Win DEEP IN THE HEART OF TROUBLE by Deeanne Gist

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingDeep In The Heart Of Trouble(Bethany House - June 1, 2008)byDeeanne Gist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist has been a busy lady. She had a career in elementary education. She raised four children. In fifteen years she has: run a home accessory/antique business, been a member of the press, penned freelance journalism for a few well-known publications such as People, Parents, Family Fun and more. She was the CFO for her husband's engineering company. Amd she did all this in her home.

She also founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products which would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.

Eight months later, she submitted A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers and they picked it up for their new "edgy inspirational" line of historical fiction. After its release in July 2005, Bride hit eight best seller lists and has sold over 100,000 copies and won the Christy Award for BEST ROMANCE 2006. The Measure of a Lady was her 2006 summer release. It hit five best seller lists and won the Christy Award for BEST ROMANCE 2007. Gist is contracted to have a new book come out every summer. Courting Trouble was her 2007 summer release and it hit three best seller lists.

Deeanne lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-four years. They have two kids in high school, two in college.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Texas-Sized Tale of Unexpected Love

Essie Spreckelmeyer is the last woman anyone in Corsicana, Texas, expected to see with a man on her arm. Independent and outspoken, she’s known more for riding bicycles in outrageous bloomers than for catching a man’s eye.

And the last man who seems willing to give her a second glance is Tony Morgan, newly hired at Spreckelmeyer’s oil company. The disinherited son of an oil baron, Tony wants most to restore his name and regain his lost fortune--not lose his heart to this headstrong blonde. She confounds, contradicts, and confuses him. Sometimes he doesn’t know if she’s driving him toward the aisle or the end of his rope.

That’s how life is ...Deep In The Heart Of Trouble

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

“Christy Award winner Gist’s historical romances have increasingly gained popularity, combining witty dialog, well-balanced plots, and fully developed characters who seem almost real. Recommended for CF and romance collections.”
-- Library Journal

"Gist does it again! Her signature prose is consistent and she delivers a thoroughly delightful and entertaining story that’s worthy of our time and attention. Not only won’t you want to put this book down, you’ll want to enjoy this story again and again."
-- JUNE TOP PICK, 4-1/2 STARS, Romantic Times, Jennifer Reyes

"Gist has once again written a delightfully humorous historical romance. After reading the first book in this series of two, I was anxious to get my hands on this one. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed ... It is a spectacular, feel-good story which I highly recommend. You will definitely be glad you read it."
-– FIVE STAR RATING, The Romance Studio, Brenda Talley

JEN'S REVIEW

In the world of historical romance, there are some authors who just get everything right. Deeanne Gist is one of those authors. From the the first line: Essie Spreckelmeyer didn't have a man, nor did she need one. until the satisfying conclusion when I sadly said goodbye to Essie and the citizens of Corsicana, Texas, I was completely absorbed in this fantastic novel.

Corsicana is an actual town in Texas, and Gist has wisely chosen just enough historical information to make us feel as though we're walking the streets with Essie and Tony. Add to that a great cast of secondary characters (particularly the romance-novel-loving Mrs. Lockhart) and a bit of a mystery toward the end, and you end up with a novel you won't want to put down.

If you haven't already, read Courting Trouble, the beginning of Essie's story, first. You can read Deep in the Heart of Trouble on its own, but you'll be cheating yourself out of some great fun, not to mention a wonderful twist on the typical historical romance.

WIN THE BOOK

I'm so serious about you reading these books in order, that I'm giving you a choice. Just reply to this blog by June 23rd. I'll choose a winner at random and let him or her choose either Courting Trouble or Deep in the Heart of Trouble. Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!