a proper pursuit  set in 1893 and seasoned with wholesome humor, <i>a proper pursuit</i> tells the uplifting story of 20-year old violet hayes and her search for her elusive mother and for true love. <p>fresh from finishing school, violet receives a double shock. her dad announces his upcoming wedding and then confesses an old lie - her mom didn't really leave for a sanitarium 11 years ago. but why then did she leave?</p> <p> under cover of visiting the world's fair, violet travels to the stately chicago home of her saintly grandmother and three eccentric great aunts. in her quest for her mother, violet soon discovers much about faith, life, and love as she marches for women's rights, feeds slum dwellers, hob-knobs with the highfalutin, plays piano for evangelistic meetings, and ponders various marriage proposals.</p> <p>lynn austin, multiple christy award-winning author of <i>a woman's place</i>, creates vivid historical settings with vibrant characters.</p>