Customer Reviews

An Outlaw For Christmas

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

 

 

I read this in the hopes it would be as good as Ms. Handelands werewolf moon series of books. It's not.

The heroine is sweet but extremely naive. She swore undying love from the start for the hero until she finds out he was an outlaw-then she dumped him quick.

But she never bothered to ask what he'd been doing for the last 10 years-even though he shows up at the beginning gut shot with no answer as to why????

The hero's mental "putting down" of himself got a bit grating after the dozenth or so time he does it. And I found the "I'm too dirty to soil the virginal heroine" very cliche and inmature.

All in all, I found the entire book depresing instead of uplifting.

No one was happy in this book-and all characters had no problem making others miserable or not taking anyone's feeling into consideration. You get the feeling that the hero and heroine are very disfunctional from their past as orphans-but frankly, they never mature, take responsibilty, stand up for themselves or grow up!

The sex scenes were played out as the only way the lovers could communicate-both interally thought like "I know I must love you, you make me so hot"-blah! The book slips into maudlin inplausibilty once Noah's past is revealed-I had to force myself to finish it-by the end I didn't care what happened to any of the characters-never a good sign:(

Was looking for better from Ms Handeland.
2 stars

Can you even imagine waiting faithfully for 10 years at Christmas Eve all by yourself?
That is what the little red-headed orphan girl, Ruth O'Leary did. As a ten-year-old little orphaned girl from New York she meets up with Noah Walker, a tough, from the streets of New York. Love blossomed for her and she must have touched Noah's soul for them to survive and meet again.

So many Christmas Eve's have passed and Sheriff Leon Harker is getting a bit angry because he wants Ruth and all that goes with her. The inheritable rights to Kelly Creek, ruled over and owned by Ruth's adopted father.

The good sheriff is about to leave on a hunt for the Kansas Gang lead by Billy Jo Kansas. One little item that Leon informed Ruth about the gang was that there were very few casualities. Ruth asks,"He doesn't shoot people?"
Leon answers "I didn't say that. From what I hear, he's big, intimidating, and he knows his business. -- And he's cautious. No one's ever seen his face ----"
[g] and then he asks Ruth to marry him. On, Boy, what a blunder!

The tone has now been set for the great and stirring reunion of Noah and Ruth. Oh boy, what wonders delirium works on an uninitiated girl. Of course Noah was a bit shocked when he realized he was not living a dream.

Ah, as time slowly slid by [in all that cold weather] papa Kelly offers Ruth and his legacy of Kelly Creek to Noah instead of Leon -- New Years party brings about the return of Leon and trouble and spiteful jealousy.

You have to read the rest -- It is a great moving plot and unfolds in the most excellent way -- the final chapter was a heartwrenching tribute to faithful, enduring love for Ruth and Noah.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M - a great keeper and addition to you library.

I enjoyed this book very much. When I bought it I had planned to put it in my to read pile, which is quite large. Something about it caught my attention - a promise to meet every year on Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve --- what a special day. I remember being young and naive and being able to forgive the one I loved anything if he would return the love I gave him. I had to read this book and enjoyed the story so very much. I laughed and smiled and cried. This one will have a spot on my keeper shelf - after I read it again.