Brody McQuaid is a broken man, and he knows it. While his body survived the war, his soul did not. Besides loving his little niece, his only sense of purpose comes from saving the wild horses that roam South Park. Ranchers in the area have taken to killing the horses, which are competing with their cattle to feed on the open grass.
Savannah Marshall is a veterinarian on her family's Colorado ranch. She longs to keep her father happy following the tragic death of her older brother, including marrying a man of his choosing. But days before her wedding, she gets cold feet and disappears to South Park. As she learns more about the destruction of the horses, she joins Brody in an attempt to save the wild creatures. But when Savannah's family and the resentments of the area cattlemen catch up with them both, Brody and Savannah will have to tame their fears if they've any hope to let love run free.
My Thoughts:
To Tame a Cowboy by Jody Hedlund lands as the third novel in the Colorado Cowboys series but reads well as a standalone story. To me, this book is the best one so far in the series. The plot clips along without meandering which kept me interested and turning the pages. The romance between Savannah and Brody contributed tension and some delicious romantic moments without the crazy-in-lust mindset present in the prior novel of this series.
Beyond the romance in To Tame a Cowboy, Brody and Savannah are highly likeable characters in need of personal healing. Savannah has boundary work to do while Brody suffers from war-related PTSD and uncontrolled anger. Savannah’s sweet spirit and gentle way with animals lands her a veterinarian job, but she brings an outside-of-the-family perspective that Brody desperately needs. The dynamic between Brody and Savannah included romance, but also a mutually beneficial relationship that pushed them both toward mental health, even when they didn’t realize or expect it.
Looking back at the quotes I marked in To Tame a Cowboy by Jody Hedlund, I found several that demonstrated how caring for animals inspired wisdom. I’ll finish this review with a quote here: “She’d learned over the years that wounded creatures often required more time and patience before being willing to trust. And she sensed Brody needed an extra dose of time and patience.” (Page 35) Readers who enjoy inspirational historical romance will find a story of fresh starts, healing, and new love in To Tame a Cowboy by Jody Hedlund.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of
this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Nice review, Jolene. I always love a heroine who loves animals.
ReplyDelete