Lily and the Lawman

Brides of Money Creek

by Erica Vetsch

A desperate aunt and a duty-bound sheriff-thrown into marriage by necessity, driven by danger, and risking everything to rescue a child...and their hearts.

All Lily Whitman wants is to open her bakery and provide a good life for her sister and infant niece. But when her niece is kidnapped by a ruthless gang, Lily is frantic to get her back. The only one who can help is the new acting sheriff, Trace McConnell. Though she's sworn never to trust a man again, she finds herself forced to rely on this quiet lawman-worse, she's forced to marry him to protect her reputation during the search.

Trace McConnell, a man who sees the world in black and white, does everything by the book, and keeps his feelings to himself. He's dreamed of being a real lawman his whole life, not just a temporary replacement. When a U.S. Marshal arrives with news of a child kidnapping ring, Trace sees his chance to prove himself worthy of the badge. But his new "wife" keeps throwing his carefully laid plans into chaos with her determination to help-and his growing feelings for her threaten to compromise his focus on justice.

Can two people burned by past betrayals learn to trust again in time to save an innocent child? Or will their fears cost them not only their chance at love, but the life of the baby they're desperate to rescue?

Originally published at part of the Brides of Money Creek series.

Genres: Historical, Christian, Romance, Inspirational, Marriage Of Convenience, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can learn about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspi... where she spends way too much time!

Reviews

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A kidnapped baby, fake marriage, & a hunt for dangerous criminals! Erica Vetsch weaves another exciting Western tale in Lily and the Lawman. This swoon worthy, opposites attract romance completely drew me in. I loved the close proximity & forced marriage to save her reputation. Add in a protective hero & damsel in distress & I was completely hooked.

Trace McConnell’s determined to overcome his sullied family reputation & earn his lawman’s badge. Now as the acting sheriff for Money Creek, he’s charged with locating a slew of missing children who are victims of a kidnapping ring. When the attractive Lily Whitman’s niece is kidnapped, Trace vows to find her, but Lily’s not willing to sit back & wait. She travels with Trace & his brother to help locate her missing niece, but being an unmarried woman traveling with a group of men puts her reputation in tatters. Trace’s brother convinces them that they must marry & soon their already dangerous attraction kicks in to high gear. But, Lily & Trace couldn’t be more opposite & though the sizzling tension grows between them, they have to work together to find Lily’s niece.

I thoroughly loved this story! Lily’s extremely skeptical of men especially after her father disowned her sister. Learning to trust Trace takes all her courage. Trace doesn’t want to marry considering his family’s reputation, & after seeing what his mother’s loss did to their father. I enjoyed the push & pull of their relationship. The witty, bickering banter between them was so much fun! There’s such delicious tension between them & this kisses only romance sizzles with all the close proximity. I also loved the humorous teasing from Trace’s brother Cal.

The mystery kept me on the edge as Trace, Lily, & Cal chase down leads to find Lily’s niece Rose & the other missing children. Their hunt culminates in a harrowing finale with plenty of action. I also loved the messages of faith sprinkled throughout.

Highly recommend this delightful Western romance! Though part of a series, it’s easily read as a standalone. I received an advanced copy from the publisher, but also purchased the ebook through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. 4.5-5 stars!

[DevotedToHope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily’s heart speaks clearly in every moment. Her courage feels bruised and trembling, yet it never stops reaching. There’s a moment when her heart breaks open: “When she cried it all out to the Lord, begging His forgiveness, made up, and abandoned a dozen excuses not to obey His prompting…”

That surrender becomes the turning point of the story, the place where faith becomes breath again. Trace carries the quiet weight of responsibility, a man learning that justice without mercy leaves something hollow. Their paths cross in the midst of fear, and faith begins to thread them together in ways neither expected.

“Lord, help me to trust You. Help me to know You’re here and that You haven’t forsaken me.” That plea could belong to anyone. It lingers in the air, steady and raw, and through it, the story reminds us that God never steps away from the ones who surrender all to Him.

There are sincere, heart-felt prayers, promises forged through danger, and trust rebuilt in the midst of the chase. The search for a stolen child becomes a mirror of how faith itself is found again… through surrender, through courage, through love.

I finished with tears and gratitude, reminded that God sees every tear we shed and every concern we carry. He does not leave us; He draws us closer to Himself, our Provider and Sustainer.

For readers who love historical stories woven with danger, devotion, and the steady rise of faith through fear, Lily and the Lawman reaches straight to the heart.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher and Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

[MJSH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving these McConnell brothers. Trace, the quiet and serious middle brother, was intriguing in the first book. Now we get to see him fully in this book, brimming with love for Lily but unsure how to express himself. His tender heart that has lacked a woman’s softer touch is also revealed. His passion for justice, integrity, and loyalty make him a fantastic hero and temporary sheriff of Money Creek, Idaho. Lily is stubborn and persistent and has trouble trusting God and men. I didn’t connect with her as much as I did with Clara in the first book. Trace has trust issues with his heart as well and, together, they make a fine mess of things before they realize trust and love go hand in hand. Their marriage of convenience thread was fun. I was surprised to see a familiar villain from the last book appear in this one and now I’m suspecting he will show up again.

If you enjoy fun historical romance, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the publisher via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting read with lots of twists and turns. It takes place in Money Creek, Idaho, in 1883. There is a death, and a baby is kidnapped. Marshall Trace and his brother, Cal, attempt to identify the individuals responsible. More children are going missing and tracking them is difficult.

The story had me hooked from the beginning and was heart-wrenching in some parts, as the kidnappers were ruthless. I enjoyed the banter between Lily and Trace as an unexpected romance happened. Both of them were stubborn and set to do things their way. It is a page-turner for sure with non-stop action. The ending wrapped everything up nicely and was a happy one.

I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

[April Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving trust

Trace is a calm, steady, devoted temporary lawman, who longs to be a US Marshal but the town won’t let him move past his family’s heritage. Lily just wants to keep her sister and niece safe, without the help of a man. Tragedy strikes and thrusts Trace and Lily together where them must learn to trust God and each other if they hope to find answers.

I liked both Trace and Lily; they both are prone to jump to conclusions that have been forged in them from their youth. Their attraction has been there along, they just wouldn’t admit it. It quickly grows into love that is sweet and has a happy ending. There is a little more information discovered about the mysterious happenings from Alec’s story that still is not resolved.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Wendy Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, here's another Erica Vetsch story to enjoy.

We read about another of the McConnell brothers, Trace, the middle brother. Acting as temporary sheriff, he's thrust into the role of helping Lily, a local baker, get her niece back from kidnappers. They have to learn to trust each other, which trusting is sometimes hard to do, isn't it?

If you enjoy historical fiction set in the Old West, this is a must for your TBR list.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

And another fun and quick read... now onto book #3 in this series <3

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Step back into time to Idaho Territory 1883 and encounter Trace McConnell a man who is a stickler for the law and doing the right thing. Lily is doing her best to provide for her sister and her infant when trouble comes to town and she finds herself thrown into a situation with Trace that could compromise her reputation. As lives are placed on the line to uncover a trafficking ring you will be engaged from beginning to end with characters whose lives you are invested in. We first meet Trace in the previous book and although this can be read as a stand-alone I recommend not missing out on learning his background and what makes him who he is. The story flows well and right into your heart that leaves you wanting more. This is the perfect book for a quick read that satisfies your western interests.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/Wild Heart Books. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Historical Romance

This one is loosely connected to book one, Clara and the Cowboy! Two of the three brothers star in this book, and the bad guys are part of the same gang. But this time instead of stealing cattle they're kidnapping children! You won't want to miss this exciting story!

[Cindy DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, fun read!

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda get tired of these independent woman sometimes.....

[Doreen Nicolet]

Didn't like

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is easy to follow and makes me feel like I’m there in the west when times were tough. It really shocked me when one of the characters had to pay for medicine that was barely over thirty cents. That was a very hard sacrifice in those days.

Lily takes on a big responsibility when she faces a great loss. I liked how caring she was to her sister and niece and moved with them when her sister is disowned by their father. When she faces a crisis she is stubborn when it comes to trusting anyone especially a man. Lily is overwhelmed with having to depend on a stranger to help her when her precious niece is kidnapped. The author illustrates the turmoil Lily has and shows how she needs to turn to God to heal her. Have you ever faced a time when you needed to trust God and struggled with it?

Trace is a very liked character who tries to keep peace in the town. It is not easy since his dad is the town drunk. People have judged Trace and his brothers unfairly but I admired how he still honored his dad and watched out for him. When it is brought to his attention that children are being kidnapped, he takes action. There is a bit of violence in the story that could be a trigger but I didn’t find it to be overwhelming.

I enjoyed how the author incorporates Trace and Lily into an unexpected pair as the race is on to rescue Lily’s niece. The mystery is explosive when children are seen in dire conditions. Readers will like how the relationship between Trace and Lily develop with a twist. The faith in the story is nice and reminds us to trust God with everything. Lessons are hard but in the end overcoming hurt, betrayal and bitterness leads to a solid foundation in a relationship.

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

[Alyssa Amey Madjeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet story is a quick and easy read. I had not had a chance to read Book 1 before reading this, but I did not feel lost. I could easily surmise Book 1 was about the other McConnell brother that’s only lightly mentioned in this story.

Lily has had a time of it and it’s left her with some serious trust issues. It’s also impacted her in other ways she can’t fully comprehend until she goes toe to toe with Trace McConnell. The acting sheriff has been entranced by Lily since she came to town, but his own issues, past, and bit of a surly personality have convinced him he’s not what she needs. But when they team up to rescue Lily’s kidnapped niece, some enemies to lovers sparks and a marriage of necessity find them realizing that maybe God knew exactly what He was doing getting them to confront and combat their issues together.

I liked Trace and Lily, but they both frustrated me at different points for sure. I wish they’d communicated better with one another. I struggled with a bit of the realism of how quickly their animosity was able to switch to love, despite the conflicts they continued to have. But this story was also an adventure with a western setting, some harrowing suspense, and ultimately a super sweet romance that won me over (despite wanting to slap them both!) There are lessons about faith and especially trust, and I definitely saw character growth. Recommended for the historical romance lover looking for a light read with some shots of suspense!

I received a complementary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not asked to leave a positive review. My opinions are my own.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily and the Lawman by author Erica Vetsch is Book Two in the Idaho Brides series. This is a Christian, historical, western, romance with a lot of adventure. Even though I did not read Book One, I did not have any difficulty following the story. It is a quick, sweet read with characters that are engaging.

It takes place in Money Creek, Idaho, in 1883. Lily works in a diner and gets a room for not just herself, but her sister, Violet and infant niece, Rose. It is also about temporary lawman, Trace. He was
chosen as the town’s temporary sheriff when something happen to their regular one.

He is calm, steady and devoted even though he is just a temporary lawman. Trace really wants to be an US Marshal. However, the town is skeptical because his father is the town drunk. Lily is sweet, determined, and only wants to keep her sister and niece safe. without the help of a man. Something happens that put both Trace and Lily together where they must work together and trust God in orders to get answers.

I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing. There were many twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. It was an exciting read that kept me turning pages until the end. There is a faith element in the story.

I highly recommend Lily and the Lawman. It receives a 4 out of 5 star rating. I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit, but these are my honest thoughts.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily and the Lawman by Erica Vetsch is a Christian historical fiction novel. It centers around Lily Whitman, her kidnapped niece, and Trace McConnell. It is the fifth book in the Brides of the West series. As with the other books in this series, I quickly found myself caught up in the story.

Lily Whitman only wants to open a bakery, but finds herself trying to find her kidnapped niece. While working with Trace McConnell to find her kidnapped niece, she is forced to marry him to save her reputation.

Meanwhile, Trace McConnell intends to become a U.S. Marshal rather than a temporary replacement. Working to assist the U.S. Marshals in uncovering a child kidnapping ring, he finds himself distracted by his new “wife”,

The characters and storylines are well-developed. You could read this book on its own, but I recommend reading the series for the best experience. Reading about Lily and Trace and how their relationship develops kept my interest and kept me reading. I found myself unable to put this book down.

So if you want Christian historical fiction, check out Lily and the Lawman by Erica Vetsch.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trace was a serious man who just wanted to be a lawman, especially after the way he grew up. He's very close to his brothers but that's it. When he finds out that someone kidnaps a baby, he agrees to go undercover with the baby's aunt to find the people responsible because he finds out it's part of a baby stealing ring. Lily and Trace are like oil and water! They were so fun together acting like they were married! I don't think anyone would believe they were actually in love! I was so impressed, however, with the level of pain and abuse Lily would go through at the hands of the kidnappers when she is caught, to save her niece! She loves all children with all her heart. Also, Trace will do anything to save her. I got so caught up in this story that I had to finish it quickly to find out how it ended! I grew to care so much for these characters! I loved the way they developed and grew.

[Betti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it’s hard to trust, isn’t it - that God hears you and knows what you’re going through.

A temporary lawman, an unplanned marriage and kidnapped children - what could possibly go wrong. Marshal Maxwell is ill and Trace must continue to follow the trail, even if Lily, aunt of one of the missing children, insists on accompanying him. Will working together along with Cal, Trace’s brother, bring them success and the return of Rose and the other children? A hunt that prayerfully will end well becomes an opportunity for them both to learn to trust - God and each other.

An ebook of the Brides of Money Creek Book Two was received through Wild Heart Books and BookFunnel. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Lily and the Lawman" by Erica Vetsch is the fifth book in this series and I think it is my favorite of the series. This is a story that is all about trusting God and something even harder for Lily trusting a man. I really like Trace and how he tells his best at being a good lawman even through his dad is the town drunk. If you like stories about the old west, I recommend this entire series. This novel is about saving children from kidnappers, so if you like tales about children and the hero and the heroine falling in love after being enemies at the start of the book then you would like this book.

I received a complementally copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Gail Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much excitement and danger in this story. The character of Lily was a young and very headstrong woman. I admired her determination in spite of her not realizing what she was getting into. After her sister died and Rose, her baby niece, was kidnapped, Lily was dead set on finding her no matter the danger it would put her in. Trace, the temporary sheriff, had a lot on his plate too. But keeping Lily safe and finding Rose was his toughest challenge yet. The written descriptions of the settings, the physical descriptions of the characters put me right in the story like I was watching a movie. This was a fast yet satisfying read that I throughly enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brides of the West book 5

Trace has always wanted to be a Marshal
and he is acting as stand in Sheriff of his town because the Sheriff is laid up. Trace's family was always looked down uponhis family because his father was a drunk. His brother Cal is his deputy. Trace is smitten with Lily at the diner, but he thinks he is not worthy to marry. But, when Lily,s niece is kidnapped, it forces Lily and the lawman to work together. I Really enjoyed this book and story.
This scripture is shared in the book and we all need to trust. “And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.”

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reprint of a Barbour Publishing novel from 2010 by the same name. Now the book is part of Wild Heart Books series Brides of the West.

I liked this book better than the first one. However was violence, trafficking of children, bad guys getting shot dead – none of which I enjoyed reading about.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story continues with Trace McConnell and his favorite baker, Lily. When Trace fills in as the local sheriff he is faced with trying to find missing children and then Lily’s niece is taken as well and nothing will stop her from joining him to locate her. Our bad and dangerous outlaws from book one are up to no good and it will take a lot of faith and prayers to save the children.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Great characters and well written.

[Amy Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this series about the three McConnell brothers as they live out their Christian faith and try to overcome the prejudice against them because of their past. I especially enjoyed the wonderful banter and friendship between the brothers. It might be a bit unrealistic how quickly the characters fall in love, but still an enjoyable story. This is the first book in the trilogy. Be sure to read "Clara and the Cowboy" first and "Maggie and the Maverick" next.

[Cassie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not understand what people see in this book. The characters are basically caricatures. Lilly is the most whiny, stubborn, unintelligent heroine I've encountered in a looonnng time. Trace is a jerk. Cal seems like a nice guy, but still so undeveloped, and anyone seems nice compared to trace. This one was a solid 2 thumbs ⤵️

I don't know why I keep trying veitch's books. We clearly don't click.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got side-tracked by references to sour cream raisin pie reference. 1st problem a pie with merengue would be troublesome to make thus not likely to be included in menu. 2nd and major point for not including the pie is it did not become
popular until 1940's. The first reference to it was in 1900.
??oleaginous snake ?? oily

[Janie Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Love

Lily and Trace have a rough start. Lots of twists and turns and certainly never boring. A few chuckles are in the mix. I really enjoyed reading this book. Erica Fetch is a great author.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily and Trace

This is the second book in the series. The story is well developed. They both have to learn to trust each other and God to have their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more of the series.

[Georgianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This says the book is 262 some pages but my Nook download was 155...so 100 pages were chopped from the story. So it was chopped up and rushed. I wish it would have been the complete book....

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

This was a great book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.