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.

Hooked from the very first page! 5 Stars!
When young Flora Craigie jumps from a moving train in the dead of night to escape her abusive husband, the plot takes off with an explosion.
This historical fiction about a small group of courageous women homesteaders on the Canadian prairie in the early 1900s will grab your attention from the opening pages and not let go.
Flora, determined to carve a new life for herself on the untamed Alberta prairie, applies for a Homestead Application. Her new neighbors are a small band of equally determined females, all striving to establish their own homes. This is a story of female empowerment at its finest.
Nature is brutal to their survival, and many in the nearby town do not want them there at all. Throw in an antagonist bent on ruining their lives and Flora's despicable husband searching to reclaim her, and you have a story that will grip your heart and leave you cheering for the women.
Written in beautiful prose describing the unspoiled Canadian wild prairies, the author viscerally transports the reader into the story's fast-paced action and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.

Historical fiction lovers everywhere will enjoy this ode to our women pioneers. The extensive research was obvious and I enjoyed all the details of exactly how homesteading worked and how people lived and survived the often harsh conditions in the early 1900s in the Canadian west. The story starts off with a bang (quite literally!) and held my interest throughout. I liked how Flora evolved as a person from the beginning until the end. Finding Flora gives a realistic picture of how women were regarded and treated in that era, which might be an eye opener to many young women today. Fascinating to find out which characters were real people in the Author's Note. Incidentally, I also loved the cover. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.