Bible verses from the Gospels influence Gabhart’s story, reminding us that God needs to be a part of our day, especially when we feel alone and incapable of reaching our full potential.

There are three threads running through this 5-star novel: healing, pretense, and constraint.

Firstly, I loved Gabhart’s focus on healing. Each visitor has come to Graham Springs, Kentucky to take advantage of the waters and receive healing. For some, a heart has been broken by grief, for others, it’s been fractured by betrayal. Regardless, the rejuvenation allows each to leave whole.

I also appreciated Gabhart highlighting pretense and reminding readers that pretending to be who we aren’t, rarely works out in the intended way. Although the readers know the guests’ financial situation, I was still drawn in, waiting to see if the deceptive protagonists knew the roles they were playing would have to end and if they ended satisfactorily. The unexpected roadblock in the story reveals the characters' hearts and shows how flexible they are when their intended plans need readjusting. Gabhart gives us all a lesson here.

I’m always drawn into a story where a character feels constrained by society and desires to break free from expectations. Gabhart was able to capitalize on vulnerability and independence and play each trait off the other to produce a compelling narrative. She showcased the beauty of true love, loving the one you marry, and the concept of leaving our worries in God’s hands.

Perhaps most of all, I appreciated the places where the narrative stopped me in my tracks and made me reread and contemplate or understand my reaction. For example:

“Love is for those who can afford it. Or those who care nothing about having the finer things in life.”

“A woman willing to marry for money rather than love is hardly a lady.”

The references to birds (Bobwhite) and birdsong were the Easter eggs I was expecting, the dancing lady brought a smile, and the discussion about being a stingy bloomer will stay with me. This wonderful story featuring a love triangle between Andrew Harper, Kirby Frazier, and Elena Bradford is one you’ll want on your reading list.

I was gifted this copy by Revell and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This new book by Ann Gabhart is set in Kentucky, but not in the poverty-stricken areas of Appalachia. This time the action takes place at an elegant resort where the wealthy go to drink or bathe in the waters that are advertised for their healing properties. So the atmosphere of the novel is different than the Appalachian books with their eccentric yet lovable old grannies and young, needy children.

I enjoyed reading this book, with likeable characters (as well as those you’d rather avoid), a mystery and good plot twists to keep up the reader’s interest, and three possible suitors for Elena, who has a hard time seeing herself as desirable (after all, everyone has already been calling her a spinster for several years). Most of the main characters mature and change in positive ways during the book, which I always appreciate.

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

Ann H. Gabhart has a way of making her characters come alive and burrow into your mind so that you find yourself thinking about them even after putting the book down. If you happen to be reading this book prior to going to a prayer meeting, try to put the book out of your mind until you get home so you won’t embarrass yourself by requesting prayer at church for Elena who finds herself in quite a predicament several times. Yes, the story will grab your attention and hold it until the end. Elena, with her mother and her younger sister, had come to Graham Springs for the summer so that Elena might attract a suitable, wealthy marriage partner in order to keep their family out of the poorhouse. General Dawson was quite the character as he sought to dance with almost every lady present at the balls held every evening at the famous Springs Hotel. I typically focus more on suspense and action, but this book is billed more as a romance. However, I found enough mystery, suspense, and action woven with the romance to keep my attention and interest at a high level. Even the romance had a certain element of mystery about it as each of the main characters attempted to find information about potential partners without being obvious about it. Somehow, even a cat got in on the action. I got a chuckle when Elena was in a jam and the cat brought her a dead mouse, apparently thinking she was about to starve and would enjoy the same kind of food that it liked. Of particular interest to me is the fact that my wife, our daughter, and I lived about a half-hour driving distance from the former site of the Springs Hotel in the early 1970s and never knew of its existence. My point is that the book is about an actual historical place with a real historical character, Dr. Christopher Columbus Graham. How interesting to learn some more Kentucky history from a novel. I suppose I was much more interested in the role Daniel Boone played in Kentucky history than the role of the various healing springs around that area where people went to take the waters and look for romance. I enjoyed the story. I received an advance copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.