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.

First of all thanks so much for the ARC copy - I really appreciate it!

As a cowboy romance lover I was so excited for this but alas I DNF’d

I could not finish this for a number of reasons:

- Insta-love but actually a lack of romance in the book

- Heavy themes of grief/cancer that kind of overshadowed everything else

- Not a whole lot actually happens

- I didn’t connect with the characters

- The sex was a bit lack lustre… if in doubt leave it out or fade to black

- The writing felt a bit basic and I wasn’t hooked

- The epub copy was pretty much unreadable on my kindle which is where I like to read arcs most

In my cowboy era! I could not love this sweet cowboy love story any more! It was sweet and spicy all the same. Such a fun story.

Setting and overall set up are great and so on brand with the romance book world right now. I especially liked that the tone Maggie writes with held up during interactions with more minor characters.
I wish the romance aspects were more evenly balanced with the grief and loss but liked that Caroline and Hunter were forced to prioritize empathy because of it. Also wish the trigger warnings were much more clear as it is a possibly triggering read.

There is nothing really wrong with this book. I personally just prefer a bit more fun and a little less death in my romances. I did not go into this expecting cancer to be such a heavy theme. That might be on me, not the book. The romance parts weren't too bad, I just didn't connect with the characters.

Loved the cowboy theme though.

thank you NetGalley and Avon for this ARC! I was excited to read a new cowboy romance but unfortunately this was a let down. There’s barely any romance in this; it feels almost like literary fiction instead. There was so much going on in their lives in the background that I couldn’t even root for their relationship because there was such a lack of connection and chemistry. This also has SSSOOOO many typos and not one but TWO brain tumor patients? The story felt unrealistic and the conflict at the end was super unnecessary. Also using clinical anatomy terms during the sex scenes was so uncomfortable, please never do that again. The sex scenes themselves were so bare bones and lackluster as well. The format on kindle was also frustrating because there were over 300 codes just inserted in the middle of the page throughout the book and sometimes a scene would move locations but there was no page break indicating that. What do you mean we’re on the ranch now when we were just talking at the hospital? I really loved the cover for this and was hoping for a lot more.

I loved this book! A great romance in the true sense of the word! Many levels of emotion! I also loved all the references to country music as well! Great book

An absolutely amazing cowboy romance. This book brings you deeply into your feels with complex characters, spicy scenes that move the plot forward and a gorgeous and heartbreaking exploration of grief. A must read novel this summer!

Set against the backdrop of rural Oklahoma, it brings the landscape to life with rugged authenticity and affection. For readers familiar with the region, it feels like coming home; for those who aren’t, it’s an evocative and captivating introduction.

At the heart of this story is Caroline—resilient, smart, and quietly powerful. She’s endured profound loss, yet channels her pain into helping others, shaping a life centered on empathy and purpose. Then there’s Hunter: the embodiment of strength with a gentle core. A classic cowboy in the best way, he’s patient, kind, and completely swoon-worthy. His unwavering support for Caroline as she navigates major life decisions is not only romantic—it’s deeply respectful.

The chemistry between the two leads is electric but never rushed. Eckersley nails the “will-they-won’t-they” tension, crafting a beautifully paced slow-burn with just the right amount of emotional pull and romantic payoff. Their relationship unfolds with nuance and care, making the reader fall in love with them just as they’re rediscovering their love for each other.

And that ending? Pure romance gold—hopeful, heartfelt, and utterly satisfying.

Overall, this is a triumphant debut that will leave romance lovers grinning, tearing up, and believing in second chances. It’s a must-read for fans of heartfelt Westerns, slow-burn tension, and deeply emotional storytelling.

This was a cute, quick read, but it was definitely lacking something and I think it is the community of side characters that just weren't there. I love when my cowboy romances are filled with quirky friends and family. But otherwise I enjoyed the two main characters, I just wanted more from this.

Also, using the scientific names for body parts during the sex seens really threw me off. Decidedly unsexy.