Wonderful characters that stole my heart! An amazing story of hardships but how the burdens are easier with someone to share them with. The story grabs your interest and holds it captive to the last page. The romance that slowly grew was so sweet and was built on respect. The author does a great job of weaving hard work and sacrifice into the story of two people who need each other. The reader is surprised by a unexpected turn of events that turns the story on its heels and steals your breath. A heart pounding read that is sure to please!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

A Cowboy for Keeps, by Jody Hedlund, is book one in the Colorado Cowboys series. This is a great, quick to ready Christian Historical fiction story that takes place in Fairplay Colorado Territory in 1862. Greta has been left to care for her younger step-sister with consumption. Hearing a move to Colorado Territory would help the condition, she becomes a mail-order bride to move there. When she gets to Fairplay, the man she is to marry is believed to be dead. Due to a robbery with the stage coach, Greta has no money to provide for them. And after spending the day looking for a job, she comes up empty.

Wyatt is a struggling rancher who makes a deal with the mayor to marry Greta in exchange of help in investing in cattle. Wyatt has made a deal with Greta that they will take three months to get to know each other before moving forward with their marriage.

This is such a good story. It is quick to read with fun, lovable characters. There are so many things I like in this story, but the one focus I like the most is how helpful Greta is to everyone. She tends to her sick, bold, independent little sister by herself. Yet she finds time to bake and make jams to sell to help out the ranch. On top that she also helps on the ranch with the crops and animals. I also enjoy the humor written in with her little sister. I enjoyed this story so much, I look forward to the rest in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Colorado in the 1860’s/1870’s is one of my very favorite settings, so when I heard one of my very favorite authors’ next series would be set there and then, I knew I would be in for a treat!

Jody Hedlund kicks of her new series with A Cowboy For Keeps, a twist on the marriage of convenience/mail order bride story. Greta is traveling to Colorado to marry an older bachelor for the sake of her little sister Astrid’s heath, but everything is going wrong. Penniless due to a stagecoach robbery, finding out her fiancé is dead is the final straw. What is she going to do? Fairplay’s well-intentioned but meddlesome mayor takes Greta and Astrid’s plight to local rancher Wyatt with an unconventional proposal. If Wyatt will marry Greta and start a family, he will invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt. How can he turn down the opportunity of a lifetime?

The sweet romance that develops as Greta and Wyatt become friends propels the story forward, but more than anything, the character development in this story SHINES. I love that Greta and Wyatt are so open with each other, learning about their lives and sharing their internal struggles. The only time they have trouble sharing with each other is in regard to their relationship! Their characters are nuanced and intricate... and it’s not just the leads that get the attention. Astrid is a delightful handful... absolutely fearless and fascinating. Judd is compelling and I want to know so much more about his history!

In true Jody Hedlund fashion, she throws in a bunch of twists and turns on the way to happily ever after. No spoilers from me, but you’re going to want to hold on to your hats and enjoy the ride.

Just a sidebar really quick... I know a lot about early Colorado Territory history and even more about the Civil War, and I appreciate when an author gets all the details right, including the correct terminology, such as “The War of Succession,” which is exactly what a girl from Illinois would call the war. Details about the town of Fairplay, and even mentioning the problem with flies in the house... it’s the little things that add an authentic voice to the time, and Jody did her research! Just a little something I wanted to tip my cap to, because sometimes I feel authors writing romantic westerns don’t always concern themselves with all the gritty details of how hard life was.

I can’t WAIT for the rest of this series as we get to know Wyatt’s little brothers and sister.

Thank you to Jody Hedlund, Bethany House, and NetGalley for my copy of this book. It was my absolute pleasure to review!

"We ain't supposed to be surprised when we come against fiery trials. If the Lord suffered, then we gotta expect the suffering too."

This western historical that takes place in 1862 Colorado Territory is a bit different from Jody Hedlund's usual offerings but nonetheless quite lovely and delightful. With her trademark style and attention to detail, the author brings the mining town of Fairway to life. Greta is a selfless, hard-working young woman who moves west to help rejuvenate her sickly younger sister. Her resourcefulness and tenacity are admirable. Her precocious younger sister Astrid is fun and lively and brings levity to situations when they become too grave. Wyatt is a lovable, honorable, and tender hero who needs Greta's belief in him to spur him toward success at cattle ranching. Their faith that grows through trials in the untamed land is encouraging and edifying. They both have insecurities - Greta of feeling like she's a burden and Wyatt of feeling like a failure - but they finally realize that they can face life together while holding each other up. I can't wait to meet Wyatt's younger siblings in the next book!

I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

This was exactly the book I needed to start my holidays with. It is extremely romantic, relaxing, exciting and so warming. It was also really easy to read - both a rest for my brain but also something that kept me eager to keep picking it back up. A Cowboy For Keeps is a charming historical romance and another fantastic offering from Jody Hedlund.

Greta and her younger sister have traveled west. As a mail-order bride, Greta hopes to finally be able to provide for herself and hopes the change will be good for her sister’s ailing health. But, when the stage is robbed, her savings stolen and she discovers that her intended is dead, Greta is scared about their prospects. Wyatt is working hard to build up his ranch, but with no funds and a competitor that is buying up many of the available livestock, he fears he will never be able to send for his mother and younger siblings. Then the town mayor proposes a deal - he’ll fund Wyatt’s herd if he marries Greta. What starts as a marriage of convenience has the chance to bloom into something real, if Greta and Wyatt can work past their hurts and fears.

Greta and Wyatt have a wonderful relationship. What starts as a slightly awkward arrangement that benefits them both slowly grows into a strong partnership. Neither of them are very good at communicating their feelings, but the chemistry between them is very sweet.

I particularly loved the family element that Greta’s sister Astrid brings to the story. Her shenanigans and growing friendships with Wyatt and his ranch hand Judd add a lot of fun to the story.

Despite a few incidents with bandits, rustlers, and missing children, this is a relaxing book to read, yet the romance and relationship growth and general charming nature of the story make this a compelling book that was easy to pick up and hard to put down.

The best thing about this book is that it nicely sets things up for a new book that continues the story of Wyatt’s family. I’m really looking forward to coming back to this growing family.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Jody Hedlund cannot write a bad story. She’s a master storyteller. A Cowboy for Keeps, her first novel in the Colorado Cowboys series, is a highly engaging, fast-paced ride you won’t want to put down. The action in this story is non-stop. The characters are fantastic — Greta will make your heart hurt a little, Wyatt will steal your breath a couple of times, and Astrid … well, Astrid will try your patience and make you want to hug her and laugh with her all at the same time. Hedlund has crafted endearing characters readers won’t soon forget. A Cowboy for Keeps is a novel I highly recommend to all who love a good Historical Romance.

My most favorite aspect to this story is the relationship between Greta and Wyatt. Each character has a hang up that really keeps them in a cycle of genuine negativity. But from the very beginning of meeting one another, Greta and Wyatt are able to silent those pessimistic thoughts for one another and allow the best versions of themselves to come to life. The whole time I was reading this book, Ecclesiastes 4:9 kept popping into my brain: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” Truly, these two characters are the perfect embodiment of this verse. Being as their marriage of convenience is just that, they each have a purpose for making things work between the two of them. Greta needs a safe place to raise her sick sister, Astrid, and Wyatt needs the financial benefit that will come to his ranch through this convenient marriage. Neither one takes the other for granted and shows this through HARD work. I’m talking before the sun rises to well past its setting each day, Greta and Wyatt work together to make the best of their circumstances. I was truly impressed by their actions towards one another. Their relationship is a great example of the level of respect and arduous daily work it takes to make any marriage a successful one. And, I absolutely love their journey from teammates to much, much more. This relationship left my heart very happy, and I’m walking away from Greta and Wyatt’s story smiling from ear to ear!

A Cowboy for Keeps is a wonderful Historical Romance that I highly recommend. The plot is highly engaging. I did not want to put this book down! The characters are well written, unique, and endearing. And the messages are timely. Overall, this novel is a true must-read, and another home run by Jody Hedlund!

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Greta Nilsson will do anything to help her little sister Astrid. The Civil War wages in the East and the men in her family have gone to fight. Left at home to care for her precocious little sister with her brother’s wives, Greta feels unwanted. Her sisters-in-law encourage her to marry, but when Greta’s fiancé dies in the war, she chooses to strike out on her own with Astrid in tow.

Their destination? Fairplay, Colorado, a mining town high in the Colorado mountains where a lonely bachelor has advertised for a wife. Through their correspondence, he agrees to pay for both Greta and Astrid to travel west and promises to support Astrid.

But nothing about the trip West turns out right. On the last day of travel, bandits hold up the stage and steal Greta’s money. When she arrives in town, she receives the news that her fiancé has perished.

Wyatt McQuaid wants to prove himself, and he feels sure his ranching venture will provide the ticket to bring his mother and siblings to Colorado. Long hours of work slowly pay off, but he needs an infusion of quality beef stock to really prosper.

When he arrives in town to ask the mayor if he’d like to invest in his venture, Wyatt ends up agreeing to marry the newly arrived fiancée his friend had ordered from back East. In return, come next spring, the mayor will help him buy a herd of quality stock.

Wyatt doesn’t want a wife, but the beautiful Greta has no one to help her out. And Wyatt needs an investor. Can two people married under such strange circumstances figure out a way to make their union work?

What I Loved About the Book

Jody Hedlund weaves together history, mystery, and romance into a book about two people struggling to find wholeness. Sometimes, what we think about ourselves becomes our own worst enemy.

Fans of Tracie Peterson, Jeanette Oke, and Cathy Marie Hake will love this inspiring novel set in Colorado.

A Cowboy for Keeps gets Jody Hedlund's latest series off to a fantastic start!

Greta Nilsson has always struggled with feeling like a burden to those around her. Things are finally looking up when she accepts the offer of marriage to a man she's never met and moves across the country with her little sister, Astrid, in hopes that the climate will clear Astrid's lungs and lengthen her life. Their long journey introduces them to the harsh reality of life in the west (hello, bandits!), and ends with a shocking surprise Greta never could have anticipated.

Aspiring rancher, Wyatt McQuaid never planned on getting married. At least not any time soon. His only focus is getting his ranch going well enough to bring his mother and siblings west, far away from his abusive step-father. When his believed-to-be-deceased friend's mail-order bride arrives, the mayor makes him an offer...but it comes with some very complicated strings attached.

Can they overcome the obstacles in their new life and find love? Will they find a cure for Astrid or will Greta need to take her elsewhere? What really happened to Phineas?

As a historical fiction fan who recently discovered Hedlund's books, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the launch team for A Cowboy for Keeps. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Greta, Wyatt, and Astrid (she'll keep you on your toes!), and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series when it comes out.

If you enjoy historical fiction with plenty of suspense and romance, you won't want to miss this one!

*I received a complimentary copy of A Cowboy for Keeps through the author and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

This new series by Author Jody Hedlund is going to be another one of my favorites. I am a big fan of this author, and she consistently delivers a story that fills the reader with hope and inspiration. The cowboy on the cover invites you into a page-turner with characters you will fall in love with and characters that you just wish would ride off into the sunset. Set in 1862 Colorado Territory, Rancher Wyatt McQuaid makes an unusual offer to newly arrived Greta Nilsson and the adventure begins. They are both selfless in their shared goal of doing what it takes to save their families but that often leads to misunderstandings and disagreements. Sometimes the only two who show any common sense are Greta’s nine-year-old sister, Astrid, and Wyatt’s friend, Judd. When all is said and done, will Greta find her ‘cowboy for keeps’? You will not want to miss this series. I am so looking forward to Book Two.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher. The opinions are my own.

I have always been a fan of westerns. So I have watched a lot of the old tv shows as they don't make them like they used to. I sound like my elderly relatives. So when I have a chance to read a book based on the old west.....I am in heaven.



This book is the newest one from Jody Hedlund. It is going to be part of a series...hooray! The series is called Colorado Cowboys.



I received this free to review from the author. I was so excited as I have read many books by this author. I have never been disappointed. Her books are wonderful to read and not filled with any vulgarity. I appreciate that.



This story is about Greta and her sister, Astrid. There is much love between the sisters. Astrid is a delight. She reminds me of my granddaughter. Astrid loves life!!!



Greta must make a decision quickly that will change their lives drastically. Wyatt gets an offer that is hard to refuse.



The supporting characters were strongly written and I hope they will be in the future books of the series. Judd is quiet but when he talks it is a must listen. A good friend to have.

“You can walk away every time the flies start bitin’. Or you can swat ’em until they’re gone.” This is one quote of Judd's that I loved. This is so true. Anytime things are difficult or not going as planned, what can you do? You have a choice of giving up or put up a fight. GOD is with you throughout the good and bad times. He listens to your prayers. He will take on your burdens.

I highly recommend this book. I loved it!!!!!

Set in 1862 Colorado Territory, A Cowboy for Keeps from master storyteller Jody Hedlund is an impressive beginning to her Colorado Cowboy series. This book checked all the boxes for me with a smoothly constructed plot offering surprising twists and turns that will catch your attention and not let go; wonderful, engaging characters who tug at your heartstrings; brilliantly described settings that bring the scenes to life; sweet romance that evokes varied emotions; and a gentle, inspiring faith element that resonates with spiritual truths about depending on God’s care and provision. Smart, tenacious Greta and kindhearted, charming Wyatt stole my heart. Secondary characters feisty Astrid with her outspoken attitude and reliable Judd with his words of wisdom add realism and fun to the narrative. Ms. Hedlund’s attention to detail ties the story together beautifully. I loved the introduction to Wyatt’s siblings in the last chapter and look forward to reconnecting with them as the series continues. I highly recommend this absorbing read. You don’t want to miss this one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jody Hedlund knocks it out of the park once again! This lady writes one great book after another! Whether you like your Christian fiction filled with romance out west during the civil war or in a fantasy land during medieval times, you will find what you're hoping for in Jody's books.

You will fall in love with Greta and Wyatt as they come to know and care about each other when he marries her as mail-order bride...one meant for his friend who is believed to have died on the trail back from California. We also meet spunky little Astrid and learn of Wyatt's family who he hopes to have come live with them. There are lots of adventures and trials along the way but this book gave me a wonderful afternoon to escape back to the Old West.

I am really looking forward to the next book in the Colorado Cowboys series!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

What a great story! I enjoyed reading this book from start to finish! I loved reading about how Greta travels west in hopes of finding a better place for her sister to live due to her having consumption. She hopes the air will be better for her, so she agrees to marry a man she has been writing to. Phineas, wasn't there to meet her, but she meets his friend, Wyatt. Wyatt makes a deal with Mr Steele, who rode with Greta on the stagecoach, to marry Greta, since she had nowhere to go, and no money. She agrees to marry this handsome stranger, not knowing what else she can do. As they get to know each other better, they begin to fall in love with each other. This is a great, clean story that I recommend to anyone that likes historical fiction romance. Loved it!

I get so excited whenever Jody Hedlund comes out with a new book, and she always exceeds my expectations. “A Cowboy for Keeps” is her most recent offering and I just could not put this one down. Imagine, you are a mail order bride who finds yourself married to a man for whom you were not originally intended. Wow! The growth and development of these characters is so enjoyable as we watch Greta Nilsson (the bride) and Wyatt McQuaid (the husband and rancher) navigate the waters of a marriage neither had anticipated just a short time earlier. Their hopes and dreams are suddenly interdependent upon each other and the success of their marriage of convenience.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

A mail order bride, a marriage of convenience and a swoon-worthy hero....what more could you want from a historical romance?
Jody Hedlund has proven herself over and over to be an author who consistently delivers an entertaining, heartwarming and tender with a bit of sizzle romance. I don't even read the back of the novel, I just dive right in with confidence that she will tell a story I am bound to love. A Cowboy for Keeps is a strong start for this new series. The characters are so loveable, and the story is sweet, engaging and sometimes surprising! I can't wait to read about the rest of Wyatt's family in the next book. If you enjoy historical romance mixed with western adventure then you will enjoy this book.

Thank you Bethany House and Net Galley for the free copy of A Cowboy for Keeps. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Another wonderful read by Jody Hedlund! I have truly enjoyed Ms. Hedlund's writing style! This was a historical fiction genre about a mail order bride with a ailing sister. Greta decides to accept a proposal from an older gentleman in the west in an attempt to get her spit-fire sister (my description, as her little sister is just full of sweet and innocent fun!) into the mountain air, hoping she will recuperate and have a longer life as she battles consumption. Greta has lost other family members to this disease, and her remaining family and in-laws see her and her sister as a burden. However, on her way west, the stage coach is robbed, and she discovers her betrothed is gone (assumed to have died on a trip west preparing for her arrival).

This book is full of many wonderfully deep and detailed characters who just pull the reader right into the pages very quickly. Greta's story unfolds into a wonderful example of just how life can turn our most scary and feared experiences into the most cherished gifts and blessings. Trust can be hard to build when two lives coming together from very different backgrounds and experiences are thrown together in such unexpected ways. However, Ms. Hedlund wove a tale that was spectacular! The ending was truly unexpected, and threw in some wonderfully surprising twists and turns. Some of the characters surprised me in that they had sides to them that I wouldn't have guessed! I wish the ending wasn't quite as abrupt after that last twist, but Ms. Hedlund is not one whom stretches a story beyond need. I am also guessing that since this story is the first of a new series, we will likely be seeing many of these characters again! As a result, she continues to be one of my more favorite authors, and I will continue to seek new stories by her!

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

A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund is an excellent historical fiction that is the first book of what is sure to be an excellent new series: Colorado Cowboys. This book truly has it all: historical fiction, romance, suspense, a wonderful character cast, and an enthralling narrative that was addictive and entertaining until the end.

This book takes place in the small, up and coming western/gold mining town Fairplay, Colorado Territory 1862. Greta Nilsson makes a selfless decision to become a mail-order bride to a sight-unseen older gentleman in Colorado in hopes that by taking her younger half-sister, Astrid, with her to the clearer/higher altitude air and environment, she can help improve the overwhelming symptoms of her sister's consumption. After arriving, there is some confusion as the fact that the man she was supposed to marry has in fact passed away on route back to town. The town's mayor that has met Greta in route from Illionois on the stagecoach makes a deal with another single, younger man, Wyatt McQquaid, to marry Greta himself. The mayor comes to a deal with Wyatt who is in need of an investment partner for cattle for his growing ranch, while the mayor needs the establishment of young families to the area in order to encourage his own wife and family to move to the area themselves. What then ensues is initially a marriage of convenience for both Wyatt and Greta for different reasons, and what then follows is a strangers to friends to trusted love. There is so much more to this story then just that plotline, but the beauty of the focal storyline is what truly makes this novel special.

I truly, truly loved Greta, Wyatt, Astrid, and Judd. The character development was spot on. All characters were complex, realistic, like able, flawed, had their own strengths, weaknesses, and complicated pasts. It was wonderful to see their own respective transformations throughout the story and to see emotions, priorities, and outlooks change, inner strengths grow, and the characters being able to have the ability to find their own paths to happiness, satisfaction, forgiveness, purpose, and their faith again.

I also loved the stunning literary descriptions of the beautiful western landscapes. The author just has a way with words in her ability to create such visual images, colors, foliage, sights, and sounds as to make one feel as if they are actually there feeling the crisp air of the higher altitudes, the sun warming the back of their necks, the babbling streams in the background, and the grit of the dirt that clouds their path as they are walking around in town. Just stunning.

I also loved the last chapter. She sets this book up perfectly for the followup!

I truly enjoyed everything about this book and it is a great addition to a wonderful portfolio by Ms. Hedlund. I cannot wait to see where this series goes after this.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you to the author and Bethany House for this stunning ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am pos this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/5/21.

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit this title is really cringe. But! All hope is not lost! Hedlund is a pretty reliably good author, and it was my confidence in her writing that persuaded me to pick up this book to review. And I’m pleased to report, my confidence did not let me down. Now, this was no earth-shattering, heart-wrenching read, but it was light and pleasant and good for a boring afternoon. I thought the characters had great personalities and really kept my attention, and while this setting/genre of novel is not one Hedlund usually ventures into, I thought she handled it well. There were a few moments that made me squint at the pages and go, “That doesn’t seem like it would be geographically accurate”, or “That seems pretty cliché”…but c’mon, I came here to relax and unwind, not analyze the geography of the 1800s Midwestern United States.

All in all, I thought it was cute and it kept me hooked. And if the arguably overused western-cowboy formula isn’t broke…why fix it? Although I do have to say, I liked other novels of Hedlund’s better, and they’ve seemed a lot more original (especially in terms of settings). Ultimately, I would recommend to anyone looking for a light, feel-good read to ward off the winter blues.

Thank you to Net Galley and Bethany House for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Sometimes I really need to get back to my roots of reading romance. This one definitely felt old school to me - and I enjoyed it a lot. I think the very first romance I ever read was a Harlequin Historical set right after the civil war in the wild west. This is very much a frontier romance/mail-order-bride story. Greta and her younger sister are traveling to Colorado for Greta to get married. Greta's main motivation in moving to Colorado is hoping that her sister's consumption will improve in the west. Along the way her life savings are stolen and she finds out her prospective husband is dead. When she arrives, a kind man who was on the stagecoach with her - tries to help her by immediately finding her a husband. He strikes a deal with Wyatt McQuaid who is trying to start a ranch. Neither is sure about the arrangement and agree to give it a three month trial.

It turns out Greta is extremely hard working and is a huge asset to the ranch the sale of her jams and pies really helps Wyatt move his ranching dreams forward. These folks work so hard - I am always amazed in reading stories like this how hard things really were at that time.

I liked the realness of the people involved and the things they faced. I also really liked Wyatt and Greta. They are both flawed - and far from perfect. But they clearly are perfect for each other and will be good partners in life.

The opinions on the indigenous people in the book are not progressive and may be offensive to some readers - but taken in context are representative of the time and are purely from the perspective of the frontier settlers and not at all from the indigenous perspective.

I will say that I don't always really enjoy Christian romance. This did strike the right balance for me - of Christian beliefs and romance.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Jody Hedlund has started a new series set in Colorado in the 1860s. If you enjoy cowboys, gold miners, Indians, mail order brides, nasty villains, cute kids, and a gorgeous setting, you’ll like this book! The characters are well drawn, there are plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, and plenty of swoon-worthy kisses, or almost kisses. I really enjoyed reading the book, and look forward to the next in the series!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. #ACowboyforKeeps #NetGalley