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The Smuggler's Wife #3
Band of Gold
Book three in the best-selling Smuggler's Wife series by one of our leading historical novelists.
Kitty Farrell, headstrong and passionate as ever, is heartbroken over the apparent death by drowning of her husband Rian. Alone and grieving on the goldfields of Ballarat she turns to Rian's long-time shipmate Daniel, who has loved her from afar for many years.
The consequences will be disastrous and challenge every character in this brilliant third instalment in Deborah Challinor's extraordinary Smuggler's Wife series.
Vividly drawn, meticulously researched and driven by a powerful page-turning narrative, Band of Gold will resonate in the hearts of readers for a long time.
'Challinor is extraordinarily talented.' - New Zealand Books
Kitty Farrell, headstrong and passionate as ever, is heartbroken over the apparent death by drowning of her husband Rian. Alone and grieving on the goldfields of Ballarat she turns to Rian's long-time shipmate Daniel, who has loved her from afar for many years.
The consequences will be disastrous and challenge every character in this brilliant third instalment in Deborah Challinor's extraordinary Smuggler's Wife series.
Vividly drawn, meticulously researched and driven by a powerful page-turning narrative, Band of Gold will resonate in the hearts of readers for a long time.
'Challinor is extraordinarily talented.' - New Zealand Books
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
19 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Challinor
24 books250 followersBorn in Huntly, she holds a PhD in New Zealand history from the University of Waikato. Challinor has worked as a fulltime writer and historian since 2000.
Primarily known for her historical novels, Deborah Challinor’s first published books were non-fiction history books, including the best-selling Grey Ghosts: New Zealand Vietnam Vets Talk About Their War (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998).
Her first historical novel, Tamar, was published in 2002 and has been reprinted six times. Tamar is set in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and South Africa and covers the period from 1879 until the Boer War. The series continues with White Feathers (2003) and Blue Smoke (2004).
Union Belle (2005) tells the love story of a young woman caught up in the 1951 waterfront strike, and Kitty (2006) is set in the Bay of Islands in nineteenth century New Zealand. Both novels have been at the top of the New Zealand fiction bestseller list.
Attention to historical detail is an important part of writing for Challinor. ‘I base my novels on actual historical events, and it’s very important to me to research those events in depth and to present them accurately,’ she says.
Reviewing Union Belle in North and South magazine in April 2005, Warwick Roger commented that: ‘You can smell the beer and cigarette smoke in the public bar of the Huntly Hotel, hear the band at the Saturday night dances at the miner’s hall … it’s a book I kept sneaking back to whenever I had a spare quarter hour, eager to advance the story.’
Fire (HarperCollins, 2007), Challinor's seventh novel, is set in Auckland during the hype leading up to the royal visit of 1953, but is based on the Ballantyne’s department store fire of 1947 in Christchurch. A powerful and dramatic story of passion, ambition and greed, it became a number one bestseller.
Amber, the sequel to Kitty, was published later in 2007 and also became a bestseller. Amber opens in New Zealand in 1945, on the eve of the Northern War in the Bay of Islands, in which Kitty is caught up. Sent to Auckland away from the fighting, Kitty encounters an orphaned part-Maori girl she names Amber. Together they return to the Bay of Islands, where both Kitty must risk her own life to save Amber’s.
Isle of Tears (HarperCollins NZ Ltd, 2009) is a story about 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Isla McKinnon and her younger brothers and sister. When they are orphaned they are adopted by Taranaki Maori and become caught up in the wars in Taranaki, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
A revised edition of Challinor’s Grey Ghosts (HarperCollins NZ) was published in 2009. This edition included a new chapter on how the New Zealand Vietnam veteran community has fared since the book was first published in 1998.
Primarily known for her historical novels, Deborah Challinor’s first published books were non-fiction history books, including the best-selling Grey Ghosts: New Zealand Vietnam Vets Talk About Their War (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998).
Her first historical novel, Tamar, was published in 2002 and has been reprinted six times. Tamar is set in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and South Africa and covers the period from 1879 until the Boer War. The series continues with White Feathers (2003) and Blue Smoke (2004).
Union Belle (2005) tells the love story of a young woman caught up in the 1951 waterfront strike, and Kitty (2006) is set in the Bay of Islands in nineteenth century New Zealand. Both novels have been at the top of the New Zealand fiction bestseller list.
Attention to historical detail is an important part of writing for Challinor. ‘I base my novels on actual historical events, and it’s very important to me to research those events in depth and to present them accurately,’ she says.
Reviewing Union Belle in North and South magazine in April 2005, Warwick Roger commented that: ‘You can smell the beer and cigarette smoke in the public bar of the Huntly Hotel, hear the band at the Saturday night dances at the miner’s hall … it’s a book I kept sneaking back to whenever I had a spare quarter hour, eager to advance the story.’
Fire (HarperCollins, 2007), Challinor's seventh novel, is set in Auckland during the hype leading up to the royal visit of 1953, but is based on the Ballantyne’s department store fire of 1947 in Christchurch. A powerful and dramatic story of passion, ambition and greed, it became a number one bestseller.
Amber, the sequel to Kitty, was published later in 2007 and also became a bestseller. Amber opens in New Zealand in 1945, on the eve of the Northern War in the Bay of Islands, in which Kitty is caught up. Sent to Auckland away from the fighting, Kitty encounters an orphaned part-Maori girl she names Amber. Together they return to the Bay of Islands, where both Kitty must risk her own life to save Amber’s.
Isle of Tears (HarperCollins NZ Ltd, 2009) is a story about 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Isla McKinnon and her younger brothers and sister. When they are orphaned they are adopted by Taranaki Maori and become caught up in the wars in Taranaki, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
A revised edition of Challinor’s Grey Ghosts (HarperCollins NZ) was published in 2009. This edition included a new chapter on how the New Zealand Vietnam veteran community has fared since the book was first published in 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 3, 2017
Another great book in the Smuggler's Wife Series, this time they were gold miners in Ballart Australia, to see how hard it was in the 1850's to live and survive as a miner.
January 1, 2025
Stars: 4.5 ⭐️
Genre: fiction - historical fiction
Does the blurb reflect the plot: yes, for all four books
Sum it up: cheating a little bit here and reviewing the series as a whole because I really enjoyed all four books and it’s hard to review them separately without giving things away or the reviews sounding identical.
What you need to know is that this is a very well written set of books the follow the life of Kitty and her eventual husband Rian. I love that Challinor started the series in New Zealand and over time, takes us on a journey to the Australian colonies and China, with many other stops along the way. It’s refreshing to read historical fiction not set during either of the World Wars, instead we begin in 1838 and therefore get not only an entertaining read but one with a unique plot featuring a cast of amazing characters. Best of all, Challinor has again written a series in which it is clear that she has done her research to make everything historically accurate but in which she has restrained herself from putting in every little bit of information she’s discovered, thus distracting from the plot. Instead, the reader is given a very interesting and engaging series that contains historical events but in no way feels like a history lesson. You could read the books out of order or as standalones, but I’d advise reading them in order to make the most of what is a must read and highly recommended historical fiction series.
Who should read it: lovers of historical fiction will devour The Smuggler’s Wife series. I’d also recommend to it fiction lovers generally as well as those with an interest in New Zealand and the Australian colonies in the 1800s.
Genre: fiction - historical fiction
Does the blurb reflect the plot: yes, for all four books
Sum it up: cheating a little bit here and reviewing the series as a whole because I really enjoyed all four books and it’s hard to review them separately without giving things away or the reviews sounding identical.
What you need to know is that this is a very well written set of books the follow the life of Kitty and her eventual husband Rian. I love that Challinor started the series in New Zealand and over time, takes us on a journey to the Australian colonies and China, with many other stops along the way. It’s refreshing to read historical fiction not set during either of the World Wars, instead we begin in 1838 and therefore get not only an entertaining read but one with a unique plot featuring a cast of amazing characters. Best of all, Challinor has again written a series in which it is clear that she has done her research to make everything historically accurate but in which she has restrained herself from putting in every little bit of information she’s discovered, thus distracting from the plot. Instead, the reader is given a very interesting and engaging series that contains historical events but in no way feels like a history lesson. You could read the books out of order or as standalones, but I’d advise reading them in order to make the most of what is a must read and highly recommended historical fiction series.
Who should read it: lovers of historical fiction will devour The Smuggler’s Wife series. I’d also recommend to it fiction lovers generally as well as those with an interest in New Zealand and the Australian colonies in the 1800s.
March 9, 2017
I liked this book, honest I did - but talk about heart wrenching!!! I made the mistake of reading the blurb of this book and wished I hadn't. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the others - I (like the crew), felt that the dirty, hard-working gold fields were not a great alternative for the sea-loving characters we have come to know and love. BUT - that said, there is no mistaking the draw of the gold, and the lure of fortunes just sitting there waiting for the taking. Another snippet of Australian life that is rich in history - what better way to read it than in Deborah Challinor's brilliant stories.
March 31, 2017
Really enjoying this series.
May 9, 2017
After their cargo had been unloaded at the port in Melbourne, Kitty Farrell was dismayed to learn that her husband, Captain Rian Farrell had bought a claim at the Ballarat gold fields. With much preparation, it wasn’t long before they and their crew were headed on the long trek overland to the muddy, cold and desolate gold fields, having no idea what was in front of them. Amber, Rian and Kitty’s daughter was now fourteen years of age and when Kitty saw the many men casting their eyes over her, she was horrified. There would be dangers in this place she knew.
Gradually they made a few friends – but they also made enemies. And while Rian and his crew settled in to work the claim, Kitty and Pierre opened a bakery. Life, apart from the incessant dust and heat in the summer, and cold, muddy conditions in the winter, was good. But Kitty was missing their life on the sea –and so was Rian.
It seemed though that trouble would find Rian once again – and when it did, the dark cloud that hung over Kitty and the rest of them felt like it would never lift. Would life ever be the same again? Could Kitty cope with what had happened?
Band of Gold is the 3rd in the Smuggler’s Wife series and another brilliant instalment. Heartbreaking and filled with anguish, it was also an emotional novel of hope and love. The Eureka Stockade featured, which was interesting, set in a fictional way with beloved characters – but in Kitty’s own words “they were sailors, not miners”… I have no hesitation in recommending this series highly, and am sad I only have one more to read!
Gradually they made a few friends – but they also made enemies. And while Rian and his crew settled in to work the claim, Kitty and Pierre opened a bakery. Life, apart from the incessant dust and heat in the summer, and cold, muddy conditions in the winter, was good. But Kitty was missing their life on the sea –and so was Rian.
It seemed though that trouble would find Rian once again – and when it did, the dark cloud that hung over Kitty and the rest of them felt like it would never lift. Would life ever be the same again? Could Kitty cope with what had happened?
Band of Gold is the 3rd in the Smuggler’s Wife series and another brilliant instalment. Heartbreaking and filled with anguish, it was also an emotional novel of hope and love. The Eureka Stockade featured, which was interesting, set in a fictional way with beloved characters – but in Kitty’s own words “they were sailors, not miners”… I have no hesitation in recommending this series highly, and am sad I only have one more to read!
September 14, 2023
It was slooooow, and then rushed… this book just didn’t work for me. The blurb on the back of the book is terrible, it gives everything away, there was no suspense.
March 31, 2025
This one is weaker than the previous two, with the main cohort of characters becoming less believable with each passing book. I’m not seeking a sanitized historical narrative, nor do I go for cruelty for shock and awe’s sake. What we end up with is kind of milquetoast, and the last part of the book is rushed and convoluted. I appreciate the author telling stories that diversify the past, and imagining an under-represented community and time for today’s reader. But I found this one quite a melodramatic-yet-snoozy chore.
Note: If you get the audiobook version, be advised that the reader in all of these Smuggler’s Wife series horrendously botches te reo Māori, and her character voices for non Europeans veer sharply into cultural/racial caricature.
Note: If you get the audiobook version, be advised that the reader in all of these Smuggler’s Wife series horrendously botches te reo Māori, and her character voices for non Europeans veer sharply into cultural/racial caricature.
June 21, 2020
I have to say without a doubt this is my favourite historical series of all time! It is so believable that it brings parts of my own life flooding back. My father fancied himself as a gold prospector. Grew the beard and had his pan to hand from Ballarat to Sofala, NSW where he found his nuggets and then on to Gabriel's Gully, NZ. I thoroughly enjoyed this series but now I'm bereft. I want more!
June 22, 2024
I did enjoy this third book on the series being set in Australia.
There were some convenient parts in the story where characters came over from New Zealand.
Remarkable to be able to integrate bushrsngers, opium dens a bakery business together - seems a little bit coincidental to have these pieces come together l.
I enjoyed it however and willl go onto the fourth instalment soon.
There were some convenient parts in the story where characters came over from New Zealand.
Remarkable to be able to integrate bushrsngers, opium dens a bakery business together - seems a little bit coincidental to have these pieces come together l.
I enjoyed it however and willl go onto the fourth instalment soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2025
We meet Kitty and co in Melbourne, 1854. Captain Rian has embarked on a goldmining venture. And follow the sailors adapting to underground life. Kitty opens a bakery and Amber is now a teenager.
I wouldn't recommend it for people who have read nothing by Challinor because it would be hard to get to know the characters.
I did find it a fun summer read.
I wouldn't recommend it for people who have read nothing by Challinor because it would be hard to get to know the characters.
I did find it a fun summer read.
August 9, 2020
Perhaps I should've read books one and two first. But apart from too many characters, this story is uncomplicated until the very last chapter. Then, out of left field there is a contrived and laboured conclusion. Not much to recommend itself here.
February 27, 2018
Got a little boring in the middle, but came back at the end.
November 14, 2019
Great read
Unable to put this one down. Really enjoyable and a nice connection back to the first novel ad second one
Unable to put this one down. Really enjoyable and a nice connection back to the first novel ad second one
April 28, 2020
I loved this but realise I have read them out of sequence.
October 27, 2021
Another great story
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January 10, 2026It took me 9 months to find this book! Book 3 of 4 in a series
May 27, 2020
314 pages.
What an ending to this story. I loved this series.
What an ending to this story. I loved this series.
January 18, 2011
It was less romance than adventure in the historic scenery of Australia. I enjoyed the conclusion of this series, answering just enough questions to allow the imagination to continue with the characters though with a sense of finality. Well written and beautifully descriptive, yet I don't know enough about Australian history to know how accurate it is.
December 27, 2012
A new author for me. There was a lot to like about this book but rather stupidly I'd not grasped that it was part of a series and I had come in part way through. It rather assumes that you the reader knows who is who. It is a bit lightweight in some respects. The author has obviously researched 19th C Australia and I feel she missed a trick by not including more description.
September 1, 2013
The cover of this novel made me notice it so then I read it because the setting of the Ballarat goldfields including the Eureka Uprising sounded interesting. I discovered that it is a part of a series however I still enjoyed it having not read any of the other novels. It can be read as a stand-alone.
August 24, 2016
This series got even better as it continued & i liked this book the best - only wish I hadnt read the back of the book first as it says too much. Awesome series & i hope that there is another to follow. A really good author. I highly recommend this one, especially if you like to read historical Australian novels, this is set in Victoria in the early gold mining days.
May 21, 2016
The blurb is a bit misleading, the circumstances that it mentions are a very small part of the story and don't take place until the last quarter of the book. The consequences are hardly disastrous.
This book took me a little while to get into, not as compelling as I found the first book in this trilogy. It is easy to read, interesting and intriguing.
Great relaxing read to take away on holiday :)
This book took me a little while to get into, not as compelling as I found the first book in this trilogy. It is easy to read, interesting and intriguing.
Great relaxing read to take away on holiday :)
October 30, 2014
More adventures of Kitty, Rian & their adopted daughter Amber, this time on the goldfields of Ballarat. Their brushes with the law, with the Madame Lily & their friendship with the Chinese community....& in the background Daniel, who has loved Kitty from afar for all this time.
March 25, 2021
Another enjoyable read from Deborah Challinor, even if less "believable" than her others. The convoluted twist at the end is difficult to both follow and believe, but otherwise this is well written and enjoyable.
January 18, 2016
Quite a good read. Full of suspense.
November 18, 2016
I have really enjoyed this series, looking forward to Book 4
September 2, 2012
Loved it. Looking out for Tamar next.
July 27, 2015
I loved this book, a fitting end to the Trilogy!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews