The ties that bind.

Butch Cassidy is a man who goes by many names but is best known for his moral compass. He may be the leader of an infamous gang of thieves, but he's never killed anyone, and he only robs from those who have more than they know what to do with.
Outrunning the law was fun for a time, but Butch is tired now and wants to turn himself in. Unfortunately, his brother ruins that, too, and Butch is left with no choice but to leave the country he loves behind.
An encounter with a gorgeous singer on the eve of his departure gives Butch a new name, Noble Salt, and a yearning for what could have been. But he won't drag the lovely Jane and her disfigured son into his world, so he leaves, never expecting to see them again. But fate works in mysterious ways, and Butch is reunited with Jane six years later on a street in Paris. She looks the same, though skittish. And when she comes to him once again for help, he's unable to say no, though it could cost him his life.
Jane is captivated by the quiet, capable man who saved her son from Diphtheria all those years ago and asks him to accompany her on a tour in America as her security guard without telling him why she's so desperate to leave. But then she learns who Noble Salt truly is and knows the running has just begun.
This story! Once again, Amy Harmon has written characters larger than life who will stay with me for a long while. While I love the developing relationship between Butch and Jane, it's his love of Augustus (Gus), Jane's smart-as-a-whip son, that tugged on my heartstrings the most. And Van, Butch's charismatic pain in the butt brother, who causes so much trouble but hero worships Butch so much that he tries to emulate him. The end had me in tears. It's so heartbreaking!
This is a must-read, as are all of Ms. Harmon's stories. So much research goes into what she writes that it is hard to separate fact from fiction- bravo!

The hope scared him most of all. Hope was dangerous. Hope made a man attempt the impossible. Hope kept a man coming back when he should have stayed away. “You opened me up,” he whispered to his sleeping wife. “And took my heart from my chest. Now how will I live?”
The Outlaw Noble Salt- Amy Harmon

Amy Harmon has done it again: another historical fiction masterpiece! Harmon’s writing always invokes such a deep, emotional feeling of attachment to the characters and the longing for a happy ending. Having never read any of the tales about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid before reading this novel, I finished the book thinking I have intimate knowledge, however made up it may be. A beautiful story and poignant portrayal of American legends, this book proves why Amy Harmon is one of the best story tellers of our time.

In The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon, Butch Cassidy seeks to leave his past behind him. His involvement with the lovely and talented singer Jane Touissant and her son Augustus gives him hope for a future he never thought possible. After an unexpected meeting, Jane hires him as her security for an upcoming singing tour to America. They stumble upon Butch's brother and Sundance in New York and hide out with Sundance's sister - a respite from their pursuers. Going through with the tour will put them in danger of being discovered, but Jane needs the tour to become independent from her past.. Bad decisions, the inability to escape family, love, and the need to protect are all part of an interesting take on an unlikely romance.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing, Amy Harmon and NetGalley for this ARC.

Amy, keep writing
Noble Salt is five star
I need more, and soon

Another fantastic story from my favourite author! I was so happy to receive an early copy and couldn’t wait to dive in. A historical novel loosely based on the life of Butch Cassidy mixed with music and love. The characters will draw you in and keep you wanting more. The story is enthralling and will make you fall in love all over again.

Thank you Netgalley This amazing book comes out April 8, 2024!

This is another great read from the pen of Amy Harmon and a definite must-read. This story is pure fiction but with historical truths. When the notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy goes straight and he meets a celebrated singer Jane Touissant and her son, Gus, things get complicated but his life changes. It took me a few chapters to become really involved in the story, but I was seriously hooked once I did. Amy Harmon has a wonderful writing style, drawing you into her stories and characters, her writing flows and you go right along with it.

I just loved the characters, they are so well-developed that I felt I knew them. Gus in particular, Jane's young son, who is clever and very astute was a particular favourite, although I absolutely loved the quiet spoken, clever, Noble Salt aka Butch Cassidy, what a man. All the characters are relatable and well written and I couldn't help becoming emotionally invested in their story.

I think the sign of a good story is that when you finish it you can't stop thinking about the characters. This story did that for me, I loved reading it and didn't want it to end. A fabulous, engrossing read and one I highly recommend.

Wow. Here comes Amy Harmon, barelling through the door, aka my heart, with yet another book that managed to sucker punch me, break me, destroy me, heal me and soften me all at the same time. She is one of my favorite authors for a reason and this book proves it!

Reading this book was like a taking shot of espresso to me. Strong, exciting and absolutely delicious and addicting. I can never not have a good time reading her books, and l "The Outlaw Noble Salt," was no exception because this book has been etched in my heart and I will forever be thinking about. The story captivated me from the start to finish. The way it's exploration of redemption, resilience, and second chances astounded me. Full to the brim with emotions, this book touched every corner of my heart.

Amy Harmon presents a romantic tale of an infamous outlaw, Butch Cassidy, who decides to leave his criminal past behind. On a fateful dat, when he crosses path with a celebrated singer Jane Touissant, he finds himself awestruck with her, leaving him wondering glimpses of what could've been. But he leaves her behind, their their paths unexpectedly cross again, in Paris. Despite Butch's reluctance, Jane trusts him and seeks his protection during her American tour. However, their pasts and secrets expose them to greater threats than the law, forcing them to choose between their lives, legacies, and love.

The story tells the untold story of Butch Cassidy, despite his tumultuous life, he can still find healing, love, and redemption. Harmon's attention to historical detail is mind blowing to me. It was a rollercoaster of a book in terms of emotions. My favorite thing about Harmon's books, especially in this, is her writing style. It shone through so well in this book, amazing me from time to time. Every word, stiched me open and back together again. So much attention to every detail and handled with such care. In this book, her ability to write love stories with honesty, poignancy, and beauty, reflected perfectly! Making this book a must-read.

Butch, is a character who captures the heart with his charm and depth. Jane stands out as a central figure for whom he experiences a transformative journey. The story takes place in 1900 in the wild west and involves elements such as tall tales, criminal activities, a single mom, an age gap, and a marriage of convenience. As Noble,aka Butch, and Jane navigate their complex relationship, they face second chances and sacrifices that test the strength of their love. I absolutely adored the romance between them. The connection that formed between them was so special to me that it teared me up multiple times and I just couldn't atop reading. Some quotes from this book that really stuck with me:

'"Just let me love you, Jane," he said. "That's all I want." "Why?" It made absolutely no sense. "Why me?" He was silent for a moment, thinking. "You make me believe... what my mother used to say. Some folks are just ours."'

and,

'"You always call me honey... as if I'm sweet.
And I am not," she warned. "Not at all, and I will not have you thinking I am."
"You are. Deep down, you're the sweetest little Jane Boot there ever was. But that's not why I call you honey."
"No?"
"No. I call you honey because that's the way you make me feel. Soft and warm and golden."'

and this quote,
"Love means you stay."
it sounds so simple but is packed with so much emotion!

Harmon skillfully weaves together themes of hope and pain in this novel, which left me enthralled throughout. The story also explores the importance of personal growth and the power of love to overcome adversity. Harmon's portrayal of characters like Noble and Jane resonated immensely within me, evoking such deep emotions and vulnerability!

"The Outlaw Noble Salt" also showcases Harmon's talent for character development. Augustus, one of Noble's companions, is a memorable character who adds depth to the story. Harmon's ability to write about children in a way that feels genuine and relatable shines through in her portrayal of Augustus, who is based on her own son. This inclusion adds an extra layer of authenticity to the narrative.

As for the historical context, readers do not need extensive knowledge of the real Butch Cassidy to appreciate the story. Harmon focuses on the universal themes of love and protection rather than an exhaustive biography of Cassidy. The book's setting, Circleville Utah, offers a unique backdrop that Harmon expertly utilizes to engage readers. The world building in this book was masterfully done indeed!

Overall, "The Outlaw Noble Salt" is a powerful love story that goes beyond the romance genre. Amy Harmon's ability to capture raw emotion and elicit profound connections with me is evident in this novel. As with her previous works, Harmon sets a high standard for historical romance writing and surpasses expectations with this exceptional tale. So, I highly recommend this book and I am eargerly waiting for her next release!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Amy Harmon for this arc!

I absolutely adored everything about this book. I have probably on of the biggest and heaviest book hangovers I have ever had! The Outlaw was my undoing! I was thrown way off by what I expected from the bits and pieces I knew about Butch Cassidy! I learned so much about how we can be put in situations we think are harmless and the lose our way. He lost his way early on - from his parents, from his upbringing and stability. I loved the way his character was fleshed out. I also enjoyed the heroine and her son - fabulous characters. I was also overcome with compassion for the other outlaws. I am am always shocked how I can be drug though all the feelings when I read anything by this beautiful author! Thank you!

Thank you to Net Galley for this book, all opinions are my own!!!

Let me start by saying that I do not like Westerns, and I have never had an interest in reading about Butch Cassidy, Jessie James or any of the others. And, while I do not plan to dive into this genre in the future, I can say with certainty that this book was a sweet, lilting story. Amy Harmon did, what you know she will always do, and that is make you feel. The Outlaw Noble Salt was a true star-crossed lovers story. The book made me feel for Butch Cassidy, (like really feel for him) and Jane Toussaint and her son. What a tragic but lovely story. Amy Harmon at her finest! Highly recommend.

My knowledge of Butch Cassidy has been formed by passing references in history books, and by Paul Newman.

Amy Harmon introduces a different man, world weary and full of regrets over a life of crime fueled by an itch for adventure that collided with the wrong people. A man reborn as Noble Salt, writer of haiku and, outlaw still, desperate to leave his past behind.

His paths cross twice with Jane Toussaint, the Parisian songbird, and her precocious son Augustus. It’s the story of three people somewhat broken, whether by circumstances - Butch and Jane - or by the human frailty of Augustus’ facial deformity that exposes him from a young age to the prejudice and mistreatment of others. When Jane hires Butch as bodyguard for her American tour, their lives and pasts collide in a way neither expects.

While not my favorite Amy Harmon novel, I enjoyed this glimpse into what could’ve been for Butch Cassidy, whose life and death still remain a bit of an enigma.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was always a big fan of the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid movie as well as the TV show Alias Smith and Jones, so when I saw Amy Harmon had written a book based on Butch Cassidy I had to read it and am glad I did. Harmon has taken the legend of the outlaw with the soft heart and woven a gentle romance with a fictional opera singer and her precocious son. The novel also includes memorable characters in Cassidys brother and of course Sundance, but it is really the little boy who stole my heart. It is a book of finding love when you can for as long as you can and explores the reality that none of us are all good or all bad but we need to make peace with our mistakes.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the e galley in exchange for an honest review.

Harmon does it again . She is a master of historical fiction and this is another Jewel in her Crown . One of my favorite writers.

"He was accustomed to people's fear and disappointment, but when he left the hotel he actually felt noble, maybe for the first time in his life. And he liked the feeling."

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Amy Harmon for the opportunity to read an early copy of THE OUTLAW NOBLE SALT in exchange for my honest review!

THE OUTLAW NOBLE SALT is a story of redemption, resilience and second chances. It's a story that is equally full of hope as it is full of pain, and I loved every second of it.

The best way I can describe Harmon's writing is that it's like thread being stitched into the fabric of your soul. Every stitch is placed carefully so that it doesn't unravel or become wasted. I have never been the same after every Amy Harmon book that I've read, and I've loved getting to experience this latest novel from her. To me, she sets the bar for the historical romance genre and with THE OUTLAW NOBLE SALT, she's raised the standard to new heights.

I don't know much about the real Robert Leroy Parker, aka "Butch Cassidy", outside of the infamous moniker, but I didn't need to. This book was about a man who fell in love and what he would do to protect those he cared most deeply about.

From the prologue, I knew this book was going to make me cry, but I held onto hope that the tears wouldn't be only due to sadness and devastation. As I read and watched these characters face their past and rise above, I also felt like I was experiencing a newfound sense of resilience within myself, and that alone brought me to tears.

This book not only has beautiful prose and themes, but the characters are so grounded and honest. The love and devotion and care between Noble, Jane, and Augustus was so moving. But I also appreciated that the relationships in this book were as messy as they were moving, and I think that's what made them so grounded and so compelling to read.

I was surprised by some of the tropes in this book such as:
- bodyguard/celebrity
- different worlds
- marriage of convenience
Each of these being tropes I am absolute putty for!

I think my favorite part of this book were all the hokku verses from Noble. I feel like it's only fitting to end this review with one of my own:


This book was perfect
Best yet from Amy Harmon
Five out of five stars

I was happily surprised reading and would love to get the chance to be able to experience the story for the first time again. Amy Harmon stole my heart, again. And, I loved it.

I really enjoyed this story! It was fun to read about the lore of Butch Cassidy, which I am not super familiar with. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union, and the author for the ARC (my very first!).

I was raised in Colorado mostly, as well as Wyoming and Nebraska somewhat, so I grew up surrounded by lore (read: tourist traps) about outlaws and legends from the Wild West, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid included. Not interested, but thanks. So if you had told me that I would have enjoyed a reimagined “tall tale” about Butch Cassidy, I would have had more than a little trouble believing you.

But Amy Harmon is Amy Harmon, and having written one of my favorite ever books (What the Wind Knows), I enthusiastically, if a bit dubiously, dove in. Her ability to make complicated characters out of worn-thin stories from a century ago was remarkable and I found myself totally immersed like I was sitting right there in the train car with them.

I don’t know how to say more without spoiling it, other than this is a deeply heartfelt and heartbreaking story about the push and pull of love and honor, how heavy and tangled family ties can be, and hope for redemption and second chances.

Amy Harmon says she wanted to give this outlaw a second chance, and she did so—tremendously—with this book. (Should I have written this entire in hokku/haiku? Oops.)

5/5, pick this up when it comes out in April, even if you’re hesitant about another Wild West story about an outlaw.

I loved Amy Harmon’s historical fiction. I’ve read every one, so of course I jumped on the chance to read her newest. I knew I’d love it…but this blew me away!!!! I devoured this. I laughed, I cried, and I didn’t want it to end. Not only were the main characters amazing, but the side character’s (who at first irked me) were too! This historical fiction has heart, emotion, angst and a beauuutiful romance. If you love historical fiction with a love story or like any of Amy’s other books, do yourself a favor and pick this up.

How do you write the tale of an outlaw but make it romance and not completely rip out someone’s heart and tear it to shreds? I have no clue but Harmon sure does.

Don’t get me wrong. This story was full of heartache but most of all there was someone who just wanted to leave the past and take care of those he cared about. I cried several times because you could just feel all the hope and how fleeting it felt.

It was beautifully written and I didn’t want to put it done. I don’t know that I’ve ever rooted for an outlaw so hard. Loved it and can definitely see a reread in my future.

Some favorite lines: “Honey” & “You’re not real.”

You just can't go wrong with a Harmon book. I love her style and how she writes her characters. I think my favorite was Augustus or Gus. He just made this whole book better. For whatever reason I just didn't click with Jane. I loved Noble:} He is just one of Harmon's men that just make all other men look bad. I loved the feel of this book. It was so interesting to read about, I lived and went to school near Circleville Utah and once went and checked out all the Butch Cassidy stuff they have there. I loved History and how it shapes us. His story is an interesting one and I love how Harmon wove this one.
This is an adult novel with some sexual content. It is not too detailed. It is the talk of rape that might be the trigger for many people with this book. It is a little detailed. There is drinking and a couple swear words.

Oh, this book...simply stunning. It was not at all what I expected from a book with Butch Cassidy as the lead character. It was so much more. Beautifully complex characters, an ever-twisting plot, and haikus. Yes, haikus. Everything about this book was unexpected, all the way to the very end. There were many memorable quotes but this one stood out: "See, the thing about monsters is...most of the time, they don't look like monsters." Amy Harmon has outdone herself with this one. It's spectacular.

My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.

When I saw my dear friend on IG post about this book I immediately wanted to read it. The cover was eye-catching and the synopsis about none other than one of the most famous outlaws in history, Butch Cassidy (otherwise called Noble Salt), completely had my attention. I NEEDED this book and am so grateful to have received an early copy to read and review.

This is the second book I’ve read of Amy Harmon’s and it has me scrambling to add her other books to my TBR. She takes a real person and weaves such a beautiful story around their lives, creating romance and heroism and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with as well as immersing you in the historical world these people lived and breathed in. I loved the sweet relationship between dear ‘Noble Salt’ and Jane as well as the precious little boy Augustus. I loved that little boy so much and his tenacity for life and the way Noble brought so much confidence to him and loved him so purely. There were many interactions that brought tears to my eyes because of the sweetness and kindness that radiated.

There were also so many perfect romance tropes portrayed, ‘Marriage of Convenience’, ‘Only One Bed’, and ‘Second Chance Romance’ just to name a few and I LOVED every moment of it. Who is surprised that I fell head over heels for this outlaw named Butch Cassidy? Probably no one. I love a bad boy but what I love even more is a reformed bad boy and Harmon did not disappoint and knew just the way to my hopelessly romantic heart.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review. I whole-heartedly recommend and will definitely be ordering a copy to have once it releases on April 9,2024.