Marriage of Convenience stories are s favourite trope. Jody Hedlund is a favourite author. The two of them mixed together makes for and exciting tale right?  Right!!
I was so glad to read this story. I loved Greta from the start. Her desire to take care of her strong willed sister and give her the best life could offer even if it meant marrying a perfect stranger.
And then there's lovable Wyatt, gentle and with a deep sense of responsibility. I respected him from the start. Both of them are not without their insecurities and this story follows through on their journey.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

A Cowboy for Keeps is book #1 in the Colorado Cowboys series but can be read as a standalone.

Set in 1862, Colorado, the book tells the story of a mail-order bride, her sick sister, and the rancher who married her after her fiance died.

Greta and her sister Astrid were not wanted in their own home. After their father had passed away and their brothers joined the war, their sisters-in-law wanted them gone.

Expecting the west's clean air to help her sister recover from her illness, Greta decided to answer an ad to become a mail-order bride.

Her fiance was older,  kind, and well-situated in life and had agreed to take care of Astrid.

But when Greta arrived in Colorado penniless and frightened, she discovered her fiance had died, and she had no place to stay and no money to return.

The mayor of the city, interested in keeping Greta there to make the place more family-friendly, asked a rancher (Wyatt) to marry her instead.

With a sick sister and no food or shelter, Greta reluctantly agreed to marry the quiet stranger.

The story was emotional and angsty with a strong element of faith.

Wyatt and Greta's relationship was built on companionship and hard-work, and I love that he was always so caring and respectful of her wishes.

The side characters are the real show—Astrid and her love for life, and old Judd's timeless wisdom.

A Cowboy for Keeps is an inspirational story about difficult choices, hard work, and never losing faith. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 02/16/2020*

I absolutely loved A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund. It is the first book in her new series Colorado Cowboys and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books in this series.
Greta agrees to being a mail-order-bride in order to find a place where her younger sister's health might improve after suffering from consumption for years, but everything from the beginning of the trip goes wrong starting with the stagecoach being robbed and after getting to town she learns that her betrothed is presumed dead. Left with little choice she agrees to marry Wyatt and help him on his ranch and taking care of his livestock as long as her sister's health improves, if not she is moving on.
Little do they realize that even with all of the uncertainty and at times the odds that are stacked against them their relationship becomes more than just friendly, but will it be enough to keep them together in the end?

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

I’m always excited when an author I like starts a new series and the fact that this was a marriage of convenience (my favorite trope) had me anxiously awaiting its arrival.
Wyatt was great and I loved the way he let Greta set the pace of things and was a true gentleman about it. I also admired the way that he didn’t bat an eye over the fact that her little sister came with her and took time to form a relationship with her.
Greta had a caring heart which was evident in the deep love she had for her half-sister and the lengths she was willing to go to give her a better chance at life.
I will admit though that for most of the book I wanted to smack Wyatt and Greta’s heads together and hope that knocked some sense into them. It was like they both were constantly waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop and making assumptions about the other one even when they were clearly saying the opposite. They both had people in the past who hadn’t treated them well and said things that they were letting affect their lives years later. In the end I was happy they worked things out but man they could have had such a richer relationship if they weren’t always looking to give the other person an out. There were still some great moments between them though and those were my favorite parts! Astrid, the little sister, was hard to handle for sure and drove me crazy with the way she acted and the fact that she basically ran unchecked.
Overall this was an interesting start to the series and I’m definitely looking forward to the next books!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

“As if sensing her gaze, he glanced at her, his brows rising above his rich brown eyes, eyes that could draw her in and make her forget about everything but him.”

Warm, beautiful, and touching, this historical romance drew me right into the settling of the Colorado Rockies. It had a feel of an old time western movie and “Little House on the Prairie” that felt like a warm, cozy blanket. At the end of a long trip with hardly a penny to their name, Greta and young Astrid needed help. So when Wyatt offers a marriage of convenience, Greta can’t help but accept it to provide for her young sister. This is the first book of the Colorado Cowboys series that had an intriguing storyline and beginning. “A Cowboy for Keeps” is full of heart, strength and conviction with all the important components of a good western. From bad guys, to good guys to ranching and romance, it grabbed me from the start. I really enjoyed Greta and how hardworking, creative, and caring she was with Astrid and Wyatt. She struggled with feeling like a burden, but wanted what was best for Astrid. Wyatt was a good man with a kind and protective way about him, yet he struggled with being good enough.  I loved watching their romance develop from friendships to more.  Astrid’s spunk and zest for life added to the story even more.

“His two girls. That was how he was beginning to think of them. They were his. His to care for and love and protect.”  

This is a heartwarming story of love, devotion, and family.  Allowing God to heal their hearts from the past and trusting in him for the future was a key element that was faith building to read.  If you’re looking for a story with heart and have a love for western romance, I think you’ll enjoy this book.  It is not necessarily action-packed, but definitely a comfort read with spiritual God hugs.

“For so long, every time she prayed, she’d felt like she was disturbing God. Maybe He was waiting—even wanting—her to come to Him and let Him bear the burdens with her.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A new Jody Hedlund series was the perfect way to start a new year! A western isn’t the genre I’ve come to associate with Hedlund, but she’s proven yet again that she can write a stellar book in any genre. I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of the McQuaid family as this new series continues.

Greta and Wyatt’s story combines a marriage of convenience and mail-order bride tale, set against the backdrop of the rugged Colorado wilderness. Greta has always felt like she and her sister Astrid, who is fighting consumption, are a burden wherever they are. Wyatt struggles with feeling like a constant failure. After a stagecoach robbery and missing groom leaves Greta in a bind, she agrees to marry Wyatt, not knowing he’s getting heard of cattle out of the arrangement. 

There is sweet romance, challenges aplenty and a few surprises along the way that will keep you glued to the pages, rooting for a happy ending. There’s even a teaser at the very end that has me more than excited to meet Flynn McQuaid!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a gifted copy of A Cowboy For  Keeps by Jody Hedlund. All opinions are my own. 

A Cowboy For Keeps is a mail order bride story.  Greta and her younger sister, Astrid, arrive in Fairplay only find out that her fiance is missing and believed dead. She has nowhere to stay and no money to return to the east. Wyatt is a struggling rancher who agrees to marry her in return for a financing deal from the mayor of Fairplay.  Both Greta and Wyatt have similar family issues in their past. 

This is the first book in the Colorado Cowboys series. The story has a similar "marriage of convenience" feel to the Love Comes Softly series which is one of my favorite Christian Fiction series. 

This is a story of self doubt, learning to love yourself, and faith. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It's one of those books that you start at bedtime to "just read a few chapters",  then realize it's 3:30am and you read the entire book. Yes, I loved this book. 

Christian 
Historical Fiction
Romance
Release Date: January 5, 2021

Overall I am regrettably underwhelmed with A Cowboy for Keeps, the start of Jody Hedlund’s new Colorado Cowboys series which takes place in a mining town called Fairplay, Colorado.  

Best Characters:  Astrid, an impulsive, stouthearted, at times defiant, ridden with consumption, little sister to Greta, stole my heart and every scene in the story she was in as well.  I laughed out loud when she audaciously took on Wyatt’s bully neighbor Roper Brawley, the pirate as she called him, several times.  I must divulge A Cowboy for Keeps would have been my first Jody Hedlund DNF if it had not been for her. The other character who stood out for me was Judd, Wyatt’s wise right-hand-man, who didn’t talk much, but when he did, you should pay heed.  

Least Notable Characters:  Greta Nilsson and Wyatt McQuaid, the H and H of the story were mediocre, both feeling they were not worthy.  Instead of depth, wisdom, and the ability to understand and reason, we were given two leading characters with no horse sense.  They spent so much time lusting each other it overwhelmed the Christian message for me.

Astrid kept me turning the pages as well as some of the more humorous interactions amount the characters.  For example:  “Come on now, Captain Jim.” (Owner of Simpkin’s General Store) “You know the business of every fly living on a horse’s hind end this side of the Continental Divide.”  “If you didn’t see where that little girl was headed,” Mr. McQuaid continued, “then I reckon this town better invest in a telegraph to take your place.”  

Except for the vivid scene that took place when Astrid and Greta first met the Indians there wasn’t much description to make me feel as if I was in the 1800s.  However, the stunning breathtaking descriptions of the Colorado Territory landscape when Wyatt took Greta berry picking and while searching for Astrid reminded me of the Jody Hedlund of old.

Must bring to light that personally I would rate this story R due to the borderline provocative thoughts of Greta and Wyatt, and some very crude comments.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author’s publisher Bethany House via NetGalley as a member of her Release Crew.  I was under no obligation to write a favorable review, and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Cowboy for Keeps was written by Jody Hedlund and is book one in the Colorado Cowboys series.

Summary: Greta Nilsson will do anything to help improve her little sister’s health-even if that means moving to the West and marrying a complete stranger.

When Greta and her sister arrive however, they find the man Greta was to marry has died. Without a husband and no money to speak of, how will Greta manage to provide for them?

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to keep his ranch afloat. He needs more cattle, but doesn’t have a way to pay for them.

The mayor steps in and offers to loan Wyatt the money he needs-in exchange for marrying Greta.

Both Greta and Wyatt are desperate for different reasons, and agree to a hasty marriage. Can this marriage of convenience survive such shaky beginnings? And what will happen when Greta discovers the real reason Wyatt married her?

My Thoughts: This is definitely a (clean) romance story. I don’t typically go for romantic books as they tend to get cheesy pretty fast, but the author did a wonderful job with this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story as it progressed, and Greta and Wyatt got to know each other better and build a relationship. It was not corny or cheesy-just a nice sweet romance.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice, light, romantic read. It was very good, and I look forward to reading the next one.

I want to thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

This was a sweet and delightful read. More and more I find myself turning to Christian historical romance for comfort reading. I've always enjoyed marriage of convenience stories, so this was just perfect for me.There's lots of adventure and romance. The hero is perfect and swoon worthy. I really enjoyed the Colorado setting as well I'm looking forward to continuing this series and getting to know the rest Wyatt's family.

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review.

Ever since a trusted friend recommended An Uncertain Choice over six years ago, I have been a fan and an admirer of Jody Hedlund. I truly do not understand how she is able to write so many books, on various topics, in such a short amount of time… and not let it diminish the quality of her work. Just last year, she released 6 new books. 6 BOOKS?! I know people that try to read at least 6 books a year, let alone write 6 marvelous reads. While I was doing some research for my review, I was reminded of how many of her books are on my favorites list. Books that I would re-read again in a heartbeat, and have many times. I often forget how many books I’ve read by her due to the diversity in her writing. From her young adult medieval series to biographies about key Christian figures such as Martin Luther and John Newton, to retellings of classic fairytales. Just now, I read about a time-travel book she is releasing this summer, and am already searching for ways to get my hands on an advanced copy. 

The first in a new series, and the first book by Hedlund set during the Wild West, A Cowboy for Keeps was just as riveting and endearing as the rest of her books. I found myself just as engaged in the outcome of the story, as Greta and Wyatt. Hedlund does not shy away from difficult or heart trenching topics. She doesn’t go into details surrounding a graphic event, but it does create real, vulnerable characters that you immediately pull for. The Wild West was not an easy place to live, not even remotely, but Hedlund does a wonderful job of capturing the raw beauty of the Colorado landscape mixed with the daily struggle to merely stay alive. 

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.

I was instantly engaged in the book; although to be honest, I was from the moment I read the description. I had just finished another book and it was rather late, but it’s a three day weekend, and I felt inspired. So I decided to start another book. I immediately made my decision and after I noticed the sky outside starting to welcome me into a new day, I sadly decided it was time to say goodnight. It did not take me long to finish the book the next day. 

Now it might sound like all I have to say is praise and what kind of reviewer would I be without some critique. So here goes, I will say that I often found myself frustrated with how the story progressed. The characters had the same inner disagreements throughout the whole book, and despite some unexpected turns of events, they kept going back to the same inner struggles. I just wanted to yell at them - COMMUNICATE! USE YOUR WORDS! CHOOSE LOVE! BE BRAVE! 

With all of that said, I really did enjoy the characters. They were both hardworking, kind, and endearing. I empathized and fell in love with both. I wanted everything to work out splendidly for them, and although, just like we know in our own lives, it doesn’t always work out that way. I’ll let you read the book to discover the meaning behind my words, but just know, that if you feel the story is progressing rather slow, just keep reading. There are a lot of twists and turns, and things do not turn out the way may you think they will. 

The book definitely left me hanging. The moment I finished I literally said, “what?!” I was immediately researching to find out when the second book is going to be released. If you are like me, then I would suggest you wait to read this new release until the second one is published, because once you finish, you’ll want to start the next. 

I was given a free copy of the book, but the opinions in this review are completely my own.

The Red Review: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
*** 4 Stars: Compelling Characters, Well-Written, Interesting Storyline (.5), Unable to Stop, Desire to Reread (.5)

I really enjoy a good marriage of convenience story. This one does not disappoint either. This story starts with Greta and her sister Astrid heading to Colorado and are part of a stagecoach heist. They are looking for a place to belong and Greta had answered an ad for a mail order bride. Once she gets to town, her groom to be is reported dead. So the mayor talks Wyatt into marrying her instead. Honestly, I had moments of bleh while reading, but kept on and I was so glad I did! The story turned and not exactly how I’d anticipated! It turned from a I’m not sure about this to I love this story. So well done to the author. I’m looking forward to continuing this series from the author. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

Yippee-ki-yay! Just when I thought I couldn't love author Jody Hedlund any more, she writes A Cowboy for Keeps and I'm torn between not wanting it to end and impatiently waiting for the next book in this new western series. 

Danger, trials, and the beauty of the Colorado mountains are all important parts of this book that is set the Colorado Territory in 1862, but my favorite parts are the scenes with Wyatt McQuaid, Greta Nilsson, and her little sister Ingrid. Yes, there is definitely a physical attraction between Wyatt and Greta, and their interaction varies between wary and sweet to extremely charged with chemistry. It is, however, the glimpse of them, along with Ingrid, becoming a real family that I especially loved, because they obviously care about each other and they want to make this arrangement work. If...they can overcome all of the obstacles in the way!  Can this arranged marriage turn into something more? Will there be a happily-ever-after or two shattered dreams in the Colorado Territory?

Great characters, action and adventure, and a faith-filled story make this a book that you won't want to miss. I think it's obvious that I loved A Cowboy for Keeps and I recommend it to all who enjoy historical Christian romance. I look forward to more books in the Colorado Cowboys series.

I voluntarily accepted a copy of this book from the publisher. A favorable review wasn't required and no monetary compensation was given. These are my own thoughts.

Greta came into town with her sick little sister, intent on being a Mail Order Bride to take care of her. But she learned that the husband she had come to marry had died before she got there. A kind man she had ridden on the stagecoach with organized a deal with another young man to marry her instead. It wasn't what Wyatt had intended to do, but Mr. Steele pretty much forced him into it. He took Greta and her precocious sister home, and they moved on trying to make the best of things. As time moves on they find they are good together, but each carries their burdens and denies themselves to a closer relationship. An engrossing tale of living in rugged early Colorado and people struggling to make their lives better. Deeply wounded, tugging at your heart strings the whole time. It's going to be an excellent series with more of Wyatt's family and Astrid growing up. Looking forward to the next one!
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund is an interesting and thought-provoking work of historical fiction.  The book takes place during the post-Civil War era and follows a naive, but desperate young woman named Greta Nillson on her journey to Colorado to become a mail-order bride.  As one might expect, her adventures are not just that of learning to live with her never-before-seen husband.

The focus of the story is on the main characters and their path to becoming a family, but the secondary characters stood out more than usual.  Judd's story is finally told and it is a heart breaking one for sure.  More than anything it teaches strength, endurance, and the ability of humans to rise from the ashes of their lives.

Another character wants so badly to be reunited with his family that he goes to great lengths to achieve this.  It really gives one pause to consider what sacrifices one would be willing to make to be united once again with a loved one. 

The story is enjoyable and filled with all sorts of emotions.  Greta herself is a sad tale of abuse and endurance.  Readers will sympathize and some will empathize with her desire to finally find a place to call home.  Romance, danger and historical tidbits fill this book.

A Cowboy For Keeps is what I would consider to be a mail-order bride story with a twist. I have always enjoyed Jody Hedlund’s books but I don’t remember one with a western setting. Since I tend to gravitate toward any novel that features cowboys, I was excited to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed.

Greta had tried everything she knew to help her young sister’s deteriorating health and becoming a mail-order bride was a desperate last ditch effort to save her. Naturally nothing went as planned and Greta ended up in a strange town with no money only to find that her husband-to-be was dead. The mayor came up with a scheme to keep her in town by persuading Wyatt, a young rancher to marry her in exchange for help establishing his new ranch.

As most readers will quickly guess, Wyatt and Greta will eventually fall in love but not without plenty of obstacles along the way. This story had everything necessary to capture and hold my attention. With ample twists and turns, a bit of danger and action, a wise and mature friend, a precocious young girl, and at least one major surprise, A Cowboy For Keeps kept me turning the pages right up to its end.

A different style for this author but well worth reading in my opinion. If you love cowboys, check this one out.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required.

This is going to rank as one of my favorite Jody books no question. I adored Wyatt, what a cowboy hero! Astrid was a hoot and Judd was a great secondary character. The story line was really good and I enjoyed the story watching Greta and Wyatt find their happily ever after. All in all, a fantastic start to the Colorado Cowboys series and I can not wait for the rest of the series!! 

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

If you would like to experience the Colorado Territory in the 1860s, don’t miss A Cowboy for Keeps, the first book in the newest historical fiction series by Jody Hedlund.  This story chronicles Greta Nilsson’s journey as a mail order bride to find a place where she and her ailing sister Astrid can thrive.  Wyatt McQuaid offers Greta more than she knew she needed.     
A Cowboy for Keeps is a great start to Hedlund’s new Western series and provides a foundation for future books.  I recommend A Cowboy for Keeps to readers who enjoy sweeping family sagas with a Christian message.  Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A Cowboy for Keeps is Book One in the Colorado Cowboys series by award winning author Jody Hedlund. Set in Colorado’s Gold Rush of 1862 this book is a treasure itself. I was immediately invested in the story and characters. This is another page turner by talented author Hedlund.

This is the story of Greta Nilsson. She is a sweet, selfless, caring older half sister to Astrid.  Poor Astrid is all energy and inquisitiveness wrapped up in a body filled with consumption. Greta has her hands full. Greta accepts a mail order bride offer in hopes that by moving to the clearer/higher altitude air and environment, Astrid will have a better quality of life.

This is also the story of Wyatt McQuaid. He meets Greta when she first comes in town. He is a swoon-worthy cowboy. He has left his home to start a ranch in Colorado.  Unfortunately, it is struggling.

These are three wonderful characters that I immediately loved. All of the characters are realistic and relatable. I adored Wyatt’s friend and helper, Judd. He gave sage advice and developed a heartwarming relationship with Astrid.

With her deft pen, author Hedlund whisked me off to a time and place that I could almost feel with her vivid descriptions. She has a beautiful style of writing. It is clear, easy to follow, and smooth. My imagination easily forms a movie of my reading.  By the way, this would make a great movie.

There are so many twists and turns in this tale. It is a fun, historic, western tale filled with romance, life and spiritual lessons, and action. I highly recommend this to everyone. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by the author, but these are my honest words.

A Cowboy for Keeps, by Jody Hedlund, is the first tale in her latest series, Colorado Cowboys.  When Greta Nilsson and her young sister, Astrid, arrive in Fairplay, Colorado, she is surprised to learn that the man she came to marry is thought to be dead.  After she lost her life-savings when their stagecoach was held-up, Greta does not know which way to turn.  When Wyatt McQuaid offers her a proposal of marriage, Greta feels like she has found the answer to her problem!

Little does Greta know that the mayor has offered Wyatt financial assistance with starting up his ranch, if he agrees to help bring respectability to Fairplay.  Wyatt thinks he can simply marry Greta and start a family.  Unfortunately, this endeavor is not as simple as Wyatt assumes!

This marriage is starting off with a pretty big secret.  Greta had come to Colorado with a different focus in mind.  She is hoping to find a climate that will help Astrid's battle with consumption.  Now Greta's focus is being complicated with details needed to help Wyatt, her new husband, achieve success!

This is a fun tale to follow as Greta and Wyatt adjust to their new way of life in the wild, wild West.  You will be reading page after page to discover how they overcome the complications that unexpectedly spring up on their path!