Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne a Book Review

About the Book: It’s been a long time since Colt Stafford shrugged off his cowboy legacy for shiny Manhattan loafers and a promising career on Wall Street. But when stock market manipulations leave him financially strapped, the oldest son of legendary rancher Sam Stafford decides to return to the sprawling Double S ranch in Gray’s Glen, Washington. He’s broke, but not broken, and it’s time to check in with his ailing father, and get his legs back under him by climbing into the saddle again.

He doesn’t expect to come home to a stranger pointing a loaded gun at his chest— a tough yet beautiful woman that Sam hired as the house manager. Colt senses there’s more to Angelina Morales than meets the eye and he’s determined to find out what she’s hiding…and why.

Colt’s return brings new challenges. Younger brother Nick has been Sam’s right-hand man at the ranch for years and isn’t thrilled at having Colt insert himself into Double S affairs. And the ranch’s contentious relationship with the citizens of Gray’s Glen asks all the Stafford men to examine their hearts about what it truly means to be a neighbor.  And as Wall Street recovers, will Colt succumb to the call of the financial district’s wealth and power—or finally the courage to stay in the saddle for good?

My Review: I enjoy cowboy fiction so I was happy to pick up this, new to me, title to review. Back in the Saddle starts right when prodigal son, Colt, steps back into his former home.

From the get go he and Angelina are like cats circling. He wants to know what secrets she’s hiding and she wants to steer clear of the good looking bad boy.

Sooo… I didn’t exactly love this book for one main reason. First let me say it was good reading. But it wasn’t, I can’t put it down, reading. I liked the setting, the characters, and all the details that could have made this story a little richer. But….

I do not regret reading Back in the Saddle, but, and this is just a pet peeve of mine, when a character has a troubled past such as Colt’s and really even Angela’s, it helps to read about that too. It makes the characters come alive for me and I can be more empathetic and more into the book.

Both of these characters have A LOT of baggage and it is skipped over and we are put smack dab into their first meeting. Angelina is a complex character. A tough, former detective, who was was wooed by a rich wall street guy? A father, also a cop, killed and she and her mom in hiding? A child with the wall street guy? C’mon! We need to be there! And Colt running from home to make it rich only to land in deep trouble and lose everything? C’mon! At least flash backs!!!!

Yeah so I was really hoping to read about all of that not just have passing mentions of it.

And. Again maybe just me. Angelina is a tough cop. She fell for Colt too quickly.

Even with all that I’m looking forward to the rest of the series (did I mention this is a series) and the other two brothers (one is actually a cousin) in the family. Would I recommend this book? Yes if you like Contemporary Christian Cowboy fiction. Be forewarned to be frustrated about not having more of the main characters’ back history.

About the Author: With more than half a million books in print, RUTH LOGAN HERNE is the popular author of fifteen Love Inspired contemporary novels, three self-published novels and contributed to two novella collections. She lives on a farm in upstate New York with her husband and has six adult children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Blogging for Books as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”