Deeanne Gist

[Jennifer]

I've read her The Measure of a Lady A Novel and have read most of A Bride Most Begrudging. Which, I love both. But, I got Courting Trouble and Deep in the Heart of Trouble for Christmas. Haven't read them yet. I was wondering if anyone had read those and if they are as good as the first two I've already read.

[Jennifer]

Thanks Kate and Christy. Variety of opinions are great! I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want people's opinions of her books! I guess I'll just have to see how I like them compared to the other two I've read.

[Margaret]

Kate, in the same way that you did not like Julie's books, I had not expected you to like the Trouble books. Also, the first book has a lot more depth and real pain to it. So if you did not like the second I would not read the first.

For someone who has not read either, this is what I say. She wrote the first book to get a certain ministry message out there, and also to beat the odds with a different romance - meaning the girl does not get the guy in the end, but it is because she wants it that way. That does not give things away, because she introduces her books as such everywhere. I promise! Watch the Lifetime interviews. Anyway, the second book is not meant to be greatly in depth or full of loveable characters. It is more the recovery with happy stuff after the depth and pain from the first one.

[Jennifer]

Gotcha! Thanks for the info. I read them with all the info in mind. I'm fairly open minded and once I start a book I always finish it. So I could start out hating it, and completely loving it in the end, or vice versa.

[Margaret]

Gladly, any time. :)

[Southernbelle0326]

I loved Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure Of A Lady. I have read the "Trouble" books but I didnt like them as much as the first two. The trouble books are good though, dont get me wrong, but I didnt care much for Miss Sprecklemeyer's hobby of bicycling. I wish she would have picked a better hobby but that is just me.

[Jennifer]

Hahaha...well that's interesting. I'm not into cycling so I imagine i'll have to speed read those sections. :D

[Charmaine]

I'd love to read Deeanne Gist's books, but I've read some reviews from people who were complaining about some inappropriate love scenes (Measure of a Lady, Courting Trouble). For those of you who have read any of those titles, were the love scenes sexually explicit? Thanks in advance for clearing this up for me!

[Margaret]

Charmaine: First of all, Courting Trouble does have one scene. It is not explicit, and it is not meant to be bad. It is the scenario that is uncomfortable and while reading it you're screaming NO NO NO! But that is the point of the book. In a way... Read my review of Courting Trouble to see what I mean. Courting Trouble Secondly, Measure of a Lady has one character that goes crazy, there is no sexually explicit scene, but you are told the gist of "what happened behind that closed door". The idea is quite disturbing and uncomfortable. But again, that is a partial point behind the book. Where she is writing about something in a fiction world that is very close to reality. Not all of your friends in life are perfect angels with no sins, you know what I mean? I also reviewed that one. The Measure of a Lady A Novel

Kate: I had read that review, thanks for the link though. Melissa, the Bibliophile of Bibliphile's Retreat is a book buddy as well of mine. I get to meet Julie this summer, and I'm really excited.

All: I agree that I was not really into the bicyclists perspective of the book, but it was different than anything else you've read, you have to give her that. I'm just not into "independent women that have to prove a point", but that did not stop me from enjoying and liking the book overall. I do enjoy Dee's writing.

[Margaret]

Kate wrote: How cool that you know the author of that..."

Sorry two mix ups. One, the author of that blog I know through online, she lives in OR. I know her because I run a similar blog. http://cherryblossommj.blogspot.com

The person I'm getting to meet this summer is Julie Lessman! But I knew her too through email and such. She's a doll and a great prayer buddy.

[Charmaine]

Thanks very much for your input, Margaret! :-) I'm glad that the scenes aren't explicit. I'll put Deanne Gist's books on my to read list.

Wow, that must be really exciting to meet Julie Lessman this summer! Make sure to tell us about it after you meet her. :-)

[Jennifer]

I agree with Kate. You need to tell us all about it. I read Julie Lessman's A Passion Most Pure, and loved it. Gotta read the other ones now.

[Jennifer]

ok...I'm starting Courting Trouble now. Finally finished A Bride Most Begrudging which I really liked as well as Measure of a Lady. We'll see how I like the whole biking thing.

[Charmaine]

Jennifer wrote: "ok...I'm starting Courting Trouble now. Finally finished A Bride Most Begrudging which I really liked as well as Measure of a Lady. We'll see how I like the whole biking thing."

I just finished "A Bride Most Begrudging" today. It's a good book! I'm planning to read "Measure of a Lady" sometime soon. Jennifer, did you enjoy reading "Measure of a Lady"? Did you like it just as much as "A Bride Most Begrudging"?

[Jennifer]

I think I liked Measure of a Lady better. But they were both good. She's a good writer, so I finished that one in three days!

[[deleted user]]

A Bride Most Begrudging was just soo good. One of the best Christian fiction books I've ever read. I'm currently reading Measure of a Lady. I can't believe I've only just discovered Deeanne's books! :)

[Charmaine]

Amee wrote: "A Bride Most Begrudging was just soo good. One of the best Christian fiction books I've ever read. I'm currently reading Measure of a Lady. I can't believe I've only just discovered Deeanne's books..."

This is the first time I've read Deeanne's books, too! I definitely want to read the rest of her books after reading "A Bride Most Begrudging". :-)

[Jennifer]

She's fairly new, so don't feel bad if you just found out about her. She has four books out with a fifth one coming out in June.

[Jennifer]

And she's an Aggie! :D

[[deleted user]]

I know she only has four out but I've known about them since the beginning. That's why I'm surprised it took so long. I really like that they're "edgy" compared to others. I think it gives them an elevated sense of excitement that makes them so intoxicating to read.

[Jennifer]

I know what you mean

[Jennifer]

So I finished Courting Trouble...not a fan of the bicycle thing, but it was a good book. It did take me a bit longer to get into it than her other two books. But, I like the emphasis in the end that despite the choices she makes she realizes that Jesus is her only man that she needs in her life. Wish most Christian girls and women would see that reality. It's something I teach to my youth girls that I help out with since I know what it's like to look toward men to fulfill you and not God. Really could've done without the cycling hobby, she should've had another, but I see the need for it since she wasn't the average woman in her day.

[Margaret]

Anyone looking forward to A Bride in the Bargain??

[Jennifer]

ME!!!! Hahaha. I feel like I should raise my hand like a little kid. I can finish Deep in the Heart of Trouble now that I am finished with Finals. Had to stop there for a bit.

[[deleted user]]

I'm also looking forward to it. It sounds really good. Very much like A Bride Mose Begrudging which I adored. :)

[Margaret]

I should be getting a copy to review before June 17th! I am just praying it comes on time. *grin*

[Margaret]

sure thing, will do!

I love reviewing books too, I just fall behind, or at least I have been ever since I got pregnant. It's really fun, but do know this is not a job where I get paid. It's more a hobby, but I love it anyway!

[Margaret]

thanks :)

[Jennifer]

I totally finished Deep in The Heart of Trouble...it was ok, better than Courtin Trouble. I guess the whole bicycle thing i just couldn't get into and that really threw me off. I don't know. But, I still liked the characters and story has a whole.

I'm so waiting for a Bride in the Bargain. It comes out soon!!!

[Margaret]

I know, I feel ya!

[Jennifer]

:D I just bought Bride in the Bargain literally an hour ago....got the last one on the shelf! It was meant to be! Hahaha

[Margaret]

The Bride in the Bargain arrived in the mailbox today!!!

[Jennifer]

Yea! I have to finish my other book i'm in the middle of before I start this one.

[Margaret]

yeah... I have to finish a good stack of required for reviews before I can get to that one.

[Margaret]

I finished A Bride in the Bargain but have not written my review yet. Anyone else?

[Margaret]

I'm going to try to do this without spoilers...

The preface of the book is set on a historically accurate fact that a man did take it upon himself to go to the east coast to find wives (orphans - not in the children sense you think of, but girls old enough to marry with no family or other options and widows - women who were left alone with either children or not after the Civil War stole them of their husbands) for the men on the west coast. If you've read much historical fiction, you know many men went west for the land, the mining, and this case the lumberjacking as well. The man who was the "entrepreneur" was not an honest man, but he was not evil in the sense of some characters as well. He was just a man who did not always tell the whole truth.

Other than just knowing that the women who were invited to participate in the exodus were from categories such as widows and orphans, there is no real emphasis on the fact or details of the past lives. So there is no dwelling sadness there as one might assume.

In a way, I would very much relate a partial idea of the story to A Bride Most Begrudging. The location is completely different. The characters are completely different. The plot is completely different. But in a similar fashion there is a woman who the last thing on her mind was getting married, who finds out that it might not be up to her with her plans of what she once thought.

How does that sound?

[Jennifer]

I'm halfway through!! :D I'll let you know what i think when i finish it.

[Margaret]

My review is up FYI. A Bride in the Bargain

[Jennifer]

Finished it! I liked it. Much better than Courting Trouble books. It's kinda cool to learn about the lumberjacks and how the stuff she wrote about them wasn't made up. They are some strong dudes!

[Jennifer]

I think you can handle it. It's not depressing. Yeah, it's sad that Mercer treated the women and men that way, but they don't dwell on it that much. You'll like the main characters and the lumberjacks. They provide the fun in the book. So, overall I think you will enjoy it.

[Jennifer]

no prob! Anytime! :D