Bridge of Gold

Doors to the Past #3

by Kimberley Woodhouse

Repairs on the Golden Gate Bridge Uncover a Century-Old Murder

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson is called to the Golden Gate Bridge where repairs to one of the towers uncovers two human remains from the late 1800s and the 1930s. The head of the bridge restoration is Mark Andrews, who dives with Kayla, and a friendship develops between them. But as the investigation heats up and gold is found that dates back to the gold rush, more complications come into play that threaten them both. Could clues leading to a Gold Rush era mystery that was first discovered during the building of the bridge still ignite an obsession worth killing for?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Dual Timeline

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than forty books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Her books have been awarded the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Reader's Choice Award, Selah Award, Spur Award, and others. A popular speaker/teacher, she's shared with over 2,000,000 people at more than twenty-five hundred venues across the country. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in Colorado where she's traded in her hat of "craziest mom" for "Nana the Great." Connect with Kim at www.kimberleywoodhouse.com www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAu...
www.instagram.com/kimberleywoodhouse
www.twitter.com/kimwoodhouse

Reviews

[Amanda Geaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridge of Gold is the perfect mashup of my two favorite genres—historical fiction and romantic suspense. Kimberley Woodhouse strikes a nice balance between telling and showing readers what’s going on in the story which makes reading the book feel effortless. I liked how she revealed details of the main characters' lives to help me understand why they reacted to challenges and setbacks the way they did. This was especially true with Kayla in the modern-day storyline. Kayla and Steven bear the names of two people the author holds dear (see dedication page), and I could sense that warmth and familiarity coming through in her descriptions of the couple. Beyond the romance, there's a good amount of history about San Francisco, the Depression, construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, and SCUBA diving (then and now) which titillated the inquisitive part of my mind. Overall, Bridge of Gold is an engaging Christian time-slip novel sure to appeal to a broad audience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridge of Gold is an interesting dual timeline story that is based on the history of the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. As the story starts, it begins with the story of Luke, a Frenchman who moved to America for a new life and got a job as a diver for the bridge construction, and Margo, a nanny, who meet, fall in love, and marry. Set during the Great Depression, times are hard and many people don't have enough to eat. Jobs are scarce and appreciated. Luke makes a discovery that puts his life and the lives of others in danger when he finds a wrecked ship from the Gold Rush era near the area he is working and even a gold nugget along with a skeleton. The bridge work is dangerous and now danger is above the water as someone knows what he found.
Kayla is a present day underwater archeologist that the mayor hires when Stephen's underwater and diving restoration company working on the bridge finds the ship again. Since it is an old ship, it has to be investigated properly. Kayla and Stephen work together as they dive the wreck. They find gold as did the divers from almost a hundred years ago and also skeletons. But once more someone is trying to scare the teams away.
The author does a great job in tying the two stories together in how greed puts the sanctity of life below that of gold. Faith plays a part in the characters of the past and present in how they dealt with the dangers and issues before them. This is a read that pulled me in and kept me invested to the end on the history, dangers, love, relationships, and overcoming obstacles. The ending was perfect with an awesome resolution and answered a lot of questions from the past. A great addition to the Doors to the Past series.
I received a complimentary ARC from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Jocelyn Green]

What a refreshing, original story! Bridge of Gold captured me from start to finish. Author Kimberley Woodhouse deftly navigates both the historical and contemporary timelines, steering me as a reader through rich details and vibrant settings, intrigue, romance, and danger. In the end, I found myself in the safe harbor of timeless faith, courage, and love. Another winning tale from an author I trust!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this story expecting a quickie read with some history added in. Instead I got a deeply layered story with all sorts of detail about the San Francisco Bay, from the beginning of building the Golden Gate Bridge to a contemporary story that features a long-sunk ship near the footings. Generally I feel internally divided by dual-timeline stories, but this one was very well balanced and I loved both of the heroines. I kept being very afraid that at least one of them wouldn’t actually get their happy ending, since both stories got extra-intense as the respective greedy bad guys go after the leads in both time periods.

I also loved the details about diving, historical and modern, and the nod to Pirates of the Caribbean with the whole skeleton-in-the-sunken-ship feature. I liked how well she was able to capture the feel of both modern and historic timelines so it was easy to keep the two heroines’ stories straight.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

1933 and current day San Francisco

In this third Doors to the Past time slip novel, there is a lot of history about the Golden Gate Bridge and diving. Who knew there were divers in the 1930s? Clearly, the technology was different, but diving was a key part of constructing San Francisco's famous bridge.

The story opens with the engagement of Luke and Margo. They are so optimistic for their future. Luke has landed a good job as a diver. Good jobs are tough to come by during the Depression. Things quickly turn south as he discovers a gold nugget underwater.

In the current day thread, Underwater Archeologist Kayla has been hired by the mayor to research a recently discovered sunken ship that is believed to have gold in it.

Villains abound in both threads. Both story lines were engaging. I especially loved the historical details. The cover is lovely.

My gratitude to publisher Barbour for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Kristina Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Characters: This split-time novel followed two couples, one modern (Steven and Kayla), one historical (Luke and Margo). I ended up being more invested in Steven and Kayla's story. In split-time novels, I tend to find the modern characters more relatable (weird reader). Anyway, Kayla had to be my favorite character. She was the most developed, had the most problems, and experienced the most character growth.

Language: Clean.

Moral: One of the main morals was giving your burdens to God. This was shown through Kayla's struggle.

Plot: First, I'm quite impressed with all the research Kimberley put into this story ... all those diving details! I did find some parts of the plot dragged for me, and I wished both the modern and historical climaxes had been more suspenseful. They seemed to be over with really quickly.

Romance: Clean. Just a few kisses.

Writing: Kimberley's straightforward writing style worked well for both time periods. I would've liked to have seen a little more emotion/reaction from the characters during the intense moments, but that's just personal preference.

Overall: Bridge of Gold was an interesting read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction, split-time novels, contemporary fiction, historical romance, and romantic suspense.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridge Of Gold is a wonderful addition to Barbour's Doors to the Past Series. These stories are connected to well-loved American landmarks. Dual timelines are one of my favorite types of stories, weaving together the legends from the past with the present in a satisfying story. Kimberley Woodhouse writes an original story of the early days of building the Golden Gate Bridge.

Expert research skills and a well-plotted storyline captivated me as I read about the building of the Golden Gate Bridge and the many ships filled with secrets from the past literally buried underneath. I love to learn something new as I read, and was fascinated by the difficulties that were encountered by the divers that laid the foundations. The author expertly connects the stories of the past and present in this unique story of buried ships, treasure and murder. The story of triumph over greed, filled with faith and love left me smiling as I turned the last page. Definitely looking forward to reading more books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRIDGE OF GOLD has it all: dual timeline history, mystery, romance, faith, greed, gold, the Golden Gate Bridge, and underwater archaeology. In fact, I’ve never read a book like this and absolutely loved it!

I was caught up in the tale of two couples: newly engaged Margo and Luke in 1933, and Stephen and Kayla in the present. Stephen leads renovation on the bridge, and calls in underwater archaeologist Kayla when a Gold Rush-era ship is found with skeletons inside.

Author Kimberley Woodhouse weaves their stories together beautifully, leaving us with a keen sense of San Francisco then and now. The romances are clean and compelling, and the mystery is gripping as it unravels. I felt totally engaged, swept up in the narrative, caring about both couples, and amazed at how much history I learned. A winner!

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 01 Jun 2021
#BridgeofGold #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doors To The Past is an exciting series Barbour has out featuring national and historic monuments.
And it's done in a way that the details are not just skimmed over but presented in an informative yet interesting manner. This much information would not be available if you hadn't read the books unless you did the research yourself.
Bridge of Gold is a Time Slip featuring historical and contemporary times mixed with suspense.
This one features the building of The Golden Gate Bridge and a shocking discovery made in modern times as repairs where being done on this bridge.
It shows how man's greed has become his downfall, after a shocking discovery is it still worth killing for?
Once I picked up this book I could not put it down. It's excellent!

Pub Date 01 Jun 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Carolyn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel back to 1933 San Francisco where you will meet struggling couple Margo Hunley and Luke Moreau and witness the building of the Golden Gate Bridge complete with the mystery surrounding a sunken ship and highly sought-after treasure. Turn the pages to current times and learn how this “multigenerational and multifaceted” mystery is still affecting lives including those of underwater archeologist Kayla Richardson and underwater construction diver Steven Michaels. Believe me, you will continue turning the pages moving from the past to the present and back to find out how this story plays out! This well executed, easy-to-follow, suspenseful dual timeline saga drew me in with the first line and held me tight to the last one! The intriguing plot moves at a steady pace. Detailed descriptions, especially of the underwater action, put you at the scene and allow you to feel the story. The characters are well developed and engaging. The faith element is strong, and the romance is sweet. This fictional account based on historical fact has all you need for a captivating, adventurous read—intrigue, mystery, and suspense tempered by romance, faith, and courage. This is book 3 in Barbour’s fantastic Doors to the Past series. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it and the series especially for lovers of historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This split time novel really appealed to me as I grew up in California and traveled across the Golden Gate Bridge several times on vacations. Both of the split times focused on the bridge itself. The past time during its construction, and the present during an archaeological excavation of one of the many shipwrecks that occurred in the bay with its terrible currents that led to many shipwrecks.

Woodhouse's research into the bridge and the many shipwrecks that occurred especially during the California Gold Rush is obvious throughout the historical time period. The connection between the historical and present day time periods was the search for one particular ship, The Lucky Martha, with the pursuit of it in the past for its possible cargo treasure, and the excavation of it in the present for the history it would contain. But the past caught up with the present as many raced to gain entrance into the buried ship.

Kayla and Steven were excellent present day MC's as they worked together to unearth the mystery behind the Lucky Martha; and at the same time, keep themselves safe as others also pursued it. Their similar interests in diving and history helped them develop a relationship that neither expected.

Well written and quite interesting, I look forward to the next book in the Doors to the Past series.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

[Kailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this split time story! I think that the different parts fit together perfectly. All of the details about the sunken ship and the diving was fascinating! I absolutely loved this book!


I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

This book was pretty wonderful. There were buckets of things to adore about it and only a couple of reasons why I docked a single star.

Mrs. Woodhouse has improved so much in her writing. I’m growing fonder and fonder of her stories as time goes on, and this book is a prime example of why. It’s a time-slip story that features a murder mystery that revolved around the discovery of a ship buried beneath the streets of San Francisco, California. While it might not all be factual (I hope the murders didn’t actually happen!), I was intrigued to learn that there really were ships that were sunk and used as landfill to expand the growing city of San Francisco during and directly after that California Gold Rush. So neat! It was great to see Mrs. Woodhouse expanding her abilities by dipping into the time-slip genre. She’s long been growing as a historical author, but now she’s added the dual-timeline style to her repertoire.

The mystery itself was pretty decent. I was intrigued through most of the book about what all would be discovered along the way. The majority of the clues were well placed and used to the maximum amount of suspense. The one that fell flat and popped the balloon of tension for me was the journal that never once showed up in the historical setting. If it had been seen simply sitting on the person’s bed or side table or tucked into a bag (let alone actually used by the owner), it would have been easier to believe that the person in question was the author. As it was, though, this person seemed much too busy to take the time out to sit down and journal. This person was an active sort with a time-consuming and physically and mentally taxing job, a significant other they spent their extra time with, and multiple responsibilities that would have taken up whatever time was left in the day. I found it completely impossible to believe that this person, who never picked up a pencil that I saw, would take the time to journal quite extensively about their adventures. When did that happen??? However, I did enjoy the sweet romance growth that took place while the journal was read in the present-day thread.

The setting of San Francisco only really came alive to me around the Golden Gate Bridge and the waters beneath it. I wish more of the city would have been explored, but what was showcased was superbly written. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the undersea portions of the book. The way Mrs. Woodhouse detailed the diving experiences across the two different eras was wonderful. It set the scene so well and added richness, depth, and tension to those portions of the story. I would have thought she’d actually been diving before from the descriptions, but in the author’s note at the end, she admitted she’s never been diving (and I can’t blame her there; it’s not my thing either). I love it when authors research details so extensively and weave that research in so fluidly that it feels natural to the story yet adds incredible atmosphere so that it feels like they’ve been there so many times themselves that they’re able to make it come to life so seamlessly for the reader. For this aspect of this story, I applaud Mrs. Woodhouse.

The bad guy was easy to figure out from an early chapter. I hope future books will see them better disguised. This only means there is more room to grow, but it did weigh in to my decision to dock a star since this did remove a lot of the present-day mystery for me along the way.

Characterization was really good in this one, other than that journal issue. Each of the leads (two in each time period) felt distinct from one another. I tasted Margo’s fear, quivered with Kayla’s anxiety, hoped right along with Luke, and was inspired by Steven’s integrity. These were all characters I could root for, and I did all the way to the final page.

I hope Mrs. Woodhouse has another book coming in the Doors to the Past series, because I enjoyed this one and look forward to another well-researched novel to sink my teeth into.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bridge of Gold is the third novel in the Doors to the Past series. I thought Kimberly Woodhouse came up with a great concept for this novel. San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, ship wrecks and treasure hunters were all creatively interwoven into this story. The historic and contemporary storylines also came together well, building off of each other throughout. I thought the ending was solid, though perhaps a bit rushed. Most of the characters, though all unique, felt a little too perfect to me. Margo and Steven seemed to have no real flaw. Luke was definitely my favorite, as the reader is given greater opportunity to walk through the plot with him, difficult decisions and all. Overall, this story is a quick and easy read. I plan on continuing the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A intriguing dual-time story from Kimberley Woodhouse! Bridge of Gold features very interesting snippets of history that I’m excited to explore further. I had a bit of a tough time connecting with a few of the characters, but I liked Luke the most. The ending was pretty quick but everything is wrapped up well and in a satisfying way. I’m very excited for more books in the Doors to the Past series! 3/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the author's notes at the beginning of this read, and the story about how San Francisco is built upon the ships left over from the 1849 Gold Rush, something I don't remember ever hearing, and yes, I have been on the bridge and in the city.
This story spans decades, beginning at the time of the Gold Rush and ending in present time. Different times, and different people, and you guessed it, some good and kind and caring for others, and then the others with no regard for human life, and of course, greed.
Danger lurks at the South Tower on the bridge, and we are going down with the divers, and whether we are doing salvage or putting up this awesome wonder, but will good be able to overcome evil?
I thoroughly enjoyed how the author wrapped this book up, great job.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridge Of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse is a most delightful dual timeline Christian novel. It is part of the Doors To The Past series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The story alternates between present day and 1933 at the time of the construction of the Golden Gate bridge. It is told from various alternating points of view enabling the reader to become emotionally invested in the characters.
The lure of gold corrupts lives. When people live for treasure, there are no depths to which they will not stoop.
In counter balance there are people of faith who realise the true treasure that is found in God and others.
There is the theme of loss. When accidents happen, we want answers but sometimes we just have to accept that there are no answers this side of heaven.
When life deals us blows, we want to know the next step. “If only God would give her a sticky note from heaven about what she was supposed to do next.” We need to have faith and put our hand in the hand of God and trust His guiding.
Prayer is important. “She got down on her knees … she needed to pray.” When God puts someone on our hearts, we need to pray immediately – their lives may depend on our prayers.
We need to learn from our past. As we track the hand of God on our lives, we can see He is faithful. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Bridge Of Gold was a positively charming read with delightful characters whom I loved.
I received a free copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bridge of Gold is a time-slip novel that centres on a murder that happens during the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I was intrigued by the premise, but I struggled to connect with any of the characters until more than half of the novel was nearing the end. I really liked Steven’s character and that was it. I kept hoping that it would pick up towards the end and it did, all the loose ends were tied up, and the ending was satisfying.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Barbour Books. All opinions are mine all alone.

[Diane Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a current trend of writing dual-timeline books; linking a current story to one from the past and then jumping back and forth between them to see how they intersect. I liked the bouncing and this method of storytelling is unique as well.

Both sets of couples involved had interesting backstories and each added an element to the story overall.

The mystery portion of the book got cleared up pretty quickly and tidily at the end. The book ended leaving the reader fulfilled and all the pressing questions got answered. I enjoyed the story and especially liked how the author wove the faith element in as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I will ever look at the Golden Gate Bridge the same after this story. Years ago during a visit to San Fransisco, I travelled across the bridge on a bicycle, but never for once thought about what it took to build this amazing structure. Thanks to this story, my appreciation for this bridge multiplied by like a 1000.

Okay, back to the story. I really like the plots of both past and present - both had adventure, mystery, diving and a love story. Though I enjoyed the modern day characters, Steven and Kayla (and I really hope my boys won’t eat as much as Steven), I was pulled towards the past story. Luke was such a great characters, longing to survive with the Depression, striving to do what God expects of him, and then facing real temptations with finding the gold and the events unfolding after.

The modern day mystery felt a bit rushed at the end. I would have like a few more danger scenes before everything was wrapped up so quickly.

What I’ve come to love about this author’s work, and what came across again, was her characters’ faith in God and daily challenges in their walk with God.

I would highly recommend this to fans who enjoy dual time stories rich with factual history.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bridge of Gold" is a Christian romantic suspense set in San Francisco in both 1933 and modern day. The main story happened in modern day when Steven, doing underwater renovation work on the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, finds a Gold Rush-era ship (with a gold nugget inside). Kayla is brought in as an underwater archaeologist, and she works with Steven's crew to bring up historical artifacts and look for more gold. But someone is trying to sabotage their efforts and get to the gold first. Two skeletons are found on the ship, and Kayla and Stephen search old records to discover who they are. In 1933, Luke is a diver doing the original construction work on the south tower. He accidentally finds the ship and the gold. He and a friend return to the ship several times in search of gold, but someone else feels that the gold is rightfully his and sabotages their efforts.

The suspense came from the dangers of diving in the turbulent waters near the ship, especially in the 1933 gear and with someone sabotaging equipment. The author did a good job of creating uncertainty about who those skeletons were and if Luke and his friends managed to survive. The historical details about the building of the bridge and underwater archaeological work were woven into the story and were very interesting. The main characters were engaging, complex, and reacted realistically to events. Kayla and Stephen shared similar interests and built each other up. Except for a brief time when someone tried to ruin Stephen's reputation and Kayla didn't know what to think. I liked how Steven trusted Kayla to drive him down a very twisty street shortly after they met and never doubted her.

Kayla struggled with not wanting close friendships after losing her parents and with letting go of her need to know who killed her mother in a car accident. (Both happened before the story began.) Her faith helped her to accept that she would probably never know all the answers. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I had recommend this interesting and enjoyable mystery.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Jacinta Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a huge dual timeline fan, and I tend to prefer historical fiction, but I think I finally found someone who knows how to weave the stories together in a way that not only keeps my attention, but makes me wonder which time period I want to read about more! Both the contemporary and the historical time periods were fascinating, filled with information, history, personal growth, romance, and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

An underwater archeologist is hired to investigate a sunken treasure ship under the Golden Gate Bridge, along with a handsome restoration diver, who finds his way past her walls and into her heart as they work together to solve the mysteries behind the bodies they find on top of the treasure. Unfortunately for them, someone else already knows about the treasure, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

Meanwhile, back in the 1930s, another diver thinks God has provided a way out of the depression for him and his future wife when he stumbles across the ship and its gold. Little does he know that going after that gold will cause more sorrow than joy, upsetting his life, safety, and the lives of everyone around him.

Arguably her best book yet, Kimberley Woodhouse has outdone herself as she delves into the logistics of historical diving, the dangers surrounding it, and weaves a tale of intrigue and romance through it all.

I received a free copy of the book from Barbour Books and my thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridge of Gold is an engaging dual-time story. The details about diving, especially how it was done in the 1930s, are fascinating, as are the workings of nature on an epic man made structure like the Golden Gate Bridge. I had literally never given a thought to the high stakes of creating such a structure. Diving back then could be risky. Also, what a cool career for a character to have like underwater archaeology.

I did struggle to connect to the characters a bit in the past, mostly because I feel the reader isn’t given a lot of their backstory. The suspense was there, but I never really connected to them on an emotional level like I did with Kayla in the present. I did wonder several times if things would turn out well for Luke and Margo - when there’s a skeleton wrapped in chains, that gets the imagination going for sure!

Despite wanting a bit more connection with some of the characters, I did enjoy this story. It was my first read by Woodhouse, and I’ll definitely be interested in reading more by her in the future.

The Doors to the Past series has been great so far, and fans of dual-time narratives won’t want to miss it.

Thank you to my friend Loraine for loaning me the Kindle copy of this book!

[Amy Hagberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Bridge of Gold is an entertaining history lesson about the building of the Golden Gate Bridge during the Gold Rush era. Imagine constructing a 1.7-mile-long suspension bridge in the 1930s without modern equipment? To set the footings, divers wore clunky suits that weighed hundreds of pounds with heavy copper helmets. It’s mind blowing to me.

As I read, I stopped many times to do online research. San Francisco’s famous fog and rocky coastline make for a deadly combination. There are an estimated three hundred wrecks in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the adjacent Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Fascinating.

But I digress. Bridge of Gold is a multilayered story of greed, love, and faith set over the course of a century. Author Kimberley Woodhouse deftly balances multiple narratives and timelines, beginning with the modern day. The mayor of San Francisco hires underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson to excavate a shipwreck at the Golden Gate Bridge repair site. Kayla and the head of the restoration team, Steven Michaels, discover a skeleton wrapped in chains and something else… gold. Mystery, danger, and romance follow in quick succession.

The other timeline takes place in 1933. Luke Moreau is looking to build a life in San Francisco with his fiancé and takes a job working on the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. When he finds a gold nugget and sees a sunken ship, his life is upended. Can he fend off ruthless gold hunters?

Most historical fiction is fairly long, but this book came in at just 256 pages. Although the conclusion was interesting, it seemed rushed. I found the present-day narrative more gripping, which is the opposite of my normal preference. Even though I wasn’t sold on the writing, the plot and faith elements made it worth the read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this book. It was an amazing dual timeline novel (I haven't read a good one in ages) as well as with characters that took their faith seriously (a breath of fresh air after the reading year I had).

This book has a historical timeline in the 1930's and involves a ship from the 1800s. It was pretty cool and I felt like I learned some of what it took to build the Golden Gate Bridge as well as some interesting facts about the gold rush.

The contemporary timeline was so good too. I learned some about diving, and in general loved the story.

The romance in both timelines was sweet and kept things that way, none of it felt dirty or overboard.

The faith element might not be the strongest or deepest, but the faith of the characters in both timelines is not only there, but affects the characters and how they act. This made me very happy.

I look forward to reading more my this author and probably some in this series.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m loving this Doors to the Past series and the woven intricacies of historical and contemporary to make up a split time story that has me wanting more. I’m thankful Ms. Woodhouse wrote about something I never considered researching before and that is the Golden Gate Bridge construction. I can’t imagine wearing and working in that heavy diving gear in murky swift water. It gave me chills just reading about it. Add in not one but two murders and present day divers and you have the making of a nonstop reading day. I loved the characters and how they grew especially in their faith and each romance brought something different. The history was fascinating and had me doing some research myself. The author deftly draws you into both eras and leaves you satiated at the end. This is a keeper and that gorgeous cover just pulls you in.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Keira S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I am in awe of the research Kimberley Woodhouse has done for this book! I am genuinely speechless! When thinking about something as majestic as the Golden Gate Bridge, the thought of divers never really comes to mind. But, how else would the foundation be kept in place?

I loved how she weaves the past into the present while respecting the characters and providing them justice. This is my 2nd book from the Doors to the Past series, and I must say, this book stole my heart. I finished the book within a day. Once, I started, I couldn't stop. There was so much going on. I commend her for her ability to create different timelines AND maintain intrigue via so many different POVs.

Steven stole my heart. He was such a gentleman throughout. And thoughtful enough to support his teammates and Kayla. Unlike other character's I admired his bald head, it was refreshing to see a character different from the norm. Same with Kayla, who managed to wolf down a lot of food than most women would accept!! They had great chemistry. I loved them.

Though, my heart broke for Kayla's loss.

My only complaint would be Luke. He was noted to be French but when he spoke/during dialogue, I couldn't envision him as a French man. I grew up with a lot of French speakers, thus why this area seemed lacking to me.

“Don’t get mad at me for speaking to you honestly. Yes, it’s a choice. It’s a choice to let it go, release it from your mind. Promise yourself that you won’t allow it to make you angry anymore. It is mind over matter. But I can’t do it for you. Only you can.”

Thank you, NetGalley and the Publisher for the complimentary ARC. All thoughts are of my own.

[R.j. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars-rounded up

I am not a huge fan of mystery stories. Or split timelines too much. But this was really nice.
What I liked: I enjoyed how the characters weren’t perfect. Why did one character stay in a dangerous situation? Well, because he was a flawed character! And mistakes were made. But that was exactly what I loved.
What I didn’t like: it was hard for me to get into this book. I didn’t warm up to the main female characters until about the 30% mark. Had I not committed to reading this, I probably would have stopped. But I’m glad I didn’t stop! This was much better once the set up was out of the way!

Overall a good read, especially if you like dual timelines and mysteries.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise.

[Karen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridge of Gold draws readers into the lives of people who worked on the famous San Francisco landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge, solving a mystery between the past and present.
Starting out it felt like a historical romance, but as the story unfolds, the suspense builds, and the sinister element adds drama to their lives. It was hard to know how it would end! I liked all of the main characters and felt for them as they faced ethical dilemmas, and fought spiritual battles. Their faith grew and helped them have the courage and fortitude to press on.
It was interesting to learn more about the history of the bridge, and how the city was built up from the gold fever era. Amazing to imagine the buried treasure that might still be there. The gold itself seemed to be a snag for many, pointing to the theme of the love of money being the root of all evil. I liked the surprising conclusion and the way the author tied together both ends of the story.
Recommend to readers who enjoy historical tales with romance, mystery, and faith.

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expresssed are my own.)

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This New Split-Time Series Keeps Getting Better and Better

I'll just say it.  Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse is wonderful. I can't decide if the history behind the story is what gives it so much depth and richness or if the contrast and similarities between yesteryear and today makes that difference. All I know is this book kept me riveted from the moment we met Luke and Margo until the last page of Kayla and Steven's story.

When you have four main characters of a book, it's easy for them to become a bit homogenous, but even in the characters' similarities, they are very distinct, unique people.  Add a few flaws combined with the personality virtues, and you have protagonists I just love!

I will say if I have a criticism, it's that the villains/antagonists are more of a one-note. They all have gold fever and it just comes out in all the same ways.  Not gonna lie, though.  I really didn't care.  The book was too good for me to care.

Even better?

Spiritual arcs. With four protagonists, there are four.  And they're all unique, rich, and yet simple, too.  Woodhouse didn't overthink the changes and growth her characters needed, and because of that, she didn't overwork them either.

Seriously, you have two wonderful stories full of rich history and fascinating lives that converge into a novel you'll be thinking of for ages.  Seriously, if I hadn't promised this book to a friend, it would get a permanent place on my shelf.  And yes, that means I'll probably be ordering myself another copy.

Recommended for lovers of both historical and contemporary fiction, split-time fiction, and suspense/mystery.  It has them all.  I am so grateful to the publisher for providing the review copy, but as I said. I'll likely be buying myself a new one.