A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

What a great start to a new series! I loved the way this story was crafted from start to finish. Nothing was left unanswered when it came to the questions raised throughout the story and the slow burning love story was great too. I loved how Ms. Hedlund allowed her characters to have real reactions to each other and showed their attraction in the pages. God made people to be attracted to each other both physically and emotionally and both were well written in this story. I also loved how both Greta and Wyatt worked so hard to make things better for each other and Astrid. They didn't wait around for others to do a job if it needed doing, they simply took care of it. And I really liked Greta's skills with canning/jarring her fruits and veggies. I recently learned how to can and jar myself so it was fun to read about others doing the same. I will certainly be recommending this story to others in the hope that they will enjoy the adventure and the love story as I did. Hopefully the next story will be coming out soon!
I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

A marriage for keeps - when God is invited

This is an enjoyable marriage of convenience story. Greta & Wyatt are both sympathetic characters. Astrid is a pip, and I love wise old Judd.

Wyatt gives Greta a 3 month trial period after they made vows before God & witnesses including to be together till death do they part. I was bothered by that aspect. One's word is supposed to mean something, but especially one's word to God. At least it was unconsummated during that time though.

Additionally, Greta puts Astrid as her first priority over the husband she promised God she'd cleave to, instead of communicating with the man to whom she'd agreed to be yoked & approaching the problem as a team.

However, while the plot doesn't directly address these issues, the spiritual growth of the characters does to some extent, and that really helped assuage my concerns somewhat.

The ending is happy, if a little pat, and yet it all works out plausibly enough that I barely noticed let alone was bothered by it. I'm looking forward to reading more about Wyatt's family

*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic

*Religion: overtly Christian with a very light touch; both characters believe in God, but struggle with trust & belief that His love is personal

A fun historical western. There's lots of adventure - stagecoach hold ups, stand offs with guns, disappearances, and much more.

A swoon-worthy cowboy hero, a steamy yet clean romance, an exciting plot, and relevant spiritual lessons make A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund one of my favorite Christian fiction books of all time. I absolutely love marriage of convenience stories, but when you add mountains and cowboys I am totally hooked! Greta has brought her sickly little sister to Colorado in hopes the mountain air will heal her, and the only way she could so was to serve as a mail order bride. However, when she steps off the stagecoach having been recently robbed of every penny by bandits, she finds that her intended has died. She is homeless, penniless, and needs to find a way to stay in Colorado to help her little sister heal. Wyatt McQuaid is a new rancher who needs an investor to purchase cattle and get his ranch started. The town’s mayor offers a solution to Wyatt which helps Greta too—the mayor will invest in Wyatt’s ranch if Wyatt marries Greta to help the mining community become a respectable place for families. Thus begins a whirlwind love story that is packed full of adventure and will keep you totally riveted until the very last page! I read this book in one sitting because I was so caught up in the wonderful romance and exciting storyline of this book. The chemistry between Greta and Wyatt is steamy, but remains clean and tasteful, which is perfect for a marriage of convenience story. The plot has so many twists and turns and is full of surprises that keep you guessing until the last chapter, which makes this an incredibly thrilling read. Of course, cowboy Wyatt is at the center of the adventure and is one of the most swoon-worthy heroes I have read to date! Best of all, this story touches on dealing with failure and giving God control of the future, which are incredibly important and relevant spiritual lessons. I absolutely adored this book, and I wholeheartedly give it the highest rating possible. Jody Hedlund has delivered yet another wonderful historical romance, and I recommend A Cowboy for Keeps to anyone looking for their next great read.
I was given a copy of this book by the author and publisher for review purposes. My thoughts are my own. I really did love it!

A Cowboy for Keeps
by Jody Hedlund
Back of the Book: “Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.
Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family. And the mayor, who has promised to try to help Greta, has just the candidate in mind for Wyatt to marry.”
Impressions: This was a fun, well-written mail order bride gone wrong romance.
Rated: Passionate kisses
Liked: I enjoyed the relationship development between Greta and Wyatt. I can see this being played out into a movie or a tv series. Judd and Astrid were great supporting characters.
Disliked: I think it would have been interesting to add more side dialogue from Brawley. It would have added some more depth to hear his thoughts on how things were playing out.
Quotes: “My pa always told me and my brothers that even if we don’t like doing hard things, it's those hard things that make us strongest.” – This is a lesson I’m trying to teach my boys right now!
“Although she’d been taught to say her prayers, and did so regularly, she’d always wondered why God would listen to her. Not when He was busy with other more important matters elsewhere.”
“But she still couldn’t shake the feeling that her concerns were too trivial for so great a God…” – I too have felt this way before. All it is is Satan’s lies. When you feel doubt or question something the best thing to do is turn to the Bible and prayer. The Bible is full of promises of God's love for us and his desire for us to be close with Him. His love for us is great and the best way to understand this is to read the Bible.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

“But I reckon you’d rather she come to you with her problems than run away.” “Very true.” “The good Lord wants us to do the same. He says: ‘Cast they burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.” I enjoyed the book and finished it in one day. I loved the family element that the author weaved into the story, the romance, suspense, and characters that I could relate to.

A great start to a new series. “A Cowboy for Keeps” is set in 1862 in Fairplay, Colorado and the Colorado territory. Greta was determined to help her sister get better. She traveled to Colorado as a mail order bride and ended up marrying Wyatt who was not the man who brought her there. I love historical romance books and highly recommend “A Cowboy for Keeps.” This is a first in the and looking forward to reading the next book.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

All in all, a delightfully sweet western to fall in love with! A Cowboy for Keeps introduces us to Greta and Wyatt as the main characters, but don’t be mistaken, the secondary characters are just as loveable. Astrid deserves a place in the heart of all readers for her childlike faith and ability to friend anyone. Greta’s grit and determination won me over and had me cheering for her because of her character and integrity. She just wants to see her sister well and contribute her part along the way. Wyatt is a man plagued by failure who just wants to do the right thing. Together, Greta and Wyatt have a lot to learn and their marriage of convenience is exactly what they need to teach them about success and true love. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next in the series.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Nice well written nice banter and development
The mail order bride here is well developed without being over predictable
A little angst you and I love it
Astrid is so spontaneous and free and I loved her freshness
Nice read
Very very respectful and clean

A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund. #ACowboyforKeeps #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL

This was my first book to read by this author but wont be my last! I LOVE a good marriage of convenience and then they fall in love story and this book hit all the right notes! It was charming, sweet,funny, romantic and had scriptural truths! I loved it!!

"A Cowboy for Keeps" by Jody Hedlund was really good! 5⭐! I read this book in one sitting, and I even got teary-eyed! I loved it. I love marriage of convenience stories, and Jody Hedlund knows how to write a good one! This is the first book in her new series called Colorado Cowboys. I can't wait for book 2!

*Thank you to Bethany House Publishers, Netgalley, and the author for the advanced read. All opinions are my own.

#BookReview : A COWBOY FOR KEEPS by Jody Hedlund 4.5 stars

The story follows Greta Nilsson to Colorado as a mail-in-bride. She decided on this path in the hopes that the weather in the west will help her sister, Astrid, get better from her illness. Then Greta finds herself married to Wyatt instead of her intended.

Astrid’s fearless and childlike approach to life is endearing. I like her as many others. I like how the main characters freely talk to God even during doubtful times. I enjoyed reading their journey in strengthening their faith in Him. Greta always feels like she was and is a burden to others but she has to learn the hard way to cast her burdens to God.

It is sweet to read as Greta and Wyatt start to fall in love and try to hide their feelings. Their first kiss in front of the whole town is unexpected but memorable for both.


Thank you Bethany House and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

A new series from Jody Hedlund, is always exciting. A Cowboy for Keeps is a great start to this series. The story of Greta and Wyatt is engaging and has a lot of twists and turns, that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well written and a joy to get to know. Even the secondary characters of Astrid and Judd are entertaining and refreshing. This is a clean Christian western romance. I would recommend this book to anyone, who is now, has ever been or is wanting to be, in love!
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. This review is my own opinion of this book.

This is a great start to the Colorado Cowboys series. Greta is taking her sickly sister to Colorado in hopes it will improve her sister's health. To do that, she agreed to be a mail-order bride. But things turn upside down when their stagecoach is robbed and her fiance has died. Penniless, she agrees to a crazy proposal out of desperation.

This book just flowed. It was well written and interesting. I felt for Greta and Astrid. Greta feels the weight of her responsibilities so greatly and doesn't want to be a burden. Astrid is the opposite. Everyone is a potential friend to Astrid whether robber, Indian, or old man. She brings joy to everyone around her. She's a delightful character.

I really liked Wyatt and Judd too. They are true gentlemen. Judd has a lot of wisdom and is a great mentor for Wyatt. It's good to have friends like them.

I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this fun historical romance. It is a good one for readers who like reluctant cowboy heroes.

In this novel, Wyatt, a struggling rancher near Fairplay, Colorado, agrees to marry Greta. A mail-order bride, she arrived in town only to find the man she was to wed is dead. And she is penniless, the stage coach having been robbed. Her plans to find a healing place for her little sister plagued with consumption are dashed. Then Wyatt comes to her rescue, forced to do so by the mayor, a man who can rescue or ruin Wyatt in his ranching efforts. Can a marriage arranged under such dire circumstances possibly succeed?

Hedlund has added a few side issues to this romance, including a mean rancher who wants to see Wyatt fail and a few scary Indians. Most of the added issues are psychological as Wyatt and Greta try to figure out how they feel about each other. Wyatt is such a gentleman, he allows Greta to live in his house as a sort of house keeper while he bunks in the barn. But, this is a romance and feelings begins to spark. Both have to overcome deep feelings of failure. A bright spot in the rough relationship ride is Astrid, the younger sister with consumption. She is a kick.

The plot is pretty typical but Hedlund makes it work with the added issues. This novel is the first in a new series for Hedlund. I'll be watching for the next one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I enjoyed A Cowboy for keeps so much. I become attached to the characters. Greta was so determined to help her sister get better. She came to Colorado as a mail order bride. She ended up marrying Wyatt who wasn’t the one that brought her there. Read the book to find out why. I loved how Greta was so hard working. Astrid, Greta’s younger sister was a special little girl. Even with being sick she going to do normal things. Cowboy for keeps is a wonderful mail order bride story. I love historical books and this is a good one. This is a first in the series. I look forward to reading the next book.

I received an advanced copy of the book from the author. This book review is my own opinion.

I was so curious going in to this book if I would enjoy this western story! It’s not my typical cup of sarsaparilla. However I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the setting and tone of this book. Wyatt was the perfect heroic cowboy! Hardworking, protective, charming, and reliable! I loved him! I appreciated Greta’s hardworking and industrious spirit, however her internal fixation on being a burden to those around her became tedious. Astrid brought bits of humor to the story and I think most readers will find her charming. I had a hard time loving her character due to her constant disobedience and outspoken nature, but I think it was a personal preference. There were some sweet moments that I enjoyed between Wyatt and Greta and I loved how protective Wyatt was of his newly formed family. Judd’s character may have been my favorite. Such subtle humor, kindness, and wisdom! This book was a quick read and I found it entertaining.

This book in my opinion is a bit different than what Hedlund normally writes but I still loved it just the same. Really, anything she writes is awesome!
These characters will make you fall in love with them from the very beginning especially little Astrid. ( By the way, I love that name! It's definitely different!)
Wyatt and Greta are perfect for each other.
The romance in this story is just right. Not too mushy.
I love that this book kept my attention and I finished it early in the morning. It was awesome!
I enjoyed my visit to Fairplay, Colorado. I didn't want to the leave.
Highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book.
All opinions are my own

I never miss a Jody Hedlund book! Westerns can be somewhat hit or miss for me, but this was certainly a hit. Plus, marriage of convenience stories are absolutely my jam. I enjoyed these characters and the plot moved at a nice pace. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!

A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund sweeps you back in time to 1860s Colorado and two people’s quest for survival.

I thoroughly enjoyed this marriage of convenience story. Hedlund does a great job of making you care about the characters and their plight from the very beginning. I think it’s always a good sign when you don’t always agree with a character’s decisions but still root for them to come through their trials.

Wyatt and Greta go into the marriage with selfish motives and an understanding that they both have their priorities already set. The conflict comes in when feelings develop, causing them to question their motives and priorities. I think this is a great look at relationships because everyone has to stop and reevaluate in a relationship, especially when marriage is involved.

Seeing these characters grow was just the incentive I needed to keep turning pages. Hedlund fleshes out these characters in such a way that you quickly become invested in their lives and root for them as they grow and mature.

And there are great spiritual arcs about fiery trials and how God wants to be involved in our lives. I found these arcs to be especially touching. Believing that God cares even about the little things can sometimes be hard for us to wrap our minds around. Especially when we encounter so many people who act as if we’re a bother. We can never be reminded too often that God cares about us.

Overall, A Cowboy for Keeps is a satisfying romance historical fiction lovers will enjoy.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

It has been a long time since I have read a book in a day, and this was the one to draw me in like that!
I love the way Jody hedlund writes historical romance. She has well crafted, multi dimensional characters. The on page chemistry is there in the right places. I love marriage of convenience stories and this one checked all the right boxes for me. I loved how the relationship between the two main characters grew slowly, we got to see them build their relationship and learn things that they needed to grow in. I loved the frontier setting and how there was a bit of danger and drama to keep me flying through the pages.
I loved the story, loved the romance. All the things!
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions in this review are completely my own and honest.