Tiffany Girl

I love when authors use historical facts as the basis for their novels and in Tiffany Girl the latest novel from best-selling author Deeanne Gist, I got to learn a bit more about the wonderful women who were called upon by Louis Tiffany to help complete his stained glass chapel that he had planned on debuting. When the men went on strike, Mr. Tiffany relied upon the most unconventional help at that time, employing women to help cut and assemble the fantastic pieces of stained glass. It helped them during the struggles of single women in 1893 who often times found themselves working to hand over their money to the men in their lives, be it there fathers or husbands.

Often times had it not been for the money women made doing odd jobs like sewing or in this case working at the Tiffany Glass Company, many of them would be out on the streets. Work was becoming difficult for men and with the demands to work longer hours for very little money, some of them went on strike. But when women were called to take their places temporarily, many of the men made sure the women knew that they were less than pleased.

Florence Jayne is one of those young girls who has seen how the money her mother and her work so hard to bring in, is being gambled away by her father. Her mother is unwilling to stand up and demand that the money remain theirs, so Flossie takes it upon herself to become a "New Woman." A title designated for the women who believe in more than simply staying at home, marrying and starting their own families. Flossie feels that the only way that will happen is if she moves into a boarding house as she works for Mr. Tiffany.

While she is staying at the boarding house, she finds a family she never dreamed of having and sets to work to ensure that the people who live at the boarding house, feel just like family, so she incorporates various seating arrangements so people are forced to talk with someone new, she prepares questions to leave under their plate to help them get to know one another and encourages them to come together in the evening in the parlor. Reeve Wilder is an up and coming reporter who is tasked at sharing his time in the boarding house with the people who live there in a fictionalized story that is geared to help the newspaper continue to sell papers. Reeve is also a stanch advocate of women remaining at home and not part of the New Women movement. Soon sparks begin to fly in various ways as Flossie stays determine to not let men have the upper hand in everything she has to deal with, but will Mr. Wilder be able to tame the wild beast inside?

I receive Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Seeing as I have a Tiffany Lamp on my desk, it was a great journey into the history behind how these lamps came to be and the history behind the working conditions for women in the late 1800's. For fans of Deeanne's others novels, It Happened at the Fair and Fair Play, you will definitely want to add this to your collection. There are so many great individual stories within this novel that it is hard to figure out which was my favorite, from Reeve's fictional stories, to Flossie's love of art that winds up virtually everywhere in the story. There are so amazing pictures that open much of each chapter that give the reader the essence of what is happening in this novel. Well done and a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There is a great Author's Note section that defines what is historical fact from fiction and a Reader's Discussion Guide as well.

For more information about Tiffany Girl, Deeanne Gist or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist

You can find Deeanne Gist on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Tiffany Girl, please visit Howard Book's website. 

Fair Play

The hardest thing about being a woman, is being respected for having the same knowledge and education as a man back in 1893. Most men still hold onto the belief that women are incapable of holding down a job outside the home, especially when it comes to practicing medicine. When Billy Jack Tate is slated to deliver a speech as an invited guest speaker at the World's Fair in Chicago, the last thing she expected to deal with is trying to gain entrance into the Women's Exposition building when she is expected. But no matter how hard she tries to convince the guards at the building, they refuse to accept she is a doctor.

So she does what any self respecting women would do, and she breaks into the building's basement by crawling backwards through a window. She just never expected that Hunter Scott would be sitting back watching it all unfold without rendering her any aid as a Texas Ranger assigned to work the day shift at the Fair. He caught more than he was expecting to see at the Fair. He holds onto the value that the only good place for a woman is married and raising children. He is more than surprised to learn how strong willed, determined and educated Billy is. The last thing he expects is to find himself in need of a doctor and a lady doctor at that.

They will soon find out that work together is much easier than staying at odds with one another when an infant is found abandoned at the Fair. Hunter believes that since no mother is found that Billy should take on the care of the infant, and Billy assumes that since Hunter found him, that it is only proper he care for the infant. When Billy suggests they place the infant in Hull House, a place for children who need care until a suitable home can be found, they learn about a much uglier side of Chicago's slums they didn't expect to see and understand the darker side of the lives of the children that live there. Will they be able to put their differences aside in order to work for the betterment of the children living in deplorable conditions and find a way to help those that are turning to a life of crime at such a young age?

I received Fair Play by Deeanne Gist compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I love learning about a side of history in America that you don't often find in your history books in school. The understanding of what life was like for children living in Chicago in 1893 was so much different for the poor over the life of the affluent. Invisible barriers were often erected to keep either side from understanding the struggle going on with children smoking, drinking alcohol and having to find the odds jobs to help put food on their families tables at night. Disease and crime are at an all time high and places like the Hull House are true sanctuaries in the darkest of times. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for more from Deeanne Gist. A discussion guide is included at the end for book clubs as well as a historical note section from the author. The only thing I didn't like, was that it appeared that the girl's picture on the front cover was cut off.

For more information about Fair Play, Deeanne Gist or where  you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Fair Play by Deeanne Gist

You can also find Deeanne Gist on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Fair Play, please visit Howard Book's website. 

If you want to see where it all began, please check out It Happened At the Fair, Deeanne's first novel in the World's Exposition Series. 

It Happened At The Fair

"When the fire bell rang, the whole town poured into the streets, me included. I'd been running toward the billowing smoke for a good minute before I realized it was the mill. But even then I wasn't worried. I knew my mother would have gotten out."

White powder fell from their clothing, leaving a trail behind them. Smoke obliterated all sunlight, though they could still see.

"The owner of the mill kept the windows tightly closed so the humidity wouldn't weaken the cotton fibers. The air inside was so thick with cotton dust and lint, you couldn't hardly see or breathe. That's why I wasn't with her. Cotton dust makes me break out in hives."

She still couldn't fathom a cotton farmer whose body rejected the very crop that provided for him.

"Sad thing is," he said, "the mill had a sprinkler system."

Her lips parted. Please, God, she thought. Not one of his. Then she remembered he'd been much older when he'd tested out his first one of the cowshed.

"It was a manual system," he said, "and the operatives weren't able to activate it. I don't know why, but they weren't. Some of the folks on the ground floor made it out, but cotton is highly flammable and the windows were sealed. The people on the second floor didn't stand a chance."

She swallowed. "And your mother was on the second floor?"

"She was." His voice didn't rise or fall or crack, but flattened into a monotone. "The hook and ladder carts arrived, of course, but even with their steam engines throwing water onto the building, there was no saving it."

She bit her lip. She didn't know whether to reach for him or leave him be. Crossing her arms, she held tight to her elbows.

"I was held back from fighting the fire. But even as they restrained me, I promised her I'd do something. Something to conquer fire. And that's when the idea for automatic sprinklers came to me. It was as if my mother paused on her way to heaven and offered a parting suggestion. A dying wish, if you will." For the first time, his voice wavered. He looked down. "What she failed to mention was what to do if I invented such a thing but no one wanted it."

Uncrossing her arms, she grabbed his hand. "Oh Cullen. Even if no one places an order, you've done your part. You've offered the fruit of your hands. No one would ask you for more. Not your mother, not God, not anyone."

He gave her a self-deprecating smile. "I would. I would ask for more." (pg 188-189).

In the beautiful researched novel, It Happened At The Fair by Deeann Gist, an inspiring inventor and farmer, Cullen McNamara finds himself at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair at the insistence and belief of his father. His father believes that Cullen needs just the right push to take his invention and hope to make enough money at it that he won't have to go back to farming. In fact, his father provides him with the money to go and fills out all the necessary paperwork for him. Leaving behind the women he believes he loves, he heads off to Chicago in hopes of selling his invention he believes can truly save lives. He will have to spend six months trying his best to convince people his invention works over the manual sprinkler systems the world is used to.
However he's hiding the one thing that may make it hard for him to sell anything at all, his ability to hear. In Machinery Hall, he finds the noise so overwhelming, he can barely make out what people are asking him. Worse yet is the fact he is going deaf in his right ear. If he can't understand what people are asking him, he appears to be uneducated in his invention. That's when a suggestion is made for Cullen to learn lip reading in an effort to save his business and save his self respect. Only he doesn't expect his teacher to be quite so intriguing and beautiful.

I received It Happened At The Fair by Deeann Gist compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Being a huge history fan, I love how Deeann took the time to research the exhibits and the issues that happened at the Chicago World's Fair as her back drop for her novel. The pictures that accompany the story make it that much more believable and add to the ambiance of the characters of Cullen McNamara and Della Wentworth, the deaf teacher whom Cullen hires. This is a must read for anyone who truly appreciates the history and industrial age of America at a time when so many exciting things were being invented. I even loved the first movable sidewalk which showed a trend in making things easier for business and keeping it fun to watch and learn from. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and love the way the Deeann removes parts of words to show how difficult it was for Cullen to understand what people were saying in order to appreciate his challenge in communication with people and how he had to simply fill in the blanks based on the context of the conversation they were having to make sense of things. This one for me, is a true keeper.

For more information about It Happened At The Fair, Deeann Gist or where you can pick up a copy of this delightful novel today, please click on the links below:

It Happened At The Fair by Deeann Gist

You can follow Deeann Gist on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

You can also visit her website by clicking here. 

To read more reviews on It Happened At The Fair from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (April 30, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451692374
• ISBN-13: 978-1451692372
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches 

Available in paperback and eBook reader formats.

Deeanne Gist is celebrating the release of It Happened at the Fair with an iPad Mini Giveaway and a Live Author Chat Webcast event {5/22}!

  One "fair" winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 21st. Winner will be announced at the "It Happened at the Fair" Live Webcast Event on May 22nd. Connect with Deeanne for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deeanne will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of It Happened at the Fair and join Deeanne and friends on the evening of May 22nd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

It Happened at the Fair

"When the fire bell rang, the whole town poured into the streets, me included. I'd been running toward the billowing smoke for a good minute before I realized it was the mill. But even then I wasn't worried. I knew my mother would have gotten out."

White powder fell from their clothing, leaving a trail behind them. Smoke obliterated all sunlight, though they could still see.

"The owner of the mill kept the windows tightly closed so the humidity wouldn't weaken the cotton fibers. The air inside was so thick with cotton dust and lint, you couldn't hardly see or breathe. That's why I wasn't with her. Cotton dust makes me break out in hives."

She still couldn't fathom a cotton farmer whose body rejected the very crop that provided for him.

"Sad thing is," he said, "the mill had a sprinkler system."

Her lips parted. Please, God, she thought. Not one of his. Then she remembered he'd been much older when he'd tested out his first one of the cowshed.

"It was a manual system," he said, "and the operatives weren't able to activate it. I don't know why, but they weren't. Some of the folks on the ground floor made it out, but cotton is highly flammable and the windows were sealed. The people on the second floor didn't stand a chance."

She swallowed. "And your mother was on the second floor?"

"She was." His voice didn't rise or fall or crack, but flattened into a monotone. "The hook and ladder carts arrived, of course, but even with their steam engines throwing water onto the building, there was no saving it."

She bit her lip. She didn't know whether to reach for him or leave him be. Crossing her arms, she held tight to her elbows.

"I was held back from fighting the fire. But even as they restrained me, I promised her I'd do something. Something to conquer fire. And that's when the idea for automatic sprinklers came to me. It was as if my mother paused on her way to heaven and offered a parting suggestion. A dying wish, if you will." For the first time, his voice wavered. He looked down. "What she failed to mention was what to do if I invented such a thing but no one wanted it."

Uncrossing her arms, she grabbed his hand. "Oh Cullen. Even if no one places an order, you've done your part. You've offered the fruit of your hands. No one would ask you for more. Not your mother, not God, not anyone."

He gave her a self-deprecating smile. "I would. I would ask for more." (pg 188-189).

In the beautiful researched novel, It Happened At The Fair by Deeann Gist, an inspiring inventor and farmer, Cullen McNamara finds himself at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair at the insistence and belief of his father. His father believes that Cullen needs just the right push to take his invention and hope to make enough money at it that he won't have to go back to farming. In fact, his father provides him with the money to go and fills out all the necessary paperwork for him. Leaving behind the women he believes he loves, he heads off to Chicago in hopes of selling his invention he believes can truly save lives. He will have to spend six months trying his best to convince people his invention works over the manual sprinkler systems the world is used to.
However he's hiding the one thing that may make it hard for him to sell anything at all, his ability to hear. In Machinery Hall, he finds the noise so overwhelming, he can barely make out what people are asking him. Worse yet is the fact he is going deaf in his right ear. If he can't understand what people are asking him, he appears to be uneducated in his invention. That's when a suggestion is made for Cullen to learn lip reading in an effort to save his business and save his self respect. Only he doesn't expect his teacher to be quite so intriguing and beautiful.

I received It Happened At The Fair by Deeann Gist compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. Being a huge history fan, I love how Deeann took the time to research the exhibits and the issues that happened at the Chicago World's Fair as her back drop for her novel. The pictures that accompany the story make it that much more believable and add to the ambiance of the characters of Cullen McNamara and Della Wentworth, the deaf teacher whom Cullen hires. This is a must read for anyone who truly appreciates the history and industrial age of America at a time when so many exciting things were being invented. I even loved the first movable sidewalk which showed a trend in making things easier for business and keeping it fun to watch and learn from. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and love the way the Deeann removes parts of words to show how difficult it was for Cullen to understand what people were saying in order to appreciate his challenge in communication with people and how he had to simply fill in the blanks based on the context of the conversation they were having to make sense of things. This one for me, is a true keeper.

For more information about It Happened At The Fair, Deeann Gist or where you can pick up a copy of this delightful novel today, please click on the links below:

It Happened At The Fair by Deeann Gist

You can follow Deeann Gist on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

You can also visit her website by clicking here. 

To read more reviews fro

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (April 30, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451692374
• ISBN-13: 978-1451692372
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches 

Available in paperback and eBook reader formats.

Love On The Line - Giveaway and Review

"Hello, Central."

That is how Georgie Gail begins her day until 5pm, making connections for people all over the small town of Brenham. She is the telephone switchboard operator for Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone company and knows just about everything about everyone in town. Not that she listens in when she shouldn't be, but often the calls she gets is what is playing in town at the theater, what is the current time, and someone has lost their cow again, can the town be on the lookout for it, among other calls.

Georgie is proud of being an independent woman and her only other hobby is the love she has for all the birds that frequent her yard, from hummingbirds to the family of blue birds she is hoping will nest in her starch box this year.

Luke Palmer is a man on a mission, actually more than one mission, a Texas Ranger working undercover as a telephone repair/salesman, he is hoping to learn more about a notorious and legendary outlaw known as Frank Comer and his gang. He's avoided capture since he is the most gentlemanly outlaw around, providing for the poor and the weak, most of his victims would likely allow him to stay under their roofs rather than turn them over to the law. Therefore, Luke is hoping to find out just where Frank Comer is staying and finally put him behind bars, by posing as a telephone repair man, whose job would be to visit the residents and either sell their phone service or fix their existing lines.

However what Luke doesn't plan on is interference from Georgie, who has no plans to turn over her phone operations to Luke, even though he is more than a handsome man to look at. However when he is willing to assist her in helping to save the birds a local milliner is paying to have killed, she isn't ready to place her own love on the line waiting.

In the latest novel, Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist, we are thrown into a mixture of oil and water as the characters of Luke Palmer and Georgie Gail are forced to interact with one another. A heartwarming and wonderfully fun love story soon develops between the two if only they could avoid getting their own lines crossed. I just know my readers will enjoy this fun adventure of the old fashioned version of telephone romance and therefore rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and LOVED it from the very first page. For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this fun-filled book, please click on the links below:

Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist

If you're looking for more entertaining fun, join Deeanne's Facebook page!

The best part about this is I am offering a giveaway copy of this book to one lucky follower of my blog and here's all you gotta do:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" my Facebook page at Reviews From The Heart. You don't want to miss out on all the giveaways and great reviews!

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Remember No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment and let me know why you would LOVE to win a copy along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on November 15th and I will notify the winner at that time by email.

Love On The Line

"Hello, Central."

That is how Georgie Gail begins her day until 5pm, making connections for people all over the small town of Brenham. She is the telephone switchboard operator for Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone company and knows just about everything about everyone in town. Not that she listens in when she shouldn't be, but often the calls she gets is what is playing in town at the theater, what is the current time, and someone has lost their cow again, can the town be on the lookout for it, among other calls.

Georgie is proud of being an independent woman and her only other hobby is the love she has for all the birds that frequent her yard, from hummingbirds to the family of blue birds she is hoping will nest in her starch box this year.

Luke Palmer is a man on a mission, actually more than one mission, a Texas Ranger working undercover as a telephone repair/salesman, he is hoping to learn more about a notorious and legendary outlaw known as Frank Comer and his gang. He's avoided capture since he is the most gentlemanly outlaw around, providing for the poor and the weak, most of his victims would likely allow him to stay under their roofs rather than turn them over to the law. Therefore, Luke is hoping to find out just where Frank Comer is staying and finally put him behind bars, by posing as a telephone repair man, whose job would be to visit the residents and either sell their phone service or fix their existing lines.

However what Luke doesn't plan on is interference from Georgie, who has no plans to turn over her phone operations to Luke, even though he is more than a handsome man to look at. However when he is willing to assist her in helping to save the birds a local milliner is paying to have killed, she isn't ready to place her own love on the line waiting.

In the latest novel, Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist, we are thrown into a mixture of oil and water as the characters of Luke Palmer and Georgie Gail are forced to interact with one another. A heartwarming and wonderfully fun love story soon develops between the two if only they could avoid getting their own lines crossed. I just know my readers will enjoy this fun adventure of the old fashioned version of telephone romance and therefore rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and LOVED it from the very first page. For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this fun-filled book, please click on the links below:

Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist

If you're looking for more entertaining fun, join Deeanne's Facebook page!

Maid to Match

My Review:

Set in the late 1800's we find ourselves at the Biltmore estate owned by the very prestigious and wealthy Vanderbilt's family. Here we met Tillie Reese who has worked at the Biltmore estate as a housemaid for quite some time, and now at 18 finds herself at just the right moment for a possible promotion when the current lady's maid is leaving back to France.

It's been Tillie's dream to become a lady's maid for someone like Mrs. Vanderbilt because she herself would be privileged to find herself in beautiful dresses and traveling all over the world, taking care of Mrs. Vanderbilt. Not only that she would make enough money to support her family at home. This is the job she has been waiting for and one her mother has been helping her strive for her whole life. Something better in this hard world.

Mack Danver is a rugged mountain man whose encounter in the city while shopping with Mrs. Vanderbilt is about to change life for both Tillie and the Vanderbilt family forever. Will their lives ever be the same again? Check out the details below including a chance to win a trip to the Biltmore estate yourself.

I received this must read book, Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist, compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and found myself completely immersed in the lives of Tillie and the staff at the Vanderbilt estate. There are parlor games that are played during the staffs days off at the Sunday barn dances that I found amusing and whimsical and completely adored how women were treated at these events. I highly recommend this book giving it a 10 out of 10 rating.

For more information about the author, the book and where you can enter for the contest to visit the Biltmore, check out the following information below:

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Maid to Match Bethany House (June 1, 2010)

by Deeanne Gist





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm--all from the comforts of home.



Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.



After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a "corporate executive" was not where her gifts and talents lie. 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 sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.



Her 2010 books, Beguiled and Maid To Match are now available for order.



Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-seven years and their two border collies. They have four grown children. Visit her blog to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.







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.





Join this SPECIAL GETAWAY (Click on the Button):