cherryblossommj
Written on Jun 22, 2014
Almost without fail, when it comes to Dee’s books I know it’s going to be a great story and straight to the permanent keeper shelf. She is one of those authors where you’d love to have both a physical and digital copy on hand to read it whenever and wherever. Deeanne Gist is one of those authors that I tell my husband she sells well even in the general market world of fiction as well as the Christian market, and there is no wonder why.
Fair Play is the second book in the It Happened at the Fair series if you do not include the prequel in that numbering, however it stands completely on it’s own and you can read it and enjoy the fullness of it without having read It Happened at the Fair. As for It Happened at the Fair, right off the bat I was a fan of Cullen’s and so annoyed and turned off by Wanda that I did not know what to expect. Surely this could not be! Yet off to the fair we go, unsure, uncertain and a little concerned. But wait… isn’t that exactly what he was feeling? How does she do that!? It’s another example of an author grabbing your attention and emotions and placing you firmly in the time (1893) and craftily creating a world that comes to life right off the page.
In Fair Play, I was immediately taken by both Billy and Hunter. Perhaps it is all the time I spend reading Texas Rangers and Cowboys from other Christian Historical Fiction series and authors that I love, but Hunter was just plain manly and delightful. As per usual, Dee’s heroines are part delightful and part irritating to me. Her females are always a bit more feminist than I and I want to argue with them. However, she does such a good job forming them and truly bringing them off the page!
Tangent here. I’m a genealogist and I love history. Christian Historical Fiction is my genre (hence: www.ChristianHistoricalFiction.com). One of the best parts about researching history for genealogy (family history) is seeing the remnants of buildings and life once lived. Being able to see pictures is just magical, for lack of a better word. This book is the epitome of why I love to read historical fiction. Bringing the characters and place to life and all throughout this novel we have picture after picture of location and people at the Chicago World’s Fair. It’s amazing to imagine and Dee really brings it to life.
The one other thing about this book is that there is some pretty heavy petting, for lack of a better way to put it. Both Billy and Hunter are very sensual and really “want” each other. However, if you remember back to Courting Trouble, things do not go that far and are truly avoiding until the wedding railcar… but I have read some other reviews where some people felt the affection was a bit much. However, sometimes you just need a Julie Lessman or Deeanne Gist romance (safe in the bounds of Christian Historical Fiction – knowing things are set to work out for the greater good).
Years ago when I was first getting into Christian Historical Fiction, I discovered Carol Cox and her Fair to Remember series based on the World’s Fair. Reading this one and seeing what I can see makes me want to go back and read it again. Then of course there is also another new one in the Avenue of Dreams Series by Olivia Newport. Reading them altogether and bringing a world alive! Oh and if you want to involve a younger child in the reading, you can pick up American Rebirth, a 4-in-1 collection that contains the story Emily Makes a Difference:A Time of Progress and Problems based also during, you guessed it, the Chicago World’s Fair. What a fascinating setting and what’s amazing with the amount of people that attended it’s entirely possible that stories such as these occurred and more!
I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2014/07/02/fair-play/
