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The Outsider

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 496 ratings · 66 reviews

After Rachel Yoder's husband is murdered by outlaws in an act of outrageous greed, she must raise her 10-year-old son alone on the Montana Plains. One day, a handsome stranger dying from a gunshot wound walks into her ranch. With simple kindness, she treats his injury and nurses him back to health. Soon Rachel finds herself drawn to this mysterious outsider with a violent...more

Paperback, 560 pages

Published August 1st 1997 by Vision (first published 1996)

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Aug 11, 2012 Crista rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star, favorites, western, tear-jerkers, tortured-heroes

Read first Sept. 16th 2008, Reread August 3-Aug 5th 2012

Every once in a great while, you as a reader are given the opportunity to read something that will "impact you forever". It is rare and usually unexpected, but the feeling of "I'm reading something magical!" stays with you long after you turn the last page. The Outsider is one of those rare gems.

I hesitate to even review this book. I want to "do it justice" and communicate effectively just why you need to purchase, not just read, this incr...more Read first Sept. 16th 2008, Reread August 3-Aug 5th 2012

Every once in a great while, you as a reader are given the opportunity to read something that will "impact you forever". It is rare and usually unexpected, but the feeling of "I'm reading something magical!" stays with you long after you turn the last page. The Outsider is one of those rare gems.

I hesitate to even review this book. I want to "do it justice" and communicate effectively just why you need to purchase, not just read, this incredible story.

The plot is simple. An Amish woman belonging to a sect called the "Plain People" is widowed and raising her 10 year son. Her life changes when an "Outsider", hence the title, staggers onto her property shot and half dead. All people who are not Plain are considered outsiders and "lost" people. Of course, Rachel takes him in, prays for him, and nurses him back to health. Johnny Cain is the Outsider. For as good and innocent as Rachel is, Johnny is her counterpoint. He is an admitted killer and has seen and done evil. This is their story.

Rachel Yoder is a hero in my book. She displays courage, determination, empathy, and a faith that (although frustrating at times) was REAL and authentic. She lived her faith in her everyday actions and words. I quickly came to care very deeply for her and wanted happiness for her. Johnny Cain drops into her lap and BRINGS BACK HER LAUGHTER! I loved it. He taught her how to laugh and have fun, something that had been missing since her husband passed away and the burden of single-parenthood was overwhelming at times.

Johnny Cain just might be my favorite hero EVER. At first he seemed so "bad", but you quickly come to see a different side to this complex character. Unfortunately, you are not let into his head until towards the end of the book, but his actions speak volumes about how he feels about Rachel and her son Benjo. Rachel comes into Johnny's life and TEACHES HIM HOW TO LOVE AND ALL ABOUT FAITH. It is this aspect of the book that is absolutely magical. At one point he says "I don't believe in anything..but I believe in you".

The descriptions of the Plain life, sheep farming, and the small surrounding community are all wonderful and important, but it is the deep and abiding love that gets planted, takes seed, and grows between Rachel, Johnny, and Benjo that sets this one apart.

There are very few sex scenes, and those present are discreet, subtle, and vague.....it doesn't matter. I am a romance reader that likes the payoff of a great love scene. I never thought I'd say this, but this book might be too good for that. The "love scenes" really have nothing to do with the act of sex, but more center around their interaction outside of the bedroom. There is definitely passion (don't get me wrong), but the love these two share transcends passion. It is a soul connection.

I don't know what else to say? If you've been in a reading slump and are looking for something incredible, gut wrenching, and lasting...look no further. I've read all of Penelope Williamson's books and they all provide that "special something" that is so rare in fiction today, but The Outsider is her MASTERPIECE in my opinion and just should not be missed. (less)

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Jul 09, 2012 Katrina Passick Lumsden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pleasantly-surprised

Admittedly, I didn't pay close enough attention to the description of this book. Had I even once pondered over the name Rachel Yoder, I would have realized fairly quickly that this was a book about an Amish community in 19th century Montana. As it was, however, I was a few pages in before I caught on. Being a strictly non-religious person (that's being kind, I detest organized religion in all forms), I contemplated putting this book down and starting something else. I'm quite glad I didn't. No,...more Admittedly, I didn't pay close enough attention to the description of this book. Had I even once pondered over the name Rachel Yoder, I would have realized fairly quickly that this was a book about an Amish community in 19th century Montana. As it was, however, I was a few pages in before I caught on. Being a strictly non-religious person (that's being kind, I detest organized religion in all forms), I contemplated putting this book down and starting something else. I'm quite glad I didn't. No, it didn't make me see the light, bring me closer to god, make me question my beliefs or my (lack of) faith, or anything else. What it did was make me respect Penelope Williamson's knack for storytelling and subtlety. She expertly crafted a tale in which the lines between beliefs are glaringly obvious, while the lines between human emotions are much less so. The reader gets to see inside the heads of several different characters, and what the reader finds is that the only thing separating the "Plain" people from their world of sinners is guilt and pride. Rachel Yoder is a pious woman, yes, but she's also a sympathetic, loving, and forgiving person, which is more than can be said for the rest of the people within the Plain community. When she looks at Cain, she doesn't see a dangerous, interloping sinner who should be shunned and forgotten about. She sees an injured, broken man in need of love and forgiveness. And interestingly, Cain, for all his worldly, "evil" ways, is much closer to the Christ-like ideals of organized religion than anyone within the Plain faith. Yes, he's killed people, but he's capable of recognizing that love and basic human charity are not limited to a select few. He's honorable, forgiving, tender, and stalwart.

The level of hypocrisy and judgement within the Plain community, however, drove me up the wall. These are people who claim pride is a sin while simultaneously claiming they are god's "chosen people". Strangely, they don't see the contradiction inherent in such beliefs. They also refuse to recognize that their emotions are right on par with everyone else's; Noah Weaver is a prideful, boastful, angry, and envy-riddled man, but he at least recognizes these thoughts and emotions as sinful according to the tenets of his faith. His sister, Fannie, however, is a bitter, resentful, hateful shrew who spares no thought whatsoever to the fact that she is expressly going against her prescribed faith by fostering and harboring such feelings.

Something I absolutely loved about this story is that it wasn't predictable. Things really could have gone any way, and several times I found myself thinking, "No, please tell me that's not how it's going to end!" I really wasn't able to instantly guess how things were going to turn out, but I was definitely pleased with the ending.

A group of people in the grip of denial is a painful thing to watch, but reading about the budding relationship between Rachel and Cain makes the entire story worthwhile. Put in simple terms, this is a story about how one's religion does nothing to raise them above the rest of us. We are all human, and the only thing we should be striving for is a desire to meet each other somewhere in the middle.

(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-historical, wild-wild-west

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 05, 2012 Mimi Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

5 stars

"What I've learned of love, I've learned from you. I don't believe in anything, but I believe in you."

God, I cried. I actually cried. I loved this book, it's so emotional and gut-wrenching and I know I'll never do justice to it but here goes.

The Outsider is mainly focused on Rachel, one of the Plain people(what we would call Amish) and Johnny Cain, an outsider, outlaw, killer. As the Plain people take care to stay away from Outsiders, those whose souls are lost to the Lord, their love wa...more

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Apr 15, 2009 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, five-stars, historical-love-stories

I know I can't express exactly just how much I LOVED this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey it led me on, and wish that it wasn't over!
Williamson has created characters that live and feel and are so relatable, even though they lived a decade ago and came from a culture that most of us know nothing about.

Rachel Yoder and her young son Benjo are Plain, they run a sheep farm among their other Plain community members in the hills of Montana. Rachel's husband Ben was hung by a neighboring cattle...more I know I can't express exactly just how much I LOVED this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey it led me on, and wish that it wasn't over!
Williamson has created characters that live and feel and are so relatable, even though they lived a decade ago and came from a culture that most of us know nothing about.

Rachel Yoder and her young son Benjo are Plain, they run a sheep farm among their other Plain community members in the hills of Montana. Rachel's husband Ben was hung by a neighboring cattle farmer who deeply resents the intrusion of the "mutton punchers" and wants to scare them off and reclaim the land they have taken for their own use and will do so with no shame or conscience.
Almost immediatly as the story begins we meet Cain- Johnny Cain, as we learn later. He stumbles onto Rachels farm, bleeding, hurting and nearly dead from gunshot wounds. Against her Plain ways she takes in this Outsider and proceeds to nurse him back to health with the help of the local town doctor who has an entire world of pain hiding behind his own eyes and drowns with Rose Bud Whiskey.
We meet Marilee, a "chippie' from the town brothel. Noah Weaver, a Plain neighbor who loves Rachel and dislikes the Outsiders sudden place in Rachel's life. Mose Weaver, Noah's son who is struggling with the temptations of all the worldly luxuries he is enamored of and Quentin Hunter, son of the the neighboring cattle rancher.
But mostly, we meet Cain. A lawless, cold and unfeeling gunslinger who lives by the gun and seemingly is totally without the capacity to feel or love or even care about his actions.
As the story unfolds we learn his story in tiny increments. We see how Rachel loves life and her Plain way and holds her family and God in the highest regard.
Gradually we ARE part of the story and it's many tension filled drama scenes, unfurling love and lessons of life. We feel- so much. We are torn along with Rachel. We will Benjo our own words when he is unable to voice his own. And we sigh as we wish with all that we are for life to finally be GOOD for Cain.
This is an ultimate love story. Full of passion and pain and struggling against lifes sorrows.
I was hooked from the first page and absolutly devoured each word. I reccomend this book highly. Expect some violence and difficult scenes that are integral to the story but none gratituously added. The few love scenes are very sweet and well done. All in all, totally a five star book for me.(less)

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Dec 09, 2012 Redsketch rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Aw geez. Warning - this will probably be a spoilery review.

I had high hopes for this book after reading the numerous 4 and 5 star reviews. When I picked it up, I actually quite liked it. The concept was interesting, I liked Johnny from the start and fell in love with his character. I thought Rachel was sweet and kinda gutsy, but the longer I read...

sigh. I think part of the problem was that this book just dragged on for far too long. It could have easily been half the length. I don't mind long...more Aw geez. Warning - this will probably be a spoilery review.

I had high hopes for this book after reading the numerous 4 and 5 star reviews. When I picked it up, I actually quite liked it. The concept was interesting, I liked Johnny from the start and fell in love with his character. I thought Rachel was sweet and kinda gutsy, but the longer I read...

sigh. I think part of the problem was that this book just dragged on for far too long. It could have easily been half the length. I don't mind long reads normally, but this one for me dragged on, mostly because I was constantly frustrated. I enjoyed some scenes, the humor when it was there, but after suffering through hundreds of pages of the Plain people being jackasses to Johnny and Rachel, I wanted to punch something in the face.

I don't mind tortured heroes. In fact, Johnny Cain's story was one that touched me, but the way this book was written struck no chords. There are plots and subplots and side characters, and although their stories were interesting they were also distracting. They had drama and passion, while honestly the main story was rather... lukewarm up until the very last few pages. The relationship was pretty much static, simmering at pretty nonexistent chemistry until over halfway through when suddenly Rachel was declaring her love for Johnny and after seeing a sheep get horny they decided to have sex despite the social ramifications for Rachel (who gets cast out of her family and community, which learned nothing from driving her brother to suicide the same way years before).
The way it was written, I didn't feel the soul-deep connection I wanted them to share. Friendship, but not so sure about love, at least not on Rachel's part. I got the sense that Cain needed her and loved her, but honestly I wasn't so sure... why her? Why those two? If another kind woman willing to take him into her home saved him from his gunshot wound in the beginning, would he have grown to love her?

I just didn't feel the... uniqueness I wanted. I wanted their attachment stronger, more specific, more voiced and pronounced.

Towards the end I was irritated and in desperate need of an ending.

And honestly, it was somewhat of a fail. After some very lukewarm romance and the biggest turnoff of a sex scene, suddenly there is a fire, a shootout, Johnny accidentally shoots Rachel, but then behold a miracle and she lives. In like, literally the last page. It felt rushed, implausible, and unfinished. Especially in terms of Rachel's family and friends. I wanted some kind of confrontation there, but all I got was "you are dead to us" and poof.

The only reason why I'm giving it 2 stars is because I have a soft spot for Johnny, who was charming and fluid as a character. (less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Jane Stewart rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amish-and-plain-people, western-historical-romance

I couldn’t latch onto anyone to enjoy the journey. It was more of a downer, too much turning the other cheek and suffering.

Rachel is a widow raising her son Benjo. She is part of a community of Plain people living in Montana (similar to the Amish). Cain is a gunslinger who was shot and arrives at Rachel’s home. She tends to him. They fall in love but they can’t be together because of Rachel’s religious beliefs and pressure from her community. The bad guy is Hunter a nearby cattle rancher who wan...more I couldn’t latch onto anyone to enjoy the journey. It was more of a downer, too much turning the other cheek and suffering.

Rachel is a widow raising her son Benjo. She is part of a community of Plain people living in Montana (similar to the Amish). Cain is a gunslinger who was shot and arrives at Rachel’s home. She tends to him. They fall in love but they can’t be together because of Rachel’s religious beliefs and pressure from her community. The bad guy is Hunter a nearby cattle rancher who wants the Plain people to leave. He wants their land for his cattle. He hires gunslingers to do bad things to the Plain people. Whether it’s burning, beating, or killing, the Plain people turn the other cheek and take whatever Hunter does to them. I’m reminded of the movie “Witness” with Harrison Ford. He was the cop outsider who fought for and protected some Amish people. That had magic. That was great. This book did not appeal to me because the emphasis was on the Plain people suffering and turning the other cheek. In “Witness” a small amount of time was spent showing their victimization. More time was spent with the outsider taking action and doing smart things. This book was too much of a downer. Then Rachel does something stupid at the end which was more of a downer. I want books that lift me, make me feel good, and this did not. On the other hand, several of my friends loved it, so it’s subjective.

When local bullies beat up her son on a daily basis, Rachel tells him you must not fight back, not with your fists, not with your slingshot, God will take care of you. At the end of the book, nothing was done about the bullying. I was hoping the gunslinger might come to the rescue, but he did not.

DATA:
Story length: 458 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: one rape scene with strong language, two sex scenes with mild language. Setting: unknown time pre-automobile in Montana. copyright: 1996. Genre: western historical romance, Amish and Plain People.(less)

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Mar 05, 2012 Kat Latham rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I had never heard of Penelope Williamson until my friend
A year ago, one of the outsiders cruelly murdered her beloved husband, leaving her to raise her ten-year-old son with the help of her community. But then a severely wounded gunfighter stumbles onto her land, and her decision to nurse him back to health changes the course of her life.

It's been a while since I read a romance written in the 90s, and I was amazed by how much the genre seems to have changed in the last 15 years. For one thing,...more

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Sep 16, 2011 RomReader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: western

Widowed heroine & her 9yo son are members of a small ascetic religious community called the Plains in Montana. Injured desperado Hero stumbles into their homestead & heroine tends his serious injuries. Having religious-outsider Hero living with heroine is met with silent disapproval by her community but heroine believes his fallen soul is worth saving & keeps him on. A land-greedy rancher isn't pleased with Hero's presence in her land either since Hero's interfering with his dastardl...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 17, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jennifer by: Smart Bitches, I think

Shelves: romance, rereads

Just reread this and wondered if my original enjoyment was a fluke. It wasn't. This was still delicious.

This was so delicious! I love romance where there are strong class conflicts (in this case religion and the hero is, well, a killing machine). This had some things about it that reminded me of Flowers from the Storm (the way a strict religion can be both really bad and really good) and the dangerous hero. Mmmm.... this was just what I needed.

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Nov 30, 2010 Maldivianbookreviewer rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loves romances. This is one not to be missed.

Shelves: penelope-williamson, western-romance, historical-romance, dangerous-hero, amish-setting, tortured-hero, widowed-heroine, hot-as-sin-hero, blacksheep-hero, brooding-hero, emotional-wrangler, sizzling-sexual-tension, gunslinger-hero, endearing-heroine, favorite-alpha-heroes, forbidden-romance, opposites-attract, unforgettable-hero

Likes:

1- Johnny Cain. Now ain’t that obvious? *grin* It has been quite sometime since I have read a novel that doesn’t include the hero’s point of view on stuff at some point in the story. The relationship that unfolds between Johnny and Rachel is told mostly from Rachel’s point of view and those who observe the not so subtle connection between them that bursts forth against all odds. I almost wept when I read of his childhood at the hands of humans who are better off being labeled as animals wi...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Carrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, read-2011, western, american-historical, ptsd, romance-lovers-book-club, manipulative-friends-family

4.5*

I might never have read this book if it hadn't been listed as one of the May selections for a Romance Readers book club at a nearby library. I'm glad it was brought to my attention, because The Outsider is one of the most powerful books I've read in a long while. Penelope Williamson does an amazing job of making a cold-blooded killer into a sympathetic hero. She does just as well laying out the beauty and the harshness of the Plain way of life, and the joys and sorrows of living on a Montana...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Jo Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

The amount of love I have for this book is unwordable (wait is that a word) see I am all discombobulated. The main reason is a friend got me to see the movie “The Outsider” and I liked it so much I of course had to read the book and quite surprising the book did not disappoint even though it was just different enough from the movie that I felt like I was reading a sequel. One of the main points I try to use for anyone who follows my reviews and wonders what makes this book different from the man...more

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Jan 20, 2010 Tarra Kruzan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE this novel, truely. This book was amazing in it's detail, the way it sucks you in. I fell in love with the charecters right away. From the opening page I was glued. It had me laughing, crying and thinking about it all throughout my day. It is filled with true love, not only in the form of romance but in the purity of friendship, devotion and passion. This novel made me reflect on my own husband and family's love relationships. Anytime a book can stir these feelings and reflections ..it's...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Cate rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not normally a fan of romance novels, but this one had a lot more going on than just forbidden love--the reader sees daily struggles also through the eyes of a boy trying to be a man, a young man unsure of what life he wants, a prostitute in love with an alcoholic doctor, and the son of a cattle baron, as well as from the lovestruck Plain woman.

Some readers may see the book as being a bit preachy, but that's to be expected. The main character, Rachel, is a Plain (Amish) woman and therefore h...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Marmar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would not be able to do this book justice. This is a love story that was remarkably well told. I wanted to be there. I wanted to be Rachel and have Cain be riveted to my every move..... I wanted to be the cause of his pulse being too fast. Swoon worthy....

The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 starts is due to the ending. I yearned for an epilouge to see if Rachel and our Alpha male hero had a child...

The romance was full on and magical. If you're looking for explicit love scenes you won...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Tammie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a love story between two people who could not be more opposite. The story involves Rachel Yoder, a widowed woman, raising her son in the love and protection of the Plain (a sect of the Amish) faith who tolerate no outsiders. Then into her life comes the Outsider, a gunslinger named Cain, wounded and dying. She takes him in and heals his physical wounds. In the process she realizes that she is falling in love with him and attempts to heal his emotional wounds as well as bringing him...more

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May 26, 2009 Feezaye rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Follow your heart.

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Feb 24, 2012 Regan Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star-reads, favorite-keepers

Moving Amish Historical Romance set in Montana

You know when you begin a romance by Penelope Williamson that the tears are going to flow. This book seems somewhat related to Williamson’s HEART OF THE WEST, another 2-Kleenex-box romance based in Montana in the 19th century to which I gave 5 stars. I had read all her historical novels except this last one, saving it like a kid saves his last sucker, putting off the sweet treat until it was all I could think of. So, setting aside other romances I’d...more Moving Amish Historical Romance set in Montana

You know when you begin a romance by Penelope Williamson that the tears are going to flow. This book seems somewhat related to Williamson’s HEART OF THE WEST, another 2-Kleenex-box romance based in Montana in the 19th century to which I gave 5 stars. I had read all her historical novels except this last one, saving it like a kid saves his last sucker, putting off the sweet treat until it was all I could think of. So, setting aside other romances I’d planned to read, I got out my Kleenex and began to read THE OUTSIDER. I was not disappointed.

Rachel Yoder is one of the Plain People (likely Amish), living in Montana in 1886.

Rachel’s simple life of farming and taking care of her husband and young son were forever changed when a cruel cattleman killed her man. A year later, she is tending her sheep alone, and facing another year of hard work, when a gunslinger dripping blood stumbles into her life. Handsome Johnny Cain is a hard living, hard fighting man who has a reputation for killing. He is the antithesis of all Rachel stands for.

It’s a book of ironic contrasts as the Plain People fail to show God’s love to Johnny Cain, and Johnny Cain, the Devil’s own, shows them honor and honesty. Plain People who believe the grace of God doesn’t cover all sins, but rather that a person must be one of the Plain People to hope for salvation. Even then it isn’t guaranteed. A heartless gospel. THE OUTSIDER tells of young people who must choose between a life of conforming to a rigid society and a beckoning world of freedom. Rachel, loving and honest, tries to live in the middle and fails.

There are many things that distinguish Williamson’s work from other romance authors. Reading this one, a few come to mind: Her dialog is so genuine and rich she makes you feel like you know the Plain People. (Her writing is, in a word, superb.) Her attention to detail, as she describes the people, their surroundings and their culture, paints such a vivid picture you actually feel like your living it and not just reading a good story. Her ability to convey emotions had my heart in my throat as Johnny Cain saved Rachel’s son from a herd of stampeding cattle. Who wouldn’t begin to love such a man? And who wouldn’t love a mother who cries when a lamb dies at its birth? These are wonderful characters who will win your heart.

There is much heart-rending action in this one, but thankfully, since this is romance, we know we’ll get a happy ending. Yeah!

In short, I HIGHLY recommend this one. It’s a keeper. So get out the Kleenex and start reading!(less)

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Aug 10, 2011 Noelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, 2011-reads, historical-westerns

UGGGH, I so wanted to like this one. I LOVE a great western and that's what I was in the mood for but every time I picked up this book I had to read about Rachel's faith. I understand that it's the characters way of like, she's one of the Plain people and that the author was doing the whole " completely diferent types" theme for the H and h but I just couldn't take it. I have read (1) a book by a Christian author that didn't have near as much religion focus in that this one did. Granted I only m...more

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May 28, 2011 Vi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-challenge, romance

This book has been on my TBR for quite a while. Rachel and her son are member of the Plain (a religious colony similar to the amish). One night, they come across an Johnny Cain, an outsider (anyone who is not Plain) who has been shot. Rachel nurses him back to health and he stays on. From the beginning they both feel a bond, attraction towards each other and as he stays it grows on to love.

This book is told mainly from the point of the Plain family. Apart from Rachel and her son, there are POVs...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Renee rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Romance readers looking for something different, well written and deep.

I love Penelope Williamson. Her books A Wild Yearning and Keeper of the Dream are two of my all time favourites.
She is just such a great writer. Thoughtful, powerful and thorough. This book is not quite in the same class as the two above but is still something totally different and very wonderful. The Heroine is an Armish or "Plain" woman, Rachael Yoder and the Hero is a gunslinginger, killing machine called Johnny Cain. Totally miss-matched yet perfect for each other. He is unredeemable and she...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Patsyann rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Another - saw the movie first then read the book.
With this book I think that you have to do both - the book and the movie.
IMO:
- the irony of both book and movie is that the good religious Ben was hanged and the gunslinger/killer Johnny ended up with the love of Rachel/Rebecca.
- the story proves that child-abused adults can have happy lives
- the movie is more sexual- the book is more emotion
- the book has more stories of the secondary characters. These secondary characters are more intermingled...more

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Dec 09, 2008 Misfit rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: one-time-read-only, historical-romance

Rachel Yoder is a member of an group of an Amish type sect called The Plain People. Recently widowed, she and her son Benjo continue to work the farm and raise the sheep in late 19C Montana. Left for dead, gunman Johnny Cain stumbles onto her farm and Rachel nurses him back to health and allows him to stay on and help her on her farm, despite the strong disapproval of her family and other members of the sect.

What follows next is the usual for most romance books, Rachel and Johnny can't deny the...more

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Oct 10, 2010 Jaime Atkins rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

I know that a lot of people love this book and it is very highly rated, but for me, I couldn't seem to get into it like I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, the premise is interesting, the book was well written, and there was plenty within the story to warrant me liking it, but it just didn't grab me. Some people really like the Amish/Plain People story line, but it just wasn't my favorite. For those that like it, this would be a great book, though.

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Dec 16, 2009 Toni rated it 5 of 5 stars

author creates "bad boy" cowboy in these last two books which you fall in love with yourself. kept me up until 2 am both nights I read them...
both set in early Montana so one can learn a few things from these books as well as remember when we too were "swept" off our feet!!!!!

Just stumbled across a greatwebsite: www.bookreviews.mostlyfiction.com
reviews by the literary field. introduces one to some new authors....

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Dec 12, 2009 jessa ♥dhanger♥ EvilDarkSide rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, western-romance

Such a wonderful love story. Outlaw Johnny Cain was void of all emotions, or so he thought, until he met his match in Rachel Yoder. Both had to overcome many obstacles in search of their true feelings for each other. This book proves that a tortured, beaten soul can be saved by true love. There was a slow build in the romance aspect of the book, but by the end it exploded into a love story well worth the wait. Great read!

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Oct 21, 2009 Patty I don't give Last names out online rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I loved the movie with Naomi Watts as well. I would have given this book 5 stars had it not at times been frustrating to read through so many different character's lives/actions/perspectives when you wanted to know about what was happening to the main characters. It is still extremely well written and a fantastic love story on so many levels.

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Jun 11, 2011 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, own, western

Read this right after seeing the movie, which I loved. Tim Daly and Naomi Watts are excellent in the Showtime film, which is well made, and as I soon discovered, presents a more tightly constructed and satisfying story than the book. The book meanders in half a dozen different directions, dwelling far too long on a number of subplots instead of exploring more deeply the growing relationship between Rachel and Johnny. I also much prefer the climax of the movie to the book. Overall, it's an okay s...more

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About Penelope Williamson

Penelope Williamson studied history and journalism. Penelope published made her debut as author in 1987.
Penelope Williamson is an internationally renowned author of historical romances. She has more than 1.8 million books in print, including The Outsider, Heart of the West A Wild Yearning, Once in a Blue Moon, and Keeper of the Dream. Penelope Williamson lives with her husband in Mill Valley, Ca...more

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