Genre: Historical, Western, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
The nineteenth century frontier is a harsh place, where would-be thief Emmett accidentally kidnaps the son of his nemesis, the young, privileged, and rather good-looking Archibald van Haeften. Emmett is determined to get his revenge against the van Haeften family – but he doesn’t expect Archie to be so sympathetic. And kind. And, yes, unsettlingly handsome, as well as sharing Emmett’s own proclivities. When Archie comes up with a daring heist idea of his own, Emmett has to decide whether to trust the heir – or whether he will be Emmett’s own last stand.
The Review
Someone has made a terrible mistake. Frederick Archibald Van Haeften Jr. has been kidnapped. He’s been mistaken for his father’s much older accountant, Coleman Ludwig. The blue bag with the ledgers gave Archie away.
When Archie was younger, his father feared he would be kidnapped, and did what he could to protect him. As he got older, he and his father had big disagreements and he disinherited Archie, but Archie continued to work for him. Now he has finished the business in Red Gulch, and he left no trail. No one will miss him, or know where he is.
When Marty and Stanton arrive at the out-of-the-way ranch in the Colorado Territory, Emmett and Lula realize the big mistake they made. After all, they aren’t really outlaws. Now, they have Archie, who’s unconscious with a head wound, and his shock of distinctive gray hair gives him away, too.
Lula is suspicious of Archie, and tries his best to get the men to turn on each other, but it just doesn’t work. Archie has a plan to escape, but he runs into the brick wall of the man in black, Emmett. As more things come to light, he realizes that Emmett wants one thing – the key that should be around Archie’s neck.
Emmett’s plan is to take Archie back to Red Gulch and get back what was taken from them by Archie’s father. Lula, Emmett’s sister, Stanton, and Marty are all at the far away ranch to help Harriet keep her the ranch up and running. She was swindled too.
Once Emmett and Archie reach Red Gulch, they open up to each other after a big argument. They find they both want the same thing. Archie reveals his plan to Emmett to commit the biggest heist ever. When all is said and done, Archie has one goal and that is to return to Chicago, to his mother that he loves very much. It would mean throwing everything away, but everyone will be safe, and though it might break his heart in the end.
The Heir and the Outlaw has a little bit of everything for an historical western. Butler knows how to spin a tale, and makes her characters both likable and enjoyable. Archie is smart and has had troubles with his father. His biggest concern is his mother, whom he is very loyal to. Emmett gets him to see another side to life. Although they are opposites, they find a way to come together.
I recommend The Heir and the Outlaw – the first time I’ve read a book from this author. It’s suspenseful, dramatic, emotional, and romantic, all wrapped around a fun heist story, an easy, quick read.
The Heir and the Outlaw can be read as a stand-alone, or found in an anthology: Wild Blue Yonder: A Collection of Three MM Cowboy Romance Stories, joined with two other stories by authors Augusta Connor and April Moritz.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
