This was sheer pleasure to read. I loved the story line, the characters, the period (1913 or there abouts) the early Texas oil fields, the suspense, the romance, and the humor, and more.
Deeanne Gist has the gift of good story telling. Not very many have that.
I'd like to take just a moment to talk to any aspiring author, any well-published author about theatrics.
There is something that on the Annoyance Meter rates about a 10 with 10 being the highest sort of annoyance. That is theatrics. It is something that is written in a novel but should be left in a script. Something that stops the flow of the story line and intrudes upon the mind making it shift from the story. Something that shoves imagination out of the way and parks in the brain pushing the brake on momentum.
As in the case of Essie and her father's discussion at the dinner table. In the middled of the discussion, Essie's father is pictured and a description of he softly burps into his napkin and continues to eat.
Come on!
I do not need someone to direct my imagination. Directing me to imagine and old gentleman softy burping and then telling me he "continued to eat", was like a cold glass of water in the face. It had no humor, it did not add to the conversation, it was not an allegory or a prop for someone's next statement. It was theatrics and completely unnecessary. If you are writing a novel, don't do that. Leave something for the imagination and coax it along with adjectives and adverbs that drive the action without actually saying the action.
The only reason that I mention this is because that one paragraph hit me raw in an otherwise very good read. Why couldn't I just let it go? Why couldn't I just say, "Oh, well, it was just a paragraph?" Because I'm so tired of the sloppy editing that is going in in publishing today.
I guess being an editor of a newspaper really spoiled me... or perhaps I'm just tired of the sloppiness of writers and authors as well as editors... but, mostly editors. That kind of thing should have been caught and fixed before the novel ever got into my hands. Anyhoot... I'm done with the soapbox for now. On to the other pertinent information about this book...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deeanne Gist has been a busy lady. She had a career in elementary education. She raised four children. In fifteen years she has: run a home accessory/antique business, member of the press, penned freelance journalism for a few well-known publications, People, Parents, Family Fun and more. She was the CFO for her husband's engineering company, she did all this in her home.She also founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products which would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.
Eight months later, she submitted A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers and they picked it up for their new "edgy inspirational" line of historical fiction. After its release in July 2005, Bride hit eight best seller lists and has sold over 100,000 copies and won the Christy Award for BEST ROMANCE 2006. The Measure of a Lady was her 2006 summer release. It hit five best seller lists and won the Christy Award for BEST ROMANCE 2007. Gist is contracted to have a new book come out every summer. Courting Trouble was her 2007 summer release and it hit three best seller lists.
Deeanne lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-four years. They have two kids in high school, two in college.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A Texas-Sized Tale of Unexpected LoveEssie Spreckelmeyer is the last woman anyone in Corsicana, Texas, expected to see with a man on her arm. Independent and outspoken, she’s known more for riding bicycles in outrageous bloomers than for catching a man’s eye.
And the last man who seems willing to give her a second glance is Tony Morgan, newly hired at Spreckelmeyer’s oil company. The disinherited son of an oil baron, Tony wants most to restore his name and regain his lost fortune--not lose his heart to this headstrong blonde. She confounds, contradicts, and confuses him. Sometimes he doesn’t know if she’s driving him toward the aisle or the end of his rope.
That’s how life is ...Deep In The Heart Of Trouble
If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE
“Christy Award winner Gist’s historical romances have increasingly gained popularity, combining witty dialog, well-balanced plots, and fully developed characters who seem almost real. Recommended for CF and romance collections.”
-- Library Journal
"Gist does it again! Her signature prose is consistent and she delivers a thoroughly delightful and entertaining story that’s worthy of our time and attention. Not only won’t you want to put this book down, you’ll want to enjoy this story again and again."
-- JUNE TOP PICK, 4-1/2 STARS, Romantic Times, Jennifer Reyes
"Gist has once again written a delightfully humorous historical romance. After reading the first book in this series of two, I was anxious to get my hands on this one. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed ... It is a spectacular, feel-good story which I highly recommend. You will definitely be glad you read it."
-– FIVE STAR RATING, The Romance Studio, Brenda Talley
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