Outlaw in Paradise by Patricia Gaffney is a 2011 Open Road Media publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful historical western romance that will tickle the funny bone and warm your heart.
Originally published in 1997, Open Road Integrated Media had re-issued the book in digital format.

Jesse Gault arrives in Paradise, Oregon looking every bit the quintessential outlaw gunslinger, dressed in black all the way down to his black cigarette. Looking for a saloon, Jesse discovers an establishment run by the beautiful Cady McGill, a woman he is instantly smitten with.
The town is full of folks believing Jesse has arrived in Paradise because of them and start making confessions to Jesse. This is hilarious because Jesse is not at all what he appears to be. Meanwhile, Jesse strikes up a friendship with some of the folks in Cady's saloon and soon begins trying to seduce the beautiful saloon owner. But, Cady is having a few problems with a rival who is hell bent on seeing her run out of business and getting his hands on her gold mine. The dangerous Jesse Gault should be able to help her with this problem... but as it turns out, Jesse may not be as fierce with a gun as people have presumed.

The only problem I had with this book was that it moved just a bit too slow. There were a few long periods with not much going on and the even the dialogue started to drag out just a little. However, once I got past the half way mark, things really picked up speed and all the elements came together to create a steamy hot romance, an action packed show down and a heartwarming story of community, friendship and happy ever afters.

There were some laugh out loud moments, witty dialogue , a clever and mistaken identity, plot twist, wonderful secondary characters and an authentic western atmosphere. Cady and Jesse were perfect for each other. Overall this one gets 4 stars!! ( )

Although this book was published in 1997, this is my first Patricia Gaffney. It won’t be my last though. I feel like I’ve found a new friend, someone to follow and enjoy and anticipate every new encounter. From cover to cover, I was enchanted by the story, by the characters, and by the language. A Wild West romance with a humorous touch – what could be better?

Warning – spoilers ahead!

The action takes place in a small town Paradise. The town’s weekly is called Paradise Reverberator. Doesn’t that name remind you of a sex toy? It did to me. I couldn’t read the name of that newspaper without a grin.
At first glance, the protagonists of the novel seem standard for a western. Cady is a saloon owner, smart and saucy, determined to survive in a man’s world. Jesse Gault is a gunslinger, a legendary contract killer with an eye patch. His hoarse whisper brings fear into men’s hearts. His spurs’ jingling inspires terror, and his evil, one-eyed gaze is pure menace.
As soon as the news of his arrival spreads through town, everybody with a guilty conscience quakes, convinced that his enemies commissioned Gault to kill him. To escape certain death, people are willing to pay big bucks, sometimes all they have, and Gault accepts their bribes, although he keeps looking sinister and dangerous.
Juxtaposed with his inner musings, the situation is nothing short of hilarious, because in reality, Jesse is a conman … posing as a gunman. Must be the best con in the world, at least until his sham goes askew, calling for actual gunslinger’s skills. Then Jesse would be in a pickle.
The writing sparkles like cut crystal, witty and luminous, even when the tale turns gritty. As Jesse’s and Cady’s mutual affection deepens, despite Cady’s aversion to murderers for hire, their flirting and bantering become more and more magical. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a profound depiction of the beginning of love.
It would’ve been an uncomplicated farce, with the underpinning of a love story, if the real villain didn’t threaten everything dear to Cady, including Jesse’s life. While the lovers explore their passions, the said villain schemes, and the tension mounts. Something is going to explode – and it does. Now both heroes must employ as much ingenuity as they can to find solutions to their unsolvable problems.
The ending is a happy one – a requirement in a romance novel – but it’s also utterly surprising and unexpectedly simple, fitting the tale. On the whole, one of the best books I’ve read recently.

( )

Jesse Vaughn has adopted the guise of feared gunfighter Jesse Gault and has discovered that he can ride into town and prey upon the minds of the guilty who will pay him not to shoot them. Which is fortunate since he can't hit the broadside of a barn. But he finds himself staying too long in Paradise. He likes the town, the residents and especially the saloon owner Cady McGill. This is a funny warmhearted western romance. ( )