What do you think?
Rate this book
Outcast,
A breathtaking tale of love in the West--by the author of Autumnfire. Olivia Baron scandalizes the prudish matrons and rough cowboys of Elkhorn by practicing medicine. When a diptheria epidemic breaks out, she can finally prove her mettle to the townspeople--and to the handsome widower Gabe Danaker.
Unknown Binding
First published February 1, 1995
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Read
August 18, 2025Used Book, Donated
January 31, 2021
I give this book a 3.5. I loved the majority of this book. Olivia is a formidable woman. She became a doctor in a time when women doctors were viewed as an aberration. She's from a wealthy family in New York. She goes out west to Elkhorn to ensure her friend's birth goes well as her friend has lost two babies.
Gabe is an Irishman who lives a day and half ride from Elkhorn. He's been falsely accused of murdering his Indian wife in Chicago. He justifiably killed one of her attackers. He's living under an assumed name, in isolation with his twin daughters, hiding from the other attacker who happens to be a wealthy man and who wants Gabe hanged for disabling him and murdering his brother.
Gabe meets Olivia in town. He teases her and finds her plain. But he ends up needing a doctor and Olivia will have to do. Gabe's twin girls get ill so he kidnaps Olivia who refuses to come willingly. (She thinks he lives with two Indian mistresses.) Due to the weather he cannot immediately return her when the girls are better. Love blossoms while Olivia learns to survive in the wild west and deal with twin girls, one of whom is a spitfire. She's in turmoil about the relationship because 1) she needs to return to her friend and 2) Gabe and Olivia's backgrounds are worlds apart and she's worried they won't find a compromise in order to have a good marital relationship.
The ending made me feel cheated. I know we are supposed to surmise that all goes well but I wanted it spelled out or, at the very least, an epilogue stating what happened with the charges, their marriage, their home...something. The ending was way too abrupt for me, which was really too bad because I enjoyed the book. This is the second and last time I'll read it. I didn't remember the non-ending when I picked it off my shelf again.
Gabe is an Irishman who lives a day and half ride from Elkhorn. He's been falsely accused of murdering his Indian wife in Chicago. He justifiably killed one of her attackers. He's living under an assumed name, in isolation with his twin daughters, hiding from the other attacker who happens to be a wealthy man and who wants Gabe hanged for disabling him and murdering his brother.
Gabe meets Olivia in town. He teases her and finds her plain. But he ends up needing a doctor and Olivia will have to do. Gabe's twin girls get ill so he kidnaps Olivia who refuses to come willingly. (She thinks he lives with two Indian mistresses.) Due to the weather he cannot immediately return her when the girls are better. Love blossoms while Olivia learns to survive in the wild west and deal with twin girls, one of whom is a spitfire. She's in turmoil about the relationship because 1) she needs to return to her friend and 2) Gabe and Olivia's backgrounds are worlds apart and she's worried they won't find a compromise in order to have a good marital relationship.
The ending made me feel cheated. I know we are supposed to surmise that all goes well but I wanted it spelled out or, at the very least, an epilogue stating what happened with the charges, their marriage, their home...something. The ending was way too abrupt for me, which was really too bad because I enjoyed the book. This is the second and last time I'll read it. I didn't remember the non-ending when I picked it off my shelf again.
January 11, 2025
Our heroine really resonated with me, and this book holds a special place in my heart. I've reread it so many times and I'm grateful to who I received it from.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews