Love's Pursuit [Paperback]

Siri Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2009

In the small Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town's wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love's path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Just as her faith in God is preordained, Susannah Phillips believes her future with John Prescotte is equally certain. She quickly discovers that her future isn’t quite as set as she first believed, however, when Stoneybrooke’s wealthiest bachelor, Simeon Wright, begins to court her. While every other woman in town might consider Simeon to be the best catch in their small settlement, Susannah only loves John, until Captain Daniel Holcombe arrives. Sent by the governor to help train the town’s militia, Daniel not only challenges Susannah’s secure and orderly thoughts about God but also confuses her with the idea that she might be falling for him. Christy-nominated Mitchell’s latest flawlessly crafted novel is a quietly powerful tale of love, faith, and hope set in Puritan New England. With its brilliantly formed characters and vividly detailed setting, this tale combines the best elements of inspirational and historical fiction into a richly emotional, unforgettable story. --John Charles

Review

"...it's unexpected depth, beauty, and quality of prose set it far above the crowd." --Jennifer Bogart, Blogcritics.org

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; 1 edition (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764204327
• ISBN-13: 978-0764204326
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,229,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I'm listening to a speaker and I'm taking notes, chances are, I've just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If I'm nodding my head in response to a really profound statement, I'm probably thinking, 'Yes. Right. That's exactly what my character needs to hear.'

When I'm editing my manuscripts, I laugh at the funny parts. And I cry at the sad parts.

Sometimes I even talk to my characters. 'Okay, Joe. Talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking here.' And yes, the characters answer me. I actually hear them talking in my head.

Half the time, I think I'm an okay writer. The other half, I'm tempted to take a magnet to the hard drive.

The easy part is writing. The hardest part is editing. The worst part is wondering if the books are going to sell.

I have plenty of ideas for books; the thing I lack is the time to write them. I write by the word. Other writers write by the page. However you want to tally it, 85,000 words is a lot of pages.

In the world of writing I have done nothing right. I wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before I signed with a publisher. And then I had to write a fifth book so that they could publish it. In the process, I saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry's than I care to admit. I vowed never to write another word again. Ever. I went on writing strikes and I even stooped to threatening my manuscripts with the shredder.

However. Here I am, ten books into the process, writing my eleventh!

Learn more about me on the web at http://sirimitchell.com

**author photo by Tim Coburn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking read, June 27, 2009

By 

Christina Billings (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love's Pursuit (Paperback)

First off, I've always found the time period Love's Pursuit is set during to be very interesting so was instantly excited about that. Ever since the success of Beverly Lewis' books, most of the inspirational fiction that's been coming out lately is about the Amish so it's refreshing to read about another religious sect. I had just read A Constant Heart-by Siri-thought it was excellent, and was looking for another great novel to follow in its footsteps. Well, I saw Love's Pursuit in the store and picked it up hoping it would be just as good as the previous book. I wasn't disappointed. I really love the way Siri got into the character's heads and brought out the emotions of how they could/would have felt during that era. Being able to hear the vivid thoughts of Susannah and Small Hope made the contrast of their simple lifestyles, plain dress, and expectations of "proper behavior" all the more stark. It made you feel their sense of confinement, frustration, and need to break free but without knowing how. They reminded me of caged birds, locked in prisons of self loathing and guilt wanting to be let out, yet afraid of the consequences. I thought the parallels of grace and Christ-like sacrifice were well emphasized and only added to the richness of the story. My heart ached for Susannah toward the end as she finally realizes her own efforts will never be enough to earn God's love and favor, nor do they need to be. The physical and spiritual love story between Susannah, Daniel, and ultimately God brought me to tears...it was beautiful. I won't spoil the ending for anyone but it was truly thought provoking. Maybe not the conclusion readers were expecting-or hoping for-but it tied the story together amazingly well and left a lasting impact. As Susannah finds, we don't always get the things we want or think we need to be happy. That's how I felt when I read the last page and closed the book. I sat reflecting, feeling some sadness that the ending hadn't been the "happily ever after" I wanted. But it was realistic of how life really is and I appreciate that Siri was brave enough to challenge readers expectations and write honestly. It was quite refreshing to read something with a level of maturity and emotional authenticity rarely seen in most Christian novels to date. This story has some real "meat" to it, something that will stick to your heart long after wards. When I invest time in a book I want to come away more knowledgeable having learned something, having grown as a person. And after reading Love's Pursuit I know that I have. Thank you Siri Mitchell...I'm really looking forward to your next story. Hurry and write another one!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book with disappointing ending., June 13, 2009

By 

Computerpro (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love's Pursuit (Paperback)

I found this book a little hard to get into at first. As it went along I got into it and was really enjoying it. The ending ruined it for me. It may have fit the story as another review wrote, but I was disappointed with the ending. I've read Siri's books before and enjoyed them very much. I had a hard time with A Constant Heart but it had a good ending and I enjoyed it. This one left me feeling let down.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written story, June 9, 2009

By 

Beth K. Vogt (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love's Pursuit (Paperback)

"Love's Pursuit" is filled with emotion--lives intertwining, beliefs being challenged, dreams being pursued and yes, even hearts being broken.
Siri Mitchell beautifully captures life in Stoneybrooke Towne in the 1640s: the strict religious beliefs, the daily life--and raises the question "What happens if someone wants something more, something different?"
While I loved the characters of Susannah and Daniel, I was equally intrigued by Small-hope. And even though the book's ending was not the one I imagined, it was the right ending for the book.
Siri Mitchell is a gifted writer.