Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell - My Review

“Which were worse? The sins I had committed of those I might have, given the chance?” (p. 297)

To live in the Puritan colony of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts was to live your entire life in a constant state of uncertainty. For nothing except sin and all of its depravity were certain, and everything else, especially as it related to God and salvation through the death of His Son was circumspect - subject to one’s pursuit of the strict observance of piety and righteousness.

Susanna Phillips is a young woman of marriageable age, and in her heart she longs for the affection of John Prescotte. Her day to day existence, steeped in unending labor, moves forward unchanged until savages are spotted by one of the town’s prominent members. The govenor’s army captain, Daniel Holcomb, comes to Stoneybrooke in response to this report in order to train the militia in proper defense methods. Little does anyone suspect, Susanna least of all, that his presence would also bring profound change into their lives. For you see, Daniel Holcomb would bring to their lives the definition of God’s unmerited grace.

Love’s Pursuit is a profound book in many ways. Siri Mitchell captures the voice of the Puritan villager and recreates the stifling, hopeless, helplessness of much of their existence. Siri’s book encouraged me to search out Puritan beliefs for my own benefit, and I came away astounded that while they were so close to the truth of God’s love, they missed His grace almost entirely. Love’s Pursuit captures the essence of this reality in the life of the Puritan’s, and the reader’s heart breaks for Susannah and her entire family as they become the target of a malevolent man’s selfish desires.

God’s love pursues the hearts of the Stoneybrooke colony – Susannah’s heart in particular. And if your own heart isn’t touched by the truth revealed at the end of this story, then I wonder if you have a heart at all. I was left weeping, rejoicing, and amazed anew at the grace of God poured out upon my own life. I was left with new understanding of God’s unmerited favor and the reassurance of His love and mercy. Love’s Pursuit is all you could ever hope for in historical fiction. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Siri Mitchell has written six novels, two of which (Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door) were named Christy Award Finalists. A graduate from the University of Washington with a business degree, she has worked in many levels of government and lived on three continents. She currently resides in the Washington DC metro area. Visit www.sirimitchell.com