Tag: colorado cowboys

Book Review: The Heart of a Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys #2) by Jody Hedlund

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Christian Western Romance
Length: 360 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: October 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When he agreed to guard her, he never bargained on having to guard his heart.

Brilliant scientist Linnea Newberry is on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the Santa Fe Trail with her grandfather, Dr. Powell, on a botanical expedition to Colorado Territory. She longs to be valued for her contributions and not seen as a helpless liability. But at every calamity she faces, her grandfather threatens to send her home.

After watching his ma suffer and die in childbirth, Flynn McQuaid has sworn off women and marriage forever. Headed west to start a new life, he has his hands full not only taking care of his younger siblings but also delivering cattle to his older brother. He doesn’t need more complications.

When Flynn rescues Linnea from drowning during a river crossing, Dr. Powell promptly hires Flynn—unbeknownst to Linnea—to act as her bodyguard for the rest of the trip. As Flynn fights against the many dangers of the trail, he soon finds himself in the greatest danger of all—falling for a woman he’s determined not to love.

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

But I just think that this series isn’t for me. And I’m calling it after two books, here’s my thoughts at least.

I did like the set-up for this one. The Western setting and cattle drive was unique and kept my attention. All of the drama with others and everything else that kept happening luckily had me wanting to see what happened next.

The romance was a bit insta-ish for me. I do admit that Flynn and Linnea really grew on me and I thought the ending was really sweet. There is just ~something~ about Hedlund’s female main character’s in this series that I do no jive with. I think the personality qualities are laid on reallllllly thick and it doesn’t come off well to me as a reader.

This was better than the first book, even if I don’t plan to continue the series I know it’s a favorite of others!

Overall audience notes:

  • Western Christian Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: near death experiences, gun violence, loss of life, animal death, childbirth, loss of parents

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Book Review: A Cowboy for Keeps (Colorado Cowboys #1) by Jody Hedlund

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Historical Western Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: January 15th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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 with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revolutions arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?

GIRL STOP.

I’m still on a quest to find a western cowboy romance that moves my soul. This was good, but there was one major element that brought this book down two stars y’all.

And that would be our female main character: Greta. She would NOT STOP COMPLAINING. Her entire inner monologue surrounded her not being a burden, and I can understand that in the beginning where we’re setting up for character growth arcs. What I can’t get past is that this still went on until the last pages when Wyatt is like, I LOVE YOU, and Greta is still saying, are you sure I won’t be a burden?? If you’ve read the book you would know both sides were OBVIOUSLY past this type of conversation.

Otherwise, loved the setting. Tiny historical Colorado town. There’s some faith elements that I don’t think were heavy handed either that I enjoyed. I did think Greta’s sister came off a bit young for her supposed age but I did like the aspects she added to the story.

I’m going to try book two, we’ll see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Western Cowboy Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, animal violence, a child with consumption, robbery at gunpoint

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