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.
In this interview, we talk with Jody about her latest book in the Colorado Cowboys Series, To Tame a Cowboy.
FF: Can you please provide a brief summary of your new novel, To Tame a Cowboy?
Veterinarian Savannah Marshall wants to do everything possible to help her father out of his financial woes, but she can’t make herself go through with marrying the wealthy man of his choosing. To buy herself time, she runs away into Colorado’s high country. Horse trainer Brody McQuaid is a broken man, and he knows it. While his body survived the war, his soul did not. When Savannah steps in to doctor a wounded horse, she soon finds herself trying to heal the wounded horse trainer too.
FF: To Tame a Cowboy is the third book in your To Tame a Cowboy. How many books will be included in this series?
There will be a total of five books.
FF: What is the common component for all of the books in this series?
Each book focuses on one of the five McQuaid siblings, showing how they overcome hardships and, in the end, find true love.
FF: What inspired the idea for this series?
I lived in Colorado twice in my life, once as a child in the high country of Middle Park in Granby. And I lived in Denver as an adult for several years while my husband was in grad school. So, Colorado has a special place in my heart, and I wanted a chance to explore the history of the state. As a result, I vacationed with my family in South Park a few years ago. And after seeing the wide-open cattle ranches there, I decided that would make the perfect setting for a series.
FF: What do you hope readers will gain from reading To Tame a Cowboy?
I hope readers will come away from this story knowing that no matter how broken they are, no matter what hardships they’ve faced, and no matter how far they may have wandered from God, he is the ultimate Healer. As Savannah says in the story, You no longer have to be condemned by your scars. God can redeem anything.
FF: Do you have a favorite character?
One of my favorite characters in this series is Judd. Although he doesn’t have any “Judd proverbs” in this particular story and plays more of an offstage role, he is a solid, steady source of wisdom for the McQuaid family.
FF: What do you love most about writing novels in the historical romance genre?
First, I love that there are historical situations and predicaments that are inherent to the past that provide wonderful fodder for romance. For example, in To Tame a Cowboy, the couple gets trapped in a miner’s cabin during a late spring snowstorm without modern conveniences. It’s cold, they don’t have food, and they have no way to make contact with the outside world. So it forces them to rely upon each other and works to facilitate the romance.
Secondly, historical romances lend themselves to a sweeter romance since the morals of the past were much different than in contemporary times. I love that I can portray men who are manly and have desire but who are also restrained and self-controlled. And the same with women—they feel desire but work hard to keep it contained, which adds to the romantic tension.
FF: Are readers always promised a “happily ever after” in your novels? Why or why not?
As an avid reader of romance myself, I not only expect a HEA, it’s what I love! Since I’m writing the books I would love to read, I wouldn’t ever be able to write anything but a HEA! I’m of the opinion that there are too many bittersweet and mediocre endings in real life. So with fiction, I want a book to inspire me and give me courage that I can be a better person. I hope readers feel the same with my novels!
To Tame a Cowboy
Colorado Cowboys Series #3
Jody Hedlund
Bethany House
Genres: Historical Romance, Cowboy Romance
Release Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN-10: 0764236415
ISBN-13: 978-0764236419
Book Summary:
They share a passion to heal what is broken, but it’s their own hearts that need to be made whole.
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.
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