Back in the Saddle is a heartfelt, emotionally charged small-town cowboy romance full of longing, second chances, and slow-burn chemistry—and one unforgettable whisky-fuelled kiss. 🐎💋🌾

Caroline is everything I love in a romance heroine: whip-smart, fiercely competent in her role as a doctor, and emotionally guarded in a way that felt real and relatable. Watching her attempt a fresh start in Oklahoma after a painful divorce gave the story real emotional weight. I also loved seeing an older female lead who knows who she is and doesn’t fall easily.

Hunter is the broody, burdened cowboy with a soft heart he pretends not to have—and the “I don’t have time for this” energy that makes it so satisfying when he catches feelings. Their dynamic had grumpy-sunshine vibes, with delicious tension simmering beneath every conversation.

✨ Highlights for me:
• A heroine who’s smart, skilled, and unapologetically strong
• Cowboy + doctor? Highly underrated combo
• The slow burn that actually lets the romance breathe
• Gorgeous, moody Oklahoma ranch vibes
• And that kiss. 🔥 You’ll know the one.

There were moments where I wished for deeper dives into both characters’ emotional pasts, but overall, this was a warm, satisfying read—with just enough angst, heart, and steam to keep me turning the pages.

And the cover? Absolutely stunning. Total shelf candy. 😍

Perfect for fans of:
🤠 Emotionally guarded cowboys
🩺 Brilliant, no-nonsense heroines
💘 Slow-burn romance with actual substance
🌾 Second chances and fresh starts

Maggie Eckersley is one to watch—this book left me smiling, swooning, and definitely ready for more.

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.

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.

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!

thank you so much for the arc and congratulations to maggie for publishing this book!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to other readers as I can absolutely see other people falling in love with it, however I personally did not connect with the characters. Sometimes a book is simply just not your cup of tea and that’s okay!

But I know Caroline and Hunter will be adored by many and wish Maggie all the love for this release and the future!!

there were some moments that i wanted to highlight that i especially enjoyed, such as the ‘one year later’ near the end of the book. earlier in the book i felt that both characters were not ready for each other and needed more healing before getting into a romantic relationship. this time gave them room to grow and grieve before they came back together. i thought that was very sweet and needed for their characters, and i think this was such a great choice for their story!

this quote in particular had me swooning: “They walked in silence. Caroline kept timidly glancing at him, only to find him already watching her.”

And I also found the relationship with Yolanda and Caroline so precious and lovely!

I enjoyed Caroline’s backstory, how she got married and it didn’t work out, but not because of anything malicious, it just didn’t work. I haven’t personally read many books where the mc has been previously married and it has ended on good terms so this was refreshing to read!

Thank you again for the arc, I am so grateful and wish Maggie all the love on this release!

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.