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At the Mountain's Edge
From bestselling author Genevieve Graham comes a sweeping new historical novel of love, tragedy, and redemption set during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush.
In 1897, the discovery of gold in the desolate reaches of the Yukon has the world abuzz with excitement, and thousands of prospectors swarm to the north seeking riches the likes of which have never been seen before.
For Liza Peterson and her family, the gold rush is a chance for them to make a fortune by moving their general store business from Vancouver to Dawson City, the only established town in the Yukon. For Constable Ben Turner, a recent recruit of the North-West Mounted Police, upholding the law in a place overrun with guns, liquor, prostitutes, and thieves is an opportunity to escape a dark past and become the man of integrity he has always wanted to be. But the long, difficult journey over icy mountain passes and whitewater rapids is much more treacherous than Liza or Ben imagined, and neither is completely prepared for the forbidding north.
As Liza’s family nears the mountain’s peak, a catastrophe strikes with fatal consequences, and not even the NWMP can help. Alone and desperate, Liza finally reaches Dawson City, only to find herself in a different kind of peril. Meanwhile, Ben, wracked with guilt over the accident on the trail, sees the chance to make things right. But just as love begins to grow, new dangers arise, threatening to separate the couple forever.
Inspired by history as rich as the Klondike’s gold, At the Mountain’s Edge is an epic tale of romance and adventure about two people who must let go of the past not only to be together, but also to survive.
In 1897, the discovery of gold in the desolate reaches of the Yukon has the world abuzz with excitement, and thousands of prospectors swarm to the north seeking riches the likes of which have never been seen before.
For Liza Peterson and her family, the gold rush is a chance for them to make a fortune by moving their general store business from Vancouver to Dawson City, the only established town in the Yukon. For Constable Ben Turner, a recent recruit of the North-West Mounted Police, upholding the law in a place overrun with guns, liquor, prostitutes, and thieves is an opportunity to escape a dark past and become the man of integrity he has always wanted to be. But the long, difficult journey over icy mountain passes and whitewater rapids is much more treacherous than Liza or Ben imagined, and neither is completely prepared for the forbidding north.
As Liza’s family nears the mountain’s peak, a catastrophe strikes with fatal consequences, and not even the NWMP can help. Alone and desperate, Liza finally reaches Dawson City, only to find herself in a different kind of peril. Meanwhile, Ben, wracked with guilt over the accident on the trail, sees the chance to make things right. But just as love begins to grow, new dangers arise, threatening to separate the couple forever.
Inspired by history as rich as the Klondike’s gold, At the Mountain’s Edge is an epic tale of romance and adventure about two people who must let go of the past not only to be together, but also to survive.
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2019
34 people are currently reading
1733 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
April 7, 2019
Emotional, vividly descriptive & affecting!
AT THE MOUNTAIN’S EDGE by GENEVIEVE GRAHAM is a fascinating, entertaining and wonderful historical fiction novel that totally hooked and captivated me. The setting and premise of this novel intrigued and entertained me, I was totally taken with this tale that is set during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush and it definitely gave me all the feels.
GENEVIEVE GRAHAM delivers an atmospheric, adventurous, engaging, and well-written read here that is told from two perspectives that has a cinematic feel to it. Liza & Ben were both such great characters that I thoroughly enjoyed and had me feeling so many emotions while I was following them throughout their adventurous journey. The courage, love, hope, loss, heartbreak and perseverance was palpable.
It is so refreshing reading a novel that is set in Canada and full of Canadian history. That was definitely a highlight for me and the beauty of this novel definitely shines through that will leave a lasting impression.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: A majestic, lovely, eye-catching, appealing, intriguing and fitting representation to storyline. I find this cover extremely fascinating and beautiful to look at!
Title: Intriguing, interesting, emotive and an effective and significant representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Beautifully written, expressive, passionate, engaging and elegant. I immediately connected with the author’s prose.
Plot: Detailed, atmospheric, well-researched, interesting, emotive, action-packed, fast-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: A touching ending that I was totally satisfied and happy with.
Overall: I absolutely loved the adventurous and emotional journey this book took me on! Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Genevieve Graham for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
AT THE MOUNTAIN’S EDGE by GENEVIEVE GRAHAM is a fascinating, entertaining and wonderful historical fiction novel that totally hooked and captivated me. The setting and premise of this novel intrigued and entertained me, I was totally taken with this tale that is set during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush and it definitely gave me all the feels.
GENEVIEVE GRAHAM delivers an atmospheric, adventurous, engaging, and well-written read here that is told from two perspectives that has a cinematic feel to it. Liza & Ben were both such great characters that I thoroughly enjoyed and had me feeling so many emotions while I was following them throughout their adventurous journey. The courage, love, hope, loss, heartbreak and perseverance was palpable.
It is so refreshing reading a novel that is set in Canada and full of Canadian history. That was definitely a highlight for me and the beauty of this novel definitely shines through that will leave a lasting impression.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: A majestic, lovely, eye-catching, appealing, intriguing and fitting representation to storyline. I find this cover extremely fascinating and beautiful to look at!
Title: Intriguing, interesting, emotive and an effective and significant representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Beautifully written, expressive, passionate, engaging and elegant. I immediately connected with the author’s prose.
Plot: Detailed, atmospheric, well-researched, interesting, emotive, action-packed, fast-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: A touching ending that I was totally satisfied and happy with.
Overall: I absolutely loved the adventurous and emotional journey this book took me on! Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Genevieve Graham for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
March 28, 2019
5 Klondike golden stars for this historical fiction that takes readers from Vancouver to the training center of the North West Mounted Police to Dawson City and finally Frank, Alberta.
Disclaimer: Genevieve Graham is one of my favorite authors, I love all of her books, and I just love how she is making Canadian history come alive for readers today. Therefore, if you have been giving her books the slip, let me apply a tremendous amount of peer pressure to your TBR.
Not since Janette Oke's The Canadian West Saga have I fallen this hard for a fictional member of the North-West Mounted Police. Graham's Ben Turner with his black haired curls and blue eyes and intriguing back story certainly make him a character to cheer for as he begins his challenging career. But female protagonist , Liza Peterson, is no wallflower, she is a strong willed woman who overcomes her own share of personal heartache and adversity. Together the two signify the men and women who joined a perilous journey to the heart of Canada's gold rush and left their mark on history.
I woke up at 4:30 this morning, mostly because my cats demanded it, but I did not fall back to sleep, instead I reached for this ARC and immediately joined the journey. I do not regret it and I have already preorded my hard copy for when the book hits stores next week. There are some quotes that I earmarked and so I will come back after the publication date to add them.
Goodreads Review 28/03/19
Publication Date: 02/04/19
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: Genevieve Graham is one of my favorite authors, I love all of her books, and I just love how she is making Canadian history come alive for readers today. Therefore, if you have been giving her books the slip, let me apply a tremendous amount of peer pressure to your TBR.
Not since Janette Oke's The Canadian West Saga have I fallen this hard for a fictional member of the North-West Mounted Police. Graham's Ben Turner with his black haired curls and blue eyes and intriguing back story certainly make him a character to cheer for as he begins his challenging career. But female protagonist , Liza Peterson, is no wallflower, she is a strong willed woman who overcomes her own share of personal heartache and adversity. Together the two signify the men and women who joined a perilous journey to the heart of Canada's gold rush and left their mark on history.
I woke up at 4:30 this morning, mostly because my cats demanded it, but I did not fall back to sleep, instead I reached for this ARC and immediately joined the journey. I do not regret it and I have already preorded my hard copy for when the book hits stores next week. There are some quotes that I earmarked and so I will come back after the publication date to add them.
Goodreads Review 28/03/19
Publication Date: 02/04/19
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 31, 2019
Informative, fascinating, and emotive!
At the Mountain’s Edge is an engaging tale set in Northern Canada during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800s when the prospect of fame and immeasurable wealth had thousands navigating the treacherous Chilkoot Pass in hopes of reaching the prosperous and bustling Dawson City.
The prose is evocative and fluid. The characters are scarred, driven, and resilient. And the compelling, well-paced plot is an adventurous journey filled with familial drama, heartbreak, loss, love, courage, self-discovery, hope, solace, romance, and survival that is told from two perspectives. Liza, a resourceful, hardworking young woman struggling to persevere in a city continually ravaged by nature and predominantly populated by men, and Ben, a North-West Mounted Police constable whose loyal, kind, and helpful, but continuously plagued by a troubled and violent past.
Overall, At the Mountain’s Edge is an atmospheric, absorbing, well-written novel by Graham that showcases her incredible knowledge and passion for Canadian history and highlights the indomitable spirit of humanity to survive, endure, conquer, and love in even the harshest environments and situations.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
At the Mountain’s Edge is an engaging tale set in Northern Canada during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800s when the prospect of fame and immeasurable wealth had thousands navigating the treacherous Chilkoot Pass in hopes of reaching the prosperous and bustling Dawson City.
The prose is evocative and fluid. The characters are scarred, driven, and resilient. And the compelling, well-paced plot is an adventurous journey filled with familial drama, heartbreak, loss, love, courage, self-discovery, hope, solace, romance, and survival that is told from two perspectives. Liza, a resourceful, hardworking young woman struggling to persevere in a city continually ravaged by nature and predominantly populated by men, and Ben, a North-West Mounted Police constable whose loyal, kind, and helpful, but continuously plagued by a troubled and violent past.
Overall, At the Mountain’s Edge is an atmospheric, absorbing, well-written novel by Graham that showcases her incredible knowledge and passion for Canadian history and highlights the indomitable spirit of humanity to survive, endure, conquer, and love in even the harshest environments and situations.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2019
As with all of this author's books, the amount of detailed research behind the story was incredible and led such credence to the entire book. Learning the early history of what is today known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was fascinating. Couple that with the Klondike Gold Rush of the Yukon in north-western Canada that took place from 1896-1899 and it was mind blowing. What those unsuspecting people from all walks of life who caught the fever for gold experienced was almost beyond comprehension. This story about a small family from Vancouver who followed the father's dream, along with a young, raw Mountie, was heart wrenching. But, it also defined the indomitable human spirit, hope and the drive to survive no matter what obstacles one may face. At times, I found myself gasping in disbelief and sorrow. But, I had to admire the characters' strength and determination as well. I also had no problem seeing the locations and feeling the characters' emotions because the writing was so remarkable. The book and story was outstanding and, once again with this author, I am compelled to read more about it. This one will stay with me for a while.
February 7, 2019
At the Mountain’s Edge, sponsored by:
MURPHY’S LAW
“Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” *
*Law subject to change in accordance to protagonist, Liza Peterson’s life. A minimum of one serendipitous event must occur in Miss Peterson’s life after any incident of Murphy’s Law transpires.
This book, in one word, was exhausting. And, I get it. A book about the Klondike Gold Rush, and the excruciating journey that it took in order to reach Dawson City, is bound to be fraught with casualties, natural disasters, and various other forms of devastation. But, what bothered me the most about At the Mountain’s Edge, was that every possible form of catastrophe that can be associated with the Klondike Gold Rush, happens to protagonist Liza Peterson.
To make matters worse, the disastrous events that Liza constantly faces are always followed by serendipitous coincidences. Usually, these bouts of luck are somehow associated with Mountie Ben Turner, who always seems to be nearby when Liza needs his help the most. It’s so unbelievable. Two characters even remark on how serendipitous these events are. I can take one, maybe two coincidences popping up, but, more than that and you lose me. Yes, life is unpredictable, and who’s to say that such good fortune isn’t possible, but, it makes for a boring read. And, I’ll admit, maybe there were a few poor souls in reality who faced just as many hardships as Liza did during the Klondike Gold Rush. And yes, if anyone deserved a bit of good luck it would be someone like Liza. However, as a reader, it’s easy enough to pick up on this pattern that’s being established. After a low, will come a high, then a low, and a high again. However, instead of resembling the thrill of a roller coaster ride, the ups and downs of Liza’s life are as exciting as cruising over a speed bump. The majority of the book had me rolling my eyes, or sighing out in exasperation. I couldn’t take it anymore. It was too repetitive, too tragic, too happily ever after.
I also found the book to be too neatly laid out. Every line that came out of a character’s mouth was exactly what that character needed to say in order to stick to the plot and keep the story flowing. There was no witty banter, no fun, no personality. The characters were one dimensional, and the dialogue very much read like the traditional and robotic,
“Hello, how are you?”
“I am fine, how are you?”
Don’t even get me started on the romance. What romance? At the beginning of the book, Liza can’t stand Ben. After he proves to be her knight in shining armour more times than is probably humanly possible, they become friends. Then all of a sudden they’re in love, and they mention how they miss holding each other’s hands, and I’m all like, “Hold up. When did they even hold hands?” I get that this takes place during 1897, and romantic relationships weren’t anything like they are nowadays, but, I feel like the word ‘love’ pops up really fast between Liza and Ben.
As you can probably guess, I was quite disappointed by At the Mountain’s Edge. I really was expecting to love it. Historical fiction and romance, mixed with a bit of travel/adventure is just my cup of tea. Unfortunately, this specific cup of tea was just a little too bland.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway
MURPHY’S LAW
“Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” *
*Law subject to change in accordance to protagonist, Liza Peterson’s life. A minimum of one serendipitous event must occur in Miss Peterson’s life after any incident of Murphy’s Law transpires.
This book, in one word, was exhausting. And, I get it. A book about the Klondike Gold Rush, and the excruciating journey that it took in order to reach Dawson City, is bound to be fraught with casualties, natural disasters, and various other forms of devastation. But, what bothered me the most about At the Mountain’s Edge, was that every possible form of catastrophe that can be associated with the Klondike Gold Rush, happens to protagonist Liza Peterson.
To make matters worse, the disastrous events that Liza constantly faces are always followed by serendipitous coincidences. Usually, these bouts of luck are somehow associated with Mountie Ben Turner, who always seems to be nearby when Liza needs his help the most. It’s so unbelievable. Two characters even remark on how serendipitous these events are. I can take one, maybe two coincidences popping up, but, more than that and you lose me. Yes, life is unpredictable, and who’s to say that such good fortune isn’t possible, but, it makes for a boring read. And, I’ll admit, maybe there were a few poor souls in reality who faced just as many hardships as Liza did during the Klondike Gold Rush. And yes, if anyone deserved a bit of good luck it would be someone like Liza. However, as a reader, it’s easy enough to pick up on this pattern that’s being established. After a low, will come a high, then a low, and a high again. However, instead of resembling the thrill of a roller coaster ride, the ups and downs of Liza’s life are as exciting as cruising over a speed bump. The majority of the book had me rolling my eyes, or sighing out in exasperation. I couldn’t take it anymore. It was too repetitive, too tragic, too happily ever after.
I also found the book to be too neatly laid out. Every line that came out of a character’s mouth was exactly what that character needed to say in order to stick to the plot and keep the story flowing. There was no witty banter, no fun, no personality. The characters were one dimensional, and the dialogue very much read like the traditional and robotic,
“Hello, how are you?”
“I am fine, how are you?”
Don’t even get me started on the romance. What romance? At the beginning of the book, Liza can’t stand Ben. After he proves to be her knight in shining armour more times than is probably humanly possible, they become friends. Then all of a sudden they’re in love, and they mention how they miss holding each other’s hands, and I’m all like, “Hold up. When did they even hold hands?” I get that this takes place during 1897, and romantic relationships weren’t anything like they are nowadays, but, I feel like the word ‘love’ pops up really fast between Liza and Ben.
As you can probably guess, I was quite disappointed by At the Mountain’s Edge. I really was expecting to love it. Historical fiction and romance, mixed with a bit of travel/adventure is just my cup of tea. Unfortunately, this specific cup of tea was just a little too bland.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway
February 3, 2019
4.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced digital copy of this book in return for an honest review. I was excited and pleased to receive this book. I seldom read historical romances, but last year read one of her three books set in Nova Scotia with a historical background. I found it such a great read I immediately purchased the other two and was riveted to their pages. The talented author, Genevieve Graham, focuses on interesting and tragic events in Canadian history and informs and enlightens us with her careful research and a vivid sense of place and time.
At the Mountain’s Edge is an epic, poignant tale set in 1897 at the height of the Klondike Goldrush. It takes us to Dawson City, swarming with gold prospectors, fortune hunters, conmen, prostitutes and thieves. Liza Peterson travels with her parents and brother from Vancouver to the Klondike. Her father owned a successful general store in Vancouver and felt a similar business in Dawson City would make their fortune.
On the way, Liza meets Ben, a member of the North-West Mounted Police. The journey North is difficult and beset by great tragedy for Liza and others. On reaching Dawson City Ben and Liza develop a friendship, but a romance fails to flourish because Ben is haunted by a dark past. He has been warned that as a Mountie he must keep his reputation for a bad temper in check. Being quick to anger, he hopes to redeem himself through hard work, being an exemplary Mountie, and by keeping people safe in the dangerous northern town. Liza is growing into an astute businesswoman and both she and Ben have obstacles in their path to a romantic relationship. Later they meet up in Frank, Alberta in 1903 and face a devastating natural disaster.
The author writes vividly about notable Canadian events in a way which makes you feel you are witness to historical tragedies and disasters. She has previously given us a picture of what it must have been like during the expulsion of the Acadians, the Halifax Explosion, and life along the south shore of Nova Scotia during WW2. Her stories are about family, love, heartache, loss, grief and heroism during difficult times, and populated by interesting and believable characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced digital copy of this book in return for an honest review. I was excited and pleased to receive this book. I seldom read historical romances, but last year read one of her three books set in Nova Scotia with a historical background. I found it such a great read I immediately purchased the other two and was riveted to their pages. The talented author, Genevieve Graham, focuses on interesting and tragic events in Canadian history and informs and enlightens us with her careful research and a vivid sense of place and time.
At the Mountain’s Edge is an epic, poignant tale set in 1897 at the height of the Klondike Goldrush. It takes us to Dawson City, swarming with gold prospectors, fortune hunters, conmen, prostitutes and thieves. Liza Peterson travels with her parents and brother from Vancouver to the Klondike. Her father owned a successful general store in Vancouver and felt a similar business in Dawson City would make their fortune.
On the way, Liza meets Ben, a member of the North-West Mounted Police. The journey North is difficult and beset by great tragedy for Liza and others. On reaching Dawson City Ben and Liza develop a friendship, but a romance fails to flourish because Ben is haunted by a dark past. He has been warned that as a Mountie he must keep his reputation for a bad temper in check. Being quick to anger, he hopes to redeem himself through hard work, being an exemplary Mountie, and by keeping people safe in the dangerous northern town. Liza is growing into an astute businesswoman and both she and Ben have obstacles in their path to a romantic relationship. Later they meet up in Frank, Alberta in 1903 and face a devastating natural disaster.
The author writes vividly about notable Canadian events in a way which makes you feel you are witness to historical tragedies and disasters. She has previously given us a picture of what it must have been like during the expulsion of the Acadians, the Halifax Explosion, and life along the south shore of Nova Scotia during WW2. Her stories are about family, love, heartache, loss, grief and heroism during difficult times, and populated by interesting and believable characters.
May 9, 2020
This is my jam -- masses of research into such aspects of Canadian history as the Klondike gold rush, the Frank slide, and the North-West Mounted Police form the fascinating backdrop for a historical romance. Keep up the good work, Genevieve Graham!
March 25, 2019
Klondike Gold Rush! I see that historic reference and it is all that is necessary to pique my interest. Pair a raw, frontier historical setting and this author's turbulent and triumphant characters and romance will always succeed in an engaging story.
At Mountain's Edge is mostly set in 1897 Yukon Territory and follows the separate lives of Northwest Mounted Policeman, Ben Turner, and sorrowing yet determined Liza Peterson. Their stories cross paths several times under difficult circumstances before entwining in a shared adventure of romance.
Ben grew up on a farm under the fist and threats of an abusive father. He gets a chance to be a force for good if he can overcome the anger he inherited from his father. His assignment is the wild Yukon from Chilkoot Pass to Dawson City and, with a small force of Mounties must do the work of keeping people safe and keeping the peace when it seems everyone has lost their minds with gold fever. He has several encounters with Liza and each seem to be the worst moments of her life. Of all the people he wishes to be a hero for... he gets his chance and a chance at romance if he doesn't throw it all away due to fear of becoming his dad.
Liza never wanted to leave her comfortable life running her father's store back in Vancouver, but he has an adventure lust that takes him and their whole family north into the Yukon to set up a store in Dawson City to make a big profit selling to the miners. But, Liza not only has the harsh reality of the soul destroying cold and rugged life of the three month journey north, but heartbreaking tragedy that threaten to shatter her. She is told that she is tough and strong and she is called upon over and over to prove it. Just when she believes her struggles are behind her, it hits again and she wonders if she'll have Ben by her side when all is said and done.
I was prepared for the emotional impact this time around after reading earlier stories from the author's repertoire. She has three earlier Canadian Historicals under her belt, but that was the east coast. I was thrilled when she took it all the way across country to tell a story of hardship, survival, and eventually triumph on the Canadian frontier. I've read others in this setting and felt this one did a great job painting an authentic picture of the setting and the lives there in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. I was swept away, particularly during the first half of the book that is spent along the trail from both a traveler and a Mountie's point of view.
And, speaking of Mounties. The detail of the place was done well, but so was the description of background for Ben. I learned a great deal about the time from recruitment, training, and to his work. A person had to be tough to become and remain a Mountie.
The characters came from vastly different backgrounds. Ben didn't have an easier childhood, lived with the Blackfoot, worked as a cowboy, and now he's a Mountie. He sees himself as less than what others do and that was sad, but abused kids can be like that. I liked him and was rooting for him. He screwed up big with Liza, but he finally fixed it. Now, Liza was a fascinating young lady. She had a good, life and family, but then her father pulls all that out from under her. She gets hit with a string of terrible events let alone the hardship of life, but it hones her. Usually, I'm not a fan of too many coincidences that save things for the character, but this gal needed a few good marks in the hope and win column to balance things out.
Romance is present, but it doesn't appear until the second part of the book. Up until then, its two separate stories with the occasional intersection. Liza can barely stand Ben while she is going through such tough times because his appearance is like a harbinger to her when he's always there after a bad thing. She doesn't truly blame him for events, but she associates him with the bad until she can start to associate him with the good moments, too. Their love seems to come on quick, but yet it didn't feel quick since a lot of story happened before they fell hard and fast. And, there is still big time conflict and troubles to conquer even after the love feelings have started.
All in all, this one hit my emotions and drew me in with characters, romance, and most of all that exciting historical backdrop. Those who enjoy a mesh of historical fiction and historical romance should give this book a go.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster via Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
At Mountain's Edge is mostly set in 1897 Yukon Territory and follows the separate lives of Northwest Mounted Policeman, Ben Turner, and sorrowing yet determined Liza Peterson. Their stories cross paths several times under difficult circumstances before entwining in a shared adventure of romance.
Ben grew up on a farm under the fist and threats of an abusive father. He gets a chance to be a force for good if he can overcome the anger he inherited from his father. His assignment is the wild Yukon from Chilkoot Pass to Dawson City and, with a small force of Mounties must do the work of keeping people safe and keeping the peace when it seems everyone has lost their minds with gold fever. He has several encounters with Liza and each seem to be the worst moments of her life. Of all the people he wishes to be a hero for... he gets his chance and a chance at romance if he doesn't throw it all away due to fear of becoming his dad.
Liza never wanted to leave her comfortable life running her father's store back in Vancouver, but he has an adventure lust that takes him and their whole family north into the Yukon to set up a store in Dawson City to make a big profit selling to the miners. But, Liza not only has the harsh reality of the soul destroying cold and rugged life of the three month journey north, but heartbreaking tragedy that threaten to shatter her. She is told that she is tough and strong and she is called upon over and over to prove it. Just when she believes her struggles are behind her, it hits again and she wonders if she'll have Ben by her side when all is said and done.
I was prepared for the emotional impact this time around after reading earlier stories from the author's repertoire. She has three earlier Canadian Historicals under her belt, but that was the east coast. I was thrilled when she took it all the way across country to tell a story of hardship, survival, and eventually triumph on the Canadian frontier. I've read others in this setting and felt this one did a great job painting an authentic picture of the setting and the lives there in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. I was swept away, particularly during the first half of the book that is spent along the trail from both a traveler and a Mountie's point of view.
And, speaking of Mounties. The detail of the place was done well, but so was the description of background for Ben. I learned a great deal about the time from recruitment, training, and to his work. A person had to be tough to become and remain a Mountie.
The characters came from vastly different backgrounds. Ben didn't have an easier childhood, lived with the Blackfoot, worked as a cowboy, and now he's a Mountie. He sees himself as less than what others do and that was sad, but abused kids can be like that. I liked him and was rooting for him. He screwed up big with Liza, but he finally fixed it. Now, Liza was a fascinating young lady. She had a good, life and family, but then her father pulls all that out from under her. She gets hit with a string of terrible events let alone the hardship of life, but it hones her. Usually, I'm not a fan of too many coincidences that save things for the character, but this gal needed a few good marks in the hope and win column to balance things out.
Romance is present, but it doesn't appear until the second part of the book. Up until then, its two separate stories with the occasional intersection. Liza can barely stand Ben while she is going through such tough times because his appearance is like a harbinger to her when he's always there after a bad thing. She doesn't truly blame him for events, but she associates him with the bad until she can start to associate him with the good moments, too. Their love seems to come on quick, but yet it didn't feel quick since a lot of story happened before they fell hard and fast. And, there is still big time conflict and troubles to conquer even after the love feelings have started.
All in all, this one hit my emotions and drew me in with characters, romance, and most of all that exciting historical backdrop. Those who enjoy a mesh of historical fiction and historical romance should give this book a go.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster via Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2019
4.5 stars
One of the things I enjoy most about blogging, is all the amazing authors that I get to interact with. I started corresponding with Genevieve Graham back in 2015 when Tides of Honour was first released. I read it and loved it!
Since then I have read just about all of her books and never come away feeling disappointed. She is a consistently solid writer and I find so much to love in all of her books.
When I saw that she had a new book being released that was set in the frontier, I was admittedly a little less than excited for the setting, as I am not a huge fan of the frontier. The books that I have read by Graham, have mostly been set during the World Wars….frontier life or the gold rush, just doesn’t appeal to me in any way as a backdrop. But as I said, she has consistently been a standout author for me, so I was eager to see how this story unfolded in a period that wasn’t really a favorite of mine.
Graham is a well known Canadian author, so all the books I have read so far have a Canadian tie and this book is no exception, but I loved that this book brought us to the western side of Canada to the rugged region of Vancouver. Having visited Vancouver before and being a Pacific NW native, I was drawn to this setting, even if the time period initially wasn’t a favorite.
Quite quickly though, I became less interested in the period and more interested in the characters and their story. This author always does such a wonderful job adding historical detail and descriptions in her novels and this book is no exception. There was enough detail to create clear feel and understanding of the period, but wasn’t so overwhelming that you felt like you were reading a history book. And even though the gold rush and frontier aren’t really my favorite historical period, I am a historian after all, and growing up in the PacNW, there is a multitude of frontier history littered throughout the region so I am definitely not a stranger to the period.
Fun random fact completely non-book related, my Girl Scout troop camped in a covered wagon in Eastern Oregon on the banks of the Oregon Trail Snake River crossing when I was a kid and my dad was also really into frontier history so most of my childhood was spent vacationing to random ghost towns, Indian pow-wows, and abandoned mining camps. So reading in this book about the conditions these pioneers faced felt not only authentic but also very realistic.
Beyond the historical research and descriptions, this novel has a wonderfully written romance that I could’t get enough of. As I said, this was a book ultimately about characters. There was heart break and emotion but also the promise of better things and love. I was a little surprised that the romance came so late in the book, that was my only issue with this one. I had hoped for more romance from the beginning but in the end, I felt satisfied with Liza and Ben’s story. I loved Liza, she was such a strong character and made this book worth reading.
This author truly captured the adventure spirit and romanticism of the frontier in this book and then added her own signature style romance to create a truly unique book! I haven’t read anything like it and I was happily engaged in this one each evening. If you haven’t discovered Graham’s books, you should definitely put her on your TBR list! Every book I have read by her has been wonderful and this one is no exception!
See my full review here
One of the things I enjoy most about blogging, is all the amazing authors that I get to interact with. I started corresponding with Genevieve Graham back in 2015 when Tides of Honour was first released. I read it and loved it!
Since then I have read just about all of her books and never come away feeling disappointed. She is a consistently solid writer and I find so much to love in all of her books.
When I saw that she had a new book being released that was set in the frontier, I was admittedly a little less than excited for the setting, as I am not a huge fan of the frontier. The books that I have read by Graham, have mostly been set during the World Wars….frontier life or the gold rush, just doesn’t appeal to me in any way as a backdrop. But as I said, she has consistently been a standout author for me, so I was eager to see how this story unfolded in a period that wasn’t really a favorite of mine.
Graham is a well known Canadian author, so all the books I have read so far have a Canadian tie and this book is no exception, but I loved that this book brought us to the western side of Canada to the rugged region of Vancouver. Having visited Vancouver before and being a Pacific NW native, I was drawn to this setting, even if the time period initially wasn’t a favorite.
Quite quickly though, I became less interested in the period and more interested in the characters and their story. This author always does such a wonderful job adding historical detail and descriptions in her novels and this book is no exception. There was enough detail to create clear feel and understanding of the period, but wasn’t so overwhelming that you felt like you were reading a history book. And even though the gold rush and frontier aren’t really my favorite historical period, I am a historian after all, and growing up in the PacNW, there is a multitude of frontier history littered throughout the region so I am definitely not a stranger to the period.
Fun random fact completely non-book related, my Girl Scout troop camped in a covered wagon in Eastern Oregon on the banks of the Oregon Trail Snake River crossing when I was a kid and my dad was also really into frontier history so most of my childhood was spent vacationing to random ghost towns, Indian pow-wows, and abandoned mining camps. So reading in this book about the conditions these pioneers faced felt not only authentic but also very realistic.
Beyond the historical research and descriptions, this novel has a wonderfully written romance that I could’t get enough of. As I said, this was a book ultimately about characters. There was heart break and emotion but also the promise of better things and love. I was a little surprised that the romance came so late in the book, that was my only issue with this one. I had hoped for more romance from the beginning but in the end, I felt satisfied with Liza and Ben’s story. I loved Liza, she was such a strong character and made this book worth reading.
This author truly captured the adventure spirit and romanticism of the frontier in this book and then added her own signature style romance to create a truly unique book! I haven’t read anything like it and I was happily engaged in this one each evening. If you haven’t discovered Graham’s books, you should definitely put her on your TBR list! Every book I have read by her has been wonderful and this one is no exception!
See my full review here
April 12, 2019
Klondike adventure, a handsome Mountie and a dog need I say more 😉
June 29, 2019
I'm interested in Canadian history, so picking this one up made sense. I've also heard the author speak and was intrigued by her clear passion for writing fiction about lesser known Canadian facts. The history of the Mounties was the high point in this story, as were details of the arduous journey to Dawson City and the continued perils upon arrival. For me, what fell flat were the characters, Liza and Ben. Something about these two fell into Hallmark film territory. Despite the grittiness of their surroundings and job (mostly in Ben's case) there was an air of innocence about both of them that I found hard to believe. And their romance was rather lackluster. So, while the historical details were great the people that inhabited the story did little to bring this history to life (at least for this reader).
May 24, 2019
This is another wonderful book written by Genevieve Graham. I love her historical fiction as they not only educate but help put me into that era. Her characters are always strong and likeable. I enjoyed learning more about the Mounties and about the lifestyle and trials of the gold miners.
March 2, 2019
Late 19th-century Canada, the Klondike Gold Rush has just begun in the Yukon. Ben Turner, a young man with a difficult past and a difficult-to-control to temper, has just become a Mountie and decides to go up to Dawson to bring some civilization to the gold-rusher city. Liza Peterson is a 19-year-old from Vancouver, when her father decides to pack up their store and move it to Dawson. They then embark on a months-long journey on snow-covered mountains towards an uncertain future. Which becomes even more uncertain for Liza when both her parents and her brother die on the trail, leaving her alone to decide whether to go back home, or try her luck alone in the Yukon.
I got this book from NetGalley. I'd honestly picked it a bit at random, because one of the Popsugar categories is an author whose first and last names start with the same letter. When I started reading I checked out the author's other books and saw the covers were all couples, so I was expecting a sappy romance I wouldn't much like.
As you can gues from my rating, I was wrong. Ben and Liza (whose POVs we get in alternating chapters throughout the novel) meet a few times on the road before getting to Dawson and becoming friends. Only in the last third of the book is the romance more prevalent, and by then you really care about the characters as individuals so it feels natural.
And Liza is awesome. Really, I loved learning about this part of Canadian history, and even more so from the point of view of such a kick-ass young woman.
The only part I had a bit of trouble with was the chronology in the beginning, while their stories were still separate. Nothing indicated whether the events were occurring simultaneously or not, so it's like one chapter we had Ben in Calgary, the next was Liza struggling up the mountain, and the one after that was Ben at the top of the mountain seeing Liza reach it, and I was like, what did he do, fly up there?!
So yeah, I happily recommend this book. And the author has written similar novels about other events in Canadian history, so I intend to check them out too!
I got this book from NetGalley. I'd honestly picked it a bit at random, because one of the Popsugar categories is an author whose first and last names start with the same letter. When I started reading I checked out the author's other books and saw the covers were all couples, so I was expecting a sappy romance I wouldn't much like.
As you can gues from my rating, I was wrong. Ben and Liza (whose POVs we get in alternating chapters throughout the novel) meet a few times on the road before getting to Dawson and becoming friends. Only in the last third of the book is the romance more prevalent, and by then you really care about the characters as individuals so it feels natural.
And Liza is awesome. Really, I loved learning about this part of Canadian history, and even more so from the point of view of such a kick-ass young woman.
The only part I had a bit of trouble with was the chronology in the beginning, while their stories were still separate. Nothing indicated whether the events were occurring simultaneously or not, so it's like one chapter we had Ben in Calgary, the next was Liza struggling up the mountain, and the one after that was Ben at the top of the mountain seeing Liza reach it, and I was like, what did he do, fly up there?!
So yeah, I happily recommend this book. And the author has written similar novels about other events in Canadian history, so I intend to check them out too!
August 26, 2019
At The Mountain’s Edge
Genevieve Graham
Graham once again takes readers deep inside pivotal Canadian history through the tormented eyes of her unsinkable never give up characters. In this historical story she covers both the Yukon gold rush and the rockslide that almost wiped out the Canadian mining town of Frank and the importance of the Canadian Mounties.
My favorite way of learning history is through the pages of a historical novel one that accurately records the happenings of the time while telling an unforgettable story and At The Mountain’s Edge does all that and more.
Genevieve Graham’s mixture of superior storytelling with a solid recounting of her beloved Canadian history is the perfect marriage for a great novel. There’s a dependable fast paced plot, fabulous characters that readers can really identify with even though they’re years and countries apart and genuinely depicting the devastation that these events caused in not only lives but lively hoods, plus that touch of drama that appeals to the romantic reader like me. So if you want your historical novel on the gritty side where the characters aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty sit down on your favorite reading spot and prepare to be blown away by this latest Canadian historical marvel by an author who’s fast becoming a favorite of mine.
In 1897 the Peterson family gave up their civilized lives in Vancouver for a life in what is fast becoming the Canadian Wild West, loaded up every belonging with a dream of riches not from gold mining but from providing the miners everything they might need in the form of a general store. But getting there is treacherous and daughter Liza isn’t sure she’s up for the challenge.
New recruit Ben Turner wanted to be a Mountie all his life but he has to learn to control his temper, a unwanted souvenir he got from his always angry father. When he’s sent to the far reaches of the Yukon to keep the prospectors safe he finds more than he ever thought he would.
Genevieve Graham
Graham once again takes readers deep inside pivotal Canadian history through the tormented eyes of her unsinkable never give up characters. In this historical story she covers both the Yukon gold rush and the rockslide that almost wiped out the Canadian mining town of Frank and the importance of the Canadian Mounties.
My favorite way of learning history is through the pages of a historical novel one that accurately records the happenings of the time while telling an unforgettable story and At The Mountain’s Edge does all that and more.
Genevieve Graham’s mixture of superior storytelling with a solid recounting of her beloved Canadian history is the perfect marriage for a great novel. There’s a dependable fast paced plot, fabulous characters that readers can really identify with even though they’re years and countries apart and genuinely depicting the devastation that these events caused in not only lives but lively hoods, plus that touch of drama that appeals to the romantic reader like me. So if you want your historical novel on the gritty side where the characters aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty sit down on your favorite reading spot and prepare to be blown away by this latest Canadian historical marvel by an author who’s fast becoming a favorite of mine.
In 1897 the Peterson family gave up their civilized lives in Vancouver for a life in what is fast becoming the Canadian Wild West, loaded up every belonging with a dream of riches not from gold mining but from providing the miners everything they might need in the form of a general store. But getting there is treacherous and daughter Liza isn’t sure she’s up for the challenge.
New recruit Ben Turner wanted to be a Mountie all his life but he has to learn to control his temper, a unwanted souvenir he got from his always angry father. When he’s sent to the far reaches of the Yukon to keep the prospectors safe he finds more than he ever thought he would.
March 30, 2022
*4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and it's very good. I got annoyed with Liza's (the main character) Dad and brother in this book; I thought both of them were very selfish. But that is a minor complaint and I am loving what I have read so far of Genevieve Graham's books and will definitely read more by her.
I really enjoyed this book and it's very good. I got annoyed with Liza's (the main character) Dad and brother in this book; I thought both of them were very selfish. But that is a minor complaint and I am loving what I have read so far of Genevieve Graham's books and will definitely read more by her.
February 25, 2019
This was a charming book, full of action, angst, heartbreak and promise. It posed a different viewpoint on the gold rush, which I rather enjoyed. (Although I now look suspiciously at any sticks emerging from snowbanks) The characters were motivated, driven and well-drawn. It was quite obvious the author really enjoys her topic and did a lot of research. This is the kind of writing that makes for a wonderful bedtime read. It promises that things really will get better, and there can be new beginnings for those willing to work hard enough.
Thank you to Simon&Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC. I greatly enjoyed it, and I'll be eagerly seeking out more of this author's works to devour.
Thank you to Simon&Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC. I greatly enjoyed it, and I'll be eagerly seeking out more of this author's works to devour.
May 18, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based on my honest opinion.
What can I say about this book, Genevieve Graham is a wonderful writer, she has a way of transporting you in time and making a different time feel so real, it was almost like reading diaries from a historical period. Her characters have such oomph, Liza was such a strong woman who didn’t know how strong she was until she had to continue on on her own. I could not imagine life in the Yukon at the height of the gold rush in such a harsh and unforgiving climate. Great historical references, wonderful book. Making Canadian history more interesting is her forte. Cannot wait for her next book.
What can I say about this book, Genevieve Graham is a wonderful writer, she has a way of transporting you in time and making a different time feel so real, it was almost like reading diaries from a historical period. Her characters have such oomph, Liza was such a strong woman who didn’t know how strong she was until she had to continue on on her own. I could not imagine life in the Yukon at the height of the gold rush in such a harsh and unforgiving climate. Great historical references, wonderful book. Making Canadian history more interesting is her forte. Cannot wait for her next book.
April 24, 2019
At the Mountain's Edge
was a gripping story. GGraham once again takes on a period of time in Canadian history but one that is linked to American history as well. While I knew of the Klondike Gold Rush, I'd never given much thought to the treacherous conditions faced by the miners and merchants in chasing their fortune. Having read GGraham's account here, I'm quite certain I'd not have had the mettle to survive. ;)
Liza Peterson's family set off to Dawson City in hopes of prospering by opening a shop to sell supplies to the miners during the Klondike Gold Rush. Her father had sold the family on the idea of an "adventure of a lifetime", which turned out to be much more adventurous than any of them had bargained for.
Ben Turner, a Constable for the North-West Mounted Police, has been assigned duty at the Chilkoot Train - the location all travelers must negotiate on the way to the minefields. He thought nothing was scarier than what he'd experienced growing up. The Yukon proved him wrong.
GGraham did a remarkable job with conveying the perilous conditions people faced while attempting to make their way through the Yukon in search of gold. Her descriptions of the cold, the wet, the silence, and the rigor were all visceral. The way she depicted those brave, crazy, and/or greedy souls who attempted this trek was also authentic in feel. Her detail regarding the Mounties - their duties, requirements, chain of command, etc. - was fascinating. I'd never considered the dangers of building up towns around mining...and I live in Colorado! Not only do they contend with nature - snow, flooding, avalanches and rock slides - but also with the evil side of man.
Bearing witness to the struggles, sacrifices, and losses Liza endures...seeing her fortitude and tenacity was awe-inspiring. Especially considering she didn't realize her own strength. Seeing Ben battle the demons of his past as they affected his present made me sad and warmed my heart. These two not only persevered individually but also were generous of spirit and helped others. It was only natural they'd be drawn to one another. And I appreciated how GGraham accomplished it.
At the Mountain's Edge was educational, thought-provoking, and made me even more of a fan of GGraham's writing. My only complaints would be that they initial world building didn't grip me immediately and towards the end I felt the pace was choppy. Therefore I had a little difficulty immersing myself in the story to begin with and I was taken out of the story at times near the end. But overall it was riveting, emotional, and wholly satisfying.
Liza Peterson's family set off to Dawson City in hopes of prospering by opening a shop to sell supplies to the miners during the Klondike Gold Rush. Her father had sold the family on the idea of an "adventure of a lifetime", which turned out to be much more adventurous than any of them had bargained for.
Ben Turner, a Constable for the North-West Mounted Police, has been assigned duty at the Chilkoot Train - the location all travelers must negotiate on the way to the minefields. He thought nothing was scarier than what he'd experienced growing up. The Yukon proved him wrong.
GGraham did a remarkable job with conveying the perilous conditions people faced while attempting to make their way through the Yukon in search of gold. Her descriptions of the cold, the wet, the silence, and the rigor were all visceral. The way she depicted those brave, crazy, and/or greedy souls who attempted this trek was also authentic in feel. Her detail regarding the Mounties - their duties, requirements, chain of command, etc. - was fascinating. I'd never considered the dangers of building up towns around mining...and I live in Colorado! Not only do they contend with nature - snow, flooding, avalanches and rock slides - but also with the evil side of man.
Bearing witness to the struggles, sacrifices, and losses Liza endures...seeing her fortitude and tenacity was awe-inspiring. Especially considering she didn't realize her own strength. Seeing Ben battle the demons of his past as they affected his present made me sad and warmed my heart. These two not only persevered individually but also were generous of spirit and helped others. It was only natural they'd be drawn to one another. And I appreciated how GGraham accomplished it.
At the Mountain's Edge was educational, thought-provoking, and made me even more of a fan of GGraham's writing. My only complaints would be that they initial world building didn't grip me immediately and towards the end I felt the pace was choppy. Therefore I had a little difficulty immersing myself in the story to begin with and I was taken out of the story at times near the end. But overall it was riveting, emotional, and wholly satisfying.
April 6, 2019
Content Warnings for: Death of Family Members, Abuse, Murder, Drinking, Gambling, Violence
This book follows Ben Thompson and Liza Peterson as they navigate the new and often unforgiving world of the unsettled Northern Canadian Territories, during the gold rush. The book starts off by showing Liza's ridicule of her father's plan to sell everything, pack up and move to Dawson City in the Yukon. Her mother is extremely upset and distraught by the thought because she was already made to do this once in her life, leaving all her family and friends behind. I related to their insecurity and anxiety over such a huge life-changing move. I enjoyed Ben Turner and his immediate character development he makes in order to show just how much he wants to be a part of the North-West Mounted Police. The fact that we see both Liza's strength and kind spirit during her 40 day journey to the first leg of their journey on the way to Dyea, the first stop towards Dawson City makes her so extremely likable even with her character facing some adversity. The story line of Ben at times seemed "easy" (as in he gets what he wants without much struggle or fight to get there) even though he has so much character development in his early chapters. I love how Genevieve writes such believable settings, like how dangerous a place the northern parts of Canada were in the 1890s and early 1900s, especially for the women who followed their men and families to the Klondike. I also liked how she clearly researched Indigenous Tribes who lived in the North at the time, most of whom still live in those places today. Liza's relationship with her brother is the literal most adorable and best thing ever. Even though her brother Stan seems to have some delusions of grandeur when it came to the adventure they were on. The descriptions of the Yukon and the beauty are some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read. It made me feel as if I was the one who was there, and after reading this book I so much want to visit it. The extreme depression the characters felt due to the extreme isolation, extreme weather, and the multiple illnesses and injuries was completely relateable to me and I connected with it on a very personal level. I always enjoyed when Liza got sassy, especially when her family tried to tell her to change out of her trousers because of what people might think. I cheered when she stood her ground and refused to do so. I loved that she danced to the beat of her own drum. The book took an extremely sad turn when Liza, Stan and other prospectors are caught in an avalanche on the Chilkoot Trail. Liza's trials are so emotionally trying that at times it's hard to think that one person could go through so much and still stay standing. I was glad however, that she had people she could rely on to get her through her trials. When Liza got to Dawson City she fell on good luck which made me feel so happy for her because of all the trials she had to face in the getting there. I do have to say that the slow burn romance was at some points so frustrating, especially since I am not a particular fan of hate to love tropes in books for the most part but I forgive it because the book is so intriguing and good. I love that Ben is out to help the little guy and has a zero tolerance policy for abuse towards women, it was so nice to see in a character. The romance between Liza and Ben is so dang cute, he shows chivalry in so many places that it's hard not to cheer for this romance. The Yukon in this book is not kind to our characters though and tested them so much more than 2 people should ever be tested or would be able to handle. Although this book was emotionally frustrating in some places I could absolutely feel the tensions as they built and I just wanted to keep reading to see how they solved the issues they had. I also felt the longings, the fear, & the sadness. It jumped right off the pages for me and was so relatable. The ending of the book though left me wanting so much more of Ben and Liza. This book was written so well.
*****I received this book as an early copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest review*****
This book follows Ben Thompson and Liza Peterson as they navigate the new and often unforgiving world of the unsettled Northern Canadian Territories, during the gold rush. The book starts off by showing Liza's ridicule of her father's plan to sell everything, pack up and move to Dawson City in the Yukon. Her mother is extremely upset and distraught by the thought because she was already made to do this once in her life, leaving all her family and friends behind. I related to their insecurity and anxiety over such a huge life-changing move. I enjoyed Ben Turner and his immediate character development he makes in order to show just how much he wants to be a part of the North-West Mounted Police. The fact that we see both Liza's strength and kind spirit during her 40 day journey to the first leg of their journey on the way to Dyea, the first stop towards Dawson City makes her so extremely likable even with her character facing some adversity. The story line of Ben at times seemed "easy" (as in he gets what he wants without much struggle or fight to get there) even though he has so much character development in his early chapters. I love how Genevieve writes such believable settings, like how dangerous a place the northern parts of Canada were in the 1890s and early 1900s, especially for the women who followed their men and families to the Klondike. I also liked how she clearly researched Indigenous Tribes who lived in the North at the time, most of whom still live in those places today. Liza's relationship with her brother is the literal most adorable and best thing ever. Even though her brother Stan seems to have some delusions of grandeur when it came to the adventure they were on. The descriptions of the Yukon and the beauty are some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read. It made me feel as if I was the one who was there, and after reading this book I so much want to visit it. The extreme depression the characters felt due to the extreme isolation, extreme weather, and the multiple illnesses and injuries was completely relateable to me and I connected with it on a very personal level. I always enjoyed when Liza got sassy, especially when her family tried to tell her to change out of her trousers because of what people might think. I cheered when she stood her ground and refused to do so. I loved that she danced to the beat of her own drum. The book took an extremely sad turn when Liza, Stan and other prospectors are caught in an avalanche on the Chilkoot Trail. Liza's trials are so emotionally trying that at times it's hard to think that one person could go through so much and still stay standing. I was glad however, that she had people she could rely on to get her through her trials. When Liza got to Dawson City she fell on good luck which made me feel so happy for her because of all the trials she had to face in the getting there. I do have to say that the slow burn romance was at some points so frustrating, especially since I am not a particular fan of hate to love tropes in books for the most part but I forgive it because the book is so intriguing and good. I love that Ben is out to help the little guy and has a zero tolerance policy for abuse towards women, it was so nice to see in a character. The romance between Liza and Ben is so dang cute, he shows chivalry in so many places that it's hard not to cheer for this romance. The Yukon in this book is not kind to our characters though and tested them so much more than 2 people should ever be tested or would be able to handle. Although this book was emotionally frustrating in some places I could absolutely feel the tensions as they built and I just wanted to keep reading to see how they solved the issues they had. I also felt the longings, the fear, & the sadness. It jumped right off the pages for me and was so relatable. The ending of the book though left me wanting so much more of Ben and Liza. This book was written so well.
*****I received this book as an early copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest review*****
March 23, 2019
3.75 stars
It’s the late 1800s. Liza and her family live in Vancouver, but her father decides he wants to pack up and head north to Dawson City to set up his business there and cash in on the gold rush traffic. Liza and her brother are both adults, but the entire family sets off on this adventure. It’s cold and dangerous even just to get there, as they have to traverse the Chilkoot Trail.
Meanwhile, Ben, who had an abusive childhood, has been wanting to become a Mountie most of his life. He manages to do so, and is sent to Dawson City to help with the policing there. As he (and other Mounties) make their way along the Chilkoot Trail and toward Dawson City, he and Liza cross paths more than once.
I quite enjoyed this. At first, I was more interested in Liza’s story, but I also got more interested in Ben as the story continued on. The disasters in the book were the best parts for me. I also really enjoy reading books set near me, so reading about the Frank Slide was fun. (Frank was a small mining town in southern Alberta where a rock slide buried the town in 1902.) The romance was not overdone, so I felt better about that, as well (not always a romance fan). I also enjoyed the author’s note at the end. I could tell how passionate she is about Canadian historical fiction and the research she did.
It’s the late 1800s. Liza and her family live in Vancouver, but her father decides he wants to pack up and head north to Dawson City to set up his business there and cash in on the gold rush traffic. Liza and her brother are both adults, but the entire family sets off on this adventure. It’s cold and dangerous even just to get there, as they have to traverse the Chilkoot Trail.
Meanwhile, Ben, who had an abusive childhood, has been wanting to become a Mountie most of his life. He manages to do so, and is sent to Dawson City to help with the policing there. As he (and other Mounties) make their way along the Chilkoot Trail and toward Dawson City, he and Liza cross paths more than once.
I quite enjoyed this. At first, I was more interested in Liza’s story, but I also got more interested in Ben as the story continued on. The disasters in the book were the best parts for me. I also really enjoy reading books set near me, so reading about the Frank Slide was fun. (Frank was a small mining town in southern Alberta where a rock slide buried the town in 1902.) The romance was not overdone, so I felt better about that, as well (not always a romance fan). I also enjoyed the author’s note at the end. I could tell how passionate she is about Canadian historical fiction and the research she did.
February 23, 2019
Once again, Genevieve Graham has masterfully crafted an engaging story around a pivotal time in Canadian history.
At the Mountains Edge takes place in Dawson City, Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. Despite the perilous journey, Liza Peterson’s family has decided to take the risk and head to Dawson City to open a new shop.
Ben Miller has become a member of the North-West Mounted Police and has been assigned to various outposts along the journey to Dawson City. He is trying to make something of himself and escape the memories of his troubled past.
Unfortunately, Ben and Liza don’t meet under ideal circumstances, but an unlikely friendship is slowly formed as they navigate their futures in the harsh and unforgiving North.
This book was an absolute page-turner from start to finish! It was action-packed, taking us on an unforgettable journey through the eyes of those dreaming of hitting it rich during the Gold Rush. The challenges these people faced were unimaginable and how they moved forward after facing such heartbreaking realities is mind-boggling.
If you enjoy reading about Canadian history, you will definitely want to pick this one up!
At the Mountains Edge takes place in Dawson City, Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. Despite the perilous journey, Liza Peterson’s family has decided to take the risk and head to Dawson City to open a new shop.
Ben Miller has become a member of the North-West Mounted Police and has been assigned to various outposts along the journey to Dawson City. He is trying to make something of himself and escape the memories of his troubled past.
Unfortunately, Ben and Liza don’t meet under ideal circumstances, but an unlikely friendship is slowly formed as they navigate their futures in the harsh and unforgiving North.
This book was an absolute page-turner from start to finish! It was action-packed, taking us on an unforgettable journey through the eyes of those dreaming of hitting it rich during the Gold Rush. The challenges these people faced were unimaginable and how they moved forward after facing such heartbreaking realities is mind-boggling.
If you enjoy reading about Canadian history, you will definitely want to pick this one up!
February 10, 2019
Ms. Graham has found a formula that works for her and she's sticking with it. Her long-time fans will not be disappointed, and new readers will be inspired to look into her back catalogue of bestsellers. At the Mountain's Edge is her best read yet, with thoroughly researched Canadian history serving as a perfect backdrop for her main characters' romance. Suitable for young adult readers, too.
March 1, 2021
I haven't read much Canadian historical fiction and knew a bit about the Gold Rush but I learned so much from this book! You can tell by reading it that it was very well researched which I enjoyed. I really liked the characters especially Liza and really enjoyed her character growth. Definitely will be checking out more titles by this author!
May 2, 2024
Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐.
This was good, but also depressing and frustratingly annoying. I was glad to have finished it.
TW: Death of a dog/puppies, death of family members, starvation, robbery, and some violence
This was good, but also depressing and frustratingly annoying. I was glad to have finished it.
TW: Death of a dog/puppies, death of family members, starvation, robbery, and some violence
May 12, 2019
Once again, Ms Graham brings Canadian history to life!
I was thrilled to see this book was about the Klondike gold rush, because I knew very little about it. Now I can vividly picture it. Must say, my younger self would have killed for these books!
It was very well-written, entertaining, even while tinged with sadness because duh, there was so much hardship.
I enjoyed every part so much. Liza's character arc was believable and admirable, Ben's story was fascinating and it was really fun reading about the early Mounties, Dawson City and its characters, and Frank, which I had never even heard of.
Well done, once again.
I was thrilled to see this book was about the Klondike gold rush, because I knew very little about it. Now I can vividly picture it. Must say, my younger self would have killed for these books!
It was very well-written, entertaining, even while tinged with sadness because duh, there was so much hardship.
I enjoyed every part so much. Liza's character arc was believable and admirable, Ben's story was fascinating and it was really fun reading about the early Mounties, Dawson City and its characters, and Frank, which I had never even heard of.
Well done, once again.
February 11, 2019
Rating: 4 / 5
For about 80%, this was great--the pacing, the characters, the vivid descriptions of the Yukon, everything! But then, in order to somehow wrap up with an "exciting" ending, the author reverts to using every manner of cliche in the book. And so, since I only enjoyed 80% of the book, I can only give it an 80% rating.
That being said, both of the protagonists, Ben and Liza, whom the author switches the P.O.V. of in every other chapter, are characters that I've seen before. He's the upright soldier/policeman/Mountie (in this case) who wants to do the right thing but also has a dark past and has a hard time controlling his anger because of it. Seen it. She's a willful and determined young woman who's unconventional at times but can also be a damsel in distress because trouble is constantly attracted to her like a magnet. Seen it. Together, they fall in love, blah blah blah---
Fine, but this was all written charmingly, so I was okay with it.
What I was more than okay with is the time and place that the author chose for her story. If there's any one time period that you have to choose if you're going to set the place as Yukon, then, of course, the Gold Rush is a rightfully popular choice. What impressed me so much is not the knowledge of events that that the author incorporated into her story, but rather how vividly and acutely I felt the setting of the story. Whenever she described how cold something is, I felt how cold something is, and this is coming from a girl who's grown up in Canada and actually likes the cold. Yes, even I was happy to have a warm house and bed at night. So, yes, full kudos to the author for great writing and descriptive detail.
The spoilers to the end I won't reveal, but let's just say that things happen in fast succession, and there's a tonal shift from what was an endearing tale of survival wherein love blossoms as an aftereffect to a story wherein the focus is just on whether these two people who are so obviously in love will get together or not. If the intention was to build suspense then....yeah, it didn't work. True suspense in romance is hard to find nowadays, since generally if two people are into each other, most stories make it a point to get these two people together or at least have them tragically die together or something. Either way, you know that "life" (ahem, the authors) will have them meet again and again for whatever reason. So, whether we're talking avalanches or guns or random third parties who try to separate them, you can predict that in a book they will meet again at some point.
But, anyways, all in all it was a good read that I enjoyed, and which gave me an appreciation for all I have--particularly the warmth. *glances at snow and white sky outside of window*
My recommendation: to anyone who'd like to have a fun and not-purely-historical look at the Yukon Gold Rush, with a little (okay, a lot at the end) romance on the side.
For about 80%, this was great--the pacing, the characters, the vivid descriptions of the Yukon, everything! But then, in order to somehow wrap up with an "exciting" ending, the author reverts to using every manner of cliche in the book. And so, since I only enjoyed 80% of the book, I can only give it an 80% rating.
That being said, both of the protagonists, Ben and Liza, whom the author switches the P.O.V. of in every other chapter, are characters that I've seen before. He's the upright soldier/policeman/Mountie (in this case) who wants to do the right thing but also has a dark past and has a hard time controlling his anger because of it. Seen it. She's a willful and determined young woman who's unconventional at times but can also be a damsel in distress because trouble is constantly attracted to her like a magnet. Seen it. Together, they fall in love, blah blah blah---
Fine, but this was all written charmingly, so I was okay with it.
What I was more than okay with is the time and place that the author chose for her story. If there's any one time period that you have to choose if you're going to set the place as Yukon, then, of course, the Gold Rush is a rightfully popular choice. What impressed me so much is not the knowledge of events that that the author incorporated into her story, but rather how vividly and acutely I felt the setting of the story. Whenever she described how cold something is, I felt how cold something is, and this is coming from a girl who's grown up in Canada and actually likes the cold. Yes, even I was happy to have a warm house and bed at night. So, yes, full kudos to the author for great writing and descriptive detail.
The spoilers to the end I won't reveal, but let's just say that things happen in fast succession, and there's a tonal shift from what was an endearing tale of survival wherein love blossoms as an aftereffect to a story wherein the focus is just on whether these two people who are so obviously in love will get together or not. If the intention was to build suspense then....yeah, it didn't work. True suspense in romance is hard to find nowadays, since generally if two people are into each other, most stories make it a point to get these two people together or at least have them tragically die together or something. Either way, you know that "life" (ahem, the authors) will have them meet again and again for whatever reason. So, whether we're talking avalanches or guns or random third parties who try to separate them, you can predict that in a book they will meet again at some point.
But, anyways, all in all it was a good read that I enjoyed, and which gave me an appreciation for all I have--particularly the warmth. *glances at snow and white sky outside of window*
My recommendation: to anyone who'd like to have a fun and not-purely-historical look at the Yukon Gold Rush, with a little (okay, a lot at the end) romance on the side.
February 15, 2019
This novel is set in the late 1890's and focuses on two people who are on their way to Dawson City during the Klondike Gold Rush: Liza and Ben.
Liza is the daughter of a merchant who has decided to uproot his family and store to Dawson City to capitalize on the gold rush by opening a store in Dawson City. Ben is an orphan who has just joined up with the Mounties and isn't sure that he'll be able to keep his temper in check as he heads towards Dawson City to his new post. On their way to Dawson City a tragic event causes their paths to cross and various events keep throwing them in each others way.
This story feels, to me, a smidge more modern than was likely for the time but I was able to suspend the disbelief because the history of the novel was so fascinating. This was my first foray into anything to do with the history of the Klondike Gold Rush (or ANY gold rush) and it was amazing to read about what people were willing to go through in order for their chance at a bit of gold. I don't know if all of the events in this story were true that the main characters go through but if not they were believably told and made the history feel even more real.
I do want to give a shoutout to LIza. Despite her modern-ness I adored her. She's feisty, strong and just weak enough to keep from being two dimensional. I think if you love strong women in your novels you'll like her too.
Overall I really dug the historical fiction of this novel but there was a smidge of charm lost with the MC romance. It was fine but I didn't completely buy into the story. Still, read this book for the historical fiction. It's a good one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Liza is the daughter of a merchant who has decided to uproot his family and store to Dawson City to capitalize on the gold rush by opening a store in Dawson City. Ben is an orphan who has just joined up with the Mounties and isn't sure that he'll be able to keep his temper in check as he heads towards Dawson City to his new post. On their way to Dawson City a tragic event causes their paths to cross and various events keep throwing them in each others way.
This story feels, to me, a smidge more modern than was likely for the time but I was able to suspend the disbelief because the history of the novel was so fascinating. This was my first foray into anything to do with the history of the Klondike Gold Rush (or ANY gold rush) and it was amazing to read about what people were willing to go through in order for their chance at a bit of gold. I don't know if all of the events in this story were true that the main characters go through but if not they were believably told and made the history feel even more real.
I do want to give a shoutout to LIza. Despite her modern-ness I adored her. She's feisty, strong and just weak enough to keep from being two dimensional. I think if you love strong women in your novels you'll like her too.
Overall I really dug the historical fiction of this novel but there was a smidge of charm lost with the MC romance. It was fine but I didn't completely buy into the story. Still, read this book for the historical fiction. It's a good one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
April 12, 2019
Oh, but I loved this. What a great look into a very interesting time in Canadian history. I don't usually like books that have a lot of focus on grueling trek's through wilderness (mostly because I don't like overly descriptive books), but this was so full of adventure, bravery, mishap, and hope. I loved Dawson city and all it's riff raff. The mountie side of the story was interesting and I loved Ben's noble character. It mostly lost a star because I didn't like some parts of the romance at the end.
...SPOILER...
...SPOILER...
July 6, 2019
This book took me ages to read. The prose is lifeless and the story insipid. All in all, it was a disappointing read.
October 26, 2019
An excellent read, an experience of the gold rush in Klondike and later the Frank mine slide. Two events in Canadian history that Genevieve Graham brings to life along with warm hearted characters.
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