For the Record was a great conclusion to this series. I've really been enjoying catching up on my Regina Jennings' books and this one was especially fun!

I loved how Betsy was writing a romanticized serial for a different newspaper and all the things that surrounded that. It was hilarious reading her descriptions of events.

All in all, this was a fun read and I recommend the series to fans of historical romance.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

I love the stories of Regina Jennings for the vibrant characters, sweet romance, and depth of emotion. For the Record adds in a hefty dose of humor to the mix with mishaps, pranks, some underhanded dealings, and best of all, Betsy's dramatized stories written as fiction inspired by Joel. Betsy is a bit of a firecracker, yet also trying to find her place in the world. Joel sure has his hands full with this new job in a community that's practically foreign to him. It was quite a ride as they work together and sometimes against each other as they get to the bottom of the violence threatening Pine Gap. I would have liked more development in their relationship and romance, and felt the plot overshadowed that.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

For the Record is a great book one you will enjoy reading that you will finish it in one setting. Highly recommend

I love any tale that features women in historical periods attempting to make a living -- and a change-- by their pens.

Betsy is a spunky and smart heroine who wants nothing more than to write for a bigger audience than that of her uncle's small town newspaper. Desperate to scrawl anything to make a living, she begins writing an anonymous romanticized serial in which the town deputy Joel Puckett, is her stalwart and stoic muse.

This book is light-hearted and populated with typical tropes of the genre: a vigilante figure, a colourful cast of townspeople and a predictable ending. But the diversion is rendered in a carefully crafted and darn fun manner.

For the Record by Regina Jennings is the third book in the “Ozark Mountain Romance” trilogy, and works as a stand-alone. In fact, even though I have read the first two books in the series, I didn’t even recognize this as being related to them until a good bit into the book! It was set many years after the first two books and it didn’t weave in the previous characters much or well.

Betsy Huckabee, as readers of the previous books may remember, is a [slightly more so] grown-up version of the annoying little girl who was always snooping around in other peoples’ business. Now that she’s in her twenties, she writes down her finds from snooping and calls it journalism. Since the newspaper in her town of Pine Gap isn’t too large, she sends off her work to a bigger city. When a new (and handsome) deputy moves into town, Betsy immediately sets to work, dreaming up romantic stories about him, writing them down, and sending them off to a faraway newspaper.

Deputy Joel Puckett is running from rumors and big cities, so he runs to the small town of Pine Gap, where no one knows him or what people say about him. Adjusting to the town and winning the peoples’ trust is hard, and having Betsy around him at every turn is annoying, but he makes do.

As Betsy’s stories of the new deputy grow wilder and wilder, and more and more papers publish them, will the deputy’s past catch up with him? Will he ever live up to Betsy’s descriptions of him?

This was not my favorite of this series, as it was confusing and I didn’t care for the way in which the romance developed, seeing as how it was based off of untrue perceptions. It seemed as if everything Betsy wrote about Puckett was so outlandish, and Puckett didn’t match her descriptions of the dashing hero for half the book or more, and then–poof!–he became the hero. Also it seemed that he fell in love with Betsy simply because she was in his way all the time and the only young female around.

Thank you to Bethany House publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own were not required to be positive.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

Regina Jennings has written a fun and entertaining historical romance novel in her novel For the Record. A spunky small-town woman, Betsy Huckabee, is always sticking her nose into other people’s business. Betsy uses the adventures and mishaps that take place in her town (while adding a bit of a tweak of her own) in stories she writes for a big city paper in another state. Betsy even goes so far as to liken the deputy in her story to that in her town. The history in the story includes the Bald Knobbers, a group of “unknown” vigilantes that try to act as the law, adding more mischief and entertainment to the story. This engaging and delightful historical romance with leave readers laughing as they read.

Series: Ozark Mountain Romance
Genre: historical, romance, Christian
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication date: December 6, 2016
Number of pages: 336

Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 4 stars

Other books in the series:
1-A Most Inconvenient Marriage
2-At Love’s Bidding
2.5-Her Dearly Unintended (also found in the With this Ring? Novella collection)

Could not review as it was removed from NetGalley before able to download. Would be happy to give review at another time if allowed.

I really enjoyed For the Record...it takes readers back to Pine Gap, Missouri. Big Texas deputy Joel Puckett is desperate to prove himself in the tiny town that needs the law. Betsy is trapped in the town that she loves, but she wants to make her own place in the world. The sparks fly as these two interact while Joel is trying to bring law and order to a community that likes to take things into their own hands. Betsy unintentionally creates havoc in his life, and they have to choose whether they're going to love each other anyway. It's a fun read, and I loved the glimpse at prior characters -- though you don't to read the prior books to enjoy this one. Perfect for lovers of historical, 1880s romances filled with humor and delightful characters.

Although I am a huge fan of Regina Jennings, I have to admit I was slow to warm up to For The Record. I think my problem was that I did not like Betsy Huckabee. To me, she was an immature young lady who by the age of 24 should have behaved better. That said, the story did grow on me and by the end of the book, I was a fan. It was nice to read about some of the characters I met in the previous 2 books. This book should appeal to folks who like a mixture of romance, humor, and suspense.

From Amazon:
Jennings Offers Another Delightful Blend of History and Romance

Betsy Huckabee might be a small-town girl, but she has big-city dreams. Writing for her uncle's newspaper will never lead to independence, and the bigger newspapers don't seem interested in the Hart County news. Trying a new approach, Betsy pens a romanticized serial for the ladies' pages, and the new deputy provides the perfect inspiration for her submissions. She'd be horrified if he read her breathless descriptions of him, but these articles are for a newspaper far away. No one in Pine Gap will ever know.

Deputy Joel Puckett didn't want to leave Texas, but this job in tiny Pine Gap is his only shot at keeping his badge. With masked marauders riding every night, his skills and patience are tested, but even more challenging is the sassy journalist lady chasing him.

About the Author from Amazon:
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English. She is the author of Sixty Acres and a Bride, Love in the Balance, Caught in the Middle, A Most Inconvenient Marriage, At Love's Bidding, and contributed a novella to both With This Ring? and A Match Made in Texas. She and her family make their home in Oklahoma City.

I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

This was such an engaging read, for so many reasons! But the foremost of those reasons would have to be Betsy Huckabee and Joel Puckett. Both were strong personalities in different ways: Betsy, with the impish twinkle in her eye and an independent spirit that doesn’t shy away from a little adventure; and Joel, the serious lawman who is keen to establish his authority and protect his reputation, but turns out to be more than a match for Betsy in both wit and wiles! He might be quieter about it, but he could certainly be audacious in his own way!

Deputy Joel Puckett arrives in Pine Gap ready to restore law and order, only to find that a group of local men have taken the law into their own hands. Law-abiding citizens by day, they don burlap-sack masks at night and ride anonymously as the Bald Knobbers gang, warning off those who threaten the peace and safety of Pine Gap’s residents and seeking the man who was responsible for the death of one of the town’s residents. Their hearts are in the right place, but they constantly butt heads with Deputy Puckett, who believes they need to do things ‘by the book’.

Betsy makes a point of trailing the handsome new deputy whenever she can, which means she’s often on the fringe of the action—and often exasperating said handsome new deputy. And yet there’s something about her that draws Joel’s attention again and again, and I loved the way their mutual admiration and friendship developed. There were some humorous moments in this story too; sometimes wry, and sometimes laugh-out-loud—the latter often as a result of Joel’s unexpected audacity. Keep a look out for one of the best set-downs ever and a particularly cheeky kiss! ;-)

And, of course, what would a romance be without a little personal complication? But with all this drama going on, I never once felt like anything was being forced or inflated or overdone.

Well done on a thoroughly enjoyable read, Regina Jennings!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review.

I read At Love's Bidding and was absolutely charmed by Betsy Huckabee, a sharp-witted, independent, and somewhat wily almost-teen who inserted herself into the story of Wyatt and Miranda. In Regina Jennings's newest historical romance set in the Missouri Ozarks, For the Record, Betsy is all grown up, but still as sharp-witted and wily as before. The only thing she's lacking now is independence. But if she can just establish a career with a large newspaper, she can move out of her uncle's house and her aunt's hair. If radar had been around in 1885, romance wouldn't even be a blip on her screen. Then Joel Puckett, a deputy sheriff from Texas, arrives to rid the area of the vigilante Bald Knobbers, and Betsy believes she's found the answer to her independence problems in the exploits of a fictional hero named Eduardo Pickett.

Joel was every bit the match for Betsy. Proud and out to prove himself, he took the job in Missouri to avoid a love scandal in Texas. While it's best to face your problems rather than run from them, he did provide Betsy with something positive that came from his running. ;) He was also a bit wily and didn't play fair on at least one occasion, which made for a scene to snicker through.

I had a great time reading this book, not only for the romance and humor, but the sense of history. The Bald Knobbers were a familiar term to me, though it was one of those "Now where have I heard it before?" kind of things. So I took the time before getting too far into the story to look them up.

As for the characters, the issue of trust is a big factor in their growth--especially Joel's. But Betsy is faced with her own need to trust.

There are three books in this series and at one point, it refers back to a novel in another series, but they all stand alone. I highly recommend the antics of Betsy and Joel in For the Record!

Great entertainment! When I read it I didn’t realize this was part of a series. It did great as a stand alone. Betsy is a strong, independent woman with talent who is struggling. She has great love for her family, but is an old maid by many standards and still lives with them. Her hope is to earn enough money to support herself.

Joel is the new Deputy in town, trying to fit in and earn respect. He’s a strong advocate of the law, and has a tough time with the locals who are trying to punish wrong-doers on their own. He’s got a past that he’d just as soon not have revealed to everyone, but Betsy’s good intentions can get him into trouble.

Very well written and engaging. You’ll enjoy getting into the heads of these characters. Great Christian message throughout. Love that cover!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are 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”. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.

For the Record by Regina Jennings is the third book in the Ozark Mountain Romance series. It follows Betsy Huckabee, an aspiring journalist as she looks for that perfect story to catch the big newspapers’ attentions. As soon as the new Deputy, Joel Puckett walks into town, Betsy decides he is the perfect person to write that great story about. So, much to his annoyance, she begins to follow him on all of his adventures (and misadventures) trying to catch the gang members. But what happens when they become too close and truth gets mixed up with fiction?

For the Record is a great title for this novel. It captures the spunk and stubbornness of both the main characters as well as some of the absurd and questionable situations they find themselves in. Betsy is not a woman for following societal rules, but luckily, she lives in a small town in the West where everyone knows her and very few care that she breaks them. I loved that about her. Joel, however, is new to the town, meeting with much contention because of his presence. But he was determined to follow the rules and earn people’s respect the best way possible. He is truly an admirable character, mistakes and all. His past makes the present more difficult and Betsy only worsens it. But that they were able to overcome all of it makes the story that much more beautiful and fulfilling. And it truly is beautiful and fulfilling. And did I mention funny and a little bit romantic? It is well thought-out, mystery included, and the setting is authentic. The complexity of the townspeople’s relationships and political alliances is a great representation of real people and the historical setting.

I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to lovers of sweet historical romance.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Betsy Huckabee is a character who has shown up previously in the Ozark Mountain Romance series by Regina Jennings, and every time she popped onto the page, I loved her. So to get to read a novel where she was the main character, I didn't want to miss it!

Betsy is witty, sharp, and a bit unconventional. To contrast her, Joel Puckett is a bit more by the book. But it wasn't just these two that made For the Record a fantastic book. While the characters welcomed me into their lives, the plot kept me turning pages and unwilling to leave. For the Record had a by of mystery to it that I was just as interested in figuring out as the characters were.

This was a wonderful book. Themes of fighting for what's right stood out strongly within the pages and the characters had to figure this out for themselves as well. This was a book filled with wonderful characters and an entertaining story. I'd highly recommend it.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

If you've ever been to Branson, Missouri you've probably heard of the Bald Knobbers. This book is the first time I've ever run across them in a book. Layering the vigilantes with a lawman who was sent packing from Texas and a woman that has a hidden writing agenda gives you a spaghetti pile of truths, lies, and misconceptions to unravel. But, because of the two protagonists it makes for a delightful meal to swallow. One of the fun things about them is they don't fit into the molds that each one has for the other. Strangely, that makes them fit together all the better. An enjoyable read.

This is book three in the Ozark Mountain series. It is a stand alone book, but you will enjoy the entire series. Jennings does a great job at making you feel a part of the town. She has a spunk to her writing style and it is full of laughter, mystery, romance and much more.
The dashing deputy Joel Pucket has no idea what to expect in Missouri. Having to leave his beloved Texas, for secrets of his own, will this be the second chance he is seeking or will he ever be accepted in this quirky town.
Betsy Huckabee is always looking for a story. When the handsome deputy comes to town will this be the inspiration she needs to launch her journalistic career?
I enjoyed the sparks that fly between Betsy and Joel. The challenges they face, individually, together and as a town.

Review...

Regina Jennings is a certified go to author for me. She never disappoints. For the Record is a fun and romantic read where heroine Betsy Huckabee is all grown up, lovable, and a hoot. Then again I expected nothing less.

Deputy Joel Puckett, brooding, and manly, walked into town with one thing on his mind; the law. Little did he know he'd get a lot more than he bargained for with Betsy at every turn. Literally.
I just loved reading her story. Lots of funny parts, some intrigue, and my favorite, the falling in love.

If you've read the others in the series, you'll catch up with the other townsfolk a little, which I always enjoy and meet a few new ones as well.

Best Bit: Betsy Huckabee is my face heroine of the series. I rooted for her, not just in love but in her career aspirations. Then again I am a little biased.

Could Improve: It needy it a bit more romance for my liking, but to be fair, I like to drown in the romance.

So if you like a balance of comedy, romance, and intrigue, this is a winner.

Overall Rating - 4.25 Stars

In my opinion, this is one of Regina's better books! The book takes place in the hills of Missouri in the late 1800s. Betsy is a wanna-be writer/story teller who has a way of finding trouble. Deputy Joel flees trouble in Texas and arrives in Pine Gap to uphold the law. The two keep bumping into each other and end up working together to try to solve the problems in this small town. This book will draw you in to and make you want to read long past your bedtime.