A Soldier’s Treasure Map to Love by Madeline Thorton

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Frank’s parting gift to Chester wasn’t just a ranch in shambles; it was a cryptic poem and a map that turned a repair job into a high-stakes scavenger hunt. It’s a classic Western setup, but with a refreshing twist: a protagonist who is more "adjutant" than "action hero."

Chester is an ex-soldier with a suspiciously high survival instinct—mostly because he’s a bit of a wimp. While others reach for their holsters, Chester reaches for his reading glasses to decipher Frank’s riddles. He is perfectly balanced by Clementine, a woman whose shifts between steel-spined rancher and "delicate flower" give both the reader and the villains whiplash. It’s this perceived fragility that lures the villainous Alonzo into the tactical blunder of kidnapping her.

The slow-burn mystery eventually gives way to a "bullet-firing frenzy" that settles the score with satisfying noise. However, the story’s real sleight of hand is the treasure itself. While the gold is fine, the true payoff is the makeshift family Chester and Clementine forge while mending fences. It’s a heartfelt story about finding what’s worth keeping long after the gunpowder clears.