US Marshal Harlan McKinney wakes to find someone breaking into his Texas home at 2am. This turns out to be Caitlin Barnes, a journalist and an old friend, who now suspects he had some involvement in a crime and was hoping to search for evidence. They talk and while Caitlin isn't convinced of Harlan's innocence, she's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt long enough for them to look into the matter together. But Caitlin isn't the only one prowling in the dark and when the pair leave the ranch house to go to Caitlin's car, whoever else is outside turns violent.

In OUTLAW LAWMAN, Caitlin and Harlan then find themselves Tasered, drugged, and left in a motel room, handcuffed together. They have no idea what is going on. When they leave, a man drives up and fires shots at them. Caitlin has previously had a strange boyfriend, but he's locked up, and now she has an unknown stalker who leaves creepy notes.

Caitlin wrote an article which showed the Texas Marshals in a bad light, despite having grown up in the same children's home as marshal Harlan. So she can take her pick of suspects. But someone is now trying to frame the pair for the disappearance of two young women, and they decide to leave Maverick County and evade the law. The action and contradictory evidence escalates and Caitlin and Harlan finally admit that they desire each other... but have they left it too late to love? First they have to survive....

OUTLAW LAWMAN feels confusing to start, as the characters are unsure what is happening, then takes off with abundant action. Author Delores Fossen has written other books in the series Marshals of Maverick County but I was coming to it as a standalone. I would have liked more descriptive detail and setting. This would suit fans of the series or those who want a romantic suspense tale with plenty of action and plot twists.