"For the Record" by Regina Jennings

For the Record (Dec. 6, 2016) by Regina Jennings.*

In the [fictional] town of Pine Gap, Missouri, Betsy Huckabee has dreams of writing for a major newspaper and has written off the notion of finding a special someone. What single men there are in the area have long since moved on, and no one catches her eye anyway. That is, not until Deputy Joel Puckett arrives in town by order of the governor. He’s a bona fide cowboy, he is, from his Stetson hat to his shiny cowboy boots. And, to boot, he hails from Texas. But he has a past that he’d rather not share with the residents of Pine Gap, probably especially the Bald Knobbers, who work toward their own justice in perhaps not the most lawful of manners. And when Betsy finds herself creating a character based on the deputy’s dashing good looks, her Dashing Deputy stories may dash the small sliver of reputable reputation Joel has gained in Pine Gap, for word may get back to the wrong people.

            I found myself quite enjoying this historical fiction novel. Jennings creates a storyscape filled with all the things we’d expect of a good story: strong characters, a detailed setting, a robust plot and a satisfying conclusion. I’ve said this before, but I appreciate stories that feature a strong female lead, and Betsy is definitely that. Full of sass and verve, Betsy is an independent young woman who loves the Lord. She has dreams, but isn’t all head-in-the-clouds, either. As she points out, “God made her for trouble, equipped her for hardship.” Like us, she’ll overcome obstacles as need be and buttress others when times arise. Betsy’s faith is strong, but Joel’s has waned. Someone tells him through his struggle, “You didn’t expect this blow, but if it’s gonna knock you down, make sure you fall toward God, not away.” And that’s sound advice for any year, whether it’s 1885 or 2017!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”