Amy Harmon can do no wrong.

I've read so many books by this author and genuinely adore them all!

This story had me completely enraptured. Full of rich historical details, just enough fiction to keep me guessing what was real and what wasn't, a timeless love that stopped my heart and made my chest ache, and stunning character depth that had me yearning to hug, hold, put back together, and know these characters intimately! Amy is a master at what she does and this story of Noble Salt was a beautiful second chance redemptive story and was an absolute honor to read!

Amy Harmon has done it again.

Butch Cassidy.

Lawless cowboy. Thief. Liar. Troublemaker.

But what if he decided to make a turn to the straight and narrow and, on the way, fell in love? Harmon takes the legend of Butch Cassidy and reimagines it in just such a way. Cassidy turning over a new leaf but still chased by the powerful men he has run into along the way. And so he remakes himself. Takes on a new name and forges a new path.

And then he meets Jane who is not without her own dangerous secrets. Knowing his history, Jane enlists Cassidy as her body guard for the US leg of her musical tour. As their stories, and their lives, tangle together, theirs becomes a journey of redemption, risk and love beyond logic.

This is a story that has stuck with me long past finishing reading it. At the risk of sounding trite, it is just so, so good. The way that Harmon weaves their love story through the legend of Butch Cassidy was artfully done. The risks they took and the decisions they made were forged in heart and emotion. She managed to make the love story such a rich component of the book while still keeping the individuality of the characters. Their own personal struggles were still real and raw. The struggle of morality - questioning what is right and wrong - felt real; Butch was a truly likeable character.

I love this quote in Amy's author note. She says he 'was a fascinating character, full of the contradictions that make humans remarkable and faillible. 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. If it's possible to channel characters - and research starts to feel like channeling after a while - the overwhelming feeling I got from Butch was genuine regret. He knew he'd gotten it wrong and chased false happiness, and like his father says in the book, there are so few second chances....Everyone deserves a love story, even an outlaw, and I hope he (and you) liked this alternative ending to an American legend."

I sure did, Ms. Harmon. Thank you.

When a wild western outlaw repents of his ways, he encounters a beautiful songstress whose desperate need for a new chance at life rivals his own. Can they leave their pasts behind? Talented historical fiction and romance author, Amy Harmon, gives infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy a romance, and I was excited to get this tale.

The Outlaw Noble Salt begins at the time when Butch Cassidy is middle-aged and done with outlawing. He sees the writing on the wall for that type of life even if several of his old gang including his younger brother, Van, and partner, Harry “Sundance Kid” Longbaugh, do not. The only way he can survive the law’s rightful requirement is to walk away from his life and start a new one far away. This is when he meets the people who will truly change his life, Jane Toussaint and her son, Augustus.

The Outlaw Noble Salt is told from three perspectives- Butch, himself and Jane and her young son, Augustus, getting their turns. I enjoyed all three perspectives. Butch is the primary figure, but getting Jane and Augustus’ thoughts and feelings give the story a rich, layered feel.

I appreciated that Amy Harmon didn’t try to whitewash Butch’s past or have him act like it didn’t matter. He was remorseful and, what Jane appreciated most, he was always honest with himself and with others. He was a strange mixture of bad and good even when he was an outlaw with rules of conduct, but he was also a natural leader, which made him successful. Harmon gives him the need to save people. This is a strong part of the story because of the struggle he has loving his younger brother and caring about Sundance who play significant secondary roles, but Butch understands that associating with them will only draw him back into the old life because they won’t change.

He was just the man to partner the beautiful caged singer, Jane Toussaint, who hid behind a cold wall of disdain and hauteur to protect herself because people, and particularly men, have hurt her and exploited her since childhood. It was hard for her to open up to Butch, and her only show of love was toward Augustus.

Gus was a scene-stealing little guy. He’s disfigured and it hurts him the way people stare, avoid, or talk about him, but he’s got a quirky humor and pluck and an old soul that is wise beyond his years at times and, at others, he’s a kid. And, oh boy, did he take to Butch. He recognized a safe man and a man who cared about him and his mama. Boy and man needed each other as much as Butch and Jane needed each other.

There is a good rising action and emotional payout all through this story. The West, Paris, and New York City of that time after the turn of the century and before the world wars is brought to life in vivid color. Real life figures were sprinkled throughout. I got a chill recognizing the captain and first officer of the passenger liner Butch, Jane, and Gus took across the Atlantic would be the same ones a few years later on Titanic.

And, so, this rewrite of a famous outlaw’s life with a poignant romance was a hit with me and I can recommend it whole-heartedly to Western Romance and historical fiction fans alike.

This book was amazing!!! I loved learning more about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. All of the characters were so-well written and realistic. The love story was beautiful. Amy Harmon did it again- I love her historical fiction books!

Oh my - how to do justice to this book? I loved it - it made me laugh, made me tear up, I was almost afraid to finish it because I was sure it would end up breaking my heart. And it did, more than once. And I loved it all. As a person of "a certain age" - one who saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in the theater at 18 and it's remained one of my favorite movies ever since - I was immediately drawn to this reimagining of Butch's final years. I felt like it would be safe in Amy Harmon's capable hands, and as usual, her writing is lovely and lyrical at times, and kept the story feeling familiar, yet also fresh and new. Don't miss her author's notes at the end of the book, they're illuminating as to her inspiration as well as the fact vs fiction aspect. I had both the ebook version and the audiobook and found myself listening more than reading as the narration was excellent.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

The quality of writing is as always superb!!! Same for the story. The author has the most wonderful ability to bring history in a riveting and fascinating way to life. It's always a pleasure to read an Amy Harmon book.
The Outlaw Nobel Salt was engrossing and I read it not surprising in one go.
In the end, the author delivered everything she is known for.
A historical romance with wonderful characters, a superb romantic couple and a history that became even more fascinating because of the way the author wrote it.

Besides all that, The Outlaw Nobel Salt didn't hit me the same way as some of her other novels did in the past. But that doesn't take away from the enjoyment I got out of reading it. It just means that my rating isn't as high as some of her other books

And there is always the next one :D

It took me a little while to get into the story, but once I did I was more and more invested. I even felt some sympathy for characters that I disliked at first.
The only part I never could buy into was the romance. Not sure why, but the love story never felt quite real. That's alright. Everything else was good.

I did not finish this book. It was very slow for me and I couldn’t get into the plot. It was not what I was expecting.

Amy Harmon never disappoints, her stories are full of emotions, her characters are so perfectly flawed. This is a wonderful story of redemptive love, the plot is unique and intensely moving. I didn’t want the book to end! A five star read, this was by far my favorite book of 2024!

I went into this book not knowing much about Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid. Never watched the movie, only vaguely knew names. Of course, Amy Harmon is a master of storytelling and taking historical figures and making them timely and relatable. The characters in this story were rich and dynamic and you were rooting for the "bad guy" throughout the entire book.

Easy 5 star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, the opinions above are my own.

Outlaw Noble Salt was interesting take on one of the most famous outlaws in the 1800s and what could have possibly been a redemption alternative to his story.
The full historical facts mixed with a tale and characters was a story that unfolded so well done, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished.
Harmon has a keen way of mixing her stories with historical fiction bringing to life diverse characters that impact you as a reader.
We may never know what did happen to Noble Salt in real life, but I like the ending within this story.

Amy Harmon is one of my favourite authors as her stories are both memorable and beautifully crafted. Her most recent novels have been historical fiction and she has proven she can write anything.
With rich historical details this fictional story is based on the Outlaw Butch Cassidy.
The author gives us a tale of love, self-sacrifice and redemption.
The Outlaw Noble Salt is a unique and captivating alternate ending to an American Legend of the Old West.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book was sloooow. It may have felt more slow seeing as how the main character is Butch Cassidy but this is not a high adventure story. Butch Cassidy is a complex character and this book definitely romanticizes him (even though there is an in-book warning about this) but one of the main themes is no one is all bad or all good. The ending had a lot more emotion and movement, so I definitely enjoyed the last 20% of the book more. Would’ve given a higher rating had the first half moved a bit more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon is the story of Butch Cassidy, the notorious train and bank robber of the late 1800s. The book follows Butch Cassidy as he decides to put his past behind him and live a new life away from his criminal ways. On his way to Paris, he hears a singer, Jane Touissant, in New York and is smitten by her. During his time in Paris, he crosses paths with her and she asks him to be her bodyguard back in the United States on her upcoming tour. As dangerous as this is, there is a good chance he'll be found out, he agrees due to his feelings for Jane. The two of them have an intense and beautiful love for each other and their story will pull at your heartstrings.

Really enjoyed this historical fiction book about Butch Cassidy. A fun take on what could have happened for the outlaw and his life.

I really enjoy Amy Harmon's writing and there were aspects of this one that I enjoyed and others that I didn't.
I really enjoyed the growing family relationship and the elements of faith as well as the words of wisdom the main character shares.
I found it a little long and the very frequent uses of "honey" were a bit much but I kept wanting to pick it up so that is the sign of a good book.
There are some trigger warnings for language and sexual content but Harmon writes with such discretion that it is not as jarring as it would be from a different author's pen.
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This book has your classic western backdrop from the movies you loved (or were forced into liking) with the romance you wish they had! Amy did not disappoint. It has the grit of a true western tale and the sweetness of a man in love. Need I say more?

Now I want to preface that when I say grit I mean it. This book isn’t going to be for everyone (reference my triggers/content warnings below). I personally love it when my romance isn’t so completely cut and dry with an obvious, “happily ever after” ending. While those books have their place, this isn't one. This one is when you’re longing for just a little bit more. When you want to go on an emotional roller coaster. When you want your heart to hurt. When you want a taste of darkness.

This is a Butch Cassidy retelling. This is a redemption story. This is a love story. This is the sunrise after a long dark night.

Amy Harmon does it again, bringing the past to life with characters that pull at all of your heartstrings.

This is my first novel by Harmon and the beginning started off SO STRONG. I loved this fictional account of Butch Cassidy and thoroughly enjoyed this “what if” story. It did lean a little heavy into the romance and I wasn’t a fan of all of the “honey” endearments but overall it was a solid story. I was a particular fan of The Sundance Kid and Van and appreciated the author’s note.

Where the Lost Wander is one of my favorite historical fiction books, so I was very excited to see Amy Harmon had a new release. I'll admit I was surprised the main character was Butch Cassidy, but Harmon spun this famous outlaw's story in such a way that you forget about the "bad" parts of his history and you start seeing him in a different light. I loved Butch and Jane's swoon-worthy romance, and even though the story dragged a bit in certain places, I would still recommend it to everyone. As always, Harmon's writing is impeccable, and she manages to draw you in and make you feel every emotion until you turn the last page and you're finally able to take a breath. I can't wait for her next release!