Will John risk prison, torture, death, and his wife’s safety by defying the 17th century Church of England’s rigid laws to practice his own religion? Based on a true story of love and loss and family and faith. John adores his wife Hannah, the witty, educated vicar’s daughter. She’s the loving family he never had as a child. But even after she challenges his decision to put God before her, he falls into a world spiraling into hypocrisy, tyranny, and betrayal. When John comes face-to-face with his deep-seated convictions about religious freedom, he’s forced to make a hard choice—renounce his orders with the Church of England to become an outlawed Separatist or conform and save his marriage, his family, and his life. Hannah refuses to break from her Anglican roots when John meets secretly with heretics. She’s left to wonder if he’ll comply and save their marriage. Does she love him enough if he does not? To understand John’s and Hannah’s dramatic and inspiring tale, read The Pulse of His Soul . A love story for the ages. Considered one of the most important ministers to follow in the footsteps of the Plymouth Pilgrims, John Lothropp helped plant the seeds of religious freedom in America’s soil and left a legacy of well-known individuals who influenced the nation’s destiny. Also read the follow-up companion novella The Cry of Her Heart about Hannah’s sister Penninah Howse who attended John’s congregation. From: Historical Novel Society Genealogist Smith novelizes the life of John Lothropp, a Separatist minister who broke with the Anglican Church and became a forgotten Founding Father: he is the ancestor of six U.S. Presidents and dozens of major figures in American politics, religion, and the arts... Smith gives the reader a very impressive fifty-plus pages of supporting material, such as an extensive bibliography, a timeline, and a glossary. I applaud her scholarship; Lothropp deserves to be better known. Smith's depiction of John and Hannah's relationship is both contentious and touching. The religious content of the story is necessarily heavy. Even if theological discussions aren't your cup of tea, Lothropp's story will bring new insight to American readers who learned about the Pilgrims and Puritans in school but may not have really understood why they left England. Recommended to those interested in religious history, 17th- century England, and early American history. Appeared in Historical Novel Review Issue 96 (May 2021) "Intriguing. Exciting. Difficult to put down. ...a must-read history of John Lothropp, a devout Anglican minister, who challenged the beliefs of the early Church of England." — Richard W. Price, MA, Accredited Genealogist, owner and president of Price Genealogy "A love story for the ages begins this journey of the Reverend John Lothropp and Hannah Howse. Love, despair, faith, courage in early 1600's England . . . This saga rivals that of the Mayflower Pilgrims and chronicles the founding of what became the Congregational Church in the United States." — Marla Mountz Vincent, 9th great-granddaughter of Reverend John, former Director at Large Board of Trustees and former Chairperson, Update to Huntington's 1884 Genealogy of Reverend John Lothropp for the Lothropp Family Foundation "I could not put it down. I found I was racing through it, wanting to know what happened next. There was more than one heart-stopping moment, and on other occasions I had tears in my eyes. I highly recommend it, and I think it is well worth all of five stars." — Evelyn Tidman, author of One Small Candle: The Story of William Bradford and the Pilgrim Fathers "The Pulse of His Soul is beautifully told and rich in historical detail. The America we know exists in part because of John Lothropp. Ora Smith is a master storyteller." — Sarah Hinze, author of A Pawn for a King: Ada de Warenne 1123-1178, Queen Mother to the Kings of Scots