cover image Outlaw Hearts

Outlaw Hearts

Diane Amos, . . Five Star, $26.95 (283pp) ISBN 978-1-59414-570-4

Unlikely sweethearts enliven this thin post–Civil War romance from Amos (A Long Walk Home ). In 1868 Bekah Benson travels from England to Londonderry, N.H., to find the other half of a mysterious medallion she’s had for years. The medallion belonged to her missionary parents, and Bekah believes it holds the secret to the location of a treasure. In a wild coincidence, Bekah happens across the missing half of her medallion, but it’s hanging around the neck of Zachariah Thompson, a cardsharp who moments before they first meet was sentenced to death for killing a man. (Zachariah claims he is innocent.) Zachariah agrees to give her his half of the medallion if she’ll break him out of jail. With a little help from a sticky-fingered street urchin, Bekah springs Zachariah from the hoosegow. An amorous adventure ensues. Though the romance is as sweet as corn syrup, the matchup of Bekah, a naïve single woman, with a convicted murderer strains credibility. Though light on period details, it’s a serviceable romance. (Aug.)