This is a lovely historical romance that takes place in Kentucky during the 1840s, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the Southern setting, well drawn characters, Elena’s growth, and the passion for painting. I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, but this one clicked with me and was well done. It also had a touch of mystery and suspense that added nicely to the story.

I received a copy from the publisher and Austenprose via NetGalley, but a positive review wasn’t required.

I was enjoying this historical novel set in 1840's Kentucky: meeting the characters, a little jealous about their vacation at a resort, wondering about the romance to come. Then the laid back story shocked me with unexpected excitement and chaos! What genre am I reading?! I loved the twists and turns for the rest of the book. The romance was heartfelt. But the story ended with an unanswered question. Until I read the authors notes, and it ended with another "Wow!" And contentment. I highly recommend The Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann Gabhart!

I received an early copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is an historical romance set at Graham Springs in Kentucky.

Lots to keep you wanting to come back to find out what happens next.

The story starts off with a runaway stage coach and one of the passengers playing hero and stopping the horses before disaster happens.

Because of her father’s bad dealings Elena, her mother and younger sister Ivy travel to Graham Springs to find a husband for Elena that would have enough money to pay her father’s debts and help her mother and siblings.

Elena has some choices in men: an artist who wants a rich wife to fund his art lifestyle, a man who is at least two times her age and a broken hearted man who is getting over being left at the altar.

There are other characters too that play a role in the story and there is even some mystery woven in.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from author and NetGalley . The review expressed here is my honest opinion

“The Pursuit of Elena Bradford” is a wonderful historical romance with a heroine who doesn’t know her own beauty but is being forced to marry to protect her family. Two suitors pursue her for different reasons. One for her money and one for her heart.

Each character is full of depth and emotion, the motivations of the heart clearly seen through the descriptive language used by the author. There were people it was easy to like and others not so much.

I won’t spoil the story but will say that the romance element was truly satisfying and she got the right man. There was also another romance woven into the story that was a surprise, at least for me.

I also loved the little historical vignettes that gave me a picture of what it was like for the different social classes of the day. I could see the beauty of the spa, the details of the ball dresses, and loved the detail of the ducks by the lake and reactions to them.

I was given a courtesy copy of this excellent book for lovers of historical romance courtesy of Revell through NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.

4.5 stars for Ann H Gabhart's The Pursuit of Elena Bradford. Such an intriguing book with complex characters. I loved the setting of Graham Spring, Kentucky. At times, I felt like I was stepping into Regency London with the dances and walks in the gardens and by the lake. I must say, I didn't expect to feel such a swing of emotions towards characters. One minute, I'm liking a character and the next minute, I want to throttle him. I attribute that to good writing. While I didn't care much for Elena's male interests, the supporting characters like sweet General Dawson and over-emotional younger sister Ivy made up for it.

I didn't expect so much mystery in the novel. I did wish for a little bit of a better resolution and to find some answers, but the author's notes at the end were helpful in that explanation. Overall, an entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for this complimentary ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I recently finished The Pursuit of Elena Bradford, and it instantly captivated me. This story started off with a run away stage coach and a dashing hero, and I knew instantly that this was going to be a good read.

Elena Bradford's mother has taken her and her sister to the Graham Springs Hotel for the sole purpose of finding a good marriage match for Elena to help the family from falling into poverty. Elena, at twenty-two, had resigned herself to a life as a spinster. Spending a lonely life with her sketching and her books. She didn't expect to find one suitor, never mind multiple. But more than that, she found a strengthened relationship with her sister. But, things are not necessarily all that they seem at Graham Springs Hotel, and Elena finds herself in fear of her life. Will anyone come to save her?

Pick up this book if you enjoy:

🎨 Historical Christian Fiction set in mid 1800s America
🎨 Romance
🎨 Mystery
🎨 Who will she choose
🎨 Surprise romance
🎨 Found family
🎨 Sister bonds

This book is full of rich descriptions of the beautiful Graham Springs Hotel and its gorgeous grounds, the nightly dances, and the eclectic mix of guests. I felt transported to the hotel and could vividly picture the nightly balls, the walks around the grounds, and the delicious food.

This was a story of believing in oneself, finding confidence, family, and friendship. The romances were sweet. The little bit of mystery towards the end was just the right touch to add some tension to the story and to open up the door for Elena to decide where her heart belonged.

I definitely recommend this book for fans of historical romance with some mystery.

Readers who like historical fiction will enjoy this book set in Graham Springs Kentucky.. Elena’s mother sets out to seek a husband for her in daughter order to save the family from destitute. Elena wants to marry for love and attracts suitors at this famous resort. When a mysterious woman arrives and then dies while dancing at one of the dances, everyone joins in to sort out the mystery. Will the mystery be solved? Will Elena find a husband? Find out in this enjoyable book.

“Elena Bradford had yet to meet the man to make her consider marriage.”

I lived in Kentucky for thirty years, the next county over from where the events of The Pursuit of Elena Bradford take place, but I never knew about Graham Springs. I wish I *had* learned about it sooner because it was an intriguing place with a now century-old super fascinating mystery, and I would have totally dug into this history and undoubtedly fallen down several rabbit holes in the process. Thankfully, Ann H. Gabhart has brought Graham Springs vividly to life on the pages of this book, along with a host of compelling characters that beckoned me to walk with them through the gardens, along the lake, around the rifle range or through the resort itself.

Elena Bradford, as you might guess from the title, is the main protagonist whose reluctant quest for a husband we follow through this story. Her family’s dramatically-altered financial situation requires her – per her mother’s strict orders – to marry someone with enough funds to pay off their debts. However, Gabhart also delightfully gives us three other perspectives in the narrative – Elena’s little sister Ivy (a bright and amiable 16-year-old in love with a boy back home), Andrew Harper (a jilted groom with a broken heart), and Kirby Frazier (a charming artist hoping to fund his journey west). I really enjoyed getting into each characters’ head this way, and I easily fell in love with all four, each for different reasons.

Elena is a pleasing blend of practical and creative, keeping a cool head in the midst of upheaval but also preferring to lose herself in her sketchbook among the flowers (and if a cat should also come along, all the better). And Ivy – she’s just so pure of heart and she feels deeply, and she always made me smile. As for the men… I’m normally not a fan of love triangles but I didn’t mind this one for some reason. I think because I had a clear choice in my mind from almost the beginning as to whether I wanted Elena to end up with Kirby or Andrew so I viewed the other man as less of a threat and more of another ally. I’m not even going to tell you what I liked about each hero so I don’t let my bias show between them haha, but I will say it turned out like I hoped, though not necessarily as I expected. And then there’s the enigmatic Vanessa… but I’ll let you discover her for yourself.

Bottom Line: The Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann H. Gabhart transports readers to a lovely respite for what ails you, tucked away in the rolling hills of 1840s Kentucky. With characters you’ll want to befriend and some surprising twists to keep you on your toes, the story keeps you invested in the outcome and cheering for as many happily-ever-afters as possible. The romance is so heart-and-soul-affirming, and I was touched by both Elena’s and Ivy’s walks with God and especially Elena’s surrender to His will. There’s even a little dash of suspense that raised my pulse and a based-on-real-events mystery that captured my imagination (and had me googling articles about it late into the night). I enjoyed all the different elements to the plot as well as the compelling history and the author’s warm writing voice, but more than anything I appreciated the gentle spiritual truths that my heart absorbed while reading Elena’s journey.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

“Elena Bradford had yet to meet the man to make her consider marriage.”

This first line sets the stage for this lovely story.

Elena Bradford, her mom and sister, Lily go to Graham Springs to look for a husband for Elena. Many flocked to this castle-like, grand hotel resort to take of the mineral springs and make advantageous matches. The Bradfords needed money from such a marriage to pay off the late father’s debts. This had to work since they had used the rest of their money for this trip.

I loved the entanglements Elena got herself into. She had resigned to be a spinster yet she did, in fact, attract good men. She was so resolved to spinsterhood that she had quit seeing her own loveliness. That is insight into the beauty in all of us.

This exceptional story is driven by its vast array of characters, the beautiful setting, and a mysterious historical event. As always, Ann Gabhart pens an endearing story with spiritual roots and characters you would like to have as friends. It was all just over too soon.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

As much as I wanted to love The Pursuit of Elena Bradford as much as the other books I have read by Ann H. Gabhart this one just wasn’t for me. I just couldn’t get in to it and after reading 50% I have decided to stop. So unfortunately for me this one is a DNF.

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

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford is a historical Christian fiction set on a luxury resort in Kentucky. The story basically begins as they are travelling by stagecoach to the resort--Elena, her mother, and younger sister. They are joined by a few men, including an artist who has a canvas with him.

We immediately see Elena drawn to the artist who is heading to the same resort as the family. She's an artist too and feels "seen" for her work as more than just scribbles/doodles. He's also young and she's being pushed to marry by her mother.

It's that pushing by the mother that sets up the rest of the story. We learn this is a make-it-or-break-it trip for the family. No fortune left--all depends on Elena finding a husband. Something she is LOATHE to do...but understands it's her duty.

Throughout the course of the book there are two love interests for Elena...or maybe it's three... (wink)

Her experiences with each of the men is basically what the whole story revolves around. there are...four points of view-Elena, her sister, and two of the suitors. There is a smidge of mystery tossed in too.

So all in all. It's 3.5 stars for me. I just couldn't connect with the characters. But I'll do 4 stars for the online counts. It was just so-so. I read so much that this book just felt flat. then it felt RUSHED so rushed in that set of chapters. I mean--who WAS the mysterious lady?

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann H. Gabhart is an engaging historical romance novel set in 1842 in Graham Springs, Kentucky.

From the perspective of 22-year-old Elena Bradford, a self-proclaimed spinster, the author tells a story of desperation following her father’s death. Because of the many debts he left them, Elena, her mother, and her younger sister Ivy are in danger of losing their home and being forced into service. The only solution (according to Elena’s mother) is for Elena to marry a rich man.

Elena has a few choices: an artist looking for a rich wife to fund his lifestyle, a man old enough to be her grandfather and a broken-hearted man whose fiancée left him at the altar. Elena prefers sketching flowers in the garden and remaining single forever, yet she reluctantly entertains the idea of each man as a potential husband.

The cast of side characters, accompanied by a bit of a murder/mystery, made this novel hard to put down. If you enjoy historical romance, you won’t be disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest review.

Another great historical fiction novel from Ann Gabhart! This book follows Elena Bradford, whose family's financial situation becomes known to be severe when her father dies. When Elena's mother hatches a plot, Elena, her mother and her sister head to Graham Springs where her mother hopes Elena can snag a wealthy suitor who will pull them from their dire straits. What ends up happening none of them would have ever expected.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story line of this tale and the character development that occurred through the story - not only for Elena, but also many others including her mother and sister. Elena finds herself drawn to 2 men that her mother would never approve of, and finds herself concerned when the suitor at the top of her mother's list is old enough to be her grandfather. Elena's character growth throughout the story is absolutely stellar - not only emotionally but spiritually. Though I would say this one was primarily a character-driven novel, there was plenty of plot included, primarily through the story of the young woman who showed up out of the blue surrounded by mystery and tragedy. I was equally entranced by the author's note at the end that explained that pieces of that story happened in real life as well. I always love when actual historical events that I'd not been aware of are found in the pages of a novel!

Though not all of the elements found closure in the story, the important pieces did and the ending was wholly satisfying. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I would easily recommend to fans of historical fiction with threads of both mystery and romance. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Behind all the pursuit, pressure, and polite Southern charm, this story is really about one thing: a woman learning to trust God with everything when everything’s falling apart.

Set at a resort known for its “healing waters,” the story quietly invites readers to see where true healing actually comes from.

Elena isn’t out here chasing fairytales. She’s trying to keep her family afloat without losing herself in the process. But what I appreciated most? Her strength didn’t come from sass or self-sufficiency—it came from surrender. Little by little, prayer by prayer.

“She couldn’t solve her problems tonight. Tomorrow would bring whatever it brought, and she would face it with the Lord’s help. With His love.”

That right there—that’s where the whole story turns for me. Because haven’t we all had those “Lord, I can’t fix this” nights?

I loved that this was about a woman waking up to the truth that God’s love is steady, even when everything else is shaky. That love looks different than we think. Sometimes it's not romantic. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it asks us to give up the very thing we thought would save us.

And yeah… some of those moments between Elena and her mother? Whew. Like sandpaper on the heart. But it’s the rough edges that show how far God’s willing to go to shape us. And how often He uses people we don’t understand to get us there.

“She did believe the Lord loved her… Did she have any of that kind of sacrificial love for her family?”

That question doesn’t just belong to Elena. That one’s got teeth. It’ll sit with you.

This story reminded us that God doesn’t just show up in church pews and quiet times—He shows up in broken families, confusing emotions, and those decisions you make with tears in your eyes and prayers on your lips.

If you’re looking for a faith-first historical read that balances heartache, humor, and hope—this is it. And if you're like me, you’ll want to linger a bit longer after the last page, just to soak in what the Lord might still be whispering.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

Overall rating 3.5 stars.
Love traingles are not my thing I am finding out, as I was kind of thinking she would end up with the preliminary mmc, only to have the other mmc walk in and steal the show but not until the near end of the book. The middle of the story turned into a mystery where romance kind of took a backseat as the plot focused on Vanessa.
Elena was likable enough, she was a sentimental and caring person. Her sister Ivy was fun, placed as the young hopeless romantic. I didn't care for their mother, who often came across as selfish and uncaring.
The faith content was small but present.
The natural springs of Kentucky is something I wasn't aware of historically speaking, it is interesting. I always thought most of the healing waters were out west.
Thank you netgalley for my ARC, this is my honest opinion.

Set against the genteel backdrop of 19th-century Graham Springs, Kentucky, this delightful historical romance immerses readers in a world of social ambition, heartfelt longing, and unexpected turns of fate. At the heart of the story is Elena Bradford, a young woman of quiet strength and sincerity, who suddenly finds herself the reluctant hope of her financially struggling family. While her mother seeks a wealthy suitor to secure their future, Elena’s journey is less about appearances and more about discovering the true nature of love, loyalty, and purpose.

The romance unfolds with a classic love triangle, yet the author gives each suitor—charming yet calculating Kirby Frazier and the introspective, wounded Andrew Harper—depth and nuance. As Elena is pulled between expectations and desire, the story remains grounded in her moral compass and sense of compassion. The addition of a mysterious guest and a surprising tragedy introduces a layer of intrigue that keeps the pace lively and the stakes emotionally compelling. The Southern setting, complete with daily entertainments and elegant dances, lends a rich, immersive charm that enhances the reading experience.

More than just a romance, this novel explores themes of sacrifice, family duty, and the courage to follow one's heart in a world bound by social rules. Readers who enjoy clean historical fiction with strong character development and a touch of mystery will find this story both uplifting and heartfelt. It’s a tender reminder that love worth having is not always the easiest or most obvious path—and that sometimes, healing begins when we let go of what we thought we wanted.

There is much to admire in this new novel from beloved author Ann H. Gabhart. She brings the setting of Graham Springs to life, and the characters are nicely drawn and relatable. There is quite a lot going on between the romance and the mystery, as well as some action/adventure. At times this felt like too much plot craziness. However it was certainly a nice escape. Gabhart is a talented author, and I always look forward to her books.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

This is the second book I have read by Ms Gabhart - and now I know I need to find more!

This is a great story - based on real facts - of a family that lost their father. They realize they are close to being broke- so they go on a vacation to a restore with wealthy single men in hopes of marrying off the main character - Elena - to financially save the family.

They go to the resort - and Elena does her best to try to help her family. She also starts to understand her own choices in the past and how she could change.

The author shows the narrative of multiple characters- not just the main two.

Thank you Revelle Publishers for the ARC! #ThePursuitofElenaBradford #Revelle

Graham Springs is such an elegant and magical place where people come together for healing and romance. There was so much romance here for Elena as she has three different men in pursuit of her. The reader is left wondering whether she will choose for duty or for love. The relationship between Ivy and her sister was so special. Sisters have such a bond and it was so nice to see in this story. Princess Cinderella was the best!


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Author Ann Gabhart is one of my go to authors. Her stories flow so easily and are filled with historical tidbits. At 22 Elena Bradford wants to marry for love and has yet to meet a man she would marry. After Elena’s father died leaving her family deeply in debt, her mother decides to use the last of their money to stay at Graham Springs known for healthy activities including dances almost every night. What better place to find a wealthy husband? The reality for Elena is “romance was good in stories where love could conquer all.” But here in the real world her mother wanted her to marry a wealthy man. An unexpected tragedy occurs in this idyllic setting, forcing decisions about the future. I endorse this novel filled with inspiration, hope, romance, and mystery.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and author. All opinions are my own.