Customer Reviews

Outlaw

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the second book I've read by Susan Johnson and it won't be my last. The author combines accurate historial detail (missing from so many historical romances)with a passionate and steamy love story. I much prefer the hero in this book to Adam Serre in Pure Sin. Adam never seemed to lose his cool reserve...while Johnnie falls head over heels for Elizabeth and the love between them is incredibly touching.

My only criticism of this book would be the hurried ending. The story seems to shift from J&E to his younger brother and Roxane (probably to pique interest for their book, To Please A Lady).

Highly recommended!

Do not believe the reviews that say this book is just about sex only! This book does have numerous hot, scorching love scenes, but that's only one of its good qualities. The hero is loyal, honorable, sincere, protective, stops at nothing to keep his heroine safe from harm & happy. About 1/2 way through the book, they declare their love for one another - this doesn't happen in most romances - in most of the ones I've read, the declaration of love is left for the last few pages of the book.

This book had a lot of historical detail, and it was clear to see that Susan Johnson put in time and effort on her historical tellings. The characters are people you care about, and I want to read Robbie's & Roxane's story very soon. It did not bother me that they were prominently featured in the last couple chapters of the book - at that point, Johnnie & Elizabeth weren't ready/able to have physical relations, so why not let Robbie & Roxane have a go at it? I thought it was brilliant.

Other characters I love are Redmond, Elizabeth's friend & former bodyguard, and Munro, Johnnie's cousin. I have no idea if either of these fellas has his own book or not, but I sure hope so!

Another thing I liked about this book was how Susan Johnson showed us that Johnnie was a hardened rake. She didn't just mention it in passing, she showed us scenes of him in the act. (And that role playing scene with one of his mistresses was super hot!). As far as Johnnie & Elizabeth's scorching love scenes went, I loved both the scenes with the dressmaker, the scene with the bedpost, and the scene with the jewel :)

This book had everything - romance, adventure, history, and erotic but not offensive love scenes. I didn't miss the fact that the book, for the most part, isn't technically 'funny'. If you are looking for an out & out humorous read, this isn't the book for you. And, this isn't a cookie cutter, milquetoast romance. This book was excellent, and on a scale of 1-10, it would be at least a 12 for me. Highly recommended. Earns its 5 stars and then some.

This is ine of the best SJ novels I have read, in fact my favourite after Brazen.
Johnie has a hard time commiting to Elizabeth and fools around with a lot of women in the first half, but once he marries Liz, becomes a devoted and faithful husband, and the story turns very romantic.
The only problem I had was with the last part of the book, as the attention shifts to Johnie's brother and his lover, who are the protagonists of the sequel to this novel.
Other than that, the book was very erotic as well as romantic.

I simply love this book it is by far the best SJ book I have ever read. The love between Johnnie and Elizabeth is so pure, sweet and sinful that I wish for my own Johnnie in real life. You can actually feel these two characters love each other very much. The sex scenes are very erotic. When Johnnie kidnapped Elizabeth on her wedding day was "amazing". Unlike many of SJ books that is just full of sex alone this books combines all sex,love,romance,etc. The only fault I found with this book is that the ending was so rush, the author seem to deviate from Johnnie and Elizabeth to Robbie and Roxane(Johnnie's brother). Otherwise this book is "great", if you love romance mixed in with erotic sex scenes, to die for men you must read this book.

I read this book before reading the reviews and have to say I'm surprized to see so many negative ones. This is my favorite Susan Johnson book - definitely one of her most romantic.

In typical Johnson fashion, this book sizzles from the beginning. It doesn't take long for the sexual attraction between the lovers to come to fruition. Yet their physical attraction deepens into a tender, passionate, very romantic love. The way Johnnie becomes such a devoted husband is very moving. The story itself is very engrossing.

Yes, the sex scenes are very erotic. But they are combined with such a romantic love between the two that it's not offensive.

Well worth reading.

After reading the other reviews I was pleasently surprised on how good this book was. The love story between Johnnie and Elizabeth is tender, moving and passionate. I never found myself getting bored with the story, it kept me enthralled. I must add, Johnnie is one STUD! I gave this book five stars because I am a picky reader especially when it comes to romance novels and this one was hard to put down! Give it a try you won't be disappointed!

SJ has been criticized for emphasizing creative (and some would say over-the-top) love scenes at the expense of romance. In this case, she seems to have veered too far in the other direction. Outlaw's characters are well-developed. The plot is convincing, fairly suspensful, and bolstered by excellent research- another of Johnson's trademarks. But, while the love scenes didn't lack for sweet, they certainly lacked spice. Also, the ending was unnervingly abrupt. After setting up a complex political intrigue full of legal traps, Johnson unravels it all in just a few pages. I'd love to see Johnson find a happy medium between this and some of her steamier, sexier work.

This is the second Susan Johnson book I have read - and I am very impressed with both -- the first being Sinful. She has a way of getting you immediately involved with the characters and you really appreciate how the rouge Johnnie had quite a life of fun sexual escapades before he meets Elizabeth and how all that changes once he falls in love for the first time. Since Elizabeth is English and Johnnie is a Laird of the Scots you realize how impossible this love affair will be -- but some times love conquers all and you are really cheering them on all the way. Great love story!!

So this was my biggest problem with this book.....I never liked Elizabeth and Johnnie at the same time. Let me explain.

Elizabeth starts out the book in a strong way. She is a wealthy, independent widow who knows what she wants. She isn't looking for a man to rescue her...she doesn't even want a man...until Johnnie. She falls for Johnnie pretty early on...is jealous of him and his mistresses from the beginning. I really liked her. However, after the point where Johnnie and her marry it's all downhill for Elizabeth. She becomes a whinny, dependent, insecure weakling...opposite from the woman she was at the beginning of the book. Not attractive.

Johnnie starts out the book as a complete rake/jerk/self-involved poor excuse of a man. He is hopping in and out of bed after bed with many different women. There is no heart, just a lot of sex....until Elizabeth. Johnnie is in lust with Elizabeth right away, which doesn't set her apart from any other woman, but he comes to care for her in unfamiliar ways. After he and Elizabeth marry, it's all uphill for Johnnie. He becomes a devoted, faithful, considerate husband...opposite from the man he was at the beginning of the book. Very attractive.

To bad I only liked half of each person's image in this book.

I liked this book. I like 'em hot, fun and exciting. This was also well done and kept me turning pages like a Lindsey or my Newest favorite "Anything, My Love" by Cynthia Simmons. A sizzling page turner. This was a good read and well written.