incredible read!
June 20, 2024
100%Pure Gold
Heck’s Gold is a wonderful story it’s written so well and so believable. While building his city of Hope, Heck had come across gold which he took to California in a secretive way on the trail to disguise from thieves. He also was there to purchase and finalize the deed on what turns out to be a huge amount of land to continue building his city!
Such a nice, clean story of Hope!
Heck’s Gold is a wonderful story it’s written so well and so believable. While building his city of Hope, Heck had come across gold which he took to California in a secretive way on the trail to disguise from thieves. He also was there to purchase and finalize the deed on what turns out to be a huge amount of land to continue building his city!
Such a nice, clean story of Hope!
April 16, 2023
Long read
Heck and Hope settle in their valley. The group of people that settle with them, help fight Indians and blizzards. Heck goes to San Francisco to sign the land deed papers, has a boxing match, out smarts a gang leader, and sells his 100 lb gold nugget. He also becomes a father.
Heck and Hope settle in their valley. The group of people that settle with them, help fight Indians and blizzards. Heck goes to San Francisco to sign the land deed papers, has a boxing match, out smarts a gang leader, and sells his 100 lb gold nugget. He also becomes a father.
June 1, 2023
Beck's little Tor
This was an AMAZING story!!! Honestly, I thought it was the best book of the series so far. Although the first two books lead up to the way this story has turned out so far. I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to be read with an open mind and heart. I'm very impressed with this series.
This was an AMAZING story!!! Honestly, I thought it was the best book of the series so far. Although the first two books lead up to the way this story has turned out so far. I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to be read with an open mind and heart. I'm very impressed with this series.
December 27, 2023
So many surprises and the excitement never ends
Every book is exciting in its own way. Imagine a 100 pound nugget and all the trouble it could cause. An old title comes back. A friend dies. But not only people are buried in a cemetery. A town is formed and grows. A baby is born. And much, much more. Highly recommended for all readers.
Every book is exciting in its own way. Imagine a 100 pound nugget and all the trouble it could cause. An old title comes back. A friend dies. But not only people are buried in a cemetery. A town is formed and grows. A baby is born. And much, much more. Highly recommended for all readers.
May 2, 2024
Full of surprises, twists and turns
Heck reveals his wisdom, strength and business savvy in Heck’s Gold. With the discovery of gold on their land, I expected the usual gold rush. I wondered is Heck, Hope & Seeker would end up moving away. Deacon spins this yarn with a very deft touch. This series is hard to put down!
Heck reveals his wisdom, strength and business savvy in Heck’s Gold. With the discovery of gold on their land, I expected the usual gold rush. I wondered is Heck, Hope & Seeker would end up moving away. Deacon spins this yarn with a very deft touch. This series is hard to put down!
June 16, 2025
Great series!
Yes, it truly is a great series. Just like everything I've read by John Deacon. And it made me mad because I had such a hard time finding a place to put it down that I ended up neglecting my regular duties! Now I have to get busy. Good thing I am retired and single and answering to no one but my self and my Maker!
Yes, it truly is a great series. Just like everything I've read by John Deacon. And it made me mad because I had such a hard time finding a place to put it down that I ended up neglecting my regular duties! Now I have to get busy. Good thing I am retired and single and answering to no one but my self and my Maker!
February 28, 2023
Double Wow
Definitely worth the wait. John Deacon has written a brilliant western novel. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Best of the three in this series. My hats off to you John! Highly recommended but start with book 1. Already ordered book 4!
Definitely worth the wait. John Deacon has written a brilliant western novel. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Best of the three in this series. My hats off to you John! Highly recommended but start with book 1. Already ordered book 4!
March 1, 2023
racing to the finish line
Racing to the finish line starts a little slowly, but gains speed with every page. Best of all, you can read it to nephews/nieces & grandkids with no embarrassing details to explain.
Racing to the finish line starts a little slowly, but gains speed with every page. Best of all, you can read it to nephews/nieces & grandkids with no embarrassing details to explain.
March 6, 2023
A must read
I enjoyed everything about this book. The first book of the series was a good read, the second book was better and this third offering was the best. I'm looking forward to book number four.
I enjoyed everything about this book. The first book of the series was a good read, the second book was better and this third offering was the best. I'm looking forward to book number four.
March 11, 2023
Another Great Chapter in the Heck and Hope Story
Heck and Hope continue to grow as a couple as do the other characters in this series. Looking forward to the next book. Thanks for writing these stories.
Heck and Hope continue to grow as a couple as do the other characters in this series. Looking forward to the next book. Thanks for writing these stories.
March 12, 2023
Unlikely Triumph
Continuing an ongoing excellent series with a perilous trip, ongoing attempts to outthink Heck and actual action that could kill Heck makes a storyline that cannot be set aside. Don’t miss it!
Continuing an ongoing excellent series with a perilous trip, ongoing attempts to outthink Heck and actual action that could kill Heck makes a storyline that cannot be set aside. Don’t miss it!
March 14, 2023
The Boundaries Journey.
Love reading about Heck and Hope. All the problems that come their way. Building up the West, couldn't put the book down. Waiting on the next one. Very enjoyable reading.
Love reading about Heck and Hope. All the problems that come their way. Building up the West, couldn't put the book down. Waiting on the next one. Very enjoyable reading.
March 22, 2023
Another great story
I've certainly become a fan of John Deacon as he write such wonderful tales. This series has been exciting to follow and I look forward of more great tales to come.
I've certainly become a fan of John Deacon as he write such wonderful tales. This series has been exciting to follow and I look forward of more great tales to come.
April 11, 2023
onwards and upwards
On to book three now and it’s getting better with each book just finished and looking forward to number 4 I just don’t want to get to the finish really enjoying the story
On to book three now and it’s getting better with each book just finished and looking forward to number 4 I just don’t want to get to the finish really enjoying the story
May 19, 2023
Amazing Adventure into a Great Read!!
This was a wild ride into past glories. This is the best adventure I have had in quite some time. It is romantic, fun, and just the best book I have read this year!! I highly recommend this book!
This was a wild ride into past glories. This is the best adventure I have had in quite some time. It is romantic, fun, and just the best book I have read this year!! I highly recommend this book!
May 24, 2023
another Heck thriller
Deacon does it again. The book is filled with odd twists and turns. It’s all fiction, put in unlikely events and outcomes. An entertaining way to peek into 1850’s westward migration.
Deacon does it again. The book is filled with odd twists and turns. It’s all fiction, put in unlikely events and outcomes. An entertaining way to peek into 1850’s westward migration.
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August 8, 2023Great Western Adventure
Good reading for Chritians. Shows how we must have faith in our Lord but also be prepared to take care of our enemies with God's help. Great for all western fans.
Good reading for Chritians. Shows how we must have faith in our Lord but also be prepared to take care of our enemies with God's help. Great for all western fans.
August 27, 2023
Not enough words of praise!
Not enough adjectives in our language to adequately prase this book. I am enjoying this series more then i enjoyed Gilbert Morris' Americana series. This is all genres in one! Thank you Mr Deacon
Not enough adjectives in our language to adequately prase this book. I am enjoying this series more then i enjoyed Gilbert Morris' Americana series. This is all genres in one! Thank you Mr Deacon
September 6, 2023
5 Stars
This to me, was the best book of the series so far. The building of the new Fort, return of the Sioux raiders who killed Seekers folks, and a 100 pound gold nugget that resulted in a very interesting trip to San Francisco.
This to me, was the best book of the series so far. The building of the new Fort, return of the Sioux raiders who killed Seekers folks, and a 100 pound gold nugget that resulted in a very interesting trip to San Francisco.
November 4, 2023
Doesn’t Disappoint!
The Heck Series does not disappoint. Great story. Well loved and well developed characters. A very enjoyable novel. A page turner. Exciting and entertaining. Will be sad when the series ends. Hector Martin is an exceptional hero.
The Heck Series does not disappoint. Great story. Well loved and well developed characters. A very enjoyable novel. A page turner. Exciting and entertaining. Will be sad when the series ends. Hector Martin is an exceptional hero.
November 23, 2023
WOW, just wow!!!!
This story just gets better and better. Only two more books to go! I'm sorry there's only the two; but I can't wait to find out what happens... Thank you Mr Deacon for such a fantastic story!!!
This story just gets better and better. Only two more books to go! I'm sorry there's only the two; but I can't wait to find out what happens... Thank you Mr Deacon for such a fantastic story!!!
March 5, 2024
Heck's Gold is Awesome!!
The book moved fast and the characters were so alive in appearance and action. I am looking forward to next in series. Nice to read where good triumphant over the bad.
The book moved fast and the characters were so alive in appearance and action. I am looking forward to next in series. Nice to read where good triumphant over the bad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews