Dreams of Gold Series

Climb to Unexpected Treasures

News that gold has been discovered in Canada’s Yukon Territory is rapidly spreading through the United States and its territories. And the route that gets you there from Alaska is the Golden Stairs. In the spring of 1898, nineteen-year-old Livia Bray and her mother, Martha, set out to find their missing father and husband, Weldon, who left six months ago to seek his fortune. Her heart just broken, Livia does not expect to meet anyone like Matt Holden on the Golden Stairs. But Matt saves Livia’s life during an avalanche and leads her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Livia also finds true love in him…but will she and her mother find her father dead or alive? Gold in the Yukon!

1898. Gold is flowing out of Canada’s Yukon Territory , and broad-shouldered Matt Holden and his parents join the thousands of people flocking north. To reach the gold fields, they take the Chilkoot Trail and a grueling climb up the icy Golden Stairs over Chilkoot Pass. With threats ranging from drunken violence to deadly avalanche, Matt has his hands full protecting those around him. Along the way, Matt meets Martha Bray and her lovely daughter, Livia, who’ve come from San Francisco searching for their missing husband and father, Weldon. He left for the Yukon months ago, but there’s been no word…and even the Mounties could find no trace of him. Will Martha and Livia ever find Weldon? And who will find their hearts’ desires—or eternal riches—in the frozen land beyond the Golden Stairs?

Story Behind the Book

“We read books on the history of North America and found ourselves captivated with the three big gold rushes in the nineteenth century—the California Gold Rush of 1849, the Dakota Territory Black Hills Gold Rush of 1874, and the Canadian Yukon Gold Rush of 1896. Some gold seekers embraced success, delight, and happiness, but others faced failure, tragedy, and sorrow. In the Dreams of Gold series, we captivate our readers’ imaginations as well as touch their hearts with both types of results in the gold seekers’ experiences—good and bad.”

—Al and JoAnna Lacy

Introducing a new trilogy called Dreams of Gold, master narrators Al and JoAnna Lacy tell the stories of three major gold strikes that took place in North America in the nineteenth century. Craig Turley, the son of a wealthy Manhattan business owner, longs to make his way in the world. Kathy Ross is the twenty-year-old family governess who cares deeply for Craig and secretly prays for his salvation. As word spreads across the country of the gold strike in California, Craig leaps at the opportunity to forge his own success. But when Craig finds that his shack has been broken into and all of his fortune has been stolen, could it be that God is trying to send him a message? Has God allowed this in his life in order to bring him to surrender? Will this prodigal son find his way home to recover all that God has truly intended for him?

(series header for all three books) book one Dreams of Gold Trilogy

When gold was discovered out West during the nineteenth century, men rushed from all parts of the globe to stake their claims. Fortunes were made and lost, families uprooted, and a continent shaped by men driven by dreams of gold.

(end series header) Go West, Young Man!

1849. Craig Turley was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the son of a wealthy New York businessman. Craig has always felt he had something to prove, so when gold is found near Sacramento , he packs his bags for California , ready to try his wings. His younger sister and her governess, Kathy, hate to see him go—especially because they’ve recently trusted their lives to Jesus Christ and Craig has not. Kathy is praying for his salvation, his safe return…and that he’ll come to love her as much as she does him. In the rough-and-tumble world of the gold rush, will this city boy find the wealth he seeks? Or does he have his eyes on the wrong kind of riches?

Story Behind the Book

“This was a fascinating project for both of us because of our love of American history. So often in the Bible, gold and the lesser precious metals are linked with money and other possessions that make men rich—the pursuit of which is frequently tied to greed and covetousness, which destroys lives. As our story will reveal, many great fortunes were won…and many were lost. Riches are spoken of in the Bible as often deceptive, unsatisfying, hurtful, and uncertain. Let each of us take note of what the Spirit of God told Paul to write to his son in the faith, Timothy: ‘Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy’ (1 Timothy 6:17).”

Gold Glimmers, and the Rush Is On!

An expedition led by George Custer in the 1870s confirms that the rumor of gold is true, and now its glimmer beckons from the Black Hills of Dakota Territory. And the rush is on in spite of the threat of war with the Indians. No one seems to desire to strike it rich more than Jim Bannon, a farmer who seeks Alyssa McGuire’s hand in marriage. Her father is the owner of the Bank of Cheyenne and refuses to let her marry below her class. So Jim boldly departs his Wyoming farm in hot pursuit of the wealth that is his ticket to the love of his life. But conflict between miners and Indians heats up, and Jim returns home unsuccessful. How will he ever make Alyssa his bride? book two Dreams of Gold Trilogy

When gold was discovered out West during the nineteenth century, men rushed from all parts of the globe to stake their claims. Fortunes were made and lost, families uprooted, and a continent shaped by men driven by dreams of gold.

(end series header) Gold Discovered in the Black Hills!

1875. Jim Bannon is a young farmer, a fine Christian man in love with Alyssa Rose McGuire, the daughter of a wealthy banker in Cheyenne . Her father, Frank, wants her to marry a Christian, of course…but a wealthy Christian. So when the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory (and Sioux country) are opened for gold prospecting, Jim stakes a claim, hoping to strike it rich enough to win Alyssa’s hand with her father’s approval. Thousands of people converge on the Black Hills , seeking gold for everything from medical bills to oil investments. Jim realizes he’s in a mission field among the prospectors—and even the Sioux Indians. But will he ever find enough gold to satisfy Frank McGuire and marry his beloved Alyssa Rose?

Story Behind the Book

“We read books on the history of North America and found ourselves captivated with the three big gold rushes in the nineteenth century—the California Gold Rush of 1849, the Dakota Territory Black Hills Gold Rush of 1874, and the Yukon Gold Rush in Canada of 1896. Some gold seekers embraced success, delight, and happiness, but others faced failure, tragedy, and sorrow. In the Dreams of Gold series, we captivate our readers’ imaginations, as well as touch their hearts with both types of results in the gold seekers’ experiences—good and bad.” —Al and JoAnna Lacy