This was a fun one - I need more historical rom-com in my life!!! Also, I didn't know it was just is a series - now I will need to go read book one!

A strong willed sassy lady and an in the run gunslinger accidentally get married. Or do they?! Nobody knows 🤣 I really hate the miscommunication trope, but this one was an exception. The banter was hilarious and perfect, as was the relationship! I loved the friendship and chemistry that blossomed between them. This is a silly story with action and a great romance in there as well. I will certainly be reading the next one.

Read if you enjoy:
• a sassy heroine
• cowboy gunslinger
• witty banter
• tension & chemistry
• western romance
• some spice🌶️

Thank you Entangled Publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book is due for publication 7/26/22.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Hitched to the Gunslinger, so I was so excited to get the chance to read The Gunslinger's Guide to Avoiding Matrimony. Just give me all the western romcoms at this point.

This one started started off on the perfect romcom note (I mean, how can you not be amused by a horse named Barnaby?), and it reinforced my thought all those months ago that I absolutely love western romcoms. I loved Adam and I loved Nora. They seemed perfect for each other.

And yet . . .

The Gunslinger's Guide to Avoiding Matrimony didn't have the same spark that Hitched to the Gunslinger did for me. A lot of time was spent on Adam getting a new job and failing at it. While it all was amusing, I'm here for romance. Give me more Adam and Nora bantering and fighting. Give me more tension and comedic mishaps between the two.

While we're at it, there is a complaint that has carried over from the first book to this one: the female main character is often hardworking and running her own business - but we hardly ever get to see this! Give me those instances. Show me her at work doing what she loves.

None of this is to say this second book in the series was bad. It's not. It is funny and heartwarming. Despite being a tad underwhelmed by it, I'm here for this town and these characters. I can easily forgive the author for not meeting the high mark I expect (thanks, Hitched to the Gunslinger) as long as she continues writing this series because I just can't get enough of it.

I liked this book, but I only gave it 4 stars.
Spoiler alert.
I enjoyed this story, although I feel the hero used his outlaw status as an excuse to avoid responsibility.
The story starts out with the hero, lost in the wilderness, when he realizes there is a sign on the ground. Then he sees a trail that is overgrown. He follows this trail to a town. There is a big meeting in the town and he is just looking for the bath house. He walks by a woman who is wearing pants and trying to pick up her drunk father and take him home. She asks him for help and they get into a little spat. He says, "Yes, I do!", then she says, "Yes, I do!", not realizing that they are in the middle of a group wedding and the preacher's assistance thinks they said their vows. So they are married, but have to sign the certificate. The woman, our heroine, needs a husband before her father sells the last few acres and house before she can claim it when she is married or 30. She is 25 and will not be able to keep her father from using it as collateral for 5 more years. So she is happy to be married. The hero is not happy to be married because he is an outlaw and if he is married, his relations can be used as hostages or worse.
So, this book is a series where outlaws go to retire and they have to have a job and be married or leave so that they do not cause any trouble. And they can't bring trouble to the town.
I felt that this book was well written, stand alone story, but I also felt that the hero was using the fact that he was an outlaw as a crutch. He hasn't gone to see his mother because he doesn't want her to be a hostage. He keeps running into problems of his own making. If he would just stay in one place, and get a job and not as a gambler, his life would be better. But he just doesn't see sense. And he could have stayed married to the heroine, with the agreement to make arrangements to leave and let her annull the marriage. It still would have been a good story. And the story was good enough not to have him play cards with the heroine's father to save the house and land. There was so much going on in the story anyway. Editing should be like fashion advice: Look in the mirror before you leave and take off one accessory. Same thing with this book: read and cut out one of the drama points that doesn't need to be added because the story is very good without it.
I gave the book 4 stars and a re commendation to read.

The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony is another fun historical romance whose premise might be a stretch but is still a rip roaring good time. Desolation is getting a reputation as a second chance haven for the guys whose face grace those wanted posters. Adam Brady, gunslinger, cannot believe his luck when he stumbles into town while running from a US Marshall. He quickly learns there a stipulations to staying in Desolation, marrying or finding gainful employment. Nora came to the square to watch the mass wedding ceremony and by coincidence an argument with Adam has them both grumbling their I dos at the appropriate time in the ceremony. Nora needs a temporary husband but Adam doesn’t want a wife. She has a month to change his mind before he’s thrown out of town. Funny and sweet, the story flies by and has just enough conflict to keep it moving quickly for a unputtdownable read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Normally, I am not a fan of historical romances but first Hitched to the Gunslinger and now The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony have me changing my mind.
This is such a fun and entertaining read and a perfect addition to the series. I loved the married - non married banter between Adam and Nora and of course their chemistry. I also enjoyed how the town came together to come up with ideas to hire and fire Adam from his different jobs so that he has no choice but to stay married to Nora.
I had so much fun reading this book and can’t wait for the next installment.

Oh My Gosh! What an Awesome romance story.  Not your typical Western but Michelle McLean has her charmingly unique writing style were she weaves witty banter between her characters, preposterous situation, danger and with a sheriff who is after his man and he will not stop until he gets man. The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony is the second in the series which brings the characters who found a place in your heart are back. The characters are well thought out and you find yourself drawn into their story, a story that is well-written, with a good plot, plenty of drama and sizzling passion. Wonderful setting descriptions and action sequences that are wonderfully vivid which brings this read together perfectly.

I really enjoyed this trip back to Desolation, Colorado!

Nora is a dream of a heroine. Self sufficient, walks around in trousers, no nonsense plan on taking what’s rightfully hers. Adam is the happy sunshine personality that brings laughs and joy to every page he’s on. Adam is a complete comedy of errors, and I love how half the town is willing to help Nora out with her plans.

I loved being back with these characters, and I hope that we continue to have additional books in this series and learn the back stories of certain side characters.

This one had a fun romance and a cute plot. I enjoyed the characters. Love the cover. Would recommend to romance lovers.

This was a cute, fun and charming read.

Adam Brady is running from a bounty hunter and finds himself in the town of Desolation.

The best way to describe Desolation would be picture the town of Mayberry but in a western setting.

Unbeknownst to him and Nora Schumacher, they find themselves married - to each other.

Adam doesn't want to be married and Nora needs a husband - for legal purposes only.

Adam and Nora repeatedly butt heads and, with the help of the meddling townsfolk, eventually find out that the idea of marriage isn't so bad.

Except that bounty hunter that Adam was running from? He isn't one to give up.

I really enjoyed this story and it had more spice to it than I thought it would.

This is book two in the series, but can be easily read as a complete standalone.

A great read that I couldn't put down! I enjoyed the sweet,romantic feeling of the book. Hope to read more by this author. Recommend! 5*****

I love this sort of story! A sassy woman and a gunslinger whose last thought would never be of marriage! Yet, they find themselves married to each other! It was an entertaining and funny read yet heartwarming.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was not my favorite book of the series, but it was still a fun and easy read! It was a slow and bumpy start for the main characters, but once we find out more of their background and reasoning, things start to make more sense. This is another classic case of when communication can save some trouble. Nora and Adam have great chemistry and depth to their characters. I love how hard working and positive Adam can be despite how terrible things might look. I love how Preacher played a bigger role this time around and I am excited for his story. Very funny, entertaining, and also steamy! A great series to read because it has it all! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

Great read.Keeps you interested the whole time from start to finish.Makes you want more.Seems like it could be real life drama.Love this book!Can't wait to read more!.

"The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony" by Michelle McLean
American West Historical Rom-Com
Definitely a Laughin' good read. OH, there is serious stuff happening in this town. But there always seems to be a huge smile when you need it. Have you guessed that I really enjoyed my time in Desolation? And that new kid in town… just cracked me up. If you are looking for a FUN, Easy Reading story, that will keep you turning those pages… This just might be what you are looking for. AND, this is a stand alone read. If you have not read it… when you finish this story you may want to check out the sheriff's story in "Hitched to the Gunslinger". Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
This review expresses my honest opinion.

A delightful cast of characters and a vastly entertaining romantic comedy.

I never knew that a town called Desolation-filled with retired outlaws-would give me that cozy small town vibe.

The hero and heroine were so enjoyable with their witty banter at the start of the story. When they are accidentally married at the outset, the two quickly become disgruntled adversaries who eventually find love.

We first meet Gray when he is on the run and happens upon a secluded town composed of outliers. A man who doesn’t have a lucky bone in his body, Gray feels fortunate to have found a place to hide. But true to his nature, everything that happens after his arrival is not what he anticipated and he fights tooth and nail to keep his distance from Nora. I adored watching Gray becoming more and more entangled in the community as an old foe, and new friends, test his mettle while Nora softens his resolve to remain a man unto himself.

Nora was a breath of fresh air. Independent, resilient, strong, and intelligent, Nora has deep roots in Desolation. Her home and sense of security have been under threat due to her father's unpredictable behavior and she sees marriage to Gray as the ticket to bringing peace to the uncertainty that is her life. I admired her resolve and I was so pleased to see her relationship with Gray bring her the partnership that she was missing in her lonely life.

This story was so fun to read. There were some laugh out loud moments and some animal shenanigans that almost counted as a second romantic arc in the story. The town was an original idea that I have never seen before, and I loved the concept. The insular location meant that everyone knows everyone and there is a strong sense of community amidst people who respect and take care of one another-a found family, if you will.

I have not read any books by Michelle McLean until now, and this won’t be the last. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a story that will make you smile, laugh, and swoon. This can read as a stand-alone although it is book two in McLean’s "Gunslinger" series. And I must also add that I am in love with the cover for this book-gorgeous!

4.5 stars rounded up!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this eARC thanks to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#TheGunslingersGuidetoAvoidingMatrimony #NetGalley

really enjoyed the first book in this series but for some unexplainable reason this one just did not do it for me. I was utterly bewildered at the beginning in how our hero and heroine end up mistakenly married(???) And wasn’t really interested in their dynamic going forward. I understood why Nora needed to marry him, but the whole hijinx of sabotaging him so he won’t have a job and have to stay married to her…idk, I wasn’t really into it. It just felt selfish. Dude doesn’t want to be married? Just leave him alone?

Got about 40% through and was ready to DNF when there was zero chemistry or anything happening besides Adam failing at jobs, but did skip to read the last few chapters.

Just wasn’t feeling this one

This is the second in apparently a series of romances taking place in Desolation, Colorado during the time of the old west. The town is the place where outlaws can start over, and not be bothered.

Adam is a gambler and gunslinger, and has done something bad, and just wants a place he can start over. He find the town of Desolation, and accidentally walks in to a mass wedding, and says "I do" before he realizes what it is, and ends up getting married, sort of, to Nora.

Nora is looking for a paper husband, so she can finally inherit the family farm. (It is only three acres, so hardly a ranch). Her father is trying to sell lit off so he can gamble more.

The whole book is Nora trying to persuade Adam to sign the marriage license, so that she can be legally married, and get the deed transfered. Adam spends the first half of the book trying to find ways to not sign the dang thing.

Then suddenly, the sparks fly. and they realize they are made for each other.

Funny dialogue, but a plot the felt as though it was waiting for a beat, that didn't quite come. Some of the events were foreseen, but that's ok, because that's what you expect in a romance.

If you read the first book in the series, you'll probably enjoy this second one.



<em> Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

Hooray for being back in Desolation! I absolutely loved the first book in this series, and the follow up did not disappoint. We got plenty of new content from our favorite residents of Desolation including our two leading characters, Nora + newcomer Adam.

The type of book that just continually brings a smile to your face. I need more!

What attracted me to this book was the absolutely stunning cover. I did find this to be really humorous with very likable characters - it just wasn’t a new favorite and I can’t put my finger on why. 3 stars.

The first volume of this series was funnier and the two characters didn't seem to have much chemistry with each other. I must admit, however, that the village of Desperation is becoming more and more full of interesting characters and I would like to know the story of the priest or the doctor, which I imagine, however, will follow soon.

Il primo volume di questa serie era piú divertente e i due personaggi, non mi sembravano avessero poi questa gran chimica tra di loro. Devo ammettere che comunque il villaggio di Desperation sta diventando sempre piú pieno di personaggi interessanti e vorrei conoscere la storia del prete o quella del dottore, che immagino comunque, seguiranno a breve.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.