Scan barcode
turquoiseavenue's review
3.0
Jody Hedlund brings the wild west of small town Colorado alive with cattle rustlers, a new sheriff in town and a whole cast of vibrant people.
WHAT I LIKED:
Catherine's profession as a midwife was fascinating and I enjoyed how well-researched and how well her techniques and situations were presented. In fact, the first chapter of the story highlights Catherine in this role, which I found intriguing and that kept me wanting to read more.
A marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes and this book certainly featured that! The resulting love story and HEA that came with it were a plus.
Dylan's character stood out to me the most in this story. He was a man who'd fallen prey to the lusts of his flesh and deeply regretted them, moving forward to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Having repented from his wayward sins and worked hard to live a life pleasing to God, it was rewarding to see him come up against the temptations of his past and overcome them. As he embraced his role of fatherhood, it was even more rewarding to witness the change in his character. He was flirtatious and confident, values I enjoyed in a hero.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
The plot to this story was cliche'. Marriage of convenience, based off of a miscommunication which eventually becomes a lie (this really detracted from Catherine's character value for me). The premise of the miscommunication bordered on the fact that Dylan did not remember being intimate with a woman, due to being inebriated. I found it very hard to believe he couldn't remember what she looked like or any conversations with her, and that made the trope unreliable for me.
The ending was predictable and lacked the excitement I thought was coming. While there were moments of excitement and a touch of suspense, I had been hoping for a big moment when Catherine's predicament from Chicago made its way to her so Dylan would have to save her and clear her name.
Lastly, Dylan's physical infatuation and insinuations with Catherine were over the top and bordered on lustful. I didn't care for this aspect in this particular genre. It was something I'd have expected (and enjoyed) in a sweet romcom or secular novel, but not in historical Christian fiction. While it all took place within the confines of their marriage, it still felt too detailed and overdone for this story. There is a time and place for spice in my opinion and this was not it.
IN SUMMARY:
Overall, a historical western romance that served as an easy, feel-good romance. Though part of a series, this novel read well as a standalone. There are elements of faith, redemption and saving grace, death to self and new life, as well as moments of sibling banter and adoring love between family members. There was also the refreshing and redeeming part of the story that people are merely human, they make mistakes, learn from them and move forward with renewed focus on the things that truly matter. A solid three stars for me.
Note: Between reading this story on my Kindle, I also listened to the audio version narrated by Susan Hanfield and found it to be well done.
CW and TW: Murder, Death in Childbirth, Sex Before Marriage (alleged), Inebriation (to the point of oblivion -alluded to), Detailed Kissing and Bodily Contact (within the confines of marriage), Innuendo and Insinuations (within the confines of marriage).
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this story from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
WHAT I LIKED:
Catherine's profession as a midwife was fascinating and I enjoyed how well-researched and how well her techniques and situations were presented. In fact, the first chapter of the story highlights Catherine in this role, which I found intriguing and that kept me wanting to read more.
A marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes and this book certainly featured that! The resulting love story and HEA that came with it were a plus.
Dylan's character stood out to me the most in this story. He was a man who'd fallen prey to the lusts of his flesh and deeply regretted them, moving forward to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Having repented from his wayward sins and worked hard to live a life pleasing to God, it was rewarding to see him come up against the temptations of his past and overcome them. As he embraced his role of fatherhood, it was even more rewarding to witness the change in his character. He was flirtatious and confident, values I enjoyed in a hero.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
The plot to this story was cliche'. Marriage of convenience, based off of a miscommunication which eventually becomes a lie (this really detracted from Catherine's character value for me). The premise of the miscommunication bordered on the fact that Dylan did not remember being intimate with a woman, due to being inebriated. I found it very hard to believe he couldn't remember what she looked like or any conversations with her, and that made the trope unreliable for me.
The ending was predictable and lacked the excitement I thought was coming. While there were moments of excitement and a touch of suspense, I had been hoping for a big moment when Catherine's predicament from Chicago made its way to her so Dylan would have to save her and clear her name.
Lastly, Dylan's physical infatuation and insinuations with Catherine were over the top and bordered on lustful. I didn't care for this aspect in this particular genre. It was something I'd have expected (and enjoyed) in a sweet romcom or secular novel, but not in historical Christian fiction. While it all took place within the confines of their marriage, it still felt too detailed and overdone for this story. There is a time and place for spice in my opinion and this was not it.
IN SUMMARY:
Overall, a historical western romance that served as an easy, feel-good romance. Though part of a series, this novel read well as a standalone. There are elements of faith, redemption and saving grace, death to self and new life, as well as moments of sibling banter and adoring love between family members. There was also the refreshing and redeeming part of the story that people are merely human, they make mistakes, learn from them and move forward with renewed focus on the things that truly matter. A solid three stars for me.
Note: Between reading this story on my Kindle, I also listened to the audio version narrated by Susan Hanfield and found it to be well done.
CW and TW: Murder, Death in Childbirth, Sex Before Marriage (alleged), Inebriation (to the point of oblivion -alluded to), Detailed Kissing and Bodily Contact (within the confines of marriage), Innuendo and Insinuations (within the confines of marriage).
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this story from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
misspippireads's review
5.0
Catherine was at the right place but stumbled into a horrible moment. Decisions have to be made and she's on the run! Leaving Chicago to protect her father. Running to Colorado to an unknown man who is "kind" and "will provide for his unknown newborn". Taking chances could go well or horribly wrong.
sallyann30's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
farmfreshlisa's review
4.0
this is the last book in the Colorado Cowboy series following the McQuaid family. While I really enjoyed Ivy's story, I think I really enjoyed Dylan's story even more. One thing that annoyed me was how long it took Catherine to realize that everyone thought she was Kit; but then when it hits her that Dylan didn't know she wasn't Kit because he'd been sooooooo drunk back in Chicago that he didn't even remember what Kit looked like---it hit her like a brick.
Catherine really had to struggle with what she knew about Dylan's past life and what she was seeing in the reformed and repentant Dylan. But deep down her hardest struggle was the one against herself. She was so focused on how people responded to her that she saw herself as lesser and didn't see the worth or value she had as CATHERINE. I loved and wrote down the quote from Miss Trudy:
Now that's a sucker punch to most women today as well. Social media has just increased the challenges of avoiding comparison. And we only ever see our faults, not our strengths. and when someone points out our strengths, we try to convince them that they are wrong instead of just saying "Thank You" and accepting them as truth. I enjoyed watching Catherine discover that she can be loved for who SHE is.
And Dylan. here is a brilliant story of what it is like to repent from a life of deprivation and shame and do a 180 degree turn. But the book still acknowledged how HARD it is to conquer those past temptations. and how desperately we must throw ourselves into God's mercy and care and trust that He will carry us through. Dylan wore those sins on his back instead of accepting them as buried once for all. i imagine there are many who may relate to Dylan even today.
I also loved how Jody acknowledges that powerful romantic love between husband and wife and how it is okay to intensely desire a spouse. Dylan in many ways reminded me of my own husband's very romantic ways. <3
Dylan and Catherine's story gets a solid 4 stars--and that means that the whole series itself is a solid 4 star series! Rumor has it that there is a Colorado Cowgirls series coming out as a spin-off. i'm hoping for Astrid and Floras stories!
Catherine really had to struggle with what she knew about Dylan's past life and what she was seeing in the reformed and repentant Dylan. But deep down her hardest struggle was the one against herself. She was so focused on how people responded to her that she saw herself as lesser and didn't see the worth or value she had as CATHERINE. I loved and wrote down the quote from Miss Trudy:
We women have to stop defining ourselves by lining ourselves up against other women. Instead we need to define ourselves the way our Creator does.
Now that's a sucker punch to most women today as well. Social media has just increased the challenges of avoiding comparison. And we only ever see our faults, not our strengths. and when someone points out our strengths, we try to convince them that they are wrong instead of just saying "Thank You" and accepting them as truth. I enjoyed watching Catherine discover that she can be loved for who SHE is.
And Dylan. here is a brilliant story of what it is like to repent from a life of deprivation and shame and do a 180 degree turn. But the book still acknowledged how HARD it is to conquer those past temptations. and how desperately we must throw ourselves into God's mercy and care and trust that He will carry us through. Dylan wore those sins on his back instead of accepting them as buried once for all. i imagine there are many who may relate to Dylan even today.
I also loved how Jody acknowledges that powerful romantic love between husband and wife and how it is okay to intensely desire a spouse. Dylan in many ways reminded me of my own husband's very romantic ways. <3
Dylan and Catherine's story gets a solid 4 stars--and that means that the whole series itself is a solid 4 star series! Rumor has it that there is a Colorado Cowgirls series coming out as a spin-off. i'm hoping for Astrid and Floras stories!
mrmmreads's review
5.0
I cannot express the love that fills my heart while reading this stinking amazing book
thestagedstory's review
5.0
This may be my favorite out of the entire series! It was so good! I couldn’t put it down! I read it in just a few hours because I couldn’t stop. I really enjoyed Dylan and Catherine. They were well done characters. Not perfect but not completely controlled by their faults.
The story flowed so well and never had any dull moments for me. I felt this book wrapped up the series perfectly!
The story flowed so well and never had any dull moments for me. I felt this book wrapped up the series perfectly!
melissasbookshelf's review
5.0
What a fantastic end to a beloved series! Jody Hedlund weaves a powerful story of redemption, second chances, and faith in this romantic, stirring conclusion to the Colorado Cowboys series. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes and she really delivers with not only this trope but mistaken identity, false accusation, and a sweet little baby. I’ve loved that with each story in the McQuaid family saga we see this family come together, support each other, and forgive even when circumstances prove most difficult. Throughout the series, Dylan seemed most affected by the losses in his life and instead of turning to his family and faith, he turns to vice. In this story, we see him get his second chance.
Dylan, now the Sheriff of the small town he once called home, has an election coming up with strong competition. He’s determined to rid the town of a group of cattle rustlers and prove to the community that he’s a changed, capable man. He’s completely surprised when a woman shows up with a baby in tow who looks just like him. Wanting to do the right thing, he offers her marriage on the spot and determines to be as good a father as his pa. He doesn’t remember Catherine, but he’s determined to take things slow and win her trust and admiration.
Catherine is running for her life. She witnessed a terrible murder in Chicago after the tragic death of one of her patients and now stands falsely accused of both deaths. Catherine promised the dying mother to deliver her baby to his father in Colorado and sees this as a way to flee from the forces conspiring against her. When she meets Dylan and he offers her marriage right away, she can’t help but think it’s an answer to not only her problems, but her lonely heart. She’s grown to love little baby Austin and can’t help but be enamored by his handsome father. But, when the past comes back to haunt them, will they stay together or be torn apart?
I loved the slow burn romance between Dylan and Catherine. They both grow throughout the story as they learn to love each other. There’s nothing more attractive than a big, strong man caring for a baby and there were so many swoony moments with Dylan and his little son. I loved his small acts of kindness and service to Catherine, and when he calls her “darlin,” it made my heart melt. Dylan continues to struggle with his past and I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from showing him really being tempted by his former vices. I loved the way his faith helped him be strong and turn away.
Catherine is sweet, caring, and good at what she does. Because of past disappointments in love, she doesn’t think she’s exciting or attractive enough to win Dylan’s heart. I loved the way she grew in confidence as the story progressed. She’s a talented midwife and I enjoyed seeing this aspect of the story. Catherine’s the perfect match for Dylan and they really brought out the best in each other, encouraging each other in their pursuits. With the McQuaids though, danger is never far behind and there’s plenty of action along with the sizzling, heartfelt romance that kept me up late into the night reading.
I’m truly sorry to see this series come to an end and am hoping somewhere along the line we get Astrid’s story. These characters and their struggles are so well written and have become so endearing that it’s going to be hard to let them go. Though this story could definitely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire series. It’ll be that much more enjoyable. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
Dylan, now the Sheriff of the small town he once called home, has an election coming up with strong competition. He’s determined to rid the town of a group of cattle rustlers and prove to the community that he’s a changed, capable man. He’s completely surprised when a woman shows up with a baby in tow who looks just like him. Wanting to do the right thing, he offers her marriage on the spot and determines to be as good a father as his pa. He doesn’t remember Catherine, but he’s determined to take things slow and win her trust and admiration.
Catherine is running for her life. She witnessed a terrible murder in Chicago after the tragic death of one of her patients and now stands falsely accused of both deaths. Catherine promised the dying mother to deliver her baby to his father in Colorado and sees this as a way to flee from the forces conspiring against her. When she meets Dylan and he offers her marriage right away, she can’t help but think it’s an answer to not only her problems, but her lonely heart. She’s grown to love little baby Austin and can’t help but be enamored by his handsome father. But, when the past comes back to haunt them, will they stay together or be torn apart?
I loved the slow burn romance between Dylan and Catherine. They both grow throughout the story as they learn to love each other. There’s nothing more attractive than a big, strong man caring for a baby and there were so many swoony moments with Dylan and his little son. I loved his small acts of kindness and service to Catherine, and when he calls her “darlin,” it made my heart melt. Dylan continues to struggle with his past and I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from showing him really being tempted by his former vices. I loved the way his faith helped him be strong and turn away.
Catherine is sweet, caring, and good at what she does. Because of past disappointments in love, she doesn’t think she’s exciting or attractive enough to win Dylan’s heart. I loved the way she grew in confidence as the story progressed. She’s a talented midwife and I enjoyed seeing this aspect of the story. Catherine’s the perfect match for Dylan and they really brought out the best in each other, encouraging each other in their pursuits. With the McQuaids though, danger is never far behind and there’s plenty of action along with the sizzling, heartfelt romance that kept me up late into the night reading.
I’m truly sorry to see this series come to an end and am hoping somewhere along the line we get Astrid’s story. These characters and their struggles are so well written and have become so endearing that it’s going to be hard to let them go. Though this story could definitely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire series. It’ll be that much more enjoyable. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
thebookscript's review
4.0
This is the final book in the Colorado cowboys series and it was a lot of fun. I always find these books highly bingeable and easy to read. This one in particular examines what it means to be given a second chance and the right way to use it! I loved that we got to see the tail end of Dylans changes but that he was still grappling with temptation and how to be a good man. I also really enjoyed Katherine's arc too. She finds such purpose in unexpected places and all the found family feels were tucked in with care inside this book!
Midwifery played a big roll in the plot and I liked that aspect to it. I'm so glad I didn't have babies during this time because it was such an unknown chance of survival.
I just heard that Jody is doing more cowboy books and the people are excited! If you like cowboys and a faith filled redemption story then this one might be for you!
Thank you @bethanyhousefiction for my advanced reading copy! This one is out now!
Midwifery played a big roll in the plot and I liked that aspect to it. I'm so glad I didn't have babies during this time because it was such an unknown chance of survival.
I just heard that Jody is doing more cowboy books and the people are excited! If you like cowboys and a faith filled redemption story then this one might be for you!
Thank you @bethanyhousefiction for my advanced reading copy! This one is out now!
mom_loves_to_read's review
4.0
I’m officially in mourning that this series is over. I have loved reading it through the years. This entire series is full of wonderful character growth and depth. Book 5 was no different.
We’ve followed Dylan McQuaid since he was a boy. We’ve seen him struggle with life decisions and make some regrettable choices. And we finally get to see him become the husband, father and man he was meant to be!
I loved Dylan and Catherine’s story. I loved both character arcs. Dylan still struggles with temptation from his past while trying to prove he can be a capable sheriff. Katherine was a great character. I loved how she discovered her worth in motherhood and midwifery. Marriage of convenience is a favorite trope of mine and this one was great. So much tension and chemistry between Dylan and Katherine. Miscommunication was definitely a part of their story. I wished the truth would have been revealed sooner but I liked the way it was all wrapped up on the end.
I’m sad this series has ended. The McQuaid family has all my heart! And don’t asked me to pick my favorite book, because I can’t answer that!
We’ve followed Dylan McQuaid since he was a boy. We’ve seen him struggle with life decisions and make some regrettable choices. And we finally get to see him become the husband, father and man he was meant to be!
I loved Dylan and Catherine’s story. I loved both character arcs. Dylan still struggles with temptation from his past while trying to prove he can be a capable sheriff. Katherine was a great character. I loved how she discovered her worth in motherhood and midwifery. Marriage of convenience is a favorite trope of mine and this one was great. So much tension and chemistry between Dylan and Katherine. Miscommunication was definitely a part of their story. I wished the truth would have been revealed sooner but I liked the way it was all wrapped up on the end.
I’m sad this series has ended. The McQuaid family has all my heart! And don’t asked me to pick my favorite book, because I can’t answer that!
readingintheweehours's review
5.0
Jody has done it again! What an incredibly satisfying end to this wonderful series. The wait for Dylan’s story was well worth it. He and Catherine’s relationship tells a story of redemption, learning to rust, and recognizing the ever gracious love of a Heavenly Father who knows His children intimately. Great writing, Jody!
I can’t wait for the Colorado Cowgirls series! ❤️
I can’t wait for the Colorado Cowgirls series! ❤️