What do you think?
Rate this book
Heaven in a Wildflower
A poignant coming-of-age story set in the early twentieth century, Heaven in a Wildflower explores the timeless Where is home?
Kristin Thorsen struggles to put down roots on the Kansas prairie after she is sent to live in a country parsonage with her father, a pious Lutheran pastor so consumed by religion that he barely notices his only child. To avoid thinking about her mother’s nearby grave, Kristin retreats into her imagination where she finds solace in books, Swedish folktales, and stories of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Set against a backdrop of emerald winter wheat, Kristin’s story takes on Oz overtones as she is befriended by a neighbor widow and a local seed merchant on a journey to find her voice and trust her heart.
After her husband leaves for World War II, Kristin confronts her past on the prairie, writing down memories to pass on to her daughter. Her recollections of a world war, devastating droughts, a global epidemic, persecution of immigrants, gender inequality, and religious intolerance are issues that will resonate with listeners more than a century later.
Kristin Thorsen struggles to put down roots on the Kansas prairie after she is sent to live in a country parsonage with her father, a pious Lutheran pastor so consumed by religion that he barely notices his only child. To avoid thinking about her mother’s nearby grave, Kristin retreats into her imagination where she finds solace in books, Swedish folktales, and stories of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Set against a backdrop of emerald winter wheat, Kristin’s story takes on Oz overtones as she is befriended by a neighbor widow and a local seed merchant on a journey to find her voice and trust her heart.
After her husband leaves for World War II, Kristin confronts her past on the prairie, writing down memories to pass on to her daughter. Her recollections of a world war, devastating droughts, a global epidemic, persecution of immigrants, gender inequality, and religious intolerance are issues that will resonate with listeners more than a century later.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2026
About the author
Cynthia Mines
5 books5 followersAn award-winning writer, Cynthia Mines was publisher and editor of The Wichita Times and Travel Kansas magazine for more than thirty years. Her travel, business, and feature articles have appeared in dozens of publications, including the Los Angeles Times. Her nonfiction book, For the Sake of Art: The Story of a Kansas Renaissance, was named a Kansas Notable Book in 2016. She is the author of two other books on Kansas history as well as numerous articles and chapters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 6, 2026
I bought this book in Linsborg, KS when my mom and I stopped for coffee on our way to Wichita. I didn’t know much about Linsborg except that it was an “artist town” growing up and stopping in once before. Since I have been doing extensive research on my Kansas ancestors, (no connection to Sweden or Linsborg), I thought the book would be an interesting perspective on Kansas life on the prairie during the same homesteading era as my ancestors.
First of all the book is excellently written. I love memoirs and historical fiction. I didn’t want to put it down. Kristin’s story was similar to Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz as well as all the other cleverly developed characters in the story.
I was surprised to read about so much history, but not all the history of Linsborg (fictionally Millborg in the story) I can remember seeing the specific places mentioned in the story on my visit.
And it was interesting to learn about the Swedish customs and traditions Kristin was used to and that they are still performed today is amazing.
I now have a better understanding of what prairie life was like when my grandmother was growing up. We mostly hear descriptions of the dust bowl from history but in her (fictional) memoir Kristin describes in detail the wheat fields during each season as she walks through the prairie to school, to town and Widow Bauer’s place. I’m sure my grandmother experienced the same senses while living in a farm and doing chores at their home in town. I’m grateful I found a new author and I look forward to reading more of Cynthia’s books.
First of all the book is excellently written. I love memoirs and historical fiction. I didn’t want to put it down. Kristin’s story was similar to Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz as well as all the other cleverly developed characters in the story.
I was surprised to read about so much history, but not all the history of Linsborg (fictionally Millborg in the story) I can remember seeing the specific places mentioned in the story on my visit.
And it was interesting to learn about the Swedish customs and traditions Kristin was used to and that they are still performed today is amazing.
I now have a better understanding of what prairie life was like when my grandmother was growing up. We mostly hear descriptions of the dust bowl from history but in her (fictional) memoir Kristin describes in detail the wheat fields during each season as she walks through the prairie to school, to town and Widow Bauer’s place. I’m sure my grandmother experienced the same senses while living in a farm and doing chores at their home in town. I’m grateful I found a new author and I look forward to reading more of Cynthia’s books.
July 6, 2026
I’m a fan of historical fiction, so I really enjoyed this account of life in Kansas during and after World War I. It’s an enjoyable read that covers a wide variety of topics, from immigration to the changing roles of women.
Mines is an experienced and talented writer. I learned new things about Kansas history and I was inspired by the main character’s determination to excel in her education and career. The kindness of some of the characters she interacts with is also a reminder about the importance of supporting others. Very inspiring!
Mines is an experienced and talented writer. I learned new things about Kansas history and I was inspired by the main character’s determination to excel in her education and career. The kindness of some of the characters she interacts with is also a reminder about the importance of supporting others. Very inspiring!
July 8, 2026
As a lifelong resident of McPherson County and having grown up on a farm, I enjoyed all the familiar references. The characters are well developed and the plot kept me involved. A great read! I am so happy for the author who was a journalism student of mine in 1971.
Review of advance copy received from Author
For fans of Hazel Gaynor’s Before Dorothy, Cynthia Mines’ Heaven in a Wildflower brings to life the beauty and the battles of the Kansas prairie in the first decades of the twentieth century, as told through the eyes of protagonist Kristin Thorsen.
Raised by her aunt and uncle in the fictional town of Millborg (a fictional representation of the very real Swedish city of Lindsborg) after her mother dies in childbirth, the impending birth of her fourth child has Kristin’s Aunt Erma uprooting her and delivering her to the country parsonage, and her cold, aloof, and extremely religious father.
Used to the rowdy household in town and the relaxed relationship with religion, Kristin’s new home is lonely and frightening, her father making no attempt to make her feel loved and wanted. Thankfully for Kristin, she quickly charms the widow who comes once a week to help around the parsonage, and once school gets underway, she finds a friend in Ida, another girl her age.
Desperate for color and joy in her life, she finds parallels where she can to the characters of L. Frank Baum’s Oz stories, the Swedish heritage shared by her teacher Miss Lindquist, and later world treasures shared with her by a local shopkeeper Mr. Sundgren.
Her father’s religious fervor and the harm it does to Kristin is ever present, but the increasing hostilities towards the Germans in the community and the looming risk of America’s involvement in the Great War also introduce new threats to Kristin’s dreams of an education and a life not dictated by her father’s livelihood.
Though the story is historical fiction, Mines eschews focusing the book on a significant historical event and instead centers the story around Kristin’s life as she transitions from an uprooted young girl to a poised young woman who has learned the confidence to pursue her dreams through the friendship and support she receives from members of the community.
Mines shows this format, experiencing enormous success in contemporary fiction with stories like The Correspondent and Theo of Golden, can work well in historical fiction too.
Part of the reason it works is the characters. Kristin is easy to root for, and it’s as easy to fall in love with the widow Bauer, Miss Lindquist, and Mr. Sundgren that take Kristin under their wings, as it is to instantly dislike Kristin’s father, who seems driven just as much by his own demons as his faith.
One of the other reasons the story works is that it is richly steeped in the history of Kansas in the first decades of the twentieth century and the cultures of the people who make it home. From the folklore of the Swedish people on the plains to the jazz joints of Eighteenth and Vine during Prohibition, it offers a wide breadth of history in a part of the country not often the focus of historical fiction novels.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kristin’s story and the historical setting in which it takes place. I will confess that I am more than a little biased in the case of this review, as I always enjoy books that take place in my home state and show it in a positive light. Also, the author Cynthia Mines, is an acquaintance of mine, and this is her first foray into fictional writing after a decades long writing career. This advanced copy was gifted to me by Cindy, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is being independently published in June 2026. If you’re interested in reading Kristin’s story, you can learn more at meadowlarkbookstore.com.
Raised by her aunt and uncle in the fictional town of Millborg (a fictional representation of the very real Swedish city of Lindsborg) after her mother dies in childbirth, the impending birth of her fourth child has Kristin’s Aunt Erma uprooting her and delivering her to the country parsonage, and her cold, aloof, and extremely religious father.
Used to the rowdy household in town and the relaxed relationship with religion, Kristin’s new home is lonely and frightening, her father making no attempt to make her feel loved and wanted. Thankfully for Kristin, she quickly charms the widow who comes once a week to help around the parsonage, and once school gets underway, she finds a friend in Ida, another girl her age.
Desperate for color and joy in her life, she finds parallels where she can to the characters of L. Frank Baum’s Oz stories, the Swedish heritage shared by her teacher Miss Lindquist, and later world treasures shared with her by a local shopkeeper Mr. Sundgren.
Her father’s religious fervor and the harm it does to Kristin is ever present, but the increasing hostilities towards the Germans in the community and the looming risk of America’s involvement in the Great War also introduce new threats to Kristin’s dreams of an education and a life not dictated by her father’s livelihood.
Though the story is historical fiction, Mines eschews focusing the book on a significant historical event and instead centers the story around Kristin’s life as she transitions from an uprooted young girl to a poised young woman who has learned the confidence to pursue her dreams through the friendship and support she receives from members of the community.
Mines shows this format, experiencing enormous success in contemporary fiction with stories like The Correspondent and Theo of Golden, can work well in historical fiction too.
Part of the reason it works is the characters. Kristin is easy to root for, and it’s as easy to fall in love with the widow Bauer, Miss Lindquist, and Mr. Sundgren that take Kristin under their wings, as it is to instantly dislike Kristin’s father, who seems driven just as much by his own demons as his faith.
One of the other reasons the story works is that it is richly steeped in the history of Kansas in the first decades of the twentieth century and the cultures of the people who make it home. From the folklore of the Swedish people on the plains to the jazz joints of Eighteenth and Vine during Prohibition, it offers a wide breadth of history in a part of the country not often the focus of historical fiction novels.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kristin’s story and the historical setting in which it takes place. I will confess that I am more than a little biased in the case of this review, as I always enjoy books that take place in my home state and show it in a positive light. Also, the author Cynthia Mines, is an acquaintance of mine, and this is her first foray into fictional writing after a decades long writing career. This advanced copy was gifted to me by Cindy, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is being independently published in June 2026. If you’re interested in reading Kristin’s story, you can learn more at meadowlarkbookstore.com.
July 6, 2026
My review for a blurb:
Cynthia Mines returns to a familiar time and place--the early 20th century in Kansas—she has often written about in nonfiction, but this time she turns to fiction to provide an imaginative glimpse of life on the prairie. Writing the book as a memoir, the main character Kristin Thorsen immediately captivates her audience, sharing a deep appreciation of the natural beauties around her while dealing with the hardships of growing up as an intelligent young woman in a rural community. The blending of meticulous historical research with deft characterizations allows for understanding crucial relationships in context--with a grieving but harsh father, an empathetic widowed neighbor, as well as possible romance with an up-and-coming farmer. Kristin musters the courage to pursue independence as a Harvey Girl and a college student between the World Wars, providing a thoroughly absorbing read.
--Cori Sherman North, Curator, Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery
Cynthia Mines returns to a familiar time and place--the early 20th century in Kansas—she has often written about in nonfiction, but this time she turns to fiction to provide an imaginative glimpse of life on the prairie. Writing the book as a memoir, the main character Kristin Thorsen immediately captivates her audience, sharing a deep appreciation of the natural beauties around her while dealing with the hardships of growing up as an intelligent young woman in a rural community. The blending of meticulous historical research with deft characterizations allows for understanding crucial relationships in context--with a grieving but harsh father, an empathetic widowed neighbor, as well as possible romance with an up-and-coming farmer. Kristin musters the courage to pursue independence as a Harvey Girl and a college student between the World Wars, providing a thoroughly absorbing read.
--Cori Sherman North, Curator, Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews