Saturday, June 12, 2010

Claim - A Review



Driven by a Promise….Mining for the Truth
A Prodigal’s Search for Elusive Peace


Info from the publisher:  Dominic St. Clair has fought his way back from desperate circumstances and now has an opportunity to reunite with his sisters in Colorado. Lisa Bergren’s latest novel, Claim: A Novel of Colorado, reveals a man heartsick over his failure to keep a promise to his dead father and his inability to protect his two sisters from life’s harsh punishment. In an effort to find the peace that has always eluded him, Dominic begins a new venture in an old mine deep inside the Rocky Mountains. As he struggles to find success and meaning in this rugged landscape, Dominic discovers the affection of the local school teacher among the hidden treasures of the area. Will he finally claim his true inheritance, or will he succumb to the restlessness that has dogged his life since leaving Colorado years before?

Set amid the harsh and often unforgiving life of the early mining industry, Claim is the final installment in Bergren’s Homeward Trilogy and offers a look at God’s willingness to hold on to His children even though they reject His guidance and love. The reader walks with Odessa and Moira St. Clair as they experience their journey toward truth in the first two books of the series, Breathe and Sing, and in this final story, Moira must once again renew her trust in God as she struggles to accept God’s claim on her life and the love in her heart for a troubled man. 

Fans of historical fiction and romance will find much to enjoy in this dramatic finale to Lisa Bergren’s Homeward Trilogy. Claim reflects the rugged journey that the St. Clair prodigals have made toward the truth of grace and forgiveness. As old wounds are healed, new struggles arise, and each of the St. Clair children must face the final battle that lies ahead as they struggle to make their way homeward. Once again, Bergren’s strong voice weaves a tale that will cause readers everywhere to examine the prodigal moments in their own lives and renew their faith in the One who is able to reach them no matter how far they run.


Claim: A Novel of Colorado by Lisa Bergren (Book Three in the Homeward Trilogy)
David C Cook/June 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4347-6706-6/386 pages/softcover/$14.99

What did I think?  I want to preface my review by saying that I have a love/hate relationship these days with historical/Christian fiction.  As a young adult, I could not get enough of them.  I ate them up.  Which I suppose was a good thing, though I sometimes wonder at the worldview they gave me - I won't expand on that.  But as an older, slightly (or greatly) more cynical person, I don't necessarily enjoy these the same way.  So, I'll review this book as it is intended; as an escape.  Not particularly thought provoking or challenging, but a way to wile away a few hours from my otherwise chaotic life and imagine being in a different place at a different time.

As you may remember, I reviewed the 2nd book from this trilogy (Sing) not too long ago.  I enjoyed reading it.  I enjoyed the characters, but it took me a while to get into it.  Reading Claim was a little easier because I was already familiar with the characters.  I think it really increased my enjoyment of the story because she didn't completely rehash the previous book, which often happens in sequels.  The characters were likable - though not necessarily totally believable all the time.  The story was interesting.  Some of the words used didn't always ring true to me of the era we were in (though I'm no expert on that).  Everything was tied up nice and neat, which is what you want in this kind of novel.  Overall, I did enjoy this book and think Lisa Bergren's Homeward Trilogy is worth a read if you're into this genre.


*David C Cook sent me this free book in exchange for an impartial review.

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