Ray Bilderback’s first novel, Lawman’s Dilemma, earned the following reviews:

“Lawman’s Dilemma” is a wholesome novel written with realistic honesty… Dialogue is spiced with regional dialect straight off a movie set. The prose is tight; no superfluous padding fills the pages…

-Julia Ann Charpentier for Clarion Review (5 stars out of 5)

“Lawman’s Dilemma” reminds me of the Westerns I used to filch from my father’s stash when I was a kid. Max Brand, Luke Short, Louis L’Amour with their satisfying clarity of standards… their stoic horses and twitchy gunmen… and their wild spectacular landscapes… the writing rings true, the prose loping along like a well-gaited cow pony…

-Loren Cruden for North Columbia Monthly

“Lawman’s Dilemma”… is told in a concise, straightforward style that is a joy to read. Not just for Western fans - for anyone who loves good writing…

-Kirkus Review

“Lawman’s Dilemma” is pure storytelling, simply sparsely, and elegantly revealed…

-Blue Ink Review

LITTLE RUBY

Set on the rugged Tennessee frontier in the wake of 1776, Little Ruby follows two families bound by hardship, hope, and the uncertain promise of love.

Ruby isn’t a typical girl of her time — she rides horses, tackles farm chores, and shares quiet moments in the kitchen with her mother. When George, a boy from a nearby farm, captures her heart, Ruby begins to imagine a future shaped by love and loyalty.

But when tragedy strikes, George leaves for the West, determined to prove himself worthy of her. Ruby, facing heartbreak and loss of her own, must choose whether to follow her heart or stay behind.

As they each navigate treacherous terrain — both emotional and physical — they encounter allies, enemies, and tests of courage. Little Ruby is a gripping tale of love, grit, and survival on the American frontier, where every step forward risks everything, and reunion is never guaranteed.