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 revelations arise, can a union born out of
desperation survive?
My Thoughts:
This was a most enjoyable read and a great one to start off 2021 with. We have two characters who find themselves in a marriage of convenience due to circumstances that neither could control and the marriage would benefit both.
Greta is trying to save her little sister from the consumption that is slowly stealing her life away. She will do almost anything for Astrid and coming to Colorado as a mail order bride so her sister can benefit from the air there is something she is willing to do. But as she and her sister wind up penniless and in town, Greta is told her fiancé is dead.
Wyatt is trying to start a profitable ranch so he can bring his mother, brothers, and sister out west. Hopefully saving his brothers from joining up for the Civil War. But Wyatt is broke and faces a formable enemy. His solution is to marry Greta on the advice of the mayor who has interests of his own.
What I really liked was just how organic Wyatt and Greta's relationship takes shape. They still are working towards their own separate goals, until they begin to merge into one. Just like their marriage, they are strangers to friends all within holy matrimony. And that means something. It is a special bond that opens both of their eyes.
As they navigate this new life together, both must face their innermost demons. Wyatt thinking he is a failure and Greta believing she is a burden. I so enjoyed watching as they helped heal each other of these misconceptions.
Love, romance, family, and danger make this already my number one read for this year and a new favorite by author Hedlund.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of over
30 historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous
awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. Jody lives in
Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats. She loves to
imagine that she really can visit the past, although she's yet to accomplish
the feat, except via the many books she reads. Visit her at jodyhedlund.com.
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