Yukon Territories, 1898.When hardened sharpshooter Sophia Bellerose flees the circus in search of a new life, she doesn’t intend to join a brothel. But she’s not the sort of woman to refuse that kind of cash, or the freedom that comes with it.For Sophia, the remote wilds of Canada’s Far North provide the perfect setting to bury old heartbreaks: up there, memories are short, days are long, and … gold dust flows freely for women bold enough to make the trip. Even better? She gets to keep her guns.Yet when the warmth of a newfound sisterhood begins to thaw her icy heart, she wonders if she’s stumbled into the perfect life, until she clashes with the local Reverend, whose angel face hides a dangerously devious mind. Not only is he conning the whole town, he’s after both the brothel and her, though Sophia can’t tell whether his interest is genuine or just another clever ploy to gain control of her earnings.Determined to preserve her newfound freedom, and ignore the Reverend’s devastating kissing in the process, Sophia unholsters her revolvers and takes aim, ready to do whatever it takes to keep her new life in one piece.
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The Wildflowers at the Edge of the World is a wonderful story of women making their own way in the Yukon in 1898.
I loved this historical novel and the storytelling provided by the author. The descriptions of the Yukon are glorious, dangerous, and inspiring. The storyline is well written and captured my interest from the first page to the last. The characters are well developed and interesting. The women have had hard lives but make the best of their lives.
I cannot wait to read more works by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The wildflowers at the edge of the world is set in the Canada Yukon on 1898. Sophia is running away from her past and heads for a better life in the Yukon.This book is well written with well developed characters and many twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest with lots of surprises along the way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shaylin Gandhi is a good writer. I was deeply moved By the Light of the Embers, caught up emotionally in the racially charged quicksand that was Louisiana in the 1950s. So when I heard The Wildflowers at the Edge of the World was coming out, I jumped at the chance to get an ARC and get an early glimpse at Gandhi’s newest work. I finished it last night and was satisfied, but getting there was not easy. Initially, I found neither the story (women working in a brothel in the Yukon during the gold rush at the end of the 19th century), nor the main characters, particularly captivating. At times I wondered where in the world the author was going. I read an electronic copy, so I can say that by the time I reached about 60%, I was committed. But 60% is a lot to ask of a reader not already a fan of the author. And a word of advice to others who will read it electronically: bookmark the diary entries so you can go back and find them to reread easily!
Wildflowers at the Edge of the World is an evocative title, and there were many evocative moments in the novel, both emotional and physical. But given the unusual setting, I think more could have been done to convey the wildness of the territory (for example: I never really felt the undoubtable harshness of the winter weather).
In a strange coincidence, I recently read a novel wherein the protagonist, a middle-aged author, is told by his editor to cut out the bisexuality of the main character. I paraphrase here, but the editor told the writer: “your readers–the ones that provide you an income by buying your books–are middle-age women who don’t appreciate or understand bisexuality.” This thought came to my mind while reading Wildflowers. I’m a middle-age woman, and I didn’t find the bisexual nature of a few of the characters added anything to my appreciation of the novel. Obviously, I should be a social pariah for saying so, but I do buy books.
Am I glad I persevered and finished Wildflowers? Definitely. Will I seek out more of Shaylin Gandhi’s work? Certainly. And I wholeheartedly recommend Wildflowers to other readers. Just remember that as on some demanding nature hikes, not all the beauty is revealed when you first set out.
A GRAND AND GLORIOUS ADVENTURE IN THE WILD YUKON TERRITORY! FIVE TRIUMPHANT STARS!
WOW! I thought nothing could surpass the brilliance of Ms. Gandhi’s debut novel–By the Light of Embers–but I was wrong! In Wildflowers, she uses her amazing skill as a word-painter to create a flawless reading experience. As a very picky reader and reviewer, I can usually find an imperfection or two in every book, but not this time. Not even one!
In this story, the author’s descriptive imagery pulls the reader into the rough-and-tumble world of the Klondike Gold Rush, where men and women struggle to find wealth and forge new lives in the Canadian wilderness. The story revolves around Sophia, a circus sharpshooter with a broken heart; Annie, a feisty Texan fleeing from a bad marriage; and Temperance, a woman seeking redemption for a tragic death. Lacking money or mining skills, they find work and a home in The Scarlet Blossom, a brothel in Caribou Crossing–a popular stopping place for miners heading to the gold fields. (The town still exists.)
Enter Reverend Gray, a mysterious con man who claims the Blossom is rightfully his; Mountie Corporal Connor O’Cahill, a man with a deeply wounded soul; and the Professor, a mathematically brilliant but rather odd fellow who tends the bar and conceals his love for Annie.
There’s plenty of action and surprising plot twists as these three indomitable women fight to keep the Blossom out of the Reverend’s grasping hands. Sophia puts her shooting skills and twin long-barreled Colt revolvers to good use against the bad guys, but she has no defense against the traitorous yearnings of her own heart. Far more than an action/adventure story, Wildflowers is a testament to the power of love’s redeeming grace.
Set amidst the stunning natural splendor of Canada’s Yukon Territory, Wildflowers has something for everyone: rip-roaring adventure, heart-pounding suspense, engaging characters, authentic history, tender romance, and an unforgettable ending. The story is laced with humor, spirituality, and the rich similes and metaphors that characterize Ms. Gandhi’s exquisite prose. Some of her descriptions brought me to tears, not from sadness but from the sheer beauty of her words.
That’s enough from me. Pick Wildflowers, settle back and enjoy this truly remarkable story of courage, determination and love. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The wildflowers at the edge of the world.
Is a novel set in the Yukon, Canada in 1898
The book is rich in the history of the time and place.
The book was written at a time, when there was not a lot of choice for woman, to support herself.
Sophia, is running away from her past, the north Yukon seems to be a good place to be.
The twists and turns just keep coming, nothing will be quite as you expect it to be, in this really well written book.
The writer has a wonderful selection of characters, details of their lives and the way they interweave.
This really is a book, that will not disappoint the reader.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
The wildflowers are not just the plants. They are also the girls in a Yukon brothel who form a sisterhood. Will they also find love? This is an adventure with many twists and turns which keeps you enthralled until the end! I loved it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When I finished the debut novel by this author, By the Light of Embers, I was hooked on her writing. The emotional journey she took us on with that book, I was amazed that it was her debut book.
Fast forward to The Wildflowers at the Edge of the World, this authors second book. It’s a hefty read, I will give you that. Building up each character one line at a time so that us the readers can get a feel for who are all the players in this book.
Set in Yukon Territories, 1898, we travel back in time where women are not held high in men’s eyes. We meet a group of ladies who run the local brothel each one coming to work there has a background for being there. Escaping one bad thing after another.
While this book seemed like it went on forever, I never felt connected to any of the characters. The writing wasn’t as free flowing as this authors first book. Seemed more thoughts that were written down at times were then placed in a book.
It was an ok read for me this round. Anxious to hear what is up next from this author as I will continue to read her work. Just this one, this time was a miss for me.
From the very beginning, the author give readers a wonderfully descriptive look at the setting of this story. Each character is well-written and their “story” is gradually revealed to the reader. Nothing in this story is simple – everyone’s backstory is unique and their motivations are not always evident. This is my first by this author and I plan to reader more by her. Highly recommend. 🙂
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily providing my honest review.
The bar for this book was set pretty high from her last book. I have to say though that it did not disappoint. I really like the way the characters are developed and how much you become invested in them. I am not generally one to read romance but there is a good amount of action and intrigue to keep the story moving along at a brisk pace. I would definitely recommend this if you enjoy reading an engaging story with good characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shaylin Gandhi has done it to me again! Forced me to read something outwith my Sci-Fi and Fantasy comfort zone and enjoy it! I’ll be honest, western-type stories are so not my bag. However, I adored the author’s debut book, so I thought I’d give it a go. I’m so glad I did.
Gandhi is very talented, and this is a beautifully choreographed storyline with its twists and turns, dips and peaks. This time, however, the women lead the dance, not the men.
The lead character, Sophia, takes a job in a Yukon brothel and meets women (Irene, Temperence, and Annie) who, initially, are so much different from herself, but later she sees their differences as strengths as she gets to know them better. You would think that a story based in a brothel would be seedy, but it’s not. This is a chosen job of work and these women are in control of their own lives, their safety, and their own money. They have personalities and pasts that we can relate to and, coming from a circus background, Sophie is always surprising us and the other characters.
As usual, with the sublime quality of Gandhi’s work, the reader is right there in 1898. You can visualise the colourful of The Scarlet Blossom, the mucky streets, the people. Feel the undertones of danger, and smell the reek outside.
The star of the show, for me, was ‘Professor’ Palmer. His world filled with numbers and, in particular, beautiful expressive primes. I was so excited about his future. I really loved this.
I chose this from a selection at Booksprout, which I then voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.
The Wildflowers at the End of the World is a great title for a book that grabbed me from the first paragraph. Such well defined characters, who make you think about your preconceptions about people. I loved, loved, loved this book. This is one great author and I cannot wait to see what other stories she writes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.