Pursuit of Lucy Banning, The: A Novel (Avenue of Dreams) [Paperback]

Olivia Newport (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2012 | Series: Avenue of Dreams (Book 1)

Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among Chicago's rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere. Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work--and the classes she is secretly taking at the newly opened University of Chicago. When she meets an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World's Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms. Can she break away from her family's expectations? And will she ever be loved for who she truly is?

Readers will love being swept away into a world of mansions, secrets, and romance as they follow Lucy through the streets of the Windy City during one of the most exciting times in the city's history. From opulent upper-class homes to the well-worn rooms of an orphanage, Olivia Newport breathes life and romance into the pages of history--and everyone is invited.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Hats off to Olivia Newport. Her characters are compelling, and Chicago’s history comes alive on each page. Readers will feel like they’ve been transported back to 1892.”
—Andrea Boeshaar, author of the Seasons of Redemption series

“Lucy Banning is my kind of heroine, pushing against the strictures of her times of the 1890s. Her love and caring wrap around your heart. A fine read.”
—Lauraine Snelling, author of the Red River of the North series and the Wild West Wind series

“Newport brings to life historical Chicago with fascinating insight into the wealthy families of Prairie Avenue. She gives us a worthy heroine who struggles to break free of the constraints of her time and offers grace to those less fortunate. The Pursuit of Lucy Banning is a beautiful and sweet romance that will touch readers’ hearts.”
—Jody Hedlund, award-winning author of The Preacher’s Bride and The Doctor’s Lady

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From the Back Cover

She has a secret to keep. But will she give her heart away?

Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among Chicago's rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere. Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work and squeeze herself into the mold of the well-dressed wife who spends most of her time and money redecorating.

When she meets Will, an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World's Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms. Can she break away from her family's expectations? And will she ever be loved for who she truly is?

Get swept away into the lavish world of Chicago's high society as Olivia Newport brings to life an age of glitz and grandeur, stark social contrasts, and one woman who dares to cross class lines for what she believes.


"Hats off to Olivia Newport. Her characters are compelling, and Chicago's history comes alive on each page. Readers will feel like they've been transported back to 1892."--Andrea Boeshaar, author of the Seasons of Redemption series

"Lucy Banning is my kind of heroine, pushing against the strictures of her times of the 1890s. Her love and caring wrap around your heart. A fine read."--Lauraine Snelling, author of the Red River of the North series and the Wild West Wind series

"Newport brings to life historical Chicago with fascinating insight into the wealthy families of Prairie Avenue. She gives us a worthy heroine who struggles to break free of the constraints of her time and offers grace to those less fortunate. The Pursuit of Lucy Banning is a beautiful and sweet romance that will touch readers' hearts."--Jody Hedlund, award-winning author of The Preacher's Bride and The Doctor's Lady


Olivia Newport's novels twist through time to discover where faith and passions meet. Her husband and two twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.


REVIEWS:

"With attention to historical detail and an artful sense of place, Olivia Newport gives readers a fascinating glimpse into the way the wealthy interpreted the 1893 World's Fair--and the roles of women in the world. The Pursuit of Lucy Banning is a compassionate coming-of-age romance with a spunky, determined heroine and a Happy Ever After that's satisfyingly sweet."--USA Today, Happily Ever After blog

"In a new historical series, Avenue of Dreams, readers head to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 where they will be treated to the grandeur and charm of the wealthy and the not-so-wealthy. In this story thick with secrets and lies, Newport's characters are by turn charming, conniving or trying to be true to themselves in spite of what society expects of them."--RT Book Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800720385
• ISBN-13: 978-0800720384
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #982,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Olivia Newport's novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. She chases joy in Colorado, where daylilies grow as tall as she is. Her husband and two twenty-something children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Multi-Layered Story April 21, 2012

By Ashley Mott VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I wanted to read "The Pursuit of Lucy Banning" from the first time I saw it pop up on my recommended items list here on Amazon, and I am pleased to report that my enthusiasm was not misplaced. While I went into the volume expecting a story about Lucy Banning, Prairie Avenue, and the World's Fair, I received a great deal more because Lucy Banning was a very persistent main character.

On the back cover of the book author Lauraine Snelling's blurb on the book stated "Lucy Banning is my kind of heroine, pushing against the structures of her times of the 1890s." I agree! However, in many similar volumes, the women are sometimes pushing because they are tired of restriction in a more petulant "I want" sort of way while Lucy's pushing is more from a social justice perspective that is much more gratifying.

This aspect of her personality extends far beyond pushing against the restrictions of Prairie Avenue society and reaches out to a troubled maid in the Banning household and to a home of orphans in the city.

Beyond the romantic triangle in this book which features Lucy, the man her family has always intended her to marry, and a new friend of her brother's she meets at the beginning of the book, there is a somewhat interesting and unexpected, albeit brief, exploration of mental illness. I wasn't expecting a bit of intrigue in this book, but it occurred and I enjoyed the read all the more for it. Surprises are always welcome.

Also, I went to Olivia Newport's website to find out more about the Avenue of Dreams series, and the next book in the series is "The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow" due out *roughly* in September with the third book to follow in 2013. I am so ecstatic that Charlotte will be in the next book. I was hoping that would be the case throughout this one...so...more good books to look forward to from Olivia Newport, both in this series and an alternative series (you can see the cover and read a description of this book on Amazon by clicking the author's name above).

My only slight sadness was that there was not MORE about the World's Fair in here, but since the entire trilogy is supposed to take place in the same time period, it is likely more and more will be revealed as it progresses since this volume discussed the opening festivities and certain early events such as the dedication.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars What a beautiful debut from Olivia Newport! May 16, 2012

By Katie McCurdy

Format:Paperback

I wasn't sure what to expect from The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, so was pleasantly surprised when I found a relaxing, easy-to-read historical romance that sweeps you into the moment. Miss Lucy is maturing in a year where times and customs are changing. College is opening up to women, and Lucy jumps at the opportunity to further her knowledge.

While this book is mainly about Lucy, I was mostly intrigued by Charlotte and her story. I don't know what the next book in this series will be, but I am hoping it is about Charlotte. While Lucy and Charlotte come from very different backgrounds, they forge a beautiful friendship. Loved watching that spark grow over the course of the book.

There was a lot of history within The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, which I found refreshing and enlightening. The romance left a bit wanting, in my opinion--it seemed to move so quickly and I never really saw a "falling in love over the course of time". They just were in love. After their first meeting you knew Will and Lucy would marry.

All that said, I found The Pursuit of Lucy Banning a delightful one-time read and a well-done debut. Not sure what else Olivia Newport has in store for her readers, but I am excited to see where this new series goes.

I reviewed this book for Revell. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Shallow Pursuit July 6, 2012

By Tanya Harder

Format:Paperback

Lucy Banning is the daughter of a wealthy Chicago family. She has long know what is expected of her and that is to be a well behaved socialite and wed a family friend's son. However, Lucy stalls for time, afraid that if she weds Daniel she will be forced to give up her charity work and her classes at the university. When architect Will enters the picture Lucy becomes even more confused about her future with Daniel. He is the compelling friend of her bother who has a rags to almost riches story and Lucy enjoys his company right from the start.

Lucy and Wills relationship was not believable because of several missing scenes. When did she fall in love with him? Who knows? The character's interaction was so brief that I just couldn't buy into their love. Lucy's desire to be more than a socialite is undermined by her ability to lie to her parents and the fact that she actually decreases the amount of time she spends with her 'precious' orphans.

There are several subplots in the story, including the story of Charlotte who comes to the Banning household with her infant son hidden in her carpetbag. She is fleeing a desperate situation and knows that she'll never find work with an infant. This part of the story annoyed me because it was never completed but just left hanging. Charlotte's story is never really revealed. Also, Will's past is alluded to but also never really explored. The description of the book makes it seem like the 1893 World's Fair was a big part of the story, yet even that was disappointing.

I found this book to be quite shallow both in character development as well as the narrative itself. Perhaps if the book was longer the author would have had time to address all these issues, but since she did not I found it lacking.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".