About the Book
Book: The Scarlet Pen
Author: Jennifer Uhlarik
Genre: Christian Historical Suspense
Release date: July 2021
Engaged to a Monster
Book 12 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
Enjoy a tale of true but forgotten history of a 19th century serial killer whose silver-tongued ways almost trap a young woman into a nightmarish marriage.
In 1876, Emma Draycott is charmed into a quick engagement with childhood friend Stephen Dee Richards after reconnecting with him at a church event in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. But within the week, Stephen leaves to “make his fame and fortune.” The heartbroken Emma gives him a special pen to write to her, and he does with tales of grand adventures. Secret Service agent Clay Timmons arrives in Mount Pleasant to track purchases made with fake currency. Every trail leads back to Stephen—and therefore, Emma. Can he convince the naive woman she is engaged to a charlatan who is being linked a string of deaths in Nebraska?
https://amzn.to/3gAjp8d
About the Author
Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a preteen, when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a BA in writing, she has won five writing competitions and was a finalist in two others. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and is a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, teenage son, and four fur children.
I am going to start this review by saying I really wish this wasn't the last in this series. There are 12 books all together and they are all written by different authors and about a different true crime. They are all standalones.
After reading "The Scarlet Pen" by Jennifer Uhlarik, I am really wanting to read a book that she says she got most of her research from. It is supposedly his own confession written by Stephen Dee Richards and an anonymous reporter.
This book is really filled with details about the murders so I am glad I wasn't watching this on a screen but at the same time I am glad I read the book as well as the other books in this series. I am glad because I think we need to know these things do occur. We can't just ignore this has happened before and is happening somewhere every day.
I like that the real is mixed with fiction and I am glad that the ending is though-provoking and compelling.
I think this book has more of the Christian element in between the pages because of the scripture included in the letter writing and the ending is just really beautiful and supposedly really happened.
I am glad that Clay Timmons never gave up the hunt to track down a counterfeiter or on the girl that was engaged to a man who wasn't the right one for her.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
More from Jennifer
Hello, Readers! For all who might never have read one of my stories or come across me, it’s great to meet you! I’m a wife, a mom, a (young!) grandma, and an author—among many other things. My author tagline is “Where Grit Meets Grace.” If you’re familiar with my writing at all, you’ll know that most of my stories at least touch on a bit of the difficult side of life. Death, abandonment, war, addiction, or who knows what else you might find. The Scarlet Pen is no different.
Given that this novel is the final installment in Barbour’s True Colors series, the story revolves around a true crime from history—in this case, the murders of serial killer Stephen Dee Richards—AKA the Nebraska Fiend. Anytime you’re dealing with someone so depraved as he, you’ll find plenty of “grit” to write about. But that’s only half of my tagline. Remember, it’s “Where Grit Meets Grace.”
While I love a story that delves into difficult topics and, in some cases, pushes the characters right to the edge of what they can handle, I also love a truly redemptive story. When I was asked to write for this series, the ideas that drew me the most were the ones that had something redeeming in the actual history. There were plenty of interesting historical killers I could’ve chosen where I could have manufactured a positive, even happy ending through the fictional characters in the book. In the case of Stephen Dee Richards, there was no manufacturing needed. The “grace” part was already written. The end of Stephen’s story is precisely why I chose to write about him. I hope you’ll find it as though-provoking and compelling as I did. Happy reading!
Blog Stops
lakesidelivingsite, July 29
Genesis 5020, July 29
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 29
For Him and My Family, July 30
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, July 30 (Author Interview)
Christian Bookaholic, July 30
Southern Gal Loves to Read, July 31
Inklings and notions, July 31
Britt Reads Fiction, July 31
Remembrancy, August 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 1
Betti Mace, August 2
Rebecca Tews, August 2
deb’s Book Review, August 2
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 3
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 3
Blogging With Carol , August 3
Older & Smarter?, August 4
Connie’s History Classroom, August 4
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, August 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 5
Bigreadersite, August 5
Godly Book Reviews, August 6
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 6
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 6
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 7
Back Porch Reads, August 7
Mary Hake, August 7
Through the fire blogs, August 8
sodbuster living, August 8
Connect in Fiction, August 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 9
Texas Book-aholic, August 9
KarenSueHadley, August 9
Pause for Tales, August 10
For the Love of Literature, August 10
Blossoms and Blessings, August 10
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, August 11
Spoken from the Heart, August 11
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Scarlet Pen!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/110e0/the-scarlet-pen-celebration-tour-giveaway
4 comments:
Debbie, Thank you for sharing.
Love the series.
The author has me very interested in how the story ends.
I am collecting this series . I have read this author via the Barbour collections and have enjoyed her writing.
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