Fair Play

By: Deeanne Gist

Narrated by: Kate Forbes

Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of It Happened at the Fair comes a historical love story about a lady doctor and a Texas Ranger who meet at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Saddled with a man's name, the captivating Billy Jack Tate makes no apologies for taking on a man's profession. As a doctor at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, she is one step closer to having her very own medical practice - until Hunter Scott asks her to give it all up to become his wife.

Hunter is one of the elite. A Texas Ranger and World's Fair guard specifically chosen for his height, physique, character, and skill. Hailed as the toughest man west of any place east, he has no patience for big cities and women who think they belong anywhere but home.... Despite their difference of opinion on the role of women, Hunter and Billy find a growing attraction between them - until Hunter discovers an abandoned baby in the corner of a White City exhibit. He and Billy team up to make sure this foundling isn't left in the slums of Chicago with only the flea-riddled, garbage-infested streets for a playground.

As they fight for the underprivileged children in the 19th Ward, an entire Playground Movement is birthed. But when the Fair comes to an end, one of them will have to give up their dream. Will Billy exchange her doctor's shingle for the domesticated role of a southern wife, or will Hunter abandon the wide open spaces of home for a life in the "gray city", a woman who insists on being the wage earner, and a group of ragamuffins who need more than a playground for breathing space?

©2014 Pressing Matters Publishing Company, Inc (P)2015 Recorded Books

Didnt expect to like it but I LOVED it!!

I started it and thought HOW BORING! SOO ....I stopped listening. I mean, a lady dr? Come on? How boring. I dont want to listen to feminism, I want to hear a good Christian Romance! But I went back and gave it another chance and it was actually one of my favorite books she has written!!!!

Good but a little grim

What did you love best about Fair Play?

While I did like this story, the subject matter is frequently kind of grim and at one point something terrible happens & really brings the story down. So while I am not sorry I invested the time, I don't recommend this if you're in the mood for something lighthearted.

I also was a little frustrated with Dr Billy Jack Tate as a character. She's supposed to be a smart, can-do kind of woman - but I have a hard time believing that she would be so lacking in common sense and take so many chances as she does (esp after an event that should have led her to such wisdom forcibly).

The romance is somewhat undercut here as well by an overemphasis on the physical attraction that frequently comes across as more lust than love.

So I would say this is a worthwhile story overall, no regrets, just not one of Gist's best.

On the edge of my seat

I must say this was my favorite of Mrs. Gist so far. The history, adventure and development of each character was well done.

excellent

good clean story. I learned things I did not know about that period in history and what life would have been like in the slums. A lot of suspense. Romance excellent. I could have used perhaps a bit less of the explicit physical explanations which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, but overall could highly recommend

Enlightening

I love the way this is written. The word pictures are not too wordy; they’re just enough to make you feel like you’re right there. The look into the history and into the living conditions is a real eye opener. Great talent on both the author’s and narrator’s parts.

Another Great Gist Story

I really was drawn into the story of Dr. Billy, Hunter, and Derry. The romance was real. I liked the frustration Hunter deals with as far as Billy being a doctor. I like that Billy was a strong female that doesn't give up all she's worked for just because a man expects it. No spoilers but there is room for compromising.
The deplorable conditions of life for children of the was very well told. Sadly, it was all too true.
I liked the narration. The ending was good, I appreciated the epilogue.

I wish more Audible books included the Author notes. They can be so informative.
"My Kindle version has the author notes" I appreciate the author and publisher for including author notes, photos, and reader questions. It's always nice to see the facts that inspire parts of the story and where the author's imagination takes over.

Excellent!

Deeanne Gist writes the Christian woman with bold realistic strokes. Fair Play personified an excellent example of a character driven book. And what strong, fun, and extraordinary characters they are.

A Christian lady, Dr. Billie struggles to have a career in a man’s world and then meets Texas Ranger Hunter Scott who came to the World’s Fair to gain more experience as a police officer. Readers will not forget Hunter. His masculinity and cowboy-values would engage any lady. As a Texas girl, I enjoyed his plethora of fun-filled similes. Readers will remember Billie as well, at least they should remember and be grateful for the women who persevered in womens’ rights. Great read!

Total flop!

Any additional comments?

I have loved most of Deeanne Gist's books that I've read, but this one did nothing at all for me. It was so incredibly anticlimactic. The story was told in an almost matter of fact way. The characters were entirely too unrealistic for me, and made me feel embarrassed a lot of the time because it was just awkwardly cheesy. I would recommend her other books but not this one.

I really don't like this narrator. She reads books with young women as the lead character, but she sounds like an old smoker. Her voice is way too mature and husky for these young ladies in the books.