This books shows a different side to Butch Cassidy than we're used to hearing about. Everyone knows him as an outlaw along with the Sundance Kid but we get to see a softer side to him in this novel. A chance meeting with Jane Touissant leads him to be her security on her upcoming US tour several years later. The are drawn to each other and both trying to escape their pasts. Butch takes on the identity of Noble Salt and it gives him a glimpse into what life might have been like if he wasn't an outlaw. Soon their pasts start to catch up with them and Butch is faced with a choice in order to keep them all safe. While it started off a little slow, I was soon drawn into the story and liked seeing another side of him. This book really focuses on character development.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Amy Harmon’s beautiful writing shone in this book and the emotions of the characters jumped off the page. The hokku woven throughout the story gave the tale a poetic feel that elevated and showed the complexities of noble thief, warring with himself. It seemed to be less historically accurate than other historical fiction that I’ve read by her but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.

Every Amy Harmon book I read convinces me more and more that she can do no wrong, and The Outlaw Noble Salt was no exception. I loved the concept of writing an alternate story for the famous Butch Cassidy, and as someone who grew up in Idaho and has heard many of the stories of the outlaws of the Wild West, I was really excited to read this.
It was emotional and complex, and every character had so many layers. I loved the redemption arcs of Butch and Van, the tumultuous relationship they had as brothers, and the way Butch both hated him and loved him. Jane’s story is so heartbreaking and Augustus is so loveable. The entire time you read you will be rooting for their little family, frustrated by all the problems they continue to encounter, and hopeful that Butch Cassidy can somehow get them out of their mess like he always has.
I love how Amy Harmon writes fictional stories with enough historical fact in them that you learn new things and also believe the story could have truly happened. This was for sure a 5 star read for me and a new favorite.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amy Harmon is one of my fave authors. I’ve been reading everything she writes for YEARS. I was SO excited to be selected to receive an advanced copy to read and review.

The Outlaw Noble Salt is a retelling (telling?) of Butch Cassidy’s life AFTER his outlaw life. Might he have been a good man who fell in love with a singer and her son?

From the Wild West to London and Paris and back, this story is for everyone.

I fell in love with
a criminal and the way
he loved so purely

The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon is one of my new favorite books- with a morally grey character you cannot help but fall in love with. From his haikus to his swoon-worthy quotes to the gentle way he treated Augustus and Jane, I fell more and more in love with outlaw Robert Leroy Parker- or, as they preferred to call him, Noble Salt- with every page I read.

Amy Harmon’s books never fail to move me. The Outlaw Noble Salt is a masterfully written, beautiful, emotional, heartfelt story about love, second chances, and redemption. The devotion and relationships in this story- both romantic and familial- will stay with me for a long time.

The romance between Jane and Noble felt like a balm to my soul. Everyone deserves to be loved in the way that Noble loved Jane. The reasoning behind his nickname for her made my heart melt. Though this romance in the real Butch Cassidy’s story didn’t exist, it felt so incredibly real.

“They will kill you."
"They can't kill Noble Salt. He only existed for you. He's yours."

Jane’s relationship with her son Augustus was so heartwarming. They were so protective of each other and both drew strength from and for one another.

“… You are the only thing I cannot live without, the only face in this whole world that matters to me."

Augustus’ relationship with Noble was so healing. I loved the way they connected over haikus and how easy Noble made Augustus feel safe and accepted.

“And you'll be a real hero. Not just the kind in those dime novels."

I cried over Robert’s relationship with his brother. They both loved each other so much, but Van showed it by wanting to be near Robert, and Robert showed it by trying to stay away. The sacrifices they both made for each other in the end had me bawling my eyes out.

If you only buy one book this year, let it be this one. It’s perfection. Amy Harmon, I think Robert would have loved the love story you gave him. I immediately preordered a physical copy when I finished reading because I NEED this for my shelf.

Some more of my favorite quotes:
🍯 “Love doesn't always make sense. Some people are just ours."

🍯 “The way I love you... I don't even care if you love me back."

🍯 You opened me up/ And took my heart from my chest/ Now how will I live?

ALL THE STARS AND MORE for The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon. THANK YOU to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an early copy of The Outlaw Noble Salt. All opinions are my own. *Quotes may change, since I read an unfinished ARC.*

This is my 8th book by Amy Harmon and is definitely near the top of the list as one of my favorites. I had no idea I'd fall so much in love with a story about Butch Cassidy, but there I was looking for any spare moment to sneak in another page or two. I loved characters. I hated characters. I could practically hear Jane singing myself. This one pulled me in and along for the journey, and i'll be smiling about it for a while.

*SPOILERS* - The content warnings below may spoil a few elements of the book, but there are some heavy topics that feel necessary to mention in case there are things you wish to avoid.














CW: rape, miscarriage, gun violence, suicide

'He was good even though he did bad things. He was honest even though he was a thief. He was foolish even though he was wise'.

Butch Cassidy, an icon of America's Wild West: train robber, bank robber, and leader of the notorious 'Wild Bunch'. But what if this dastardly bandit was misunderstood? What if he is a good person trapped within the bad circumstances of his own making? When Butch meets opera singer Jane Touissant, he recognises a good woman who has also been trapped by her circumstances. If he can't save himself, then just maybe he can save her and her son.

'The Outlaw Noble Salt' is Butch Cassidy: he is noble and he is the salt of the earth. Amy Harmon's latest book is really a romance about redemption and the self-sacrificing power of love. Harmon excels at building the connection and yearning between Butch and Jane. Everyone loves a rogue with a true heart.

We all know the tale of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. While never been proven, it is believed that they were killed on November 7, 1908, in Bolivia. Butch was only forty-two. Amy Harmon in her latest novel The Outlaw Noble Salt explores the “what if” Butch never died in Bolivia.

On the third night of Parisian Opera songbird, Jane Toussaint performance at Carnegie Hall, Butch sneaks in by the stage entrance tripping over a bag of salt by Noble Salt Company. When Jane completes her performance she found her sick little boy in the arms of an unknown man, a man she presumed was Dr. Salt. Not wanting to bring attention to who he really was Butch calls himself Noble Salt.

Six years later outside a clinic in Paris, little Augustus and Jane encountered a familiar face, that face belongs to Noble Salt. This begins a relationship between two people that should not be. Jane hires Noble as her bodyguard as she crosses the Atlantic oceans back to the US and to accompany her on her America opera tour. Why would a woman need hire a bodyguard for herself and son? As they begin their journey in America, their love for each other grows. As Noble comes to hope that maybe his life has taken a turn, he learns it will be short live.

Amy Harmon is a master at storytelling. Her stories are magical and entertaining; I am always in awe of how beautifully she writes. Her characters pull you into a story and captivate your heart with their connection to each other. While The Outlaw Noble Salt was a novel I
was a novel I enjoyed it was missing that connection I got from my favorites: What the Winds Knows and The Songbook of Benny Lament. I will always read Amy Harmon’s books, her writing is authentic, moving, and memorizing.

Thank you, Amy Harmon, Lake Union Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on April 9, 2024.

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Amy Harmon is a talented author who can write no wrong. I loved this book. While it was a tall tale about Butch Cassidy it did inspire me to look a little more into his life and the time in which he lived. Amy did a fantastic job at letting the reader know who Butch Cassidy was and that *maybe* there's more to his story that we think. Thank you NetGalley for the advance read!

Amy Harmon's The Outlaw Noble Salt is a captivating tale of redemption and romance set against the backdrop of the American West. As the notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy strives to leave his criminal past behind, he finds unexpected love and purpose in the form of the enigmatic singer Jane Touissant. Their tumultuous relationship unfolds amidst danger and uncertainty, as Butch grapples with his demons and Jane confronts her own secrets. Harmon's evocative prose and vivid characterization breathe life into this sweeping narrative, exploring themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of love. The Outlaw Noble Salt is a triumph of storytelling—a timeless and unforgettable journey that will resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.

This is my first time reading anything by Amy Harmon and oh boy! Now I’ve got to go read ash her other books! Aside from recognizing the name Butch Cassidy I didn’t know much at all about him. I immediately got lost in this book! I was worried I would be a little confused or lost if I didn’t already know a little of his story. But no, I loved it and never felt I was missing some details or explanations.

Harmon has an exceptional way of pulling on my emotions and engaging me as a reader and I've loved everything I've read by her. Outlaw Noble Salt is another winner to add to the list!

It's a spin on a Wild West novel and a redemption tale for Butch Cassidy, who is historically known in partnership with another outlaw, the Sundance Kid. They were famous outlaws from the early 1900s that many movies and stories have been made about. I liked that this was a new take on this historical criminal.

If you're in the mood for a love story/western then give this one a try.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Steam Level: 🔥🔥 (vague open door scenes)

When famous singer Jane Toussaint has a chance encounter with a man named Noble Salt, she is unable to forget the man who cared for her son and made her feel safe. As years pass, Jane realizes Noble is actually an outlaw named Butch Cassidy. Despite this revelation, Jane still believes there's a good man behind the robber. When Hane crosses paths with Butch again, she takes a chance and hires him as her bodyguard. What happens next will change the course of her life forever.

I know this rating comes as a shock, but hear me out. I do think this was a beautiful story of fate, acceptance, and overcoming the past. The characters all had rich stories and a great found family dynamic. Butch was the ultimate protector and was dedicated to those he loved. The last chapter in particular was excellent. So why not 4 or 5 stars? This was just such a slow read for me. I found myself picking up other books instead when I had time to spare. I'm not a poetry lover, so the haiku verses didn't grab me. It was also very much an insta-love romance and took time for me to believe the connection between Butch and Jane. I think many will love this one, though!

This was my first Amy Harmon book and I loved it! It got off to a slow start for me but once I got into it, I was hooked!

It’s not really a western, but it’s set in that era and there are western bits and pieces sprinkled in. I thought the character development was well done and I loved the loved story. Even an outlaw deserves a love story!

Content warnings: murder, rape, miscarriage

This was my first Amy Harmon book, and I was so excited to read it! But in all honesty, I was a bit disappointed and couldn’t really get into this one.

While some chapters had me turning the pages, other chapters felt slow, clunky, long, and disjointed. At times, conversations between characters felt forced and awkward, and the plot felt a bit “hole-y” and unclear at times. By that I mean a scene would occur and I’d find myself pausing, thinking, “wait, what happened, again?” I’d then have to re-read some details to make sure I understood what was happening.

While I had compassion for some tragedies that had occurred in the main female character’s life, she didn’t appear to have much depth. I felt the same about the main male character—lack of depth. The lack of character development all-around surprised me.

I liked two things about this book.

1. The young boy in the story was spunky and likeable.
2. I loved the unexpected ending.

I never considered not finishing this book because I wanted to see how it ended. But it wasn’t the page turner I thought it would be.

RATING: 4/5 STARS

An excellent Western historical fiction novel from Amy Harmon. She always picks such interesting historical periods to write about. I did not know much about Butch Cassidy before reading this book. I enjoyed how she blended history and myth, and added her own storytelling. The relationships between the characters was engaging, and I loved the ending.

The Outlaw Noble Salt is NOT your typical Wild Wild West book. It is the fictionalized story of part of Butch Cassidys life & at the center of it is a love story. I enjoyed watching the story unfold and I honestly was not sure how it would end (and was surprised by the ending). Harmon did such good job with details, that I had a hard time figuring out which parts were truth & which were fiction. It is definitely worth reading, just don't expect a fast paced story.
Disclaimer- there are a few curse words & a scene that is almost "open-door"
Thanks netgalley for a copy. All thoughts are my own.

Amy Harmon is magic. Her writing is beautiful and her ability to create characters that you can't help but fall in love with blows me away every time I pick up one of her books.

The Outlaw Noble Salt is a very character driven novel and even though the pace of the story felt pretty slow, I didn't care. She does such an excellent job of character development, that I just want to read about them forever. Noble - aka Butch Cassidy - was a very endearing character. He's done bad things in his past, but he wants a different kind of future. Jane wasn't the most likable, but she's an incredibly sympathetic character that went through a great deal of growth and I was rooting for her. I absolutely loved her son, Augustus. Butch's old friend and brother - Harry (aka Sundance) and Van - even grew on me by the end.

One thing history buffs will definitely want to take note of is that this story is inspired by Butch Cassidy, but is entirely fiction. There are a few true details here and there, but if you are looking for more about the real life of Butch, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. This didn't hinder my enjoyment at all, but I did kind of wish that Harmon just created completely fictional characters and used Butch and the wild bunch as inspiration instead.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Outlaw Noble Salt. I appreciated the themes of second chances and overcoming trauma and the hardships life throws at us. Harmon's writing was as beautiful as always and I know these characters are going to stay with me for a long time.

okay is not typically a genre i would read, but whoa!!!!! i completely loved this book!!! def looking forward to more work from amy

Can I review this
In total hokku format
And get the job done?

Probably not. After all, I am no Amy Harmon. She is in a class all her own and she proved herself, yet again, to be worth her salt.

The Outlaw Noble Salt came as a bolt from the blue. I thought I knew where the story was headed but that was a big fat nope. Especially the love story. That was raw. And rare. And branded onto my heart in the shape of a honeycomb 💛

“You opened me up
And took my heart from my chest
Now how will I live?”

Yes, Amy. Please tell me how.

An easy 5 star read for me. Thank you for an advanced e-copy of this book.