The Heart of a Cowboy - (Colorado Cowboys) by Jody Hedlund

What a great western historical romance by Jody Hedlund! The Santa Fe trail and those who traveled it have always fascinated me so for that to be the setting of most of this book thrilled me! Linnea Newberry is, in a word, a nerd. I totally related to her! As a botanist, she focused on the details during the trip but sometimes got lost in the big picture quite literally. Flynn McQuaid is driving his brother's cattle to Colorado with his younger brother and sister in tow. When he rescues Linnea from one of her mishaps, he soon finds himself teamed up with her scientist friends for the trek west. As her unofficial body guard on top of all his other responsibilities, he finds himself drawn to her in ways he has no interest in. What will he do when it comes time to part ways? How will his reunion with his brother go? These are all questions that haunt Flynn with each step west. This book is fabulous! It highlighted the struggles of trail life, a cattle drive, abuse, women in science, and scientific exploration in the 1800s. The romance was swoon worthy. I highly recommend! I received a complementary copy of this book from the Author and publisher. All thoughts are my own.

The Heart of a Cowboy takes up right where A Cowboy for Keeps left off. As with the first book, I was swept up into the thrilling world of the American west, ripe with dangers and unexpected perils around every trail bend. This adventurous tale was fun, exciting and hard to put down once I’d begun! Author Jody Hedlund has certainly proven herself to be an excellent author of historical pioneer westerns. And that last chapter! I’m left excitedly looking forward to the next installment in her Colorado Cowboys series!

This story was a lot of fun to read. I could picture being in an unknown land and taking in all of the different vegetation. Being in awe of how climates can vary so much from place to place. I enjoyed seeing the world that way through Linnea’s eyes. I loved how smart she was, and I could understand getting lost in your own world like she does. Flynn is a natural hero, and he can’t help but jump in to save a damsel in distress. Being a parental figure to his younger brother and sister, he’s used to paying attention to his surroundings. Little did he know, that could get him into his own kind of trouble. Falling in love is not on his to do list, it’s actually on his don’t do list. Can Linnea reach past his walls and help him see that love is not a thing to fear, but to cherish? This book had many twists and turns I didn’t see coming. It was fun playing a little detective while trying to figure out some of the things that were happening in this story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Love love and love this story!! Learning how to let God watch over and protect those we love can be extremely difficult. It's never easy letting go of our need for control. But God has a way of letting us know that we can relax and rest in Him. We don't have to prove our worth to Him and He loves us more than we will ever know. I received a copy from the publisher, all thoughts are my own.

I have been looking forward to Flynn's story since meeting the McQuaid family in the first book in this earlier this year. This was a fun and exciting read as it has mystery, romance, and an exciting journey all within the book's pages. I really liked Linnea, she was such a fun and unusual character and brought a lot to the story. I enjoyed this story and I can't wait for the next McQuaid family book! I received this book for review and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Two hearts that swore never to marry, find their convictions challenged on the trail to Colorado. Flynn has been mother and father to his younger siblings, shouldering the responsibilities of a family, and more than his share of the blame. Linnea, recently widowed, is fighting to prove her worth as a botanist in her own right, apart from her late husband and grandfather's shadows. An engaging romance, set against the backdrop of the treacherous trail to Colorado, fraught with danger and Confederate Irregulars. Linnea is a modern woman for her time, with a passion for plants and sciences. I liked how she takes Flynn's sister Ivy, under her wing, teaching her about being a young woman. Ivy spunky and full of sass, she says things as she sees them sometimes to the embarrassment of others, easily one of my favorite people in the story! Flynn has spent his life trying to protect his family, first from the fists of his step-father, then fields of battle, and now delivering a herd of cattle to his brother Wyatt in Colorado. After reading the last book in the series, I wasn't sure how any of the other McQuaid brothers could measure up to Wyatt, but Flynn easily won me over with his strong protective instincts, and big heart. Overall, a fantastic, sizzling with chemistry, and roaring with action, addition to the series, I loved seeing both new and familiar faces in the pages of this book. Especially since Judd was my favorite from the previous book. A engrossing read, with characters that you can cheer for throughout, with an inspiring message of faith and overcoming the past. Definitely recommend for fans of western romance! I can't wait to read Brody's story! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed the first book from Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series, A Cowboy for Keeps. I was excited to have the opportunity the next installment, The Heart of a Cowboy. I was far from disappointed. I adored the strong minded but yet vulnerable, Linnea. I admired her determination and courage to make a mark in the world as a woman living in a dominant male world. I love the scenes with her and Flynn. Just a beauiful and inspiring to read. I loved it. The Heart of a Cowboy will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy clean western, historical and romantic fiction. I can not wait to read the next book from the Colorado Cowboys series. I received a paperback copy of The Heart of a Cowboy from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

What a wonderfully captivating, entertaining addition to the Colorado Cowboys series by storyteller extraordinaire Jody Hedlund. Continuing the saga of the McQuaid family, this book surpassed my expectations which were really high after reading the first book in the series A Cowboy for Keeps. Once again, Ms. Hedlund excels in bringing the characters to life and making them relatable and memorable. Flynn and Linnea are now on my list of favorite fictional couples! Well-crafted secondary characters add depth and interest. Twelve-year-old, precocious, outspoken Ivy is one of my favorites! The romance is sweet and sometimes steamy, albeit fraught with complications! The fast-paced plot takes the reader on a gripping journey down the Santa Fe Trail featuring beautifully drawn settings. Extensive research is evidenced by detailed descriptions as botanist Linnea analyzes the flora and foliage of the area. I especially appreciated the thoughtfully integrated, inspiring spiritual truths in the story. I love the glimpse of the next McQuaid sibling’s story at the end of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it especially for lovers of historical romance! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars "Linnea's gone." How could that girl have slipped past him? Just hours after rescuing her from the river and accepting a guardianship deal with her grandfather, Flynn McQuaid couldn't help but wonder what kind of predicament he had gotten himself into. As lovely as the flowers she studied, Linnea sure had a propensity for needing to be rescued. And she had been out there. . . all alone . . in the dark . . in the rain . . what in the world? It was going to be a long trip into Colorado Territory, but first things first . . . Flynn had to find his wayward botanist. Linnea Newbury had only been trying to help when she followed the wandering horse, but when Flynn found her curled up into a ball, wet, shivering and just a bit distraught, . . . . his reprimands fell short, especially after she flashed that sweet smile of gratitude . . . for, "when he'd agreed to guard her, he never bargained on having to guard his heart". Marriage and a family wasn't in his future. Nope, it sure wasn't. Delightfully predictable in an entertaining sort of way, this story gifts its readers with a lot of ready fun; sitting on the sidelines watching two hopeless romantics fall hopelessly in love, as Flynn McQuaid and Linnea Newberry quite literally meet their match. Will they manage to figure out all of those annoying little details, for unbeknownst to Flynn, there's a clock ticking! A wonderful second book in a continuing series, with twists and turns all its own! And plenty of them!

Another wonderful western story delivered by Ms. Hedlund! Oh, I loved this story! I just fell in love with Linnea and Flynn. Both so different, yet so perfect for each other! Flynn had a heart of gold, he was selfless, he sacrificed everything to raise his younger siblings after his ma’ died. He is still aching over not being able to stop one of his younger brothers from enlisting for war. His heart is hurting and he’s vulnerable, but he can’t help himself in being attracted to Linnea’s cheery and bright personality that seems to lighten his load whenever he’s around her. Also, she seems to know how to deal with his siblings and tame their rebellious nature. Linnea is a strong and courageous woman, trying to prove her mettle in a world dominated by men. She’s recently widowed, after marrying an older man, a colleague and part of her grandfather’s team who promised to take her on the adventure of the trail, but died too soon after they started. Yet Linnea didn’t get a chance to really know what true love is. Until she meets Flynn. Her heart seems to want to brighten his life. His siblings are so endearing, she can’t help falling in love with the small McQuaid family. I also loved Linnea’s propensity to mishaps personality; she was just a genius, capable of observing nature with amazing detail, yet oblivious of what happens around her when she focuses on something. Flynn and Linnea’s growing relationship was a sight to behold. I loved how Flynn resists so much until he just can’t. And his protectiveness of Linnea suddenly has nothing to do with being hired to protect her. The spark between them was undeniable. Their romance was clean, sweet yet swooning, and my heart melted. They had enough danger-rescue opportunities to grow close and their chemistry to turn into something more. And I also fell in love, as Linnea, with Flynn’s family. Ivy was the best, so funny, outspoken and witty. The plot is very engaging, with unexpected twists and turns that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The dangers they face made it all a real adventure. I really couldn’t put the book down. The description of the Santa Fe trail and the landscape was so vivid that I felt I was there, like a western movie. And the lovable, relatable characters made me feel part of their struggles and root for their seemingly difficult happily ever after. There is also a faith inspired message that flowed naturally. About letting go of the pain, letting God heal you and trusting Him with your life and letting Him guide you. This is definitely a book you don’t want to miss! Highly recommended to western and historical fans! Just hold on to your saddle and join this heartwarming adventure!

The Heart of a Cowboy is a fantastic story of daring rescues and sweeping romance that should not be missed by anyone who loves a good western! In this second installment of the Colorado Cowboys series, intelligent and independent Linnea meets strong and protective Flynn McQuaid when he saves her life on the trail out West. Linnea, a botanist, keeps running into trouble on her scientific expedition, so Flynn is secretly hired by Linnea’s grandfather to protect her as they travel together towards Colorado. Through the weeks of the trip, we see plenty of dashing rescues and romantic moments that made me want to swoon! However, I really appreciated the deeper spiritual element that Jody Hedlund brought to this story. Flynn battles some deep-seated fears of starting a family because of his mother’s death in childbirth, and he uses that fear to place barriers between him and Linnea. It is not very common to see a hero work through such crippling fear as a vital part of a plot, and I thought Jody Hedlund did a wonderful job of depicting Flynn’s battle to trust God and pursue a happy ending despite his own fear. I also loved how Jody Hedlund balanced chivalry and feminism in this story. She paired the intelligent and independent heroine with a strong hero who respects her intelligence but also strives to protect her. They work together to support each other, and it is a wonderful depiction of a relationship built on mutual respect and love. The character development in this book was excellent, and when you mix in some adventure and romance, it is the perfect recipe for another wonderful read by Jody Hedlund. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and author for review purposes, but my thoughts are my own. I really did love it!