Courting Trouble

The message In this story was very true and the ending just wasn’t my cup of tea but still a nice book.

If you have ever longed to give a young woman hope for her new Christian life after having fallen into sin, this may be the book to give her. Bethany Publishers took a chance, just as did Francine Rivers' publisher, and given the way of the world now, many of our young girls need the hope this book offers. As a morality tale, it probably could be given to college girls. So interesting: taming a snake, the oil well scenes, the bicycling, the very real moral delimma being faced by the new pastor! Now that the books Girls Gone Mild and The Thrill of the Chaste have hit the shelves, Christian fiction may get the point: It's a dangerous world and girls need strong empathetic teaching about purity. I think Deeanne Gist made her point well, and I am looking forward to Essie's continuing spiritual growth.

I was really impressed with this book because of its honesty. It takes a lot of courage to write a book that looks at the more difficult side of romance. Ms. Gist includes the men that are not right for her main character. In real life, it is not so easy to find the one person who is actually right for you. I'm impressed that at least one author is brave enough to admit this.

i thought this book was delightful!! i was waiting for the "sex" scenes as described by previous reviewers and never came upon it. I just loved Essie. She was bold and just down right the best. this is the first book i have read of Ms Gist and i have ordered her other 2 books and look forward to reading them!!

It's not unusual when reading a novel for the author to create characters you'll fall in love with that you hate to see it end. In this case I am thrilled because not only has Ms. Gist written just that, but she is planning a sequel and one can only hope she writes fast! Essie Spreckelmeyer has got to be one of the more intriguing and lovable characters I've met this year. In 1894 and reaching the age of 30 years old Essie has made up her mind that the Lord has more important things to do than bring her a husband. So Essie must go out and capture one herself. After studying the pros and cons of all the eligible bachelors in Corsicana, Texas, she's ready to begin her campaign; unfortunately Essie is an original who marches to the beat of a different drummer. Essie rides her bike Peg (short for Pegasus), slides down banisters, and catches snakes. It's not just anybody who is going to appreciate Essie's joy and zest for life but someone very special! Form the very first pages the reader will find this one hard to set down. Essie is -- in a word - spectacular! She is funny, compassionate, caring, and the more you read of her miss-adventures, the more you will love her! In deciding to find a husband she forges full speed ahead. Essie doesn't let anything slow her down once she's got her target in sight and though she may stumble once or twice her faith is unshakable especially when after making a huge error in judgment she learns not only the true meaning of forgiveness but that the Lord just might have a better future in store for her if she just places her trust in Him. Peppering this story with a plethora of endearing secondary characters, from Essie's Uncle Melvin and the young orphan Harley, to name a few, you'll be totally charmed with some laugh out loud scenarios, and shed tears of compassion as well when life's journey hits a few bumps in the road. I was most impressed with this newer author's previous novels A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING and THE MEASURE OF A LADY. But with this latest book positively sparkling with vitality and uplifting entertainment, I can emphatically state Gist has won me over completely. Write fast lady, I can't wait for the promised sequel! Marilyn Rondeau - Reviewers International Organization (RIO)

Essie is determined not to become the town spinster. She's made a list of all the eligible men in her town and is set on becoming the Mrs. of one of them. But Essie is not your normal stay at home woman, she's a tomboy who loves riding her bike, picking up snakes, and wearing outlandish hats. The town doesn't know what to do with her. With each prospective husband that Essie meets, she gets into all sorts of adventures. Will Essie get her man or is there something more important than marriage for her? This was my first Deeanne Gist book that I have read. I have A Bride Most Begrudging sitting on my shelf but I haven't gotten around to it. But now I definitely will have to make room for it in my TBR pile. First things first, this was one of the edgiest Christian fiction books I have ever read. Most other stories just hint about sex but never really talk about it. Wow this one nearly made me blush while reading certain scenes! Of course they are still very tame, but quite risqué compared to other CBA books that are out there. I did like Essie very much. I felt her pain and frustration about not being able to find a husband. She sounds like though that she would be a really great friend to have. She'd be a perfect chick-lit character if placed in a modern setting. I love reading about independent women and Essie definitely was one, with her bike riding and snake handling. I like the characters from the town as they made the story more lively. But oh, how I hate gossipy, jealous, bitter women. They seem to want to make everyone's life miserable. When I got to the ending, I was happy with it because of the way the rest of the story lead up to it. But I do hope very much to read the sequel to this book for more Essie adventures. I cannot wait but until then I'm going back to read Deeanne's other two books. Excellent, unusual romantic story with a spunky heroine.