THE PURSUIT OF LUCY BANNING (OLIVIA NEWPORT)

Story Description: 

Baker Publishing Group|May 1, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-8007-2038-4 

Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among Chicago’s rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere.  Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work – and the classes she is secretly taking at the newly opened University of Chicago.  When she meets an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World’s Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms.  Can she break away from her family’s expectations?  And will she ever be loved for who she truly is? 

Readers will love being swept away into a world of mansions, secrets, and romances as they follow Lucy through the streets of the Windy City during one of the most exciting times in the city’s history.  From opulent upper-class homes to the well-worn rooms of an orphanage, Olivia Newport breathes life and romance into the pages of history – and everyone is invited. 

My Review: 

This was like reading two stores in one, the upper-class families of Chicago’s well-to-do and the lives of servants who serve and work for these people every day.  Mired in secrets and confidences this story will appeal to a wide audience. 

Lucy Banning is a girl of her own mind who doesn’t want to buckle to the rules and regulations of high society that her mother so strives for each and every day.  From large social gatherings to opulent dinner parties, Lucy plays her part well but that is not where her heart lies.  Engaged to be married to Daniel, an up-and-coming banker, she keeps secrets from him and he doesn’t like the fact that she volunteers at the local orphanage.  Even her family doesn’t know that she is secretly taking classes at the newly opened university. 

A new servant has been hired on staff, a young girl, Charlotte, who has her own secret that she is hiding inside the household and if caught will mean immediate dismissal.  However, Lucy soon figures out that something is amiss and befriends Charlotte and they become friends and allies together.  Lucy helps Charlotte with her “problem” and Charlotte helps Lucy in keeping tabs on the goings on in the household during her absences. 

Then along comes Will, a new architect that her brother has befriended who is working on the plans for the World’s Fair and he has his eyes set on Lucy from the beginning and we soon learn that Lucy has eyes for him as well but she’s an engaged woman!  Daniel’s behaviour suddenly becomes questionable and everyone is trying to figure out what is going on with him and in the meantime, Lucy’s father is storming around the mansion yelling that someone is stealing items from his private office.  Of course, Charlotte being the newest hire is under immediate suspicion but Lucy knows in her heart it’s not Charlotte. 

There is so much going on in this story that you won’t be able to put it down.  The good news is that there is a Book #2 coming out in 2013 titled: The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow which I’ll definitely be picking up.  The Pursuit of Lucy Banning is one great read!!

**Special thanks to Baker Publishing for the preview copy!**