Deeanne Gist Reviews

Added August 21, 2008

Deep in the Heart of Trouble

Author: Deeanne Gist
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: June 2008
Genre: Romance/Christian/Historical
Format: Trade paper
Price: $13.99
ISBN-13: 978-0-7642-0226-1
Author Email/Website: http://www.deeannegist.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Deep in the Heart of Trouble is the best place for readers to be! This highly entertaining novel is a rollicking romance set in the latter 1800s. A delightful combination of a spinster, a bicycle club, an oil company and a disinherited son keep these pages turning in a never-tiring rhythm.

At thirty-four, Essie Spreckelmeyer had given up the idea of marriage and decided to spend the rest of her life managing her father's oil company. She already had plenty of opportunities to kick up her heels as the president of her own bicycle club. Her outrageous outfits and her outspokenness put her in the public eye more often than is seemly for a woman, but she was way ahead of her time. When disinherited and discouraged Tony Morgan showed up for a job as an oilman, she hired him, never realizing his true identity or his family's connections as her biggest competitor. But both sides have secrets and when they are exposed, the resulting explosion is even more powerful than any geyser of oil this Texas town has ever seen!

Lovable characters, humor and the perfect amount of tension hold this novel together like a gentle hug. The author's research into the oil industry and the historical period, in which the story was set, lends an authentic air to the tale. The characters are full of life and love, making them practically sit alongside the reader and whisper in their ears. As Tony grapples with the injustices in his life, sympathy and sighs will abound. Yet, it's the flamboyant Essie, waltzing through these pages in her bloomers, who will steal readers' hearts. Although she is ahead of her time in the area of women's rights, a contemporary audience will heartily applaud her actions and cheer her on. A past secret discloses her sensitive side, creating a vulnerability that increases her attractiveness. The supporting cast played their parts to perfection, introducing readers to some new friends and foes.

Deep in the Heart of Trouble mixes love and oil for a sweet taste of romance.

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This page was last updated on August 21, 2008

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