After deciding to separate from her husband, Caroline heads to Oklahoma for a one year work placement. On her first night she has a flirtatious evening with Hunter, thinking she’ll never see him again - which of course, she does!

I really wanted to like this one, but something was missing for me in how the book flowed. There was a lot of heavier subjects, and some of the ‘twists’ felt like they were being too built up to a reveal.

Thanks NetGalley and Avon books for the ARC.

With its gorgeous cover and fun title I was so excited to get my hands on Maggie Eckersley’s debut novel, Back In The Saddle. Because I mean… what’s not to love about a western romance involving a whiskey-soaked night with a broody cowboy down at the local bar?
For being her debut novel I feel like Eckersley did a really good job. This book has a lot of layers but for me personally I think it was just a tiny bit too heavy. I typically like my cowboy romance to be easy, lighthearted reads but this book has heavier topics like cancer and grief. It’s my fault, I probably should have checked my trigger warnings before reading. If you like heavy topics in your romance novels then definitely give this one a try.

Unfortunately, I ended up choosing to DNF this book. I didn't enjoy either of the main characters, and wasn't drawn to their relationship. I'm sure this is a great book for some folks, but as someone who really enjoys the writing of the named authors in the book's blurb I wouldn't compare them.

Love a book that can make you laugh and also get you in your feels! This was fun and sweet but also emotional and I felt so connected to the characters! It had more depth than a lot of cowboy romances I've read recently and definitely excited to read more from this author

After separating from her husband Caroline decides to move away and start over. She then meets hunter, a cowboy who lives in that town. I was very excited to read a cowboy romance and this was very cute. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

The cover was cute but personally the story to bland for me, I still can say its cute and good but might not my preference.
Thank you

The cover drew me in and unfortunately, it was the only thing I really liked about this book. I found it to be very dull and it just didn’t keep my attention.

Who doesn’t love a good cowboy romance? This book was brilliant and ticked all the boxes of what you want in a book like this, a great plot amazing characters, some cowboy love. Absolutely brilliant and funny read

3.5 - a classic cowboy romance with some twists.

Fiery Caroline is trying to figure out her life post divorce - how to move forward, does she still want to be a doctor and if so what specialty, etc. strong and steady Hunter is trying to hold it all together for his family -
Dealing with his father’s cancer and running the family ranch. Neither of them thought they were ready for someone new, and yet, they fell in love in spite of themselves.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this book including the main characters, the challenges they were both overcoming, and the overall story. I also wasn’t emotionally prepared for the last 20% of the book which was so sad (and sweet).

However, a lot of the book made felt like the author was trying to do a lot and thus couldn’t go as deep in any of it - in addition to the standard cowboy romance tropes there is added depth with some of the topics (e.g., death and grieving, divorce, reconsidering one’s profession) as well as some commentary on some things that are uniquely American for better or worse (e.g., lack of universal healthcare, bull riding for entertainment in spite of the risks). I wish there had been a deeper dive into some of the emotions and the impact to the characters vs staying surface level.

Thank you to Maggie Eckersley, Avon, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Cartoon cover and cowboys? I thought I was in for a treat. Please note this book covers some sensitive/heavy topics such as cancer and grief!

Okay so this book is in third person which makes it hard to connect with the characters and we don't really delve into the main characters pasts or feelings too much. I think Caroline is cute and fiesty and Hunter is typical ranch worker whos sexy but theres alot of back and forth between these two that does get tiring after a while.

I think this book is a great pallete cleanser inbetween books but if youre like me and just read cowboy books at the moment then this wont hit the spot like Elsie Silver or Lyla Sage

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 ⭐️ — will round up to 3 since I think some of my issues will be resolved once more editing takes place

Back In The Saddle had its moments, but overall, it didn’t quite grab me. The story moved along well enough, but it lacked the kind of tension or emotional pull that keeps me fully engaged. Hunter was likable enough, but I just found Caroline boring. Her character felt a bit underdeveloped, which made it hard to care about her journey.

One major issue was the editing—or lack thereof (I know this is a draft, so let’s hope lots of editing is yet to come). There are several moments that pull you out of the story, either due to awkward phrasing or inconsistent details. For example, there’s a scene where Caroline makes tea for her friend, he comments on how he still takes his coffee with cream and sugar, then drinks tea, and somehow Caroline ends up drinking coffee. It’s a small thing, but moments like that pile up and make the story feel messy.

The spicy scenes were also a bit jarring—not because of the content, but because of the clinical language. Words like “labia majora,” “clitoral hood,” and “vulva” felt more suited to a textbook than a romance novel. It stripped away the chemistry and made the moment feel sterile instead of steamy.

Overall, the book has a decent foundation, but it needs another solid round of edits to clean up the inconsistencies and tighten the tone—especially if it’s aiming for emotional connection and heat.

This book is advertised for "Fans of Lyla Sage, Paisley Hope and Elsie Silver" which aside from the cover, is the main reason I was drawn to this book. While I think there are some similarities between these authors and this book, for me it wasn't enough. This book was ok, but for me it was missing that something special that made it great. I can't quite put my finger on why this one wasn't a 4 or 5 star read for me except that it seemed a bit bland? Although, I hate saying that because I did feel for both of the main characters with their family issues and of course there was good character progression, I just didn't feel very connected to this one. The overall story was cute though.

I will also say that the digital formatting for the ARC was terrible and made it hard to follow along.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK | Avon for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Back in the Saddle is a slow, steady story about starting over. Caroline has left an her marriage and is trying to rebuild her life in Oklahoma while on an exchange program from the UK as a doctor. Maggie Eckersley writes about grief and anxiety in a way that feels respectful and real - there’s no magical fix, the healing process is messy and hard and can come up when you least expect it.

The romance is very understated, which I liked. It felt grounded and not rushed, which makes sense given everything Caroline is going through. I loved everything about Hunter - our consent king! They were such a good match together.

The pacing is a little on the slower side, especially in the middle, and I wish some of the side characters had been fleshed out a bit more. Still, it’s a great read if you’re in the mood for something emotionally grounded with a strong focus on personal growth. It hurt a little bit to get there but the conclusion was incredibly satisfying.

Thank you Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

I wanted to like this one, I really did. While contemporary romance is admittedly not my top genre, I am always down for a country romance as a girl who lives in the sticks. With such background in living in the country (a town of 500 people) in which I have known plenty of “cowboys” and “cowgirls”, I have a lot to say on this book.

When writing a romance in the country—or any setting—the author needs to research to make sure the information and the world they’re creating is accurate. Yes, we live in the country. No, we do not wear jeans, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots everyday. Shocker, I know.

Another thing I have some questions about is if Caroline is from Scotland (?) and is in her early 30’s, wouldn’t it be incredibly hard for her to lose her Scottish dialect?

As far as characters go, they both seemed kind of dull and hard to relate to. Both Hunter and Caroline made their trauma and hardships their entire personalities and it was slightly insufferable.

However, the aspect of them finding love and healing in one another was cute and sweet, and it was nice to see the characters grow. Also, let’s talk about that cover! Totally adorable!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book!

This was a cute book, because who doesn’t love a grumpy cowboy? It would have had a much higher rating if not for the formatting issues on my kindle. The FMC is educated and has whitty comebacks. Hopefully the formatting issues fix itself in the final edit because the cover is gorgeous.

Thanks for NetGalley and publishers for the ARC.

Back in the Saddle is a sweet and emotional cowboy romance that balances small-town charm with real-life struggles. At first glance, it feels like a typical light-hearted cowboy romance—but the story carries surprising emotional weight, especially with the main character’s father battling cancer. That thread added depth and gave the romance more heart and meaning.

The writing was solid, though not entirely my favorite style. Still, the story flowed well and kept me engaged, especially with the emotional layers woven in.

If you're in the mood for a feel-good romance with a cowboy at its center and a touch of real-life tenderness, this one’s a lovely pick.

Cowboy romances are by far my favourite romances to read! This one was so cute, I loved the longing, the slow burn and the atmosphere. I loved both the FMC and MMC and how they were written. I can’t wait to read more from this author!!

A really interesting story, with the heroine from Aberdeen transplanted to Oklahoma for a year's internship. Fun for anyone who has ever considered abandoning a rainy Scotland to find a spur-clad Cowboy from Oklahoma once in a while

I am currently loving the cowboy romance era! This was such a cute and fun read with relatable characters. Thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc! Can't wait to read more by this author.

Currently living and loving the cowboy era! I really enjoyed this book, and found the 3rd person style writing to be a lovely change from what I usually read. The characters are great and I loved the setting of the book!!