Amelia and the Outlaw [Paperback]

Lorraine Heath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 24, 2002

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

When Lorraine Heath received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her create believable characters-characters that are often describedas "real people." Her stories have been recognized with numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America's RITA, a HOLT medallion honoring outstanding literary fiction, and three Texas Gold awards.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; 1st Avon Ed edition (December 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060009144
• ISBN-13: 978-0060009144
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #949,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lorraine Heath always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals, press releases for a publicist, articles, and computer code, but something was always missing. In 1990, she read a romance novel and 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, for both adult and young adult readers (as Rachel Hawthorne). Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA(R), a HOLT medallion, a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, three Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and several Texas Gold Awards. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today, Waldenbooks, and most recently, the New York Times.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars amelia and the outlaw, December 26, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Shull (MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amelia and the Outlaw (Paperback)

i thought this was a great book and a great addition to the avon true romance series for teens. it was written by lorraine heath, the author of samantha and the cowboy.
it starts out when jesse lawton, the outlaw, is going to work off the rest of his sentence of robbing banks at judge harper's house. but then he meets judge harper's daughter, amelia and he thinks she's the prettiest girl he's ever seen. amelia is itching for excitement because her mother died when she was twelve and she can sense excitement in jesse. one of her father's rules is that she and jesse are never alone together, she purposely went against that rule and sought jesse out a lot. then he breaks her horse, duchess and she promised the winner a kiss and so she was going to kiss jesse, but only gave him a peck on the cheek. also added to the story is colleen, her servant, although she doesn't act like a servant, more as a friend, and amelia's older brother robert, likes her, but they are afraid to admit it. then it's amelia's birthday party, her 17th birthday and she dances with jesse alone in the yard and she kisses him!
then pete, jesse's old leader comes back and jesse is going to rob judge harper, or he'd hurt amelia. but jesse told amelia some things and to see waht happens read this book!
i thought this book went a little slow, but it was still really good.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the better Avon True Romances, June 19, 2003

By 

"celes1" (Havre de Grace, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amelia and the Outlaw (Paperback)

Jesse Lawton has been in jail for five years, arrested at the age of fourteen for robbing a bank. A new judge believes that Jessie's ten year sentence may be a bit to harsh and decided to let Jessie work off the rest of his sentence at his ranch. Jessie really doesn't want to mess up this second chance but when the judge's daughter, Amelia, takes an interest in him Jessie finds her hard to resist. The Judge is very protective of his daughter and if he catches them together he'll send Jessie back to jail.

This is one of the better Avon True Romances. The author focuses more on character development and romance than on the plot. The pacing is also very good. Jessie is a pretty likeable character. Amelia got on my nerves at first but I grew to like her. The romance was well done and enjoyable even though I never got overly attached to either of the characters. I look forward to reading Samantha and the Cowboy, another Avon True Romance by this author.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful new Avon True Romance., December 24, 2002

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amelia and the Outlaw (Paperback)

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.