The Heart's Pursuit
ACCLAIM FOR ROBIN LEE HATCHER
“Hatcher’s latest is an uplifting and heartwarming story about the power of faith to set people free from the pain of their pasts.”
—
L
IBRARY
J
OURNAL
, STARRED R
EVIEW
,
REGARDING
A P
ROMISE
K
EPT
“Hatcher’s inspirational novel dramatizes the perception that even when it seems like you’re alone, you are always a part of a greater plan.”
—
B
OOKLIST
“The mountain setting is as appealing an aspect of this upbeat, well-paced novel as Allison, Emma, and their family and friends.”
—
P
UBLISHERS
W
EEKLY
,
FOR
A P
ROMISE
K
EPT
“A beautiful, heart-touching story of God’s amazing grace and how He can restore and make new that which was lost.”
—F
RANCINE
R
IVERS
,
N
EW
Y
ORK
T
IMES
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
“Hatcher’s beautifully crafted tale alternates between the past and the present. Allison and Emma are incredibly relatable characters, and readers are able to examine their own lives through the mirror of the novel’s events. Filled with family and faith, the author’s phrasing is exquisite and a treat to savor.”
—
R
OMANTIC
T
IMES
B
OOK
R
EVIEWS
, TOP PICK,
REGARDING
A P
ROMISE
K
EPT
“A beautiful, heart-touching story of God’s amazing grace, and how He can restore and make new that which was lost.”
—F
RANCINE
R
IVERS
,
N
EW
Y
ORK
T
IMES
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, REGARDING
A P
ROMISE
K
EPT
“
Beloved
hits the mark. Hatcher’s books have it all: characters full of personality, attention to detail that makes the history feel real and a gentle message of second chances.”
—
R
OMANTIC
T
IMES
4½
STAR REVIEW FOR
B
ELOVED
“A wonderful, 19th-century-Idaho spin on the story of the prodigal son,
Beloved
has everything a great novel needs: genuine conflict, heartfelt emotion, characters you’ll love rooting for, surprising twists and turns, and a breathless pace that will keep you reading late into the night. Above all, a powerful message of redemption rings through each chapter. You will love
Beloved
!”
—L
IZ
C
URTIS
H
IGGS
,
N
EW
Y
ORK
T
IMES
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF
M
INE
I
S
THE
N
IGHT
“Hatcher is a consistent ‘must read’ author. Her books are always engaging, and
Betrayal
is no different . . . You’ll feel a warm, satisfying glow after turning the final page of this touching novel.”
—
R
OMANTIC
T
IMES
, TOP PICK! 4½
STAR
“Featuring an eye for detail and a strong female heroine, this wholesome romance marks a good start to this new inspirational historical series . . .”
—
L
IBRARY
J
OURNAL
STARRED REVIEW OF
B
ELONGING
“Robin Lee Hatcher has created a memorable historic romance . . . she weaves in just enough historic fact and setting to transport the reader to the time and place without getting in the way of the story.”
—
I
DAHO
S
ENIOR
I
NDEPENDENT
REVIEW OF
B
ELONGING
“Tender, evocative, and beautifully written,
Belonging
is a journey about love after loss, and about two hearts destined to become one—despite their stubbornness!
Belonging
is Robin Lee Hatcher at her best!”
—T
AMERA
A
LEXANDER
,
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF
W
ITHIN
M
Y
H
EART
AND
T
HE
I
NHERITANCE
ALSO BY ROBIN LEE HATCHER
W
HERE THE
H
EART
L
IVES
S
ERIES
Belonging
Betrayal
Beloved
T
HE
S
ISTERS OF
B
ETHLEHEM
S
PRINGS
S
ERIES
A Vote of Confidence
Fit to Be Tied
A Matter of Character
T
HE
C
OMING TO
A
MERICA
S
ERIES
Dear Lady
Patterns of Love
In His Arms
Promised to Me
O
THER
B
OOKS
A novella in
A Bride for All Seasons
A Promise Kept
Heart of Gold
When Love Blooms
A Carol for Christmas
Return to Me
Loving Libby
Wagered Heart
The Perfect Life
Home to Hart’s Crossing
The Victory Club
Beyond the Shadows
Catching Katie
The Forgiving Hour
Whispers from Yesterday
The Shepherd’s Voice
Ribbon of Years
Firstborn
ZONDERVAN
The Heart’s Pursuit
Copyright © 2014 by Robin Lee Hatcher
ePub Edition © April 2014: ISBN 978-0-310-41171-0
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hatcher, Robin Lee.
The heart’s pursuit / Robin Lee Hatcher.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-310-25927-5 (trade paper)
1. Bounty hunters—Fiction. 2. Fugitives from justice—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3558.A73574 H44 2014
813’.54—dc23
2013047067
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE
®
, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Cover design: James Hall
Cover photography: Steven Hyatt
Interior design: Lori Lynch
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 / RRD / 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
—ROMANS 12:19
