This wasn't it for me. I was bored throughout all of this book. Nothing about it interested me. The characters were all so flat as could be. The romance was terribly developed and I just didn't feel any chemistry between the two characters at all. The storyline with the guy trying to take over the main character's property also just wasn't interesting at all. Especially because the reasoning was 'oh, he's ust power hungry'. I mean, that's pretty realistic but considering the storyline already wasn't interesting having such a lame explenation behind it didn't help at all. I quite liked the small town vibes but at the same time I had quite a hard time keeping the characters apart, because like mentioned before all the characters are as one dimensional and flat as can possibly be. So yeah, I didn't care for anything about this at all.

Gray “Quick Shot” Woodson is the fastest gun west of the Mississippi. Unfortunately, he’s ready to hang up his hat. Now he just wants to find a place to retire so he can spend his days the way the good Lord intended. Staring at the sunset. And napping. When his stubborn horse drags him into a hole-in-the-wall town called Desolation, something about the place calls to Gray, and he figures he might actually have a shot at a sleepy retirement. Soon he finds himself embroiled in a town vendetta and married to Mercy Douglas & the sheriff - some retirement. Who, judging by her aggravating personality, doesn’t know the meaning of her own name. In fact, she’s downright impossible but irresistible at the same time. If only she’d stop trying to steal his guns to go after the bad guys herself.
A well written well paced book. I loved the humour & thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining book. I loved Gray who just wanted a peaceful life plus I loved that he wasn’t a perfect physical specimen. I really liked Mercy who could burn water & loved the verbal banter between her & Gray, I also loved the chemistry between them. The secondary characters were also well portrayed & their antics added to my enjoyment. The villain was villainous & I loved that he got his just desserts. I think this is the authors first western & hope there are more, I recommend this book whole heartedly
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Hitched to the Gunslinger is the story of Gray Woodson, a retired gunslinger looking for a place where he can live a peaceful life and nap whenever he pleases. He comes across a small town called Desolation, thanks to his trusted horse with an attitude, Birdie where he meets Mercy, a woman who sees him and claims him to be her fiancé, much to Gray's surprise. Gray goes along with the charade, hoping to get his naps and meals out of the deal but along the line, things start getting real for him and Mercy and he realises that he has more reasons to be with her than he had first thought.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The rugged Western setting, small town feel and sharp banter were such fun and I thought the characters were all fantastic. The pace of the story is perfect with edge of your seat moments and some really cute scenes with Gray and Mercy. I'm partial to a good old Western historical romance and this fit the bill perfectly.

Hitched To the Gunslinger by Michelle McLean was an enjoyable romance. Gray “Quick Shot” Wilson is a fast gun that is so ready to hang up his hat and retire. Unfortunately, people recognize him and are either afraid of him or are trying to kill him. He meets Mercy and finds himself engaged within minutes of meeting her. Mercy’s father has died, and the neighbor rancher wants to either marry her or scare her off her land. Her quick thinking lands her into claiming the gunslinger as her fiancé to gain security and protection. Gray finds her irresistible and intriguing. What happens when these two stick together and become one force to be reckoned with? Great story, location, and plot. I recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC to obtain my honest opinion.

This was a fun rom com!

All Gray “Quick Shot” Woodson wants is some peace and quiet. All Mercy Douglas wants is to keep her father's land and get rid of Josiah Banff, who wants her land.

I really enjoyed Hitched To The Gunslinger. It had action, adventure, romance, comedy, and drama. The characters were great! Jason Sunshine and Gray's dynamic was fun to read. I also liked watching Gray and Mercy's fake engagement evolve into something more.

All in all, this was a great read and I look forward to reading more novels by Michelle McLean!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Entangled, for an eARC of Hitched To The Gunslinger. I really appreciate it! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

"Don't know why your ma named you Mercy, There ain't a merciful bone in your body."

This was such fun.
When I think of a western romance I usually picture gritty not lol fun
This had it all
It had the romance, the suspense, the gritty feel and it was all wrapped in a solid storyline
I am not a history buff so I could not say if it was accurate or not but I was enjoying the characters too much to care either way

Gray was ... think grumpy grizzly and cuddly koala (maybe panda?)
I couldn't help but fall in love with his snarly backside. There is so much to his character
and then there was Sunshine and Doc and Preacher and ...
the supporting cast here was as entertaining as the main characters I do hope we get their stories

Mercy, our heroine, and handful was that tomboy - you know the one who is so intent on proving they can do it alone? At times she comes across as almost gruff. But her softer side does shine through and she eventually wormed her way into my heart as well

I think the author did such a bang-up job with these two
The chemistry
The snark
The way their relationship evolved

I am not sure if this is a first in series or not - I hope it is - this was a new author for me - I will definitely be reading more of her work

A fun, steamy read about a reluctant gunslinger and a hard to handle woman. Great banter, chemistry, and tension.

This was my first Michelle McLean novel, but it won’t be my last. Hitched to the Gunslinger delivered small town charm, and feisty banter when a gunslinger looking to retire makes a deal with a spinster.

The story open as we meet Gray “Quick Shot” Woodson, the fastest gun in the West. Now Gray is in his early forties and looking to hang up his guns. He wants to take long naps and watch the sunset.

He sets off heading west and comes across the small town of Desolation. When his stubborn horse takes off towards the town, he has no choice but to tag along. They end up in an apple orchard on the outskirts of town and before you know it, Gray finds himself involved in a confrontation between Mercy, the orchard owner and a local landowner intent on having Mercy’s land.

The story that unfolds mixed humor, snark and delightful bickering with suspense and a slow-burning romance that catches fire.

“Well, what the hell was he supposed to do now? He’d only wanted his horse. Now he had a fiancée?”

I chuckled as I easily slipped into this story. Mercy could be a little headstrong and demanding, but with the hand she has been dealt, you can’t blame her. Now Gray didn’t impress me all that much in the beginning, but as Mercy softened his edges and their banter and playful teasing grew, so did my love for him.

The story had all the elements I love in a historical western with its small-town charm and sense of community. The meddling of the townfolk made me giggle, and I loved how the author wove their engagement into marriage. Secondary characters played an important part in the story from the local drunk to the sheriff’s assistant. Even the goat and horse affected the story.

The suspense thread was well done and made me feel like I was in the wild west. It helped bring the community together and allowed Gray to grow.

Fans of banter, arrangements, the wild west and transformations will want to grab Hitched to the Gunslinger.
- Caffeinated Reviewer.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for sharing an advance copy of this book!

This story had a lot of potential in the characters and premise, but it just didn’t quite pan out for me. The pacing of the romance felt too slow at the beginning, and then ramped up so fast it was almost jarring. I didn’t feel the emotional connection building between the hero and heroine; they honestly acted pretty ambivalent toward each other right up until their relationship became “real.” There were some sweet moments between them once their romantic relationship began, but those felt artificial to me because I didn't really feel their relationship had a solid basis.

I liked Gray and Mercy as characters, but I wanted to know more about their pasts and how they became the lovable loners they were because they both seemed like they had interesting backstories. I thought this would come as they opened up and got to know each other better, but their conversations stayed mostly very surface-level, even when discussing serious topics.

On a similar note, I enjoyed all of the side characters that became Gray’s new acquaintances in town, but sadly none of them were very fleshed out either. Occasionally it was hinted that a character had a secret or an interesting backstory, but we never get to learn more about any of them. Maybe the author is planning a series and will explain more about the characters in future books, but it made this story unsatisfying as a standalone.

The external conflict in this story felt very low stakes. The motivation of the villain wasn’t really made clear, so I kind of just thought he was being the town bully and would eventually get tired of putting in the effort and give up. Because of this I never really took him seriously as a threat. An offhand supposition about his motivation was made towards the end of the story, and this would have been great information to have up front so I could better understand the stakes to all characters.

On the positive note, the town of Desolation was very charming, and I enjoyed reading about it. The relationships between the residents were fun to read about and often very touching.

This was it was a light, fluffy read, but it lacked too much emotional depth for me to fully enjoy it.

I really enjoyed this story with it's quirky characters. Gray is just looking for a place to retire from being a gunslinger. He really didn't set out to be a gunslinger, but sort of fell into it. He has been doing it for too many years and he is just tired. When he happens upon the town of Desolation, he thinks it might be the place for him. Immediately he finds a woman arguing with several men. When she just announces that he is her fiancee, he isn't sure what to do about that, but she did promise to make a meal. Nothing Gray likes better than food and a nap. Mercy thinks that even if the stranger doesn't follow her back to her home, she will at least have bought some time before her neighbor starts hounding her again about buying her property. Her father just died and the neighbor thinks she can't handle it on her own. Mercy is made of sterner stuff than that. Gray isn't sure about this brash woman, but if she will feed him, everything might be OK. Everyone knows who he is, so he probably won't be able to stay long. But, Mercy and the town have other plans for him. The next thing he knows, he is the Sheriff, he is married and has friends. Who knew? He should be moving on, but can't seem to do that.

Hitched to the Gunslinger has the grumpiest gunslinger you can imagine. Gray “Quick Shot” just wants to retire, not get involved with a female, or a town or any kind of trouble. Good luck because all three happened. I loved this romance! Mercy is adorable, independent, strong willed and just right for a grouch trying to retire. I loved his naps, his horse who naps, the way he kept hiding his guns and the way he fell in love with Mercy and her desolate town of Desolation.

Mercy has just lost her dad, has another rancher who wants her land, either through marriage to her or running her off. Hiring a retired gunslinger sounds perfect, if she can wake him up from his naps.

The whole community is just as adorable as Mercy. They are endearing, have their own quirks, their own lives but take care of each other. Just as you love Mercy and Gray’s romance, you will love this town and its people. They might even let Gray retire …..

4.5 stars, rounded up

Gunslinger Gray “Quick Shot” Woodson, is tired and just wants to retire in peace, but that is turning out to be harder than he anticipated. Shaking off the hero-worshiping young man, Jason Sunshine, who has been trying to get Gray to teach him the “trade”, he takes off in search of a place to settle. Someplace where he can nap in peace and where everyone isn’t trying to kill him – but instead he finds himself caught up in an altercation between a feisty woman and some rough-looking men, a situation he plans on ignoring until he is recognized by the men and the woman claims he is her fiancé!

Mercy Douglas shocks herself by claiming the notorious gunfighter is her betrothed, but with her father dead and her neighbor Josiah Banff trying to strong-arm her off her property, she willingly lied when she saw Josiah’s reaction to Gray. Thankfully, Gray plays along and Josiah leaves. Leaving Mercy to deal with her “fiancé” Gray agrees to stick around – but makes it clear, he is not fighting her battles and he is not teaching her how to shoot – he is retired. Mercy agrees to his terms – sorta – but disrupts his peace every chance she gets – including making him take a bath, feeding him semi-edible food, finding the guns he keeps hiding, and making him care – something he never wanted to do – EVER.

Mercy’s antics aside, Gray thinks he will just relax for a bit, letting his reputation keep Mercy’s tormentor at bay, but things don’t go as planned. Not only does Jason show up, but Gray soon finds himself married to Mercy AND the new sheriff of Desolation, and if that isn’t enough – someone has placed a bounty on his head! So much for a quiet retirement – but despite it all, Gray is happy and thinks that maybe he has found a home – but when Mercy gets caught up in an attempt on his life, he realizes that HEA may have been too much to hope for…

This was a well-written, nicely-paced, mostly light-hearted fun story with an amazing cast of characters! I really loved this book, it was such a refreshing change of pace from the typical angst-filled HR books I have been reading lately. I loved that Gray was not a drop-dead Adonis, who sported a six-pack and that Mercy had no qualms about poking fun at him – their banter was priceless making this a truly enjoyable read, one that only got better when Jason Sunshine and the assorted townsfolk were thrown into the mix! The book has laugh-out-loud moments, a wonderful cast of supporting characters, steamyish love scenes, a grumpy hero who just wants a nap, an independent, spirited heroine who can’t cook, a stubborn horse, a great ending in which the villain gets his due and our lovers get their HEA as well as an epilogue! My only complaint about this book is that I have no idea where or when it is set –the town of Desolation is in the very ambiguous “Wild West” with no dates given meaning it could be anytime between 1700 and 1890 and while it isn’t necessary to have that information, it is something I like to know when I am reading. This was my first Western HR by this author, but I can assure you it will not be my last and I would enthusiastically recommend this title and look forward to reading more from this author.

****The ARC of this book was provided by NetGalley and Entangled Publishing in exchange of an honest review****


Anyway, it was an interesting read. I liked the characters and writing style. Plot was alright. This book kinda had a historical vibe but not fully historical fiction. Although I wished the characters were a bit young. I still liked it. Oh my, Jason Sunshine was hilarious.

A rom-com in the Old West? You betcha!
Gray is a grumpy gunslinger who wants nothing to do with, well everything. Lured in by his desire to settle down and retire, he accepts his new role in the life of Mercy and the Town of Desolation. She is being hassled by the local rich guy and somehow sucks Gray into her world of apples and home.
Gray just seems to adapt to his new retirement by planning on napping through it all. But little by little, his plans go out the window as more and more he becomes part of the town and life with Mercy.
This story has it all. Adventure. Gunfights. Romance. Quirky characters. It was wonderful, and I loved it!
I received an advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes, I read a book, and I can’t wait to share my review; this is one of those times. I could not stop laughing at this non-stop, swoon-worthy, romantic comedy. Hitched To The Gunslinger is a passionate western with lots of heart. I smiled throughout the entirety of the book! If you are looking for a light-hearted, energetic read, this romance is for you.

Gray “Quick Shot” Woodson, the fastest gun in the west, has lived longer than anyone expected, including himself. He has decided to find someplace quiet and out-of-the-way where he can retire to a rocking chair and takes lots of naps. Gray stumbles upon a sleepy hole-in-the-wall town called Desolation. He instantly finds himself embroiled in a town vendetta and engaged to a bossy, mouthy stranger he can’t keep his eyes off. Mercy is at her wit’s end, fighting to save her livelihood and legacy when Gray stumbles onto her path. Unbeknownst to Gray, he is everything Mercy has been searching for.

Gray is a fantastic character; he is comical yet holds enough substance to make the role enjoyable. He is naturally an untrusting loner and finds himself suddenly surrounded by a vivacious wife and meddling, colorful townspeople. Mercy is headstrong and opinionated; everything Gray tries hard to avoid. The couple is total opposites, yet make an excellent match. Their passionate connection is lace with danger and levity. I fell in love with both Gray and Mercy; they were a perfect combination.

The plot was engaging, and the pages flew by. If you don’t laugh while reading this book, I do not know what will make you smile. At one moment, the story was passionate and dangerous, then suddenly something off-the-wall happens, and hilarity ensues. Each character was lovingly and beautifully written, down to Gray’s horse. The secondary characters added that extra dimension to the novel.

I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard as I did reading this book. The humor was quick-witted and sharp, adding to the engrossing storyline. I didn’t want to put this book down and let this fantastical, entertaining story conclude. The ending was perfection, completing the storyline of a lonely gunfighter that finds love and belonging in the most unexpected of places. This book was an absolute joy to read. If you need some pleasure, pick up this book, and it will have you smiling in no time! I love a book that makes you feel good yet still entertains. This novel does that in spades. This was my first venture with this author; it will certainly not be the last. So sit down, relax, and prepare to be entertained with a story full of heart, action, wit, and romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have not read Michelle’s books before but I am sure I have some in my massive TBR pile. I saw this book was available and I have been reading more historical westerns lately (hope they keep being written because I did not realize how much I liked them and missed them). This sub-genre is different and so much more gritty. Throw in a gunslinger and I am so there. Gray and Mercy meet under inauspicious circumstances and their relationship is purely business until it isn’t. I laughed out loud at some the circumstances and dialog coming out of these people. After they are married their relationship really heats up. Between Mercy’s horrible cooking, the smell of apples, naps and Birdie the horse this story is quite amusing but also has a bad guy and people willing to help. The people of the town are all great characters. I have become quite the watering pot and yes there is a scene in this story that I promise you will also need a tissue. I loved this story.

Will he have to leave once more when he thought to have found a place to call home…

Oh my!
I do not think I have laughed so much since some of my reads by GL Robinson, Elisa Braden or Emma V Leech.
This is definitely a story to throw you rolling on the floor or running in a hurry before peeing on oneself.
This book was hilarious from beginning to end, from grouchy grunting Gray to testy bossy Mercy, or grumpy cranky Birdie the horse to sweet smiling Jason and the unconventional town people. It is a non stop revelry of barbs, quips, bickering, banters with all kind of actions interspaced in between.
Even the fight scenes are orchestrated like a well oiled music, I pictured them in my mind with exasperated Gray calculating where and when to act all the while annoyed and incensed Mercy did not kill him while shooting at others.
The thoughts that sprout from Gray add to this humor filled story to make it definitely one of the best historical rom-com for long.
I would even agree to wait another two years for the author’s next release if it offers the same level of humor, drama and action.

I could just not put it down.

It is not solely a side-splitting tale, it narrates also how people are despondent of their circumstances and how it is difficult to shred one’s skin to change into a new one. The past has a skill to catch up at any time.
Yet until you have something to loose, you do not understand the value of a home, not the place but the people who make it a home.

Gray is no youthful prime, he is himself astonished to have reached his old age with this an organ beating in his chest. Why he tries to retire but his reputation follows him everywhere. So when a place to sleep and free meals are offered for him just standing close to a threatened woman in a place called Desolation, he signed for as long as it may last. If it comes with a fake fiancée, a stubborn goat and some nagging neighbors, he will make do.
He just did not expect his alleged betrothed to grow on him, so much.
Mercy needs no one, and has no one. Until she lands herself a fiancé thanks to a gluttonous nag. Sure he is no Prince Charming, well she is no princess too. Exigent, pushy but kind and caring, she can be exasperating and overbearing.

While you will laugh at Gray’s clouded view of life and Mercy’s antics, this also a tale of friendship and support, that people are stronger together.
5 stars as there is no higher rate.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

It doesn’t get much better than an actioned packed, funny, and steamy old western romance and Hitched to the Gunslinger is definitely all that!

As much as I could personally relate to the hero, Gray (grumpy and can nap anywhere, anytime), I’ll be honest that at first, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to actually like him as a romance hero! In his hope for retirement from the gunslinging life, he had let himself go a bit and was pretty lazy, not really caring about much. However, as his relationship develops with Mercy, I think he finds himself again and I really appreciate that he was just kind of a regular, 40-ish guy. Mercy is also not your typical historical heroine- she’s 30, never married, but not exactly innocent, and is completely capable of taking care of herself. She is everything a guy like Gray needs, and I am still feeling a little teary-eyed thinking how after never really having a home, he found his home with her.

Set in the town of Desolation, it is actually the opposite, filled with an odd mix of meddling and accepting people that make for the best kind of secondary characters. I’m really hoping that this isn’t the last we see of people of this crazy town!

There was just something about the book blurb that caught my attention and I’m so glad I read this book! It was funny, sweet, heartwarming along with cowboys, a small town, various entertaining animals, and some bad guys.

When Gray ‘Quick Shot’ Woodson shows up in Desolation, Colorado, he has no idea his plans for the future have changed. He quickly finds himself engaged to Mercy, who is trying to hold off the bad guys who want her land. ALL he wants to do is have a good meal and a nap, not provide protection! With Mercy trying to use his guns and a young man wanting Gray to train him, he feels aggravated and unwilling to help anyone shoot another person or become a gunslinger. As he noted, he’s never welcomed anywhere, someone always wants to kill him or collect a bounty and he just wants to retire.

This is a uniquely witty story and I found myself laughing out loud so many times. There are some sad and tender moments as Gray and Mercy share some of their sorrows, but they seem made for each other. Mercy is feisty, stubborn, independent and believes everyone should have a bath fairly often! She has such a quick wit and doesn’t let anything Gray say or do faze her. The chemistry between Mercy and Gray seems to be a slow burn because it seemed like there was plenty of time for them to get to know each other but everything happened quickly. The few sexual scenes were off the charts and unexpected between a spinster of 30 and an old gunslinger of 41 in that time period. I liked that they weren’t young and perfect – their looks were noted but seemed to be somewhat ordinary, human and interesting until they came to know each other better and appreciated the special smiles and personalities.

The secondary characters – Jason Sunshine (what a great name!), Martha, Preacher, Doc and more truly enhance the story especially as they all work together to save Mercy, her land, Gray and the town. As in most small towns, everyone seemed to know immediately when something happened and had a comment or wanted to be involved.

I don’t recall the last time I read a book classified as a western, but this story was a treat and I truly enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more work by Ms. McLean.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this new work.

4.5 Stars
Tired of the notoriety and dangerous life, Gray “quick shot” Woodson wants to wind down and find a quiet town where he can retire and take as many naps as he wants. Lots and lots of naps… Guided by his horse, Birdie, he reaches Desolation. Just when he is ready to take that first step into his retirement life, he meets Mercy Douglas who has other plans for him. Within seconds of meeting Gray, Mercy Douglas declares him her fiancé, successfully shooing away potential land thief waiting to prey on a single woman. Things get less peaceful for Gray when the townspeople decide to make him their new sheriff. Added to this is a vicious landowner just waiting to get rid of him and Mercy. Gray realizes peace and his naps are drifting away.

‘Hitched to the Gunslinger’ is such a light, humorous, feel-good page-turner. This book has such a perfect blend of an adorable main couple, delightful side characters, a villain worth hating, and a plot that keeps you engaged till the very end. Michelle McLean brings all these elements together with such expertise that it keeps you entertained through every page

Mercy is an admirable heroine; Independent, adventurous and feisty! Gray Woodson is such an adorable and fun character. I couldn't get enough of his funny banter with Mercy.
The side characters also play a huge role in making the book engaging from beginning to end. Everyone, including Birdie, the horse, is unique and likeable, and their interactions with grumpy Gray, who can’t catch a nap, is utterly delightful.

It might not be laugh-out-loud funny, but it certainly had me grinning through-out. With a nail-biting climax and a heart-warming ending, this book is a must-read for romance lovers!