It Happened at the Fair

By: Deeanne Gist

Narrated by: Amy Rubinate

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

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?

©2013 Deeanne Gist (P)2013 Tantor

Just what I was looking for!

I really loved this novel. I am a history buff, so some of the true elements came through, as well as the fiction.
I am hoping Deeanne has more wonderful novels like this!

Awesome book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book opened to my eyes to an event I had never heard of and described it as if the author had actually been there. I really enjoyed it!

What was one of the most memorable moments of It Happened at the Fair?

The scene in the ferris wheel.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried!!

Any additional comments?

Great overall book. Really shows how judgemental people can be.

Pleasurable - and different - story

Any additional comments?

Deeanne Gist writes love stories that take place during different times in history. So we get engaging characters who are also sharing some interesting aspects of their time period with us as well. There is one tragic event in the story - based on an event that actually occurred - but it doesn't bring the story down as has happened in a few of her other books.

Della's fears seem a little over the top and seem to be a deliberately manufactured excuse for a point in the story where the hero ends up having to take his shirt off which just felt kinda awkward. The romance in the story does push it all the way to the boundary line of clean romance (which I wish Gist would stop doing), but it never actually goes over at least.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and anticipate listening to it again. Definitely recommend!

Wonderful story -Chicago's World Fair!!

It's 1893, and the Chicago World's Fair is hugely popular. While much of the rest of the country is facing bank shutdowns and lost mortgages, everything new and extravagant is happening at the Fair. North Carolina farmer, Cullen McNamara, is highly allergic to his cotton fields but he's also a talented inventor. He's created an automatic sprinkler system for putting out fires. His father gambles his farm on Cullen's ability to sell his product at the fair.

Della Wentworth is a teacher for deaf children. The whole school has been transported to the Fair for exhibiting the children learning to lip read. When Cullen's increasing hearing loss gets in the way of speaking to customers, he hires Della to teach him to lip read. Though they both see this as only a business relationship, they find each other to be increasingly great company.

The relationship between the characters is wonderfully portrayed, but the descriptions of the Fair and specific events from real history, puts this book over for top for an excellent read. The exhibits are fascinating and descriptions of an actual fire from the Fair, is expertly portrayed. I really grew attached to the characters. The discussion about signing versus lip reading, and the actual school for these children evoked great emotions. Lovely book. First I've read by this author but it definitely won't be the last one.

Loved my trip to the fair with Deeanne Gist!

Lovely narrator although she mispronounced a couple of words. It wasn't distracting. She had the perfect voice for the herione.

He's losing his hearing and she's a teacher for the deaf.

Loved, loved, loved all the historical tidbits and that Deeanne included them in Editorial notes at the end of the book. I totally get what she is talking about--it is hard to leave a story world that you love. She takes the reader there beautifully.

Great voice as usual, fascinating characterization, unique storyline, bibliotherapy elements, and on audio--what more could I ask for?

lovely story with great historical background

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I love books that include real events in history and this one did

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no, I listen during my commute and that was fine, though I did wish I could drive longer a couple of the days

Love it !!

This book was absolutely awesome !! The narrator was very good also ... I’ve always loved Deeanne’s books

Needs help

What did you like best about It Happened at the Fair? What did you like least?

The person reading this story really needs to be replaced. Took away from the enjoyment of the story

What did you like best about this story?

The story was really good in itself. Just what I expect from this author.

Would you be willing to try another one of Amy Rubinate’s performances?

NO!!!!!

delightful story

loved it. Loved all the characters. thoroughly enjoyed the description of the world fair and all it entailed

Excellent Read

The backdrop of the 1893 Worlds Fair provides an excellent plot for this book. The writing is rich. The research is phenomenal with just the right touch of details about the fair. The fires, training for the hearing impaired, and the automatic fire sprinkler system—transports the reader to the fair. However it’s Cullen’s and Della’s passion and the author’s ability to write passion without porn that makes their story stay with the reader. Deeanne Guist’s enthusiasm for life that makes the reader fall in love with It Happened at the Fair. I have downloaded 5 more Gist book to travels with me.