Outlaw [Mass Market Paperback]

Ms. Crose's (aka Lisa Jackson) story "Outlaw" is a very moving historical romance that even ten years after it's original publication still entertains with its descriptive prose, larger then life characters, and a romance that's timeless.

Wolf is an outlaw. Years earlier his future was brutally stolen from him. He made a vow to achieve his revenge no matter the cost. He has planned long and hard and when his enemy marries he puts his plan into motion. He will kidnap the lovely Megan of Dwyrain he will take the one thing that was taken from him. But, Wolf does not count of the fiery lass awakening his heart. Will he be able to let her go once his revenge is met or will Megan tame the hurt and anger that is such a part of him and allow him to find peace?
Megan wants nothing to do with her marriage to Holt. Her life has been a tragedy since her run in with a sorcerer's prediction. Sadly her wedding day arrives and she is wed to a man she loathes. But, unbeknownst to her she is about to be captured in more ways then one. She wants to hate Wolf for what he's done but she can't deny the attraction that burns between them. Wolf is too honorable for an outlaw and when they finally share a kiss things are made more difficult then ever. Megan is married but she is falling in love with her captor. Will these two have a chance at a happy ending?

Megan and Wolf are wonderful, complex characters and Ms. Crose does right by them. Their relationship is not an easy one but the chemistry between them is almost palatable so the reader will feel truly connected. This is truly a wonderful "knight and damsel in distress" type romance that is neither trite nor predictable.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

This is the third in Jackson's medieval trilogy set in 13th century Wales (ENCHANTRESS, KISS OF THE MOON and OUTLAW). This one begins 10 years after the first one. I gave ENCHANTRESS and KISS OF THE MOON both 5 stars in my reviews, and this, the final installment, is also very good. I recommend reading the trilogy in order. In OUTLAW, Jackson ties up all the loose ends and brings the characters from the first two into the story for a dramatic and surprising finish. I'm giving OUTLAW 4 and 1/2 stars as I think it's not quite as good as the first two, but still highly recommended. The whole trilogy is a keeper.

We first met Ware of Abergwynn in ENCHANTRESS. He was the younger brother of Garrick, who lived in his brother's shadow. Then we encountered him as Wolf in KISS OF THE MOON, an outlaw who lived in the forest waiting until he could have his revenge on Tadd of Prydd, the man who cruelly took away his first love. When KISS OF THE MOON ended, Wolf took his revenge and then disappeared.

This story begins as a stranger in the forest, a man with a limp, heals Megan of Dwyrain's lame horse and tells her of the future that holds death and treachery for all those at Dwyrain. When she tells others of the man's vision, they believe it to be a curse of a sorcerer, and hold Megan responsible for what happens thereafter. Accidents and disease kill many at Dwyrain, and Megan's brother, younger sister and mother die, leaving only her and her sister, Cayley. Her ailing father decides Megan must wed and believes few will have her because they think she is cursed, so he betroths her to Sir Holt, one of his senior knights. Megan hates the man as he is ruthless and sadistic.

Meanwhile, Wolf is still living as an outlaw (by choice), focused on yet another man who will face his revenge. This time it's Sir Holt of Prydd, the knight now serving the Baron of Dwyrain and betrothed to Megan. Wolf's plan is to steal Holt's new bride, Lady Megan of Dwyrain, then ransom her. On the day of the wedding, after the ceremony is done, Wolf sneaks into the celebration disguised as a guest and abducts Megan. Really he's done her a favor as she loathes the cruel knight she was forced to marry. Once in the woods, camped with her and his men, Wolf realizes he is attracted to the girl and doesn't want to send her back, not even for ransom. And, Holt is angry as hell and looking for the outlaw.

Lisa Jackson's writing is superb, her feel for the medieval period is genuine, her plots are interesting and the characters are engaging. There were, however, a few plot developments in this one that bothered me:Wolf was smart and wise to Holt's cruelty, so he would not have sent his two men to Dwyrain as messengers claiming to come in peace expecting to be treated honorably; and at the end of KISS OF THE MOON, it seemed that Bjorn and Leah had fallen in love; now she's in a nunnery devoting herself to God. What happened?

I thought the second one in the trilogy was the best and the third not quite as good as the first two. That may be due to the heroines as Megan was not a strong as the first two, nor as interesting in the way of talents. But I definitely recommend this series and intend to read more of Jackson's medieval romances. Good historical romance authors who keep you up reading late at night, and wanting more when the story ends, are rare.

Here are Jackson's medieval romances in order within each series:

Welsh trilogy:

ENCHANTRESS
KISS OF THE MOON
OUTLAW

Dark Jewels series:

DARK RUBY
DARK EMERALD
DARK SAPPHIRE
DARK JEWELS

Medieval Romantic Suspense:

SORCERESS
TEMPTRESS
IMPOSTRESS

There's also the single novel she wrote in 2002 before the others, titled WILD AND WICKED. It's another 13th century tale.

This a wonderful story with intrigue, passion, romance, and a cast of unusual characters. Readers of mideival romances are sure to enjoy this light interesting novel.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews  4.0 out of 5 stars