This is a story about two people bought together by chance. Caroline is starting a new life in Oklahoma, when she sets her sight on Hunter you can feel the instant attraction between them both. But they both have things in their past they are trying to run away from. But can they both help each other to forget about the past and enjoy their future. I can almost imagine Hunter's character being the hot cowboy. It was fun and enjoyable read, it does get pretty steamy in parts but an easy read to follow along with. Light hearted and uplifting and some horses too. The perfect read.

This was such a great cure to tie me over from Lyla Sage and Elise Silver and I’m here for it. I love this so much and it is an excellent love story.

Touching, heartfelt cowboy romance! For anyone in their cowboy era looking for a deeply moving story, filled with emotions and romance.
The author’s experience in their professional field is reflected in the careful detail put into the medical aspects of the story which makes for a realistic reading experience.
The diverse characters add another layer of realism to the story, bringing a genre often full of stereotypes into the real world.
Hunter and Caroline were beautifully developed people and easy to love.

Absolutely adored Back in the Saddle!
This book had me hooked from the very first page. Caroline and Hunter are such a compelling pair—both carrying emotional baggage, both strong in their own way, and the sparks between them are electric. I loved the small-town charm, the wit, the depth of emotion, and the way their story unfolds with such warmth and heart. It’s a slow-burn romance that feels so real and satisfying. Maggie Eckersley has crafted a beautiful, uplifting story about second chances, and I didn’t want it to end!

5/5 stars! I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I was drawn to the cover and the premise sounded cute, so I figured let's see what happened. I'm so glad I did. This book was so sweet and sassy and can rival the Lyla Sage and Elsie Silver books out there. I am a sucker for COMPETENT FMCs and having Caroline be a bad-a** doctor was amazing to read. It makes complete sense why Hunter couldn't get enough of her. Desperately waiting for another book from this author.

Back in the saddle is marketed towards Elsie Silver fans, but personally I think this novel has managed to capture a different view that Elsie silver hasn’t, if not only has whitty and quick conversations (customary for a cowboy book of course) but also a ability to make the reader really connect with the characters.

Back in the saddle is marketed towards Elsie Silver fans, but personally I think this novel has managed to capture a different view that Elsie silver hasn’t, it not only has whitty and quick conversations (customary for a cowboy book of course) but also a ability to make the reader really connect with the characters. I especially really connected with the MMC, Hunter. My only criticism is that it felt more like a novella than a full length novel, I read it very fast and didn’t feel like it quite had enough.

Maggie Eckersley pairs the whimsical, Western charm of Elsie Silver with the empowered, headstrong FMC of an Ali Hazelwood novel and dazzles the reader in her new book "Back in the Saddle". I am so grateful to Avon Books UK for an advanced e-copy and am thrilled to give a review. I absolutely loved this book and cannot sing its praises loud enough!

I'm an Oklahoma girl so this book hit close to home - literally! Eckersley masterfully portrays the rugged beauty of this unique corner of the world. Caroline has faced unimaginable loss in her life and has chosen to let her experiences shape her future - she builds her life on helping people through heartbreaking pain. Hunter, our main man, is so unapologetically patient and gentle with Caroline as she processes big life decisions. Make no mistake, he may be dreamy but he's still an unwavering, strong and true Oklahoma cowboy. I think it's his 'built tough but chooses to be gentle' personality that makes him so charming.

This book drew out the best parts of romance - the slow burn, second chance, 'will-they-won't-they' steam is utter perfection! I'm amazed at the way Eckersley intertwines the lives of Caroline and Hunter and makes you fall in love with them almost faster than they fell for each other. And the ending - absolutely swoon-worthy! Saddle up for a fantastic and emotional ride that leaves you hopeful for second chances and true love!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.