Talk about a moving story. This book makes all your emotions run wild. I loved this story so much. Abby is such a strong amazing person and I loved her story. Abby finds friends in every part of her life and they help her achieve the life she dreams about. If you like historical stories about a strong woman who isn't the society norm, then this book is for you.

The well-written historical fiction of the early 19th century in Canada. I've never read any fur trading before.

I remember that well made movie about coke commercial rivalry history; Coca Cola & Pepsi. The movie was so iconic and I think this book has that resemblance to the movie—with absolutely different backdrops. The fur trading history, which turns out features the commercial rivalry between Hudson's Bay Company and The North West Company. By today I acknowledged that indigenous people took the most important role in the fur trade...

I like how the author wrote the main character as a mother with an unusual job for women. Realistically shows injustice right in the society towards women, which somehow women would carry all the blame; fault; shame; scandal; disgrace etc. Abby fought for it on behalf of her son and beloved father, for her dear life, month by month to seek for a new shelter to live in. Not to discard my incredulous feeling about her pesky trait in her own love life, a little bit hard to find her lovable in the romance part. Prolly bearable to fathom why loyalty isn't a sacred thing at that time or at least in the story backdrops—yet more mature, acceptance, understanding and such. I finally got it midway about Abby vaguely thought and felt she was hard to love or to be loved, she's a mother after all. She's been throughout the tough journey and all the prejudice she got, all the disgrace in her burdens.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this one (just as I enjoyed the author's first novel too!). It was a charming quick-paced read with really relatable and interesting characters, and a story arc that is both really fun/adventurous as well as heart wrenching.

While I don't read a lot of historical fiction—I often find the worldbuilding feels too much like homework—this author's books are ones I will continue to read for as long as she is publishing. She is able to worldbuild in a way that feels natural to the prose and never feels like too much, even for me, and her character's are so easy to love. The writing is quick-paced and enjoyable, and I truly enjoyed following along with Abby as she made her journey throughout historical Canada. I also really loved how the story doesn't turn out to be how you expect it might from the beginning—there are some great surprises in this little novel.

5/5 stars, definitely recommend especially for those who like historical fiction or are curious about trying the genre out.