Falling for the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund

Falling for the Cowgirl, the fourth installment in Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series, explores secret hurts and a search for purpose.

Book Blurb

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?

My Thoughts

Ivy McQuaid, who you meet in The Heart of a Cowboy, is a complex character. Though it’d be easy to judge her as loose and childish, she’s got a lot of buried hurt that she deals with. This hurt makes her a compelling character, and Hedlund explains Ivy’s actions in a way that, while we may not agree with them, we can understand why Ivy does it.

Jericho is just as complex. He’s noble and strong, but Ivy is definitely his weakness. Through their interactions, filled with plenty of sparks and banter, we see a struggle between the spirit and the flesh. Though some readers may be put off by the discussion of passion, attraction, and the compromising positions Ivy’s rash decisions put them in, there’s an important takeaway. Hedlund drives home the difference between lust and love, as well as God’s intention for passion versus what the world pushes. I also liked Jericho’s arc as he searches for purpose and seeks to do the right thing.

I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the couples from the previous books, getting a chance to see where they are now. Though Falling for the Cowgirl could be read as a standalone, I think you’ll enjoy it more if you read the series in order.

Overall, Falling for the Cowgirl is a sweet romance exploring love and family historical romance fans will enjoy.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley for review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

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