Ramblings-n-Writings

Posts Tagged ‘Deeanne Gist’

ABOUT THE BOOK

Falling in love could cost her everything.

From the day she arrived at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled, by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack’s rugged behavior by tutoring him in proper servant etiquette, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie’s efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt’s lady’s maid, After all, the one rule of the house is no romance below stairs.

But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangles in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs, their aspirations…their hearts.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Maid to Match, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

It’s no secret here at Ramblings-n-Writings that I am a huge fan of Deeanne Gist’s novels. I love her straightforward, no nonsense, practical view on life and relationships. Maid to Match is no exception.

Tillie Reese is a fun character who demonstrates that if you work hard enough for a goal, you will reach it some day. As a very young child, she begain reading and learning about how to be a lady’s maid – the most prestigious, and coveted, position in a servant’s world. The arrival of Mack Danvers threatens to destroy everything Tillie worked for and she must decide what things are the most important to her in life.

The setting for this book is the true-to-life Biltmore Estate just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. (If you have never visited the Biltmore, you really should!) Having been to the Biltmore about 12 years ago, it was easy to visualize the story as well as feel the awe and reverance the home and the Biltmores sparked.

Like I mention on all of my reviews of Deeanne’s books, mothers should read the book before their teenage daughter. (Some find Deeanne’s writing ”risque” for a Christian audience.) And with that being said, I definitely recommend Maid to Match for your summer or fall reading list!
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ABOUT THE BOOK

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her… Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.

Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

If you’d like to read the first chapter of , go HERE

MY THOUGHTS

It’s no secret that I enjoy reading Deeanne Gist’s novels. Her typical genre is historical fiction (one of my favs) and her writing is considered “edgy” (in reality, it’s just true to life, not sugarcoated). So, when CFBA offered a new Deeanne Gist book for review, I jumped at the chance. I admit that I was skeptical … A co-author? And how would a superb historical fiction author do in a contemporary setting?

Within pages, my skepticism was put aside and I was immersed in a suspense-filled romance. Beguiled is one of those “don’t interrupt me while I’m reading” and “I don’t care if the house is burning down – I’m finishing this chapter” kind of books.

To be honest, the suspense created by co-authors Deeanne Gist and Mark Bertrand reminded me of books by author Dee Henderson. However, what makes Beguiled different from Henderson’s O’Malley series is the personal relationships. The O’Malley siblings, while not siblings by birth, all had someone in the family to turn to when trouble struck. Rylee Monroe is by herself except for her elderly grandmother. At times I wanted to reach in to the book’s pages to tell Rylee she wasn’t alone.

The book isn’t all suspense since there’s lots of quirky things about both Rylee and Logan that make it a fun read – a car named Daisy, minor league baseball players with a pet frog… And there’s the added element of romance. What would a book with Gist as an author be without romance? (Moms, I recommend reading Deeanne’s books first and making sure the romance scenes are appropriate for your daughter’s maturity level.)

My only disappointment with the book was that it ended too soon. In a way, I did feel like the end suddenly wrapped up everything, but that’s how things happen when a crime is solved, so I can’t complain.

And here’s a hint to those Hollywood producers – Beguiled would make a great box office hit!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Wedding Is All Planned…
Someone Just Needs to Tell the Bride

In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful, but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.

Joe Denton doesn’t have a wife. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride–one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.

Anna Ivey’s journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook–not a bride. When she’s handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Bride In The Bargain, go HERE

MY THOUGHTS

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has done it again. She’s written another wonderful historical romance that’s sure to hit the bestselling list.

The story of Anna and Joe is a fun, quirky, love story filled with challenges, stubbornness, and realizations. I love the fresh setting  in this story. (I haven’t read too many books set in a lumberjack camp in the middle of nowhere. ) And I love Deeanne’s descriptions, particularly as Joe tries to win Anna’s heart.

Deeanne is known as an “edgy” author when it comes to her depiction of relationships. To me, her descriptions of how the characters view the opposite s*x add to the story, heighten the character’s emotional state, and make the story more realistic. Descriptions are not vivid (TV is far worse, IMO), however, exercise caution for younger readers. (Moms, please read first before giving to your teenage daughter.) Personally, I believe that if a person can read Song of Solomon without a problem, she should be able to read Deeanne’s stories.