The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik is the latest in the True Colors Crimes series and will not disappoint. This true crime occurred in the late 1870's and spanned about three years. Stephen Dee Richards is engaged to Emma but is he really who he says he is? Emma loves him and believes in and defends him even when questionable events begin happening. Stephen is supposedly traveling for business but what is that business? When a federal officer shows up tracking counterfeit money where will the trail lead? Emma’s family takes in the agent and become friends with him; Emma is more suspicious of Secret Service agent Clay Timmons. This story is very well written keeping close to the facts without getting too graphic. The characters feel so real I felt I was in that time experiencing their frustrations and pain as well as the loyalty of family and friends. I give this book a solid 5 of 5 stars for the way the crimes are laid out and the scriptures embedded within the story.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Scarlet Pen, another True Colors novel, by Jennifer Uhlarik is an exciting and extremely well written historical story of romance and a true American crime centering around a counterfeit operation and a serial killer in the late 1800s.

Emma Draycott, the daughter of a wealthy banker, living in Mount Pleasant, Ohio, is enamored by a smooth talking man she has known since elementary school. Although separated for several years, Emma has once again been reunited with her childhood friend, Stephen Dee Richards, and after a short courtship, has agreed to marry him. Emma’s parents do not agree to a hasty marriage and but to give their blessings if the couple waits one full year before marrying, during which time, Stephen will establish financial security for his and Emma’s future marriage. Emma is not at all happy about this situation, however, her fiancé Stephen seemingly agrees with Emma’s parents, and embarks on a trip with the intention of securing his future business dealings and finances so he can provide for Emma’s future.

As Stephen is preparing to leave Mount Pleasant, a stranger named Clay Timmons arrives and is enchanted with the beautiful Emma Draycott. As the story unfolds, it becomes known that Clay is a Secret Service agent working on a case involving the passing of counterfeit money in the area. As Clay’s investigation advances, it appears that more and more of the evidence is pointing toward Emma’s fiancé Stephen as the criminal involved in this case. The drama continues as Emma’s Father becomes involved in the case and cooperates with Clay to solve who is involved with the counterfeiting operation. In addition, several gruesome murders take place along the path where the counterfeit money is being passed. Who is responsible for all of these crimes and how will his/her capture affect Emma, Stephen, and Clay.

This story will keep the readers interest and attention to the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I am sure others who enjoy historical fiction will enjoy it too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Net Galley from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

As a big fan of Barbour’s fiction-based-on-fact True Colors series, I was looking forward to reading this 12th installment. I was not disappointed! Spanning the years 1876-1878 and set in Ohio and Nebraska, The Scarlet Pen follows the heinous crime spree of real-life criminal Stephen Dee Richards. For Secret Service agent Clay Timmons, what starts out as a search for a counterfeiter turns into a search for a serial killer. For Emma Draycott, what starts out as the possibility of a bright future with her betrothed Stephen, turns into a nightmare. Ms. Uhlarik’s excellent storytelling skill and expressive, flowing style make for an exciting yet heartbreaking read. Her descriptions of the crimes are not graphic or gory, but still paint a vivid picture of the depravity involved. The characters are well-developed and believable. I loved Clay, but Emma’s naivety had me yelling at her to open her eyes and see the truth! For me the romance takes a back seat to the true life crime element of the storyline. I especially appreciate the strong faith element that permeates the story and tempers the evil. I enjoyed the author’s notes at the end which give additional details of the historical facts and explain choices she made as she wrote the fictional tale. I highly recommend this book and the series. Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma Drayton’s intended wants to do things his way, like not bothering to ask her father for her hand. Stephen Richards is full of anger over the need to toe the line, but keeps it masked. He suddenly leaves town to make his fortune.
The blurb for The Scarlet Pen mentioned a serial killer, but the book begins with Secret Service agent Clay Timmons searching for a counterfeiter. Leads quickly point to Stephen who’s on his way to Nebraska and killing for the thrill of it.
How Emma was so in love with Stephen after six weeks was hard to understand even with his chameleon personality. You want to shake some sense into her, warn her of his duplicity. Clay is such a better man.
The ending was a surprise. Stephen claimed to have changed, but he still believed in his innocence. His new belief seemed contrived. Yes, God only knows his heart, but this seemed so manipulative. It is based on true events, which proves that truth is stranger than fiction.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Lovely young Emma Draycott is frustrated when her father refuses to give his blessing to her engagement to longtime friend of the family Stephen Richards. When Emma's father agrees to consider Stephen's proposal to his daughter on the condition the young man is able to find a way to support his daughter, Stephen sets out on a business venture. Little does Emma know that Stephen's idea of a business venture is passing counterfeit bills and living a life of crime. When Secret Service agent Clay Timmons arrives on the scene, Emma is outraged to find out that Timmons is working with Emma's father to investigate the activities of her fiance. Leaving a string of murders behind him, will Stephen ever be brought to justice? Will Emma finally see his true character? What of her growing attraction to the dashing Secret Service agent? Based on the real-life crimes of Stephen Dee Richards, the author mixes fact and fiction to spin a compelling tale of suspense in the 1870s midwest.

A fictional account of true crime is covered in another in the True Colors Crime Series, all of which have challenged me to research the story behind the story.

The Scarlet Pen traces Stephen Dee Richard’s killing spree with sensitivity and discretion. This novel covers a two year period of time that runs like a mini series of horrors revolving around a sanctimonious dolt also referred to as The Nebraska Fiend, a headstrong, naive young woman who thought she knew and loved the dolt, and a Secret Service agent on the trail of counterfeit currency.

I appreciated the way the story started and ended with a hymn fitting the narrative of the story that reinforced that no matter how far we have fallen, there is hope for all of us. Very well done, Jennifer Uhlarik..

I received an ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley.

The next instalment in the True Colors series, this story follows Emma Draycott and her intended Stephen Dee Richards, who may not be who he appears to be. This was an interesting and quick read. I appreciate that while the subject matter is dark, the stories in these series are not oppressive and I can read it before bed. I did find this book a bit more descriptive than the others that I have read in this series but still not too heavy. I appreciate it.

True crime has always fascinated me. When NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to read and review, I was immediately interested in how what sounded like a grisly murder mystery based on a true crime could also be an inspirational Christian book. Herein lies the tightrope. The story is based on the real life of Stephen Dee Richards (why do serial killers always have three names?!). He was accused of murdering nine people including children. The author has taken the basic facts of this case and woven in a love story with a story of redemption. She tells the story from three different perspectives, the lawman Clay, Emma (the killer’s fiancé), and the murderer himself.

Emma is an extremely naive and frustrating character who is engaged to Richards and continues to believe in him even when faced with alarming facts. For me, she was not sympathetic and I really couldn’t understand, other than her beauty, why any man would like her. Clay is a charming secret service agent with a tragic past. He’s on the trail of counterfeiters when he meets Emma. The trail leads directly to Richards who skips town to “pursue his dream.” As Clay pursues Richards, he discovers more heinous crimes than the counterfeiting. Clay is attracted to Emma, but trying to convince her of her fiancé’s true character is a challenge. Stephen Dee Richard’s narration is the most chilling. The author captures his growing insanity, arrogance, and depravity well. He is perhaps the most intriguing character because he follows the profile of what one would expect of a serial killer. Interspersed within the story is the characters’ faith, using scripture and prayer to help them through extremely difficult circumstances.

While I was intrigued by this story, I found that it was trying to be too many things at once. The murders were somewhat gruesome which may turn off readers who enjoy relatively mild murder mystery inspirational stories. The romance for me was somewhat unbelievable. Emma was not an endearing character and it was hard to like her. She was so stubborn and naive that it was difficult to want the handsome Texas agent to win her over. I think if the author had made her a little more complex other than the stubborn, flighty, naive, spoiled rich girl, I would have enjoyed her character more. The inspirational aspect of the story had a good message, that no one is beyond redemption, and I applaud that, however it was hard to believe that RIchards had such a massive change of heart and leaves the reader pondering the ending, which is probably what the author intended.

All in all, if you enjoy stories based on true crime, aren’t afraid of getting into the killer’s head with a few grisly details, and like a clean romance with an inspirational message, then this may be the book for you. I received a complimentary copy of this story from NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are strictly my own.

This is a true-crime story woven into a historical fiction novel. I'm a fan of author Jennifer Uhlarik, so no surprise that I liked it, but there was a lot to like. The characters were believable and relatable, not perfect. The Christian faith element was strong and prominent throughout the story. The actual history was deftly blended into the fictional characters' lives. The gruesomeness of the crimes was portrayed adequately without being gratuitous or glamorizing the evil. And it was a historical event I knew nothing about! That's always a nice plus.

3.5 stars.

I literally read this in about 3 hours, so that more than anything tells you it's an engaging, fast-paced, and quick-ish read! LOL!

It was also really interesting to have multiple narrators here--one being the villain himself. Intriguing (and disturbing, of course) to see his thought process over the course of the read.

I really loved Clay's character, and found him utterly fascinating. Emma wasn't my favorite, but maybe because I could see a little of myself in her. Who of us hasn't had some degree of strong feelings for someone who turns out to not be the right person, for one reason or another (and sometimes for very wrong reasons)?

The events at the end utterly surprised me--definitely a first for a book in this series, lol. A note of hope amidst great darkness.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I have read several books in this series which is based on true crimes in history. This particular story about Stephen Dee Richards, the "first Nebraska serial killer" is chilling. While tastefully written, the author highlights the terrible crimes that this young man committed.
This is an interesting book and the characters that are built into the storyline, Clay, Emma and P.J. help fill out the historical timeline with manner of dress, daily life, law enforcement and society.
These stories have to be a challenge to write. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my personal opinion of it. It is a believable read. If anyone is interested in true crime and history this may prompt you to read more about it. The story and characters are interesting all on their own.

Great read! The story drew me in from the first chapter until the end.
One of the main characters, Stephen, has real issues. After one attempted murder, he continues to escalate to very brutal means of killing.
The other characters, Emma, Stephen’s fiancé, and Clay, a government agent tracking down counterfeit sources, keep the story flowing and engaging.
The ending brings a surprise that causes you to really think.

Another page-turner in Barbour's True Colors Crime series! Headstrong but naive Emma Draycott determinedly stands by her fiance, Stephen Dee Richards, despite her parents' misgivings. When Secret Serviceman Clay Timmons arrives in town investigating reports of counterfeiting, evidence of Stephen's possible involvement invites questions about Stephen's character. Emma has long been Stephen's defender. During their childhood, she defended him against schoolyard bullies. Now she defends him against accusations from her family and law enforcement. With or without her parents' blessing, Emma is determined to marry the man who has given her his word. He will pursue a business venture and return for her with financial proof that he can adequately support the daughter of the well-heeled Draycott family. Stephen's letters bolster her faith in him. But then...Well, you will need to read the book to find out what happens next!

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series, but I really loved this one! The author deftly weaves in details that show rather than tell, letting the reader get to know each character. What I loved most, however, is the way the author handles the complexity of the characters and the actual criminal case. As in law enforcement, the reader is presented with the facts of the case and with the words and perspective of the accused. They don't always align, but which is reality? Then add a spiritual dimension--did the accused make a decision for Christ? And--if he were truly guilty--should such a one be permitted entrance into heaven? The End Notes add fascinating details about the facts of the actual crime and the thinking behind the author's choices as she fictionalized this story.

Another great book in the series based on true crimes. The main characters were well developed and you either loved them or hated them. You learn pretty early on who-done-it so it's missing the element of mystery some others in the series have.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

An interesting read.
Following two recently reunited childhood best friends, Emma Draycott's suspicions of her husband rise when he leaves for a business trip - without informing her of any of the details.
The dual perspective made for an interesting contrast, with the (often frustrating) naivety of Emma juxtaposing the horrific crimes of her husband. Christian literature isn't an area I delve into often, if ever, but the theme of faith is certainly prominent in this book. I've seen criticism it reads too much like a YA novel to be deemed historical fiction - which I don't disagree with, but I am an avid YA reader thus no complaints there.

Some sections of the novel, specifically the perspectives of Emma, dragged a little which is why I have not awarded it the full five stars.

A serial killer in the old west and a sweet, naïve, infatuated fiancé back home make for an interesting read. This historical fiction novel keeps you pulled in as well as it makes you wonder if you can’t trust someone you have known for most of your life, who can you trust? For Christian readers, there are plenty of prayers and plenty of scripture throughout the tale. My only caveat, and the reason I could not give it five stars, is that the book reads as though it was written for a YA audience. So much so, that I went back and looked at all the other books in the series to see if they were listed as being books for youth, which they are not. As with so many other Christian books, the writing was somewhat subpar, although in this case, the story itself was engaging.

My thanks to Jennifer Uhlarik, Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC of the Scarlet Pen.
The Scarlet Pen was not what I thought it was going to be, and that's my fault for not reading the synopsis properly. I enjoyed the story; Christian themes are not my usual read, but the premise was engaging. I didn't like Emma. She came across as a spoilt brat who fell for a scoundrel, but then quickly fell for Clay when she realised Stephen wasn't who she thought he was. I understand The Scarlet Pen was based on a true story and is part of a popular series. It was well written, but although I liked Clay and his friends I thought Emma was wrong for him simply because of her upbringing which she seemed to give up readily. Perhaps too big a leap for such a spoilt girl.

What a scoundrel!!! In The Scarlet Pen, Jennifer Uhlarik crafted a villain that appears to be suave and handsome, but instead, he has a cold heart with no connections or feelings toward anyone he meets, which is shown over and over again in the plot. I felt so bad for Emma who fell in love with Stephen. This happens to many women today even. Why do women fall in love and stay with men who abuse them? I do not understand it. I know, mostly, because they are looking for validation and the love, but it is harmful to them and God forbid if there is children involved. The plot of The Scarlet Pen was well-crafted and captured my attention the whole time. I enjoyed this story and will recommend it to others. Definitely a story keeper. The romance was okay. It was not my favorite part. I do enjoy the relationship between Clay and Emma. I liked the part where they shared Bible verses to encourage each other. This was a great addition to the True Colors series.

I received a complimentary copy of The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This was the third book I've read in this series, but the first I've read by this author. I'd enjoyed learning about historical crimes I hadn't heard of in the other books, and this book was also good. Unlike the other two books (from what I can remember), this one includes a point of view from the villain, in addition to the two main characters. It was interesting, in a rather dark way, to see how the villain's thoughts evolved as he became more violent. At the same time, though, having the villain's perspective meant there wasn't really any mystery for the reader about the crimes. So, if you're looking for a mystery, you won't really get that with this story, but you will get a look at historical crimes you may not have known about and a pretty cute love story thrown in, to boot. I also appreciated the author's note at the end that specified where and how she'd changed things for the story and what the true historical facts were.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

THE SCARLET PEN by JENNIFER UHLARIK is a riveting true crime romantic thriller, with interesting characters and a strong Christian message.
The story starts in Mount Pleasant Ohio with Emma Draycott's engagement to Stephen Dee Richards, who she has known since their school days.
Emma is a God fearing woman who loves the Bible and has many verses that are especially meaningful to her. When she shares them with her fiancé he is not that interested, which is not the case with Clay Timmons, the dashing and kind Secret Service Agent who is looking into the spread of counterfeit money. It is quite interesting to see the analogy between counterfeit money and counterfeit Christianity.
I do not want to spoil the story for you so I will just say that it is an exciting, if somewhat chilling, read and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good romantic thriller.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.