A Counterfeit Betrothal: Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, Book 1 In the year 1813, at the farthest outpost of Georgia, near the hostile Creek Territory, Jared Lockridge serves his country as a scout to redeem his father's tarnished legacy. If he can help secure peace against the Indians allied with the British, he hopes to bring his betrothed to the home he's building and open his cabinetry shop. However, his plans are put to the test when he comes across a burning cabin and a traumatized woman, recently widowed by a fatal shot. Esther Andrews, freed from a cruel marriage, agrees to winter at the Lockridge homestead to help Jared's pregnant sister-in-law, who is lame in one foot. Despite feeling like second-hand goods, Esther finds herself drawn to the gentle carpenter-turned-scout, who shows her kindness and skill in furniture making. As they spend more time together, Esther begins to hope for a future with Jared, but she struggles to trust again after enduring so much heartache. As violence erupts along the frontier, Jared's investigation into local incidents brings danger to their doorstep, threatening the fragile peace they have found.

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