I loved this!! I love a good western romance(which I just recently learned is a real genre lol) and this one didn’t let me down! Nora was an absolute hoot.

I didn't like it as much as the first book but it was still a really funny read with a very humorous cast of characters. And it had a wonderful ending. Historical Western Rom-Com about a retired gunslinger/gambler just wanting to find peace and escaping an overzealous marshal. But he comes into town at the wrong time and ends up married to a local woman who needs to find a husband to keep her ranch out of her drunk father's hands. But he doesn't want to be married so the antics they put him through all the while fighting the attraction to his new wife are so funny.

This is one of my first western romances and I think I’m a convert. Near ruination just hits DIFFERENT with unhinged pistol popping cowboys idk. Whatever it is it’s a whole mood.

Seriously the sexual tension is THROUGH the barn I mean the man sucked out a splinter from her finger???? While making tender but burning eye contact???? While whispering sweet nothings to soothe her pain???? Giddy on UP. They did NOT paint westerns like this in Back to the Future 3.

I really adored how Nora was totally capable but also carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. A lot of the book was Adam trying to relieve some of that pressure on her. Cuddling, coddling, copulating. The domestic bliss between the two had me feeling REAL single. Her astonishment when he was fixing up things around the house nearly took me out. Then there was a scene that I thought would be a breakup but ended in him opening his arms for a hug. And sex. So yeah we won.

The little moments between these two were everything, especially since they were married but not and were trying to fight the consummation. The bathtub scene where Nora tries to seduce Adam was just so good. “Yes I’ll do the cooking, Yes I’ll do the cleaning,” she said with her whole chest.

The premise of the series is so fun and book 2 definitely delivered on the comedy promised on the cover!! I didn’t read the summary, so the way they ended up getting married was even better. These feel super fresh and modern, while still making me want to get ravished in a haystack and order a sarsaparilla from a questionably clean glass.

If you’re someone who gets tripped up by modern language in historicals, skip it and save yourself the torment. But personally, I loved it as I’m not sure I want a truly authentic western novel lmao. From page one, the modern language made the barrier of entry far lower for me.

Doc and Martha better be next!!! And Preacher has me INTRIGUED. I’m going back to book one and I’ll be on the lookout for book three!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

My only critique is that I hoped and expected the steam to give a bit more than we got. It still had a couple good scenes, but they weren’t that explicit and not too creative. He never went down on her and the positions were typical. I’m my opinion, the tension was almost hotter than the climax.

Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for a free copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

A reverse grumpy-sunshine story with a twist! Adam Brady is a wanted man…and yet he is charming and has a generally positive outlook on life. Nora is used to shouldering responsibility. When they meet, sparks fly amid a flurry of misunderstandings. McLean paints a vivid backdrop of the old west, a colorful cast of characters, and a heartwarming story of acceptance.

The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony by Michelle McLean is a light-hearted romantic comedy taking place in the old West. Adam Brady is a gunslinger and a gambler. There is a price on his head. A lawman named Spurlock is chasing him and he is doing his best to not be caught. He stumbles upon an isolated town called Desolation in which most of the inhabitants are wanted by the law. He thinks maybe he can make a life here as he is sick of his old one. Something is going on, he can’t tell what. As luck would have it, it is a mass wedding ceremony. He is standing next to a very tall woman and apparently says the wrong thing at the wrong time because next thing he knows there is a boy wanting him to sign a paper. It is a marriage certificate. He politely refuses and then listens to the sheriff speak: the rules for the town state one has to be married or have a job within 30 days of arriving. Easy enough: he will get a job. He doesn’t want to be married.

This is a cross between a cowboy romance and a beach read. It is entertaining with all the varied characters one would expect to find in an Old West town: the madam, the doc, the preacher, the sheriff, who it turns out would be a very wanted criminal if the world didn’t believe he was dead, and many more, including the town drunk. Nora is the daughter of the town drunk. She lives in a house that her grandparents built on a few acres of land. All that is left of the small ranch her grandmother had owned. Her father had gradually sold off the rest of it to fund his bad habits: drinking and gambling. It was all left to her by her mother, but she can’t actually claim it until she is married or reaches 30. She has the deed hidden, but who knows how long it will be safe. She needs a husband so she can change the deed. Preferably the husband wouldn’t stick around. She is a terrific character: solid, hard-working, and one of the boys. So, when Adam stumbles into town, he appears to be the perfect husband. Lots of fun is guaranteed in the next thirty days! Such a cute, relaxing story! A great read as a break from more serious stuff!

I was invited to read The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony by Amara, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #amara #michellemclean #thegunslingersguidetoavoidingmatrimony

A funnier rom-com that had some laugh out loud moments, witty banter, and romance/sex scenes that ratcheted up the chemistry without overwhelming the book. It did drag a little in the middle for me, but the side characters were entertaining and their group plot to get Adam fired from every job was funny.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of The Gunslinger's Guide to Avoiding Matrimony. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for providing an ARC to review.

I went into this novel not expecting much but was so happily surprised. Adam and Nora are a fun and cute couple who have oodles of chemistry and charm. The fun quirkiness of the town of Desolation and the fun townspeople make me want to continue reading this series. If you are looking for a romance full of witty banter and entertaining characters, this is the book for you. I give this book an unexpected 4/5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. This book initially interested me but I didn't love the hero I feel like Adam just couldn't make up his mind on what to do about Nora. Adam did not want to be married but he falls in love with Nora, they accidentally end up married then he still intends to leave her. Nora knew that Adam doesn't want to stay married but despite knowing that she still wants to keep him in a marriage he doesn't want. The book was enjoyable so I got through the whole story. There were moments of comedic relief in this story that I really liked and over all I like the authors writing style. I liked other books in this series by Michelle Maclean but this one was not my favorite. I will be picking up the next book in the series still.

Thank you @entangled_publishing and @netgalley for my gifted copy of THE GUNSLINGER’S GUIDE TO AVOIDING MATRIMONY. My thoughts are my own. This book is available now!

Adam Brady is on the run from a bounty hunter and he finds himself in a town called Desolation, where there is a rule: gunslingers must marry or hold a job, or leave! Hilariously, he ends up in a line of men waiting to get married and before he knows it he is accidentally married! He embarrasses the bride, Nora, by refusing to remain married.

Nora doesn’t really want a husband but she needs one in order to inherit her property. She is running out of options so she needs to remain married to Adam long enough to gain her inheritance.

The townspeople conspire to help her and before long Adam loses one job after another and his options become limited.

The banter between Adam and Nora made me laugh out loud in this fun story. I loved the townspeople and their willingness to work together to support Nora. Read this if you enjoy historical romance with a touch of humor and spice!

“The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony” by Michelle McLean, is a new author to me. I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and dove into this Western Rom-Com/Romance. To be honest it moved a bit slow for me, but I can’t hide the fact that the author did a great job writing this book and bringing the characters together.

The male main character is Adam Brady and he’s a gunslinger on the run from a less than law-abiding lawman who wants to see him hang, if he makes it back to Denver.

Nora just wants a husband for a short amount of time and then wants him to move on. There’s a reason for this, but I don't want to throw in any spoilers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Want a laugh out loud western RomCom…..well this is your story. Adam, a ex-gunslinger-gambler is on the run and somehow finds the hidden town of Desolation. More bad luck for him, the sheriff is also someone who is gunning for him. Trying to sneak out of town before the sheriff sees him, he bumps into a man that has fallen at his feet. There is a gathering crowd and not sure what is going on Adam bad luck continues, he somehow now is married to Nora, who’s father lays at his feet. His number one rule is never get married.
Nora is once again getting her drunken father from the saloon. She just doesn’t need this on top of all the other burdens she has on her shoulders. Then she winds up arguing with the good looking, obnoxious man who offered to help with her father. And somehow winds up married in the mass marriage ceremony. Maybe a answer to her problem?
Love the banter between Nora and Adam, the slow building attraction and the supporting characters are all fun. Looking forward to reading more from this series. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheGunslingersGuidetoAvoidingMatrimony #EntangledPublishingLLC

I adore Michelle McLean’s hilarious Gunslinger series and couldn’t wait to read book #2. It didn’t disappoint. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with Adam and Nora.

Two strangers accidentally married in a mass town wedding. A charming gambler and gunslinger and a hard-working woman trying to make ends meet. Will she convince him to sign the papers and make it official to save her home, or will he choose a job over her?

Of all the rotten luck. Adam Brady finally found a place he could retire and hide out from the marshall who is hunting him down. However, his choice to stand out in the street during a mass town wedding unbeknownst to him and saying “I do” in a conversation with a beautiful trouser-clad woman, found him not only retired but hitched as well. Or did it? It appears they didn’t sign the papers to make it official and though she insists on calling him husband, he found another way to stay in town. Find a job in a month or he has to leave town. Unfortunately, the sheriff of the town has a bad history with Adam and he’s hoping his stay is short.

Nora Schumacher is living day by day as a seamstress and selling vegetables from her garden. Her father is the town drunk and has left everything to her to make ends meet. However, now he is threatening to sell off more of their land so he can gamble and drink the money away. She has to keep his hands off the deed to the house because knowing him he will take that from her as well. Her maternal grandparents left the house to her when they died. The stipulations require that she receive it when she turns thirty which is several years away or if she marries, whichever comes first. So when fate threw a gunslinger in her lap as a new husband she will stop at nothing to stay hitched. Even if that means asking all her friends for a favor to make his job opportunities less than ideal.

Adam and Nora are made for each other. They are not perfect by any means, but what they lack in grace, they make up for it in determination and charm. Their attraction is a slow build, but when they give in to their passion, it is a delight to watch. Adam’s sense of humor is hilarious as he takes on a town that is hell-bent on him staying married to Nora. Watching Adam tackle the various jobs he is given is priceless as he bungles each one of them but gives it his all doing it. As Adam grows to care for Nora it is endearing to watch as he helps her fix the things around her rundown homestead and is there for her when she needs some support. Something no one has done in the past. It’s sad that Nora is not considered attractive in some men’s eyes because she is so tall. She is considered just one of the guys with the other men in town until Adam sees her beauty inside and out. Nora is a force to be reckoned with and she works hard to make ends meet for her and her lazy-ass disrespectful father who eventually comes around when it is almost too late. There is also plenty of action in this book with Adam’s past catching up to him and an unforgettable showdown.

This book wouldn’t be as fun if it weren’t for the lovely townspeople of Desolation. They make the story roll along with laughter and love showing their caring nature and secretive and protective instincts. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

If you are a fan of romantic comedy, give this book a try. The characters are memorable and the romance is lovely.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for this eARC!

This is a fun read, that's for sure. It's light-hearted and funny enough to have had me giggling in the coffee shop I like to read in. My biggest hang-up here is that I didn't quite believe the relationship between Nora and Adam. I feel like it needed just a bit more build-up before the get-together. That may just be my personal preference, though, an abundance of angst and pining. I also can't say I'm a big fan of an entire town dropping everything to help one person in the "you're always there for us" way, but, again, that's just my personal preference. However, if you're looking for a quick, enjoyable, western historical romance then this isn't a bad book to pick up.

I loved getting back to the town of Desolation.  
There were a few funny moments between Adam and Nora that left me laughing out loud. Lucille the goat is still causing mayhem around town and his horse is can't stay away from the sheriff's horse.

There were also a few sad moments when Nora feels the sting of Adam's rejection. But overall this addition to the series was fun.

Adam Brady accidentally finds the town of Desolation, a town that welcomes outlaws as long as they find a job or get married. Something Adam would like to avoid but after helping resident Nora Schumacher, they find themselves accidentally married.

Nora doesn't necessarily want a husband but she needs one. The grandfather left the house and property to her but she won't be able to gain full control until her thirtieth birthday unless she gets married. Adam is perfect because he doesn't want marriage either but he refuses to sign the paperwork. If only she can convince him to go along. When she confesses her reasons for staying married to Adam, her friends decide to help steer him into her arms.


Thank you so much to the author, Entangled and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony by Michelle McLean.

Nora Schumacher and Adam Brady are great characters. Their banter was fun and entertaining. But, there were also poignant moments where they opened up to each other.

For a town of outlaws and those wishing to escape their pasts, it’s been heartwarming to see how they have banded together to create a community and protect each other.

This is the second book in the Gunslinger series. It can be read as a standalone although I recommend reading the books in order to provide you more background about the other characters in the story.

The follow up to Michelle MacLean’s Hitched to the Gunslinger, The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony is finally here and the citizens of Desolation are up to more shenanigans!

Running from the law retired gunslinger/gambler Adam Woodson stumbled upon the town of Desolation.

His timing is perfect and he walks right into the mess groom selection/ wedding ceremony for the town and ends up married to spinster Nora.

Nora hadn’t planned on picking a groom, but Adam will suit her purpose nicely- she only needs a husband long enough to inherit her property… too bad Adam has no intention of being that husband!

Now the rules of Desolation state a man must marry or find a job… so Adam starts trying his hand at all the jobs, while Nora attempts to woo him to sign the marriage papers.

In general this is a cute and funny premise, but Adam’s insistence that he can’t/won’t marry is too much. I felt for Nora and her insecurities as she tries to get Adam to accept their marriage.

In the same vein, Nora is described as muscular, plain, not that feminine and preferring to wear trousers. The cover image totally distracted me with the exact opportunity depiction. I hate when that happens.

In the end, I really enjoyed going back to Desolation and seeing all my favourite characters again but I didn’t find this book as funny as the first.


The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony is available now.
Thanks to @entangled_publishing for my NetGalley review copy.


#TheGunslingersGuidetoAvoidingMatrimony #michellemclean #NetGalley

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun Rom Com. I read the first one and really liked it and the same goes for this one. The story keep moving along and held my attention throughout. This is a very quick fast and most entertaining read.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! ANOTHER GREAT READ BY THIS AUTHOR. I couldn't put this book down it was just as good as the first one in the series but defiantly could be read without reading the first one. Can't wait to read another one of Michelle's laugh out loud books.

I received a ARC from Netgalley and this review is my own opinion.

My blurb …
Adam Brady, 28, lives by two rules: never get married, never get caught. A town called Desolation provides people with a past and a place to live *if* they get married or have a job. Adam rides into town and without realizing it ends up married to a feisty, sassy woman named Nora. Can he get out of the marriage? Why does he keep getting fired from one job after another? Why does she want to be married but not really?

My review …
Loved the title of this book — it grabbed my interest right away. Eh … my review doesn’t match the four-five stars of those already posted. And a good chunk of the reason is language.

Allow me to explain.
No time period is given but lamps “splutter” and people use horses. The state of Colorado exists [Chapter Four]; Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876. So–our time frame is circa 1880. And the language used by the men when women are present simply would not be done. Shoot, I’m a senior citizen, and even into the 1990s men *still* watched words around LADIES. And Nora is a lady. There were “hints” in the description provided by the publisher (or author) — it can be either one. Words/phrases like helluva, ‘a woman with legs as long as his wanted poster‘, and ‘the enticing, if damnably independent…’. So a heads up to readers … be ready for it. I guess I should have been but I wasn’t.

Classify this book as “hot”, or even “steamy” and no longer read either one. That is clearly stated in my Bio on NetGalley and Goodreads. So I skipped/skimmed through several scenes.

I had no idea it was “A Clever Western Romantic Comedy” until I had downloaded the e-ARC as the cover was not shown at the time I requested it. I admire anyone who can write comedy; it is not easy to do. And the author, Michelle McLean, has some great lines and scenes in this book two of the series, Gunslinger. The book is standalone.

My rating is 3 stars -- no warning of steamy scenes reduced the rating from 4 stars. And I believe the book would have still met the 4-5 star criteria of most reviewers. Readers like me that fit the no-steam category appreciate knowing BEFORE we download a book if such scenes are included. In this case, I would not have requested to review.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony via NetGalley from the publisher, Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

#TheGunslingersGuidetoAvoidingMatrimony #NetGalley #MichelleMcLean

Series Gunslinger #2
Genre Western Romance
Pub. Date 26 Jul 2022
Pages 311
Publisher Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara
Cover Does not match the lead female character.
Rating 3 stars

A hilarious and original plot that kept me entertained and yet dealt with some serious esteem issues. Nora calling Adam all the wrong names was laugh out loud funny. This book takes you into the Old West to a town named Desolation. This is a town made for people on the run or with dangerous pasts, the only problem are the rules. One rule - you have to be employed or married within thirty days. Unfortunately for Adam, a diehard bachelor gunslinger, he managed to get married after being in town about five minutes in a mass ceremony. He doesn't realize it because he was in an argument with his new wife, Nora. Even when a young boy is trying to get them to sign the paperwork to make it legal, Adam can't comprehend what's happened and insists he doesn't want a wife and will find a job instead. Nora, who has terrible self-esteem issues, is crushed by a stranger rejecting her so quickly, never mind she needs a husband desperately. She had resigned herself to no one in town marrying her, but a complete stranger? What she doesn't know is Adam is hiding from a man who doesn't give up and would likely see him dead. He's also hiding from "Quick Shot" Woodson. Adam is the one who gave him the nickname, which caused issues for Woodson. To say Quick Shot would like to kill Adam for that alone is an understatement and now he's the sheriff of Desolation.

Nora has a number of friends in town and they conspire to make Adam's several jobs impossible for him to keep, add to that Adam is quite unskilled in almost everything. It's their hope he will sign the paper and legalize the marriage to help their friend.

This is my first Michelle McLean book, but now I have to go back and read book one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for providing a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.