August 27, 2008

Deep in the Heart of Trouble

Written by 5 Minutes for Books

I'll admit, all things being equal, historical fiction is not my first choice among genres. Lyn Austin's Refiner's Fire series and Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series (both favorites of mine) notwithstanding, it seems that most historical romances either contain too much history rendering the characters flat and uninteresting, or too much romance making the history nothing more than an implausible backdrop.

Not so with Deanne Gist's Deep in the Heart of Trouble, the story of Essie Spreckelmeyer, the independent, outspoken spinster of Corsicana, Texas more concerned with bicycles and bloomers than men and romance. Tony Morgan is the disinherited son of a rival oilman who finds a job with Essie's father's oil company, a company Essie herself manages. While Essie is a free spirit determined to do things her way, Tom finds himself intrigued, bewildered, and even angered by Essie's fierce independence.

I don't have to tell you that Essie and Tom fall in love–such is the nature of romantic fiction! However, their story lacks the usual predictability and tells an engaging and delightful tale. Essie is a quirky, refreshing and extremely likeable heroine who struggles with an unsavory past. Though this is certainly a love story set in Texas at the turn of the twentieth century, it is also a story of forgiveness and redemption. Through Essie and Tom, Gist reminds us of the true nature of grace and the faithfulness of God's provision. I completely enjoyed this novel!

Interested in reading Essie's story for yourself? Check out an excerpt here.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….

Would you like to win a copy of Deep in the Heart of Trouble? Please leave a comment, and we'll announce the winner on September 3.

Filed under Christian, Fiction, Historical, Lisa by 5 Minutes for Books

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164 Comments

Pings on Deep in the Heart of Trouble

August 28, 2008

Deep in the Heart of Trouble by Deanne Gist | Mom Giveaways

Comments on Deep in the Heart of Trouble

August 27, 2008

Alyce @ 12:27 am

This sounds like a fresh fun book!

Shoshana @ 3:18 am

I've just recently gotten into historical which are less of a romance, but more on story and I love it. This sounds like a great book.

Marilyn Wons @ 7:14 am

sounds fine

Shana @ 7:17 am

I'd love to win this book. Thanks for the review and giveaway!

Evelyn Murray @ 7:31 am

I would love to read and win this book

Katrina (Callapidder Days) @ 7:38 am

I don't usually read historical fiction either, but I've heard so many good things about this author. Please enter me.

randi oaklief @ 7:42 am

I'm not a fan of historical fiction eiter, but your review & recommendation make this book sound worthwhile! Thanks for the review & the opportunity to win.

susan varney @ 8:01 am

great prize love to win it

Nise' @ 8:24 am

I love historical fiction, it is historical romance that sometimes has a "yuck" factor about it. Courting Trouble was awesome!

Michael Capp @ 8:47 am

I want to win!

Lindsey@A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts @ 9:08 am

Thank you for the review! I would love to win.

I have to say that I do like historical fiction… I am picky about what I read, though. I agree that sometimes it goes one extreme or the other (not enough history or too much). I have read some very good historicals, though! The Mark of the Lion series is one of them and probably the best I've ever read!

Lindsey

Corinne @ 9:17 am

I agree that historical fiction is tricky. This one looks entertaining. Thanks for the giveaway.

Jen E @ 9:36 am

I have read some great historical fiction books and this sounds awesome and right up my alley! Great prize!

shannon Baas @ 9:51 am

Sounds good.

Jenn S. @ 10:02 am

I love historical fiction, this sounds great. Count me in.

Deborah Wellenstein @ 10:40 am

Please enter me to win!

Stacy @ 10:43 am

I read and enjoyed "Courting Trouble", so I'd love to win this book! Great review

Holly @ 10:50 am

I've had this on my to-read list. It looks great. I also blogged about your giveaway.

http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/giveaways.html

Crystal B. @ 11:37 am

Sounds good. Thanks for the chance.

charline s @ 11:40 am

Sounds really wonderful.

Michele @ 11:43 am

Sounds like a fun read! Count me in!

Meredith Rowe @ 11:49 am

What a great giveaway! Looks like a great book!

Rebecca Snodgrass @ 12:01 pm

Please enter me, sounds great.

Amanda D. @ 12:17 pm

This sounds like a great book!

Susan (Bloggin' 'Bout Books) @ 2:11 pm

This looks like a fun book – I love the cover. Please enter me into your giveaway. Thanks!!

C. clemens @ 2:16 pm

I want to read this, i love to read

James Jenkins @ 2:21 pm

wow

j s iaavrone @ 2:21 pm

Hope I win.

Michelle @ 2:31 pm

I would love to be entered. Thanks!

karen @ 2:46 pm

I used to want to write historical fiction. But never have.

SANDY @ 2:52 pm

sounds like a great read

Ana @ 3:16 pm

i love the cover

Cilfton Wade @ 3:21 pm

My disabled wife of more than 38 years just LOVES to read – it's one pleasure so far that she can still enjoy!
Thanks for all the great contests and prizes!

Hil'Lesha @ 3:55 pm

Sounds good!

Adrienne Gordon @ 4:06 pm

count me in

Dan Smith @ 4:15 pm

Sounds like a great book

Denise @ 4:41 pm

Count me in, please!

Gail @ 4:53 pm

Sounds like a fun read and I've enjoyed another one of her books so count me in please!

Kim @ 5:01 pm

I LOVE historical fiction! I'd love to win!

CHARLES KASSING @ 5:24 pm

thanks

Michaela R. @ 6:01 pm

i love things like this! it would be an amazing win!

Martha @ 6:08 pm

Count me in too! This book looks great.

Kara @ 6:14 pm

This sounds great. Thanks for the review and the chance to win!

Nora @ 6:20 pm

This sounds like an exciting upbeat book.

Desmond @ 6:46 pm

Count me in!

Anne @ 6:59 pm

I need a new book to read and this one sounds perfect!

Thanks

anne_c_taylor@hotmail.com

Shirley @ 7:34 pm

This would definitely be a good read

christopher h @ 8:27 pm

sounds really good

Tammy Gordon @ 8:29 pm

I'd like to win this!

Amy from Occupation:Mommy @ 8:35 pm

I love historical fiction!

Ann Fantom @ 10:30 pm

I would like to win this. Please enter me

Linda @ 10:54 pm

I would love to win this one.

Karen Gonyea @ 11:01 pm

I want to win this one !

August 28, 2008

Terra Heck @ 1:03 am

I'd like to read this book.

marleen davis @ 3:05 am

I agree with you, I generally don't care for historical romances either and I usually don't like romances in general. HOwever, this one does sound interesting and probably worth a look. Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win.

Ivan Girl @ 5:03 am

wow, this sounds like a great book. Have strayed away from reading romances but this book sounds like a good covet.

include me, please.

Carol Lawrence @ 6:14 am

I would love to win this prize.

david basile @ 8:13 am

good read thanks

RogerKeeney @ 8:20 am

Historical fiction is very good reading, and is especially good for my daughter to have around.

Susan C @ 9:01 am

I haven't read a historical romance since I was a teenager, it would be fun to read one again.

Catherine KingChuparkoff @ 9:12 am

Your review makes this book a must read for me…

Estelle S. @ 9:43 am

Oh, I love a good romance story! This sounds like a great book!

tawnda @ 10:53 am

sounds like my daughter… lol

Carol G @ 11:29 am

Unlike you, historical fiction is my first choice, although I can empathize with your statements about the appropriate mix of history and romance!

Zoly @ 11:44 am

Sounds refreshing.

veronica sandberg @ 12:08 pm

want to win this

Tarah @ 12:26 pm

I would love to win this – I'm such a bookworm. I'll tell you – they always say "Never judge a book by its cover" but I always do. I would have picked this one up because of the cover alone – it's so cute! It sounds really interesting too! Thanks for the chance to win!

Kathy Scott @ 1:06 pm

I need some good books to read since the kids are back in school.

Brittany @ 1:08 pm

Looks like a great book! Thanks for the giveway

Amy N. @ 1:23 pm

I would love to win a copy of this! Thanks for the chance to win it!

Jean Benedict @ 1:28 pm

hope i win as i love to read

Linda Moeller @ 1:53 pm

Looks like a fun book to read.

Jessica C @ 2:02 pm

I would love to read this.

tim brown @ 2:05 pm

THANK YOU GOD BLESS

Amy @ 2:34 pm

I've read some historical fiction that I've really enjoyed. This book looks like a good one.

Valerie Mabrey @ 2:42 pm

thanks for the contest

sarah @ 2:50 pm

enter me!

Maja @ 3:22 pm

I'm interested.

Sharon Jones @ 3:36 pm

Looks great…would love to win…THANKS!!!!!!!!

kristi blackstone @ 3:41 pm

I'd LOVE to win! I'm on bedrest for pregnancy and read a lot! So it would be great!

christina @ 3:56 pm

Romances usually bore me, but this sounds so fun! I would love to win it!

djp @ 4:39 pm

i;m ready for a good one

DeeAnn S @ 4:48 pm

Essie sounds like a great heroine. Enter me please!

Kari @ 5:37 pm

I've gotten this out to read from the library cause it looked so good but NEVER got to read it!!! Count me in, THANKS!!!

Rebekah @ 5:57 pm

Oh, me! I want to win If I don't, I'm checking the library for sure!!!

Donna Hunt @ 6:14 pm

I'm always looking for books to add to my reading list and this sounds interesting. Please add my name. Thank you for the contest!

barbara @ 8:32 pm

This sounds like a book that I would enjoy. Please enter my name.

Karen Gonyea @ 9:31 pm

Sounds great !

Gary Osborn @ 9:58 pm

Wooo Hooo Make me a winner!

Vicky Boackle @ 10:20 pm

i love to read.

Felicia @ 11:08 pm

This book sounds so good, I enjoy romance novels, thank you.

August 29, 2008

Nicole C. @ 8:47 am

Sound like a great book! I would love to win it!

Rhonda Struthers @ 3:36 pm

Please enter me as I would love to read this book.

August 30, 2008

Belinda @ 3:25 am

I love a good read. Thanks!

Tammy @ 6:33 pm

I'd love to read this book. thanks for the chance.

Leona P @ 7:02 pm

please enter me thanks

ellen cunningham @ 7:27 pm

The book sounds great. Please enter me. Thanks

August 31, 2008

Kathy D @ 10:08 am

thank you for all the great books you show me

Sandy M @ 11:48 am

I enjoy historical romances as a break from anything heavier I may be reading. I'd love to try this book.

Jennifer Hedden @ 12:08 pm

enter me

Tonya Froemel @ 2:38 pm

love to win this

Monica Garcia @ 3:11 pm

I would love to win this book!! rocko@elp.rr.com

Anita Yancey @ 3:17 pm

This book sounds like such a good one. I would love to read it. Please enter me, and thanks!

Vicki Wurgler @ 4:55 pm

I'd love to win , I enjoy reading historical fiction

Frank T. @ 5:10 pm

super! ! !

Michelle Hohertz @ 11:33 pm

I'd love to win this! Just the cover alone would be enough to get me to pick it up.

September 1, 2008

Julie Donahue @ 12:10 am

Pick me! (Please)

Erica G @ 12:23 am

Please pick me! I love a good book!

Audrey Okaneko @ 12:35 am

This book sounds really good. Thanks!

Ann Marie Walker @ 12:54 am

Sounds like a great book. Please enter me.

william causey @ 1:52 am

please count me in

Alicia T @ 2:28 am

Thanks for the giveaway

Elizabeth M. @ 4:30 am

It's not my first choice either but I have opened myself up to the genre lately and I've been surprised by some wonderful books. Thanks for the giveaway.

Erma @ 9:02 am

Sounds like a good book.

Marion B @ 9:16 am

Looks like a good book!!

LisaK @ 9:20 am

Sounds like a good book! I'd love to try for it!

Catherine Gildea @ 12:01 pm

The title reminds me of the song Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Denise @ 12:35 pm

I wouldn't mind checking this out.

Paula H @ 12:39 pm

I would love a new book.

christal e @ 2:43 pm

Sign me up!

shawna @ 3:45 pm

This sounds like a really great book! Would love to read it

Sue Farrell @ 5:10 pm

I have always liked historical fiction, especially ones set in the south, so I think I might really enjoy this book.

Gloria Dornin @ 8:12 pm

I love almost all types of fiction. I would love this

Kobi Hendrix @ 10:45 pm

Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the contest

Kayce C @ 10:55 pm

Count me in.

Leslie Davis @ 11:20 pm

Would love to win. It sounds great.

September 2, 2008

Tamara Burks @ 12:28 am

Sounds like a book I'd love!

Tamara Merritt @ 12:45 am

Thanks for the chance to win!

Chrysa @ 1:06 am

Looks like a good read!

Sharon Fairclough @ 2:28 am

Sounds like a wonderful story. Thanks for the giveaway

kathleen Yohanna @ 3:22 am

I love historical fiction but sometimes the characters are hard to relate to. This sounds like a wonderful book and I would really like to win a copy.

kathy pease @ 8:53 am

PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY

Roseann Kies @ 9:58 am

I LOVE THESE TYPE OF BOOKS! THANKS FOR THE CONTEST!

Frances Watson @ 10:00 am

looks like a good read count me in

Angie P @ 10:53 am

I'd love to win a copy. The book sounds interesting. Thanks!

Desiree @ 10:55 am

Love historical romances…the only way I can read a romance book

Becky @ 10:58 am

I love books..I would love to win one.

Kathy Conley @ 11:26 am

What a great end-of-summer read!

Darlene Wetzel @ 1:14 pm

Sounds interesting.

Susanne Troop @ 1:36 pm

I'm always looking for a good book to read!

Brenda S. @ 2:38 pm

I would love to read and win this book

sarah b @ 2:52 pm

looks like a great story i would love to read!

Janet @ 3:28 pm

I would love to be entered. Thanks!

Jennifer Schroeder @ 4:32 pm

This sounds like a good read! Thank you for the contest!

CHERYL A FRANCISCO @ 4:41 pm

Commenting for entry :0
cherylfrancisco@hotmail.com

john pratt @ 5:08 pm

i would love to read this book. thanks in advance if if win and i hope all of your days are blessed.

Zipporah Sandler @ 5:46 pm

I sure could use a good romantic read to take me away.

Ed Nemmers @ 6:02 pm

Sweet niblets!

Sheila Pepe @ 6:13 pm

I would love to win and read this book!

Zoe Lee @ 8:40 pm

Thanks , I would love to win this book!

Beverly Metcalf @ 8:42 pm

I love historical fiction books and this one looks really good. Thanks for having the contest!

Veronica Garrett @ 8:48 pm

I would love to win this book. Sounds like it would make a great movie.

L McLendon @ 9:48 pm

I love to read and I would love to win this one!

Jennifer R @ 10:49 pm

This sounds like a great book – I read the excerpt….my kind of book!

Gwen Pilcher @ 11:00 pm

Light hearted fun in a book with "trouble" in the title.

Timothy Sternberg @ 11:07 pm

This sounds like a fresh fun book!

Lily Kwan @ 11:51 pm

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

September 3, 2008

Amber Rose @ 12:19 am

wow, the details you give really make me want to read this book! thank you for your vivid description! Please enter me and thanks for the great contest!