Courting Trouble

By: Deeanne Gist

Narrated by: Danielle Ferland

Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

CBA best-selling author Deeanne Gist, Christy Award winner for The Measure of a Lady, skillfully blends humor and romance in authentic historical settings. Courting Trouble, set in 1894, features a feisty, fun-loving heroine who tires of waiting for a match made in heaven and decides to settle for one made in Texas. So, on her 30th birthday, Essie launches her own secret mission to find a husband.

©2007 Deanne Gist (P)2007 RECORDED BOOKS

Critic reviews

"Essie's journey is touching, funny, and refreshingly atypical ..." ( Library Journal)

not typical

Not your typical love story where everything always works out with the happy couple in the end but well written and interesting anyways. I cringed as I listened, knowing what was coming. unfortunately most girls have to live and learn the hard way.

Unusual.

Not typical, as another reviewer noted. What happens to Essie, her choices, and her motivations are the same for women today. But Essie soars above it all, especially in the end. Gist has written an engaging heroine. Excellent narration, too.

SWEET AND FUNNY!

I like everything about this book. The writer is very clever and has a subtle sense of humor that the very gifted narrator makes come alive. It's always a bonus when I can listen to a book that has a good and Godly message included.

Courting Trouble is Courting Disaster!

I cannot recommend this book. The story line is garbled, introduces characters that do not add to the story line and is a disappointing inspirational book. The book is not edifying. Spoiler: The main character chases a widower and, after failing to catch him, she is intimate with a drifter. Then a third man is introduced into the already messy novel.

There are many books much better than this one.

The narrator was awesome, story drew me in right away and stayed strong the whole time.

I liked that it is a gentle read but also interesting! Learned a lot about bicycles and culture.

Refreshingly proper!

This book was wonderful. This christian ethical romance was so so refreshing, I will download other books by the same author. I could not stop listening. I even listened in the shortest of trips!

Inspiring! Funny!

I just loved this book. The narrator, Danielle Ferland, was absolutely perfect. To enjoy this book; you have to let go of judgment of the times; and just appreciate the wonderful Essie, the heroine, and her path to her own liberation. And, liberation does come in the end; as she learns to trust in her inner knowing (call it what you will). Though it is written in the spirit of Christianity, you can use your own spiritual path to rejoice in Essie's finding and trusting her inner voice. The ending is awesome!

Must Read with Deep in the Heart of Trouble

I usually give low star reviews for books that seem incomplete. However, Courting Trouble isn’t actually incomplete. It is only incomplete as a ROMANCE novel. If it’s read as Christian Women Fiction, it’s satisfying. When read with Deep in the Heart of Trouble, (which is actually the other half of the book and should have been published as one) the two become an excellent Historical Christian Romance and maybe more like a mainstream novel.

The two books make an excellent guide to young woman of 2020. It helps the Christian women to see regret before it arrive. Some character’s reaction to sin made me angry, but judge is true today. If you can only read one, read Deep in the Heart of Trouble. However, it won’t be the same without Courting Trouble background. I would prefer the two as one and I wish Deeanne Gist would add another in the series. Essie’s search for Mr. Wonderful (No spoiler) is worth the journey of both books.

WOW

Uplifting, with so many unexpected twists especially for this type of book. Get your Kleenex ready and enjoy.

Bitter Sweet

I think this book is intended to be encouragement to single women. Our heroine is smart, kind, talented and strong, yet she had no husband. Does God possibly have something better in store? She won't find out if she is so distracted trying to make things the way she wants them to be. She could get REALLY hurt and in so doing destroy her chances for an enriching husband relationship. She might even get confused as to what's right and what's wrong.
Jesus truly is the ONLY. Every woman's one and only. A husband can either be a distraction from Jesus or an enriching practice loving Jesus until we can see Him fave to face.
This is extremely well written, and I couldn't put it down, but bitter sweet endings are not for me, so I recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a good cry after finishing a fantastic read.