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Lawless Love
A man ruled by his gun meets a woman led by her heart in bestselling author Rosanne Bittner's dazzling romance.
When Moss Tucker smelled danger he shot it. When he needed shelter he grabbed it. And when he wanted a woman's touch he bought it. But then he saw Amanda Boone's sparkling azure eyes—an innocent beauty like her would never get involved with a lawbreaking man like him.
Chestnut-haired Amanda tried to keep her gaze on the vast frontier that flashed past her train window—but it kept straying to the buckskin-clad stranger. Every inch of him was virile and strong. She knew it was wrong to even think of his muscular arms crushing her soft curves in a fierce embrace. Yet she vowed that before the trip was through he would be the one to tame her savage desire with his wild and lawless love.
"Bittner's characters spring to life...extraordinary for the depth of emotion with which they are portrayed."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Time after time, Rosanne...
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1985
93 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Rosanne Bittner
84 books623 followersI am a USA-TODAY best-selling author with 41 years, 76 books, and numerous writing awards behind me. My major genre is historical romance. I have always written for standard publishers but am now writing strictly for Amazon so I have more freedom to write real history. My most recent publication is SHADOW TRAIL, the 6th book in my Outlaw Hearts series. I also wrote and published my first full-length contemporary story, DANCING BENEATH YOU, in September 2022, a romance involving mystery and a depiction of reservation life in the Badlands of South Dakota. My best sellers are my SAVAGE DESTINY series (7 books) and my OUTLAW HEARTS series. See my website (www.rosannebittner.com) for details on all my books - most available for Kindle and in print. I am known for great love stories filled with real history and high emotion. I have also written many Native American stories, all based on real history.
I love American history. For those of you who have not yet read my books, my stories are generally set in the American West of the 1800s and feature vividly described, historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Many of my books portray the poignant history of our Native Americans, and though the characters are my own, I use real historical locations and events in all my novels. I have also written about the French & Indian wars, American Revolution, the War of 1812, the war with Mexico (the Alamo), and the Civil War.
National magazine ROMANTIC TIMES has called me the "Queen of Western Romance" and an "emotional powerhouse." My husband and I have traveled the west for nearly 40 years and I have visited just about every location mentioned in my books.
Visit my website at www.rosannebittner.com and my Facebook Author page. And be sure to join Rosanne Bittner's Heart of the West Street Team! Happy reading!
I love American history. For those of you who have not yet read my books, my stories are generally set in the American West of the 1800s and feature vividly described, historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Many of my books portray the poignant history of our Native Americans, and though the characters are my own, I use real historical locations and events in all my novels. I have also written about the French & Indian wars, American Revolution, the War of 1812, the war with Mexico (the Alamo), and the Civil War.
National magazine ROMANTIC TIMES has called me the "Queen of Western Romance" and an "emotional powerhouse." My husband and I have traveled the west for nearly 40 years and I have visited just about every location mentioned in my books.
Visit my website at www.rosannebittner.com and my Facebook Author page. And be sure to join Rosanne Bittner's Heart of the West Street Team! Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 15, 2019
November 2016 reread: still am so in love with Moss and his Mandy! Each reread draws me in tightly. Now that it's on my kindle, I have pages after passages after pages highlighted. So much good!!!
***
This book is another one of my top favs that will always have a home on my keeper shelf.
I absolutely adored Mandy and Moss's story - even if a few times my being outside the story made me see things they couldn't and make me want to knock them both out and grrrr at them! :) But I think that's why I loved it so much, cause despite that, I couldn't help but fall in love with them and understood where their reactions came from and why they did what they did. Moss quickly became one of my favorite heroes - and Mandy reminded me a lot of myself. The strength of their love for each other poured off the pages and kept me enthralled from the first page to the last.
EEK! Update: This is available on Kindle now!! Can't wait to do (yet another) reread!!
***
This book is another one of my top favs that will always have a home on my keeper shelf.
I absolutely adored Mandy and Moss's story - even if a few times my being outside the story made me see things they couldn't and make me want to knock them both out and grrrr at them! :) But I think that's why I loved it so much, cause despite that, I couldn't help but fall in love with them and understood where their reactions came from and why they did what they did. Moss quickly became one of my favorite heroes - and Mandy reminded me a lot of myself. The strength of their love for each other poured off the pages and kept me enthralled from the first page to the last.
EEK! Update: This is available on Kindle now!! Can't wait to do (yet another) reread!!
June 5, 2008
This book is one that I would never part with. The character, Moss Tucker is all man. He is vulnerable, torn, lost, lonely,rugged and I imagine extremely handsome. He risks everything for the woman that he loves. I have read this book 54 times. I laugh and cry in all the same places and from this book I believe that I have learned that if you are lucky, you can find someone who will love you with all of their being for the rest of your life.
March 5, 2016
Lawless Love is such a beautiful and inspirational love story. Rosanne Bittner never ceases to amaze me with her brilliant writing. Her ability to weave a true spiritual aspect into her books is a true gift. I fell in love with Moses and Amanda, their love and courage they shared and overcame together when faced with harrowing difficulty. This is another Bittner book that will live with me forever.
May 12, 2022
God Lord, this was terrible! Why I kept reading is beyond me. This was way too drawn out. A 22 year old woman that was raised by nuns, that’s never been out in the real world decides to travel across country on her own where she meets a man that’s 16 years her senior on a train and of course they fall instantly in love.
The rest of the story is one bad mistake after another with horrible things happening to both the main characters including having Moss leave his happy life once he has it to ride off with an ex love of his to help her.
This story was exasperating! I don’t enjoy reading about female characters who are one, weak and do nothing but cry and pray and two, men who still lust after an ex love when he’s lucky to have a good woman already, even if it’s about revenge.
The rest of the story is one bad mistake after another with horrible things happening to both the main characters including having Moss leave his happy life once he has it to ride off with an ex love of his to help her.
This story was exasperating! I don’t enjoy reading about female characters who are one, weak and do nothing but cry and pray and two, men who still lust after an ex love when he’s lucky to have a good woman already, even if it’s about revenge.
September 17, 2017
Long, boring and all together too much preaching
First off, this is a book about a 22yr old to be nun. Even knowing that, I wasn't expecting the amount of preaching and praying that occurs. This book could have been a third the length and still retained the story if only the lengthy descriptions of prayer were removed.
Finished, but I found myself skipping pages, not just paragraphs, all too often
First off, this is a book about a 22yr old to be nun. Even knowing that, I wasn't expecting the amount of preaching and praying that occurs. This book could have been a third the length and still retained the story if only the lengthy descriptions of prayer were removed.
Finished, but I found myself skipping pages, not just paragraphs, all too often
October 7, 2016
This was a really great read. Twists and turns I never expected came up in the novel. I really like Moss and Amanda. They were a great pairing. I also loved how the author handled their tragedies. I wish the h/h would have spent more time together in the novel, but the story was so good, I can't hold it against the author. What a great read.
July 31, 2016
Another winner
I have read many Rosanne Bittner books and this one rates toward the top. Full of the usual twists and turns along with unforgettable characters make this book hard to put down. Enjoy!
I have read many Rosanne Bittner books and this one rates toward the top. Full of the usual twists and turns along with unforgettable characters make this book hard to put down. Enjoy!
March 16, 2019
Moss and Mandy
There is not a better historical western romance author than R. Bittner. The only bad part about this book is that it ended. I would love a sequel to this story. I love heroes like Moss who are strong and fearless, yet so loyal and gentle with the right heroine.
There is not a better historical western romance author than R. Bittner. The only bad part about this book is that it ended. I would love a sequel to this story. I love heroes like Moss who are strong and fearless, yet so loyal and gentle with the right heroine.
January 4, 2017
This review is of “Lawless Love” by Rosanne Bittner.
The Story: Part #1: At the beginning of the book, we meet the heroine of the book, Amanda Boone, 22. Amanda is making a trip from New York-where she was raised in an orphanage-to San Francisco, California by train to become a teacher at a mission school there. Among the other passengers on the train is Moses “Moss” Tucker, 38, the hero of the book.Unlike Amanda, who is as pure as snow, Moss, is, well, less than that. Amanda and Moss meet and fall in love.
Tragedy, however, soon strikes as the train they are on is robbed by Rand Barker, an outlaw with a history with Moss, and his gang. Amanda is taken hostage, and Moss is shot and seriously wounded trying to save her. Moss eventually finds Amanda, but not before she has been defiled by Barker. Moss and a group of outlaw friends eventually find Barker and his gang and kill them all; however, there is a tragedy for Moss: he loses one of his friends and his left arm is gravely injured and has to be amputated. This leaves Moss feeling insecure and hurt, but he and Amanda rely on their love to help them through. They get married and settle in Utah with Moss’ daughter, Rebecca.
Part #2: Fast forward five years. Amanda, Moss and Rebecca are living in Utah on a ranch. Amanda works part-time as a teacher. Things are well for the Tucker family. Which, of course, means something will come along to challenge that happiness. That “something” is actually “someone”: Etta Graceland Landers, Moss’ ex-fiance, who cruelly jilted Moss and now seeks out Moss’ help in stopping her husband, Ralph, from forcing her off her land. Moss decides to help Etta-despite Amanda’s misgivings-for revenge purposes.
While Moss is in Wyoming fighting off Landers’ men-and the advances of Etta-one of Landers’ men is kidnapping Amanda. Moss and his cohorts win the battle against Landers, he gets Etta’s ranch and goes to Arizona to rescue Amanda. The Tuckers adopt a son and they and Becky live Happily Ever After.
Upside: As always, Ms. Bittner’s writing style is full and vivid. Moss and Amanda are fully developed characters who endure a lot of emotional, mental and physical pain, but survive and thrive. I also liked the fact that Ms. Bittner wrote a hero who wasn’t perfect ; she doesn’t write Moss as a cripple nor Amanda as a victim.
Downside: In addition to the usual misogyny that is in every one of her books, I REALLY didn’t like part of the storyline involving Ralph Landers, or, more accurately, Moss’ reaction. You’ll have to read the story to understand what I mean. There were also a few typos in my copy of the book.
Sex: Again, Ms. Bittner’s love scenes are far from inventive or erotic. They are just there.
Violence: Again, as usual, there is a crapload of violence. Assault, rape, shootings, stabbings, killings, hanging, there’s a little something for anyone who loves violence here.
Bottom Line: “Lawless Love” is not my favorite book by Ms. Bittner, but it’s still good, just not great.
The Story: Part #1: At the beginning of the book, we meet the heroine of the book, Amanda Boone, 22. Amanda is making a trip from New York-where she was raised in an orphanage-to San Francisco, California by train to become a teacher at a mission school there. Among the other passengers on the train is Moses “Moss” Tucker, 38, the hero of the book.Unlike Amanda, who is as pure as snow, Moss, is, well, less than that. Amanda and Moss meet and fall in love.
Tragedy, however, soon strikes as the train they are on is robbed by Rand Barker, an outlaw with a history with Moss, and his gang. Amanda is taken hostage, and Moss is shot and seriously wounded trying to save her. Moss eventually finds Amanda, but not before she has been defiled by Barker. Moss and a group of outlaw friends eventually find Barker and his gang and kill them all; however, there is a tragedy for Moss: he loses one of his friends and his left arm is gravely injured and has to be amputated. This leaves Moss feeling insecure and hurt, but he and Amanda rely on their love to help them through. They get married and settle in Utah with Moss’ daughter, Rebecca.
Part #2: Fast forward five years. Amanda, Moss and Rebecca are living in Utah on a ranch. Amanda works part-time as a teacher. Things are well for the Tucker family. Which, of course, means something will come along to challenge that happiness. That “something” is actually “someone”: Etta Graceland Landers, Moss’ ex-fiance, who cruelly jilted Moss and now seeks out Moss’ help in stopping her husband, Ralph, from forcing her off her land. Moss decides to help Etta-despite Amanda’s misgivings-for revenge purposes.
While Moss is in Wyoming fighting off Landers’ men-and the advances of Etta-one of Landers’ men is kidnapping Amanda. Moss and his cohorts win the battle against Landers, he gets Etta’s ranch and goes to Arizona to rescue Amanda. The Tuckers adopt a son and they and Becky live Happily Ever After.
Upside: As always, Ms. Bittner’s writing style is full and vivid. Moss and Amanda are fully developed characters who endure a lot of emotional, mental and physical pain, but survive and thrive. I also liked the fact that Ms. Bittner wrote a hero who wasn’t perfect ; she doesn’t write Moss as a cripple nor Amanda as a victim.
Downside: In addition to the usual misogyny that is in every one of her books, I REALLY didn’t like part of the storyline involving Ralph Landers, or, more accurately, Moss’ reaction. You’ll have to read the story to understand what I mean. There were also a few typos in my copy of the book.
Sex: Again, Ms. Bittner’s love scenes are far from inventive or erotic. They are just there.
Violence: Again, as usual, there is a crapload of violence. Assault, rape, shootings, stabbings, killings, hanging, there’s a little something for anyone who loves violence here.
Bottom Line: “Lawless Love” is not my favorite book by Ms. Bittner, but it’s still good, just not great.
February 21, 2022
This novel was written in 1985; a day when homosexuality was condemned. This book reflects that; if you are offended, do not read it. However, it is a minor part of the story and it doesn't come up until the second half of the novel.
Amanda Boone is traveling on a train to California. She has completed her work to become a nun but is waiting until getting to the mission (where she is to teach) before making a final decision. Incredibly, the Church has given her a valuable crucifix to take to the mission. She has no one to accompany her and she is timid. She is an orphan who lived her whole life in a New York City orphanage. This is her first trip anywhere and she's nervous.
Seasoned and a dangerous man, Moss Tucker notes the shy woman on the train and befriends her. When the train is robbed, the men decide to kidnap Amanda and sell her in Mexico. They also take the crucifix. Moss is seriously wounded trying to stop the kidnapping. This is just the beginning of a tremendously entertaining story. This novel has an incredible number of twists and turns. It is a stand-alone story; it will be hard to forget this novel and its characters soon. Overall score = 4.5 stars.
Amanda Boone is traveling on a train to California. She has completed her work to become a nun but is waiting until getting to the mission (where she is to teach) before making a final decision. Incredibly, the Church has given her a valuable crucifix to take to the mission. She has no one to accompany her and she is timid. She is an orphan who lived her whole life in a New York City orphanage. This is her first trip anywhere and she's nervous.
Seasoned and a dangerous man, Moss Tucker notes the shy woman on the train and befriends her. When the train is robbed, the men decide to kidnap Amanda and sell her in Mexico. They also take the crucifix. Moss is seriously wounded trying to stop the kidnapping. This is just the beginning of a tremendously entertaining story. This novel has an incredible number of twists and turns. It is a stand-alone story; it will be hard to forget this novel and its characters soon. Overall score = 4.5 stars.
May 13, 2025
I wish the book would just end at part 1 and not have part 2 continuing. This book is a lot to take in and I absolutely how gripping the story was with Amanda’s and Moses’s love story up until that bitch Etta came crawling back into Moses and tempted him in every way possible until he succumbed to it and cheated on Amanda! Bloody hell I was so enraged it breaks my heart that Moses was so weak! Amanda deserved way way better than having a man not strong enough to hold on to his vows. I am sorry that as much as I love this book but my damn sensitive heart just can’t handle cheating!! i also wish there is an epilogue at the end though. Other than that, a very gripping story that I have no wish to revisit due to some TWs. Two minus stars for that.
October 3, 2017
Too much
Too much angst- how many times can a couple face disaster and triumph ?
Also loses stars for lazy use of gay man as villain. Yes I know it was frowned on then but to make that an integral part of him being bad is no longer acceptable.
Also good old Moss came far too close to being unfaithful in my view. Not her best.
Too much angst- how many times can a couple face disaster and triumph ?
Also loses stars for lazy use of gay man as villain. Yes I know it was frowned on then but to make that an integral part of him being bad is no longer acceptable.
Also good old Moss came far too close to being unfaithful in my view. Not her best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 15, 2019I like this book
I think l already read this book, All Rosanne's books are good reading wondering what happens next.Moss is a strong tough man fall in love with Mandy,All kinds things happen.
I think l already read this book, All Rosanne's books are good reading wondering what happens next.Moss is a strong tough man fall in love with Mandy,All kinds things happen.
November 16, 2025
Lawless Love by Rosanne Bittner
Another of Rosanne Bittner's books. It was hard to put it down. Household chores were ignored as I became so into this story. Different happenings that took the story in different directions.. I hope Rosanne Bittner never stops writing..
Another of Rosanne Bittner's books. It was hard to put it down. Household chores were ignored as I became so into this story. Different happenings that took the story in different directions.. I hope Rosanne Bittner never stops writing..
February 24, 2021
3.5 stars. It was lengthy but well written.
Want to read
May 20, 2022Kindle books identical per R. Bittner’s Facebook group
April 3, 2025
3.5 stars
I really don’t think this needed to have a part 1 and part 2 but whatever
I really don’t think this needed to have a part 1 and part 2 but whatever
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews