This is a review of "The Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann Gabhardt. This is a review for Netgalley in return for my honest opinion.  This story was a 3 star read for me. I enjoyed the characters, two men, Andrew Harper, a wealthy gentleman who was spurned at the altar a year prior betrayed by his best friend, and an artist, Kirby Frazier in need of a rich wife, both who converge at Graham's Healing Springs, a place where the sick in mind, body and soul was sure to find a cure.  The main character was Miss Elena Bradford, whose father was once wealthy, but squandered away his money, which left Elena and her mother, sister Ivy, and twin brothers in a financial crisis at his death. The sons were away at school, so Elena's mother decides that Elena must find a wealthy husband to save their family, and what better place to find a rich husband than at Graham Springs.  They take a coach there, and that is where they meet the two men Andrew Harper and Kirby Frazier, all traveling to Graham Springs hoping for a cure for what ails them all, but it isn't just health issues, but life issues too!  Elena thinks she is destined for spinsterhood, Andrew thinks his broken heart is unable to be healed, and Kirby hopes he will be hired on as a portrait artist and maybe find a rich wife to boot!  Andrew and Kirby end up being rivals, and Elena finds way more than she bargained for, and all three end up tangled in a mystery!

I liked this story, but without giving spoilers, I only rate it 3 stars because the story flowed well until the mystery part for me, and it didn't make much sense after that. The mystery part seemed to be added in to try to make the story exciting but in my opinion, it made it confusing. I did like the outcome of the story, but it just didn't flow well for me!  But I would recommend it, but only give it 3 stars out of 5.

My first book by Ann Gabhart and it certainly won't be my last! I knew going in there was a love triangle, and I was unsure of how I'd like it. I feel that this author wrote this trope perfectly! We get to see the POV of each person involved and it adds depth. It was written so well that you could see the situation actually happening in real life.

The characters were wonderfully written and developed. There were plot twists in this book I didn't see coming (which is hard to do for me), and the romance was gentle and sweet! The faith of the characters didn't feel unreal or forced. There was enough going on that I definitely stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it. 😂 A very pleasant read that I am thankful I had the chance to partake in!

I thank GOD I didn't live back then. Due to financial difficulty, Elena must marry someone she doesn't love. Her mother insisted upon it. This was their only solution.

So off they go to this fancy resort to find Elena a husband. There they met quite a few interesting characters.

Elena had low self esteem. She was always compared to her lovely sister. She didn't see that she was loveable and beautiful. To her surprise, she attracted a few suitors including an old man!

I enjoyed the book. Ann Gabhart knows how to tell a story.

I know the books by this gifted author will always be a treat to read. This one is no exception. She has a way of writing from the heart of the characters and drawing readers in. What begins as a simple yet engaging story slowly intensifies and deepens, taking the reader on a mental and emotional journey you don’t want to end. This intriguing tale is based on a real place and an actual occurrence. I so wanted to know who the elusive Vanessa really was. In this novel we have history and mystery, drama and love interests and artists too. I think it would make a great book club choice too. I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own. #ThePursuitofElenaBradford #NetGalley

Sweet inspirational romance (with a little bit of mystery thrown in) about trusting God's timing and counting your blessings no matter the situation. The author did such a good job of creating the resort setting--I felt like I was there! I especially liked the author's note about a true historical incident that inspired the book's mystery.

“I will never look at these roses the same. Now, in my mind, they will forever be Elena’s roses.”

Mystery, a young woman caught between two very different men, & roses… I thoroughly enjoyed The Pursuit of Elena Bradford. The vivid beauty of Graham’s Springs, Kentucky is brought to life in this slow burn, historical romance as Elena Bradford feels the weight of her family’s future on her shoulders. Told from four different perspectives, this unique, heartfelt story kept me quickly turning the pages to see if Elena would choose the artist, the grieving man spurned by his fiancée, or the old wealthy general.

When Elena Bradford’s father passed away, he left crushing debt behind. Now Elena’s mother has come up with one last ditch scheme to marry her eldest daughter off to a wealthy gentleman to save the family’s future. She’s taking Elena & her younger sister Ivy to the Graham’s Springs famed for its curative mineral waters. On the way, they meet two handsome gentleman, Mr. Kirby Frazier, a talented artist hoping to get a job at the resort, & the quiet, melancholic Mr. Andrew Harper.

While initially opposed to her mother’s scheme, she finds the resort & beautiful grounds charming as well as the two men who’ve shown an interest in her. Though her mother’s constantly criticizing her, she begins to see herself with new eyes through Kirby & Andrew. However, her mother is pushing her towards the wealthy, much older General Dawson.

When a beautiful young woman arrives unaccompanied, she’s surrounded by mystery. She doesn’t seem to be who she claims to be & when she collapses at a dance & pronounced dead, suspicions are raised that it could be murder. Elena finds herself in a precarious situation while investigating the mystery, & her only hope is that someone will rescue her in time.

Once Elena & her family arrive in Graham’s Springs, I was completely invested in the story. I enjoyed reading from four POVs & was kept guessing as to whom Elena would end up with. The mystery added another intriguing layer.

Elena’s a budding artist & it’s hard for her to resist the charming, talented Kirby. But Kirby has his own agenda. I especially enjoyed the romance between Andrew & Elena. Though Andrew suffered from a broken heart, he soon realizes that his relationship with his former fiancée pales in comparison to the friendship & joy he feels with Elena. They have a close connection from the beginning & I loved the time they spent together at dawn among the roses.

This is a delightful, standalone, slow burn historical romance with a touch of mystery & faith. The characters were memorable & I’d love to read several more of their stories. Highly recommend to inspirational historical romance fans. I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars!

Do you have a favorite vacation spot? One place I think is wonderful is Mackinac Island in Michigan. It’s a beautiful and unforgettable place full of history and natural beauty. My great great grandparents met on the island working there one summer and married.

Elena Bradford’s father has recently died, and her mother discovered that he left them greatly in debt. The only way she can think of to save the family from destitution is to find a wealthy husband for her “old maid” daughter, twenty-two-year-old Elena. Her younger daughter, Ivy, is the beauty of the family, but is considered too young for this task. They travel to a resort, Graham Springs, Kentucky for the summer. While there, Elena works on her artwork and meets two men who will not meet her mother’s standards. Kirby Frazier is a penniless artist, while Andrew Harper has come to the resort to repair his wounded heart after being left at the altar. Will Elena find love, or will she marry an older wealthy suitor to save her family? When a mysterious woman arrives alone at the resort, her fate will change the Elena’s path.

My thoughts on this novel:
• I always love a good love triangle and the Elena, Kirby, and Andrew love triangle was a good story. I liked the resolution.

• The story had an interesting mystery about halfway through and also some action/suspense towards the end of the novel.

• I loved the setting of the Graham Springs resort in Kentucky. I didn’t realize this was a real place until the end of the novel. The author’s note was so interesting. I was especially fascinated to learn that the mysterious death was a true mystery that was never solved.

• This was a slower read for me, but I still enjoyed the story. It seemed to slow down in the middle for me, but once the mysterious beautiful Vanessa arrives alone at the resort, the action picked up.

• I loved the focus on healing throughout the novel. Elena, her sister Ivy, and her mother are still healing from her father’s death. Andrew is healing from his fiancée’s betrayal. Other characters have similar stories of coming to the resort to heal.

• I loved the beauty of nature that was woven throughout the story.

• Cats were a key feature. Elena must leave her beloved cat at home and then a mysterious cat at the resort helps her to survive a misadventure.

• I loved how there was dancing every night at the resort. It sounded like such a wonderful place to visit.

Overall, the Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful historical romance and a perfect read to bring along on any vacation.
Book Source: Thank-you to @annhgabhart @revellfiction @austenprosefor the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour

This was a really good story! I enjoyed the setting and the characters. I did feel that it moved a little slowly until about the halfway point. Then, I could hardly put it down!

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

A heartfelt thank you to @annhgabhart @revellfiction and @austenprose for the #gifted book. It’s truly a gem!

After the death of her father leaves her family in financial turmoil, Elena, alongside her sister and mother, embarks on a journey to Graham Springs, Kentucky. They are in search of a wealthy husband for Elena to rescue them from their debts. As fate would have it, she becomes entangled with two intriguing men, each on their own quest. When tragedy strikes, the mystery deepens, pulling everyone into an unexpected mystery.

Set in 1842, this novel immerses you in its richly detailed world, making you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. The narrative masterfully weaves together historical elements, mystery, romance, and the complexities of family bonds.

The characters are exceptionally well-developed and relatable, making it impossible not to root for them. The storyline is layered and flows seamlessly, keeping you captivated until the very last page. This clean historical novel is infused with hope, heartache, and just the right touch of humor. What begins as a tragedy evolves into a gripping mystery that captivates the imagination.

This beautifully written work features vibrant characters who bring each scene to life. Fans of historical romance should not miss the opportunity to add this remarkable story to their reading list. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for lovers of mystery, historical narratives, and exquisite storytelling. The book is available now.

I love it when I read an amazing book set in Kentucky since I was born and raised here. The Pursuit of Elena Bradford is set very close to home and kept my attention very easily. I especially enjoyed that the resort and towns, as well as some of the characters, actually exist and/or existed during the time period. I've found a new author to binge read!

It has been a long time since I have read a book by Ann H Gabhart and when I picked this one up I had no idea that I would be so excited the whole time. I honestly didn't want the story to end. It is a beautiful historical fiction novel that not only has romance but a mystery as well. The fact that the mystery is based off of a incident in real life makes it more intriguing.
Our main character Elena is struggling with the death of her father and her mother is in hysterics because he left a lot of debt. Her mother believes that their only option is for Elena to marry a wealthy man. However, Elena has seen the not so flattering side of marriage and children from those around her and decides that marriage is not for her. Her mother then decides to pack up Elena and her sister Ivy to go to this resort that has water with healing properties.
At the retreat we are introduced to two young men who are immediately interested in Elena the first one is Kirby who is an artist and has dreams of going west. The second is Andrew who works at this grandfather's farm and he is going through a breakup from the previous year. However Elena's mother views both of these men below her station.
Overall the resort is a wonderful place with relaxation and dancing. However, the relaxing atmosphere quickly dissolves when a unknown young mysteriously dies while dancing. The dr. claims that her heart gave out but Ivy may have witnessed a poisoning. With no information about the mysterious lady and the killer everyone is in a state of confusion. Will they be able to find the true cause of death? Will Elena be able to marry for love rather than social status.
Overall this was quite the lovely read. I was very impressed with the characters and the plot. I look forward to reading what this author writes in the future.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Sunrise Reef
A Hope Harbor Novel
by Irene Hannon
Publisher: Revell
Series: A Hope Harbor Novel
Rated: 4
Back of the Book: “Sometimes you have to look beneath the surface to find the treasure within. After years of searching, Bren Ryan has found her place in Hope Harbor. Working as a barista suits her to a T, as does the laid-back vibe of her adopted town. Nothing is lacking in her life--except romance. But that's okay. Men are a complication she doesn't need.
Buttoned-up CPA Noah Ward isn't looking for love, either, when he arrives in town on a mission to convince his father to move closer to him. And he certainly doesn't intend to fall for the quirky, free-spirited woman who's taken up residence in his father's guest cottage.
But when Noah finds himself sucked into Bren's quest to help a struggling teen, might the two of them discover there's more to each other than meets the eye?
Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.”

Impressions: This was an enjoyable read. It explored stereotypes and connecting with people beyond the surface. It also delved into how being the hands and feet of Christ supports and builds our community as well as ourselves up. Rather than allowing challenges of life to crush her, Bren allowed them to shape and grow her. Although she had a quirky style, her kind heart, and love of the Lord drew people to her including a spark of connection with a seemingly opposite person. I believe their foundation of faith and values is really what helped their relationship bloom.

Quotes: “‘I offered her a lift back to town, but she said she was fine.’… ‘Funny how often people say that when the opposite is true. Independence is an admirable trait, but it can get tangled up with pride and fear, can’t it?’”

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

This story took a lot for me to get into. Took me weeks to read it. I finally found myself skimming in order to get to the end. It picked up a bit and I did like the overall storyline, but I found it moved much much too slow for my liking. The faith element was good and I loved Elena. The truth factor of much of this story is very fascinating and I’d love to visit Graham Springs, Kentucky someday. If you’ve read her other books I’m sure you’d like this one as well, but for me it a was a bit of a miss.

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

This book finished strong and made me smile.
I especially liked the prayerfulness and faith of Andrew. Something he got from his Grandfather.
Part romance. Part mystery. The characters are well developed and very different from one another .
The search for a husband for Elena was a bit overdone for my taste.
The pace was slow until about the 50%. BY the time the mystery part of the book was in full swing I was hooked.

This lovely histfic romance mystery, set in 1840s Kentucky, captured my heart with its elegant Christian tale of a young woman forced to seek a wealthy man to wed to save her family from poverty. She heads with her mother and sister to a bucolic resort, where likely suitors could be found, and I felt as if I were, instead, in Regency England resplendent with dances, walks, gardens, and lakes. I adored the story, the characters, and the pastoral setting, and so look forward to more by the author!

I have read Ann Gabhart before and enjoyed her novels. But I almost didn't finish this book. I thought it started out very slow and too simple. But I had received a copy from NetGalley and needed to write a review so I forced myself to finish it. I'm glad I did! It caught my attention and I had to know the ending.

In the Pursuit of Elena Bradford, Elena's father has passed away and left behind a mountain of debt. With just Elena, her mother, and younger sister, Ivy left, something must be done to improve their fortunes. Elena's mother takes the girls to a resort for the rich in the hopes that Elena will bag a wealthy husband. Despite never having had a beau before, Elena finds herself attracting the attention of two men! Kirby Frazier is an artist who dreams of going west. And Andrew Harper helps out on his grandfather's farm. Neither men are of Elena's class and considered inappropriate matches. When a beautiful young woman arrives at the resort, tongues begin to wag about who she is and why no relative accompanied her. Then the mysterious young lady dies during a dance and changes the course of Elena's life.

Even though the story started out slow, I enjoyed the Pursuit of Elena Bradford. While the mystery of the young woman feels incomplete, the author has centered the novel around actual events! And the mystery has never been solved to this day.

Elena Bradford was prepared to be a spinster, but everything changed when her father died leaving their family in debt. The story continued, sounding a lot like a regency romance. I had to keep on reminding myself that it was set in Kentucky! There was a little mystery and a fun twist to the story. More than the plot I enjoyed the development of the characters and the description of their walks with God. I also like the description of how art impacted the lives and outlook of Elena and Kirby.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After the death of their father, the Bradford family finds out that they are not as well of as they assumed. Some bad investment decisions were made and now widowed Mrs. Bradford has put it on her eldest daughter to marry someone with wealth to save their family name. She decides it's worth the money to head off with her two daughters to Graham Springs. The place where ailments, sickness and broken hearts are healed as well as marriageable men. As their time progresses, Elena finds interest in two men. The one is a man after her own heart with having a love of art and displaying that beauty on canvas but her mother isn't interested in this match. Artists are poor and this would not help her family. The other man seems kind and gentle but is guarded. It seems he has been hurt in the past and yet they feel so comfortable around each other. Then a mysterious guest appears, and could easily steal the hearts of all men there. So when a death occurs, and a fiancé shows up stirring up trouble Elena starts to consider life as a maid or marrying the one her mother has had her eye on, even though he could be her father. Will she be able to marry for love or to save her her family name? I really enjoyed this read and loved the true historical aspects that were wound throughout this novel. Thank you to the author and publisher for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford, written by Ann H. Gabhart, is a charming historical Southern Christian murder mystery romance.

Gabhart transports her readers back in time to 1842 Graham Springs, Kentucky, where we join the Bradford women, in their desperate mission to retain their lifestyle after a death leaves them destitute. Written from multiple points of view Gabhart brings her characters to life as we get to know each of their thoughts and feelings. Between Gabhart’s realistic characters and vivid scenes throughout this remarkable story one cannot help becoming invested in their plights.

I highly recommend The Pursuit of Elena Bradford, a beautifully executed love triangle story with a murder mystery, that will keep you reading well into the night to see what happens next.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Elena Bradford, sister Ivy and their mother travel to Graham Springs, Kentucky after Mr Bradford died and left them in financial distress. As Elena pursues a rich husband to rescue them, Andrew Harper and Kirby Frazier are on a pursuit of their own.
Written in an engaging way, this story encompasses the potential encountered at this posh resort. Based on a real place and some real people, Ms Gabhart takes us on an intriguing journey of seeking love in spite of obligations. There is even a real mystery that teases your mind with possibilities. The characters are each trying to prove themselves: one as a viable artist, one that he is worthy after a broken heart, one who needs to see beyond physical beauty to the beauty within and one that marriage can be forged from love and not convenience.
Through beautiful prose, the author pens a story full of faith and promises of something better.
It is always a pleasure to read a thoughtful, historically accurate story written by an accomplished author.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*