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Outlaws of the Wild West #0.5
Her Forbidden Gunslinger
A forbidden attraction
When Sophie Buchanan's loathsome uncle announces she must wed a man of his choosing in just a month's time, Sophie will do anything to escape—and if that includes entering the most notorious gambling den in town to fund her getaway, then so be it.
But Sophie hasn't counted on Gray, a Comanche gunman in her uncle's employ who fascinates her like no other, and who seems determined to foil her plans. After he rescues Sophie when the situation turns nasty, the couple spends one scorching, forbidden night together. But the day of the wedding soon dawns, and with the aisle beckoning, Gray's protection may not be enough to save Sophie from her fate.
When Sophie Buchanan's loathsome uncle announces she must wed a man of his choosing in just a month's time, Sophie will do anything to escape—and if that includes entering the most notorious gambling den in town to fund her getaway, then so be it.
But Sophie hasn't counted on Gray, a Comanche gunman in her uncle's employ who fascinates her like no other, and who seems determined to foil her plans. After he rescues Sophie when the situation turns nasty, the couple spends one scorching, forbidden night together. But the day of the wedding soon dawns, and with the aisle beckoning, Gray's protection may not be enough to save Sophie from her fate.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
24 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Harper St. George
55 books1,245 followersHarper St. George was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since.
She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband's amazing cooking and reading. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at harperstgeorge.com
She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband's amazing cooking and reading. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at harperstgeorge.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 20, 2025
The Runaway Heiress is the prequel novella to The Gilded West series. I’ve enjoyed Harper St. George’s historical romances and this is an older series she recently revised/updated and rereleased on KU. This was an okay read, very quick since it’s a novella but I wasn’t super hooked.
Helena, Montana 1888. Sophie’s uncle orchestrated the accident that killed her parents to gain access to their copper mining empire and then arranged a loveless marriage for her so he can gain access to her fortune. She’s determined not to marry the man he has lined up for her but is just trying to figure out how to get out of it. Gray is a hired gunslinger her uncle has tasked with guarding her and delivering her to her wedding unscathed. He has some plans and secrets of his own, but he also falls for her along the way. Now he has to make sure he can accomplish multiple tasks without losing her.
This moves fast and it didn’t really feel like much was built between the characters that made their chemistry believable. The writing and pace all felt a little scattered and disjointed. Maybe since it was a novella? I’ll still check out the Gilded West series at some point since they’re full length books, but we will see when I get to them now!
Helena, Montana 1888. Sophie’s uncle orchestrated the accident that killed her parents to gain access to their copper mining empire and then arranged a loveless marriage for her so he can gain access to her fortune. She’s determined not to marry the man he has lined up for her but is just trying to figure out how to get out of it. Gray is a hired gunslinger her uncle has tasked with guarding her and delivering her to her wedding unscathed. He has some plans and secrets of his own, but he also falls for her along the way. Now he has to make sure he can accomplish multiple tasks without losing her.
This moves fast and it didn’t really feel like much was built between the characters that made their chemistry believable. The writing and pace all felt a little scattered and disjointed. Maybe since it was a novella? I’ll still check out the Gilded West series at some point since they’re full length books, but we will see when I get to them now!
April 2, 2025
In 2014, Harper St. George published a novella called Her Forbidden Gunslinger, the prequel to a trilogy of novels set in 1880s Montana Territory. Now, those books have all been updated and republished with new titles. The prequel novella is now titled The Runaway Heiress, and it introduces readers to a world of wealth amidst hard-working miners. The Gilded West is a full series I’m excited to read now!
Why I Chose This Book:
Harper St. George has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I’ve read her full Gilded Age Heiresses series and am now in the middle of her Doves of New York trilogy. However, I’ve also been wanting to read all of her earlier works. Since she’s just republished the full Gilded West series, I’ll read all of these books, and based on The Runaway Heiress, I’m sure I’ll enjoy them all.
What I Liked:
- Sophie isn’t a simple damsel in distress. She’s on a mission to escape her unwanted marriage, one way or another!
- Gray has his own agenda… and though he keeps secrets, he has good reason to!
- Forbidden romance
- Escaping a horrible family member and equally bad future
Final Thoughts
This was my first time reading a historical romance set in the United States or in the American West. (My historical romances are usually in Europe!) It was fun to read this kind of love story set in a new setting for me, and I like how this set up the scene for the rest of the series. As always, I love Harper St. George’s writing style here.
The Runaway Heiress was an enjoyable and quick read, and I look forward to reading the three full-length novels of the Gilded West series. I’m also excited to read her other older series (lots of Vikings!) as well as continuing her current Victorian-era series.
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
Why I Chose This Book:
Harper St. George has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I’ve read her full Gilded Age Heiresses series and am now in the middle of her Doves of New York trilogy. However, I’ve also been wanting to read all of her earlier works. Since she’s just republished the full Gilded West series, I’ll read all of these books, and based on The Runaway Heiress, I’m sure I’ll enjoy them all.
What I Liked:
- Sophie isn’t a simple damsel in distress. She’s on a mission to escape her unwanted marriage, one way or another!
- Gray has his own agenda… and though he keeps secrets, he has good reason to!
- Forbidden romance
- Escaping a horrible family member and equally bad future
Final Thoughts
This was my first time reading a historical romance set in the United States or in the American West. (My historical romances are usually in Europe!) It was fun to read this kind of love story set in a new setting for me, and I like how this set up the scene for the rest of the series. As always, I love Harper St. George’s writing style here.
The Runaway Heiress was an enjoyable and quick read, and I look forward to reading the three full-length novels of the Gilded West series. I’m also excited to read her other older series (lots of Vikings!) as well as continuing her current Victorian-era series.
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
January 23, 2025
This was my first Western historical romance, and while I love Harper St. George’s other gilded-age books, I wasn’t crazy about this one. I’m going to chalk it up to this being a novella as to why it didn’t really work for me and give one of her full-length Western historicals a chance before I write off this series.
March 15, 2025
I enjoyed the story and liked the characters.
There was a bit of the story in the middle that didn't seem right for a historic story. It seemed too out of place. But overall the story was pretty good.
I will be continuing with the series.
There was a bit of the story in the middle that didn't seem right for a historic story. It seemed too out of place. But overall the story was pretty good.
I will be continuing with the series.
February 20, 2025
On a whim I decided to read The Runaway Heiress by Harper St. George after doom scrolling too much and not having any of my books or e-reader with me, phone reading FTW. This is a re-release of a prequel novella. St. George mentioned on her IG that she just got the rights back to the Gilded West series (available now on KU)
This was a quick read following Sophie, the niece of a mine magnet in Montana. He's a cruel man and negotiates her engagement to one of his gross cronies. Meanwhile, Gray is an undercover spy pretending to be a gunslinger for this powerful man. Sophie and Gray connect as her wedding draws near but the stakes are high for Gray with an impending raid on her uncle's men. Enjoyable quick read! With the short page count it definitely leaves you wanting more details.
This was a quick read following Sophie, the niece of a mine magnet in Montana. He's a cruel man and negotiates her engagement to one of his gross cronies. Meanwhile, Gray is an undercover spy pretending to be a gunslinger for this powerful man. Sophie and Gray connect as her wedding draws near but the stakes are high for Gray with an impending raid on her uncle's men. Enjoyable quick read! With the short page count it definitely leaves you wanting more details.
October 11, 2016
This short did the job of introducing me to the author's writing style, which I liked. Felt the plot would have benefitted from a slightly longer word count (even 40 more pages would have helped) and this was a bit too Rescue Fantasy for my usual tastes - but it was a pleasant way to pass the time on my lunch break at work.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews