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To Trust an Outlaw

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A gang of bandits has captured Elizabeth Winterspoon, and a case of mistaken identity is the only thing keeping her safe for now. With no one else to turn to, she begins to accept the help that one outlaw has offered. Jonathan Russell hates deceiving Elizabeth, but the closer he gets to the truth, the more his cover can't be compromised. When he finds himself falling in love, his past comes back to haunt him. Will Elizabeth be able to truly forgive and allow the Lord to help her to trust an outlaw?

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 22, 2007

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104 people want to read

About the author

Rhonda Gibson

86 books80 followers
Rhonda Gibson lives in New Mexico with her husband James. She has two children and three beautiful grandchildren. Reading is something she has enjoyed her whole life and writing stemmed from that love. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, beading and playing with her dog, Sheba. She speaks at conferences and local writing groups. You can visit her at www.rhondagibson.net where she enjoys chatting with readers and friends online. Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.

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5 stars
30 (31%)
4 stars
33 (35%)
3 stars
28 (29%)
2 stars
3 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Lacy Williams.
Author 192 books1,285 followers
April 8, 2008
Elizabeth Winterspoon is mistaken for a banker’s daughter and abducted while on her way to her new teaching position. As long as the band of outlaws who kidnapped her believe they’ll get the ransom they’ve demanded, she’s safe. But what will happen to her once they find out she’s not the banker’s daughter?

Undercover US Marshal Jonathan Russell dislikes living a lie. It goes against his Christian morals. But what he hates even worse is the man responsible for his sister’s murder: Red, the leader of the outlaw gang he’s been able to infiltrate. Along with his partner Edward, and the camp cook Millie, Jonathan pledges to keep Elizabeth safe.

Forced to endure Jonathan’s company, Elizabeth finds herself inexplicably drawn to her “protector”. But after her father’s deceit and the cruelty of the outlaw men in camp, can Elizabeth open her heart to trust Jonathan?

Will Jonathan be able to give up his bitterness and guilt over his sister’s death? Will he be able to rescue Elizabeth and the others God has placed in his charge?

In a tale reminiscent of Janette Oke’s A Gown of Spanish Lace, Gibson takes readers on an unforgettable journey into the terror Elizabeth experiences upon her abduction and subsequent captivity in an outlaw camp.

Likewise, Jonathan’s emotions of bitterness, guilt, and his desire to reject the responsibilities put on his shoulders are dealth with in a believable way.

I have to also say that there are some unexpected twists in this story - like the number of times that Elizabeth tries to escape the outlaw hideout. Gotta love a spunky, stubborn heroine, and I did love Elizabeth.

This is a fun, romantic read that will brighten your day. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Megan.
1,736 reviews200 followers
November 1, 2015
To Trust an Outlaw was a good read, one that was very enjoyable while reading it. Is it one that was unputdownable? Not really, I read it pretty much straight through but could've easily put it down for a while. That being said, for such a short story it did pack quite a bit into it. I loved both Elizabeth and Jonathan, though some of their interactions seemed strange considering the circumstances. Millie was another character I liked, she brought a motherly feel to the story and I just enjoyed her. The ending was nearly perfect, , but everything else about it was so sweet and cute.
2,294 reviews83 followers
January 31, 2023
To Trust an Outlaw
Hearts of the West, Book 4
By Rhonda Gibson
Apr 12, 2020
5 stars
Christian Historical Romance

They both tell lies to save lives, but trust is hard won at the outlaw camp! Friendships make their stay bearable, but what does the future hold for them in the great unknown! This was a wonderful story about trusting God in the midst of great turmoil and uncertainty!
Profile Image for Anna Marie.
1,398 reviews2 followers
January 15, 2022
A book about trust, love, honor, and forgiveness.

There's Elizabeth, who has been taken by bandits for ransom... except she's not who they think she is.

There's Jonathan, who's an undercover marshall in the bandits' camp, trying to keep Elizabeth safe from the men while proving the leader is a murderer.

There's Millie, who was stolen and abused by the bandits, who is afraid her family won't want her back after she's been 'sullied'.

The story is an adventure, the scripture and faith real, and the writing sound. There wasn't a thing not to like about this one. It's a keeper.
Profile Image for Pattisue.
564 reviews
October 30, 2016
Mistaken identities, ruthless outlaws, and the Wild West all set the stage for an exciting story of romance and suspense. When Elizabeth Winterspoon is kidnapped and held for ransom, she must rely on her faith and learn to trust those who seem the least worthy. As she shares her faith in God and her light, she truly develops into the woman she is destined to become. She must look beneath the surface to find those that can help her survive. Jonathan holds the keys to her freedom if she will only trust him. He is seeking revenge not looking for love. Hiding his identity only makes his job that much harder.
The heartbreaking traumas Millie endures are truly the climax of the story. Her experiences broke my heart and added a depth and dimension to the drama. This is a surprisingly complex story of hope, faith, forgiveness, and retribution.
Profile Image for Rachel.
1,354 reviews13 followers
October 22, 2015
I found this to be a prototypical feel-good Christian romance. The good guy seems to have an unusually trustworthy position in the camp, which of course contributes to his freedom of movement and the eventual resolution. He is also a strong believer, and has the fear of the other outlaws. These points were distractingly unrealistic to me. Elizabeth herself is simplistic, trying to escape her circumstances in truly foolish and dangerous escapades. The ending is typically happily-ever-after. The good guys win and the bad guys get theirs. Not bad for a light read when you need to get your head out of your troubles.
242 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2015
Ok

This was very simplistic. It is short, so I didn't expect a whole lot of character development. The epilogue with its description of a modern wedding was just the last straw. But I brought the review up to 3 stars because it was clean, and it held my interest well enough that I finished it.
Profile Image for Lisa Rumley.
47 reviews4 followers
October 1, 2015
Happy ending!

Filled with despair and victories! Elizabeth and Millie survived horrible things being kidnapped. Jonathan and Edward saved them and with God in control they had happy endings!
3 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2014
ENJOYABLE

Well written, with wonderful history. I could picture the characters as well as the story setting. Thank you Rhonda it was entertaining!
35 reviews
May 26, 2016
Uplifting Story

Very good story and easy to read. So nice to read about how God can help people turn their lives around.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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