Measure of a Lady

by Deeanne Gist

Book Overview

Rachel van Buren arrives in Gold Rush San Francisco with two wishes: to protect her younger siblings and to return east as soon as possible. Both goals prove more difficult than she could imagine as her brother and sister are lured by the city's dangerous freedom and a missionary-turned-gambler stakes a claim on her heart. Rachel won't give up without a fight though, and soon all will learn an eloquent but humorous lesson about what truly makes a...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764200739
• ISBN13: 9780764200731
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

5 STARS

This was a book that just couldn't be put down! I've been away from reading for quite some time and this book has inspired me! I will definately look for more books by this author! Awesome!

It's about time

It's about time a Christian novel had some real God given passion in it. I feel sorry for the reviewers who think these topics are off limits to Christians. The characters in this novel were exciting and flawed like the rest of us. I couldn't put it down. READ IT!

Deeanne Gist has done it again!!

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!

4.5 Stars - Fantastic, realistic tale of Gold Rush love!

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".

Loved this book

Very good story about 2 opposite people finding love in San Francisco during the gold rush. Got the book yesterday in the mail and read all of it the same night. Coudn't put it down!!