Falling for the Cowgirl - Review

Falling for the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowboys, # 4)

By: Jody Hedlund

Expected Publication: October 10th 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

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Goodreads description--As the only girl in her family, and with four older brothers, Ivy McQuaid can rope and ride with the roughest of ranchers. She's ready to have what she's always longed for--a home of her own. She's set her heart on a parcel of land south of Fairplay and is saving for it with her winnings from the cowhand competitions she sneaks into.

After two years away, Jericho Bliss is back in South Park as an undercover Pinkerton agent searching for a war criminal. He has no intention of involving a woman in the dangerous life he leads, but one look at Ivy is all it takes for him to question the path he's set out for himself.

Even though Jericho tries to resist his longtime attraction to the beautiful and vivacious Ivy, he finds himself falling hard and fast for her. In the process, his worst fear comes true--he puts her smack dab in the middle of danger. With Ivy's life in the balance, will Jericho give her up once again, or will he find a way back to her, this time forever?

I've been excited to read Ivy's story since the first book of this series, A Cowboy for Keeps introduced her as a wild young child. And I've seen her grow and continue her wildness throughout the series. At the end of the last book To Tame a Cowboy, Ivy seems to have actually grown. She's not following the ways of a typical well-bred lady, but she's not a child anymore. And she knows what she wants.

At the start of Falling for the Cowgirl she knows even more what she wants. She wants to get out from under her overbearing brother's thumbs and get her own place. She wants to raise sheep on her own land. And she's always, always wanted Jericho Bliss. The problem is that he left her, and he hasn't come back since. Until now. Just when Ivy is doing whatever she can to earn the money she needs to purchase her own land.

Jericho has always felt like Ivy's brothers didn't watch out for her enough. And in one way or another, he's tried to do what he could to have her back. But he had to leave helping her brother Dylan escape from some bookies he owed money to. When Jericho left with Dylan, he went back to Chicago and signed up to work for the Pinkerton Agency as an undercover agent. He's back in Fairplay chasing down a criminal of the worst sort. He never meant to get entangled back up with Ivy, but it seems he never could stay away.

I love Jody Hedlund's books because she writes Christian Fiction without straying from real struggles. Part of that is the struggle two people feel when they're in love and want to be together. Ignoring these desires and struggles is a weakness in a lot of Christian fiction if you ask me. Of course, fiction isn't often realistic, but I think it sets up unrealistic expectations for any younger or inexperienced readers. Jody Hedlund does a great job with all of her couples, and I can't forsee not checking out any of her upcoming books.

Favorite quotes:

-What was wrong with her that everyone was always abandoning her? Why didn't anyone ever love her enough to stay?

-"You get on with building your life on the good Lord 'cause He's the only thing that ain't gonna crumble away when the going gets rough and people leave you behind. Believe me. I oughta know."

-But maybe she'd been looking too much to people to make her life meaningful instead of looking to the Almighty first.

Ivy's story didn't disappoint. She's as headstrong as usual. She's always taking risks and not always thinking things through. But she's authentic. I hurt for her over her scars from the past, how frequently she felt abandoned and uncared for. I loved her story with Jericho. And I can't wait for Dylan's story to round out the series (unless Astrid is going to end up getting a book--which I would love). Falling for the Cowgirl gets 4 Stars. Have you read Falling for the Cowgirl? What did you think? Let me know!