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. Curious to learn more? Check out the first line here.

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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.