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Amelia and the Outlaw
Amelia
With a strict, eagle-eyed judge for a father and two older brothers to back him up, Amelia Harper is doted upon and protected within an inch of her life. She's not even allowed to have a sweetheart until she's seventeen, for example. Amelia longs for the day she can do as she pleases, but that day doesn't seem to be in any hurry to arrive.
The Outlaw
For a young fellow, Jesse Lawton has a surprisingly shady background. The only wonder is that it took him until the age of fourteen to end up in jail, so wild was the path he'd been on. But five years have passed, and his luck finally seems to have turned: he's been freed. If only he can stay on the straight and narrow . . .
When Jesse arrives at the Harper ranch to work off the remainder of his sentence, it's no surprise that the judge's pretty daughter catches his eye. What he doesn't know is that this young lady is itching for excitement, and with one look into his haunted eyes, Amelia knows she's found it in Jesse. Without meaning to, Amelia forces the erstwhile outlaw into a choice between his freedom and his heart.
With a strict, eagle-eyed judge for a father and two older brothers to back him up, Amelia Harper is doted upon and protected within an inch of her life. She's not even allowed to have a sweetheart until she's seventeen, for example. Amelia longs for the day she can do as she pleases, but that day doesn't seem to be in any hurry to arrive.
The Outlaw
For a young fellow, Jesse Lawton has a surprisingly shady background. The only wonder is that it took him until the age of fourteen to end up in jail, so wild was the path he'd been on. But five years have passed, and his luck finally seems to have turned: he's been freed. If only he can stay on the straight and narrow . . .
When Jesse arrives at the Harper ranch to work off the remainder of his sentence, it's no surprise that the judge's pretty daughter catches his eye. What he doesn't know is that this young lady is itching for excitement, and with one look into his haunted eyes, Amelia knows she's found it in Jesse. Without meaning to, Amelia forces the erstwhile outlaw into a choice between his freedom and his heart.
245 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2002
22 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
About the author
Lorraine Heath
91 books4,393 followersAlso writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 10, 2021
Amelia Harper's dad is a judge, who invites the convicted bank robber Jesse Lawton to finish serving his sentence doing hard labor on his ranch. Amelia takes the oppoturtunity to stalk Jesse until boners, etc.
1. This ain't a romance, part 2. If the roles were switched—if the heroine was an outlaw just trying to keep her head down so that she could serve her time and be free, and the hero was a petulant brat who followed her around relentlessly and continually because of a selfish curiosity—we'd be flipping goddamned tables.
Because it's harassment. Jesse gets told to stay away from Amelia; Amelia gets told to stay away from Jesse; Amelia decides rules don't apply to her and continually seeks out Jesse and allows him to take the brunt of the suspicion and derision until he is beaten for it.
Amelia's gross.
2. I don't think I like the use of "outlaw with a heart of gold" as a plot point.
3. Amelia is really such a terrible, terrible human being. I am kind of shocked at how much I despise her and her selfishness.
4. But did Colleen get her happy ever after though?
1. This ain't a romance, part 2. If the roles were switched—if the heroine was an outlaw just trying to keep her head down so that she could serve her time and be free, and the hero was a petulant brat who followed her around relentlessly and continually because of a selfish curiosity—we'd be flipping goddamned tables.
Because it's harassment. Jesse gets told to stay away from Amelia; Amelia gets told to stay away from Jesse; Amelia decides rules don't apply to her and continually seeks out Jesse and allows him to take the brunt of the suspicion and derision until he is beaten for it.
Amelia's gross.
2. I don't think I like the use of "outlaw with a heart of gold" as a plot point.
3. Amelia is really such a terrible, terrible human being. I am kind of shocked at how much I despise her and her selfishness.
4. But did Colleen get her happy ever after though?
September 5, 2025
When Judge Harper reviewed the cases presided over by the previous judge in his position, he thought that Jesse Lawton's ten-year prison sentence for bank robbery may have been a bit harsh. Jesse was fourteen when he went to prison. He served five long years in Huntsville. The Judge proposes that Jesse work at his ranch for the remainder of his sentence.
Jesse will do anything to stay out of prison. The Judge tells Jesse that staying on the ranch will depend on his behavior. No cussing. No drinking. No trying to escape. And Jesse must stay away from the Judge's daughter. Amelia is a few days away from her seventeenth birthday. She hates how strict her father is and knows her two older brothers will never let her out of their sight. When she spies Jesse, she finds him fascinating. She wants to get to know him and keeps approaching him with questions about his past. Jesse is trying to keep Amelia at arm's length. He doesn't want to go back to prison. But each time Amelia talks to him, it is getting harder and harder to push her away.
This young adult novel was an easy read. I liked Jesse and felt sorry for him and the nomadic life he led. Amelia was a little harder to like. Her heart was in the right place, but she was selfish in her behavior. She wanted some excitement in her life and thought being with Jesse would be the most exciting thing that could happen. She didn't take into account how her family would react if he saw them together. My rating: 4 Stars.
Jesse will do anything to stay out of prison. The Judge tells Jesse that staying on the ranch will depend on his behavior. No cussing. No drinking. No trying to escape. And Jesse must stay away from the Judge's daughter. Amelia is a few days away from her seventeenth birthday. She hates how strict her father is and knows her two older brothers will never let her out of their sight. When she spies Jesse, she finds him fascinating. She wants to get to know him and keeps approaching him with questions about his past. Jesse is trying to keep Amelia at arm's length. He doesn't want to go back to prison. But each time Amelia talks to him, it is getting harder and harder to push her away.
This young adult novel was an easy read. I liked Jesse and felt sorry for him and the nomadic life he led. Amelia was a little harder to like. Her heart was in the right place, but she was selfish in her behavior. She wanted some excitement in her life and thought being with Jesse would be the most exciting thing that could happen. She didn't take into account how her family would react if he saw them together. My rating: 4 Stars.
January 2, 2017
++SPOILERS++
4.75 stars
Even though this is classified as YA or teen read and I really enjoyed it. It had no slang or immature dialogue and to be honest, I don't know why it is categorized for young people. Adults would like it too!
Anyway, it's a real sweet read that grabbed me at page one and held my attention to the end. I read this in one day and did not skim. Perfect comfort read.
The pace was steady with good conflict. The characters were well developed and I loved them all.
The heroine was a little annoying in the beginning. I kept worryng that her stupid actions were going to get the H put back in jail. It frustrated me at times, but she was young and naive, so her actions suited her character. She became much more likable as the story progressed so don't let my comment about her put you off.
The story tackles themes of trust, second chances, freedom.
Safety - 100% safe. kisses only, mild violence
4.75 stars
Even though this is classified as YA or teen read and I really enjoyed it. It had no slang or immature dialogue and to be honest, I don't know why it is categorized for young people. Adults would like it too!
Anyway, it's a real sweet read that grabbed me at page one and held my attention to the end. I read this in one day and did not skim. Perfect comfort read.
The pace was steady with good conflict. The characters were well developed and I loved them all.
The heroine was a little annoying in the beginning. I kept worryng that her stupid actions were going to get the H put back in jail. It frustrated me at times, but she was young and naive, so her actions suited her character. She became much more likable as the story progressed so don't let my comment about her put you off.
The story tackles themes of trust, second chances, freedom.
Safety - 100% safe. kisses only, mild violence
May 28, 2017
Four stars is probably a little high, but I'm still all for realistic historical YA. Plus, I really like how Jesse was portrayed, that he was NOT innocent. (Maybe he was still a little too "good", but I still appreciated that he really did do ~bad things and learned from them.)
March 1, 2010
Amelia Harper is nearly seventeen years old, but in many ways she is still treated like a child. Her mother died when she was twelve, and ever since then, her father and her older brothers have been extremely overprotective of her. Her father, a judge, is very strict and sets many rules, rules he expects to be obeyed. When he brings a young outlaw to their ranch to serve the remainder of his sentence, Amelia is instantly drawn to him. Jesse Lawton is just two years older than her, but has known nothing but suffering in his life. When he was a baby, his mother left him on a doorstep, and during his childhood, he was shuffled from place to place, never loved or wanted anywhere. When he was invited to join the Nightriders, a gang of outlaws, he jumped at the chance to belong, but a bank robbery landed him in jail at the age of fourteen. Life in prison was miserable, and he's eager for a chance to finish his sentence in good conditions and with a small degree of freedom. But if he becomes involved with Amelia, he risks being returned to prison. And even if he earns her family's trust, will his past always stand between them? I really enjoyed this new Avon True Romance, set in Texas in 1881. I recommend it to all fans of the previous books in the series.
February 16, 2017
This is a really cute little young adult romance I own that I'm just rereading... It's about a guy (Jesse) who hooked up with the wrong crowd when he was younger and ended up robbing banks... and got caught... and was sentenced to 10 years of prison. After 5, a judge was going through cases that were now under HIS jurisdiction (the other guy retired, I think), and though that a 10 year sentence was a bit harsh for a 14-year-old... So he decided to let this "outlaw" come and work on his ranch for the last 5 years of his sentence—supervised and unpaid and all that, you know? Learn some skills, yadda yadda... But the judge has this really pretty daughter, Amelia, who is just FASCINATED by Jesse and wants to know his story—why he robbed the banks, what it was like in prison, etc.
Anyway, they end up falling in love (as is evident by the description on the back of the book)... And it's just really cute. :)
Anyway, they end up falling in love (as is evident by the description on the back of the book)... And it's just really cute. :)
November 13, 2014
This was a cute story, I don’t know if cute is the right word, but it’s the only thing coming to mind. Amelia actually kind of annoyed me at first, she was just a little too naïve and it rubbed me the wrong way that she continued to hang around Jesse when it would clearly get him into trouble. After awhile she kind of grew on me, or maybe she matured during the story, but by the end I liked her. I also liked Jesse, he clearly had a rough life and tried to get by the best he could. Although he didn’t always make the best decisions, he still tried to make good choices, but didn’t have a lot of opportunities to change his life around. The relationship between Amelia and Jesse was sweet, she saw the good in him and he finally had someone to believe in him. The story was light and entertaining, about what you’d expect.
Cover Comment: I don't care for the cover, I probably would've passed the book by just based on the cover. Since I've liked this authors other books (written under pen-names Jade Parker & Rachel Hawthorne) I decided to give this one a try.
Cover Comment: I don't care for the cover, I probably would've passed the book by just based on the cover. Since I've liked this authors other books (written under pen-names Jade Parker & Rachel Hawthorne) I decided to give this one a try.
September 15, 2007
Jesse and his so-call-friends rob a bank and one of them shot a person. The cops came and everyone was leaving but Jesse because he was trying to make sure that person doesn't die. In turn, he got thrown in jail. then sent to a judge's farm to work off his load. Amelia, the daughter of the judge, was too interested in Jesse and almost made him went back to jail. But they became friends and Amelia found out about the truth of the robbery. Jesse's robber friends ask Jesse to help them to kidnap Amelia for money but will he go through with it?
July 18, 2021
Genre: protective older bros and father, ranch life,
Summary: Jesse has been in prison for the last five years for robbing a bank. A new judge has reviewed his case and decided that he can serve out the remainder of his sentence at his ranch, as long as he can stay away from the Judge's pretty daughter.
Response: This is part of one of my favorite series that I read when I was in high school. Squeaky clean historical romances. Super easy reading that's light and ready.
Summary: Jesse has been in prison for the last five years for robbing a bank. A new judge has reviewed his case and decided that he can serve out the remainder of his sentence at his ranch, as long as he can stay away from the Judge's pretty daughter.
Response: This is part of one of my favorite series that I read when I was in high school. Squeaky clean historical romances. Super easy reading that's light and ready.
March 5, 2010
Ba! I read this book a while ago and can't remember it that well (all the more reason to reread it!), but what I do remember was liking the relationship between Amerlia and Jesse very much. Also the cook! Whatever her name was, she was great. This is one of those books where your favorite character can easily end up being one of the secondary characters.
September 14, 2018
YIKES. Lorraine Heath, I love your books but... what are you doing?!?
This short(er) story was chapter after chapter of eye-roll-inducing annoyances. Amelia, the almost-seventeen-year-old daughter of a Judge, lives a sheltered life in Texas. She's pampered and flirtatious and sweet, and can't stay away from Jesse - an outlaw whose just come to work off the rest of his sentence at her father's ranch.
Amelia is a-n-n-o-y-i-n-g. Despite the fact that the Judge (and her brothers, and the ranch hands) all say that if Jesse talks to her he'll be sent back to prison, she won't leave him alone! Even when he asks her to!
When she begins crying because he hurts her feelings (she says she's been wicked and pulls out a dime store book, which he laughs at because... it's a book), her brother threatens to hit him and she doesn't clarify what happened to stand up to him. Things like this keep happening and it just seems so sad. Jesse says over and over things like: no one had ever stood up for him so he didn't know why he expected her to now. Heartbreaking.
Amelia was just... a story ruiner.
And the plot was just... bad.
And the ending was just... UGH.
This short(er) story was chapter after chapter of eye-roll-inducing annoyances. Amelia, the almost-seventeen-year-old daughter of a Judge, lives a sheltered life in Texas. She's pampered and flirtatious and sweet, and can't stay away from Jesse - an outlaw whose just come to work off the rest of his sentence at her father's ranch.
Amelia is a-n-n-o-y-i-n-g. Despite the fact that the Judge (and her brothers, and the ranch hands) all say that if Jesse talks to her he'll be sent back to prison, she won't leave him alone! Even when he asks her to!
When she begins crying because he hurts her feelings (she says she's been wicked and pulls out a dime store book, which he laughs at because... it's a book), her brother threatens to hit him and she doesn't clarify what happened to stand up to him. Things like this keep happening and it just seems so sad. Jesse says over and over things like: no one had ever stood up for him so he didn't know why he expected her to now. Heartbreaking.
Amelia was just... a story ruiner.
And the plot was just... bad.
And the ending was just... UGH.
June 12, 2019
A little boring, if I'm honest. And the "romance" between Amelia and Jesse didn't make much sense to me. Jesse is used to people leaving him and thinking the worst about him, so when Amelia is friendly and genuinely curious about him, well, it' stands to reason that he'll feel grateful towards her. His feelings towards Amelia are more she's-the-first-female-he's-seen-in-ages than actual love. Similarly Amelia's feelings for Jesse are just as weak - Jesse is the only guy that doesn't seem to want to talk to her. Unlike the other ranch hands, Jesse tries to stay away from Amelia as much as possible and he's not as easy to manipulate. So naturally Amelia is intrigued by Jesse.
Apparently all this combined together = Romance + Love.
Yeah, No. I don't buy it.
Apart from that, well... actually there's not much more to Amelia and the Outlaw than the unbelievable romance.
Apparently all this combined together = Romance + Love.
Yeah, No. I don't buy it.
Apart from that, well... actually there's not much more to Amelia and the Outlaw than the unbelievable romance.
February 17, 2019
Mais um YA, mas o Jesse me conquistou
Quero um Jesse para mim.... Pronto! Falei!
Adoro esses órfãos que a Lorraine coloca nos seus livros.... Passei o livro todo tendo vontade de pegar o Jesse no colo e descarregar o revolver em alguns ali.
No início achei a Amélia meio mimada e meio desconsiderada por estar arriscando a liberdade dele daquela forma..., mas conforme fui me aprofundando na história, percebi que se ela não tivesse arriscado, não se descobriria nada do seu passado e ele não seria valorizado.
Sou sentimental mesmo e ainda mais no meu inferno astral, então amei...
O enredo fluiu tão bem que eu não queria parar de ler.
Recomendo
Quero um Jesse para mim.... Pronto! Falei!
Adoro esses órfãos que a Lorraine coloca nos seus livros.... Passei o livro todo tendo vontade de pegar o Jesse no colo e descarregar o revolver em alguns ali.
No início achei a Amélia meio mimada e meio desconsiderada por estar arriscando a liberdade dele daquela forma..., mas conforme fui me aprofundando na história, percebi que se ela não tivesse arriscado, não se descobriria nada do seu passado e ele não seria valorizado.
Sou sentimental mesmo e ainda mais no meu inferno astral, então amei...
O enredo fluiu tão bem que eu não queria parar de ler.
Recomendo
June 11, 2021
A cute and fun read. Really meant to be an introduction to the romance genre for teens. The story was simple and predictable, but enjoyable.
When the judge who sentenced Jesse to ten years for robbery dies, the new judge looks into his file and decides that Jesse can serve his remaining 5 years at his ranch, giving him a chance to be out of prison but still working.
The daughter, Amelia befriends him and starts to find out that maybe he didn't belong in jail in the first place. She starts to fall for him, despite the fact that he keeps pushing her away.
When the judge who sentenced Jesse to ten years for robbery dies, the new judge looks into his file and decides that Jesse can serve his remaining 5 years at his ranch, giving him a chance to be out of prison but still working.
The daughter, Amelia befriends him and starts to find out that maybe he didn't belong in jail in the first place. She starts to fall for him, despite the fact that he keeps pushing her away.
June 3, 2021
Young adult, okumayı sevdiğim türlerden biri değildir. Bahar şenliği için "gençleri anlatan veya isminde genç kelimesi geçen bir kitap" maddesini bu sebebimden dolayı es geçecektim fakat elimdekileri araştırırken bu kitabın söz ettiğim maddeye uygun olduğunu fark ettim. Yazarı da genel olarak sevdiklerimden biri olunca 170 sayfacık kitabı 2 gün gibi bir sürede okudum.
Dediğim gibi sevdiğim yazar ve tür olunca young adult sevmesem de hikayeyi buna rağmen beğeneceğimi düşünüyordum. Sağ olsun yazar beni yanıltmadı, genel olarak beğendiğim bir hikaye oldu. Jesse'nin geçirdiği yıllar boyunca yaşadığı yalnızlığı ve Amelia ile geçirdiği zaman boyunca bundan kurtulmasını yazar güzel aktarmıştı. Amelia, yaşamındaki şanslardan dolayı hafiften şımarık olsa da yeri geldiğinde Jesse'yi savunması ve ailesiyle olan ilişkisiyle bunları çabucak unutturuyordu.
Sadece Amelia'nın kardeşi David olmasa da olurmuş. Diğer karakterlerle kıyaslandığında iyi veya kötü diyebileceğim hiçbir özelliği yoktu.
Dediğim gibi sevdiğim yazar ve tür olunca young adult sevmesem de hikayeyi buna rağmen beğeneceğimi düşünüyordum. Sağ olsun yazar beni yanıltmadı, genel olarak beğendiğim bir hikaye oldu. Jesse'nin geçirdiği yıllar boyunca yaşadığı yalnızlığı ve Amelia ile geçirdiği zaman boyunca bundan kurtulmasını yazar güzel aktarmıştı. Amelia, yaşamındaki şanslardan dolayı hafiften şımarık olsa da yeri geldiğinde Jesse'yi savunması ve ailesiyle olan ilişkisiyle bunları çabucak unutturuyordu.
Sadece Amelia'nın kardeşi David olmasa da olurmuş. Diğer karakterlerle kıyaslandığında iyi veya kötü diyebileceğim hiçbir özelliği yoktu.
October 4, 2022
Read this on a whim because it was available at the library. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it! Simple story and perfect light read. I actually kinda wish Heath wrote an adult version of it!
FMC was definitely annoying in the beginning but MMC was just as amazing as the rest of Heath’s heroes.
FMC was definitely annoying in the beginning but MMC was just as amazing as the rest of Heath’s heroes.
July 8, 2017
Nice and sweet :)
Read this in 2016.
Read this in 2016.
May 2, 2021
I want to rate it a 3.5
Amelia is so annoying and whiny. But I loved Jesse.
Amelia is so annoying and whiny. But I loved Jesse.
December 3, 2021
4.5 stars
Read
July 18, 2023This took me straight back to 8th grade 😂.
March 10, 2025
No me agradó la insistencia de amelia, pero gracias a ella hay historia.
July 1, 2025
I've ALMOST finished Lorraine Heath's backlist.
Jesse's fresh out of jail and offered to work at a ranch for the remainder of his sentence and Amelia's the ranch owner's daughter. Her daddy tells her to stay away from Jesse and Jesse's just trying to mind his own business and keep his nose clean but MFing Amelia has to keep getting him into trouble. Nothing special, but cutesy and simple I guess (bc it's a YA book).
Jesse's fresh out of jail and offered to work at a ranch for the remainder of his sentence and Amelia's the ranch owner's daughter. Her daddy tells her to stay away from Jesse and Jesse's just trying to mind his own business and keep his nose clean but MFing Amelia has to keep getting him into trouble. Nothing special, but cutesy and simple I guess (bc it's a YA book).
September 17, 2022
cw: imprisonment, poverty, classism, grief, child neglect, child abuse, sexism, some violence
Pretty cute! I really thought this was a great adorable teen historical romance that kept me entertained. It did what it needed to do and it hit the right spot for me.
Pretty cute! I really thought this was a great adorable teen historical romance that kept me entertained. It did what it needed to do and it hit the right spot for me.
July 14, 2013
3.5 Stars
I've always described things as sickly sweet, but this is the first time I'm going to whip out a new term. Ready? This book is idiotically sweet. Yes. Idiotically. The characters are so darn stupid the fact that they can fall in love is a testament to their feelings.
Anyway, just had to let that out. I did enjoy the book because Western values can still make my heart sing: masculine competition, an over-protective father, and star-crossed lovers. I am a diehard romantic as long as you don't push my buttons. Once I'd accepted that Amelia is as dumb as a post and she would probably never change, I went on my merry way. I do enjoy the simplicity of the romance. Jesse's attracted to her tenderness and good nature despite her empty head. He likes to look at her and he likes to see her happy.
Jesse has a touch of the old-fashioned cowboy extravagance that's okay on him but would be intolerably cheesy on anyone else. He thinks Amelia sure is a “purty lady”. Still, he shows remarkable self-control around her. Not willing to break the rules even when no one's watching. For goodness sake, he feels guilty for just thinking that Amelia is pretty.
While he has this jumbled up inferiority complex going on inside of him, his exterior is appropriately silent and stony. By the look of him, you'd never guess that he's shy and bashful. His development is questionable having lived in prison since he was a boy. Having grown up that way, he knows little about the real world.
Amelia is the only daughter of a rich man. But he's ex-military so he does manage some semblance of control over her adventurous ways. Still, she's the princess of the ranch and has everyone at her beck and call.
I liked that Amelia has ambitions to become a lawyer or a judge. Unfortunately, Amelia is condescending, treating Jesse like an animal that needs to be domesticated.
Verdict: I sometimes read lame books just for kicks
I've always described things as sickly sweet, but this is the first time I'm going to whip out a new term. Ready? This book is idiotically sweet. Yes. Idiotically. The characters are so darn stupid the fact that they can fall in love is a testament to their feelings.
Anyway, just had to let that out. I did enjoy the book because Western values can still make my heart sing: masculine competition, an over-protective father, and star-crossed lovers. I am a diehard romantic as long as you don't push my buttons. Once I'd accepted that Amelia is as dumb as a post and she would probably never change, I went on my merry way. I do enjoy the simplicity of the romance. Jesse's attracted to her tenderness and good nature despite her empty head. He likes to look at her and he likes to see her happy.
Jesse has a touch of the old-fashioned cowboy extravagance that's okay on him but would be intolerably cheesy on anyone else. He thinks Amelia sure is a “purty lady”. Still, he shows remarkable self-control around her. Not willing to break the rules even when no one's watching. For goodness sake, he feels guilty for just thinking that Amelia is pretty.
While he has this jumbled up inferiority complex going on inside of him, his exterior is appropriately silent and stony. By the look of him, you'd never guess that he's shy and bashful. His development is questionable having lived in prison since he was a boy. Having grown up that way, he knows little about the real world.
Amelia is the only daughter of a rich man. But he's ex-military so he does manage some semblance of control over her adventurous ways. Still, she's the princess of the ranch and has everyone at her beck and call.
I liked that Amelia has ambitions to become a lawyer or a judge. Unfortunately, Amelia is condescending, treating Jesse like an animal that needs to be domesticated.
Verdict: I sometimes read lame books just for kicks
June 12, 2015
Full disclosure I only got about a quarter of the way through the book. I found the heroine to be a spoiled and privileged girl (16) used to getting her way. She is so blind to her own privilege she doesn't realize the jeopardy she puts the hero in when she wants to take to him (possibility of sending him back to prison). I don't like reading about blind privilege in characters unless they are the villains.
June 25, 2011
I really loved this book. It was clean, fun, and kept moving. Great for teens. I look forward to more from this author.
Jesse was in prison for bank robbery, and the judge brought him home to finish serving the 5 remaining years of his sentence. Amelia, the judges daughter fell for him instantly. Good luck keeping these two apart.
Jesse was in prison for bank robbery, and the judge brought him home to finish serving the 5 remaining years of his sentence. Amelia, the judges daughter fell for him instantly. Good luck keeping these two apart.
November 26, 2013
THis was a mixture of cute, adorable, and cheesy sort of book for me. Our main character Amelia at first may seem a little annoying, but as the book goes on she seems to grow on you. Jesse is our other character that I just loved right away. Amelia and Jesse's relationship was cute and I thought they were good together. THe cover so far is my favorite from the books I have read from the author.
July 26, 2016
I read this when I was a freshman in high school and really liked it, so I read it again to see if it still held up. It really didn't. Amelia and Jesse are cute, but the story is cheesy as hell. I can't complain too much since what else could I expect from a teen historical romance? I should've left my beautiful memories of this book intact.
August 6, 2011
This was an okay book. I did enjoy it but it took me a while to get into it. Cute romance but I thought the main character Amelia was annoying. If you start it I would recommend finishing it because the ending is A LOT better then the beginning.
December 30, 2012
Short, sweet and adorable - three small words that pretty much sum up this book. It wasn't the biggest most fanciful litterary work of art, but it was a nice little entertainment piece, which was just what I was looking for.
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