Deep in the Heart of Trouble

I am a big fan of Deeanne Gist's writing, but I was sorely disappointed by her third book, "Courting Trouble." I still can't quite exactly put my finger on why; it had a wonderfully unique plot with vivid descriptions of the time period, and lively characters. I think my problem with the novel may have been that I wasn't wild about the main character, Essie. Despite her outgoing personality and her attitude that she can do most anything she wants even though she's a woman, I found her to be a bit too simpering and naïve and she just grated on my nerves. I could have just chalked it up to the time period Essie was set in, but I know that Gist has never let that stop her from creating beautifully multi-dimensional and memorable characters before. I picked up "Deep in the Heart of Trouble", Gist's fourth novel and the sequel to "Courting Trouble" simply because I believe in Gist as an author, and I didn't want to let the little fact that I am not a fan of her character keep me from enjoying her latest work. I was so pleasantly surprised to find that in the four years that had passed in the storyline between the two books, Essie grew up and became a character that I quickly fell in love with! She had learned a few lessons from her past and became a better, more well-rounded woman for it. I also loved that Gist added a little mysterious twist to the book, which brought along excitement and adventure... I don't want to give away too much, so I won't say anything more about that. "Deep in the Heart of Trouble" is another wonderful example of how Gist bucks the traditional storyline for Christian Fiction, thus making her novels enjoyable to all readers regardless of their faith. While her characters are still conveying good Christian morals and a redeeming message of God's constant love and benevolence, her works, this book included, fail to be sappy or preachy. They tell tales of love and heartache and humor and joy that just about everyone can relate to and enjoy. This is not your typical novel from a Christian publisher, and I think most of us can whole-heartedly agree that that is a GOOD thing! Grade: A+

Yay! I really enjoyed this book. In fact, it's quite a bit better than the book to which it's a sequel, Courting Trouble, and ranks up there with my other favorite Deeanne Gist book, The Measure of a Lady. It's really too bad that Ms. Gist generally publishes one book per year. I would enjoy reading more!

What a wonderful book to escape into!!! I just loved Essie!! I think that reading Courting Trouble is important to getting the whole picture though. I highly recommend this book. The previous reviews do a detailed job so i won't add more. Get this one for the beach......great read!!

Essie Spreckelmeyer is somewhat of a legend in her hometown of Corsicana, Texas. As the founder of the Corsicana Velocipede Club and running her father's oil business, Essie's outrageous costumes for bike riding, as well as her often eccentric behavior no longer surprised the townspeople. After a disastrous affair of the heart, Essie had long lost her dream of a husband and babies and embraced Christ and spinsterhood instead. Tony Morgan was the second son of the Morgan Oil company baron. Upon his father's death, Tony was disinherited and ordered to leave his family home by his older step-brother who was left everything. Tony took his mother's maiden name of Bryant, shaved mustache and beard, and traveled to Corsicana to find a job at Spreckelmeyer's - Sullivan oil company. Starting at the bottom, he knew if given a chance he could work his way up the ladder and restore both his name and eventually his fortune. Only one thing stood in his way - Essie Spreckelmeyer who seemed to have taken an instant dislike to the handsome drifter. The lines were drawn, the sparks were flying, and the battle of wills was on! *** Ms. Gist's characters, are well-defined, generally very wise and almost always having a great sense of humor. While ranked as being `inspirational' her books are not at all preachy and she does not use numerous quotes from the bible to impart Christian beliefs. Instead, her characters (most of them) embrace the lessons allowing the story itself to give food for thought. Essie is smart, independent and born way ahead of her time as far as standing up for women's rights, and opinionated - I'd liken her to the Gloria Steinam of her generation. Essie had once dreamed of marriage and babies to a handsome fellow, but unfortunately when she had fallen in love, the object of her affection turned out to be a cad. Consequently, while Tony was definitely attractive, she was gun shy and could or would not never ever want to trust her heart again. Tony was frustrated, he'd never tried so hard to win another's trust and while around Essie he just couldn't seem to do anything right to please her. Their battles, whether over checkers, racing, or any number of physical/mental activities ended up being just that - battles. But when the real battle came for saving Tony from the hangman's noose for a murder he was framed for came about, he couldn't have asked for a better supporter, than Essie. The supporting characters were plentiful as well as colorful, and added much to the richness of the tale which included scheming, vileness, sweet romance, and a lot of laughs. I especially loved Mrs. Lockhart, who recognized and kept Tony's secret identity as she coached him how to romance Essie by having him read plots in her romance novels. The underlying message of forgiveness and trust was a lesson that both Tony and Essie needed to be learn. Purely a stand-alone though a follow-up to Ms. Gist's COURTING TROUBLE, this continuation of Essie's

I know I'm reading a good book when I simply hate to put it down - when I'm reading every moment I can, in the car, before bed, between chores - I know this book is special. Deep in the Heart of Trouble did not disappoint! I've read some of Deeanne Gist's other stories, and like the others, Deep in the Heart of Trouble drew me in and didn't let go until the last page. Gist has a real gift for creating a sense of belonging to the time period in which her story takes place, and every character just adds layers of color and texture to the point that you are truly transported! Now that is the kind of writing I love! "Essie Spreckelmeyer didn't have a man, nor did she need one." (p. 11) From the very first sentence in this book, Essie is the most eccentric, independent, unusual lady to grace the pages of fiction. I absolutely adored her, and by the end of the book I was cheering her in her newest venture! Gist brilliantly sets Tony Morgan - a disinherited oilman - in the opposite corner of this tale, and the story that grows between them is one of frustrating tension, tender forgiveness and breathtaking passion! Each of the characters in this saga, even the minor characters, add so much to the plot and action within the story that Essie and Tony's relationship becomes real in your mind. No wonder Mrs. Lockhart kept referring to the characters in her books! (I love her!!) I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves adventure and romance set in the late 1800's during the Texas oil boom days. This is a well-written, well-paced story that will keep you up at night trying to finish just one more chapter! I loved it, and I certainly look forward to the next story coming out next year! Bravo, Deeanne!! Bravo!!