After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm–all from the comforts of home.
Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.
After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a “corporate executive” was not where her gifts and talents lie. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.
Eight months later, she sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, three RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.
Her latest releases, Beguiled, Maid To Match, and Love on the Line are now available.
Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-eight years and their border collie. They have four grown children. Click here to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man’s world … which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.
Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He’s a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do. But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Love on the Line, go HERE.
Learn more about Deeanne and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
As usual, Deeanne Gist has done her research and her story about Georgie Gail, a rural switchboard operator rings true. Because she is know for her meticulous research, I have to assume that Gist’s fact about using bird parts to trim hats and garments must also be the truth. Although not birds, I do remember sitting in church fascinated by the mink stole on the lady in front of me that was made of several entire animals. I shudder to think about it.
But I regress. Overall, Love on the Line was an enjoyable tale. Georgie’s obsession with birds may have been a bit over the top but extreme behavior is one thing that keeps Gist’s books interesting. I was not at all impressed with Lucious Landrum (Luke Palmer) at the beginning of the book. He seemed like such a pompous jerk. But he did grow on me before the end. The plot was well paced with interesting characters and circumstances. A good blend of drama, action, humor, and suspense kept the pages turning. A surprise revelation near the end was easy to figure out if the earlier hints were detected. The romance between Georgie and Luke/Lucious was a bit disappointing compared to earlier Gist novels. Although lacking a strong spiritual message, Love on the Line is still a good, clean story that is appropriate for Christian readers.
