After years away, Astrid Nilsson has returned home to Colorado, hoping to become Fairplay’s second doctor . . . and to find healing for her reoccurring consumption. Spirited and independent, Astrid doesn’t want her illness to be a burden to those she loves, so she has resisted getting serious about any man.
As the current doctor of Fairplay, Logan Steele is seeking to hire a male physician to take over his clinic after he goes back East. When Astrid, his childhood sweetheart, insists that she’s the one for the job, he offers her a bargain she can’t refuse: pretend to court him to appease his mother and he’ll give her the doctor position on a trial basis.
Astrid accepts the arrangement even though she’s reluctant to be in a sham relationship with a man who’d once broken her heart. She tries to keep herself from falling for Logan again but soon finds herself getting much more than she bargained for. With the clock ticking for both of them, can they commit to real love before it’s too late?
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.
Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
Readers of the Colorado Cowboys Series will likely remember character Astrid Nilsson. She was sick with consumption and brought to the west by her sister Greta in hopes of healing her. Years later, Astrid, is a medical doctor. After training in Chicago, she's returned to Fairplay to work with a doctor seeking an assistant.
What she didn't know is that the doctor is Logan Steele, the boy she was drawn to prior to leaving for Chicago.
I love reading stories with female nurses and doctors. Astrid shows she is worthy of the title doctor.
The deception created by Astrid and Logan backfires rather quickly. It was a fun journey. I particularly enjoyed the character of Mrs. Steele, Logan's mother.
This is a great start to the series! I look forward to reading the remainder.
My gratitude to author Jody Hedlund for a complimentary e-copy of the book. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Since I hated to see Hedlund's Colorado Cowboys series end, I was delighted to learn that she'd created a follow-on series featuring cowgirls. If you wondered what happened to Astrid, the little sister we met in the first of the Cowboys series, this is the book for you. Astrid's an adult now, facing a host of challenges including coming face-to-face with the man she never stopped loving.
Oh, this was such a wonderful story! I love that this new Colorado Cowgirls series is built upon the previous Colorado Cowboys series, set in the same town, and with a few familiar faces. However, don’t worry if you haven’t read the Colorado Cowboys series, you can jump in and enjoy these books without having read the others.
Committing to the Cowgirl is Astrid’s story. Astrid was a young girl in book one of the Colorado Cowboys series. Her older sister, Greta, brought her to Colorado to try to find a cure for her consumption and Astrid is a character who appeared off and on in the rest of the novels in the Colorado Cowboys series as she grew into a young woman.
I loved the set up for this novel because I adore both second chance romances as well as the trope where two people pretend to be in love and then actually fall for each other. This story combined both of those ideas into a believable tale that had me hoping that Astrid and Logan could overcome the obstacles which appeared to make a real future together impossible.
I loved the moments in the story when these two, at separate times, came to the realization that they loved each other – and what that meant regarding future plans that had been made. Logan’s realization of his feelings for Astrid was especially endearing and felt so very real to me. I loved this story from start to finish and look forward to reading future books in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Welcome back to Fairplay, Colorado and the return of Astrid, little sister to Greta Nilsson from A Cowboy for keeps. Astrid is all grown up now and is an honest to goodness doctor. 8 years after she left, she answers an advertisement for a partnership with Doctor Logan Steele. Astrid wants to be with her family and seeks healing from tuberculosis, a disease that was still a mystery at this time but responds to the climate found in Fairplay. This was an interesting story of re-found love and the perceptions of the day towards women doctors. After a decidedly tension filled reacquaintance, things settle down and Astrid and Logan make a bargain. Logan is a swoony hero with a lot of patience as he shows confidence in Astrid and her abilities. The romance does sizzle. I would consider this a clean read with an underlying Christian world view. I have enjoyed the Cowboy books, so lets see what the Cowgirls can get up to! * I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
With the Colorado Cowboy series being one of my favorites, I’ve been anxiously waiting for this spinoff series, and Committing To The Cowgirl was a fabulous way to begin things!
Astrid was a secondary character in previous books, and this is her story. I love that she grew up to be beautiful, smart, independent, strong, compassionate, and a gifted doctor. She’s a relatable combination of strength and vulnerability.
Logan is the perfect fit for her and I loved his character. I really liked how they both had their individual fears, but realized “maybe instead of living in fear of the end, the key was in cherishing each day as a gift, and pursuing it to the fullest with those she loved by her side.”
You can expect: * Pretend courtship * Fake engagement * Childhood sweethearts * Closed door * Meddling mother * Co-workers in proximity * Light faith elements * Clean but sizzling chemistry * Dual POV
The story is another example of why I love Jody’s books: It’s engaging, well-written and paced, with characters you really care for, gives you butterflies with the sweet and passionate romance, and storylines that tug at your heart strings. I loved it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Yet another book from Jody Hedlund that I couldn’t put down! I adored Jody’s Colorado Cowboys series, and this Colorado Cowgirls series is one of my most anticipated of the year. Committing to the Cowgirl is a great start, with lots of familiar characters and introductions to new ones I’m excited to get to know better. Astrid was one of my favorite characters in the Colorado Cowboys series, and it was so fun to see her all grown up. I loved that she and Logan worked together as doctors, and their chemistry was so well written. I can’t wait for more westerns from Jody! 4.5/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A fake relationship could benefit them both. Astrid gets a chance to prove herself as a doctor. Logan gets a reprieve from his mother’s matchmaking. But what happens when old feelings are rekindled?
Although they at least acknowledged it, I wasn’t a huge fan of all the deception. That being said, their reasons for doing so were sympathetic, and half the time, the only ones they were deceiving about their relationship being fake were themselves 😅
Astrid’s reasons for not wanting to marry Logan at first, even though she loved him did make sense.
Their physical attraction to each other was emphasized a little bit too much for my tastes. However, I did like how they bonded over caring for patients and respected each other’s medical expertise.
I’m glad Logan was able to see his father’s side of things and reconcile with him. Although, an apology from his mother (to both of them) would have been nice.
Favorite Moments 🩺 Dinner with the McQuaid family 🩺 The engagement party 🩺 Little breaths
Content Notes: mention of a woman’s figure, kissing, a woman slaps a man, three uses of “what (in) the deuce,” mentions of cancer, blood, injuries and medical procedures with a few graphic details mentioned (both MCs are doctors), mention of saloons, mention of death and dying, mention of venereal diseases, mention of women being impregnated by their employers, mention of mental illness, guns, some mild innuendo, mention of a “bawdy comment”, touching, mention of a woman being “curvy,” mention of a woman’s bosom, mention of a “tryst,” mention of catcalls, mention of nursing a baby, one use of “dagnabbit,” one use of “blast,” mention of men being in a state of undress or half-naked (nothing explicit), mention of “lurid comments,” mention of a woman’s figure, one use of “curvaceous,” four uses of “deuces,” a man and a woman share a bed (nothing inappropriate happens), multiple uses of “heaven, have mercy,” uses of “dash it,” mention of hanging, mention of “intimacies” (no details)
I am a huge fan of Jody Hedlund’s books and fell in love with her Colorado Cowboy series. I was super excited when I heard a spin off series was coming. Committing to the Cowgirl is the first book in the Colorado Cowgirls series and it did not disappoint! I could not put this one down!
It was so nice to see Astrid from the Colorado Cowboys series back. This time she is all grown up and a female doctor at a time when female doctors weren’t completely accepted by the community. Astrid returns to Fairplay to answer an ad to become a partner to the town doctor and for a place to heal from her consumption disease. She is surprised to find out the town doctor is her former crush Logan Steele who left town years ago without telling Astrid he was going. Logan’s mother is dying and her wish is to see her son happy and on his way to finding a wife so he makes a deal with Astrid. He will take her on as partner and work to get the town to accept her if she allows him to pretend to court her.
I was completely captivated by Logan and Astrid and their story. The book includes some of my favorite tropes with the pretend courtship and coworker proximity as well as being childhood friends and sweethearts. Logan and Astrid’s first meeting starts out quite rocky, but the attraction is there from the start. This causes the two of them to eventually wonder if this relationship is fake afterall. Logan is super swoony and romantic. I love that he believes in Astrid almost immediately and sees her as a capable doctor. Astrid is full of fire and extremely dedicated to her work. The chemistry between these two definitely sizzles while still staying clean. Loved the dual point of view, the romantic scene toward the end of the book when Logan returns the letter and the surprise Astrid left him (no spoilers) as well as the beautiful ending to their story.
Committing to the Cowgirl was such an amazing start to this series and I am already looking forward to book 2!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Welcome to a new series from Jody Hedlund!!! It's wonderful so far! I was so excited when she said that she was writing a spinoff series of her Colorado Cowboys (go read that one if you haven't yet and you love cowboy stories)! And I love that the first heroine in the Colorado Cowgirls series (this new one) is Astrid!!! Astrid is the sister of one of the heroines from the Cowboy series, so if you've read that series you know her background! If you haven't read that series then you'll find out that Astrid suffered from consumption but was able to be healed (mostly). But now she's back in Fairplay!!!
Astrid is a great character. I love her strength and her determination to follow her dreams and to live her life. She's a woman at a time when women didn't have many rights and she's also a doctor when women really weren't allowed to be doctors and there are many prejudices against women stepping outside of their "roles." But she does it and she is determined to show people that she is just as capable as male doctors. And she has a champion by her side. Logan Steele, the current doctor of Fairplay! Well, kind of. It might take a little convincing him to let her do more with her profession than he is thinking. And there in lies the problem they find themselves in.
A fake relationship! Haha! I just love this trope so much. I love how it puts the two main characters into some awkward situations sometimes. But it's so fun watching them squirm and try to figure out those relationships. And Logan's mom is the best!!!! Oh my heavens!!! She's great and Logan finds himself heading to the altar quicker than he thought after he thought up this fake relationship with Astrid.
There's so much going on between these two. They have history together and are building more history together as the story goes on. The chemistry and swoonyness is off the charts! All clean of course but very well written!
There are reservations and struggles and healing that needs to happen. And I loved watching it come about for both Astrid and Logan. There's never a dull moment. Watch out for that first kiss. *sigh*
And guess what??? There are more books coming! In fact I've already read the second book and loved it. I couldn't put either one of these down!
Content: Clean. Some mild moments of peril. Some medical moments but nothing graphic. Some kisses but nothing further than kisses.
I received a copy from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Talk about some great chemistry! It was so fun to “meet” Astrid again from the first of the Colorado Cowboys series. Logan is the son of a character from that story as well. I LOVE story communities.
I love the dual doctor dynamic as well. Fans of Jody will find a great cowgirl story, sweet romance, and a lovely setting.
I love being back in Colorado with the McQuaid and the Steele families. It's awesome that Astrid has pursued a medical career with her history of consumption and how it has made her such a strong woman. Logan is quite dreamy and such a fun character to get to know through this book!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own!
Committing to the Cowgirl Review by Eileen Byron Jody Hedlund invites her readers to saddle up and venture back in time to the summer of ’77 (1877, that is) to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, north of Denver to Fairplay, Colorado. Astrid has returned as a full-fledged doctor. She interviews for an open position as the town doctor. Her interviewer is Dr. Logan Steele, Astrid’s childhood friend, who has been recently caring for his sick mother. His mother’s cancer has returned, and it is now weeks not months she has left to live. Logan plans to return to the East and will need a replacement. Hedlund weaves a story of faith, family, and love against the beautiful Colorado landscape. Her characters experience growth in their faith journeys. Family is one the main motivations of Astrid and Logan’s actions toward others. Astrid has returned to Fair Play, to live near her sister; Logan returned to be near and care for his sickly mother. Hedlund has well-developed characters. Her main characters have depth, and her supporting characters are straight forward. What you see is what you get. Hedlund’s story follows the plot of friends to lovers, with some twists and turns. Astrid lives with a terminal disease. Logan has yet to know this truth upon their meeting up again for the interview. Also, Logan is determined to return East to practice medicine with his uncle. So, saddle up and enjoy the ride and discover if Logan commits to Astrid, the doctor cowgirl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was super excited for this new series and it did not disappoint. Committing to the Cowgirl is the first book in Jody Hedlund’s new series, Colorado Cowgirls. Astrid deserved to have her own book and I couldn’t wait to see what her story would be. I really liked the progression of this story and getting to read about Logan and Astrid falling in love. They fought each other at times but they really complimented each other. Astrid was scared of being a burden and she was trying her best to earn her way. Life had not always been kind to her and there were times when she felt like she would never grapes her dreams. I love how she still did her best and tried to face her problem head on. However Astrid had to learn to let others in and see that it was okay to need help. Logan was a fun character. He was stubborn and confident but he was also scared of making the same mistakes as his father. He didn’t want to let others in and he had great plans for life. However Astrid had a way of upending his plans and soon he found himself wishing for different things. Logan had to figure out what it would be like to love Astrid and how to let go of his past. The romance was sweet and I read this book so quickly! I was drawn into the story and I wanted to see how Logan and Astrid would end up together. I liked seeing some of the old characters and getting to meet new characters. This definitely did not disappoint. I am also so excited for the next books to come! Committing to the Cowgirl is a clean historical romance. I would definitely recommend it!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Heavy on the lust and burning, light on depth. It was repetitive, predictable and eye-rolling at times. The dying mother was obnoxiously pushy and manipulative. I liked the discussion of female doctors and the trials they faced breaking into the profession.
When I first heard about this series, I was so excited because I adored the Colorado Cowboys series! I was also super excited about book one in particular because it's about Astrid who we kind of get to see grow up through the first series.
However, this just wasn't what I was expecting. I didn't like the premise of her and Logan pretending to be in a courtship/engagement for the sake of deceiving his dying mother. Which is not the worst flaw of the book; I could have gotten over that pretty easily.
What I didn't like the most was the pacing. We spent most of the book inside one or the other character's head while they relayed to us what had happened that day (which was always the same thing) and then an interaction with a family member and the lie escalating. They kept saying how they needed to clear it up, but they also wouldn't ever get around to that.
This had potential to be a really cute swoony romance, but it never felt that way for me because it was more of a tell not show. There weren't a lot of scenes with them, or them having conversations. And when there would be such a scene, we'd see some of the conversation, but then the narrative would just summarize parts.
I ended up finding the audio on Scribd and listened to over half of it to get it finished. It was fine. The third act break up/make up was cliche. Overall, this was an ok book.
3.5 stars "She was finally getting an opportunity to be a real doctor. Someone was giving her a chance, even if that someone happened to be Logan Steele and even if she'd made a terrible deal with him."
Astrid Nilsson has come back home; the cowgirl of the past is now a polished professional in the field of medicine; she only needs an opportunity to prove herself. Was it a curious twist of fate that brought her to the door of a doctor who just happened to be her childhood sweetheart, or was Providence at work in both of their lives to form an entirely different kind of partnership?
Funny, flirty, and featuring a fake relationship that becomes filled with one conundrum after another makes this light, romantic, and substantive read quite an enjoyable adventure in the town of Fairplay, Colorado.
I enjoyed the story very much, but I missed the depth of Jody’s Christian fiction. It didn’t resonate as much with me for that reason, but the writing and character development were great.
This is a sweet western romance. The fake engagement trope didn’t come across as natural. I didn’t care for the deception. The overall story is very well written. I enjoyed revisiting the McQuaid’s. 3 1/2 stars
If you enjoyed Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboy series you’ll love her new cowgirl one! If you remember ten year old Astrid With consumption in the first one, well… now she’s all grown up and a doctor returning from medical school to the little town she grew up in. Her old friend Logan is the doctor, but he’s skeptical having a woman help, however his dying mother desperately wants to find him a wife, so they strike a bargain. In typical Hedlund style there’s lots of emotions, lots of feelings, and physical attraction. Cowboy stories sound so cheesy when talked about, but I always like the adventurous pioneering aspect of them. Even though I’d probably never have survived the wild. Astrid is a little more refined and this is more an influenza romance than anything. Lol. If that makes sense. It’s a fast fun read that I recommend to all Hedlund fans!
The first in the Colorado Cowgirls series and it was just as entertaining as Jody's Cowboy series. This book follows Greta's sister Astrid, who was basically a side character briefly mentioned in all of the Colorado Cowboys, now she has a book all to herself for her own chance at happily ever after. I thought her character growth from the Cowboy series was much needed and made her a charming character to get to know. The medical aspects were interesting and kept the story moving right along. Too mushy in the romance part but I guess Jody must have a lot of reader fans who love such or she wouldn't put it in there. I removed a star because these are or rather used to be more Christian inspirational but I notice a huge lack thereof in this book. It is a clean read, but no mention of God whatsoever. I want to thank the author for allowing me to pre-read this book prior to release in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was so happy when I learned that we got to read Astrid's story. She was such a prominent part of the Colorado Cowboys series that it seemed essential that we get to see how her life played out as well. Astrid has grown up so much and a lot of the more persnickety traits from her younger days are gone. What is left is an intelligent, determined, and competent doctor who wants to serve her community and find healing for her returning consumption. When she finds out the doctor who she is going to be working for is Logan Steele, the man who stole her heart and then stomped on it years ago, the sparks immediately begin to fly. The fake relationship is such an entertaining storyline. It always has a way of getting way out of hand quite quickly. This occurrence did not disappoint. The relationship between Logan and Astrid was rapidly thrust out of their control, leading to a myriad of comical, surprising, and heady interactions. Jody writes in such a way that always keeps me enthralled. She has the ability to write romance that is both fiery and realistic along with sweet and restrained. She lets her characters show the depth of their emotions without going overboard. She challenges her characters on multiple facets. Logan and Astrid had preconceived notions that had to be blown up and shifted not only from their past but also relationally and professionally. They learn hard truths about the past that reshape their thinking and allow them to move forward into a new and better life. There were returning faces from the Colorado Cowboys series, and it was great to see where these characters were in their lives as well. The introduction of the boardinghouse sisters was a great way to bridge the previous books to the ones after this one. The ending was sweet and heartfelt. It was sad, but it was also so hopeful that you couldn't help but feel joy for the future of Logan and Astrid. It is a little on the shorter side, but it is still a tale full of love, growth, challenge, joy, and beautiful scenery. I received a complimentary advanced reader copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love Hedlund as an author, however this was not my favorite of her books. It took place in the span of a month after they hadn’t seen each other for years. And it felt like there was only one big plot development.
I was so curious to see Astrid as a young woman, after her sister brought her to Colorado in A Cowboy for Keeps. She's studied to become a doctor and with her tuberculosis flaring up, she returns to Colorado in hopes to alleviate her symptoms. She didn't expect her childhood love to be the doctor in town, but she needs his support to gain the trust of the community. Meanwhile, one small fib to his mother snowballs and drama between the two flares.
A really enjoyable story as a young woman seeks to defy her illness, serving others with the skills she has and faces the question of whether she can also give her heart.
Committing To The Cowgirl is the first book in Jody Hedlund's Colorado Cowgirl series. In it Jodie brings back Astrid Nielson from The Colorado Cowboy series. she is all grown up and coming back to practice medicine. I loved Astrid and her determination to follow her dreams. I also like Logan Steele and his honest explanation of his plans for the future, however when the two of them get together all plans go out the window.
I am really glad that Ms. Hedlund has continued with stories set in Fairplay Colorado. I think the setting is wonderful .
So brew up a pot of coffee and settle in for a sweet Colorado romance with a touch of spice.
I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.
I LOVED Jody Hedlund's Colorado Cowboys series, so when I saw this spinoff series, I knew I had to read it. This first book does not disappoint.
I was up in the mountains of Colorado with Astrid and Logan, watching their story unfurl. Watching Astrid as she fought for respect as a female doctor in the 1800s. Watching Logan's mom battle cancer. Watching Logan and Astrid both battle their inner demons. This book was heart wrenching, heart warming, and heart eyes. 😍 I loved it. Now I want to go to Colorado.
AND!! There's a Charity in it! Automatic 5 stars from me. 😉 Now here's hoping one of the books will be ABOUT said Charity!
~I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
Really liked the Colorado Cowboy series by this author, so I was expecting to love this one but it fell flat for me. The plot and characters were just not exciting. Didn't care for the audio book narrator either.