Jess Beuchene has lived with the shadows of her secrets for years, but she has only known half of the story. But now an old diary may be the key to finding out more of her family's history. She grudgingly asks know-it-all Derek Thornberry for help, as he is fluent in multiple languages, and an expert in art history.



Derek is the last person that Jess wanted to help her on her search for answers, but he is the only one qualified. Derek is a strong Christian, with a hunger for knowledge, and a desire to help others though often his attempts go awry. He is very observant, and loves the challenge of unraveling Jess's past.



Jess has always been good at staying in the background, and doesn't have a desire to stand out, but when her past threatens her future, she bravely steps out of her comfort zone to discover the answers that she needs. I admired her quick thinking on her feet, and willingness to do what it takes to find the truth.



I was thrilled when I found out that this would be Jess's story after having first met her many books ago in the Noble Masquerade. Jess and Derek are a formidable team, and I loved how they worked together, after initial reluctance. Great pacing, and excellent plot. I really enjoyed how Derek and Jess's relationship changes after initially getting off on the wrong foot. A highly entertaining and enjoyable read!



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“The ease with which she’d pulled that knife—the fact that she even had that knife—was proof that her competence outweighed his gentlemanly honor in this particular instance.”

Being far more comfortable and adept in the role of knife-wielding spy than lady, Jess isn’t your typical heroine. And with his wire-rimmed glasses and bookish ways, Derek certainly isn’t your typical hero. But when the pair of them team up to solve a decades-old mystery—and perhaps right one of history’s wrongs—you won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.

Hunter’s characters are both lively and likable, and she tells their story with just the right touch of humor and sass. Though this is the third book in a series, it is easily readable as a stand-alone novel. A Pursuit of Home is the first of Kristi Ann Hunter’s novels I have read, but it certainly won’t be the last.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is my first novel from Elizabeth Musser and I’m still in awe at her incredible talent to bring a realistic, heart wrenching and poignant tale to life with such beauty and emotion. The story is narrated through three different point of views. Josephine, a famous writer that has a murder attempt and lies in a coma in the hospital (we get her insights through flashbacks of her life since she was 6 years old), Henry, her assassin, a man with a mental illness who does it out of desperation to get funds to pay for his 7 year old son who needs an urgent heart surgery, and Paige, Josephine’s teenage daughter who wants to understand her mother’s past in order to understand her better and bring some light to her murder attempt. This is not your typical romance novel, even if there might be a little bit of sweet and clean love scenes. This story deals with real life issues that we can relate to, maybe through our personal lives and struggles, or that of a family member or dear friend. This story deals with depression, anxiety, trauma, desperation, guilt, but at the same time, it brings a ray of light through a beautiful message of forgiveness (for one self and then for others), of trusting God with your broken soul, and trusting that only Him can bring true healing and good to us, even through our mistakes and weaknesses. And that He NEVER forsakes us. That is a beautiful and sometimes hard truth to acknowledge, when our faith is not strong. My heart ached for this two grieving families. Henry was a man that tore at my heart. He was abused by his father and educated in a way that you had to get what you needed at whatever cost. That got him to behold his father’s murder after being caught in a thievery. That and dealing with PTSD after being in the military for some years. He’s a broken soul, and he acts out of desperation. But the murder he attempted failed and he doesn’t know what to do. So he instinctively buys his victim’s book, and dwelling in those pages will bring out some truths he was never aware of. Was his failure the providence of God? Is there a chance to redeem himself? But what of his little boy? How can this explain the existence of a loving God? And Josephine… Her books, though historical, always tug strings and brings light to some difficult issues in history that keep repeating themselves: racism, corruption, hate… Her stories are full of God enlightening messages. But if she’s struggled with depression for so long, are her beliefs true or just a shell to hide from her fears? What is that big awful secret she's hidden and has still to share? Will she wake up from her coma to help solve and understand so many mysteries and family secrets? Paige is innocent and naive, yet she’s very observant, and this quality will take her on a journey to not only unraveling family secrets, but also of self discovery and understanding of human nature. But best of all, of God’s love above all our failings and human mistakes, if we are willing to let Him in our lives. This book addresses depression in a very profound way. The fact that the author struggled with it, even if in a low level, makes her an authority and gives solidness to her story. I loved that the story throws light about how to deal with it, in a human and also in a faithly way. It can help the reader if you are struggling with it, or it can help you understand when someone close to you is dealing with this illness. The need of understanding and empathy in these cases is so so great. I loved other side characters, such as Patrick, and Drake. I wish Paige and Drake would get their own love story… I was mesmerized by the whole story. The mystery element: the intrigue about who ordered Josephine’s death, the secrets about “that awful year”, the wondering of how these families could be healed and restored, keep you guessing and captivate you until the end. It is definitely love and only LOVE that can restore a broken soul. And, in the most perfect way, the most unconditional LOVE which is God’s love. Thank you, Elizabeth Musser, for such an inspiring, human and compassionate story! I totally recommend it! You will end with a feeling of purpose and hope at the end.

I was first introduced to the character, Jessimine or better known as Jess in Kristi Ann Hunter’s first novel, A Noble Masquerade, which remains to this day one of my favorite Christian romance novels. It was so inspiring and taught me a lot about forgiveness and sacrifice…..Jess has been hiding a secret for ten years and hiding out because if any of her family is living she fears for their life. But now, with the discovery that someone she long thought dead is possibly alive, it’s time for her to come out of hiding to help. She is a rather tough lady and she receives help from the antique nerd that she seemly disdains. With his intelligence and vast knowledge of antiquities, together they seek to find an object long hidden in myth and legend in order to save her family and her future. There are many twists and turns in their searching and we get to visit former characters from the previous books. It is almost a must to read the first two books. All in all another great from Kristi Hunter……I received a copy from the publisher and NetGalley and this review is in my own words.

I think I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Kristi Ann Hunter’s books since her first book A Noble Masquerade was my first book to review. I fell in love with her main characters in that book, Miranda and Ryland, but I also really liked a side character, Jess. She seemed to have a really interesting story that one never is told. Until now, in the conclusion to Kristi Ann Hunter’s Haven Manor Series, A Pursuit of Home. Jess finally gets to be the main character and have her story told, and wow, what a story she has! I think this might just be my favorite book by this author. I love how I was able to spend time with the other characters I know from this series but also with Miranda and Ryland again. I love the nerdiness of Derek Thornbury. There couldn’t be a better match for the spunky Jess! I also thought the mystery, adventure, and treasure hunting in the story was so much fun. This book was definitely a fun conclusion to a series I have enjoyed reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance, adventure, and treasure hunting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In early 1800s England, Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave her past far behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.

Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can't resist the urge to solve the puzzle.

I loved reading Jess's story. Every page was an adventure. Jess has many disguises that she has used throughout the years to survive. She is constantly surprising people with what she is up too. We find out that she has been hiding her identity for 10 years. Now she has to help her country establish its identity and crown the rightful king. This is where she needs Derek's help. He is a paint expert and catalogs the paintings of the wealthy. These two travel across England looking for 6 paintings that has clues as to where to find the proof of the real king of her country.

I highly recommend this book. I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

A stunning conclusion to a wonderful series! Kristi Ann Hunter has completely surpassed all of my expectations with this long-awaited tale.
Having first "met" Jess in A Noble Masquerade, I've waited a very long time to finally read her story (it did not disappoint🥳).
I absolutely loved the banter between Jess and Derek (so many of their conversations had that special, laugh-out-loud "factor" unique to Kristi's writing). The way their relationship naturally developed from irritated acquaintances to a comfortable friendship, before moving on to a heartwarming romance was seamless and added so much depth to the story, as well as to the characters.
Overall, it is an exquisite tale, complete with mystery, humour, danger, adventure, and of course, romance!

I'd recommend it to fans of Jane Austen, Regency Romance, and Historical Christian Romance/Adventure.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)

A Pursuit of Home is the third book in Kristi Ann Hunter's series Haven Manor, which is set in England in the early 1800s and focuses on a very unlikely group of three friends. The first two books in the series focused on Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert and Daphne Blakemoor, both young women of the higher class of London society. However, A Pursuit of Home shares the story of Jess Beauchene, Kit and Daphne's dearly loved, yet reclusive friend. Jess is quite the character.  I was impressed by how mysterious and cryptic Jess kept her information about her past, even so far as not allowing the readers her last name until this third book of the series. Overall I was impressed by the intense plot twists, the complicated past of the characters, the clandestine actions of the characters to discover the truth, the addition of several new characters into the world of Haven Maner, as well as the almost fairy-tale-like  story of Jess family's history.    
Jess Beauchene is a fascinating protagonist, a young woman with an intriguing inheritance and family history, a interesting character of shadows and disguise.  She portrays herself as a tough and uncaring woman, yet with a letter from her brother, whom she long assumed was dead, everything in Jess' world is toppled.  Jess must help her brother, and the only way that she knows how is by discovering the mystery behind her family's past banishment from their royal rule of the mysterious country of Verbonne.  Although Jess is of the royal family, the country of Verbonne presently is not very stable or secure, which prompts Jess' brother to attempt to claim the throne.   
Derek was working to catalogue the many pieces of art at Haven Manor, the place where Jess had been working as the cook. One day Jess approaches Derek with an ancient book from her family's past--a diary written in Italian from the ancient unknown country of Verbonne. Although greatly intrigued by this historic book from a mostly unknown land, Derek is concerned about the dangers of pursuing this great adventure. Enemies of Jess' family are seeking to harm her and any of her remaining family, putting anyone she interacts with in grave danger. Derek Thornbury is not the typical male protagonist, but I absolutely loved the humor and wit brought to the story by his eccentric, history-loving charm.  He struggles to trust Jess, but works together with her in order to discover the location of an object that would establish Jess' brother's rightful rule.  

I absolutely enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!  Ms. Hunter fills this book with intrigue, mystery, excitement, faith, loss, struggle, comedy, and adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters as well as their friendship. An excellent read! 

Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

I was already a superfan of Kristi Ann Hunter’s Regency books but wow, did A Pursuit of Home blow all of my (rather high) expectations out of the water.

First, there’s Jess! Finally, finally, Jess’s backstory is revealed and it’s beyond anything I could have dreamed up. Then Hunter pairs the lady who gets things done whatever it takes with a somewhat stodgy and cerebral art appraiser. From there, sparks fly. Sometimes they’re flying as Jess and Derek butt heads over opposing opinions and others, well, let’s just say there’s a shift in their attitudes towards each other at some point.

As if that wasn’t enough to capture readers, Hunter also brings Kit, Daphne, and some familiar faces from the Hawthorne House series make their way into the fold and make for the perfect recipe (especially since the Hawthorne’s matchmaking machinations have not abated with time).

Wrongs are righted, questions are answered, and with Derek’s help, Jess figures out the person she’s meant to become. You most definitely do not want to miss the Haven Manor series finale.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

We FINALLY have Jess's story!! Insert "squealing" here! I have been needing Jess's story for several books now and am so excited it's finally released! I could not put this one down. Derek is a perfect match for Jess in every sense of the word and I adored him and his growth in the book. Jess's backstory was one I wouldn't have thought up but it was perfect the way Kristi wrote it. We are reunited with several characters from the Hawthorne House set and that was a favorite part of the story for me. The humor I have come to expect from Kristi's books was there in spades and made the story even better for me. I know that I am gushing but Kristi has been a favorite author of mine since reading her first book(I have read them all) and she never disappoints. From great characters, tons of humor and a fantastic setting and time period, Kristi's books are always instant favorites for me and I devour them as soon as they are released. Her books are firmly on my keeper shelf!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

A Pursuit of Home – Haven Manor Book 3 - by Kristi Ann Hunter (one should read the previous Regency Era books in order)

***Fantastic Characters***
French Countryside, 1806 Jessamine Beauchene - wealthy, royal niece to the King of Verbonne, petite at age 15. Her family attacked in the middle of the night. Shoved into a hole in the floorboards with their family’s secrets.
[Absolutely one of my favorite scenes is when a beloved character from Kristi’s very first novel appears.]
The board lifted and the light from a single lantern revealed a pair of grey eyes… “What’s your name?” he asked. “Jess-“ hiccup – “Jess-” sniffle… “Well, Jess,” the man said, “I’m here to rescue you. How do you feel about going to England?”
[He is somewhat of a hero and definitely has amazing wit. Without revealing too much I was thrilled to have him back!]
Marlborough, England, 1816
Ch. 1 Sometimes despite time, distance, and a significant amount of ignoring it, the past never quite went away. Over the past two days, everything Jess had run from had spilled over the wall of the past and covered her present like gravy. Lumpy, bitter, burnt gravy. Every emotion she’d worked hard to bury had risen to the surface, making her mind a muddled swarm of incomplete thoughts and sharp colors.
… her current situation irritated her … she was going to have to ask a very bothersome man for his assistance. She needed Derek Thornbury’s help. To get, she was going to have to ask him, which required talking to him, which required, which required being in the same room with him without taking her knife from its hidden sheath and stabbing him in the leg. A tall order, as the man was simply too vexing for words.
“I brought you tea.”
“I see that.” He crossed the room and lifted the top of the pot to gaze into the depths of the brown liquid. “Is it poisoned?”
…Derek was a scholar of antiquities. He worked with things created by dead people. When he was working he might go days without a significant interaction with anyone who drew breath. Living people, quite inconveniently, required him to recall his manners and finish his sentences. Jess wasn’t merely an inconvenience, though. She was a massive complication, a mystery that was constantly changing, frustrating him to no end even as it kept enticing him closer.

Tea Quote: Anyone who insisted on foisting their romantic notions on her could find themselves with ipecac in their tea.
Faith Quote: …how important it was to seek God in the quiet times in order to know what to cling to in the chaos.
Enjoyable story as always!

Thank you to Bethany House, the author and NetGalley for a copy. My opinion is my own and given freely. Keep updated on the author’s website, Kristi Ann Hunter dot com

Haven Manor Series:
“The Haven Manor series follows a group of women who take what could have been a life-crushing circumstance and turned it into an opportunity to help desperate women and their children from the same fate. Their pasts may have brought these women here, but God has an amazing future in store for them.” -Author’s Website
Book 0.5 A Search for Refuge (Margaretta’s Story) 03/2018 FREE eNovella (available in print 2019 in the 3 author collection Love At Last)
Book 1 A Defense of Honor (Kit’s Story) 06/05/2018
Book 1.5 Legacy of Love (Sarah’s Story) 10/2018 Novella in The Christmas Heirloom Collection featuring 4 different authors
Book 2 A Return of Devotion (Daphne’s Story) 2/5/2019
Book 3 A Pursuit of Home (Jess’s Story) 11/5/2019

REVIEWS POSTED TO MY BLOG, MY PINTEREST, MY IG, MY FB
AMAZON, GOODREADS, BAM, B&N, CBD, GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS, KOBO, AUTHOR INFLUENCER PAGE

“Sometimes stories are more about the one doing the telling than the tale being told. The true magic is the heart in the words, the emotion in the pauses, the depth of the conviction. “

This is the beginning of A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Hunter the third book in the Haven Manor series. Our heroine, Jess Beauchene, has appeared in the last two novels and has always been a favorite character of mine. Her past has been a mystery and we really do not know her backstory until now. Our hero, Derek Thornbury, is an expert in artifacts and history. The two have never really hit it off, but now Jess needs Derek and his talents to solve a family mystery.

Their story is filled with adventure, intrigue, disguises, love, and the humor Kristi Hunter is known for. I was drawn into this amazing book after the first two sentences and reminded of how much I love Ms. Hunter’s gifted storytelling, the depth of her writing, and her insightful spiritual themes. I was so glad for the opportunity to read A Pursuit of Home and truly sad when it ended. It is a wonderful story. I highly recommend A Pursuit of Home. It will be the highlight of your year.

I’ve been waiting for Jess’s story for-ev-er! When you add the cameo appearances of beloved characters from other stories I was giddy with delight. In fact, I think the cameo appearances is my favorite aspect of this story. To see several books come together in one story…happy dance!

I also loved the chemistry between Jess and Derek. Seeing them interact usually had me chuckling and quickly reading to see what would happen next.

There was also intrigue, mystery, and good ol fashion history rolled into A Pursuit of Home.

All in all, Ms. Hunter kept me interested until the last page.

*I received a complimentary book from the publisher. My review was not required nor influenced.

It's been a long time coming but Jess finally gets her story! I was first introduced to this character in Kristi Ann Hunter's first novel, A Noble Masquerade, which remains to this day one of my favorite Christian romance novels. It was so inspiring and taught me a lot about forgiveness and sacrifice. This book was a learning experience as well, particularly with the complex background given to Jess and how her hero fits into it all. There were so many twists and turns, and while the story began a bit slow for me, it picked up and became one that I couldn't put down.

Jess has been hiding a secret for ten years, one that, if discovered, could mean not only her death but the death of the people she loves. But now, with the discovery that someone she long thought dead is possibly alive, it's time for her to come out of hiding to help. With the assistance of Derek Thornbury, an irritating yet highly intelligent man, Jess must find an object long hidden in myth and legend in order to save her family - and her future.

Jess and Derek were an interesting couple. They seemed oddly paired at first, constantly bickering and with very little common, so I had a hard time getting invested in their relationship. I didn't see where the story could possibly go that would lead to them getting together. Of course, the author knows best, and I clearly didn't see the direction she was going. I kept on reading and eventually saw a glimmer of interest in Jess, a spark of longing in Derek, and once that happened, I was hooked. Jess was a very complex character, having a long and windy backstory, and she was understandably jaded with the world. Derek had largely been sheltered and saw things in black and white, so he didn't understand how she could live her life in such shades of grey. They were well suited to each other, once they spent more time together. The second half of the book was particularly heart wrenching, as the reader watches them grow closer, even though they know it could never work if her plan comes to fruition. And then watching them deal with that knowledge was...just lovely. I would have liked the ending to be a bit more drawn out, but I loved it for what it was. Romance.

I can't wait to see what Kristi Ann Hunter writes next! I always enjoy her stories and her characters draw me in so well. Exciting times ahead, I'm sure.

Kristi Ann Hunter is one of my favorite Regency period writers. The setting of Haven Manor has been perfect for this series, and I think I could recognize the Manor if I came upon it during a walk in that fictional countryside. Her storylines are interesting and always have a thread of intrigue. There’s been some other wonderful characters in this series, but Jess has always been the character in whom I’ve been the most interested. It was fun to read her story, and it was all that I’d hoped for with suspenseful storyline and a good dose of humor.

I never would have thought to put Jess and Derek together, but it was the perfect combination of their differences that made this story so entertaining that I was looking for every chance I could find to read and see what was going to happen next. We also get to catch up with some other characters from the series that added to the fun. This is a clean, sweet Regency story with a thread of faith that winds all the way through it. I’m ready to read through this series again, and at the same time, looking forward to the next one from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I have been a big fan of Jess since A Noble Masquerade. Honestly, it took me way too long to realize Jess was an overlapping character. But I've loved Jess and have been waiting to hear her story for a long time.

I'm not sure that Kristi Ann Hunter had Jess's entire history and story planned from the beginning or if it wasn't until this book that she explored it all. Either way, there were certain pieces from the very beginning that trickled into the big picture for Jess.

I wasn't certain about Jess pairing up with Derek who is essentially a huge art nerd. These two do seem to fit when all is said and done, but they certainly don't have a traditionally romantic story. What happened fits with these two characters, but it isn't my normal preference as I like a bit more.

The mystery Jess is involved in takes over the majority of the book. I couldn't decide if I preferred the completely fictional country and its issues or if I would have liked something more true to history. Everything made sense in the end, but I don't think A Pursuit of Home is my favorite of the Haven Manor series.

Jess is such a strong character. She jumped off the page from all the way back to a series where she was only a side character. I loved how Ryland and Miranda were involved in the storyline. But I wish there was a bit more romance between Derek and Jess even though what happened fits with the characters and the situation they were facing. A Pursuit of Home gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read A Pursuit of Home? What did you think? Let me know!

The reader is immediately drawn into A Pursuit of Home by a story from Jess Beuchene’s past in the intense prologue.

Throughout the book there is an important mystery that must be solved. It will lead Jess Beuchene and Derek Thornbury on a journey together where they must rely on each other.

Jess and Derek are so different. He is book smart and her intelligence comes from her unique life experiences.

“He always seemed perfectly happy to be his odd self.”

He is so awkward and could spend every moment discussing paintings or telling someone a random fact.

“At least he was moving toward the carriage, even if he couldn’t stop himself from reciting every obscure fact about the smallest thing that no one in his vicinity even knew about, much less cared for.”

Even when Derek thinks of his attraction for Jess, he thinks of it from a painting’s perspective. Jess sees people and their actions and motives. She doesn’t want to get close to people because of what she has lost, and she doesn’t want to be emotional.

“Anyone who insisted on foisting their romantic notions on her could find themselves with ipecac in their tea.”

Although they are so opposite and even argue with each other in multiple languages, they are still perfect together. This is especially true when they are able to open up, like the really sweet scene when Derek is teaching Jess how to knit.

“This was different from attraction, different from friendship, different from anything she’d ever known. This made her feel vulnerable. This was terrifying.”

My favorite book by Hunter is A Noble Masquerade and I absolutely love that Ryland and Miranda return in Jess’ story. While there are returning characters from the Hawthorne House series and others from the earlier books in the Haven Manor series, any of these books can be enjoyed on their own.

A Pursuit of Home is a story of mystery, adventure, and love that will keep you guessing what will happen next.

I was quite literally dying to get my hands on this book. Hunter has a way of making me fall in love with characters and she’s done it from the first book of hers I picked up. I loved Jess right away and was hoping she would finally get her own story. She is such a fun and completely unique character and I couldn’t wait to get to know her even more. Hunter took me by surprise as I had no way of guessing what was going to happen in this story. Just as unpredictable as Jess herself, so is this book. Derek was also a one of a kind character and I found him easy to love. I enjoyed his interest in life and history, even if he might often come across as a know it all. Once you get to know him as I have you’ll know what I mean. Hunter had me laughing in one chapter and holding my breath in the next. I could not wait to see what would happen, and was turning pages way too late into the night trying to find a place where I could actually put the book down. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Historical Romance. I was blessed to read the first two books in the Haven Manor series, and although you don’t have to read them to enjoy this book, I totally recommend that you do. Otherwise you’ll be missing out on all the fun of seeing some of the main characters return. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

(4.5 stars) - puzzle pieces to the Master's peace

[This is Book 3 in the Haven Manor series. It can readily stand alone, though the story & characters will have more depth if you've read the previous books in the series]

Jess is living a mundane existence as a cook at a manor house when she is actually from a royal family - sounds like a fairytale, and in several ways it is, but it's told very believably with some faint echoes of the legends surrounding the deposing of Czar Nicholas's family.

Derek is a man with more knowledge & intelligence than social sense.
They both annoy each other tremendously, and yet somehow, they're going to have to work together.

As they begin to puzzle out the mystery that Jess must solve before it's too late, they begin to appreciate their differences and value what each has to contribute to their effort.

It's a little slow to start as it sets up the story, but once it gets going, the intrigue & excitement builds, and you can't put it down! Also, to my delight, Ryland & Miranda from "A Noble Masquerade" make a guest appearance in the story!

*Clean romance level: sweet kisses
*Religion: generically Christian, with some talk of God's guiding hand, though nothing preachy

I entered the Haven Manor series with book three, A Pursuit of Home, other than the short story Legacy of Love from The Christmas Heirloom Novella Collection. This book worked quite well as a stand-alone read. Hunter made good use of her prologue to build background and interest.

I had difficulty coming up with a word to describe the cast of characters of A Pursuit of Home. The best I can do is whimsical, a strange word to associate with nobility turned spies and an academic. Following Jessamine (Jess) Beauchene and Derek Thornbury on their quest to restore the small nation of Verbonne is full of danger and surprises. This is the kind of story in which the reader creates vivid mental images of the characters, the type that would cause a great degree of agitation if the book were made into a movie in which the actors did not match those mental images. Readers are likely to become vested in the lives of Derek and Jess.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.