Customer Reviews

Claim: A Novel of Colorado (The Homeward Trilogy)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First I would like to thank Lisa and her publisher for providing a copy for review. I was excited to receive the book, as Ms. Bergren is one of my favorite authors.

I have to say this was a great book. It had a great story line, characters that drew you into the story, and some Colorado history thrown in. As a native Coloradoan, I have visited St. Elmo many times and have hiked around the Buena Vista, Gunnison, St. Elmo areas. What I loved about this book was it gave a glimpse of history in the area and what it might have been like during the Boom Days...particularly St. Elmo. I loved that Ms. Bergren included the "tame" chipmunks in the story...which do exist in the ghost town. : )

Although this book is fine as a stand alone, my only regret is not reading Breathe and Sing first. References to the Reid Bannock situation, the "dark times" that Odessa and Bryce experienced, and Gavin's "problems" that he sought medical attention left me curious with no answers because I had not read the first two books.

Thank you again for a great book, Ms. Bergren. Can't wait for the next series!

CLAIM by Lisa T. Bergren was a good blend of drama, love story, heart, and suspense. The St. Claire family is the center of The Homeward Trilogy. Odessa St. Claire along with her husband, Brice is building a town, Moira is trying to rebuild her life after a harrowing accident that has left her scarred, and Dominic (Nic) St. Claire is struggling with past demons as he tries to make his way home.

CLAIM centers on Nic, who after squandering his inheritance feels he needs to make something of himself before returning to his sister's ranch. Along the way, he finds himself unexpectedly the guardian to a young boy, and intrigued by the young woman who lives on the adjoining property. Infatuation turns to protection and duty turns to a genuine love for the young boy. But, the land that has fallen into his lap is valuable. Valuable enough for someone to want him dead.

I enjoyed CLAIM even though I didn't read the first two books in the trilogy. It was a stand alone story, but I feel I would have probably enjoyed it more if I had read the other two installments. Easy read with all the right elements.

Book provided for review purposes.

Several years ago, his father left Dominc St. Clair to watch over his sisters as they traveled from Philadelphia to Colorado Springs while also setting up the family publishing business in the growing city. His beautiful sister Moira was sent west to get her away from her myriad of suitors while his other sibling Odessa came to stay at a sanatorium for consumption victims. Odessa married rancher Bryce (see Breathe) and Moira began a professional stage career (see Sing) so Nic left to see the world as he always dreamed of doing.

Though several years have passed and feeling guilty, Nic returns to Colorado to see how his sisters are doing. Moira left Paris after suffering a burn to her neck, ear and scalp and being burned by the men in her life. She never forgot Daniel whom she met in Colorado Springs before she left to sing to the world; now she knows who she wants to sing to for the rest of her life if he will take her back. Nic arrives in nearby Gunnison where he meets Peter and the miner's son. They work a mine together that begins to help him heal with the world that broke his dreams. However, he meets and falls in love with Sabine the schoolteacher who makes him feel life is worth living.

The third Homeward Bound tale is an excellent end to the super historical saga that blends romance, history, and inspiration into a powerful trilogy. Each of the three St. Clair sibling learn that life is filled with remorseful qualms yet lost opportunities must never prevent a person from living to the fullest; the fullest defined as sharing your soul with loves ones. Lisa T. Bergren is three for three with one of the best historical trilogies in recent years.

Harriet Klausner

Nic's reunion with his sisters, Odessa and Moira, is closer than ever, but first he needs to get back on his feet. Now penniless and ashamed about what he's let his life come to, he wants to get back to them better off than he is now. While working on one of the many jobs he's taken up, he met Peter Vaughn. He owned a mine and was looking for an extra set of hands to help him out. Dominic wasn't completely on board, but he was willing to think it over. When he decided to head over to the Vaughn claim to speak with Peter, he got news from his son, Everett, that he was shot and killed. Nic unexpectedly became the child's guardian and owner of a very valuable mine. He also found himself falling for, Sabine, the local school teacher. With all this responsibility being thrown on his shoulders, he finally begins to turn to God and trust Him with his life and everyone in it.

Moira is now living with Odessa and Bryce on their ranch. Pregnant and still recovering from the horrible accident that left her scarred for life, she doesn't feel worthy of Daniel's love. With Odessa's help, she begins to rediscover her gifts from God and tries to accept the hand she's been dealt in life. Daniel is also struggling with a past incident and he can't bring himself to tell Moira everything. Will it cost him the love of his life? Will they be able to leave the past behind them and move forward?

This is my absolute favorite out of the three in the series! I was sad when I was at the last few chapters because I felt like I was losing a friend that I had just gotten to know. There was just enough action, suspense, romance, and adventure to keep you reading and entertained. My favorite scenes were in the mine. Wow! I can't believe how much I enjoyed it. The characters all went through a lot of trials, but God brought them through and they eventually found healing, forgiveness, and love. I really enjoyed reading these books and am very pleased with the way the story ended for the St. Clairs. Each book could be read as a stand alone, but it'd be best if you read them all so there's no confusion and you can enjoy the series in it's entirety. What an amazing ending to this awesome trilogy!

This book was provided for review by David C. Cook. I was not required to write a positive review.

Claim by Lisa T. Bergren is the third and final book in her Homeward Trilogy and what a satisfying finale it is! Fast paced and filled with action and romance, this one is hard to put down (I read it in one day!) Lisa writes historical fiction like few others with characters who seem to come to life. I really enjoyed the American Indian theme in this book and also finding out what happens to Moira and Daniel. Fantastic book, my favorite in the series.

Thanks, Lisa, for this CLEAN READ!

Out of the two books I read in this trilogy, this one was my favorite.

Nic is traveling through a town after getting off the ship and is taken by surprise by a young boy who captures his attention. When his father offers him a job in his mine, he turns it down, but cannot stop thinking about it. A trip to the father's home sets in motion a curious motion of events....leaving him the child's guardian and owner of a mine he did not want. It also leaves him in alot of danger....both of romance and from evil men wanting the mine.

Moira is also in her own set of dangers....not wanting to let Daniel love her, she flees to what she thinks are loving grandparents of her unborn child....will she encounter love or danger while fleeing from someone who truly loves her?

This book is full of twists and turns and enough danger to keep you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed this one....in spite of not having read the first book, the taste I got in the second book helped me to know the characters. However, you should start at the beginning of this trilogy to enjoy it.

Why do we read historical fiction?

1. We hope for a good story.

2. We want to learn about life 'back then'.

3. We want a good story that is well removed from our current reality - on that will allow us a few precious moments of escape.

Claim meets all three of these needs - Bergren's suspense isn't over the top, her knowledge of the time period is fantastic. Her Christian world view is obvious, but not contrived.

Claim is a good story, and wraps up the Homeward Trilogy well. Enjoy!

Claim by Lisa T. Bergren is the third book in the Homeward Trilogy about the St. Clair siblings. This novel picks up the story of Dominic "Nic" who has been making his way back home to sister Odessa in Colorado after squandering his inheritance, being shanghaied on a ship from South America. Other sister Moira is recovering from her facial burns and dealing with the consequences of being pregnant from her late lover. Nic is offered the chance to own half of a gold mine, but almost immediately the other owner is killed, leaving his son, Everett, in Nic's care. Stuck with a mine he wants nothing to do with and saddled with a ten year old boy, he meets new neighbor Sabine who forces him to rethink always using violence to deal with his problems. Daniel has been in love with Moira since the moment he saw her, but he is haunted by a tragedy in his past and can't begin a new relationship until those wounds are healed, and Moira doesn't feel that she is worthy of anyone's love after being scarred, stalked, and because of the life she used to live. The word to describe the four main characters in this novel is stubborn! Every one of them is so stuck in their past, they can't see to move forward to the future until they allow God to claim it for them. Bergren is one of my favorite authors, and this historical series has truly been top notch. The plot line regarding Moira's "in-laws" is a bit over-the-top, but even that is compelling. It's a great finale to a fantastic trilogy.

CLAIM is the third book in the Homeward Trilogy by Lisa T. Bergren. Nic, the prodigal son needs/wants to return home. But before returning home he feels that he must prove himself. On his travels home Nic stops at a nearby town, Gunnison, where he meets Peter. Peter and Nic decide to mine a claim together. In time, Nic meets Sabine, a local school teacher. This beautiful woman gives Nic the courage to face his past and the love to claim his future. This is a story of going home, as well as, a historical read of Colorado with a wonderful romance to round out a great story. To me the title CLAIM had a double meaning. First, Nic worked at a mining claim where the story is mainly located and then he had to claim his future. CLAIM can be read as a stand alone book; however, I feel that if you read BREATHE and SING first you will better understand the family ties and the issues that surround this family. A great historical read of Colorado and the St. Clair family. If you've read BREATHE and SING then you'll definitely want to read CLAIM! If you've not read any of these books then here's a great summer reading list to begin with! Once again, Lisa T. Bergren gives us a 5 star read!

*I reviewed this book for B & B Media Group*

I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to Lisa Bergren and her publisher for sending me a copy of "Claim" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.

"Claim" is Book Three in Lisa T. Bergren's The Homeward Trilogy. This book is called A Novel of Colorado, and it delivers richly on that promise. Bergren weaves her prose in such a way that captures the essence of 1880s Colorado. She tells Nic St. Clair's "prodigal son" story with a guarded, yet passionate voice that speaks to where this character has been and where he is headed. I regret that I haven't read the two previous novels in this series, but will absolutely add them to my growing TBR (to be read) pile.

Nic is heading home to his family in Colorado with his tail between his legs. But before he can reunite with his sisters, he must make something of himself. The mine is hard, dangerous work, but Nic feels as if he should be punished for his past choices. But God's grace overtakes him, slowly and painstakingly making Nic whole and giving him someone to love who loves him back. "Claim" is a beautiful story that illustrates how God uses our poor choices and seemingly unfortunate circumstances to draw us into relationship with Him. I highly recommend this entertaining and encouraging novel.