This is her last chance and she won’t allow man or nature to rob her of what she’s worked so hard to claim. A Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewIn the fall of 1886, Alena Sommer leaves behind a life fraught with disappointments and loss only to arrive in Sawtooth City and find the man she’d pledged to marry has been killed. To return east is unthinkable; to stay is ill-advised, but she resolves to … but she resolves to remain and manage the man’s lodging house despite the warnings of winter’s deadly storms. More than her stubborn nature influences her decision. From her first glimpse of this mountain valley she falls captive to its wild beauty and begins to sink her roots into its rich earth. Sharing her love of literature with her lodgers before a warming fire, she builds a family of lonesome souls, where dreams awaken.
However, one man stands apart, disturbing her peace with ominous warnings to leave before winter comes. Evan Hartmann knows from personal loss that winter snows bring to these mountains both unimaginable beauty and death. He is also a man conflicted, because as much as he’d like for Lena to leave the mountains, his heart longs for her to stay.
“Rich descriptions and entertaining characters bring to life the beauty and struggle of life in the 19th-century West. This cozy tale grounded in the everyday will surely delight historical romance fans.” – Publishers Weekly Starred Review
Lush landscapes, relatable characters, and compelling stories of courageous women are the hallmarks of Samantha St. Claire’s historical fiction.
Be inspired. Fall in love. Discover your next favorite author with COMES THE WINTER.
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I enjoyed the historical nature of the story. Learning how difficult it was as our country was being discovered.
I really enjoyed the believable way this book was written. I would have enjoyed a little more detail but the story served its purpose in that I escaped from reality and really enjoyed the story.
Prepare yourself for a beautiful love story. There is no rush, there is no urgency. Like a flower, this love grows slowly and blooms when least expected.
Lena is headed out West as a mail-order bride. She is heading out to be married to a man that she has been corresponding with. This is to be her new life. However, right upon arriving in this small boomtown, she learns that he has met an untimely demise…and that she is now alone. The young girl, Jessie, another mail order bride herself, meets the man she has agreed to marry. Lena decides to take on the boardinghouse that the man she was to marry owns. Her intent is to keep it up and running, but can she do so in light of the fact that the town is slowly dying? The investors back East keep stopping funds. The miners need steady work and pay and if this town won’t provide they will move on. Winter is moving in and Lena is determined to stay and make things work. She makes several friends in the men who board in the house, but slowly she and another, Evan, will find their hearts drawn together. There will be the danger of generosity and misunderstandings, but if they can push through it…love will find a way.
Comes the Winter by Samantha St. Claire is a beautifully written love story. Lena is the main character of the story, but she shares the spotlight with her dear friend Jessie. Jessie, her husband to be, Evan and other characters equally share the storyline and it flows beautifully. I love the dynamics between the characters. Evan is such a generous and kind-hearted character. He does so much for those who are less fortunate than himself and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Normally I get in a snit when characters feel conflicted but for these characters, it works because it’s subtle. It’s not shoved in your face with a character acting petulant. Like softly falling snow, this story comes together subtly as the love between them develops.
There is honestly nothing that I don’t love about this book. It’s perfect. There are few to no editorial errors to detract or distract. The author has taken her time with this book and made sure that it comes together in the way that it is meant to.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I couldn’t put this book down. Lena is endearing, engaging and believable. Jessie is youthful, fun and overall sweet. Evan is quiet, generous and gentle-hearted. This book is a must read for those who like this author and have enjoyed the previous Sawtooth novels. You won’t be disappointed in this endearing romance novel set back in the development of the West and the gold-rush.
What a beautiful well-written story that I could not put down until I had finished. This is the third book in the Sawtooth Range series and is Lena Sommer and Evan Hartmann’s story. I would recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Romance in a Frontier Boom Town
This is a sweet and clean frontier romance. This book is third in the series and stands alone with no issue. The story takes place in an Idaho gold rush town in the 1880’s. The story is historically correct and a pleasure to read. The plot is realistic and riveting. The characters are so real, they could have been my relatives. I want to go read the first 2 books of the series and more of this author’s work. I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
I normally don’t read historic fiction from this time. However when I read the reviews that the story was set in The Stanley Basin in Idaho, I knew I had to read it. I live in Hailey and so I as able to picture it in my head. I enjoyed this book very much
I enjoy reading historical fiction and this clean romance is very well-written. I loved the descriptive language and well-developed plot and characters.
Great read for historical romances.
Alena Hartmann, originally from Chicago, decides to make the trip out west to Sawtooth, ID. The setting is the mid-1800’s where women didn’t have many rights, and almost didn’t exist unless they were married. ‘Lena’ met up with her friend Jessie on the trail ride. Jessie was another mail order bride, who is none to sure about getting married, and she decides to help Lena with the boarding house for a while. Because of the harsh Idaho winters, Lena is warned time and time again to leave since her intended died before she reached Idaho, but then his brother, Evan, who has a heart as big as all outdoors, realizes that there is more to Lena than her being a helpless female. The ups and downs of their relationship is definitely worth reading this great book! I loved it!
The main character was not a wimpy woman , but one of good sense. She didn’t have experience in hard winters ,but had the smarts to figure most things out. The plot was enjoyable along with other characters in the book. This is simply an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the character and plot development of the growing relationships. However, I thought the ending was quite abrupt and left the story line unfinished. I was disappointed in the way the story ended.
I think this story was very good.
Moves slowly