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A review by novelesque_life
A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
2021; Bethany House
This is my first novel by Jody Hedlund, and spoiler alert, I have added a few of her backlist (most are series/trilogies so I just added the first books) to my TBR list. I added the tag of "cozy" to this book as it is a sweet story with no steamy or gory scenes. A Cowboy to Keeps is set around the American Civil War, in Colorado. After the death of her stepmother and father, Greta takes her kid sister, Astrid to Colorado. While Astrid has siblings from her mother's side, they have families of their own so Greta has been left to her care. Greta, highly suggested by her step sister-in-laws, decided to put in an ad for Mail Order Bride. She find an older kind man who will pay for her and Astrid to come live with him. He will take care of both of them. Things go bad to worse when they are robbed on the train, and her fiancé has died on his journey to get some household items. His young rancher friend, Wyatt is persuaded into marrying Greta. In return for marrying Greta and setting up a family, one of the town's founder will invest in Wyatt's ranch with cattle. While this is good for his land, it upsets another man who will do anything get Wyatt's land.
Astrid reminds me a lot of Beverly Cleary's character, Ramona Quimby. She is very inquisitive and impulsive, which at times exasperates her older sister, but entertain Wyatt and his friend, Judd. I love how she brings out the sensitive side of the men. Greta trying so hard not to be a burden, finds it hard to lean on her new husband. The two like one another but want to respect the other's comfortability. In doing so they seem to put up bigger walls. I really enjoyed this story, especially while I was reading heavier books on racism. With that lens, I was a bit disappointed in how little the Indigenous people appeared in this story. One of the elders had recommended the spring for Astrid's illness but they never really went into it, nor did we hear from them again. This is the first book, so hopefully we will see more of an Indigenous presence. Although, maybe, it's better to keep it as is, as these novels are from a white lens. If you like cozier reads, you may like this one. It is also labeled as Christian fiction, but it's not religious as much as it's a "clean" read.
***I received a complimentary copy of this trade paperback from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2021; Bethany House
This is my first novel by Jody Hedlund, and spoiler alert, I have added a few of her backlist (most are series/trilogies so I just added the first books) to my TBR list. I added the tag of "cozy" to this book as it is a sweet story with no steamy or gory scenes. A Cowboy to Keeps is set around the American Civil War, in Colorado. After the death of her stepmother and father, Greta takes her kid sister, Astrid to Colorado. While Astrid has siblings from her mother's side, they have families of their own so Greta has been left to her care. Greta, highly suggested by her step sister-in-laws, decided to put in an ad for Mail Order Bride. She find an older kind man who will pay for her and Astrid to come live with him. He will take care of both of them. Things go bad to worse when they are robbed on the train, and her fiancé has died on his journey to get some household items. His young rancher friend, Wyatt is persuaded into marrying Greta. In return for marrying Greta and setting up a family, one of the town's founder will invest in Wyatt's ranch with cattle. While this is good for his land, it upsets another man who will do anything get Wyatt's land.
Astrid reminds me a lot of Beverly Cleary's character, Ramona Quimby. She is very inquisitive and impulsive, which at times exasperates her older sister, but entertain Wyatt and his friend, Judd. I love how she brings out the sensitive side of the men. Greta trying so hard not to be a burden, finds it hard to lean on her new husband. The two like one another but want to respect the other's comfortability. In doing so they seem to put up bigger walls. I really enjoyed this story, especially while I was reading heavier books on racism. With that lens, I was a bit disappointed in how little the Indigenous people appeared in this story. One of the elders had recommended the spring for Astrid's illness but they never really went into it, nor did we hear from them again. This is the first book, so hopefully we will see more of an Indigenous presence. Although, maybe, it's better to keep it as is, as these novels are from a white lens. If you like cozier reads, you may like this one. It is also labeled as Christian fiction, but it's not religious as much as it's a "clean" read.
***I received a complimentary copy of this trade paperback from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***