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!!

I'm an absolute sucker for a cowboy romance so I had to snatch this one up. Maggie definitely tries to make you go through the wringer as far as emotions go, between her divorce, Hunter's dad's cancer, and the deep emotional connections between the MC's. Caroline moving from Scotland to a small town in Oklahoma is QUITE the change, and we got to experience her try to navigate that huge change while simultaneously coping with her divorce. In walks Hunter, though, who falls head over heels even though he's determined not to need anyone in no time. There is a lot of will they or won't they in this story,y coupled with all the emotions and plenty of sultry spice.

This book had a great premise, but in execution was a bit all over the place. I appreciated the emotional storylines the author tried to tackle, from Caroline's divorce to Hunter's dad having cancer, however I think it was too much in one book to truly feel the emotional impact of all these elements. Discussions were had, but I didn't necessarily feel that emotional impact and often times storylines introduced were brushed past or had lots of excess detail that bogged the flow down.
I also found the ending to be rushed and a bit odd, especially with the lack of communication around it.
Overall, I'd give this 2.5 stars - there's potential here but unfortunately it wasn't the story for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one at 20%, largely due to the formatting of the ARC. The premise sounded great and the writing was quite light and fun, everything you would expect from a cowboy romance. I would consider picking this one up again when it is published in a better format.

Thank you so much for NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In my cowboy era and this didn't disappoint at all!
It hits all the right spots and if you're a fan of cowboys and amazing writing, this book is for you!

if you have read and loved elsie or lyla, you're going to want to saddle up! 🤠

4.5 ⭐️ to maggie. this is an exceptional novel, especially for a new author. I really appreciated the mention of specific songs throughout the book. it was so fun creating my little playlist and coming along for the ride of hunter & caroline's dual pov romance.

there are some quite spicy scenes, but this is for the girls that love a deep emotional connection. both love interests have their own storyline and challenges. starting this story out in a whiskey bar really set the tone.

thank you, avon & net galley, for allowing me to read an arc of back in the saddle by maggie eckersley in exchange for my honest review. I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future, and I can't wait to see her grow!

Oh Maggie, I loved this!

We follow heartbroken Caroline, a junior doctor who travels from Scotland to Oklahoma to re-evaluate her life. When one night at a bar, she drunkenly kisses devastatingly handsome Hunter Jackson. Both sworn off love, but when worlds collide, who can resist the temptation?

This is what I love and needed in a ‘Cowboy Romance’. I laughed, I cried with sorrow and happiness. It’s not a light and fluffy read due to heavy themes of illness and disease. It’s an emotional ride with all the feels.

Thankyou Netgalley and Avon Books for the eArc in return for my honest review.

I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own .

This story is about a burnt-out junior doctor from the UK who during some time taken abroad to reconsider both her desire to practice medicine as well as her failed marriage finds a connection with a reluctant cowboy, who is in the midst of a family crisis due to his father’s cancer.

I wanted to love this, because the idea and theme of the storyline really resonated with me but unfortunately for a few reasons I just couldn’t connect as I’d hoped.

Firstly I think my copy of the story had formatting issues which caused flow issues whilst I was reading, but also there was so much genuine sadness that for me it was a struggle to enjoy. For reference I’m a HEA only reader and struggle with the more emotional reads. When I picked this up I wasn’t quite ready for the rollercoaster ahead.

Whilst a poignant story, with a kickass FMC and easy to love MMC at times sometimes the speech and wording used didn’t quite fit the characters in my opinion. I think if you like an emotionally charged ‘’will they, wont they’’ trope then this might be something you will love.

Firstly how gorgeous is this cover?!! this was a really cute and wholesome cowboy romance. I loved the descriptions of both Oklahoma and Scotland. I also really liked how grief was written, those scenes and descriptions felt very realistic. however I didn’t like a few things. one being the pacing, it started really well then some parts felt a bit repetitive and the last 20% felt very quick, it was just off. then the miscommunication between both characters was so annoying, things weren’t talked about or they would only tell parts of their own story and then make assumptions instead of telling the full story and I just know if they actually spoke to each other about everything then this book would properly be a bit shorter and it’s not even that long. Overall, I do think it was a great debut novel and I would recommend, I just didn’t LOVE it.

thank you to NetGalley and Avon UK for the arc!

Are cowboys in bars and a new setting for the main character going to hook you? YES! Fantastic ideas for an entertaining story, and Maggie executed it so well. I laughed and turned the pages quickly to see what would happen - so glad I read this and want more. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

2.75/3 stars

I enjoyed the concept of having a British FMC moving over to the states, as I haven’t read that scenario before. As well as there being a doctor/ cowboy dynamic.

Unfortunately I struggled to fully gel with the characters in this storyline and would have liked a little bit of more depth into their personalities in order to connect a bit more.

However if you’re looking for a palette cleanser and you like a cowboy romance this may be a one to pick up.

Unfortunately I gave up on this about 30% of the way thru. I just didn’t connect with the characters or writing style

3.75 stars

This was a cute cowboy romance about an irish woman who moves to the US for a year after separating from her husband and falls in love with a cowboy.

Although Hunter and Caroline had a cute love story it was just kind of boring. Neither of them were very good at communicating so they kind of went through a pattern of being really sweet and cute and then having some sort of misunderstanding followed by making up again. I just kept getting frustrated by the way they wouldn’t talk about anything and just kept making assumptions. Throughout the whole book you get snippets of the fact that hunter used to be engaged and that something happened but you don’t find out what it was until the end of the book and there was honestly no good reason for him to be keeping it a secret. I feel like this book would’ve been a lot better if the characters would actually talk about their feelings and their plan.

The beginning of this book was also very slow paced so it felt like it was dragging at times. For a lot of it not very much happened. It picks up towards the end and you get a lot more deep and emotional moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon UK for the ARC!

I want to start off by saying that while this book may not have been for me, I think it was a great concept. I was very excited to read this book when I read the synopsis because I love cowboy romance books. I also loved the idea of Caroline being from Scotland and moving somewhere completely different to start anew. Unfortunately it fell a little flat for me.

My positives: there were a lot of cute moments between the main characters, when they were happy, which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed that we got to see Caroline really put herself out there and be an independent woman. I really loved and appreciated the cancer storyline and awareness in the book as it felt close to home for me. The subject of illness and grieving people you love was very prominent in this novel but I think the authors tackled it in a great way.


My negatives: I think where this book fell a bit short for me stemmed from Hunter and Caroline’s relationship itself. It felt like both of them never actually really connected because they were both too focused on the ghosts from their pasts. I think they didn’t really have the ability to explore each other. They were a bit toxic in a way, never communicating their emotions, never having meaningful conversations and never wanting to discuss their issues. They would get mad when they weren’t serious about their feelings but also when they were too serious so it was throwing me for a loop. I also think the plot was slightly confusing and choppy because of all the time jumps. The book felt long at times and then was rushed at the ending, which disappointed me. Overall, I’m sad I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to but I’m glad Hunter and Caroline got their happy ending!

This book had me laughing and crying!! And God cost feel good about love kinda of book
Trigger warnings - loss and cancer

I have been waiting for a cowboy romance where the FMC is British and has moved to Cowboy central in the US and this is it!!! I was so excited and this didn't disappoint. An emotional read but still with some great cowboy spice. Spoiler but FYI for readers as a trigger warning this does contain a theme of Cancer so might be a difficult read if something you are currently dealing with IRL.

Back in the Saddle is a heartfelt, slow-burning romance that blends small-town charm with genuine emotional depth. Set against the dusty, golden backdrop of rural Oklahoma, it brings together two characters who are at a crossroads in their lives, both carrying the scars of the past and unsure whether to risk loving again.

Caroline, the whip-smart and fiercely capable doctor at the heart of the book, is everything I love in a romance lead. She’s emotionally guarded but never cold, and her determination to rebuild her life after heartbreak is both empowering and relatable. Her decision to swap her Scottish roots for a new beginning in the American Midwest adds a lovely layer of contrast and cultural tension.

Then there’s Hunter, the brooding cowboy who is all rough edges and hidden softness. His loyalty to his family’s ranch and his reluctance to open up give him that classic ‘grumpy but golden’ appeal. Watching him slowly fall for Caroline—despite his best efforts not to—is pure reading joy. The chemistry between them simmers from the start, with just the right amount of angst and unresolved tension to keep the pages turning.

This book captures that perfect grumpy-sunshine dynamic, with witty dialogue, slow-burning passion and plenty of heart. It’s not all light and breezy either—both characters are grappling with real emotional baggage, which gives the story weight and substance.

✨ Highlights:
• A competent, older heroine who knows her worth
• A rugged cowboy with a soft heart he tries to hide
• Beautiful Oklahoma ranch setting with a moody, grounded atmosphere
• Delicious slow-burn tension and a satisfying emotional arc

Back in the Saddle is a warm, romantic story about healing, second chances and finding the courage to love again. If you enjoy heartfelt stories with a strong heroine, broody cowboys and a dash of whisky-fuelled spark, this one is for you.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Back in the saddle is an emotional romance story which heavily features themes of grief, cancer and the breakdown of marriage.

I love that Caroline is a smart, strong FMC and it’s so nice to have a FMC who’s in her early thirties.

If you’re looking for an emotional rollercoaster of a romance book with a cowboy then this is the book for you. Sadly it wasn’t quite the cute contemporary cowboy romance I’d expected from the cover/blurb. I didn’t really gel with the characters and I didn’t appreciate how Hunter always dealt with issues that came up in their relationship. Plus the pacing just felt a bit off for me, I’d have liked to see more of their second chance at love!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Maggie Eckersley’s Back in the Saddle is a heartfelt journey that blends personal growth with the rustic charm of a life rediscovered. Eckersley’s writing shines with vivid descriptions and authentic character development, making it easy for readers to connect and empathize. The novel’s emotional honesty and engaging narrative make it a rewarding read. Overall, Back in the Saddle is an inspiring tale that resonates with anyone who has faced life’s uncertainties and found strength in unexpected places.

Back In The Saddle is a contemporary cowboy romance, but it wasn't quite what I expected from the blurb and the cartoony cover. Maybe there'll be trigger warnings in the book or in the retail descriptions that weren't in the ARC version but a lot of this book is about cancer and grief. Obviously getting into heavier subjects within a romance novel isn't a bad thing, but it just wasn't what I was expecting when I dived into it while in the mood for a cowboy romcom. Perhaps the blurb could be tweaked for release to give a better idea to the subject matter?

Going on what the book is though, rather than what I thought it was going to be, there's a really original story here, particularly to do with the circumstances of Caroline's impending divorce. It's not a subject that I've seen being explored in romances and I liked how it ended amicably between them, although still obviously awkward. Given lack of communication on both sides lead to that marriage breakdown, it is a shame that there was still miscommunication from both Caroline and Hunter in their new relationship. There's a lot to like here but I just don't think I fully clicked with them as a couple, particularly how Hunter treated Caroline sometimes and how she reacted to him in the aftermath of those moments.

3.5/5

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.