Member Reviews

You will not want to put down this wonderful historical western romance. Savannah and Brody are great characters. I love that Savannah is a veterinarian. Brody must learn that he is not broken and Savannah needs to learn that she is strong and can stand up for herself. Learning about the mustangs was one of my favorite parts. This is the third book in this series but you will be ok if you have not read the first two in the series. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

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Love, love, love, love, love this book. If you have read the first two, you will swoon for this one. If you haven’t read the first two, you will swoon for this one (but I highly recommend the first two, too)

I’ve been intrigued with knowing more about Brody. He survived the civil war, Gettysburg, several battles, war prison, and he has survivor’s guilt along with PTSD. He struggles through this story and your heart can’t help but reach for him. Savannah is a lady running from an undesirable marriage, but also looking to find herself a spot as a veterinarian, doing what she loves. The tension between these two is unreal, in the best way. Every time I leave a Jody Hedlund book I just shake my head wondering how she is able to release so many books and not one has disappointed me. I adore this book and I think it’s either tied with A Cowboy for Keeps (the first in the Colorado Cowboys series) or it’s officially my favorite Jody Hedlund book. Absolutely a must read. I’m ready for a reread! And also the last chapter, introducing Ivy’s story, wow. I am so excited for October. I can’t wait to read what happens next.

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“You no longer have to be condemned by your scars. God can redeem anything. Whenever you look at or feel your battle wounds, instead of seeing all the ways you failed, you can see strength you’ve gained through the hardships and realize wounds might shape us, but they can’t determine who we are.”

Oh my! Jody Hedlund has done it again! This third book in the Colorado Cowboys series had me swooning from the start. It’s a heart-achingly beautiful story of faith, love, perseverance, and second chances. Brody is the quintessential example of the broken hero with a heart of gold. Like the wild mustangs he tames, Brody feels out of control. His experiences during the Civil War left him scarred and wounded. His tender heart lies hidden under a rough exterior always ready for a fight. He captures many of his feelings and experiences through beautiful sketches.

Savannah’s positive, patient disposition is just what Brody needs. She has a way with both animals and humans. Running away from an unwanted marriage, she ends up living her dream as a vet in South Park where Brody and his family live. She’s immediately attracted to Brody, but knows that eventually, she’ll need to return to the Double L Ranch and accept her fate. Her fear of letting her family down is a constant battle.

These two have such an explosive chemistry that kept me turning those pages. The cabin scenes were so well done. The temptation is real, yet, Brody remains the consummate gentleman. I loved his self-sacrificing, gentle care of Savannah. The beautiful descriptions of the mountains, the raging snowstorm, and the scenes of mustangs running free were so well written that I could easily picture everything in my mind.

The metaphors of God’s love and forgiveness are powerful and I loved seeing Brody’s hopelessness turn to hopefulness. It’s definitely a favorite read this year and highly recommend to Western fiction, Christian fiction, and Christian romance fans. Looking forward to Ivy’s story! Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

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Holy buckets of love, does Jody Hedlund know how to write a cowboy story! Where is the 6-star button??

I LOVED A Cowboy for Keeps and did not think any other cowboy book could measure up but I was wrong. This one was just as good!!

Brody is struggling to leave the horrors of war behind; Savannah dreams of being a vet and is fleeing from an arranged marriage. Their characters were so likable and both had wonderful character arcs. The plot and setting had me hooked from the very first page and the storyline was so smooth that the pages practically turned themselves.

And can we just talk about the romance and chemistry? Oh mylanta. So much tension and chemistry between Brody and Savannah and yet they also had a great friendship and emotional connection! And Brody? What a gentleman!

Cannot recommend this book and series enough, and I will be counting down the days until Ivy's story releases!

I received a complimentary copy of the book but a positive review was not required.

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I may be sharing some spoilers, so be warned. This one is written in a similar style to the first two and follows the third brother, Brody who has returned from the Civil War and is suffering from PTSD. His anger outbursts were a bit much and I really didn't like him at first in comparison to Savannah who is the sweetest most innocent girl. She's so young and I wanted to be like-noo don't date someone who is so violent. Yet she is able to see past his anger and into his hurts, which is guess ends up being a good thing. But I did struggle with his violence and I imagine it would be triggering for some people. Especially those recovering from trauma. Hedlund doesn't dive too deeply into the healing process and I'm afraid Brody relies a bit too much on Savannah for that healing than he does on the Lord at first. But he does find God eventually.
The other heads up I need to give is that for Christian fiction it gets pretty steamy. I hate giving spoilers in reviews though, but if you're sensitive to steam then this one is probably not for you. It didn't bother me per se because they're surviving frostbite, but I know some others would be offended. There is redemption and Brody seems to have changed by the end. But in real life, I don't think I would ever consider dating someone like him. So I still have mixed feelings about them as a couple. She's just so sweet and there's nothing wrong with her. But the story moved fast and if you like her others you'll like this one.
Other than that it's a fun Western and there's lots about the wild mustangs which is super fun to read about. The freedom they had in the wild west sounds so appealing to me in this series. I'm looking forward to reading Ivy's story.

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Review on my blog here https://veganbookblogger.wordpress.co...
The author writes in many genres and excels at all of them.
I have read all of the books in this series, all wonderful but this one is my favorite.
Brody is a broken man from his time spent in the Civil War and what he blames himself for being unable to do.
Spending time with his little niece relaxes him and makes him feel whole again.
Though he may not show it outwardly he has a tender heart , especially when it comes to the wild horses in the area who are being killed by local ranchers when their cattle don't have enough of the lush grass for grazing.
Despite no formal training Savannah Marshall has vet smarts after working with a trained veterinarian for many years.
Wanting to please her father she agrees to marry a man of his choosing but decides against it at the last minute and runs away.
Not having a destination in mind she gets to town and sees a horse being terribly mistreated and rushes to treat it. Two tender hearts meet then, Brody with his love of animals and Savannah with her doctoring knowledge and her love of animals.
Savannah is on the run and her family wants her back but will love be able to run wild and free like the horses when she is found or will her heart be caged?
We also get a glimpse of Brody's sister in this story, she will not be held back. She is free spirited and I love her personality.
I'll bet there will be a book telling her story soon and I can't wait to read it.
I loved this book!

Pub Date 03 May 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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To Tame a Cowboy is the third installment from Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series. I have always adored her historical novels and this one is no different. It was great to go back in time in Colorado. I loved getting to know Savannah and Brody and I was quickly caught up in their story. I enjoyed the adventure, mystery, romance and the element of faith within the pages. It was fun to learn a little bit about early veterinarian practices, also. There was nothing I did not love about this tale. It was fabulous.

To Tame a Cowboy will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean Historical Romantic Fiction. I can not wait to get my hands on the next book from the Colorado Cowboys series, Falling for the Cowgirl, to see what happens next.

I received a paperback copy of To Tame a Cowboy from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

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I am NOT a fan of westerns, but took the recommendation of a trusted friend. And to my pleasure, Hedlund has done it! She wrote a western that I not only tolerated, but loved! I can't wait to read the others in this series.

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To Tame a Cowboy is the third book in Jody Hedlund's Colorado Cowboys series. I've been looking forward to Brody's story for a while now, so I was excited to be a part of the launch team and read an early copy of this novel. This story takes place in 1876, following the Civil War.

The war may have left Brody McQuaid physically intact, but it left his heart and mind broken, seemingly beyond repair. He has turned away from everyone who loves him, including his Heavenly Father. His only source of happiness is found in spending time with his little niece and protecting the wild horses from the farmers who want nothing more than to be rid of them forever. Savannah Marshall is a veterinarian but her dreams of healing will come to an abrupt end if she marries the man her father has chosen for her. She slips away days before her wedding, and soon finds herself wrapped up in saving the mustangs with Brody--and maybe even playing a part in healing more than wild horses.

Like Hedlund's previous books, the storyline is intriguing and well-developed. The main characters are likeable and relatable, while facing realistic struggles. Faith remains at the forefront throughout the story, even when Brody is struggling to believe God is there. Hedlund also did a fantastic job of addressing mental health, trauma, and grief in this book. As always, she has liberally sprinkled beautifully poetic words that point her readers back to Jesus throughout her story, such as this quote:

"They were doing something so right, protecting the mustangs. As wild as they were, they had incredible potential if tamed by the right hands. Wasn't that how it was with God? When others gave up, He kept going, kept pursuing, always seeing the potential of a person tamed by His hands."

If you love historical fiction filled with faith, cowboys, horses, and a good dose of romance, you'll love To Tame a Cowboy! This is one I will be definitely be re-reading, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

*I received a complimentary copy of To Tame a Cowboy through the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

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To Tame a Cowboy has been a wonderful story I just didn't want to put down! Beginning with Savannah, a young lady who knows what she wants to do, be a veterinarian, but in 1867 she is expected to get married and be a lady, so days before her wedding, she leaves, and finds herself on another ranch to work. The owner of the ranch, Flynn, notices a major difference in his younger brother Brody, whenever he is near her. Brody has not had it easy since he came home from the war between the states. He has a lot of healing that needs to happen. This woman that comes to work on their ranch is a gentle , caring, and kind lady that he is not only attracted to, but he connects to her in a way he can't explain. A completely moving story that is well worth the read. I loved it!

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To Tame a Cowboy is a well-written Christian romance set in the West after the Civil War. I truly enjoyed reading it. The main characters are developed in depth and are truly likeable, and their actions are believable. Author Jody Hedlund touches on the times-how a former slave-owner treated his slaves and one incident that showed how Native Americans were treated by some of the citizens of the small town. She includes little historical tidbits, like how a canvas coat was "painted with linseed oil to make it wind and water resistant." She does both of these without slowing the plot down. She also is more forthright about physical desire and the great discipline required to not act on it than are many other authors of Christian romance. There are some sizzling kisses between Savannah and Brody, but that is all. I would feel very comfortable recommending this book to teens as well as adults.. The character's faith or lack thereof is displayed naturally through the story line. There is an HEA for our main characters and their story has a solid ending. The last chapter focuses on Brody's sister Ivy and sets up her story which I'm assuming will be the next book. Jody Hedlund is a new-to-me author, and one that I would definitely read more from.
I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley and am sharing my opinion of this excellent historical romance.

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If you love cowboy’s and horses, you will love this book! Even if you don’t love those things, you will love this it!! From the very beginning I was hooked. A run away bride is always fun and entertaining. But the addition of a hunky cowboy and some beautiful mustangs, what could be better. Brody is struggling with fitting in and forgetting his horrible war experiences. He has forsaken God and lost himself. Savannah is running from an arranged marriage and just wants to use her gift of healing animals and work as a veterinarian. When she comes across Brody trying to rescue a wild mustang from a rough buster, she was just in time to help stop the abuse on the mustang. So the sweet story of Brody and Savannah begins. The author proves that she knows about horses with the detail and beautiful descriptions she shares. The touching redemption of Brock’s healing heart and mind and Savannah's finding her passion of treating animals, makes a wonderful story. The swoon worthy romance is an added bonus to make this a perfect read! It is part of a wonderful series but written so it could be enjoyed as a standalone. The teaser at the end has me excited for Ivy’s story!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This is the 3rd book in the Colorado Cowboys series!

I was so excited to read this book and hear more about the story of Brody. Brody had been through so much with the war and the abuse that he suffered under the hand of his step-father.

Savannah is a vet who is confronting being a working woman in a male dominated society. She was an amazing person who saw the good in everyone, including Brody!

I also really enjoyed the relationship between Brody and niece and his brother, Flynn. Brody's sister, Ivy, is always a riot and has no filter!

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own!

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Savannah felt trapped in her circumstances. Brody was trapped in his memories. Was their a way to escape?
I enjoyed this story about Savannah and Brody. There was an attraction between them but until they could escape from their entrapments they had no future.

Have you ever felt trapped physically or mentally? Or both? What did you do? It's not so easy to escape. What steps did you have to take?

It was the journey that they both had to take before they could move forward. GOD was there to guide them. He was always there to listen.

I received this book to review from the author, Jody Hedlund.

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I've been eagerly awaiting Brody's story since hearing about him sneaking off to join the war effort earlier in the series and let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. Brody and Savannah meet early on in the story and the instant attraction between these two makes each of them wary and yet undeniably drawn to one another. I love their mutual compassion for people and animals, the way they care for those around them and the way they are sensitive to each other's needs. Despite the harsh realities Brody witnessed during the war, Savannah sees a different side to him as she gets to know him. Quickly, these two are falling for each other and determined to keep a respectful distance from one another. With events from both their pasts sneaking up on them, the possibility for a happily ever after seems in jeopardy.

I loved the way that Jody incorporated Savannah's nurturing nature and independence with Brody's fierce care for his family and the wild mustangs around home. This book incorporates some beautiful nursing to health scenes that show lots of heart and strength of character as they strive to look out for one another. The climax of this book had my heart racing as I eagerly kept reading to see if everything was going to turn out ok. I also enjoyed the incorporation of Ivy and Jericho in this story and can't wait to see what's in store for them next in the series.

The way that Jody included themes of healing from grief and trauma, hope for the future, love of family, faith and a happily ever after were beautifully and wonderfully done. So grateful for a chance to read an advanced copy of this book! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House for the advanced readers copy, all thoughts are my own.

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Whenever Jody Hedlund announces a new book, I feel like a kid anticipating waking up on Christmas morning. Then when I read the story, it's like finding out you got two Christmases for the price of one, it's that good. To Tame a Cowboy was like having my birthday and Christmas and every other exciting holiday wrapped up into one it was SO amazing!!! I don't even know where to start with how much I loved reading this book. I devoured it in one day because the story just pulled me in. I didn't even notice the time passing, I was so fully invested in Brody and Savannah's story.
I have truly enjoyed this series, but somehow Jody keeps raising the bar to new heights and Brody's book set a new standard for me. The romance was just, uh, FAN.TAS.TIC!! I loved the way Savannah was a balm to Brody's soul, but I equally love that they both helped one another. They were balanced and supportive which just made that chemistry even more powerful. There were also twists this story took that really allowed them to have some heart-to-heart moments which I loved being surprised by.
There was so much depth to this story and the character arcs were so well-written and developed, I just wanted to hug them all. This is a new favorite read for me and one I will be sharing and recommending with everyone. It's totally going to be a reread too. All the stars and love for this incredible novel!
I received an advance reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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To Tame a Cowboy is another wonderful book from Jody Hedlund. Ms. Hedlund has a way with words that truly draws you into the setting and story. The theme of redemption and healing is so sweet in this story. Brody has gone through so much during the war and his mental wounds keep him from embracing life and family. Savannah is running from family ambitions that keep her from her dreams. As the two come to know each other and love begins to blossom they find that family is precious and there is always a reason for hope. My only complaint is that they each might have been described as handsome or beautiful too much. It became repetitive. Overall a great addition to this wonderful series.

I received a complimentary E-book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

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This book hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. Savannah and Brody's story is a clean Christian romance that has just the right amount of drama, suspense and chemistry to keep you turning the pages. I loved everything about this book and highly recommend this book and the entire series.
I received a complimentary copy from Jody Hedlund and Bethany House via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Author Jody Hedlund’s books just get better and better. The well-developed characters invoke emotions so real the reader can identify with those feelings. Cowboy Brody McQuaid, the third McQuaid brother has come home to the family ranch. New-to-the-area Veterinarian Savannah Marshall and Brody are both carrying emotional baggage. Savannah tells Brody, “You aren’t defined by your past, Brody.” “You no longer have to be condemned by your scars. God can redeem anything.” not realizing it is a lesson she needs to learn as well. Will they find the forgiveness and healing they both need? This is a great series, and each book is stand-alone. Trust me you will want to read all of them.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Net Galley. The opinions are my own.

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From the time she moved to Colorado before the war, Savannah Marshall has followed around the Double L’s vet and feels called to help animals. But her father and Chandler Saxton, the man her father wants her to marry, see a different future for her. One that involves homemaking and childrearing.

On the eve of her wedding to Chandler, Savannah runs away. She wants to help her parents out of their financial bind by marrying Chandler, but she doesn’t know if she loves him. Savannah thinks her only hope of gaining clarity is to get away from the situation.

After riding into Colorado’s high country, she finds a job as a temporary veterinarian at Healing Springs Ranch.

Ever since the war, Brody McQuaid has battled the sights, sounds, and memories of Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. His brothers, Flynn and Wyatt, despair of ever seeing Brody healed from his internal wounds. They pray for healing for their brother before his rages prove fatal.

When Flynn sees him interact with a stranger on the streets of Fairplay, he hires the young woman on the spot. Although she looks mighty young to be a vet, she seems to have a healing touch with Brody, too.

Can a broken man find healing? And can Savannah learn to stand up for herself when she’s around the people she loves?

What I Loved About This Book

The third book in Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series, To Tame a Cowboy continues the saga of the McQuaid brothers. Readers will enjoy it as a stand-alone novel if they haven’t read the first two books. The sweet love story has a fair share of swoony sparks between the protagonists, and readers will relate to how Savannah and Brody struggle to overcome old patterns of thinking.

I appreciate Hedlund’s foray into addressing difficult topics of the period (post-Civil War Colorado) such as slavery, the treatment of Native Americans, and Westward expansion. While not an exposé on what ailed society, Hedlund takes a huge step forward in Christian historical fiction by inviting readers to think. Kudos for not ignoring the issues of the day by whitewashing history.

Fans of Lauraine Snelling and Melanie Dickerson will enjoy this book.

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