It Happened at the Fair: Historical fiction at its best & Giveaway

Cara reviews; 105 Comments

Deeanne Gist is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her books combine a great sense of historical time and place with a strong spiritual thread that simmers beneath the surface, right past the strong attraction between the hero and heroine. Add in some spunk and sass, and you’ll know why her books fly to the top of my reading pile.

It Happened at the Fair transported me to the Chicago World’s Fair. The historical research is impeccable. All you have to do is read the author’s note at the end to know the level of dedication the author has to get the history right — or strong reasons for playing with the details. The hero is someone I’d want my daughters to meet. And he has a problem only the heroine can help him overcome. So starts a wonderful read that will pull you into a fascinating time and place with characters that sweep you through the story. I enjoyed this book so much, I’m giving a copy away! Just slip down to the form below to see how you can participate.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It Happened at the FairA 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?

Purchase a copy here.

Read an excerpt.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Comments 105

  1. Looks wonderful to ready! Deeanne’s books are such fun. History, faith, romance – what more could you want?

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      I so agree, Anita. Love a book that is the perfect blend of history, faith and romance. And that’s what you get from Deeanne.

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  2. Where would I like to travel this summer? Well, I’d love to go to Pennsylvania- which I am in a few weeks! 😉

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

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      That sounds wonderful. I’d love to make it to Gettysburg for the 150th anniversary, but don’t think that will work out. Have fun!

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  3. It Happened at the Fair sounds so good! I’ve read all of Deeanne’s books!
    jennydtipton[at]gmail[dot]com
    Hi Cara and Deeanne!

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  4. I love all of Deeanne Gist’s books. She has historical accuracy and loads of fun and humor in her books. Can’t wait to read this one.

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  5. I would like to travel to Nebraska to see the Pony Express stations and to the badlands of South Dakota and to Mount Rushmore.

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  6. This summer I’d like to travel anywhere as long as it was with my family. We haven’t taken a family vacation in years.

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  7. There’s so many places that I’d love to travel, that I don’t even know what to list. For this year, because of changes in our jobs and finances, we’ll just be doing a fairly nearby low-cost family trip. Hopefully next year, we can be a bit more adventurous.

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  8. Every summer we go to Pennsylvania for a couple of days. I have to say that I would rather go there than any other place on earth. There are just so many memories there for me and it brings such a peace to my heart. The Lord truly outdid Himself when He created the state of Pennsylvania…it’s just so beautiful!

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  9. I already traveled to the Biltmore in Asheville..Thats how I discoverd Deeane Gist. Im reading her book Made to Match and I love it. She is awesome! I would love to win her new book. Thanks Cara!

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      The Biltmore is an hour and a half from the cabin we rent, so it’s on our list to visit this summer. Can’t wait to return to America’s castle.

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  10. I love the era of the Chicago World’s Fair. My grandfather attended it and I have some ticket stubs from events there.

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  11. We plan to travel to Niagara Falls, ON for a family wedding this August. We live in MN and plan to drive. On the return trip we will travel north around Lake Superior. Road Trip!!

    This book sounds very interesting. The World’s Fair is something I wish I could attend 🙂

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  12. I’ve never read any of Deeanne Gist’s books. This one sounds wonderful. I’m always interested in the different World’s Fairs. I grew up in the Seattle area and we went to the Seattle World’s Fair. I was too young to remember it myself but I love looking at the pictures my parents took.

    1. I didn’t see that there was a specific question to answer. I love going wherever novels will take me. Funds are very limited for real life travels. : )

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  13. I would love to go to England, but that’s just wishful thinking. 🙂 I will be going to Florida in August for my cousin’s wedding. That will probably be the extent of my travelling.

  14. Hi Cara! I love Deeanne Gist’s books and have been so looking forward to It Happened At The Fair! Please count me in. 🙂

  15. Such a great idea! Thanks for doing this! I have read several about the Chicago’s World Fair and find that time interesting to read about!

  16. I would love to visit Scotland someday. There are also plenty of places in America that I would love to visit as well, such as Alaska.

    Please enter me in the contest for Deanne’s book. It looks like a lot of fun to read.

  17. I would love to travel back to Capecod. Haven’t been there since my husband and I were married 10 years ago. But more realistically, I’ll be staying put in Michigan. We live in a town on Lake Michigan that many come to for vacations. We’re pretty spoiled.

  18. I love traveling in the summer! I’m hoping this summer to take a driving trip on the east coast — NY, Boston, etc.

  19. I would love to just go to the beach with my family. We haven’t been on vacation in so long. But I would really, really love to go to Florida and take my girls to Walt Disney World! 🙂

  20. I would love to go to somewhere outside the United States since this is the first summer I will have a passport!! I’m thinking Paris or Dublin!

  21. I would be so excited to win a copy of this book…..I really enjoy reading Deeanne’s books. I would really love to take my kids to the beach this summer. Thanks for the chance to win!!

  22. A friend of mine is doing a tour of Scotland, Ireland and Europe… I’d love to go with her!! She has been many times and knows what she’s doing and where she’s going… it would be such a blast!! 🙂

  23. I love Deeanne’s books and can’t wait to read this one! I’d like to see sequels to The Measure of a Lady (focusing on Rachel’s sister, Lissa) and A Bride Most Begrudging (focusing on Drew’s brother, Josh). I don’t know if Deeanne has plans for those in the future, but I’d sure like to know how their stories turn out!

    1. And, this summer I would love to make a return trip to Victoria, B.C. – particularly to Butchart Gardens.

    2. Oh, Lori. When readers ask me this, I confess I put my hands over my ears and sing *lalalalala*. I’m just not a series type of gal. Don’t know why. Still, never say never! Right?

  24. The beach… That is where I want to spend a lot of time this summer! 🙂 I cannot wait to read this new book! I have loved all of her other books! 🙂

  25. I would love to wi It Happened At The Fair . It sounds so good . Thanks for the giveaway .
    Blessings,
    lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com

  26. I have always enjoyed Deeanne’s books. This one sounds like a lot of fun to read. So far my favorite has been Measure of a Lady. I love San Francisco’s history!

  27. Oops, I forgot to say that I’d love to go back to San Francisco this summer to experience the trolleys and Sea Lions with my young son. And of course, eat some yummy food down on the warf.

  28. We travel to northern Minnesota every year for the 4th of July. It is an unwritten rule that everyone from my husband’s side of the family meets there every year. It is something we look forward to every year.

  29. I would love to go back to Alaska- my husband & I were there for 10 days but it wasn’t near enough time to see everything we wanted to.

  30. I would love to travel to Ireland, but since that’s not in the budget, I will “settle” for a trip to Destin, FL instead 🙂

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  31. I would love to go to the Oregon coast… I haven’t been there since my early teens, and I would love to introduce my kids to the ocean!

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  32. I have no plans for summer traveling. I will just travel vicariously through my summer reading. This book would be a great start!

  33. I really don’t have any plans to travel anywhere this summer. I do plan on going over to the beach but its only an hour away.

  34. We would like to go up around the Lake by the Falls up into Canada for a few days, over into Michigan, spend some time at Frankenmouth, ball game in Detroit, and some days at the Ford museum.

  35. I have always wanted to go to Italy… I find it to be such a historical and romantic place. Although I would be pleased to travel anywhere!!! I am Canadian and I still haven’t been out west… I suppose that I should seen my home land first. I know that there are just as many beautiful places to go in Canada as there are world wide!
    P.S. I have all of Deeanne’s books (except this last one) they are simply a wonderful breath of fresh air!!!

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      Carissa, my next book is set in Italy. Writing it was like traveling there, though I still hope to actually visit in person sometime, too.

  36. I really want to travel to New York City to walk in central park! I hope that I do get to travel there someday, but I love Deeanne Gist books that always transport me into a new city that I would love to visit!

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    2. Lindsay, Did you know that the same landscape architect who designed Central Park is also the one who designed the grounds of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair? (And if you have read *Maid to Match*, he also designed the grounds and forest for Biltmore in North Carolina.)

      Pretty cool, huh?

  37. I am going to the North Carolina Mountains to enjoy a vacation with my family. I absolutely love Deeane Gist’s books, she is amazing woman who incorporates faith into romance!

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  38. I loved all the books I read by Deanna Gist!! She’s such a fun author! 🙂 I’d love to travel out west this year, but don’t guess that’ll happen! Maybe next year! 🙂

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  39. I love Dee’s books. I have a copy of all of her books in my favorites section of my turtle speed growing library. Can’t edit til my copy comes in and I have a weekend off to read it.

  40. I want to travel back to the Worlds Fair! I want to have a couple of quiet (I have three kids) days and re-read Dee’s book. I devoured it the first time. Now I want to chew and digest it thoroughly.

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  41. I want to go anywhere that stays cooler than 80 degrees during the day since the heat exacerbates my MS and makes being outside close to impossible for me. However, since I know that is only a dream to me I’m looking forward to the 2 week cross country treck my mom and I have planned in Sept where our main destination is Portsmouth, NH and Southern Maine where we used to live. With stops in Nashville, Macon, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Chicago area! (Last year we did this with our big stop being Mackinac Island – my first time there!)
    I’ve recently found that historical fiction is my new addiction and am anxiously awaiting It Happened at the Fair to arrive at my local library!

  42. Deeanne’s book looks wonderful. I love that dress on the cover. As for travel, I know I can’t, but I’ve always wanted to travel to England and walk on the moors!
    Thanks for the giveaway. Your new website looks great!

  43. Pingback: It Happened at the Fair, Deeanne Gist, Christian Fiction – Cara Putman | ChristianBookBarn.com

  44. I’d love to go back to Traverse City during cherry season. I love it up there. So relaxing. 🙂

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