AUTHOR: Jody Hedlund
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ****
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?
While my modern sensibility cannot imagine willingly entering into marriage with a stranger, Greta’s reasons for doing so are admirable. Her sacrifices for her half-sister drive her away from everything familiar—and into more trouble than she’d ever imagined. Greta’s gumption and strength of character make her a worthy heroine, and little Astrid is a mischievous charmer.
Wyatt’s difficult past drives him to risk everything—even his marital status—to succeed. His reasons are commendable, but he needs some wisdom from his good friend and partner Judd to conquer old insecurities.
The gorgeous front cover of this book drew me in as did the smooth writing style of the author. The supporting cast fleshes out the story well, and the setting does the rest.
I enjoyed A Cowboy for Keeps and award it four stars. I was given a copy of this book by Baker Publishing Group and Graf Martin Communications. Recommended.