Customer Reviews

The Measure of a Lady: A Novel

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Measure of a Lady is one of the most intelligently written Historical Christian novels that I have read in a while. Much like in Gist's first novel, "A Bride Most Begrudging", the author manages to develop characters, create an interesting plot with plausible twists, and deliver an encouraging "Christian" message far more effectively than her fellow Christian author peers can. Gist makes her characters come alive by creating them to be realistic, complete with flaws and stubbornness and sin. Even though the story may end pretty much the way you expect it to, Gist brings about that ending in ways that you wouldn't expect. Even though some of the dialogue is predictable and sappy, it is still captivating.

I fell in love with Gist's characters, and I would be delighted to see Gist's third novel revolve around Rachel's sister Lissa, to tie up her story, but that mostly likely won't happen. The fact that Gist left a couple of loose ends in her novel is yet another reason why I love it - everything doesn't always end perfectly and happily in real life.

I was also very impressed (once again) with Gist's attention to historical detail. She does a magnificent job of transporting the reader to another time and place. I found myself running all over the internet to find out as much as I could about San Francisco in 1849. I not only fell in love with the characters in this book, but also the setting - THAT takes talent!

Finally, in response to some reviews saying that "The Measure of a Lady" is "steamy" or inappropriate, I must say, I was rather pleased that Gist had the guts to write a novel that was a little more edgy than the cheesy and unrealistic Christian novels I have read in the past. By no means is this book explicit or inappropriate, in fact, I felt that Gist did a great job of treating her reader like an adult, and raising the bar a little. Most other Christian novels that I have read, I felt as though I was being talked down to, as though it was written for someone much younger than myself. I was very pleased at the content of this book in all aspects. I must say, that if a reviewer thought that THIS book was steamy, they ought to see one of my favorite books, "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers! Now THAT is a "steamy" book, and yet it is telling a story from the Bible!

If you are mature and can handle slightly more detail and intelligence than your average run-of-the-mill Christian novel, please give yourself the pleasure of reading "The Measure of a Lady".

Following on the heels of her highly acclaimed debut A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING, Ms. Gist again engages and delights the reader with another inspirational historical set on the Pacific side of America - San Francisco, 1849.

The Van Buren family had set out for California with the same gold-rush fever as most. By the time their ship docked their father died leaving Rachel, the eldest, in charge of her two younger siblings - fifteen-year-old Lessa, and fourteen year old Michael. Arriving in San Francisco they did not find gold lining the streets, rather quagmires of mud that led into a town where civilized behavior seemed a foreign concept.

Wanting nothing more than to leave immediately and head back East, Rachel was faced with the reality of having to make due and create a good Christian home for herself and her siblings. The best option offered led her to make a bargain with handsome Johnnie Parker, missionary-turned-gambler, whom she negotiated a work for board arrangement. As Rachel worked towards the day a ship could return them home, her head fought her heart from falling for Johnnie and his sinful life. At the same time, her younger siblings were being lured away - Michael by the enticements of easy riches and Lessa by a forbidden relationship. Each had grown up knowing God but they would grow in rediscovering Him and learning the true values of love, family, and compassion.

*** Once again, Ms. Gist does her homework offering a wealth of early San Francisco historical tidbits in an engaging and lively story that pits a stalwart black and white type personality whose biggest lesson in life was to learn the true `measure of a lady'. While Rachel's `holier than thou' attitude was a bit trying at times the plot, story and wonderful secondary characters made this a terrific read. I personally loved Johnnie who was a fabulously charming and romantic character. His fortitude in waiting for Rachel to learn the true meaning of acceptance, compassion, and second chances was, for me, the mark of a true Christian.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Deeanne Gist's first book, A Bride Most Begrudging, captured my attention with her characters' quick wits and entertaining moments that overall you couldn't put it down. As I began to read her second book, The Measure of a Lady, I found myself missing the characters she created for her first novel. While Gist's second book started out slow, it didn't disappoint.

Lured to San Francisco during 1849, Rachel Van Buren's father never completes the journey that he set out on with his family. Instead, Rachel is left to care and provide for her younger sister and brother. Unable to book passage back home, Rachel and her siblings are stranded in San Francisco.

Johnnie Parker, a widower and former missionary, is the owner of a local hotel and casino. Allowing Rachel to take up residence with her siblings in his house, he hires her to cook and clean in his hotel. In the days to follow his aggravation and attraction for her grows.

In a town where there are no other women, Rachel is determined to be a light not only to her siblings, but to the entire surrounding area as well. When hardships and trials abound, Rachel's faith is put to the test. Can she hold onto her faith and draw closer to her Heavenly Father? Or will she compromise like so many others who have come before her?

While I wouldn't recommend this book for younger readers--as the romantic descriptions are a little too detailed and insinuated more than usual for Christian fiction books, The Measure of a Lady is definitely well worth your time.

Armchair Interviews says: A lighthearted, inspirational book that will touch your heart.

I kept looking at the credits of this book to see if it had been revised from a secular novel because that's just how it reads. It was too explicit regarding characters thoughts about sex...by secular standards I guess it would be considered tame but it ruined the book for me. For a great book that deals with temptation in a smart/funny way, try Lost in NashVegas by Rachel Hauck.

First off, I have to admit when I bought this book at the big warehouse store I wasn't aware that it was Christian fiction, as there was nothing on the book jacket noting that fact. I didn't realize until I was well into the book that it was not only about the love between Rachel and Johnny but about their faith in God and the conflicts with trying to adhere to that and live in lawless San Francisco in the 1840's.

That being said, it was a very enjoyable tale as Rachel comes to terms with her faith and her love for Johnny. I give the author kudos for having the courage to write some sexual tension into the book, along with the "downfall" of the younger sister Lissa.

A very enjoyable, albeit quick read.

I read through the whole book in one night. I got captured in the gold rush setting, and swept away with the romatic tension between Rachel and Johnnie. Deeanne Gist is now one of my favortie authors and I can't wait to read all her other books.

If you love romatic, inspirational and historic fiction this is for you! I also loved that she created sexual tension without ebeing sleazy. Perfect for a modest women like me!

The Measure of a Lady was an excellent book! I couldn't wait for it to come out after I had read Deeanne Gist's first book, A Bride Most Begrudging. She definitely wrote up to my expectations on this one.

The Measure of a Lady: Rachel and her siblings have come to California with their father in search of gold. When their father dies unexpectantly on the trip Rachel is left to care for her sister in brother by herself in San Francisco. She is shocked however to find that this is not the pplace a proper lady should be, and that there is not even another proper lady around. She heads to the nearest hotel only to find that it is a gambling den, and that there is no other place to stay. When the handsome Mr. Parker offers them his own room Rachel has no other option, but to except it.

This story has everything you could possibly want in it. The romance between Rachel and Mr. Parker, is delightful, there is adventure, and at times I would just burst out laughing from the funny plot that Deeanne Gist has put in her book. The struggles Rachel has as a Christian in a new place and not knowing what to do in certain situations, is somethin we can all relate to.

Excellent book, I would reccommend it to anyone!

The Measure of a Lady had all kinds of wonderful history and colorful word pictures of the scenery, but this was definitely not a rated G book. There were many passage a sexual innuendo or just plainly put in several places. This book was too steamy
for a Christain label.

Well written and awesome characters! I am a big fan of Deanne Gist, and at this point, I have read almost all of her books. I have to say that her books start bleeding into one another. However, I think the biggest complaint about this book would be that if you are truly a prudent Christian, you will find some of her sexual accounts a bit too much. So, the real question for a person interested in this book but not sure about it would be: Do I want to saty away from the subject all together or am I ok with working through the problem through the character?

This is my first Deanne Gist novel and it definitely won't be the last. Rachel and her younger siblings, now orphaned, travel to San Francisco hoping to find employment and a decent life. They instead find sin and debauchery, as this is the Old West and real laws haven't yet been written for this territory. Rachel is a 'sunbonnet', that is, a decent, churchgoing woman and others notice this immediately. She sets herself up as the caretaker for a saloon/hotel owned by a former Christian who slowly allows Rachel's grace to affect his heart.

The novel's title refers to how people were measured in the eyes of others. Rachel, overly concerned with appearances, often becomes self-righteous in her determination that nobody should look down on her or her family. Part of her self-righteousness causes her to hang a sign in her newly opened restaurant indicating that no prostitutes will be served. This presents a problem, as one of her waitstaff is secretly a prostitute, yet Rachel has come to depend on her greatly. Also, Rachel's younger sister falls from grace by becoming the mistress of a married man and while she might have 'all the world has to offer' in the way of wealth, but as the book asks, does she really have it all? Rachel is shown as a very realistic character; she's self-righteous at times, but she's concerned about how she appears to others. She also has very human sexual desires, which Gist does not shy away from. This is a romance, after all, but as it's about two Christians, there's no steamy sex scene. I'd heard Gist's novels described as 'bodice-rippers', but that's a misnomer. Gist writes about humans who happen to be Christians and who fall in love. Sex is a normal part (but not the most important part) of a romantic human relationship.

A few of the minor characters, like Rachel's younger brother are thinly drawn, but the main characters are fully fleshed out. Gist's description of the Old West and its rather wild ways is also nicely detailed. It's hard to imagine living in an area where no real laws (or law enforcement) exists, but that was common in those days, and Gist makes a few good points about how this would affect Christians. Definitely recommended for fans of the Old West and for fans of Christian romance.