Love's Pursuit

Title:                    Love’s Pursuit

Author:                Siri Mitchell

Publisher:            Bethany House Publishers

Market:                Christian

Genre:                  Historical Romance

Series:                  Against All Expectations Collection (Book 2)

Length:                336 pages

Pub. Date:           June 1, 2009

Description (from Amazon):

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?

My Review:

I have read books by Siri Mitchell in the past, and I have both loved and liked her work.  Love’s Pursuit falls into the former category.  This book did not disappoint me!

The writing is phenomenal.  This book was very difficult for me to put down, and I was thinking about it when I had to put it away.  I connected with this book on a variety of levels.  I, too, was a member of a high control religious group that was very legalistic, and I totally understood the mentality from Susannah’s side, the Captain’s side, and the townsmen’s side. 

I really enjoyed Susannah’s character.  She was the “good girl” who knew how to play the part, and she hated that she really wasn’t good at all.  Honest and beautiful, she was blissfully unaware of dangers.  With all the events in the book, she changed.   The change wasn’t forced but came about naturally. She is the typical “girl next door” that many seem to love to hate because she seems so well put together, but unfortunately they don’t completely know her because of the dictates of religious control.  With the legalism of her society, she couldn’t allow others to see her flaws. 

The Captain…  What an amazing man.   Although not a Puritan, he kept peoples’ secrets as they would (no gossip), and he was insightful, like Small-Hope.   He was an honorable protector, and he was underestimated because of his “heathen” status.  I loved his patience, insightfulness into the human spirit, and the ability he had to read situations.  To a degree, the townsmen were blinded from these same situations by the daily tasks they had to complete and trust for others in their group. 

I loved to hate Simeon Wright.  This character was well written, and it caused me to reflect on appearance.  Some people appear beautiful on the outside, but on the inside they are wicked.  The Bible might call them “dry bones,” and I call them “white-washed fences.”  Small-Hope and the Captain saw right through his façade.

This story is about survival, perseverance, and hope.  To me, it begs for a sequel.  Siri Mitchell, if you’re reading this, please consider a sequel.  Yes, even after all this time.  Questions that I would like to have answered in a sequel are:  1) Does the grandfather believe as Daniel did regarding the Lord?  2) What happens with Joshua?  3) Do Susannah and Small-Hope remain friends?  4) Does Susannah eventually leave the Puritan faith?  5) Is there a future encounter with Levi Wright or the mother?

I absolutely loved this book.  It prompted many trips to the Kleenex box, and the characters will stay in my memory for some time.  It’s very realistic, and Mitchell did a great job researching the Puritans.  This book is suitable for anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.  I’ve looked at the reviews of others (since writing my own), and some didn’t like the fate of a character.  I didn’t like it either, but that is life.  Not everything works out the way we want it to.  However, a sequel could make a completely happy ending, which is what usually happens with this genre.  Even without the happy ending, I still loved this book!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (Nearly perfect)