The Shadow of Wildflowers, by Alta Ione, is the emotionally charged story of Lainie and Jake Adamsen’s love, loss, and struggle to forge a new path in Idaho’s frontier. This impassioned story narrates Lainie’ difficult life on the run from the dangerous Niall McNally, as well as Jake’s heartbreaking and life change losses, along with their effort to live on a farm and make things work after Miss Jenny goes blind. The challenges seem insurmountable, but the journey they take is endearing and heartwarming.

Author Alta Ione writes beautifully, creating vivid images of Montana and Idaho’s frontier in 1890. The setting is engrossing and effortlessly creates an exotic backdrop for our alluring characters to inhabit. The story focuses on facial expressions and small gestures, which really captures even the small feeling and turmoil the characters have, magnifying them, ensuring even the smallest of drama is felt. These deep examinations of personal moments and emotions reminds me of Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. As a reader keen on details, I appreciated the detailed descriptions associated with feelings and emotions. Those descriptions helped the reader feel part of the story and share the emotions with the main characters.

The story jumps back and forth in time, which disrupts the rhythm of the story, but ensures the reader is fully engaged as I was rarely sure where the story was going next. This does provide more information about each character and a deeper understanding of how events transpired. Revealing a troubled past that readers get to piece together. Separate from the story, the note at the end of the book shows the story’s authenticity and its inspiration, and was a nice personal addition to this book.

The Shadow of Wildflowers by Alta Ione is a heartwarming love story and a exciting account of life-long grievances that will capture the heart of every reader. This is a historical romance that is driven by the poignant melodrama and enthralling characters.

Pages: 391 | ASIN: B08ZBM3Q37