Rating: 
Summary: A Story About 16 Interfering Uncles (Not Much Romance)
Review: "The Pursuit" is rather passionless for a Johanna Lindsey romance novel. The third in a series beginning with "Man of My Dreams," "The Pursuit" follows the exploits of 16 uncles determined to keep their niece from marrying a man with a "crazy" past. Note that the story is more about the uncles than the romance!
Lincoln is the man with a past, a Scot raised in England who is now seeking a wife. He spies Melissa in Scotland, talks with her briefly, lets her dimples wreck havoc on his system, and then decides to marry her. Unfortunately, she's leaving the next day for her season in London. Plus, she has the 16 uncles who, having had a rather nasty experience with Lincoln when he was 10 years old, go to great lengths to keep the two apart.
Most of the book revolves around Lincoln facing off against the scheming uncles and then proving he's not crazy. In between, Melissa and Lincoln see each other about three or four times - briefly - in the span of about two months, kiss only twice, and somehow (though I'm not sure why) fall madly in love.
I did like Melissa's and Lincoln's characters. Melissa is adorable with her Scottish burr and impish wit, and most amusing in her anger towards her interfering uncles. Lincoln is honorable and has a lot of pent-up resentment towards his mother, who abandoned him as a child. Alas, together, Melissa and Lincoln lacked that spark that makes a Johanna Lindsey romance so great to read. They acted more like kids with a crush than the hero and heroine of a romance novel.
I could have accepted the story being mostly about the uncles, amusing hotheaded savages that they are. I could have also accepted the overblown crush between Melissa and Lincoln as being the basis for a romance novel. But I could NOT appreciate some of the dopey plotlines in this book. Worst was the plot involving Melissa and the dragon in the lake. Here was a scene that could have been played out into something intense and meaningful; instead, it was treated almost comically. Too bad. I also did not like the fact the uncles and Lincoln were obsessed over something that happened when Lincoln was 10. Even Lindsey, in her writing, seemed to be getting annoyed with dwelling on it, if you pay attention to her character's responses over it. Finally, the situation with Lincoln's mom is way too dramatic. What, exactly, did it lend to the story, other than to give Lincoln a simple excuse to forgive her?
All in all, this was a strange read for a romance novel. "The Pursuit" is full of lame coincidences (Lincoln, for instance, gets out of being shanghaied to China rather easily) and ridiculous storylines, with very little passion to hold it together. The only real pleasure I got was in reading about the uncles. I hope Ian Six gets a book (with passion) of his own. The same goes for Justin St. James - what a hottie!
My advice is to avoid "The Pursuit" (especially its endless back story) and instead read its prequels, "Man of My Dreams" (5 stars) or "Love Me Forever" (3 stars). Or, if you'd like a great Scottish romance, read Lindsey's immensely satisfying "A Gentle Feuding."
Rating: 
Summary: I kept thinking the badness had to stop
Review: But I was wrong. The Puruit sucked the whole way through. I want the hour and a half I spent reading it back.
There could have been a decent story in here about a girl who has already made up her mind going through a season anyway, to please her family and learn about society. Instead we get a wooden hero and a cast of unremarkable secondary characters... oh, and no romance to speak of. Lindsey drops potentially interesting plot points like last year's Old Navy fashions, and then throws in every bad plot twist she knows in the last 100 pages.
Almost nothing happens in The Pursuit. The entire plot is overtaken by the kudzu-like MacFearson brothers. They're like a circus act.
The Pursuit is a sad excuse for a romance novel. I'd give it negative stars if I could.
Rating:
Summary: Will the real Johanna Lindsey please stand up?
Review: For the last several years I have been very disappointed with Johanna Lindsay. For starters it feels like several years until her next book comes out. After reading the last several I think I can see why. SHE'S LOST HER TOUCH! She should have just thrown the stories out rather than getting them published. It doesn't even read like a Johanna Lindsay book. Where is she? How can she let someone write this junk using her name? In the Pursuit...I don't even know where to start. The plot was horrible. Lincoln (bad name) was the worst hero I've ever read in a book. Also the language of the book--she didn't even try to make it fit into the century they were in. I hated the uncles-they were just filler for an extremely sorry plot. If I had read this book under another auther I would remember in the future to never read their books again. I could barely get from sentence to sentence without yawning let alone chapter to chapter. There was no fire between the characters. As soon as they met they knew they were for each other. Most of the Lindsey books I've loved the two main characters fought all the time but at least with those there was fire and passion. Thank God I got this book from the library; which is where I'll be getting all future Lindsey books in the future. I'll save my money for Nora Roberts or Sandra Brown or someone else equally deserving of my time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Will the real Johanna Lindsey please stand up?
Review: For the last several years I have been very disappointed with Johanna Lindsay. For starters it feels like several years until her next book comes out. After reading the last several I think I can see why. SHE'S LOST HER TOUCH! She should have just thrown the stories out rather than getting them published. It doesn't even read like a Johanna Lindsay book. Where is she? How can she let someone write this junk using her name? In the Pursuit...I don't even know where to start. The plot was horrible. Lincoln (bad name) was the worst hero I've ever read in a book. Also the language of the book--she didn't even try to make it fit into the century they were in. I hated the uncles-they were just filler for an extremely sorry plot. If I had read this book under another auther I would remember in the future to never read their books again. I could barely get from sentence to sentence without yawning let alone chapter to chapter. There was no fire between the characters. As soon as they met they knew they were for each other. Most of the Lindsey books I've loved the two main characters fought all the time but at least with those there was fire and passion. Thank God I got this book from the library; which is where I'll be getting all future Lindsey books in the future. I'll save my money for Nora Roberts or Sandra Brown or someone else equally deserving of my time and money.
Rating:
Summary: the pursuit
Review: I am sorry to say that I am right in there with everyone else. The story is lacking some chemistry, it's weak and frustrating. I actually skimmed through it to find out how Lincoln and Melissa got together. The story line is easy. Lincoln Burnett and Melissa MacGregor (the daughter of Lachlan and Kimber in "Love Me Forever") have eyes for each other but when Lincoln tries to pursue Melissa he is "encouraged" not to even think about it. Melissa is told the same due to family fueds. Melissa's 16 uncles that all have the same name (yes, that's confusing and frustrating) make a packet to keep them apart. But every time they come up with some tactic Lincoln and Melissa's love comes through. If you want to read it- get it from the library. I'm glad I did.
Rating:
Summary: The Pursuit
Review: I usually like to start my reviews with a brief description of the books plot without telling too much of the story. With The Pursuit I find this extremely difficult to do. Basically the story is about a man, Lincoln, who has found the girl he wants to marry and has to fight off her sixteen uncles and persuade her parents he's not crazy. Basically that's the whole book.I found this book extremely difficult to read. There is a lot of Scottish brouge or "burr" as it's referred to. This makes every conversation hard to read because usually one of the participants is from Scotland. I've read other Lindsey novels and even though she puts some Scottish dialect in her books it's not as bad as The Pursuit. Adding to the language issue is the sixteen uncles, six of which are named Ian. They are referred to as Ian One, Ian Two, and so on. I just found this really aggravating trying to read the novel and trying to keep the Ians straight. I also found this story to be kind of drawn out. This book is just over 300 pages but I felt like it could have been told in 200 and been much more entertaining. It seemed like to took pages and pages for a simple scene to be acted out. I was disappointed with this book. Prior to reading this book the only Lindsey novels I'd read were the Mallory novels. They were much more romantic and entertaining. I would suggest reading or even re-reading one of them instead of reading this book. Don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Terribly Dissappointing
Review: I've had to give a one star rating, but really it didn't deserve any - it was dire. I find it hard to believe that this book was written by the same author as the Mallory series, Once a Princess, a Priates Love, Fires of Winter ... etc. The Heir was the start of the rot, but this has taken it to the pits. Can I wait to borrow from the library in future? I have all her other published books as I have a psssion for owning and rereading them not to mention getting them to read as soon as they're published, but in future I'll seriously consider value for money.
Rating:
Summary: Bland and redundant
Review: This book is unusually dull and not worthy of even a light, escapism-type read.
The uncles, there being 16, are redundant in themselves and so is their behavior. These characters repeatedly act the same way in every situation, so that they are not only horribly predictable, but also beyond dull. The scenarios they are involved in are outlandish and it is impossible to imagine other characters taking their antics with such good humor (they repeatedly beat the hero senseless, intimidated him non-stop, shanghai-ed him to China, and otherwise fouled all of this plans - but, no hard feelings?).
The hero is rather spineless. He shows no signs of heroic characteristics at all. He gives up easily, sulks and pouts, stays on the field only because the heroine keeps him there, and ultimately triumphs only because everyone else (the 16 uncles) gives in to other forces and allows him to have the day. He is too weak-willed to be likable.
And, his relationship with the heroine is not at all developed. The reader can not believe that after one brief meeting and a few more (equally brief) angst and drama ridden moments together, he is willing to pursue her to that extent. All that he is put through is unnecessarily drawn out and quite ridiculous.
The plot revolves around the hero having turned "crazy" for a short time as an eight year old and therefore must be a "crazy" adult, 19 years later, and not good/safe enough for the heroine. Perhaps that is why the author made him so spiritless. She goes to extremes to make the uncles savage (tries for endearing, too, but that doesn't work) and absolutely committed to their belief that the hero is still "crazy". She seems to also go to extremes to make the hero appear emotionless; perhaps to show a mature and "sane" contrast to his childish emotion-driven "craziness".
In any case, the bland, redundant plot, over-the-top uncles, and dull hero were not a winning combination. A "light" read should not equal a "mindless" read.
Rating: 
Summary: The Pursuit
Review: This isn't the worst book I've ever read, but it is overly simplistic to be a Johanna Lindsey. Melissa and Lincoln meet and it's practically love at first sight. Throughout the course fo the story they don't spend much time together. The focus of the story seems to be Melissa's 16 uncles. I found it too many to keep track of (especially since many of them were named Ian) and I didn't even try. Their objection to Lincoln's pursuit of Melissa is a fight that occurred 19 years ago. This fight is brought up numerous times--enough times to bring new meaning to the phrase "making mountains out of molehills." What's more incredible is that Johanna Lindsey thought that she could base an entire novel around such a flimsy idea. My last objectioin was to Melissa's nickname--"Meli." What was that about? "Mel" maybe, but "Meli"?
Rating:
Summary: The Pursuit
Review: This isn't the worst book I've ever read, but it is overly simplistic to be a Johanna Lindsey. Melissa and Lincoln meet and it's practically love at first sight. Throughout the course fo the story they don't spend much time together. The focus of the story seems to be Melissa's 16 uncles. I found it too many to keep track of (especially since many of them were named Ian) and I didn't even try. Their objection to Lincoln's pursuit of Melissa is a fight that occurred 19 years ago. This fight is brought up numerous times--enough times to bring new meaning to the phrase "making mountains out of molehills." What's more incredible is that Johanna Lindsey thought that she could base an entire novel around such a flimsy idea. My last objectioin was to Melissa's nickname--"Meli." What was that about? "Mel" maybe, but "Meli"?
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