Customer Reviews

Amelia and the Outlaw

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

When Jesse goes to live at the Harper Ranch to serve the remainder of his sentence for robbing a bank, he thinks that his life will be a breeze from then on. Wrong. Jesse takes an instant liking to the Judge's pretty daughter, Amelia. He is ordered to stay away from her, but he finds himself having deeper feelings for her.

This is a really cute romance and I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the setting (a ranch in Fort Worth, Texas) was really interesting and the characters were really likeable. Overall, the romance was sweet and cute and I would recommend it to anyone who was a fan of Avon True Romances or anyone who likes romance.

I actually really enjoyed this book. It was one of my two favorites. My first favorite was Samantha and the Cowboy. I really like the ones by Heath the best. But I did think that this one could have used a bit more action. I mean whenever the charactors got together they didnt really do a whole lot and lets face it! we are teen girls who are looking for a true, passonate romance not a little peck on the cheek! But I still really enjoyed this book!

Amelia and the Outlaw is another contribution to the Avon True Romance series aimed at teens. This time, Lorraine Heath, better known for her adult romances, tackles the story of an outlaw named Jessie, who has been given a second chance (second chance meaning that he can serve the rest of his time at the Judge's ranch instead of in the confines of prison). Once there, Jessie is stifled by the multitude of rules aimed his way (but what else should this character expect?) and is surprised at the advances the Judge's daughter continues to make.

I'm really not too impressed by this book. One of its greatest short-comings is Amelia. Spoiled, used to getting her way, unthinking of others, and prodding to the point of annoyance (that's all she does to Jessie), I was left wondering how he could have any feelings for this girl. Her father sets down a number of rules for Jessie to follow, attaching the added warning that should he break a rule, he'll be shipped back to prison and spend the rest of his time behind bars. Amelia knows this (specifically that one of the rules has to do with him staying away from her) but doesn't care; in fact, she views it with a flippant and light-hearted attitude. Again and again she corners Jessie (he tries to get her to leave him alone; "Didn't your father tell you to stay away from me," and "this could get me sent back to prison"), but Amelia never quits pushing.

She's seflish, is always thinking about what she wants (if it's not one kind of horse it's another, and if it's not a horse, then she wants information out of Jessie, or she wants to spend alone time with him even though it's been strictly forbidden, thus uncaringly endangering his freedom). And to really show what this character's like in the book's beginning (she lets off toward the end, say the last 30 pages, probably because Jessie begins to appease her), I'll add one of the most telling quotes. "So much for her worry that she'd feel bad sending a man to prison. She could send an outlaw like Jessie to prison with pleasure. He obviously didn't care about her troubles. For the next eighteen hundred days or so, she'd be certain to avoid him" (p. 89).

You might be wondering what that quote has to do with exactly. What did Jessie do that might have this girl wanting him back in prison? Basically, he blew her off, and all for the sake of avoiding being sent back to prison. She mostly has the same conversations with him throughout the book, one of which (pointing back to earlier quote) has to do with her father wanting to get rid of a horse that belongs to Amelia that cannot seem to be broken. While Amelia's bugging Jessie about this for the second time (almost the same conversation - verbatim - that she'd had with him before, and Jessie has just been reminded that his stay will not be permanent if he breaks certain rules), he decides to cut her short. Amelia reacts with the following quote and even tells Jessie that he doesn't care about anyone but himself (p. 88 for anyone curious). She's really a selfish brat who behaves like a sullen five-year-old, not a good thing for one of the protagonists in a romance novel (even one aimed at teens). This character, the numerous repeated conversations, her annoying way of bugging Jessie (why'd you rob a bank? Why'd you do bad things? Why? Why? Why?), and her selfish behavior (and she should just turn that one thing right back at herself - Amelia only cares about Amelia), ruin the story. And it's really difficult to read a story with a character like this.

Jessie himself isn't too bad, but it's also hard to believe that he could have any feelings whatsoever for Amelia. The happenings (especially in the last half of the story, when a plot finally shows up), are pretty predictable (I could have predicted what would happen at the end in the first few chapters) and the book itself is a time waster, and not in a good way. I do enjoy reading romances - well, let me rephrase that: I enjoy reading enjoyable romances. This is not one of them. I highly recommmend passing it up, but if you are curious, try to get it from the library.

Amelia Harper longs for the day she can do as she pleases. But that day will never come with an eagle-eyed judge as her father. Amelia is longing for adventure and when she sees an outlaw step out of the train she knows she's found it in Jesse Lawton. Jesse Lawton has served five of ten years in prison and now he has to spend the remaining time helping on the ranch. When he first sees Amelia he can't take his eyes off of her. But if he pays any mind to her he will get sent back to prison. Without meaning to Amelia forces Jesse between his freedom and his heart.
All books you will read will have good beginnings and endings. My favorite part of Amelia and the Outlaw started at Amelia's birthday dance. Since I don't want to give away the ending, I'll briefly tell you about the ending but not in detail. When I began reading about her birthday dance I was on the edge of my seat with suspense. When Amelia discovers Jesse's not at her dance she decides to go look for him..... STOP!! I won't tell you any more because there are lots of surprises. I hope I have convinced you enough to read this book because it is filled with suspense, adventure, true love and outlaws.

This was a sweet love story set in Texas in the 1800s. Amelia is the only daughter of a judge and since her mother died is overprotected by him and her older brothers. She wants more independence. Jesse is a young outlaw who has come to their ranch to work off part of his sentence. He wants to start a new life and leave his past far behind. Of course they fall in love but there are many obstacles in their way. Such a cute love story, I highly recommend it!

This book captured my attion for every moment. The fascinating story of Jessie Lawton and Amelia will capture your hearts!

This was the first Avon True Romance that I read. I loved it! The story is about Jesse Lawton, an outlaw sentenced to work on the new judge's ranch to finish the remainder of his ten year prison sentence. Immediately he is drawn to the judge's pretty daughter, Amelia. As innocent as she looks on the outside, this girl is willing to do just about anything to feel a little bit of freedom.
I thought that the romance was really sweet, but a little sugary sometimes. It really was enjoyable though. I laughed a lot and sometimes I wanted to cry. In the end, I would say this book deserves an A+!