A Cowboy for Keeps is a marriage of convenience story.
If I had lived during this time period could I have done it? Truthfully I'm not sure but probably if I was desperate enough and had a child to support like our main character did. She did it mainly for her half-sister.
All marriages are a chance we take, as much as we think we may know someone we don't know how they will act under all situations and circumstances.
He needed her for the advancement of his ranch as much as she needed him for a home and her sister's health.
Jody Hedlund excels at whatever genre of book she writes including her western series here she has started.
Wyatt and Greta, I really enjoyed reading how their slow burned romance developed but I'll admit now Astrid is the little sweetheart in A Cowboy for Keeps and how she is portrayed as someone needing a little extra care because of her medical condition but she is so strong willed she definitely doesn't let anything hold her back, maybe to the point of being slightly reckless.
I really need to read the next book and look forward to it.

Published January 5th 2021 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

A Cowboy for Keeps is the start of a new series, Colorado Cowboys, by Jody Hedlund, and it’s quite a change from her previous series that I’ve read. With a change of scenery to the Colorado territory in 1862, and the introduction to the McQuaid family, this book set the stage for the new series. I enjoyed meeting the fascinating characters in this book. Wyatt McQuaid is an interesting hero with insecurities and past failures, but his courage, work ethics, and compassion shine. Greta Nilsson is independent, caring, and focused on improving her sister Astrid’s poor health. Astrid is a great addition to the cast, as is Wyatt’s ranch hand, Judd, whose wry wisdom and loyalty enhance the story.

“The way I see it . . . a team of oxen can carry more together than apart.”

“You can walk away every time the flies start bitin’. Or you can swat ‘em until they’re gone.”

I enjoyed this charming and enjoyable marriage of convenience tale, and I’m looking forward to meeting more of Wyatt’s family in the rest of the series. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book immediately caught my attention because it is set in Colorado, where I grew up! I always love reading about my home state in historical novels. Of course, being in Colorado this book had more of a Western vibe than most of Hedlund's other books I have read but it did not disappoint! 

The book opens with Greta Nilsson and her sickly 9 year old sister Astrid's stagecoach getting robbed as they attempt to summit the last pass before Fairplay. All their money is stolen but since Greta is coming to Fairplay as a mail order bride she hopes all will be taken care of by her fiancé. Unfortunately,  upon arriving, she discovers her fiancé is missing and presumed dead. With no money she doesn't know what she can do. She came to Colorado not only to wed but in a hopes the climate would help her sister heal from her consumption. 

Wyatt McQuaid is a rancher who just happens to be in Fairplay when Greta and her sister arrive. The Mayor, who got to know Greta and Astrid on the stagecoach, offers Wyatt cattle in exchange for marrying the homeless, penniless Greta. Wyatt has been struggling to get his ranch up and running and upon observing the sisters' interactions he offers for Greta and they marry that night. 

Greta and Astrid quickly adapt to life on the ranch although Astrid's health does not improve. Both Wyatt and his ranch hand Judd adapt quickly to the newcomers and enjoy Astrid's antics and Greta's hard work. Her good cooking and ability to bring in extra cash through butter, pie and jam making soon make her indispensable to the men and the success of the ranch. 

The teamwork, selflessness and faith to overcome adversity in this book were uplifting. I loved Greta's strength throughout the novel. She was never a damsel in distress and in fact was able to help Wyatt physically and financially several times. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clean western romances! 

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher and author for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I love Jody’s books. I was anxious to read how she would handle cowboys. No need, she had her typical spin and style that created a beautiful story.

I’m pretty sure she writes the best romantic scenes and kisses. She is a master of romantic tension and this book is full of it.

The last chapter gives us a glimpse into what the next book will be about and who. I can’t wait to get to know Wyatt’s brothers and see what romance they will get themselves into.

If you enjoy historical romance I am sure you will enjoy this book.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A marriage of convenience is the only option for Greta Nilsson, but not the one she expected. 

Heartwarming, engaging, and at times humorous, with a sense of romantic tension throughout, A Cowboy for Keeps is the first in what is sure to be a winning new series. I mean, this book has everything that I could possibly ask for, a beautifully wild landscape, compelling characters, simmering romance, marriage of convenience, an adorably forthright child, faith, and a handsome cowboy, what more could I ask for? 

I admired Greta for her devotion to her 9 year old sister, Astrid, her strong work ethic, and could relate all too well to her desire to not be a bother to anyone. Astrid is a little firecracker, doesn't let her perceived weakness fool you, she shoots straight with her questions and adds much of the humor to the story, I loved her friendship with Judd. In fact Judd was one of my favorite supporting characters and I hope to see more of him in the upcoming additions to the series, he doesn't say much, but when he does you listen. 

Wyatt is a hardworking man, he is fair, wants to make his ranch a success. I loved how he welcomes Greta and Astrid to his home, even though it was far from the original plan, and he fights for them as well. He is respectful and has a strong set of values instilled in him. 

Overall, a terrific start to what is sure to be a fantastic series. I loved how Greta and Wyatt worked together as they got to know each other, and neither of them is afraid of hard work. A well balanced, well paced read, with characters that you can cheer for throughout. Romantic, compelling, with moments of humor, faith, and survival in the mountains of Colorado. Highly recommend!


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

2.5-3 Stars! I would like to read more Christian romance this year and when I was younger, I used to really enjoy old Christian historical fiction featuring the American West so I decided to give this first book in this author’s new Colorado Cowboys series a try. In summary, I did like it, but I didn’t think it did anything especially unique or different or memorable, it was just okay and pleasant enough as a story.

The premise is that mail-order bride, Greta, is headed to Colorado with her young, sickly sister to start a new life with her new husband and hopefully find healing for her sisters lungs in the higher-altitude air. On getting to Colorado, she discovers that her husband-to-be is missing and presumed dead, and completely destitute, she enters into marriage with a down-on-his-luck rancher, Wyatt. Together they must all learn to live and rely on each other as a family and overcome their deep-seated demons through love and the Grace of God.

I liked the premise of this but found the execution a little bland. I know novels of this style and genre (Old American West Christian Romance) frequently lack diversity or a deeper, more nuanced look into the historical context at the time, so my expectations weren’t high in that score. There was a lot of mention of indigenous people (“Indians”) as antagonists, but I appreciated that Wyatt had the grace to mention that they were actually encroaching and stealing the indigenous land and that was a trigger for the enmity between settlers and indigenous people. I thought more would be done with the relationship between Astrid/Greta and the Utes in the novel but it wasn’t explored. This overall felt a little piecey to me- I cared about the story and the characters but it didn’t feel cohesive and I kept falling out of reading it. 

One thing I really enjoyed were the themes of insecurity and self-doubt that were explored in this novel in differing ways for each character- for Greta, her insecurity comes from believing she’s a burden and that her worries are unimportant to others in the grand scheme of things, and for Wyatt, his insecurity comes from feeling like a failure, an anti-Midas because he’s tried and failed at so many things so many times in life. I loved how faith was used to approach and salve these insecurities and how it was acknowledged that these characters weren’t instantly fixed by knowing God’s perspective but were rather on a journey of changing long-held mindsets, because that was realistic and relatable.

Even though this was definitely closed-door in terms of spice level, I did find this a lot spicier than your typical Christian romance or at least than the ones I used to read. It is chaste in the sense of no “adult” scenes but there is a lot of making out, if that is something you’re currently avoiding in your reads or don’t find appropriate for your Christian romance. It is nothing inappropriate and I think this book is probably Christian teen-appropriate, but went all on different walks with accountability and with our convictions so I’m putting this note in about heat-level.

Overall, I thought this was okay. The last chapter with Wyatt’s family back in Pennsylvania ended on enough of a cliff-hanger that I might check out more books in this series when they come out. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Cowboy for Keeps is the first book in Jody Hedlund‘s new historical romance series Colorado Cowboys. Wyatt McQuaid is trying to build a cattle ranch in order to bring his mother and siblings out west. Greta Nilsson traveled west as a mail-order bride in order to bring her sister to the healing Colorado air. When plans go awry they must decide whether to help one another or attempt to make it on their own.

Wyatt and Greta have a marriage of convenience, each hoping not to disappoint the other and needing to succeed in order to help their siblings. They work well together, when they actually work together – something their ranch hand Judd readily points out. But things don’t go easy for either of them and all their plans still might end in disaster.

I enjoyed this story and rooting for the characters meant not wanting to put down the book. Greta and Wyatt had so much stacked against them. Their motivations were easy to understand and relate to, even when those motivations blinded them to a better future. One note is that I found they focused on physical attraction more than I generally prefer. However, their self sacrifice for the good of those they cared about shone bright.

A Cowboy for Keeps is an entertaining beginning to Colorado Grooms. I’m excited to see how the series develops and to get to know the other characters. The hard part now is waiting for book two.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Little sisters always make books better... Or for the most part they do, and the sister relationship between Greta and Astrid was so sweet! I loved getting to read about them and how Greta was trying to protect, help, and raise Astrid.

Even if the hero had a very common name his character wasn't quite as common, at all. Wyatt McQuaid's character arc was a favorite, I just love reading about characters who realize they aren't what they were once told or they grow from their pasts.

As to "A Cowboy For Keeps" plot line it was well done, I wasn't surprised by anything that happened but that didn't upset me.

In all this was a nice kick off to Jody Hedlund's first venture into telling a cowboy's story and new series, Colorado Cowboys. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series and Jody Hedlund's writing career.

This book is so good! Basically, it's like Western Romance gold. The characters weren't even given a moment of rest before the next exciting thing happened. For instance, Greta is traveling with her sick sister to marry a man she  doesn't know. The stagecoach gets robbed, which leaves her penniless. Then she and her sister arrive at their destination to find out her betrothed is dead. In a blink of an eye the mayor sets her up with Wyatt. All this happened within a matter of chapters.

 But then there's more! So much more! You'll have to read it to feel the desperation of both Greta and Wyatt. And *let me fan myself* there's really amazing swoony scenes that were perfectly executed. Did I mention Wyatt has a shirtless moment? I probably should have mentioned that earlier... meow 😻

I am a great fan of Hedlund and always enjoy her books. A Cowboy for Keeps is the first book in Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series. It took me a little longer to get into this one as it was different from her other books. It did not seem to have the depth all of her other books had. Still I enjoyed it, just not as much. ….This is a mail order bride story but with a different twist. After Greta Nilsson becomes an orphan, and her stepsisters make her and her little ailing half-sister Astrid feel like a burden, she decides to become a mail order bride. She travels to Fairplay, Colorado, to meet her future husband, an older man she knows only by letter but he seems to be kind and willing to take care of her sister too. She hopes that the western climate will help heal her little sister who is a very spunky child. Her love for her is all consuming and she does not consider her own feelings. When she arrives after much hardships, she finds out her husband to be has died. But all is not lost, there is a young man there that knew her to be husband and has offered to marry her, along with a little persuasion. ….You will need to read the book to see how it all unfolds….I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Jody Hedlund is one of my favorite authors and I was so intrigued about this new western genre she started with this book. And with a marriage of convenience, my favorite trope! My expectations were high and I was not disappointed!
This is a promising series, with a wonderful start in this first book of the “Colorado Cowboys Series”!
After Greta Nilsson becomes an orphan, and her stepsisters make her and her little ailing half-sister Astrid feel like a burden, she decides to become a mail order bride and sets out west from Illinois with Astrid to Fairplay, Colorado, to meet her future husband, an older man she knows only by letter but seems kind enough and is willing to take care of her sister too. But everything goes awry from the start: their stagecoach gets robbed and they take all her belongings, and then when she arrives to the mining town, she discovers her husband-to-be has passed away because of an accident. Totally destitute and jobless, she providentially met Mr. Steele, the town’s mayor, on the stagecoach, who kindly determines to help her in his own way.
Wyatt McQuaid has a cattle farm and is in dire need of an investor to buy more cattle and make it profitable. Mr. Steele sees the potential in Wyatt not only as a ranch owner but as a good and honorable match for Greta. And since he has interest in making Fairplay a more familiar town so he can get his wife to come, he decides to offer Wyatt to generously invest in his cattle if he marries Greta. Wyatt promises to think on it, and is almost set on not accepting the mayor proposal until he casually meets Greta, and he is totally compelled to aid the helpless beautiful woman and proposes the marriage of convenience. After Greta confirms Wyatt is a good man, she decides to accept, especially for Astrid’s sake, who is battling consumption, and is in need of a stable home and care. After being married, Greta feels the need to prove herself useful to her attractive husband so he won’t regret marrying her. But Wyatt wants her to feel at home, and the more time he spends with her and charming Astrid the more attached he becomes to them. Is it possible for them to pass from total strangers to a couple in love? Greta knows nothing of the mayor’s financial proposal to Wyatt. Will that knowledge break the trust in him?
You’ll have to read the story to know! I can only tell you the journey of this conveniently matched couple is beautiful and so heartwarming! It’s full of obstacles and lots of adventure that will keep you engaged until the last page. But the best is the characters: they were complex yet deep, kind yet flawed, very relatable. Greta’s selflessness, hard work and love of others was humbling. Wyatt had a heart of gold and the way he treated “his” women was a sight to behold. Then there were the secondary characters: Astrid, even in her sickness, was a restless, outgoing and charming girl that stole my heart, I loved her! I also loved Judd, Wyatt’s friend and ranch help, an older, quiet yet kindest man! The way he cared for Astrid was so sweet!
And the slow -and yet not so slow- progressing romance between Wyatt and Greta was sweet, tender, and made me sigh! So romantic! As always, behind the characters struggles there is an inspirational message of kindness, true love, and trusting God. It flowed natural, not preachy. A beautiful love story in the wild west!! I definitely recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

From the start I held such empathy for Greta Nilsson. She’s holding such a burden and determined to not be a failure. But then again, so is handsome rancher Wyatt McQuaid.
I loved the imagery of the story and could picture everything perfectly. I loved to see the growth of Wyatt and Greta’s relationship. Wyatt was such a great hero and his care for Greta’s sister and his heart to help his family endeared me to him.
Top it off, this is a start of the series which means we get to see the rest of the McQuaids. A Cowboy For Keeps is a solid start and one that has me looking forward to more.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

I think this is a great start to a new series by Jody Hedlund! I loved all of the characters in this book and look forward to reading what comes next for them! I was able to read this in one day because I enjoyed it that much! 


I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I was SUPER excited to see that Jody Hedlund was writing a western novel. I love the rugged setting and the resilient characters, who face so many hardships but keep pressing on. Greta and Wyatt both show these traits in different ways. Greta will do practically anything to help her sister, Astrid, to find relief from consumption. At times, her stubbornness on this issue can be a little off-putting, but it does contribute to the plot and tension in the story. Astrid is a bit spoiled due to her illness (which sometimes annoyed me as well), but she also had some heartfelt moments that I enjoyed. Wyatt is a handsome rancher who agrees to step in as Greta's mail order husband when the other man is assumed dead, but he isn't doing it completely out of the goodness of his heart. This aspect of the story also adds to the plot. Each time I post a review of a Jody Hedlund book, I always mention the romantic tension...because she is the queen of clean romance! She has a way of directing the characters to some fantastic moments that really drive the story. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book and would like to read the next book or books in the series. What I hope to see is some pre-epilogue resolution of all of that tension : ). I'm totally good with a fade to black...but please don't leave me hanging, Jody! :D 

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinion, which I did.**

This was a most enjoyable read and a great one to start off 2021 with. We have two characters who find themselves in a marriage of convenience due to circumstances that neither could control and the marriage would benefit both.

Greta is trying to save her little sister from the consumption that is slowly stealing her life away. She will do almost anything for Astrid and coming to Colorado as a mail order bride so her sister can benefit from the air there is something she is willing to do. But as she and her sister wind up penniless and in town, Greta is told her fiancé is dead.

Wyatt is trying to start a profitable ranch so he can bring his mother, brothers, and sister out west. Hopefully saving his brothers from joining up for the Civil War. But Wyatt is broke and faces a formable enemy. His solution is to marry Greta on the advice of the mayor who has interests of his own.

What I really liked was just how organic Wyatt and Greta's relationship takes shape. They still are working towards their own separate goals, until they begin to merge into one. Just like their marriage, they are strangers to friends all within holy matrimony. And that means something. It is a special bond that opens both of their eyes. 

As they navigate this new life together, both must face their innermost demons. Wyatt thinking he is a failure and Greta believing she is a burden. I so enjoyed watching as they helped heal each other of these misconceptions.

Love, romance, family, and danger make this already my number one read for this year and a new favorite by author Hedlund.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

This was a nice easy read, quite an enjoyable story. I loved the characters and the slow burn friendship and romance. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series

Digging into Jody Hedlund's A Cowboy for Keeps was an easy prospect for me.  I enjoy her books and was curious to start her new Colorado Cowboys series. It wasn't long before I found myself fully engaged in the story.  Marriages of convenience are a popular topics and sometimes dismissed as lightweight fiction.  Not so when you dig deeper.  These men and women endured a hard life and their rewards were very different than what we expect for ourselves today. I enjoy reading these stories because they remind me that this was how many parts of our country were settled into communities.  Communities with families, schools and churches became the fabric of life for the men and women who had the gumption to work hard and build homes on their ranches or farmed their land.

Greta was a courageous young woman for leaving her home behind to forge a new life in an unknown territory to marry a perfect stranger.  A stranger who promised to also support her ailing little sister Astrid, whose life depended on this move.

Watt hadn't planned to saddle himself with a wife, but the mayor's proposition to help him increase his herd was too good to overlook.  The conditions of the deal were another story, but he had plenty of time to meet the requirements so he agreed.  Time, though, is a funny thing as it slips by day by day until finally something has to happen and it all happened as predicted.  Yes, this story was predictable but I didn't mind because the characters were likable and the author wove the tale together in a unique way. 

The location was also a character in this story with descriptions that are picturesque and engaging.  I don't  think Greta could  have found her new home in a better place. It seemed to have it all with plenty of hills, plains and of course, hot springs. I think this is one of those books that would appeal to any reader who enjoys good, clean historical fiction.  I am already looking forward to the second book in this series.

A Cowboy for Keeps is a great start to a new series! I enjoy western stories and am excited to have a new series to read. The author kept me happily turning the pages to see how things would work out for Greta and Wyatt.

I really enjoyed watching these two navigate their marriage of convenience. They took things slowly and there was a lot of self-doubt on both sides. Wyatt carried feelings of failure with him from past experiences, while Greta felt that she was a burden.

Greta sister, Astrid, drove me crazy a few times in the book with her antics, however, she was extremely important to the story and I loved the way the author worked things out for this new family and showed how close they had all grown throughout their months together. I liked the peek into Astrid’s heart and feelings, it made me understand her better.

The last chapter of this novel points the reader toward the characters who will be taking center stage in book two and I am even more excited about seeing what happens next in this series now that I have read a little bit about them!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What an amazing story. Well written. Greta is a mail order bride who traveled west with her sick little sister, hoping that the fresh mountain air would help. Greta ends up in trouble many times but Wyatt seems to bail her out, time and again.  Sucks you in and makes you excited to read the next story.

Ooh, I'm so excited about this new series by author Jody Hedlund and after reading this book I'm even more excited!!  

I love a good cowboy story and Wyatt is the very vision of all I imagine a strong, rugged cowboy to be.  This story has a lot of different dynamics with a mail order bride, a sick little girl, bandits, secrets, and unfortunate events but all throughout is growing friendship and trust, healing and love.  It was such a good blend of emotions, engaging me from start to finish.

The epilogue gives a glimpse into Wyatt's family and set things up nicely for the next book.

Content:  mild peril, mild violence, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.