At The Mountain's Edge is the latest historical fiction novel from Canadian author Genevieve Graham. I've enjoyed her last two books and happily turned to the first page....

Graham takes us back to 1897 and the great rush for gold in the Klondike. At the heart of Graham's story are Liza and Ben. Liza and her family are shopkeepers. Liza's father has decided to sell his store in Vancouver and open a new one in Dawson City, Yukon. Ben has led a difficult life, but has found his calling at last as a Constable with the North-West Mounted Police.

I enjoy the varied settings of Graham's books. She has tackled a number of locales and eras, bringing to life pieces of Canadian history. I always learn something with each new novel. The sheer numbers of people who made their way to the gold fields and the difficulty they encountered making that journey makes for fascinating reading. I was also intrigued by the role the NWMP played in the North.

Against that backdrop we have two engaging lead characters. I must admit, my heart was with Liza. She's likable and oh so determined. The tragedies that befall her (how much can happen to one person!?) seem to only make her stronger. Ben has a clear, unerring sense of what is right and wrong. But he also has a temper that he struggles to keep under control. It's inevitable that their paths will cross......and they do. The path to true love is a bumpy one and the romance between the two is slow to burn - and it too suffers a number of tragic turns.

Graham excels at combining fact with fiction. Her books are informing and entertaining.

I turned the last page and sat and thought about those that did make the trip up through that unforgiving passage to what they hoped would be their fortune. History is fascinating and Graham easily combines fiction with fact. Her books are informing and entertaining. I look forward to her next book and piece of Canadian history.

"There are so many important stories in our past, and I plan to get to the core of as many as I can. I love to travel back in time and breathe life back into Canadian history, and I want to bring you with me." ( )

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. ( )

This historical novel 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. Set during the Klondike Gold Rush we are swept into a drama of love, tragedy and redemption.

In 1897 gold rush has reached the Canadian wilderness and thousands of prospectors swarm to the North seeking riches. Dawson City, Yukon was their destination but to get there was not an easy endeavor. This story will bring our main protagonist, Liza Patterson, and her family to establish their business in this terribly cold city overrun with guns, liquor, prostitutes and thieves. As for our second main player, recent recruit Constable Ben Turner from North-West Mountain Police will uphold the law….”At the Mountain’s Edge” tells how in order to reach Dawson City they all had to climb harsh trails and survive an excruciating journey for weeks before reaching their destination. But most of this entire exhausting story will tell us how they faced every form of catastrophe and managed to survive in a crude and hostile environment.

The author has combined historical events along some thrills with a wee bit of romance for our enjoyment. Vividly written with a modern twist to it, this story dives straight into the time of the Klondike Gold Rush and propels us in the middle of the action with expert knowledge. The events are accurately recounted showing Ms. Graham spent enormous time researching her subject matter but unfortunately the descriptions just scratched the surface. “At The Mountain Edge" is somewhat of a fluffy story but one that could pique some to look deeper into those who dreamed of making big ….The story is well played out by two charming characters…..awe and there is love in the air….

This is a good story but it wasn’t the page-turner I had wished for.

I received this ARC from the Publisher Simon and Schuster via Netgalleys for my thoughts. ( )