For The Record by Regina Jennings

I recently received a free copy of For The Record.  As usual, Regina Jennings combines history with romantic adventure.  Set in 1885 in Pine Gap, Missouri, the novel tells of the story of Betsy Huckabee, a 24 year old "spinster" in those days, who helps her uncle with the writing and printing of the town's newspaper as well as helping with her younger cousins at home.  Tired of friends and relatives pushing single men at her in hopes of marrying her off, she concentrates on her writing, which may just be her ticket out of town.  Local crimes start occurring that the sheriff can't control, so Deputy Joel Puckett is sent in from Texas as reinforcement.  Running from rumors that could ruin his reputation as well as his career, Joel is intent on getting to the cause of the crimes that are escalating in Pine Gap, and proving that he is a true lawman.  Betsy finds the actions of Deputy Puckett exciting enough to write about, and if she adds a twist, the readers will never know that the stories are based on Joel's life.  When her first story is published in a far off newspaper, the money is too good to pass up, and so she continues with weekly sequels.  Joel finds that having Betsy along is helpful to his deputy duties.  The townspeople trust her and she knows many of the unknown town's secrets and she can be a buffer to the men that dislike an outsider coming in to try to change their town, even if it is for the better.  Betsy just hopes he will never find out her secrets, or that he is the object of her fantasies.
I found the novel slow at first.  There were a lot of names to remember, and who was related to whom.  However, by the middle, there was more action and interaction between Betsy and Joel, and my interest increased.  I like the history part of the late 1880's in the mid west.  The struggles they went through were real and I liked their communication with each other.  Regina Jennings portrayed their thoughts and feelings well. I would definitely read another historical romance by her.  This was a stand alone novel, although some of her characters were in other stories.  This free copy from Bethany House came with "no strings attached" and these opinions are all my own.