Lynn Austin is one of my favorite authors. Her writing never ceases to amaze me; her characters, the way she creates the feel of the time period, how God’s mercy is displayed so wonderfully in each book… I could go on and on. But then I would never get to the heart of this post. One of my most recent Lynn Austin reads was A Proper Pursuit. The novel is set in the turn of the century, a perfect time for the protagonist, Violet Hayes, to discover who she is. Violet is extremely imaginative, something her father does not appreciate. In fact Violet’s father does not seem to appreciate much about Violet. The feeling is mutual, Violet equally dislikes her father and her soon to be step mother. To escape them both for a few precious weeks she sets off to Chicago under the guise of being able to spend time with her aunts and see the World’s Fair. In reality Violet hopes to find the mother that abandoned her years ago, she just knows that finding her will set everything right again. But while staying in Chicago Violet learns more than she could ever imagine from her four eccentric aunts. Violet comes to Chicago as a naive young woman hoping to find love, adventure, and the mother she lost. But will she find what she is desires? Little does Violet know that while on her pursuit for her mother, the Savior, the one who loves her best, is pursuing her.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Proper Pursuit, and while not my favorite Lynn Austen book, it was still amazing. It is the perfect book to read if you’re looking for something lighthearted with substance. There’s enough romance to please everyone, but the romance is overshadowed by a much greater love and is used not just to add fluff to the story. I think those are the best kind of romances. The ones that lead us to Christ and His much more beautiful love. The writing itself is amazing, it captures you and pulls you into Violet’s world without sounding forced. I would definitely recommend A Proper Pursuit to anyone in pursuit of a good read. 😉

Something I like to do whenever I write a book review is to include a Bible verse that fits with the story. The ones I choose for A Proper Pursuit are Luke 15:3-7.

“So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Just as Jesus sought after the lost sheep, so He seeks after us. He never ever stops pursuing those He loves.