I liked this book, but didn't love it. Without giving away the story line, I just found some things didn't add up at all.

The love story, I didn't feel it so much, and I was confused about Nick's issues with his family. But I did enjoy the realistic family struggles, the arguments, the conflict and resolution. Nothing is ever easy when it comes to family. I enjoyed how the hard parts of family were portrayed in manner that you could relate to.

There were some really fun moments in the book, but just a few too many loose ends for me to completely find it enjoyable.

This book was provided for me for review. The opinions contained herein are my own.

Back in the Saddle is an enjoyable, quick read, hard to put down. I like the way it emphasizes the importance of communication in relationships. It speaks of the loss of a parent in several scenarios: death, abandonment, divorce. It also speaks of single dads, which not many books do.

If you like romance, and stories about small-town and ranch life, you will enjoy this book.

3.5 Stars

Back in the Saddle is an easy read with a sweet romance. It is set at a fairly slow pace, with the characters living life one day at a time and only slightly worried about the future. The conflicts are all relational, with both the consequences and rewards coming in the form of broken or mended relationships. In many ways, this book is one of the more realistic contemporary novels I have read, where the villain is our own choices.


While there was conflict (brothers who didn't get along, a father who needed to make up for past mistakes, a woman trying to do the best thing for her family) and the consequences were real (the estrangement of family, the loss of a parent), there were not many moments of true excitement. For the most part, many of the outside conflicts seemed to be ones that will pay off more in the sequels.


I will probably read the next books because I am interested in what happens with Nick and Trey. The relational tension in this book was enough that I am intrigued by the series and would like to see it to the end. Hopefully their romances will be just as sweet as Colt and Angelina's.


Back in the Saddle is relaxing read, dealing with family struggles and forgiveness. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a book with an uplifting message and strong family dynamics.


I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 healing stars.

Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne is an uplifting story about reconciliation, forgiveness and faith. This first installment in the delightful Double S Ranch series also has an understated yet endearing romance that is guaranteed to melt readers' hearts.

Colt Stafford never imagined he would return to his family's ranch but after losing his lucrative job on Wall Street, he has few options open to him. Estranged from his father Sam and with his relationship with brother Nick strained by his long absence, he is uncertain what reception awaits him. His unexpected arrival a day early takes housekeeper Angelina Morales by surprise and their introduction is unorthodox yet understandable given the circumstances. Colt is rather smitten by Angelina, but he also quickly realizes there is much more to her than meets the eye and he is very curious about the secrets she is keeping. While Colt easily steps back into the day to day operations on the Double S, will he be able to repair his fractured relationships with his family?

The death of Colt's mom when he was four years old set the stage for the complicated family dynamics. His heartbroken father quickly remarried and when the marriage ended in divorce, Sam became even more distant from Colt, Nick and eventually, their adopted brother Trey. When Colt and Trey wanted more for their lives than ranching, Sam issued ultimatums to both of them that resulted in longstanding estrangements between him and his sons. Now in ill health, Sam is ready to make amends, but is it too late to mend their broken relationships?

Colt never quite recovered from the loss of his kind-hearted and gentle mother. He could not wait to get away from the ranch and his small hometown but with his career in tatters and his assets frozen, he has little choice but to return to the Double S. Planning only a temporary stay on the ranch, he maintains an emotional distance from his father and rebuffs his attempts to make up for past mistakes. His relationship with his brother is equally uneasy but this does not stop Colt from trying to help Nick move past his heartache over his broken marriage. At the same time, Colt's feelings for Angelina begin to deepen but with both of them looking to the past, will they sacrifice their chance at happiness?

An incredibly poignant and realistic depiction of working through the pain of past mistakes, Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne is a healing journey of redemption and renewed faith. The novel is well-written with a storyline that is a meaningful and thought-provoking. The romance between Colt and Angelina is slow growing and very sweet. The cast of characters is beautifully developed with true life flaws and imperfections that make them sympathetic and easy to like. This first installment in the Double S Ranch series is a heartfelt and engrossing story with a gentle undercurrent of spirituality that is sure to resonate with readers of Christian fiction.

Synopsis:
Colt ran from the Double S as soon as he could. He traveled across the country and made a name for himself in Manhattan. The market crashed and he was caught in the middle of bad investments. With no assets of his own, and his father's illness, he found himself back at the Double S, where he comes to face to face with Angelina, the new house manager. Angelina ran to the ranch to hide from her past and save her family. From the first time their eyes meet, they know there's something there, but are either of them staying at the ranch, or is this just temporary?

Review:
I love a good love story. I love a good western. I love cowboys. I'm a country girl living in a city world. I had high hopes for "Back in the Saddle." A lost and torn city boy returns to his country roots to find a mysterious woman living on his family's ranch. What was this secret she was hiding? It took me until a quarter of the way through the book to be hooked. I couldn't put it down. There were moments it was dry, but overall it was well written and captivating. I cannot wait to read book two later this year.


FTC disclaimer: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Hiding her family from retaliation by criminals who killed her father, Angelina Morales takes a job as a house manager and cook for Sam Stafford, a sick man who hopes to repair his relationships with his estranged sons. For two years, Angelina works to get Sam to admit to his feelings of grief for the loss of his wife, the wrong he has done to his sons and the townspeople, and establish a relationship with God.

Colt Stafford left the ranch nine years ago to prove to his father that he could make it big in the financial industry in Manhatten. Once a Ponzi scheme is discovered, the stock market falls, Colt loses much of his money, and his other assets are locked down while it is determined that he had no knowledge of the scheme. Broken, in spirit and wallet, Colt returns to the ranch to help his sick father and wait until Wall Street recovers a bit.

Being back at the ranch, especially with Angelina running things, makes Colt question where he truly belongs. Between their daily interactions and some tough situations, Colt and Angelina decide their place is together.

Angelina's faith, and that of her mother, are the strongest of all the characters. Sam is trying to learn to respond the way God would like him to and Colt was introduced to God and faith before his mother died. Colt stopped talking to God when his mother died in a car accident.

I'm truly looking forward to the rest of this series and am glad I participated in the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt, as that is what introduced me to Ruth Logan Hern. I will most likely look into other series by this author as well.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Colt Stafford works as a successful businessman on Wall Street until he gets caught up with a bad deal leaving him in financial trouble. He returns home to the Double S Ranch to both help out while his sick father is out of commision and wait it out while he gets his finances in order. He doesn’t expect to be attracted to the new house manager, Angelina Morales. Angelina has a past, one that involves tragedy and loss. She’s changed Colt’s father and the entire ranch for good, but she’s been burned by a Wall Street man before and she won’t be played again. Will she learn to trust Colt with her heart? And can Colt leave behind money and power and finally return to the ranch for good?

I adore a good western tale, so when I saw this cover and synopsis I knew I had to check it out. This is my first book from this author and I truly enjoyed this twist on the prodigal son parable! It contained a good plot of redemption and finding one’s place in life, lovable characters that made me smile, and showed how faith and a community can change your life for the better. At the heart of this story was family--I loved everyone from the Staffords and Angelina’s family to the ranch hands and townspeople. And of course, let’s not forget the romance. Colt and Angelina were pretty cute, the only thing was that sometimes I felt I was being told about their chemistry without actually feeling it. That and the fact that it was lacking that intangible thing that I always look for in a story made me knock this down a bit in rating. I just wanted more sometimes. It did really pick up in pace towards the end though, which I appreciated. There were more than a few “aw” moments that made this romance-loving girl happy.

Overall I thought this was an enjoyable story and would recommend to anyone who loves this genre! They say not to judge a book by it’s cover (which I agree with wholeheartedly) but I’d say this one is an exception. If a cowboy-redemption-romance story is what you’re looking for, this is it.

*I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

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