First off, I loooove the cover art of this book. It is what drew me to look into this book. I thought this would be a slower book for me as it is outside of my usual genres to read but being Canadian and loving Scottish heritage I was hooked by the description of the book. I devoured this book! The world building and descriptions throughout the book are absolutely wonderful. There is historical accuracy to the early 1900s homesteaders and farming, and its politics. A beautiful story about the resilience of women back in that time. The main character Flora is brave, kind, determined and resilient and everything I could have hoped she would be. The group of women around her were so amazingly written. As were the three main men of the story. I was so fast to give this book 5 stars, thank you so much for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this wonderful book.

Finding Flora is a well-written historical fiction set in the early 1900s in the Canadian Prairie, a time and place often ignored. Florence did her research when writing about Flora and her neighbors. I didn’t realize until halfway through the book that it is set in a real town with a few real people. Upon learning this, I quickly read up on a few details. I love it when historical fiction books contain real people, no matter who they may be.

Homesteading was not easy for anyone, but especially not for women who wanted the independence that being landowners would bring. Finding Flora discusses those hardships. The ladies in the book had their share of struggles between nature and those around them who didn’t think they belonged. Together, they worked and survived the negatives around them. Along the way, the five women who had been strangers became close friends and cheered for each other throughout their journey.

The synopsis leads you to believe that Flora’s husband plays a significant role in several events. In total, he’s only around for about 30 pages. There are a few mentions of him along the way, but not many.

The book’s ending is satisfying, but also feels a bit contrived. Everyone gets what they deserve. I don’t want to go into more detail, because I don’t want to spoil anything.

Do you enjoy reading books featuring strong women? What about books set at the turn of the 20th century? Or reading well-researched historical fiction? Then you should read Finding Flora by Elinor Florence.

Elinor Florence yet again delivers a masterclass in Canadian historical fiction storytelling!

Florence explores a challenging era of Canadian history through the fictional story of Scottish immigrant Flora Craigle. At the turn of the century, Flora is on the run from her abusive new husband. Desperate to escape, she jumps off the train in rural Alberta and finds herself with a claim to a homestead near Alix, Alberta. Flora's closest neighbours being a Welsh widow and her three young children, a Métis woman known for raising horses, and a pair of women from Boston raising chickens. To say Flora experienced hardships would be an understatement. Canada was a young and largely undeveloped country, and these women were seen as less than to their male homesteading counterparts. The women band together to survive the harsh landscape and the backbreaking labour and ultimately to fight for their rights to their homesteads.

Florence's writing was captivating from the beginning! I devoured this story of these brave women fighting for their survival in a harsh landscape and fighting for their rights to keep the property they poured their blood, sweat, and tears into. This was a foundational era of Canadian history and often women's experiences go untold, largely overshadowed by the stories of men. It was so refreshing and eye-opening to see a story written in this era from the perspectives of a diverse group of women. The amount of research that Florence poured into this story was clear and it was impeccably done.

Finding Flora took me on a journey, thoroughly researched that will not be easy to forget. From the surprisingly beautiful Canadian prairies to the tough as nails homesteaders. I felt the love they experienced for the land and others as they experienced sacrifice to survive. This tightly woven story brought such satisfaction as it came to an end. One that touches the heart and warms the soul.

I really enjoyed this one! Excellent historical fiction. It is Little House on the Prairie set in Canada with mostly adult characters. I enjoyed the pioneer life, the strong female characters and the minor love story throughout. It was excellent!

Finding Flora follows Flora, a young Scottish woman from a middle-class family, whose life is upended after the death of her chemist father. Evicted from her home and with few options, she takes a position as a lady’s companion to an elderly widow. Seeing firsthand the security that wealth provides, Flora becomes determined to marry well to ensure a comfortable future. When she meets Hector Mackle, a land agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway, she agrees to marry him, believing his promise of a charming stone house awaiting her in Vancouver. However, on the journey across Canada, Flora soon realizes that Hector’s promises—like the deceptive sales pitches he used to lure homesteaders—were built on lies. Facing a devastating betrayal and a dangerous situation, Flora takes control of her fate, setting out to build a life of her own on the Canadian frontier.

Flora eventually settles in Ladyville, a small but remarkable settlement of female homesteaders, each facing unique struggles. At first, the women are skeptical of one another due to their wildly different backgrounds. Jessie McDonald, a Métis woman with some Scottish ancestry, is wary of the white settlers encroaching on the land. Two former teachers in a Boston marriage live together and seek a fresh start. Peggy Penrose, a deeply religious Welsh widow with three children, is devoted to her faith and family. However, as the brutal realities of agriculture and the harsh Alberta winters set in, they learn that survival depends on mutual support. Over time, the women forge a deep sense of friendship and community, challenging the societal norms that dictated women’s dependence on men.

Eleanor Florence weaves real historical events and figures into the story, adding depth and authenticity. The renaming of Toddsville to Alix after Alice Westhead—the first white woman to settle the area—by William Van Horne, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, is a fascinating inclusion. Other historical figures, such as Irene Parlby, who went on to become an MLA and one of the Famous Five women who successfully advocated for women’s right to be appointed to the Canadian Senate, and Frank Oliver, a well-documented sexist and racist politician, further ground the novel in Alberta’s past. The story does not shy away from the reality that Indigenous people were forced onto reservations and denied access to valuable agricultural land, which is reflected through Jessie’s experiences. Notably, Jessie was named after the author’s Scottish-Cree great-grandmother, adding a personal historical connection to the novel.

One of the most compelling aspects of Finding Flora is its feminist themes. The novel highlights the systemic barriers women faced in the early 20th century, particularly the restrictions that prevented single women from claiming homesteads unless they were widowed with children. The story challenges the widespread belief that women were too weak to homestead and emphasizes the resilience, independence, and determination of female settlers. It also examines how gender expectations shaped women’s lives, from Flora’s initial belief that marriage is the only path to security to the challenges she faces as a woman striving for self-sufficiency in a male-dominated world.

The novel further reinforces these feminist themes by showcasing the ongoing struggles of the female homesteaders, particularly in how they are treated differently from their male counterparts. The local homestead inspector is far more aggressive in his oversight of the women, visiting their homesteads far more frequently than he does the men’s. He actively questions whether they are capable of farming the land and even fines Flora after she mistakenly plants crops on the road allowance—land belonging to the government. These systemic obstacles feel more authentic and provide a deeper look at the discrimination women faced in their fight for independence, making their perseverance even more compelling.
I also appreciated that, even though it wasn’t a main focus of the novel, it acknowledged the horrors of Residential Schools when Jessie briefly describes her experience at one. Although the reference is short, it clearly affirms that Residential Schools were wrong, which is important in any historical narrative involving Indigenous characters.

The novel also offers a nuanced look at religion. While Peggy is devout and observes the Sabbath, Flora’s relationship with faith is more complex. I appreciated how the book explores how religion could be both a source of comfort and a tool of oppression, particularly in how Hector weaponizes Flora’s beliefs to manipulate her.

Although I enjoyed the book, there were a few aspects that didn’t fully resonate with me. Flora’s character arc from being indifferent to children to fully embracing them felt a little too much like a reinforcement of the common (and frustrating) narrative that women who dislike children will inevitably change their minds. Additionally, while I appreciated the book’s depiction of how difficult life was for unmarried women at the time, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with how the women’s journeys culminated. While their resilience is celebrated, the story leans into the idea that certain traditional outcomes are necessary for a truly "happy ending."

Another weakness of the novel is that many conflicts—while engaging—are often resolved too quickly, sometimes within just a few chapters. A good example is when the government announces plans to expropriate the Ladyville homesteads to make way for a new CPR spur line from Lacombe to Toddsville. This presents a real and urgent threat to the women’s hard-earned land, but the situation is quickly resolved when William Van Horne himself attends a town hall meeting and announces that he has decided to reroute the railway through unclaimed land instead. While this solution is satisfying, the speed at which it happens lessens the tension and makes the resolution feel a bit too convenient.
Finding Flora is not a fast-paced novel, and while some conflicts resolve predictably, it remains an engaging read for those interested in Alberta history with a feminist perspective. Readers who enjoy historical fiction about the settlement of the West, wholesome narratives that still honestly depict the struggles of marginalized groups, or stories of female resilience will likely appreciate this book.

Eleanor Florence, the author of Finding Flora, is Canadian, growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan and now residing in Invermere, British Columbia. Her deep connection to the prairies and Canadian history is evident in her detailed storytelling and historical research.

Final rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best books I've read in so long! As soon as this ones out I'll be using it for our rural womens bookclub for sure! As a farm wife from Saskatchewan only 30 mins from the alberta border i was so excited to read this one and it did not disappoint. It was beautifully written, for once the flora/fauna/planting/growing/lifestyle etc was actually accurate to alberta which was refreshing. The cover is also stunning and i cannot wait to purachase a physical copy to display on my shelves.

I very much enjoyed the perspective and insights into life as a homesteader at the turn of the 20th century. I enjoyed Flora establishing herself and coming into her own with the help of those around her.

Elinor Florence’s magnificent new novel seamlessly blends thoroughly researched history with a fictional tale about her fresh-off-the-boat Scottish heroine, Flora Craigie, who after fleeing an abusive husband finds herself alone but determined to make a life for herself on a small homestead in 1905 Alberta.

By surrounding Flora with a diverse circle of resourceful single women neighbours equally resolute not to “be broken on the wheel of homesteading,” the author shines a light on often-neglected history about the daunting hurdles faced by such pioneering women—from hostile, contemptible land agents and discriminatory government policies to the harshness of their workload and the climate itself.

Herself the grand-daughter of settlers, Florence’s love of this land and pride in the history of her forbears, including a Cree great-grandmother, infuses every lush, gorgeous description, making this at once a terrific story and Canadian historical fiction at its best.

I was provided an advance copy of the book to review.

I highly recommend Finding Flora, a captivating historical novel set in early 1900s Alberta. The story follows Flora, a young Scottish woman escaping an abusive husband, as she starts anew by claiming a homestead in the Wild West.

Elinor Florence’s vivid writing and rich historical detail transported me back in time. Flora’s journey, along with her bond with Mrs. Penrose, felt so real and engaging that I became completely absorbed in their world. I loved the story so much that I didn’t want it to end—I found myself lingering over the pages, reluctant to leave the characters and their lives behind.

A beautifully crafted novel with a strong heroine and a vivid setting—this is historical fiction at its best!

I loved reading about Flora's adventures! She's my favorite kind of character: a woman who's smart and spirited and doesn't quite realize (at first) how bold she can be. The story begins with a leap from a moving train and continues at a fast clip as Flora strives to make a place for herself on her homestead claim. The author has done her research, and all of the details and relationships ring true. Thanks to the author and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this book.

From the minute Flora jumped off a moving train, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to her, and I couldn’t put down this book.

Not only was the story compelling and the characters memorable, it made me realize a gap in my reading knowledge. Although I’ve read many books about pioneers settling wild territory, it was usually families, not women attempting it alone. What it took to survive and “prove up” made me realize just how challenging and dangerous it was to be a “prairie woman.”

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Set in 1905 Alberta Canada, Scottish newcomer Flora Craigie, jumps from a moving train to escape her new abusive husband. What follows is an excellent story of the hardships and experiences faced by many prairie early homesteaders. Flora meets and begins her homestead near a group of strong women. Together they battle harsh Alberta winters and face judgment against female farmers.

As a great-grandchild of immigrants to Saskatchewan, who also homesteaded I related to and enjoyed this novel so much. Author Elinor Florence does a wonderful job of describing not only the scenery but also the experiences faced during this time by so many.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for an arc of Finding Flora. I really enjoyed this book.

1905, Scottish newcomer Flora Craigie jumps from a moving train to escape from her abusive ex husband. She is desperate to disappear so she files for a homestead near Alix, Alberta determined to start a new life for herself. Her nearest neighbours are also a Welsh widow with three children; two American women raising chickens; and a Metis women who makes a living by breaking in wild horses. Battling the harsh environment, five women grapple with the differences of their backgrounds and secrets that each one struggles to keep. When their houses are threatened to be taken by the hostile federal Minister of interior, the women join forces to raise a ruckus. As the competition for land along with the New Canadian Railway line heats up, Flora's husband closes in, and a land agent threatens the lives and the livelihoods of the women, just as they are coming into their own.


I am rounding up this book to a 4.5. Honestly maybe a 5 I just have to sit on it for a bit.
This is my first book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The books grab your attention in the first couple of pages. I did not want to put this book down, it was so intriguing, the way she told the story and wrote was great. I loved the short chapters in the book, this book never felt boring. I loved the history behind this book and the attention to detail that she put and you can tell that she did her research thee amount of research she put into this book, is outstanding. I like how she gave the background stories of the characters but without the info dumping. She described the land of Alberta beautifully. I like how Flora evolved from this person that wanted to be alone, to being this person that cares about so many people and wanting the best for them. The character Sourdough was also one of my favourites because he was just so grumpy, but helped the ladies, but he was also a genuine person by the end of the book. You will fall in love with the characters, the writing, and prairies. Can we also talk about the cover of this book, it is absolutely beautiful, the colours that they used for the cover are stunning. This book is also educational, if you like learning about history you will love this book. I hope a lot of people love and enjoy this book as much as I did.

Make sure to get a copy of this book on April 1st, 2025. That is the expected released date.

I highly recommend Finding Flora by Elinor Florence which is set in early 1900s Alberta about a young Scottish woman on the run from her abusive husband. Trying to hide and start a new life, Flora claims a homestead in the Wild West.
The exquisite writing in this well researched historical novel seemed to transport me back in time as a homesteader along with
Flora and her neighbour Mrs. Penrose.
The story was so realistic, interesting and intriguing that I did not want it to end, but the suspense and wanting to know what would happen next kept me reading and unwilling to stop.

Thanks to #NetGalley, Publisher Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced reading copy of Finding Flora and share my thoughts of the book.
5 stars

I was sent a copy of this novel via Net Galley from the publicist as I had read Ms. Florence's other novels. I loved this story so much! It was so interesting to read about female homesteaders in Canada and their trials and tribulations. I loved the titular character of Flora and was rooting for her throughout the novel. The author's notes were interesting and elucidating at the end. Highly recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction with strong female protagonists and an interesting glimpse into (Canadian) history.
Thank you for my review copy! Blog post coming closer to pub day.

Flora Craigie starts off this action-packed story with a bang by leaping from a moving train in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night. After years working a dead-end job in her native Scotland, she has made an ill-fated bid for a better life by marrying a man she has barely met and emigrating to Canada with him. It is the dawn of the twentieth century and he has spun her a yarn about opportunity in the newly forming western provinces, showing her a picture of a lovely stone house that will be hers if she is his. When reality proves very different and he shows a violent side, Flora impulsively makes her escape.

Through a series of lucky coincidences, Flora manages to qualify for the chance to develop a homestead. Her nearest neighbors are several other plucky women seeking to carve lives out of the wild prairie, and through hardship and shared struggle they build the nucleus of a community. Nearby townsfolk and male homesteaders are not so ready to accept them, however, and the women have to battle their way through human conflicts while battling the elements. And Flora, of course, has a secret to protect and the rejected husband to fear.

This is a traditional western with a modern twist. There are the expected heroes and antagonists, tests of character and fortitude in an unforgiving landscape, but the focus on women making their own way in a challenging environment feels fresh. The varied characters come to life on the page, as do the beauty and hazards of the wild land they inhabit. Elinor Florence maintains a nice balance between the action and her heroine’s inner journey, so the pace never feels either slow or rushed. I liked the old-fashioned approach to storytelling that didn’t require me to follow anyone into the bedroom or revel in graphic violence.

I was offered access to an ARC in the hope of an honest review, for which I thank the author and publisher.

I couldn’t put down Finding Flora by Elinor Florence. The author did extensive research to develop a gripping, credible story about women homesteaders in Alberta in the late 1800s when single women weren’t allowed to own land. The story brings to life the daily challenges women, or any settlers, faced. Whether their farms burned, weather destroyed crops, men tried to evict them, or children took sick, the brave women portrayed in the book banded together to help each other survive.

This book helped me appreciate the historic role that women and other homesteaders played building communities across the beautiful and sometimes cruel Canadian wilderness. Each character was believable. Although they all had prejudices and misgivings about one another at first, they had to overcome them to stay alive. They collaborated and provided companionship to one another to create farms that produced wheat, chickens, eggs, vegetables, apples, and other crops.

Through these women’s daily lives, Florence captured the condemning social mores they experienced. Men threatened to oust them. They believed women were incapable of farming. Women needed to be married. The writer also demonstrated through the characters’ actions and dialogue the prejudice against First Nation peoples and “half breeds.”

The author’s research, personal history, and bright imagination came together to create a compelling, exciting novel that kept me turning the pages. I didn’t want to finish the book, but I couldn’t wait to learn what happened to Flora.

Received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Finished 10-09-24. Rated 5 stars and on my favorite shelf. No spoilers in this review.

Very much loved this historical fiction novel set in the North-West territories of Canada in 1905. Scottish Flora Craigie and her newly wed husband have immigrated to Canada and are heading west by railway. Unfortunately his abusive and brutal behavior comes to light. Flora fears for her life and escapes.

Loved how Flora is portrayed. She's determined to homestead and make a life for herself. This turns out to be much more difficult then she could ever imagine. But with the help of her neighbors and courage on her part she is able to be an independent homeowner.

Flora and her 3 female neighbors must put up not just with the harsh weather conditions but also the prejudice of being female. This was a time when most people assumed that women should marry, have children and let men govern their lives. Of course through out history there have been many females who've overcome these roadblocks but it has never been easy.

Flora's neighbors are a widow with 3 young children; 2 single American ladies who raise chickens and a Metis woman who trains wild horses. Per the author's notes at the end these ladies and Flora are fictional but based on those females who actually did homestead and contributed so much to Canadian history. Also liked that she included real historical figures into the story.

I loved the story and how the author gave us these character's backgrounds without a lot of "info dumping". Her descriptions of daily life, the beautiful but harsh Canadian Prarie, and realistic clothing styles of that time were fascinating.

A very fast, enjoyable read while also learning some history I was unaware of. Highly recommend to those who like historical fiction.

Beautifully Written

Finding Flora is a beautifully written story about a Scottish newcomer to Canada who flees her violent husband and beats the odds to claim a homestead on the Alberta prairies in the early 1900s. I love the way Elinor Florence sets the harsh realities of homesteading against the splendour of the land. Complicating the story are 1900s gender and societal expectations, combined with ambitious politicians and corruption.

The research behind Finding Flora is evident in Elinor Florence’s use of language and the descriptive details that bring the early 1900s on the prairies into sharp focus. Finding Flora is as educational as it is gripping. A wonderfully immersive read that I would highly recommend.