I just love marriages of convenience. I can't seem to get enough of them. I love seeing two characters make a decision to commit to something before feelings are involved and then work towards finding a way to develop those feelings. Logic usually ties the two together in the beginning, something they both get out of the agreement, and then the process of them working together towards a common goal and learning about each other brings about the feelings and emotions one would hope to be involved in marriage. Well A Cowboy for Keeps was right up my alley.

Greta is the only one left to take care of her little sister. Her mother and father have both passed away, and her brothers have married and have families of their own. Astrid suffers from consumption and her medical needs have become a burden to her brothers' families. Greta is encouraged to marry and take Astrid with her when she does. That being said, Greta has heard that the mountain air out in Colorado is good for consumption, and she accepts a mail order bride offer from a nice middle-aged man in Colorado. The only problem is, when she shows up in the town he's from, it appears he's died leaving her in a worse position than she was in before. The mining town offers nothing for a single woman except work that Greta isn't willing to take.

Wyatt left his family in hopes of striking gold, but when mining didn't turn up much luck for him, he switched to ranching. His goal is to bring his mother and siblings to his ranch once he gets it established to get them away from his abusive stepfather. The only problem is that Wyatt is struggling and using every spare penny to invest back into the ranch. He needs an investor and finds the potential for one in the town mayor. The only trouble is, the Mayor needs to convince his city-wife that the town is turning from a manly-mining town into a civilized, family-oriented place. So the Mayor seizes the opportunity of Greta being a single woman in need of a husband and Wyatt needing an investor and himself needing a family town to make an agreement. Wyatt will marry Greta and get his cattle.

Of course, things aren't all that simple. Wyatt gives Greta a three-month window for them to get to know each other before they decide whether to continue their arrangement or to split ways. Astrid isn't getting better. And the entire purpose of coming to Colorado was to help Astrid. Wyatt has an enemy in a neighbor and fellow cattle rancher. The nature of their arrangement hasn't been fully spelled out to Greta (even though she would have accepted it either way). And more issues that would be spoilers to mention.

I've read Jody Hedlund before and enjoyed her books and this one was no different. I finished it basically within a day, and I was left wanting more. The last chapter gives you an idea of the direction for the other books in the series, and I am certainly interested in them and will be stalking her to find out information on future releases. A Cowboy for Keeps had characters I liked and was happy to root for, a conflict that was a little predictable but not in a bad way, and a relationship of convenience which I happen to love. A Cowboy for Keeps gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Cowboy for Keeps? What did you think? Let me know!

”She needs a husband,” Steele said firmly. “You need an investor. And I need a civilized town for my wife.”

With that ultimatum, how can Wyatt resist a chance to finally start his own cattle ranch? But then again, who is he to play with hearts? As for Greta, what other choice does she have but to enter a marriage of convenience for the sake of both herself and younger sister? What a quandary! 

I already love Jody Hedlund's historical books, so I was especially excited to read her first Western one! Her stories are character driven, which is something I enjoy very much. I fell in love with Wyatt at first sight; not just because he's ruggedly handsome, but for his heart of gold. He learns that Greta & her young sister are in desperate need and reluctantly agrees to the mayor's marriage bargain. How this story plays out from there was all consuming for me, a book that was  thoroughly engrossing. It was also a gentle love story between Wyatt & Greta, an absolute pleasure to watch these two together. They both have insecurities they fight within themselves, but in the end faith, hope & love overcome. The secondary characters added their own personalities & flavor; I especially loved Judd—Wyatt's unofficial cowhand & sage advice giving grizzled older gentleman. He was a favorite of mine. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fantastic western historical & eagerly look forward to the next installment of “Colorado Cowboys”! 

*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are mine. *

Without a doubt the swooniest cowboy story I have ever read! Fair warning: this is a sleep stealer so be prepared if you start it at night!     

This book is a fast-paced and fantastically fun marriage of convenience story of two good people who help each other discover their true worth.  There is action, laughs, intrigue, plot twists, and of course, lots of clean but swoony romance! 

I have read almost every single one of the author's books but this one is going to be one of my new favorites.  I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.  Another five star read from Jody Hedlund!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher but a review was not required and my opinion are my own.

A Cowboy for Keeps 
Colorado Cowboys #1
By Jody Hedlund

Greta Nilsson will do anything to save her little sister's life. With the promise that the mountain air of Colorado will cure Astrid's consumption, Greta agrees to become a mail-order bride. But the final stage of her trip to Fairplay, Colorado, is one disaster upon another.  Her expected groom has died, stagecoach robbers took all her savings. With nothing to her name, Greta has few options in a town that is comprised almost entirely of miners and ranchers. So when a rancher claiming to be a friend of the man she expected to wed offers her a proposal of marriage, Greta quickly realizes that is her only choice.

Wyatt McQuaid has been working to get his ranch profitable so that he can send for his ma, brothers, and sister. But starting a ranch in this new land isn't easy. He doesn't have time or the funds to even think about marriage. But when the latest stagecoach arrives in Fairplay after a holdup the mayor offers him a deal - marry Miss Nilsson and, in return, Wyatt will get the funds he needs to expand his herd. But marrying a complete stranger who was set to marry his friend is something that will take some thinking. But Mayor Steel needs the town to grow, to add families of good repute if he hopes to convince his wife to leave the civilization of the East behind.

As Wyatt and Greta deal with their new situation they both have to deal with their pasts. But the past has a way of marking a person and Wyatt and Greta are no exception. Can they see past the hurts to a future of promise or will they allow their insecurities to tear them apart before they even begin?

Without giving away anything - I will say there are a couple of interesting twists that occur that add an interesting element to the story. So be sure you don't jump ahead while reading (I have a family member who does this and then ruins the element of surprise or shock from her books), seriously don't do it. If I had known of these elements before their proper placement in the story it just won't have had the same impact that it did. 

A Cowboy for Keeps is the first book in Jody Hedlund's new Colorado Cowboys series and it is another enjoyable read from a skilled writer. Greta is a character with whom one can empathize, basically kicked out by her family along with an ill younger sister, she is willing to do almost anything to save. But Greta has to learn that going it alone isn't the best way. With her plans crumbling around her she needs to learn in who to place her trust and concerns. Not an easy lesson for any of us to learn. Wyatt on the other hand has a plan to rescue his family from the very situation that he left behind years ago. But he is dealing with the guilt of leaving his family behind, of failing them. Then there is Judd who we learn very little about but what we do learn gives a glimpse into his past. I really like Judd who helps Wyatt see what he needs to see. He is just what Wyatt, Greta, and Astrid need as they live and work together. I'm looking forward to the second book in this series - if the final chapter is any indication of what is to come it should prove most interesting.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Once again, Jody Hedlund has written another amazing novel, this time straight out of the Old West!  

Agreeing to marriage and moving to Colorado is the only way Greta can save Astrid, her sister.  Plagued by consumption, Astrid needs the dry climate in order to breathe more easily.  However, Greta arrives to find that her betrothed is no longer alive.  And this is where the problems really begin.  However, Astrids antics never allow for a dull moment!

Grab your copy of A Cowboy for Keeps for a great, entertaining read!  I highly recommend this story for those who love good, clean fiction and a handsome cowboy!

This book is set in the 1800's, and is more of a western romance style book. The storyline was cute overall. I did like Astrid, she was a pistol and being a handful summed her up for sure. I really liked Judd, he was a silent type but when he spoke it was with wisdom and you took notice. The book was a clean read overall. I do feel like the book did drag some so I had a hard time keeping my attention. I felt like something was missing in a sense but if you are looking for a clean read that's a mail order bride on her journey to find a better place for her sister, then this book might be for you.

This new series has it all—a swoon worthy cowboy, a strong female lead, and a marriage of convenience story with clean steamy romance!  I greatly enjoyed this first book in Jody Hedlund’s new Western series.  The historical details are well written and provide a great backdrop to the story.  The setting is easy to picture with the beautiful descriptions.  I liked Greta and her gumption immediately—she does not let the hardships in life get the best of her as she navigates tough situations, always putting her family first.  Wyatt is also an admirable hero; he may have married Greta for a hidden reason, but he is honorable and works hard for her.  The romance builds in a realistic manner and the kissing scenes are definitely steamy but still clean for Christian fiction.  I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to more in the series!  I recommend this new historical series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Jody Hedlund never fails to write an amazing story! Greta is a mail order bride who is moving west hoping the air will benefit her little half-sister who has consumption. The stage coach is robbed near their destination and upon arrival, Greta is told that her fiance has died! Doesn't this make you want to read more? You will love reading about the ways Greta manages to make an honest income and how hard she works. A handsome, hardworking cowboy named Wyatt, Indians, a crippled wrangler and a mean neighbor make up this great book. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received an advance copy of A Cowboy for Keeps from the author and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
_______________________________________________________________
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.