Meet a lip reader and an inventor in
Deeanne Gist’s
historical romance
It Happened at the Fair
Howard
The Story
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 Hall 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?
Enjoy meeting Cullen & Della
Brief physical description
Della: Tall, Blonde, Willowy
Cullen: 6’2”, Brown Hair, Muscular, Great Smile
Resembles…
For inspiration, I used non-famous people this time.
Strengths and weaknesses
Their greatest strengths are they greatest weaknesses. For Cullen it’s loyalty. For Della it’s compassion.
Quirk (if any)
Cullen is a mechanical whiz.
Della is claustrophobic.
Your inspiration for the characters
For Cullen, it was Fredrick Grinnell—the inventor of the automatic fire sprinkler
For Della, it was a woman who taught at The Pennsylvania Home for the Training in Speech of Deaf Children Before They Are of School Age. (Quite a mouthful, huh!)
Background to the story
Our hero, Cayden 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.
He becomes distracted watching her lips and finds his attraction for her growing with each encounter. This isn’t good because not only does he have big plans for his future, but he has a girl back home. Della Wentworth could ruin everything.
Thanks Dee!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Reviews of Maid to Match, Beguiled, A Bride in the Bargain, Courting Trouble, Deep in the Heart of Trouble and A Bride Most Begrudging
Interview with Deeanne
May 22, 2013 at 7:26 am
I’m really looking forward to this one! Deenne always has enjoyable books.
May 27, 2013 at 9:39 am
Sara » Me, too!
May 24, 2013 at 11:55 pm
This was such a fun book. Loved it!
May 27, 2013 at 9:36 am
Casey » I hope to read it soon, Casey – glad to know you loved it.