Essie Spreckelmeyer had decided to just be satisfied with the single life. After all, God was enough for her. She also was proud to have her world renown bicycle club. Life was also just as busy for Essie being that she was second in command of Sullivan's Oil Company. So for Essie and her single life, she was pretty well content.

Then in walks Tony Morgan, covertly known to Essie and others in the town as Tony Bryant. After being disinherited from his father, Tony has no other choice but to go and make a life for himself. Equipped with knowledge of his own family’s oil business, Tony begins to seek employment and finds a job at Sullivan Oil Company.

Soon Tony and Essie find that despite their own personal misgivings, they both cannot continue to disown the feelings that have developed between one another. While Essie tries to hold off with the relationship, Tony who is determined to win her heart speaks to her father who gives him his blessing. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning of a struggle to find the truth, and a desperate hope to win a lifetime of love.

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TROUBLE by Deeanne Gist was one of the finest romantic historicals I've read in quite a while. The characters were filled with a passion and a love that you could actually feel coming through the pages! Great sequel to the book Courting Trouble, another book in which Essie and her loving, witty and spunky self can be found.

Reviewed by Maisha Walker for the Road to Romance

July 31, 2008