It Happened at the Fair by DeeAnn Gist

A transporting historical novel about a promising young inventor, his struggle with loss, and the attractive teacher who changes his life, all set against the razzle-dazzle of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Gambling everything, including the family farm, Cullen McNamara travels to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with his most recent invention. But the noise in the Fair's Machinery Palace makes it impossible to communicate with potential buyers. In an act of desperation, he hires Della Wentworth, a teacher of the deaf, to tutor him in the art of lip-reading.

The young teacher is reluctant to participate, and Cullen has trouble keeping his mind on his lessons while intently watching her lips. Like the newly invented Ferris Wheel, he is caught in a whirl between his girl back home, his dreams as an inventor, and his unexpected attraction to his new tutor. Can he keep his feet on the ground, or will he be carried away?

About the Author
Deeanne Gist, known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee, has rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very original, very fun historical & contemporary romances. Add to this three RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you've got one recipe for success. To learn more visit http://Iwantherbooks.com

Deeanne Gist’s E-Short gives readers a peek inside the world’s fair. Tempest in the White City is a digital short story available from online retailers for 99 cents.

Deeanne Gist fans won’t have to wait until the April 30 release of It Happened at the Fair to read her latest work! On March 19, readers will be able to purchase the e-short, Tempest in the White City, a 40-page short story prelude to It Happened at the Fair, for 99 cents from all online retailers. While the characters from the short story are not carried over into the full-length release, audiences will get a taste of the awe-inspiring backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and will be anxious to spend more time exploring the exhibition.

In true Gist form, Tempest in the White City combines her trademark humor with romance. Hunter Scott is one of the elite. A Chicago World’s Fair guard specifically chosen for his height, physique, character and ability to serve and protect. When Hunter is overcome with debilitating abdominal pain, he stumbles to an infirmary in the Fair’s Woman’s Building only to discover the doctor is female—which he is none too happy about. But even worse, she has the nerve to diagnose him—the toughest man west of anyplace east—with constipation.

The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair overflowed with the latest innovations welcomed by a throng of people from all around the globe. This setting replete with history, intrigue and wonder caught Gist’s attention and is sure to draw readers of both releases in as well. “I’m always drawn to events in our country’s past that are strangely absent from our history classes. Why the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition has been left out, I don’t know, especially since it was such a pivotal event for us,” explains Gist. “We were able to wow the world with our scientific innovations, and it gave women their first official board position recognized and approved by an Act of Congress (all before we had the right to vote). But it was technology which claimed the day as it nipped at the heels of horses, buggies and man-powered tools.”

More about It Happened at the Fair: Young inventor Cullen McNamara gambles everything, including the family farm, in order to make his family proud—and earn his father’s entry money to the Fair Expo back—by selling his design for an automatic sprinkler system inspired by his mother’s death in a mill fire. Struggling with hearing loss from his previous life on the farm, McNamara finds it difficult to communicate with potential buyers over the din in the Fair’s Machinery Building. In an act of desperation, he hires attractive Della Wentworth, a teacher of the deaf, to tutor him in the art of lip-reading. Much like the newly invented Ferris Wheel, Cullen is caught in a whirl between his girl back home, his dreams as an inventor and his unexpected attraction to his new tutor. Can he keep his feet on the ground or will he be carried away?


Here is my review of this wonderful novel:

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to DeeAnn Gist and her publisher for sending me a copy of "It Happened at the Fair" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.
 

DeeAnn Gist’s “It Happened at the Fair” is another wonderful historical romance from a wonderful author.  Cullen McNamara risks everything when he leaves his North Carolina farm and fiancée to bring his invention to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.  When excessive noise keeps him from being able to communicate the benefits of his product to potential buyers, his trip appears to be a sure loss until he gets the idea to hire Della Wentworth, a teacher for the deaf, to teach him to read lips to make communication easier.  What he didn’t count on was falling in love with his tutor.

Adelaide Wentworth is a gifted teacher.  Instructing deaf children daily at the World’s Fair to demonstrate to the public that the deaf can learn to read lips and function in society, she finds respite in touring the exhibits in the evening.  When it seems like an ideal bargain to accept Mr. McNamara’s offer to escort her around the fairgrounds in exchange for lessons on how to read lips, Della escapes from the company she’s been keeping but has no idea that she’s agreed to more than she bargained for.

Gist is a masterful storyteller who blends historical fact with the true-to-life characters created by her imagination.  Her plotlines are interesting and her conflict doesn’t feel contrived or forced just to make her tale more emotionally engaging.  The drawings and photos in this book really add credibility to the story and made me hungry to know more about the World’s Fair.  The dialogue of the less educated characters was a bit frustrating at the beginning, until I realized that it wasn’t about less educated characters, but rather an illustration of Mr. McNamara’s hearing issues – BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN.  I was also sparked in the first chapter to consider the question, “what am I destined to do?”  This has modified my prayer life and encouraged me to examine what I am investing my time and talent in as it pertains to what God says in His Word.  Thank you, sister DeeAnn, for several entertaining hours that also impacted my own spiritual life.