Review: fabulous romance and journey through history
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 25, 2014
Laying Claim. Halsey Homecoming Book 1.Paty JagerReview from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.This is the first in a trilogy, but is complete in itself.  I’m guessing the other two will feature other members of the family. Many years ago I read a book ( called Tara Kane I think.. just looked it up and I’m right. Wish it was on kindle as I’d love to read it again ) which featured a lady on a journey in the Yukon in the 1800's, and this book was reminiscent of that. In both I could feel the cold, smell the sweat of unwashed bodies, hear the howling of the dogs. I loved it and remembering that book is one of the reasons I was drawn to this one.So, Clara, incredible woman, she's searching for her brother to bring him back to run the family business after their father has died. Clara is one of those outspoken ladies, in a time when ladies should be seen and not heard. She's clever though, and determined not to be put down because of her sex. That gender issue though brings real problems in a place where there simply aren't enough women to go round, and society is basically lawless; it's a time where possession takes all. Luckily Jeremy is in the right place when Clara needs a guide. He's not like the rough and ready miners, who are mostly gold addicted, drink addled and with few morals, and he can quickly see that Clara is simply too nave, too trusting to make the journey with any of them. He doesn't want company, doesn't want to be responsible for her, but knows his sister would be ashamed if he left her, so though he really doesn't want to he offers to be her guide to take her to her brother.Its a tough journey, hundreds of miles by foot and dog sled, in temperatures far below freezing. They encounter dangerous incidents, Clara misunderstands the dangers of the cold, has to learn how to handle the dogs, and make camp, then when they stay at bigger camps along the way she has to pretend to be Jeremy's wife to protect her from the other men. Even so its still a journey where they need to be aware at all times of the dangers to her as a woman, as well as the general danger from the bleak, tough environment. The scenes are vivid; as I said earlier I could smell the sweat, feel the cold, hear the dogs. Add to that Clara's relief at a real bath after weeks without, her naiveté at Jeremy - when she thought there was a stick in the bed between them and grabbed at it, poor Jeremy, he'd a tight hold on his control and this was really testing it :)  Back in the 1970's when I was a a teen I was working with a lady in her 60's, she told me even when she was in labour with her first child she didn't know how it would get out, and the nurses wouldn't tell her. She thought maybe her tummy button was the exit...what a shock, but that would be around 1930's so late 1800's its easy to understand how sex issues just weren't talked about in many families, and how Clara could be that naive.Slowly they develop a feeling between them of trust and attraction, that turns to love. There's some incredibly sensual sex scenes, not overly graphic but that fit the plot perfectly. Jeremy, he's a real hero, and the perfect person for Clara as he respects her intelligence.A great book for those that love romance with that bit extra, the historical setting wasn't just a nod to history but a real journey through time, and I could place myself there along with Jeremy and Clara.Its priced at 3.22 for 287 pages, a good length to really get to know the characters.Stars:four and a half.ARC supplied by Netgalley