About the Book

Book: Beryl’s Bounty Hunter

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: August 15, 2023

Can a thief and a lawman find happiness?

Orphaned as a child, Beryl Atherton has lived on the streets of London for as long as she can remember. Reduced to stealing for survival, she is arrested. During her incarceration, one of her cellmates shows her a newspaper ad for an American mail-order bride agency. But all is not as it seems, and moments after landing in Boston, she must run for her life. Will things be no different for her in the New World?

Working as a bounty hunter since The War Between the States, Lucas Wolf just needs a few more cases before he can hang up his gun, purchase a ranch out West, and apply for a mail-order bride from the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency. While staking out the docks in Boston, he sees a woman fleeing from the man he’s been tailing. Saving her risks his job. Not saving her risks his heart.

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About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she has lived in historic places all her life and currently resides in central New Hampshire where in her off hours, she serves as a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII.

More from Linda

Dear Reader:

I’ve been an Anglophile as long as I can remember, from reading the classics like Dickens and Austen to watching BBC television. In honor of Beryl’s English heritage, I hope you enjoy this scrumptious scone recipe:

2 C unbleached all-purpose flour

2 T sugar

4 t baking powder

½ t salt

3 T unsalted butter, cold

1 egg yolk beaten with 1 T milk (for glaze)

Strawberry jam (to serve)

Preheat your oven to 425F.

In a medium bowl, place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter. Rub the mixture together with your fingers to break up the butter, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Add the milk slowly, mixing as you add, using enough of the milk to get your dough to come together with no lumps remaining. (Your dough should be quite sticky. If a good consistency is not achieved with the listed amount of milk, continue adding until your dough reaches a good consistency.)

Spoon the dough out until a well-floured surface. Generously dust the top of the dough and knead the dough 2-3 times to coat it with flour and smooth the surface. Press the dough into a round that is roughly 1 inch thick.

Using a well-floured cookie cutter, cut the dough into 2-inch circles. (Be sure to press the cookie cutter straight down and up. Twisting the cookie cutter will impact the amount of rise you get on your scones.)

Place the rounds onto a greased and floured baking sheet. Brush them gently with the egg yolk and milk mixture.

Bake the scones for 12-15 minutes, until golden and firm.

Remove the baked scones from the oven and let them cool for 30 minutes (if you can resist). If you like softer scones, cover them with a clean tea towel as they cool.

MY REVIEW

This has been such an exciting story to read. Beryl thinks she is turning her life around when she decides to become a mail order bride. Something seems off when she gets this strange feeling and I’m so glad she listened to herself. She and her friend try to escape the couple that promised them a new life. While Beryl is able to escape, her friend Nellie, was not so lucky. Now Beryl will do anything to rescue her friend and see this couple put in jail where they belong.

Lucas is a bounty hunter who has a good reputation. When he sees Beryl in distress he steps in to help. He had no idea that it would lead to them working together. There is a spark there but he tries to keep his focus on the job. I liked how he steps up and shows Beryl that all people are not deceitful. I admire his faith and how he prays over every case he takes on. He knows without God’s direction he would be lost.

As the two make a plan to rescue Nellie and arrest the couple who disguises themselves as helping mail order brides, they each seek God for wisdom. Beryl illustrates how we sometimes step ahead without praying about a situation first. I like how the author shows Beryl with flaws who understands the need to change. Perhaps she and Lucas will solve the case. I couldn’t wait to see how this story ended.

With the idea of a female Pinkerton agent in place to lure this couple out of hiding they are ready to go. I love any story where The Pinkerton Agency is involved. They are honest, faith filled and treat their responsibilities with integrity. Well the best laid plans don’t always work as we discover in the story. Now the real adventure and danger begins. Be sure and grab a copy of this book and discover how God protects us and shows us the direction we need to take in our lives.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.