Love's Pursuit (Paperback)

~ Siri Mitchell (Author)

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; 1 edition (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764204327
• ISBN-13: 978-0764204326
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #169,931 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 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)

"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.

2 of 2 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)

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!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Who will she choose???, June 15, 2009

By	E. K. Collins (Idaho) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Love's Pursuit
by Siri Mitchell
Bethany House Publishing

Love's Pursuit takes place in Massachusetts during the Puritan era. Susannah is a puritan girl who on the outside seems to be the eye of perfections. However, Susannah thinks herself to be a sinner and judges herself harshly. A captain from the "King's army" comes to their village because he has heard reports of savages. I do not want to give too much away, but will Susannah fall in love with a man from her own puritan village or with the Captain and his heathen ways? You will have to read to find out!!
This one was a bit hard to get into at first because I have not read much about the Puritans and was a bit confused at firs by some of the goings on and their language. I wished that the author had given a bit of an introduction, perhaps a bit of actual history, before delving into the story.
However, that does NOT mean I did not like it, I really enjoyed this story. It gave me a bit of what life was like for the Puritans. It also kept me driven to read to the end, because I had no idea how the end would turn out. I must say I was disappointed in the ending, but that is just me. Leave a comment here after you have read it and let me know how you liked the ending!