On the surface, it would appear that Evelyn “Evie” Perkins married well, her husband Matthew is rich, attentive and handsome. But the reality is far different, Evelyn’s husband is abusive and beats her without mercy, he controls every aspect of her life and has successfully separated her from her friends and family. Finally at the end of her rope, Evie forms a plan and escapes.

She heads west, but knows better than to go to her brother or her friends, as she is sure that is the first place Matt will check. Instead she plans to go to California and disappear into one of the large cities – but that plan is out the window when her train is stopped and boarded by outlaws clearly looking for someone – when asked her name, she lies and gives another passenger’s name and as luck would have it – that is the person they are kidnapping! She is taken without her possessions and knocked out. When she wakes, she is at the outlaw’s camp and they realize that they have taken the wrong woman. Unable to risk taking her back, they will take her to their leader, Luke and let him decide how to handle it.

One of the men, Gabe, is kind to her and sees to her comfort and is assigned to taking her to Luke. She is surprised at her attraction to him and finds that while she is wary of him, she isn’t afraid. Gabriel “Gabe” Sloane is a Cheyenne Indian who has been riding with Like for years but still feels out of place. He was taken as a boy and raised by missionaries, but when he was older and escaped, found that he no longer fit in with his family. That is when he met Luke and began “working” with him. Gabe is a quiet man of few words, he is also surprised at his immediate attraction to Evie, who tells him her name is Eve. He protects her on the trail and when he learns the extent of the abuse she endured at Matt’s hands – he knows he would lay down his life for her.

This was a very emotional story with strong abuse triggers as well as adultery that may be upsetting for some readers. I personally thought Ms. Sandas handled the physical abuse as tactfully as possible and wasn’t overly graphic in her descriptions, but nevertheless, be warned if that sort of thing is difficult for you to read. I loved Gabe and Evie, but I did have a problem with the adultery – I hated her husband and wished him a painful and slow death – but she was married to him while she was will Gabe and that sort of thing bothers ME. I also felt like the end was a whirlwind and ended too abruptly – Since this is the last book in the series, I really feel like this book should have had an epilogue to get some closure with Evie and Gabe as well as Courtney, Dean, Alex and Malcolm.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

This is not the first book by Amy Sandas I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and it won’t be the last. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, to read and review, I eagerly accepted, anticipating another fantastic romance. I was not disappointed! My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

This book is exactly why I love historical romances set in the west. Between the emotionally-charged writing and the slow build of sexual tension, it is a shining example of what I expect in this genre. The pacing is outstanding, keeping me glued to my Kindle from the first page to the last. Is that not why one chooses to read in the first place?

Evelyn Perkins is an amazing heroine, one that I quickly fell in love with. She is brave and determined and takes a chance on gaining her freedom from her abusive husband when the opportunity arises. Then when she is kidnapped from the train, she again doesn’t give into the despair and hopelessness of her situation. She remains calm and thinks logically under that pressure. This is definitely a heroine to admire!

Gabriel Sloan’s character immediately drew me in, making me want to know more. His gentleness toward Evelyn, even though he was one of her captors, intrigued me. As the story progresses, I only fell further enmeshed in his character. His back story called to me. I could feel his pain and rejection at the loss of his family and his tribe at such a young age. His tender care of Evelyn from the start is worthy of an outstanding hero.

The romance is delicately nurtured. While I normally would find it difficult to enjoy a romance that involves a married woman with a hero other than her husband, it was clear from the start that the evil wretch was no husband, even if they had been wed. I could fully understand why she became so drawn to Gabe. I would have as well. She needed his gentleness as a wounded bird needs tender care. She thirsted for someone who would understand her and love her.

This is a romance that will have you rooting for the main characters and cheering when the evil husband receives his just desserts. The Outlaw’s Heart is a book that I will want to read again and again and will definitely remain on my keeper shelf. Ms. Sandas is an incredibly talented author, and she is now one of my auto-buys without even reading the book description. Her name alone will have me clicking. Happy reading!

The Outlaw's Heart is the third book in the Amy Sandas Runaway Brides series. I really enjoyed the first two books and found this one to be just as lovely. I'm thinking it may be the last of the series, though I can't say for sure. If it is, it was a great way to conclude the adventures of the runaway brides. I will warn you that this book may be a trigger for some, as it deals with spousal abuse.

Evelyn Perkins is a socialite living in Boston with her husband Matthew. To say he isn't a very nice man would be a gross understatement. He severely abuses his wife, and basically cuts her off from her family and friends. She reaches the point that she believes Matthew will go too far and kill her, so she plots her escape and boards a train to travel West. The train is boarded by outlaws; afraid they were sent by her husband to capture her, she gives the outlaws her seatmate's (who was in another car at the time) name. Unfortunately, it was her seatmate that they were intending to kidnap! She refuses to tell them who she is. At their camp she meets quiet, hulking, handsome Gabriel, a Native American who has his own sad past. The two of them travel alone to meet the outlaws back at their bunkhouse, and they begin to forge a bond.

This was truly a touching romance between two almost broken, but ultimately strong people. Gabriel was taken from his tribe as a child and given to "missionaries" who mistreated him. When he went back to his tribe years later, he didn't feel like he belonged there anymore. He kept to himself and didn't let anyone really get to know him, until he felt a special connection with Eve. Though severely abused, Eve showed that she actually had a backbone of steel. There isn't much talking between our hero and heroine as they mainly communicated with looks. There is a lot of internal introspection here. If that's not your thing, you may be a little disappointed. Stick with it, however, as it leads to a wonderful conclusion.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is the romance story between Eve and Gabriel. Eve is married and due to abuse has run away from her husband. The abuse was written with a bit too many details for my taste. I certainly don't blame her for leaving.
There is a lot of details that I won’t ruin the story about, but Gabriel takes Eve under his wing and provides her the protection she needs as she worries that her husband will find her. These two are not talkers so they actually get along very well. The pace of the story is slow and steady with sparks of intrigue sprinkled throughout. I enjoyed the story and enjoyed their interactions leading to their happily ever after.
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

In Amy Sandas’ The Outlaw’s Heart, Evelyn Perkins has made a desperate attempt to escape an abusive marriage by sneaking away and catching a train to the western states. In Wyoming, her train is boarded by outlaws. Evelyn assumes they are coming for her and gives a false name, the name of the seatmate that disembarked earlier. Wrong move - the outlaws were looking for the seatmate.

The Outlaw’s Heart starts off quickly. In the prologue, we see the physical abuse Evelyn has suffered at the hands of her husband, and that she knows that if she doesn’t escape soon, she will be killed. She gathers her courage and some of her husband’s money and makes her escape, only to be taken from the train a few days later by bandits. At first, Evelyn is convinced that the outlaws were sent by her husband to find and return her, but it soon becomes obvious to them – and Evelyn - that they have the wrong woman.

Gabriel Sloan is Native American but was taken from his tribe as a child and raised by missionaries. When he tried to return to his home, he realized he was too different to remain with them, so he is a man without a family - until he is befriended by Luke, the leader of the group of outlaws. Gabriel volunteers to take Eve to Luke to see what should be done about her, assuring her she will not be harmed, and Eve, who has seen evil up close, she senses that the outlaws are being honest with her. She is still afraid they may ransom her to her husband, but she feels her best chance is to go along to meet this Luke and ask for her freedom and help finding her way further west.

Gabriel and Eve begin a long, hard, cold journey to the outlaw’s base camp. Eve goes along without fighting - she feels like she can trust Gabriel with her safety - at least until they reach Luke. Her choices are limited at this point - her money is gone, she has no idea where she is, and she fears her husband may learn about a fair-haired young woman taken from the train and realize it was her. On their long journey, Gabriel is overwhelmed by anger when he inadvertently sees the scars Eve’s husband has made, but is also filled with admiration at her undaunting courage. When they reach the base, Eve’s worries are put to rest when Gabriel speaks with Luke. He understands her situation and will let her stay with them until it makes sense for her to move on. It turns out they are a bit like Robin Hood’s gang.

Gabriel and Eve fall in love along their journey but keep these feelings to themselves. Eve is recovering from her traumatic marriage and there are demons in Gabriel’s life as well. But they are drawn to each other and the attraction continues to grow and bloom once they arrive at the  camp. Can they break through each other’s shells - and can they evade Eve’s husband forever?

Eve is full of a courage she did not know she possessed and I liked her determination to survive. She never panics, she just puts her head down and moves forward. Gabriel is a man of few words but deep feelings and great compassion. He is continually facing prejudice and the crushing feeling of displacement, but he, too, is determined to make the most of his situation. They are both quiet people and their actions are their dialogue; they learn to read each other’s moods and movements long before they start having more serious discussions. Early on, I was concerned that Eve’s feelings for Gabriel were in the vicinity of Stockholm Syndrome but that thought dissipated quickly. The botched kidnapping quickly turns to assistance and Eve never feels threatened by Gabriel or the gang. Although it wasn’t her first choice, she makes the choice to stay with Gabriel and take her chances with the gang.

The Outlaw’s Heart has some very slow-moving parts interspersed with fast action scenes, and there is more introspection than dialogue between Eve and Gabriel, which will definitely turn some readers off. I was fine with it because Ms. Sandas does a lovely job giving us deep insight into each characters’ thoughts. Also, it is very much in character for both of them to keep their thoughts and emotions private, so it worked for me. There is also not much physical action until the last quarter of the book - again fine with me because it suited the situation perfectly. Eve had to come to realize that she was not truly married as her husband had violated all the laws of matrimony, and Gabriel gave her the space and time she needed to decide what she wanted.

I had a few issues with the storyline. I wanted to know more about why the gang had planned to kidnap a woman in the first place. We are given a short explanation but there is clearly more to the story - which makes me wonder if Ms. Sandas is planning to make Luke the hero of a future novel (good plan!). I also had a hard time buying the location of Eve’s brother and then her friends. The West is a big place, with – at that time - few communication options. I had to allow Ms. Sandas a little creative license here.

All in all, The Outlaw’s Heart was a good read. I enjoyed the quiet pace and the beautiful descriptive writing detailing Eve and Gabriel’s travels, and I enjoyed being a voyeur to their budding romance. This is the third and final book in the Runaway Brides series but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Readers of the series, fans of Ms. Sandas and of slow-burn, cowboy romance will enjoy The Outlaw’s Heart.

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Book Info
Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: October 29th 2019 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1492652032 (ISBN13: 9781492652038)
Series Runaway Brides #3
Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB

Three runaway brides
Determined to escape their fates
Flee West to find freedom that can only be had
in a cowboy's arms...

Desperate to escape an unhappy marriage, Boston socialite Evelyn Perkins flees west in hopes of losing herself to the dusty frontier. But when her train is boarded by outlaws, Evelyn is taken for ransom. Despite her terror, Evelyn fears being returned to her husband more. Refusing to co-operate, she becomes the responsibility of a man whose steady gaze threatens to pierce her brave façade and reach the wounded heart within.

Gabriel Sloan has his orders, but the haunting shadows in the pretty young woman's eyes spark an intense protective instinct he can't deny. Every look, every touch brings them closer together. He would do anything to protect her, but dangerous men are on their trail, and soon the two must face Evelyn's darkest nightmare―or risk losing the unexpected joy they've found forever...
My Thoughts

Having read book 1 with Alexandra and Malcolm then missed reading book 2 with Courtney and Dean was happy to get the chance for reading this 3rd book of the series with Evelyn and Gabriel.

All three of these western romances feature men and women who may be mismatched to the eyes of society at the time but in the western society in which they meet the couples have a better chance of actually becoming more in tune with each other.

The men are unconventional heroes to be sure but to the women whose hearts they capture they are exactly what is needed for their happily forever after!

Such is proved once more with former Boston socialite Evelyn Perkins and current outlaw Cheyenne born Gabriel Sloan as over the course of this story the man who was once solely one of her kidnappers becomes her confidant, friend, fierce protector and more importantly the love of her life.

From a sheltered existence to what amounted to time spent in her own personal nightmare to a new way of life far from polite society Evelyn Perkins has finally found what she needed most, acceptance for herself without reservations or unreasonable demands and complete safety.

From a once-new-to-me author in the western historical genre Amy Sandas is quickly earning her place amongst my go-to authors to read.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

This is a very slow burner romance with way too much internal interaction, in my opinion. As the other two books, this is almost like a clean romance. There is not a lot of sex scenes in here. The author does a good job depicting the West. It's good to read the other 2 books in the series to follow the other women in their journey to happily ever after.
I voluntarily reviewed this ARC and the opinions expressed here are all mine.

I just really enjoyed this book. It was just really easy to get lost in this book. I just couldn’t get enough of it and didn’t want it to end. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Talk about, out of the fire and into the frying pan. Eve proves repeatedly just how strong willed she is.
Gabriel shows Eve his quiet calmness. Slowly she starts to trust him, to most everyone's surprise. I enjoyed reading, The Outlaw's Heart.

Evelyn Perkins and Gabriel Sloan find love in book 3 of the Runaway Brides series, a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating historical romance with sizzle.
I enjoyed the storyline and how mistaken identity leads Evelyn on her journey as she flees from an abusive marriage. Although Gabriel is a man of few words, Evelyn has no problem understanding him. They both mesh as they learn to love, trust and respect each other.
Great writing, with action, romance and sizzle. Look forward to more from this author.
I received a copy of this story through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

The Outlaw's Heart is book 3 in the Runaway Brides series and was an ok read for me. I have recently started enjoying Western Romances and I love when the H is a native, so I was very excited when I read the description of this book. Unfortunately while it started pretty strong and grabbed my attention it didn't last long because the pacing was so brutally slow that it was hard to enjoy. There is so much inner dialogue that it was hard to connect to Eve and Gabriel. They finally get together towards the end and actually start to have conversations with each other which was awesome because they made a great couple but it all just felt so rushed that I felt cheated. There is no Epilogue which is definitely a pet peeve of mine. I want a glance into the future but instead I'm left with so many questions and no answers. Overall the writing was good but I don't think this author is for me.

I tried to enjoy this but I found it a little slow for me, I like things to move and I kept finding myself stopping and starting over.. I was happy that Eve' was able to runaway from her horrible abusive husband, I always root for someone like this that had the strength and willingness to get away from that situation. She ends up being kidnapped by some outlaws who had nothing on her tyrannical husband and were better than him..

This western romance is cloyingly sweet on the surface; delve any deeper and it is just plain bland. The prologue reveals far too much too quickly; it would have been better to cut it entirely while allowing the narration to slowly reveal Eve's past. Putting everything out in the open right away took away any element of intrigue to Eve's story. Perhaps her abuse was meant to add a darker element to the story, but it came off as melodramatic and inauthentic. Eve and Gabe are both perfectly nice people, but their story is boring! There was a whole lot of low growling in throats and tightening of muscles, but they had zero chemistry. Their connection to one another develops inexplicably quickly; the two barely exchange any words before Gabe catches himself thinking of Eve as "his woman." There was also a lot of introspective narration when all I really wanted was for the two to have meaningful dialogue that would allow their relationship to deepen organically and by realistic degrees.

I still love Amy Sandas because she's capable of writing truly enjoyable and entertaining romances (The Gunslinger's Vow, Luck is No Lady) but this not one of her well-crafted romances.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.75/5. This heroine differs from the preceding two in the series because she starts the book as a runaway bride already, the bride of a cruel and sadistic husband. Eve's only aim was to get as far away from Boston's high society and her husband's tyrannical clutches. She got as far as to Wyoming where a case of mistaken identity leads to her kidnapping by a gang of outlaws. After surviving her husband's reign of terror, these crims have nothing on her especially when they turn out to have far more conscience and honour than her husband ever did.

As a Native American forcefully taken from his biological family at a young age, Gabriel has never been able to fully fit in anywhere. This outlaw gang is as close as he allows himself to get to anyone and even then, he prefers to keep himself apart from the group, communicating sparingly on an as needed basis. Silent observation is what he does best and in doing so, he finds Eve an intriguing contradiction, this fragile beauty but with almost unlimited strength and resilience. Like him, she too is less than verbally forthcoming, seemingly hiding a wealth of information behind her shuttered eyes and tethering a fine line between bravery and sheer terror.

The author is getting more comfortable in the Western genre as this series progresses. There were coincidences galore (view spoiler) which made Wyoming seem like a little incestuous rural hamlet, where everyone was related to everyone. However, overlooking these, the writing was good, the spiritual connection between Eve and Gabe quite convincing and their eventual physical union appropriately delayed.


"You slept well?" he asked Eve in a low, almost intimate tone.
She nodded.
"Talk to Luke?"
"Yes."
After a moment when he seemed to be searching for something in her eyes, Gabriel dipped his chin in what could have been acknowledgement, then strode toward the hallway that led to Luke's office.
As soon as the sound of his steps receded, Johnny gave a choked little chuckle. "Holy shit, I've never in my life seen two people say so much with so few words."

In a subgenre filled with Disgraceful Dukes and Sexy Rakes (not that there's anything wrong with that!), it's nice to find other eras and locations represented in Historical Romance. Being a big fan of this time period, I had high expectations. And Sandas delivered. While the plot was pretty standard, it was the characters that really jumped off the page. It was also refreshing to see a Native American hero get his HEA. I definitely recommend this title, and am off to find the other 2 books in the trilogy (while keeping my fingers crossed that the other outlaws find their HEAs).

Evelyn Perkins cannot go on being abused by her husband. She knows that it is only a matter of time before he kills her. Evelyn heads west to escape his clutches, but soon finds herself in a heap of trouble when she lies about her identity. Evelyn has been kidnapped by outlaws. Although, she's in an untenable situation, Evelyn has survived worse.

Gabriel Sloan assumes the task of getting Evelyn, or "Eve" as she calls herself, back to their hideout. The trip will be grueling, but it's necessary to avoid detection. It's clear Eve is running from someone, and when Gabe realizes why, he swears then and there to guard her with his life. Although, he is used to being an outsider, due to his Native American heritage, Gabe finds himself opening around Eve. Will he be able to let her go when the time comes?

Author Amy Sandas' highly addictive RUNAWAY BRIDES series consists of three novels to date, THE GUNSLINGER'S VOW, THE COWBOY'S HONOR and THE OUTLAW'S HEART. Each story revolves around one of three young women, who are friends, journeying to the West. It's easy to see why Ms. Sandas is becoming one of my favorite historical romance/western writers. THE OUTLAW'S HEART gets a full on 5 star rating from me! Gabriel "Gabe" and Evelyn "Eve" are both such complex and strong characters. What they have overcame is simply remarkable, It has shaped them into the amazing people they are now. Together, they are able to heal one another, and their love springs eternal. THE OUTLAW'S HEART is keeper shelf material! I highly recommend reading the whole RUNAWAY BRIDES series.

A beautifully moving story about 2 lost souls finding each other. This is the third book in a series, but I did not feel I missed anything since this is my first book by this author. Filled with adventure and romance, it had me hooked from page 1. Even though there is not a lot of dialogue between the H and h, (a meaningful glance, a heartfelt touch …) the story is told in dual POV which I loved since you don’t get a lot of verbal cues of their thoughts and feelings otherwise. I would have liked an epilogue since the ending as is felt rushed but it has definitely hooked me into wanting to read more from this author!

The hero and heroine are both quiet people. This results in pages and pages of descriptions and inner dialogue without any actual dialogue. That’s just not my cup of tea. The plot was engaging enough but I need my characters to speak more!

This was my first Amy Sandas and I will probably give her another try in the future.

Amy Sandas offers readers a tale of innocence lost. And strength, freedom, and a love meant to endure all that would come to test it found. In The Outlaw's Heart. The third offering in her Runaway Brides series. And this reviewer's first encounter with her as an author.

Evelyn's story of abuse and escape was one that proved nothing less than riveting from word one.
But as the story progressed. With her consequent mistaken identity and kidnapping. I was sure that she would be harmed in some way. Or at least find herself back in the hands of her abusive alcoholic of a husband.

That was of course until she and Gabriel met in front of the outlaw campfire.
And he saw her fear, strength, and desperation to simply be free.
Emotions which called to longings within his own soul. Triggering memories of his own captivity, alienation, and quest for autonomy.

Though Evelyn's transition from battered wife, to fugitive, to captive, and finally to love interest happened quite rapidly. The sheer seamlessness of each progression locked in perfect step with like forward momentum in the storyline.
Drawing clear lines in the proverbial sand between the adventurous and romantic aspects of the tale. With none taking precedence over the other.

Speaking of romance. Can we just take a moment to admire the quiet, patient, and beautifully compassionate, leading man that is Gabriel.
As a man ripped away from his family at a young age. Having lived a life marred by scorn, ostricazion, abuse, and fear. To then turn such a quiet and often unspoken understanding toward his leading lady.
Simply phonominal.
In Gabriel's presence, Evelyn knew that she would always find safety.
Whether with in on horseback. In the seclusion of his valley cabin. Or protected by the warmth of the man himself.
Evelyn was never unsure of her value to him as a person, a woman, or a soul.
Seeing these two together was nothing short of a study of symbiosis. With a simple glance or touch conveying more depth of emotion than words could ever dare.
Long before any physical advances toward carnality were even a thought.
Theirs is a romance that is more of a joining of souls. A joining so profound that the joining of bodies; no matter how wondrous, pales in comparison.

This is a beautiful testament to the healing and fortifying power of true love. And what the gift of storytelling can bring to life. When exercised by an author talented enough to wield it.

Reviewer's Note: This is the third volume in a related series. It may be read as a standalone. Although it is strongly suggested that it be read as part of its intended collection.
I would like to thank Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgally for the opportunity to review this book.