The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton
Reviewed by HuberK, Green Forest, Arkansas, USA
Rating: 5 stars
Hardback, Large Print, Library Edition

Jesse helps Tamsen escape from a horrible situation. They are being tracked by a mountain man and Tamsen's step father and the man her step father wants her to marry.

Jesse has been raised by Indians, though he lives a roaming life with his pa, he feels compelled to help Tamsen escape her evil step father's clutches.

Very good book, you feel immersed into the scenes. Jesse being raised as he was, would have known that they not only needed to escape and put as many miles as possible, between them but he would also know that he needed to hide Tamsen, clothes, hairstyle, everything about her would need to change, to keep her from being found. ( )

The American Frontier of the eighteenth century is a rich source of amazing factual events and fascinating folk history. Author Lori Benton's beautifully descriptive writing and love of subject allow her readers to walk in the footprints of the past. "The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn" is a thrilling and compelling historical romance in which a young woman of privilege leaves behind all she has known in order to escape the cruelty of an obsessive and ambitious stepfather. Tamsen Littlejohn knows that she cannot accept an arraigned marriage when she longs to choose her own path. A heartbreaking tragedy and discovery of secrets about her very identity compel Tamsen to risk all in a daring flight for freedom with a frontiersman she has just met. Jesse Bird is a principled man of faith, and he is captivated by the beautiful Tamsen. Realizing the dire situation Tamsen faces, Jesse agrees to take her to a safe place away from her stepfather. Thus begins an amazing adventure through the rugged North Carolina frontier which will lead Tamsen and Jesse on an odyssey of survival and spiritual growth. Unexpected events along the way will take them to heights and depths that neither of them could have ever imagined. Will the love of a lifetime be their ultimate redemption and reward? Immerse yourself in this richly-told tale, and let author Lori Benton take you on an unforgettable journey of the heart and soul.

Book Copy Gratis WaterBrook Press via Blogging For Books ( )

This is yet another book where I find the overall story interesting, but the delivery is so slow and boring. This one was painfully slow for me, so I skimmed quite a bit of it. There just wasn't enough happening to move the plot along and the pace dragged as a result. The characters were a little too flat and mundane for my taste. Unfortunately, I don't think I would recommend it. ( )

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn is another great novel by Lori Benton. Set in the years following the American Revolution, the new nation is feeling its growing pains and settlers clash with Native Americans and newcomers to the frontier fight for independence again. Against the backdrop of hostilities among many factions comes a more personal story of independence for a young woman reeling from the death of her mother and running from the plots of her stepfather. Abetting her on her escape is Jesse Bird, a young man orphaned as a child and raised by the Shawnee. Tamsen and Jesse are compelling characters with complex stories. The setting of the State of Franklin in western North Carolina/eastern Tennessee provided an interesting historical context. The story itself is complex and develops slowly, but that was okay with me. I loved the storytelling, characterization, and the developing spiritual journey for Tamsen in particular. For fans of historical fiction set in the early years of the United States, this one is a must-read. And fans of romance with a little meat will love it as well. I listened to the audiobook and quickly fell into the story. The narrator’s voice faded into the background as Tamsen and Jesse’s story unfolded. Overall, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn was a great read that I highly recommend.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased the audio version of this book from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

“The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn” by Lori Benton was one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. The story takes place in Morganton, North Carolina, on the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains.

Tamsen Littlejohn is basically on the auction block if her stepfather, Hezekiah Parrish, has his way and forces her to marry a man of his choosing, Mr. Ambrose Kincaid. Tamsen’s mother just tries to make sure that her husband keeps calm and persuades Tamsen to do what he has ordered. She agrees to meet this man and flirt her way into a marriage proposal, but that is before she witnesses his treatment of one of his slaves. Tamsen is an abolitionist and abhors that kind of treatment of any human being. She decides then and there to flee her stepfather’s reach.

Jesse Bird and his partner, Cade, who is a half Deleware have just arrived in Morganton to deliver cattle from homesteaders west of the Appalachians. They are planning to escort some more settlers to the western lands. They plan to leave as soon as they can get the families together.

Jesse comes across Tamsen trying to flee in the middle of the night, but is caught by her stepfather. Tamsen again flees after her mother is killed by the brutish Mr. Parrish. Jesse and Cade agree to help Tamsen get away but are pursued by Mr. Parrish and Mr. Kincaid. Thus begins the tale.

I was so anxious reading for this novel because I didn‘t want to stop reading. Characters living in the 1780’s and the land that they live in is very interesting. I wasn’t sure what to expect next. Sometimes you can just guess what is coming, but in this novel that is not the case. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes historical fiction or romance. What a great read!
I received free print copy of this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review.
You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-ak, and on Goodreads.com at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/886238470. ( )