2009 Book # 17: A Claim of Her Own by Stephanie Grace Whitson

I have finished reading A Claim of her Own by Stephanie Grace Whitson. This is my first book to read by this author.

Mattie O'Keefe is ready to start a new life in Deadwood, South Dakota where she goes looking for her brother and his mining camp after she escaped from her mean boss and life singing in a gambling hall. She arrives to find her brother is dead. She must decided if she wants work as a miner in a man's world but doesn't really have anywhere else to go. Even though she tries to hide the secrets of her past, she develops friendships with several residents of Deadwood and comes to appreciate the feeling of belonging. One of her new friends is the preacher, Aron Gallagher. She has trouble trusting him and believing the lessons he tries to teach because all the preachers she's known in the past live a different life on Monday than they do on Sunday. Mattie's struggles and doubts are real and the reader will be able to relate to the questions she asks about God. Just as she is learning to trust, something from her past shows up in Deadwood. Will Mattie believe that God can help her?

I enjoyed this book of historical fiction and look forward to reading more from this author. The well-developed characters and setting were appealing and believable. I really appreciated how she started each chapter with a verse.

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"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works." I Chronicles 16:8-9