There was a lot happening in this book. It was a good book, but there was more happening than I'm usually looking for in a romance novel. I liked the characters, and I thought it was PRECIOUS that Hunter followed Caroline to Scotland. I did find myself forgetting that Caroline was Scottish at times though. Also, god was the whole thing with her husband annoying. Kind of just unnecessary drama when a communication plot could've been used instead. Just an idea.

The blurb for this book says this is perfect for fans of Lyla Sage and I have to admit. This was so fun! Caroline, a Scottish woman, finding love in Oklahoma with a cowboy named Hunter is like the opposite of what I wish to happen for myself and it was incredible. I am so glad I read this because the two main characters had so much chemistry and the banter was great. I loved the plot and didn't even mind the 3rd act breakup arc.

The first thing I have to mention in this review is the gorgeous cover art, it deserves awards.

The book itself was so wholesome and sweet, I had tears in my eyes at some points. I loved watching the relationship between Hunter and Caroline blossom. They are the definition of ‘if it’s meant to be’.

I found the pacing a little off at times and the ending felt rushed. However, overall I really enjoyed this book. I loved the setting and vibe.

I ended up dnfing this one unfortunately. I just could seem to get into it and I wasn’t feeling any chemistry between Caroline and Hunter. This one just wasn’t for me.

Overall it’s a solid concept and I think many people would enjoy this book but personally it wasn’t for me. I felt that at times the story fell a little flat and the pacing felt off throughout the story. I did enjoy the characters in this book and their initial meet cute moment! I also appreciated that it dove into grief and some harder emotions throughout the book. I would still recommend it for others but I don’t know if I would reread it again myself personally.

I want to give this book a little grace because I believe the ARCs were prior to the all of the editing being complete, but there was something about how much information was thrown at you covering so many micro tropes through the inner monologue without a lot of plot movement that just did not sit well with me.

Why is this being compared to Lyla Sage and Elsie Silver? It definitely isn’t it. I couldn’t get into the story. On top of that, the digital formatting of this book made it difficult to read.

Back in the Saddle is a heartfelt story that had me hooked from the first page. The cover is beautiful, and the story has witty banter that kept me reading the entire time. I loved the characters and how they worked through their own personal struggles. I can't wait for this book to release!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Back in the Saddle by Maggie Eckersley is a small-town cowboy romance that is about our FMC Caroline. Caroline is trying to begin her second start in life after a very strenuous divorce. I liked that she was smart and strong. It was also refreshing that she was a little older than what is typically seen in other books. I like that Hunter, the MMC, lead with open communication. He also gave big grump vibes, which I tend to love. The issue was the open communication was only one-sided. Hunter did not want to share his past with Caroline and that just made the book go slow for me. I think the pacing of the book was just off. Sometimes it was from the characters themselves, but sometimes it was the plot just not hitting for me. There were also just a ton of side characters, and it was hard to keep track of them all.

This was a good read. It’s not like other cowboy romances I’ve read before, yes Hunter is a cowboy because he owns a ranch but overall I felt it wasn’t that much of a cowboy romance. Medical cowboy romance maybe. That’s not to say it was enjoyable to read, but it really felt more medical to me. I found the medical research element very interesting, it’s not really something I’ve come across before. The back stories for both Caroline and Hunter are slowly drip fed, and I enjoyed watching their romance blossom. There was lots of very heartfelt moments in the book which helped to make it feel more real.

Overall a good read, and a cowboy in Aberdeen is definitely something I can get on board with!

I am new to cowboy romances, but after reading this I’m excited to dive into more! Hunter was the rugged and romantic book boyfriend I didn’t know I was missing and Caroline was so smart and sassy. I loved reading their romance and of course the steamy parts. This is a lovely debut novel and I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

Back in the Saddle had a lot of potential with its cowboy meets doctor romance and small town charm. I liked the idea of Caroline starting fresh in Oklahoma and meeting Hunter, the rugged cowboy with a lot on his plate. Their chemistry had some sweet moments, and I appreciated the different background Caroline brought to the story.
That said, the book didn’t fully work for me. The pacing felt slow in the beginning, and the romance didn’t feel fully developed. The miscommunication between the characters was frustrating, and the ending felt rushed. I also found it hard to connect with some of the side drama and wished the main couple had more time to grow together.
While this wasn’t a favourite for myself, it might appeal to those who enjoy emotional cowboy romances with a mix of heart and hope.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Caroline is a doctor hoping to start over in Oklahoma but she never expected to meet Hunter, a, let's be honest, hot cowboy empath. This romcom gets steamy eventually but focus early on on Caroline and Hunter, who help one another heal from trauma. And they give good banter. I liked that this is a reverse of the norm in the genre, with Caroline moving from Scotland, and I liked the Oklahoma setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's light, it's fun, it's a good read.

A thoroughly enjoyable story of Caroline who flees to Oklahoma after ending her marriage in Scotland. One night in a bar she meets a stranger who catches her eye and this sets off a chain of events following Caroline and Hunters attraction to one another.
This explores the love between a cowboy and a woman who has been hurt in the past and each has their secrets, A real page turner that keeps you wanting to read more with some lovely touching moments.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

2.5! This was… fine. I liked the idea of it way more than the execution. The cowboy + doctor combo had potential, the small-town vibes were cute, and there were moments of sweet chemistry between Hunter and Caroline — but honestly, it just didn’t fully hit. The dialogue felt kinda stiff, the writing didn’t flow for me, and the amount of side characters and random small-town drama was a lot for a book where the romance itself felt underdeveloped. Plus, the miscommunication? Painful. The third-act breakup and reunion were so flat it barely felt like a payoff. I wouldn’t say it was terrible — it had comfort read energy at times — but yeah… definitely not one that’ll stick with me.

Ok this was such a fun read. Be prepared for angst, spice, and heartbreak. Across continents, these two go through such a journey to be together you will be rooting for them the whole way.

I love a cowboy romance but this just didn’t hit the spot for me unfortunately which I am sad about! I liked Caroline and hunter separately but am not sure they had enough chemistry. I think the ending was rushed and I didn’t enjoy the miscommunication. It’s also quite a heavy book so check the trigger warnings as there is mention of death/cancer. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc

Back in the Saddle is the kind of romance that sneaks up on you. From the first pages, you can feel the tension crackle between Caroline, a Scottish doctor with no time for nonsense, and Hunter, the emotionally walled off rancher who’s all gruff exterior but with a gooey center. Their chemistry simmers from the start, building with every stolen glance and every barbed exchange, until you’re practically shouting at the book for them to kiss already. But what really makes this story shine isn’t just the swoon (though the swoon is top tier) it’s the emotional depth. Both characters are nursing old wounds, figuring out how to let someone in again, and Maggie handles that with real heart.

So if you like your love stories with equal parts wit and grit with a cowboy who can brood like it’s his full time job then you’ll definitely want to saddle up for this one!

Back in the Saddle releases July 3rd.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book took me awhile to get into at first. It seemed a bit slow and didn’t capture me right away. However, the more I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. I felt the ending was rushed a bit and I would have liked to seen more development of their relationship after Hunter moved. Overall a solid read!

Back in the Saddle is a bit of a spin on the cowboy romances we've come to expect. Some heavier themes with cancer and loss, which personally weren't for me but I know plenty of people who would be down for the mix. However, it was a fun change to see some Scottish/Irish representation.