The Outlaw's Promise by Cat Cahill

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This story is built upon a premise of light fantasy, allowing the narrative to explore the classic dynamic of romance between a good woman and an outlaw. The characters, at times, operate under a heightened sense of dramatic trust. The heroine, in a move central to the romantic fantasy genre, chooses to aid a charismatic outlaw based on his assertions of innocence, a decision that certainly drives the plot forward.

The authorities, including the sheriff and the bounty hunters, often serve primarily as plot devices to maintain tension and facilitate the romance. The behavior of the bounty hunters, specifically holding the woman hostage in her own home, escalates the danger and pushes the central couple together. While the character actions sometimes prioritize the romantic arc over strict real-world logic, the focus remains firmly on the burgeoning relationship. Ultimately, the outlaw's practical instincts emerge as a stabilizing force in the conclusion of this romantic fantasy.The story's premise is built on light fantasy and the character's are a bit weak. No woman in her right mind would help an outlaw based on his looks and claiming his innocence. Which puts our heroine in the category of naive and stupid. The sheriff is fool, but this is the author's fantasy of having a romance with an outlaw. Love may be in the air, but even the bounty hunter's bordered on stupidity, especially holding a woman hostage in her own home. In the end, only the outlaw was the one who ended up with some sense.