What do you think?
Win a free print copy of this book!
24 days and 01:48:23
5 copies available
U.S. only
Save a Horse
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jan 27Win a free print copy of this book!
24 days and 01:48:23
5 copies available
U.S. only
A university professor finds her heart wrangled by the surprisingly protective rancher she meets at the local saloon, in this swoony cowboy romance.
One week before beginning her job as a visiting professor at the University of Montana, Molly Parker arrives in Bitterroot Valley with no car (a massive pothole down the road blew out two of her tires), no place to stay (her rental won’t be ready for another few days), and no boyfriend (she caught him cheating right before they planned to move together). She’s already started looking for a new position by the time she stumbles into Johnny’s Saloon, but in walks rugged local rancher and single dad Gabe Haverson—and their instant connection makes Molly think her year out West may not be so bad after all.
Between sunny days spent riding horses in the mountains with Gabe, and starry evenings sharing family dinners at the Haverson’s ranch house, Molly begins to see Bitterroot Valley as a place where she could make a new home for herself—and Gabe begins to see Molly as the woman he would want to come home to.
But underneath that Big starry Sky, they’re completely star-crossed. Gabe could never leave the land his family’s worked for almost two hundred years, and Molly’s time in Montana is ticking. When she receives a chance at her dream job thousands of miles away, Molly and Gabe must decide if they’re ready to hitch their wagons together or if they’ll be riding their separate ways.
One week before beginning her job as a visiting professor at the University of Montana, Molly Parker arrives in Bitterroot Valley with no car (a massive pothole down the road blew out two of her tires), no place to stay (her rental won’t be ready for another few days), and no boyfriend (she caught him cheating right before they planned to move together). She’s already started looking for a new position by the time she stumbles into Johnny’s Saloon, but in walks rugged local rancher and single dad Gabe Haverson—and their instant connection makes Molly think her year out West may not be so bad after all.
Between sunny days spent riding horses in the mountains with Gabe, and starry evenings sharing family dinners at the Haverson’s ranch house, Molly begins to see Bitterroot Valley as a place where she could make a new home for herself—and Gabe begins to see Molly as the woman he would want to come home to.
But underneath that Big starry Sky, they’re completely star-crossed. Gabe could never leave the land his family’s worked for almost two hundred years, and Molly’s time in Montana is ticking. When she receives a chance at her dream job thousands of miles away, Molly and Gabe must decide if they’re ready to hitch their wagons together or if they’ll be riding their separate ways.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 12, 2027
About the author
Jen Doyle
13 books458 followersA big believer in happily ever afters, Jen Doyle decided it was high time she started creating some. Jen is a member of the Romance Writers of America, as well as a member of the New England Chapter, New Jersey Romance Writers and Music City Romance Writer chapters of RWA. She is represented by Sarah E. Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency.
She has an M.S. in Library and Information Science and, in addition to her work as a librarian, has worked as a conference and events planner as well as a Communications and Enrollment administrator in both preschool and higher education environments (although some might say that there is very little difference between the two; Jen has no comment regarding whether she is one of the "some").
Her first book, CALLING IT, was published by Carina Press in April 2016. It was the winner of The Beacon, the Finish the Damn Book, and the Melody of Love 2014 contests in the Contemporary Romance category, and was also the Contemporary Romance winner as well as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Gateway to the Best contest. Book #2, CALLED UP, will be published on August 29, 2016.
She has an M.S. in Library and Information Science and, in addition to her work as a librarian, has worked as a conference and events planner as well as a Communications and Enrollment administrator in both preschool and higher education environments (although some might say that there is very little difference between the two; Jen has no comment regarding whether she is one of the "some").
Her first book, CALLING IT, was published by Carina Press in April 2016. It was the winner of The Beacon, the Finish the Damn Book, and the Melody of Love 2014 contests in the Contemporary Romance category, and was also the Contemporary Romance winner as well as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Gateway to the Best contest. Book #2, CALLED UP, will be published on August 29, 2016.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 17, 2026
Not a single horse was saved in the writing of this book.
First off, I'd like to acknowledge that this book was not for me, but it might be for you, so take my review with a grain of salt.
I was really drawn to the cover and cozy vibes this book gave off. The atmosphere was stunning and the author did a great job making everything so vivid and full of life. I also appreciated how unique the single dad situation was. Instead of a baby or a toddler like I'm use to reading, Gabe is the father of twin 17 year old boys. They were such fun characters and added a lot of life to the story. I just wish that they were named something more distinct. They were named Travis and Tyler and in my mind they were kinda blurred together because they were so similar in character and in name.
With a title like Save a Horse I would expect a lot of horses to be saved and cowboys to be ridden. This however was not the case. The romance was painfully slow. And not slow in a "yearning and pining" way. Slow in the "is anything ever going to happen??" way. What's more, there was not enough romantic tension or chemistry to support this slow burn. There was no reason why they couldn't get together besides their crazy schedules and constantly getting cockblocked by his kids. And that's another thing, the amount of times they got interrupted was *infuriating.* And then when they finally got together, it wasn't even wild or passionate in my opinion.
There were also a lot of unexplained time jumps. There were a lot of "September went to October" and "a few weeks passed" and we know nothing that happened in between. Was the romance developing? It must have been because it certainly wasn't developing when I was reading.
Overall, this was a huge disappointment. I wish that I was able to love this more. This book is good for fans of cozy, family focused romance. You would enjoy this if you like Montana and a different twist on the single dad trope.
2 stars. ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
📆 Publication Date: January 12, 2027
First off, I'd like to acknowledge that this book was not for me, but it might be for you, so take my review with a grain of salt.
I was really drawn to the cover and cozy vibes this book gave off. The atmosphere was stunning and the author did a great job making everything so vivid and full of life. I also appreciated how unique the single dad situation was. Instead of a baby or a toddler like I'm use to reading, Gabe is the father of twin 17 year old boys. They were such fun characters and added a lot of life to the story. I just wish that they were named something more distinct. They were named Travis and Tyler and in my mind they were kinda blurred together because they were so similar in character and in name.
With a title like Save a Horse I would expect a lot of horses to be saved and cowboys to be ridden. This however was not the case. The romance was painfully slow. And not slow in a "yearning and pining" way. Slow in the "is anything ever going to happen??" way. What's more, there was not enough romantic tension or chemistry to support this slow burn. There was no reason why they couldn't get together besides their crazy schedules and constantly getting cockblocked by his kids. And that's another thing, the amount of times they got interrupted was *infuriating.* And then when they finally got together, it wasn't even wild or passionate in my opinion.
There were also a lot of unexplained time jumps. There were a lot of "September went to October" and "a few weeks passed" and we know nothing that happened in between. Was the romance developing? It must have been because it certainly wasn't developing when I was reading.
Overall, this was a huge disappointment. I wish that I was able to love this more. This book is good for fans of cozy, family focused romance. You would enjoy this if you like Montana and a different twist on the single dad trope.
2 stars. ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
📆 Publication Date: January 12, 2027
September 21, 2026
where was the horse saving??? 😭 I was promised Save a Horse and got approximately 2% cowboy riding (and barely even that)
Ummm so... I really wanted to like this one, especially because rancher + professor + single dad is basically a setup I should have eaten up. But from the very beginning, I was weirdly uninvested. Everything felt so flat, and I never really felt the chemistry between Molly and Gabe. I kept waiting for that moment where I understood why these two were falling for each other, and instead I was just… watching it happen from a very safe distance 🥲🥲
And Gabe. I’m sorry, but why was he was rearranging his life to help her???? especially when I wasn’t really seeing enough from Molly that explained why he was so drawn to her. And then BOTH of his teenage sons thinking she was cute too? 😭 I was like okayyyyy awkward 💀💀
The single dad angle was probably one of my favorite parts. I actually really enjoyed the family dynamic, especially Tyler and Travis. Having Gabe’s sons be teenagers rather than little kids gave the story a different feel, and honestly, they brought some personality that I was desperately looking for elsewhere.
Because this book was SLOW. Not even necessarily slow-burn slow. Just… slow. There were so many pages, but somehow I still felt like I missed the part where Molly and Gabe actually built a relationship. The pacing made it even more confusing because the story would casually jump forward... first three weeks had passed, then suddenly September had turned into October????? without showing enough of what happened in between. So when the characters started acting like their feelings had deepened and someone was suddenly thinking about forever, I was sitting there like… GIRL, WHEN DID WE GET HERE???😭😭
And the amount of times these two got cockblocked right before anything could happen??? I genuinely thought I was going to lose my mind. 😭 Every time the tension finally started building, something would swoop in and completely derail the moment. All that buildup and anticipation, only for the payoff to be painfully mediocre. I was sitting there like THAT was what we were waiting for??
Then the third act breakup also had me screaming. The whole “you don’t belong here, you deserve more” thing… PLEASE just communicate. Just say what you actually feel!
I did enjoy the ending though. It was surprisingly intense and probably the part that held my attention the most. But by then, I was still stuck thinking about how little development there seemed to be between these characters.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. There were pieces I liked, especially the family dynamic, but I needed SO much more chemistry, character depth, and an actual sense of their relationship developing
My highly scientific breakdown:
2% cowboy riding, 30% boring, 33% no chemistry, 25% romance-killing interruptions, and 10% actual character development. And even that character development might be generous 😭
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 rancher x professor
🩷 forced proximity
🩷 small town ranch
🩷 single dad
🩷 written in 3rd person
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 20
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
sadly such a flop of a buddy read 😔 hopefully we can find a better one soon, angelina 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧💖
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
september 21st- protective rancher meets professor 😏
cutie girl angelina and i are about to become cowgirls rq 😛😛 i'm readying my lasso as i type
Ummm so... I really wanted to like this one, especially because rancher + professor + single dad is basically a setup I should have eaten up. But from the very beginning, I was weirdly uninvested. Everything felt so flat, and I never really felt the chemistry between Molly and Gabe. I kept waiting for that moment where I understood why these two were falling for each other, and instead I was just… watching it happen from a very safe distance 🥲🥲
And Gabe. I’m sorry, but why was he was rearranging his life to help her???? especially when I wasn’t really seeing enough from Molly that explained why he was so drawn to her. And then BOTH of his teenage sons thinking she was cute too? 😭 I was like okayyyyy awkward 💀💀
The single dad angle was probably one of my favorite parts. I actually really enjoyed the family dynamic, especially Tyler and Travis. Having Gabe’s sons be teenagers rather than little kids gave the story a different feel, and honestly, they brought some personality that I was desperately looking for elsewhere.
Because this book was SLOW. Not even necessarily slow-burn slow. Just… slow. There were so many pages, but somehow I still felt like I missed the part where Molly and Gabe actually built a relationship. The pacing made it even more confusing because the story would casually jump forward... first three weeks had passed, then suddenly September had turned into October????? without showing enough of what happened in between. So when the characters started acting like their feelings had deepened and someone was suddenly thinking about forever, I was sitting there like… GIRL, WHEN DID WE GET HERE???😭😭
And the amount of times these two got cockblocked right before anything could happen??? I genuinely thought I was going to lose my mind. 😭 Every time the tension finally started building, something would swoop in and completely derail the moment. All that buildup and anticipation, only for the payoff to be painfully mediocre. I was sitting there like THAT was what we were waiting for??
Then the third act breakup also had me screaming. The whole “you don’t belong here, you deserve more” thing… PLEASE just communicate. Just say what you actually feel!
I did enjoy the ending though. It was surprisingly intense and probably the part that held my attention the most. But by then, I was still stuck thinking about how little development there seemed to be between these characters.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. There were pieces I liked, especially the family dynamic, but I needed SO much more chemistry, character depth, and an actual sense of their relationship developing
My highly scientific breakdown:
2% cowboy riding, 30% boring, 33% no chemistry, 25% romance-killing interruptions, and 10% actual character development. And even that character development might be generous 😭
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 rancher x professor
🩷 forced proximity
🩷 small town ranch
🩷 single dad
🩷 written in 3rd person
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 20
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
sadly such a flop of a buddy read 😔 hopefully we can find a better one soon, angelina 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧💖
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
september 21st- protective rancher meets professor 😏
cutie girl angelina and i are about to become cowgirls rq 😛😛 i'm readying my lasso as i type
Did Not Finish
September 21, 2026dnf @ 15%
because cat said there's only 2% cowboy riding 😭😭
℧🇵🇷🇪🇭🇦🇼 🐎
me and bestie arc queen cat are about to YEE this HAW ⋆𐚁✮𓄀⋆
because cat said there's only 2% cowboy riding 😭😭
℧🇵🇷🇪🇭🇦🇼 🐎
me and bestie arc queen cat are about to YEE this HAW ⋆𐚁✮𓄀⋆
September 16, 2026
The overall premise of this book was very enjoyable. I really liked Molly and felt that she was making the best of her time in Montana. The drama surrounding her past relationship was wild! I literally felt so bad for her, so her developing connection with Gabe felt like perfect timing!
Gabe was a little harder for me to fully get on board with. He appeared to be very set in his way of life, and I felt like choices from his past were negatively affecting his ability to fully enjoy his life in the present. It’s not that he’s a bad guy; I just felt like he needed to deal with some of his past issues before they became current ones. I didn’t always like his thought processes or actions, but I could empathize with him because he had a lot of new and old emotions to deal with.
The ending was wild and very action packed. I thought it was well done and definitely enjoyed the suspense!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Gabe was a little harder for me to fully get on board with. He appeared to be very set in his way of life, and I felt like choices from his past were negatively affecting his ability to fully enjoy his life in the present. It’s not that he’s a bad guy; I just felt like he needed to deal with some of his past issues before they became current ones. I didn’t always like his thought processes or actions, but I could empathize with him because he had a lot of new and old emotions to deal with.
The ending was wild and very action packed. I thought it was well done and definitely enjoyed the suspense!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2026
I knew going into this that *Save a Horse* was a single dad romance, and I have no issue with family-centered romances. In fact, I usually enjoy them! But based on the title, I guess I expected the romance to be a little…spicier? And I’m not saying I need a sex scene every five pages, but at times it genuinely felt like Molly was dating Gabe’s family more than she was dating Gabe. (And Gabe even says this himself at one point!)
I think Gabe being extremely busy was supposed to create yearning and angst, but for me, their relationship moved at a glacial pace. Which, sure, maybe that’s realistic for real life—but this is a romance novel, for goodness’ sake. 😂 I wanted more of the romance to happen between the two of them instead of living mostly in their internal thoughts. There’s only so much “I’m obsessed with you but I can’t act on it” a reader can take before you start begging the characters to act on it.
And honestly…there were only so many cock blocks I could handle in one book. Like, come on. The book is literally called *Save a Horse*. At some point I was wondering: when exactly is she going to ride the cowboy?!?
The funniest part is that they get together pretty quickly, so I thought, “Okay, great, we’re getting into the good stuff now.” Except instead, Molly is spending her time bonding with his kids, shucking corn on his porch, and becoming part of the family. Again, nothing wrong with that! But I think I went into this expecting more cowboy romance and less “future family member” romance.
My biggest issue was that I was constantly being told how much they wanted each other, but I wanted more moments where I could actually *see* that connection develop on the page. Show me the chemistry! Don’t just tell me they’re obsessed with each other!
I think readers who enjoy slower, more family-focused romances with a lot of emotional reflection will probably love this one. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the romance I was looking for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think Gabe being extremely busy was supposed to create yearning and angst, but for me, their relationship moved at a glacial pace. Which, sure, maybe that’s realistic for real life—but this is a romance novel, for goodness’ sake. 😂 I wanted more of the romance to happen between the two of them instead of living mostly in their internal thoughts. There’s only so much “I’m obsessed with you but I can’t act on it” a reader can take before you start begging the characters to act on it.
And honestly…there were only so many cock blocks I could handle in one book. Like, come on. The book is literally called *Save a Horse*. At some point I was wondering: when exactly is she going to ride the cowboy?!?
The funniest part is that they get together pretty quickly, so I thought, “Okay, great, we’re getting into the good stuff now.” Except instead, Molly is spending her time bonding with his kids, shucking corn on his porch, and becoming part of the family. Again, nothing wrong with that! But I think I went into this expecting more cowboy romance and less “future family member” romance.
My biggest issue was that I was constantly being told how much they wanted each other, but I wanted more moments where I could actually *see* that connection develop on the page. Show me the chemistry! Don’t just tell me they’re obsessed with each other!
I think readers who enjoy slower, more family-focused romances with a lot of emotional reflection will probably love this one. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the romance I was looking for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2026
I love Montana and it was so nice reading a book set there! I thought this book was so sweet and funny! I loved that both of the main characters were a little older and both had established careers. I also really enjoyed Gabe was a single dad to two teenage boys! I feel like you never see that and it added a lot to this story.
I enjoyed Molly’s journey in finding out what she wants in life. She’s going through a lot at the beginning of the book and seeing her piece her life back together is very satisfying.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s a sweet cowboy romance and I think any fan of the genre will love it! Also that cover?? So so cute!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed Molly’s journey in finding out what she wants in life. She’s going through a lot at the beginning of the book and seeing her piece her life back together is very satisfying.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s a sweet cowboy romance and I think any fan of the genre will love it! Also that cover?? So so cute!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Want to Read
July 10, 2026YAY... I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS ARC
FIRST TIME READING JEN DOYLE
and you know you canNOT start that title without finishing "ride a cowboy!"
FIRST TIME READING JEN DOYLE
and you know you canNOT start that title without finishing "ride a cowboy!"
July 18, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to read and enjoy this ARC! I swear I have had the song Save a Horse stuck in my head for a week now, so thanks for that! While there is some definitely cowboy riding in this book, what really shines is the family dynamic.
Molly “an East coast city slicker” takes a position at UM in Montana. Fresh out of a disaster split, Montana seems to be the last place she wants to be, especially with her ex and his new fiancé also at the University. A family rancher Gabe rides into her life but with it comes a package deal. He has sons from his past and is running a ranch ran with his parents. The community there is such warm and welcoming you can really feel the juxtaposition of the harsh and demanding nature of Montana mixed in with the warmth and care of the community of people. Like any good love story it comes with real life challenges and later in life love isn’t the simply sweet story of teenage years. Mature love is about sacrifice, understanding and communication and Gabe and Molly’s story is one for the books!
Thank you for combining two of my ultimate favorite places on the planet and doing such a great job describing the Boston skyline and harbor and the Montana vastness. It made me really long for both!
Molly “an East coast city slicker” takes a position at UM in Montana. Fresh out of a disaster split, Montana seems to be the last place she wants to be, especially with her ex and his new fiancé also at the University. A family rancher Gabe rides into her life but with it comes a package deal. He has sons from his past and is running a ranch ran with his parents. The community there is such warm and welcoming you can really feel the juxtaposition of the harsh and demanding nature of Montana mixed in with the warmth and care of the community of people. Like any good love story it comes with real life challenges and later in life love isn’t the simply sweet story of teenage years. Mature love is about sacrifice, understanding and communication and Gabe and Molly’s story is one for the books!
Thank you for combining two of my ultimate favorite places on the planet and doing such a great job describing the Boston skyline and harbor and the Montana vastness. It made me really long for both!
August 2, 2026
3 stars
This book interested me so much! The premise had me hooked! While I live the vibes that this story was giving me, there were a few things that missed the mark for me.
While the characters themselves acknowledge it around the 50% mark, it felt the the FMC was dating EVERYONE in the family. Like the sons were constantly asking her to things, she was always doing things to win over the MMC’s family, and she was always thinking about how she could do things for home. While this is fine and appreciated, it became more of the story that the actual romance. Which at 50% they still hadn’t even done more than kiss (and basically every interaction was with his kids there taking her attention). I wish I could have seen more of the romance in the first half of the book.
I loved the intricacies of the MMC with his kids and the legacy that he felt he needed to leave them. It was really an interesting family dynamic to read.
Thank you net galley and the publishers for an arc to review!
This book interested me so much! The premise had me hooked! While I live the vibes that this story was giving me, there were a few things that missed the mark for me.
While the characters themselves acknowledge it around the 50% mark, it felt the the FMC was dating EVERYONE in the family. Like the sons were constantly asking her to things, she was always doing things to win over the MMC’s family, and she was always thinking about how she could do things for home. While this is fine and appreciated, it became more of the story that the actual romance. Which at 50% they still hadn’t even done more than kiss (and basically every interaction was with his kids there taking her attention). I wish I could have seen more of the romance in the first half of the book.
I loved the intricacies of the MMC with his kids and the legacy that he felt he needed to leave them. It was really an interesting family dynamic to read.
Thank you net galley and the publishers for an arc to review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received my copy via NetGalley! All opinions are my own!
3.5/5 Stars!
A sweet, easy cowboy romance!
For me, this was an enjoyable read, but the romance for me fell a little flat. There were a lot of cute moments! There was a lot of side plot happening. If you're looking for a more heavily romance-centered book rather than a more sort of found-family/ FMC character growth focus, then this may not be what you're looking for.
I also wish there was a bit more tension at the start! Gabe seemed very set in his 'I don't do relationships' ways... but it was very much a quick love on their part.
My advice: If you're just in the mood for an easy read, this may be for you! It's in third person. The romance is there, but a lot of the subplots sort of overshadow it at times.
3.5/5 Stars!
A sweet, easy cowboy romance!
For me, this was an enjoyable read, but the romance for me fell a little flat. There were a lot of cute moments! There was a lot of side plot happening. If you're looking for a more heavily romance-centered book rather than a more sort of found-family/ FMC character growth focus, then this may not be what you're looking for.
I also wish there was a bit more tension at the start! Gabe seemed very set in his 'I don't do relationships' ways... but it was very much a quick love on their part.
My advice: If you're just in the mood for an easy read, this may be for you! It's in third person. The romance is there, but a lot of the subplots sort of overshadow it at times.
August 28, 2026
Cowboy romances are my bread and butter (the only reason this gets 2 stars), but here I found myself wondering whether this was a romance between Molly and Gabe, or between her and his family 🫣 Don't misunderstand me, I love a good found family, but here? It was just too much. All that cockblocking, and for what? These were some of the most anticlimactic spicy scenes I've ever read.
Add to that, the too much show and too little tell, and you've got whatever this was. I mean, they're supposed to like each other, and there's this supposed tension between them… well, where was it?
2 ⭐️ ARC Review
Add to that, the too much show and too little tell, and you've got whatever this was. I mean, they're supposed to like each other, and there's this supposed tension between them… well, where was it?
2 ⭐️ ARC Review
August 26, 2026
thank you NetGalley and publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
I had fun and really sped through this one. But I think I was just expecting something else from this book. From the title and cover I was expecting spicy cowboy and I did not get that. It was cute and I LOVED their first scene and how realistic their relationship continued but the amount of times something could have happened but didn’t annoyed me so much. But I do love how family oriented this book was and how cutesy this was.
I had fun and really sped through this one. But I think I was just expecting something else from this book. From the title and cover I was expecting spicy cowboy and I did not get that. It was cute and I LOVED their first scene and how realistic their relationship continued but the amount of times something could have happened but didn’t annoyed me so much. But I do love how family oriented this book was and how cutesy this was.
July 15, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! I love how Gabe is so proud to be a dad, and I really liked that his kids were teens so there was more of a dialogue between Molly and them. I loved how Molly was able to be a comforting presence for the boys and become a sort of mother figure. I was irritated at Gabe for his behavior about the twins and college, but I do understand where he was coming from. I do wish we got more from Gabe and Molly once they were in an established relationship. I loved their cuteness with one another and I just wanted to read more about it!! The ending also felt kind of rushed, so I wish there was bit more on that end. But overall I had a really great time reading it and I could see myself reading it again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2026
I was given this book as an arc from netgalley.
I loved it so much! Was a cute cowboy romance. I enjoyed how the family was included in it.
I loved it so much! Was a cute cowboy romance. I enjoyed how the family was included in it.
July 17, 2026
This was a very cute story. The main characters were frustrating at times, but not discouragingly so. There was a small amount of relationship development with secondary characters that was more told than shown, and that is why I rated 4⭐️.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the arc!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the arc!
September 28, 2026
2.5⭐️ I unfortunately didn’t love this one. I’m all for cowboy romances but this one didn’t hit. The chemistry between Gabe and Molly was nonexistent and they were such flat characters. The third act breakup was predictable yet unnecessary at the same time.
The pacing was also a little odd. The book felt very slow and we would jump weeks at a time. During the time skips, there was off page development in the character’s relationships which I wish we could have seen.
Also I love Beowulf but we did not need to mention it as frequently as it was😭
Thank you to Jen Doyle, Berkley, and Netgalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
The pacing was also a little odd. The book felt very slow and we would jump weeks at a time. During the time skips, there was off page development in the character’s relationships which I wish we could have seen.
Also I love Beowulf but we did not need to mention it as frequently as it was😭
Thank you to Jen Doyle, Berkley, and Netgalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Boy howdy do I have a lot of thoughts! So spoilers in this review from now on!!!
|SPOILERS|
First and the BIGGEST one: I did NOT like Gabe, the mmc...and it's not because he is blonde! Honestly blonde men deserve justice, but not Gabe. Gabe has this disease called obnoxious stubborn asshat and it could be cured with a lot of therapy, or in my opinion a few whacks with a cast iron pan to the head (might be harsh to some, but seriously deserved.) Here’s a few points that just made me want to whack him with my cast iron pan!
• he's a parent of Tyler and Travis, but he immediately tensed up with the idea of them going to college. Half the book is him fighting them and Molly about college. Tyler REALLY wants to go to college and when he talks about it, you can tell its a dream of his to go to law school! But Gabe always wants to put the convo on hold or not talk about it at all. I get being a parent and not wanting your baby leave the nest, but the baby wants to leave the nest, let it fly for god's sake!!!
• also kept saying college was a waste of time, including in front of college professor, DR Molly Parker! Just because he dropped out because he had kids doesnt mean college isnt worth a try! And Molly thought of a course to keep her there and it was about Cowboys, gleefully showing the idea to Gabe, and he shot her down. "we're not heros. dont romanticize it. it's just a job."
• and last, so I'm not too hateful. He is the president of the ranch and the main shareholder of it, he basically acts like his word is law and every one has to do what he says. He puts everything on his shoulders and doesn't let anybody help, he left Boston early because he thought everything hit the fan and was needed. His own dad had to tell him to loosen the reins (lol) or he'd be having a heart attack sooner rather than later!
Second: I really loved Molly, Tyler, and Travis. They were really fleshed out super well. Smart, ready to get their hands dirty, knows what they want and goes for it, and has a good heart! I especially love that Molly didn't become Tyler and Travis' mom but they could confide in her, when their bonehead dad couldnt be a safe place. I also really loved that she continued putting Gabe's ass into its rightful place, talking some sense into him to let the boys go to college! I'm VERY happy that when she chose to stay instead of taking the job at Harvard, it was because SHE loved it there and wanted to stay in the town, not for Gabe alone!
Third: I did enjoy the slow burn but at the 68% when they finally got to do it, it was super rushed. They've been waiting 2 months after constantly being cockblocked and it's a quick wham-bam thank you ma'am?! rude. Though the chemistry between them was meh, was a little bit hoping it was spicy and it wasn't (unless you count black pepper spicy.)
Fourth and last: I did not like in the last 90% the big event of finding Travis was there. By that point, I was really loving the boys, so the drama was really not needed. I honestly preferred the earlier drama of Molly, Gabe, Travis, and Tyler driving to get Molly's things and thus meeting Aiden and the mistress and finding out the terrible couple will be married! That part was HILARIOUS and I was throughly enjoying it!
☆ Thank you Netgally and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to recieve and read this book early!! My thoughts are my own and I hope no one is upset with that ☆
|SPOILERS|
First and the BIGGEST one: I did NOT like Gabe, the mmc...and it's not because he is blonde! Honestly blonde men deserve justice, but not Gabe. Gabe has this disease called obnoxious stubborn asshat and it could be cured with a lot of therapy, or in my opinion a few whacks with a cast iron pan to the head (might be harsh to some, but seriously deserved.) Here’s a few points that just made me want to whack him with my cast iron pan!
• he's a parent of Tyler and Travis, but he immediately tensed up with the idea of them going to college. Half the book is him fighting them and Molly about college. Tyler REALLY wants to go to college and when he talks about it, you can tell its a dream of his to go to law school! But Gabe always wants to put the convo on hold or not talk about it at all. I get being a parent and not wanting your baby leave the nest, but the baby wants to leave the nest, let it fly for god's sake!!!
• also kept saying college was a waste of time, including in front of college professor, DR Molly Parker! Just because he dropped out because he had kids doesnt mean college isnt worth a try! And Molly thought of a course to keep her there and it was about Cowboys, gleefully showing the idea to Gabe, and he shot her down. "we're not heros. dont romanticize it. it's just a job."
• and last, so I'm not too hateful. He is the president of the ranch and the main shareholder of it, he basically acts like his word is law and every one has to do what he says. He puts everything on his shoulders and doesn't let anybody help, he left Boston early because he thought everything hit the fan and was needed. His own dad had to tell him to loosen the reins (lol) or he'd be having a heart attack sooner rather than later!
Second: I really loved Molly, Tyler, and Travis. They were really fleshed out super well. Smart, ready to get their hands dirty, knows what they want and goes for it, and has a good heart! I especially love that Molly didn't become Tyler and Travis' mom but they could confide in her, when their bonehead dad couldnt be a safe place. I also really loved that she continued putting Gabe's ass into its rightful place, talking some sense into him to let the boys go to college! I'm VERY happy that when she chose to stay instead of taking the job at Harvard, it was because SHE loved it there and wanted to stay in the town, not for Gabe alone!
Third: I did enjoy the slow burn but at the 68% when they finally got to do it, it was super rushed. They've been waiting 2 months after constantly being cockblocked and it's a quick wham-bam thank you ma'am?! rude. Though the chemistry between them was meh, was a little bit hoping it was spicy and it wasn't (unless you count black pepper spicy.)
Fourth and last: I did not like in the last 90% the big event of finding Travis was there. By that point, I was really loving the boys, so the drama was really not needed. I honestly preferred the earlier drama of Molly, Gabe, Travis, and Tyler driving to get Molly's things and thus meeting Aiden and the mistress and finding out the terrible couple will be married! That part was HILARIOUS and I was throughly enjoying it!
☆ Thank you Netgally and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to recieve and read this book early!! My thoughts are my own and I hope no one is upset with that ☆
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Save a Horse by Jen Doyle (Jan. 2027) [reading in August 2026]
279-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Western Romance, Contemporary Romance
Movie Rating Equivalent: NC-17 for adult content
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾👩🏫🤠🐎➰️🧲
Featuring: English Professor, University of Montana, Rancher, Fictional Small-Town 45 Minutes from Missoula, Montana; Horses, Newcomer, Brokenhearted, Connecticut, August, Saloon, Tricenarians, Single Father, Text Graphics, Family Dynamics, Teen Pregnancy, Ex-Fiancé, Community Support, Ranches, Town History, Teens, Bangxiety, Pennsylvania, September, Sex - On-Camera, Boston, Massachusetts; Crossroads, Overcautious, Self-Actualization, March, Found Family
Live Status Updates: 🔖Page 99 of 279 [Chapter] 11 - The was is funner than expected.
Final Thoughts: Save a Horse is a fun take on a classic storyline. Molly just got her Ph.D. in English and took a position at her fiancé’s preferred university in Montana—only to discover him riding his backup plan when she shows up early. She is stuck in Montana for the next year in a small town she no longer wants to be in. She decides to drink her woes away at the local saloon, and when hot cowboy Gabe walks in, I immediately knew her year was going in a different direction and that she was going to have to make some tough choices.
I think I enjoyed the first part of this story more than the rest of the book, but it was still a solid, enjoyable read. They made a lot of references to the Big & Rich song that the title gets its name from. I think this might also be the first time in a long time I've come across characters having "bangxiety"—I wasn't sure if it gave me bangxiety or if it was just fun to watch them suffer, but perhaps it was somewhere in the middle for me.
All in all, I enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. She has three series that I have my eye on; I just have to decide where to start.
Recommend to others: Yes. This story is a great way to start off 2027!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Songs for the Soundtrack: "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)" by Big & Rich, "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift, "Spin You Around" by Morgan Wallen, "The Way I Talk" by Morgan Wallen, "Love Story" by Taylor Swift
Books and Authors Mentioned: Toni Morrison, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, Beowulf by Anonymous, Godzilla by Ishirō Honda, Mary Poppins by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi [based on] Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers; Friends by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney, Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
279-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Western Romance, Contemporary Romance
Movie Rating Equivalent: NC-17 for adult content
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾👩🏫🤠🐎➰️🧲
Featuring: English Professor, University of Montana, Rancher, Fictional Small-Town 45 Minutes from Missoula, Montana; Horses, Newcomer, Brokenhearted, Connecticut, August, Saloon, Tricenarians, Single Father, Text Graphics, Family Dynamics, Teen Pregnancy, Ex-Fiancé, Community Support, Ranches, Town History, Teens, Bangxiety, Pennsylvania, September, Sex - On-Camera, Boston, Massachusetts; Crossroads, Overcautious, Self-Actualization, March, Found Family
Live Status Updates: 🔖Page 99 of 279 [Chapter] 11 - The was is funner than expected.
Final Thoughts: Save a Horse is a fun take on a classic storyline. Molly just got her Ph.D. in English and took a position at her fiancé’s preferred university in Montana—only to discover him riding his backup plan when she shows up early. She is stuck in Montana for the next year in a small town she no longer wants to be in. She decides to drink her woes away at the local saloon, and when hot cowboy Gabe walks in, I immediately knew her year was going in a different direction and that she was going to have to make some tough choices.
I think I enjoyed the first part of this story more than the rest of the book, but it was still a solid, enjoyable read. They made a lot of references to the Big & Rich song that the title gets its name from. I think this might also be the first time in a long time I've come across characters having "bangxiety"—I wasn't sure if it gave me bangxiety or if it was just fun to watch them suffer, but perhaps it was somewhere in the middle for me.
All in all, I enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. She has three series that I have my eye on; I just have to decide where to start.
Recommend to others: Yes. This story is a great way to start off 2027!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Songs for the Soundtrack: "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)" by Big & Rich, "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift, "Spin You Around" by Morgan Wallen, "The Way I Talk" by Morgan Wallen, "Love Story" by Taylor Swift
Books and Authors Mentioned: Toni Morrison, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, Beowulf by Anonymous, Godzilla by Ishirō Honda, Mary Poppins by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi [based on] Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers; Friends by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney, Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh, these two. I really wondered if they were ever going to get together, because life. Molly has moved to Montana for a university professorship after finding her ex-boyfriend in bed with another grad student. They were supposed to move there together, so her ex has a job at the same university. Molly is absolutely a hot mess at the beginning — proud of herself for still making the move in the midst of heartbreak and devastated at the prospect of having to work in the same place as her ex. When it comes to the ex, though, she turns out to be a spitfire!
Gabe is a single dad who has basically raised his 17 year old twins himself, after their mom decided that ranch life wasn’t for her shortly after the boys are born. He has such an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, but also has a family who will drop everything to show up for him.
What really stands out in this book is ranch life. It’s all hands on deck, all the time, and Gabe really feels that. He hasn’t brought a woman home since his ex decided that it wasn’t for her. When Molly shows up with cookies and lemon bars to apologize for Gabe having to take care of her when she arrived in town, blew out tires, and got wasted at the local bar, he’s already long gone. It feels like their attraction takes forever to pay off. Though ranching is a family affair and Molly spent plenty of time helping out, it felt like Molly spent too long dating everyone BUT Gabe.
His family is skeptical of Molly as an outsider at first, but absolutely wonderful in the end. The twins quickly take to Molly and are very perceptive about what’s going on with their dad. Gabe holds back because of his past, which he really needs to deal with — it presents as him being really set in his life as it is, not wanting to burden others. Molly holds back because her dream is a tenure-track position that she won’t get in Montana, and because while she feels the same attraction Gabe does, she doesn’t really know how he feels about her.
This really is a story about two grown adults deep in their careers who have to figure out how to navigate their responsibilities and dreams, whether self-imposed or otherwise.
3.5⭐️, an enjoyable read!
🐎SLOW burn
❤️small town
🐎rancher x college professor
❤️life happens
🐎earworm (Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for an advance copy of this book!
Gabe is a single dad who has basically raised his 17 year old twins himself, after their mom decided that ranch life wasn’t for her shortly after the boys are born. He has such an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, but also has a family who will drop everything to show up for him.
What really stands out in this book is ranch life. It’s all hands on deck, all the time, and Gabe really feels that. He hasn’t brought a woman home since his ex decided that it wasn’t for her. When Molly shows up with cookies and lemon bars to apologize for Gabe having to take care of her when she arrived in town, blew out tires, and got wasted at the local bar, he’s already long gone. It feels like their attraction takes forever to pay off. Though ranching is a family affair and Molly spent plenty of time helping out, it felt like Molly spent too long dating everyone BUT Gabe.
His family is skeptical of Molly as an outsider at first, but absolutely wonderful in the end. The twins quickly take to Molly and are very perceptive about what’s going on with their dad. Gabe holds back because of his past, which he really needs to deal with — it presents as him being really set in his life as it is, not wanting to burden others. Molly holds back because her dream is a tenure-track position that she won’t get in Montana, and because while she feels the same attraction Gabe does, she doesn’t really know how he feels about her.
This really is a story about two grown adults deep in their careers who have to figure out how to navigate their responsibilities and dreams, whether self-imposed or otherwise.
3.5⭐️, an enjoyable read!
🐎SLOW burn
❤️small town
🐎rancher x college professor
❤️life happens
🐎earworm (Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for an advance copy of this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
Firstly, I'd like to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read this arc.
I’ll be honest and admit I went into Save a Horse expecting one thing and got something different, but don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book. This was definitely a mistake on my part for judging the book a bit too much on its title before picking it up. Safe to say I was expecting a bit more cowboy saving.
Now I’ll give it to Jen Doyle; she can write some damn good characters. I loved both Molly and Gabe so much and truly learned to care for them. Watching Molly blossom and find her place in Montana after a not-so-great start made me feel like a proud mother seeing her kid spread their wings. The entire story, I just kept rooting for her as I watched her grow into this new person with her beautiful character arc. And observing Gabe’s relationship with his son was absolutely beautiful. It was honest and realistic. Family dynamics aren’t perfect, but watching them grow together is what makes them beautiful, and Molly being part of that growth was truly magical.
However, the romance aspect of this book fell a bit short for me. I’ll admit, I love a good slow burn as much as the next person, but it needs to be accompanied by the right tension and yearning to truly feel it, and unfortunately, I did not always feel that chemistry between Molly and Gabe. This wasn’t even necessarily due to the lower number of steamy scenes (or the fact that they somehow were always getting interrupted) but simply because I couldn't actually feel it in their interactions. Their internal monologue left no room for doubt that they in fact were attracted to each other, but it just didn’t seem to translate to their actions.
All that being said, I still really enjoyed this story. The beautiful Montana setting (which I totally want to visit now), the family dynamics, the characters, and their journeys of self-discovery kept me invested throughout the book. I think if you enjoy slower-burn, found-family, self-discovery reads, you will love this book; just don’t expect steam to be coming off the pages.
Overall, Save a Horse was an enjoyable read if it wasn’t quite what I expected, and I would definitely be open to picking up more from Jen Doyle.
Firstly, I'd like to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read this arc.
I’ll be honest and admit I went into Save a Horse expecting one thing and got something different, but don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book. This was definitely a mistake on my part for judging the book a bit too much on its title before picking it up. Safe to say I was expecting a bit more cowboy saving.
Now I’ll give it to Jen Doyle; she can write some damn good characters. I loved both Molly and Gabe so much and truly learned to care for them. Watching Molly blossom and find her place in Montana after a not-so-great start made me feel like a proud mother seeing her kid spread their wings. The entire story, I just kept rooting for her as I watched her grow into this new person with her beautiful character arc. And observing Gabe’s relationship with his son was absolutely beautiful. It was honest and realistic. Family dynamics aren’t perfect, but watching them grow together is what makes them beautiful, and Molly being part of that growth was truly magical.
However, the romance aspect of this book fell a bit short for me. I’ll admit, I love a good slow burn as much as the next person, but it needs to be accompanied by the right tension and yearning to truly feel it, and unfortunately, I did not always feel that chemistry between Molly and Gabe. This wasn’t even necessarily due to the lower number of steamy scenes (or the fact that they somehow were always getting interrupted) but simply because I couldn't actually feel it in their interactions. Their internal monologue left no room for doubt that they in fact were attracted to each other, but it just didn’t seem to translate to their actions.
All that being said, I still really enjoyed this story. The beautiful Montana setting (which I totally want to visit now), the family dynamics, the characters, and their journeys of self-discovery kept me invested throughout the book. I think if you enjoy slower-burn, found-family, self-discovery reads, you will love this book; just don’t expect steam to be coming off the pages.
Overall, Save a Horse was an enjoyable read if it wasn’t quite what I expected, and I would definitely be open to picking up more from Jen Doyle.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one was a little bit of an ehhh read for me. It wasn’t terrible, and there were definitely things I enjoyed, but overall I just wanted more from it.
First, I loved that Gabe is a single dad whose twins are 17 years old! It was such a nice change from the usual single parent romances with babies or little kids. Gabe is also a cowboy, so obviously that worked for me, and I really liked that Molly is a college professor. I also loved the Montana setting because apparently every book set in Montana just further convinces me that I am meant to live there. 😂
This is written in third person but does have dual POV, which I appreciated. The tension between Gabe and Molly was probably one of my favorite parts, but this was so slow. There was a lot of wanting each other but never being able to find the time to actually move their relationship forward, and after a while I was ready for something to happen.
There were also a few moments that were just a little too cringy for me. Molly saying they were going to have “crazy monkey sex” gave me the biggest ick. 😭 I’m sorry, but absolutely not. There is also very little spice in this one, which I didn't necessarily mind, but with how much tension was built throughout the book, I expected a little more payoff.
I also wish I had connected more with Gabe’s family. One of my favorite parts of small town romance is usually the big family or found family dynamic, but something about this family just didn’t work for me. I am curious, though, if Gabe’s siblings will eventually get their own books because I would probably give them a try!
My biggest issue was the ending. It felt like the book just ended. I needed more closure and more time with Gabe and Molly after everything we spent the entire book waiting for. Especially with such a slow burn, I wanted a much bigger payoff at the end.
This was my first book by Jen Doyle, and while it wasn’t necessarily a hit for me, there were enough things I enjoyed that I would try another book by her especially if this turns into a series following Gabe’s siblings.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
First, I loved that Gabe is a single dad whose twins are 17 years old! It was such a nice change from the usual single parent romances with babies or little kids. Gabe is also a cowboy, so obviously that worked for me, and I really liked that Molly is a college professor. I also loved the Montana setting because apparently every book set in Montana just further convinces me that I am meant to live there. 😂
This is written in third person but does have dual POV, which I appreciated. The tension between Gabe and Molly was probably one of my favorite parts, but this was so slow. There was a lot of wanting each other but never being able to find the time to actually move their relationship forward, and after a while I was ready for something to happen.
There were also a few moments that were just a little too cringy for me. Molly saying they were going to have “crazy monkey sex” gave me the biggest ick. 😭 I’m sorry, but absolutely not. There is also very little spice in this one, which I didn't necessarily mind, but with how much tension was built throughout the book, I expected a little more payoff.
I also wish I had connected more with Gabe’s family. One of my favorite parts of small town romance is usually the big family or found family dynamic, but something about this family just didn’t work for me. I am curious, though, if Gabe’s siblings will eventually get their own books because I would probably give them a try!
My biggest issue was the ending. It felt like the book just ended. I needed more closure and more time with Gabe and Molly after everything we spent the entire book waiting for. Especially with such a slow burn, I wanted a much bigger payoff at the end.
This was my first book by Jen Doyle, and while it wasn’t necessarily a hit for me, there were enough things I enjoyed that I would try another book by her especially if this turns into a series following Gabe’s siblings.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Molly Parker agreed to move to Montana with her boyfriend. But she regrets that decision when she catches him cheating before they’re supposed to leave. Now she’s got to tough it out by completing her one-year contract at the local university.
On her first day in town, she meets Gabe Haverson. He's got a lot on his plate as a rancher and as a single father to teenage boys. But the need for companionship and attraction keeps lassoing them together.
📚Adult Fiction
🐎Western Contemporary Romance
📚Professor x Rancher
🐎Single Dad
📚Small Town
🐎Moving Forward
📚Open Door
'Save a Horse' is a contemporary romance set on a gorgeous ranch. It's told from both characters’ perspectives in third person. This story explores two people with a proclivity for self-sabotage.
Molly is going through a hard time after wasting four years on a cheating loser. She's fiery, reckless, and sometimes a little embarrassing. As this story progresses, she struggles to decide if she loves the town enough to stay.
Gabe doesn't have time for a relationship and he doesn't want one. But something about Molly keeps pulling him in. He’s weighed down by guilt and tends to punish himself by working to death. As far as love interests go, he's a very stubborn person who has a lot to work through.
I struggled a lot with the writing in this book. Some sections were clunky and had a strange flow. It was also too long, which is why the romance kept stuttering and stalling. Usually, books like this are hard to get through, but I finished this quickly.
Aside from that, the characters are charming in their own ways (if a little frustrating). In the first half, Molly and Gabe are awkward and tongue-tied around each other. It takes a while for them to find their footing, especially with so many distractions in their lives. I liked that they were imperfect and went through much needed growth.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
On her first day in town, she meets Gabe Haverson. He's got a lot on his plate as a rancher and as a single father to teenage boys. But the need for companionship and attraction keeps lassoing them together.
📚Adult Fiction
🐎Western Contemporary Romance
📚Professor x Rancher
🐎Single Dad
📚Small Town
🐎Moving Forward
📚Open Door
'Save a Horse' is a contemporary romance set on a gorgeous ranch. It's told from both characters’ perspectives in third person. This story explores two people with a proclivity for self-sabotage.
Molly is going through a hard time after wasting four years on a cheating loser. She's fiery, reckless, and sometimes a little embarrassing. As this story progresses, she struggles to decide if she loves the town enough to stay.
Gabe doesn't have time for a relationship and he doesn't want one. But something about Molly keeps pulling him in. He’s weighed down by guilt and tends to punish himself by working to death. As far as love interests go, he's a very stubborn person who has a lot to work through.
I struggled a lot with the writing in this book. Some sections were clunky and had a strange flow. It was also too long, which is why the romance kept stuttering and stalling. Usually, books like this are hard to get through, but I finished this quickly.
Aside from that, the characters are charming in their own ways (if a little frustrating). In the first half, Molly and Gabe are awkward and tongue-tied around each other. It takes a while for them to find their footing, especially with so many distractions in their lives. I liked that they were imperfect and went through much needed growth.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m gonna come right out and say it! This book was delightful. The pacing was perfect. The characters are so personable and you just want to be a part of this community. There is found family, older MC‘s (mid-30s) and the relationships with their careers were so well navigated. I also think that this book displayed the different versions of love that exist in our lives within all of the relationships that we have with our families, our friends, and our loved ones and even the things that we love to do. As a first generation college kid, I also really appreciated the conversation around navigating academia and the discord it can have with your parent.
I absolutely loved the FMC. Molly is an amazing strong and successful character. She definitely showed up quick, made a great first impression, and just continued to build on that as we learned more about her throughout the book. I appreciated how she navigated the family dynamic and never attempted to insert herself in ways that were disruptive. She also showed so much strength of character, and we see her growth from making decision based on her previous partner to realizing that she can make decisions just for herself, and then let the cards fall.
The MC was introduced in a pretty hilarious way. Thinking about Molly singing ‘save a horse’ to date still makes me giggle. Gabe’s backstory is super enjoyable, relatable, and really highlighted that there is no one path to happiness. I absolutely love how his relationship with his children was navigated and the quiet pride he carries for them. The way that his love for Molly is written is exquisite; you could tell love is an action verb for him. The yearning in this book is top-tier. I was also just as frustrated as the main characters but the relationships that they built around their love story was also so important that it felt super realistic. I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure going in but honestly, I think this is one of my favorite reads of the year 4.5 stars.
I absolutely loved the FMC. Molly is an amazing strong and successful character. She definitely showed up quick, made a great first impression, and just continued to build on that as we learned more about her throughout the book. I appreciated how she navigated the family dynamic and never attempted to insert herself in ways that were disruptive. She also showed so much strength of character, and we see her growth from making decision based on her previous partner to realizing that she can make decisions just for herself, and then let the cards fall.
The MC was introduced in a pretty hilarious way. Thinking about Molly singing ‘save a horse’ to date still makes me giggle. Gabe’s backstory is super enjoyable, relatable, and really highlighted that there is no one path to happiness. I absolutely love how his relationship with his children was navigated and the quiet pride he carries for them. The way that his love for Molly is written is exquisite; you could tell love is an action verb for him. The yearning in this book is top-tier. I was also just as frustrated as the main characters but the relationships that they built around their love story was also so important that it felt super realistic. I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure going in but honestly, I think this is one of my favorite reads of the year 4.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley publishing and Jen Doyle for the e-ARC in exchange for honest review.
This was such a fun cowboy romance read! Molly and Gabe are the center of the story. Molly is a college professor who just moved to Montana and is starting over after her ex was caught cheating. Oh and said ex is also a college professor at the same college! Poor Molly! I think I'd rather be jobless for a year than be around my cheating ex. Molly is stronger than me!
She's living in the cutest little small town after she found the perfect house to settle in. Her car breaks down and she ends up plastered at the local bar with a Fireball float (I need a recipe for this!!) and the bar owner enlists the help of the handsome cowboy to get her to the local inn til her house is ready. In the most hilarious part of the story, she drunkenly sings Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy to him and I was cackling!
Anyway, her and Gabe continue to bump into each other and feelings continue to blossom. She even impresses his hard-to-please parents and his 17 year old twin boys.
Molly wonders if she actually likes Montana more than she originally thought and Gabe feels like he's keeping her from her goals in life.
The third act breakup actually seemed somewhat appropriate since you could tell how much it hurt both of them but they both thought they were doing the best thing for one another. It probably could have been figured out with a conversation, but I don't think Gabe would have accepted it without truly knowing Molly intended to stay even if they weren't together.
The chemistry and banter between these two had me blushing at some points, so good! And the Disney/Pixar one liners were hilarious!! The slow burn and the constant interruptions were killing me but it was so worth it when the two finally got together!!
Would definitely recommend this one! Comes out January 12th!
This was such a fun cowboy romance read! Molly and Gabe are the center of the story. Molly is a college professor who just moved to Montana and is starting over after her ex was caught cheating. Oh and said ex is also a college professor at the same college! Poor Molly! I think I'd rather be jobless for a year than be around my cheating ex. Molly is stronger than me!
She's living in the cutest little small town after she found the perfect house to settle in. Her car breaks down and she ends up plastered at the local bar with a Fireball float (I need a recipe for this!!) and the bar owner enlists the help of the handsome cowboy to get her to the local inn til her house is ready. In the most hilarious part of the story, she drunkenly sings Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy to him and I was cackling!
Anyway, her and Gabe continue to bump into each other and feelings continue to blossom. She even impresses his hard-to-please parents and his 17 year old twin boys.
Molly wonders if she actually likes Montana more than she originally thought and Gabe feels like he's keeping her from her goals in life.
The third act breakup actually seemed somewhat appropriate since you could tell how much it hurt both of them but they both thought they were doing the best thing for one another. It probably could have been figured out with a conversation, but I don't think Gabe would have accepted it without truly knowing Molly intended to stay even if they weren't together.
The chemistry and banter between these two had me blushing at some points, so good! And the Disney/Pixar one liners were hilarious!! The slow burn and the constant interruptions were killing me but it was so worth it when the two finally got together!!
Would definitely recommend this one! Comes out January 12th!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Save a Horse was such a cute, cozy cowboy romance, and I absolutely loved the Montana setting. The ranch, the mountains, the wide open spaces, the little town, and the closeknit community all gave this book such a warm, comforting atmosphere. Montana honestly felt like its own character, and I loved getting to experience it through Molly as she slowly started falling in love with the place she never expected to call home.
Molly moves to Montana for a university job that she originally planned to take with her boyfriend, only to find out he’s been cheating on her right before the move. She goes anyway, and I really enjoyed watching her turn this unexpected situation into a chance to figure out what she actually wants for herself. I loved seeing her become more confident in her choices and realize that she doesn't need to build her life around someone else.I also loved that Gabe was a single dad to 17 year old twin boys. The family dynamic was one of my favorite parts, and watching Molly bond with the boys and slowly become part of their lives was so sweet.
My biggest struggle was the romance. It was a very slow burn, and while I liked Molly and Gabe together, I wanted more chemistry, more romantic moments, and definitely more spice. There was so much buildup, and I just wanted more of them actually being together. The constant interruptions definitely tested my patience too. I also didn't love the third person POV for this story. I wanted to feel more connected to Molly and Gabe, and I think a more intimate POV would have made their chemistry come through better.
This was such a sweet and comforting read with a beautiful setting, a fun family dynamic, and a heroine figuring out who she is and what she wants. If you love smalltown cowboy romances, found family, teenage kids, and gorgeous Montana scenery, this one is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Molly moves to Montana for a university job that she originally planned to take with her boyfriend, only to find out he’s been cheating on her right before the move. She goes anyway, and I really enjoyed watching her turn this unexpected situation into a chance to figure out what she actually wants for herself. I loved seeing her become more confident in her choices and realize that she doesn't need to build her life around someone else.I also loved that Gabe was a single dad to 17 year old twin boys. The family dynamic was one of my favorite parts, and watching Molly bond with the boys and slowly become part of their lives was so sweet.
My biggest struggle was the romance. It was a very slow burn, and while I liked Molly and Gabe together, I wanted more chemistry, more romantic moments, and definitely more spice. There was so much buildup, and I just wanted more of them actually being together. The constant interruptions definitely tested my patience too. I also didn't love the third person POV for this story. I wanted to feel more connected to Molly and Gabe, and I think a more intimate POV would have made their chemistry come through better.
This was such a sweet and comforting read with a beautiful setting, a fun family dynamic, and a heroine figuring out who she is and what she wants. If you love smalltown cowboy romances, found family, teenage kids, and gorgeous Montana scenery, this one is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book it was a little different then what I was expecting based on the cover and title but not in a bad way at all! It’s about two characters named Molly and Gabe and they’re both a little older and have already established careers and lives and Gabe is a father to 17 year old twin boys and about to be experiencing a lot of life changes with them going off to college. Molly is a college professor that just moved to Montana for a teaching position that’s only supposed to be one year and she doesn’t plan to stay around so naturally she would fall for Gabe and his whole family and find herself in quandary about where her priorities lie and what she actually wants out of life and where she is happiest. The part of the story to me that was different than I expected was it’s more of a deeper life searching story and about going through major life changes and figuring out what really matters versus a straight up romance. Again not a bad thing at all it was great but just going by the cover and title I was anticipating it to be a little more focused on the romance which was there but at times took a backseat to the other parts of the story and she definitely spends a lot of time building relationships with both twin sons who are some of the best parts of the book too I loved their storyline! The other tiny thing that I was a little confused about was Gabe’s struggle with his legacy with the ranch and his concern with his family not supporting their relationship because she was from out of town. I understand the worries of losing the ranch from a bad divorce etc but couldn’t that be solved by a prenup agreement if it came to that point to preserve the ranch’s future. Overall this was great though I loved the setting and the real life grown up problems it did resolve a little bit quickly for the buildup but it also felt right to where they would end up! Thank you NetGalley, Berkeley and Jen Doyle for the chance to read this story a little early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
I’ll start with the things that I liked:
- The fact that there’s the single dad trope, but his twins are actually 17 years old. It was a welcomed change from the usual single dads/moms characters with toddlers or babies. Travis and Tyler were fun and sweet, so I loved reading about them and their interactions with Molly.
- I liked that it talked about the Native Americans and the settlers history at the beginning. That the characters talk about the history.
- I liked the details about the ranch life and what entails being a cowboy. I’m from Europe, so I don’y know a single thing about this, and certainly not from other cowboy romance books I’ve read this far.
Now… what I didn’t like, unfortunately:
- Gabe, the MMC. Seriously, maybe it makes him a more realistic character, but he was infuriating and stubborn. The arguments he had with Molly actually made me see red. Maybe I like my MMCs a little too dreamy and perfect in my romances 🤷🏼♀️ sue me
- I actually didn’t mind the slow-burn (it’s not my cup of tea, usually), but the pacing was a bit off. I just kept waiting and waiting for things to pick up, and they didn’t until the very last moment when everything happened to a certain character (I don’t want to spoil anything). I don’t think there was enough romance in this romance book… It was more family-focused, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but based on the title, I expect more yearning, tension and spice than there actually is.
Overall, it was an interesting story and I’ll recommend it to readers who enjoy slow-burns, family-focused and single dad romance books. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t it for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I’ll start with the things that I liked:
- The fact that there’s the single dad trope, but his twins are actually 17 years old. It was a welcomed change from the usual single dads/moms characters with toddlers or babies. Travis and Tyler were fun and sweet, so I loved reading about them and their interactions with Molly.
- I liked that it talked about the Native Americans and the settlers history at the beginning. That the characters talk about the history.
- I liked the details about the ranch life and what entails being a cowboy. I’m from Europe, so I don’y know a single thing about this, and certainly not from other cowboy romance books I’ve read this far.
Now… what I didn’t like, unfortunately:
- Gabe, the MMC. Seriously, maybe it makes him a more realistic character, but he was infuriating and stubborn. The arguments he had with Molly actually made me see red. Maybe I like my MMCs a little too dreamy and perfect in my romances 🤷🏼♀️ sue me
- I actually didn’t mind the slow-burn (it’s not my cup of tea, usually), but the pacing was a bit off. I just kept waiting and waiting for things to pick up, and they didn’t until the very last moment when everything happened to a certain character (I don’t want to spoil anything). I don’t think there was enough romance in this romance book… It was more family-focused, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but based on the title, I expect more yearning, tension and spice than there actually is.
Overall, it was an interesting story and I’ll recommend it to readers who enjoy slow-burns, family-focused and single dad romance books. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t it for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 28, 2026
I was pulled in by this book’s title, I’m not gonna lie. And the summary sounded standard but promising: single-dad cowboy Gabe meets new-to-town professor Molly and despite their different lifestyles they’re going to fall in love.
But you guys - this was so boring!!! The book felt so long, and the bovines Buttercup and Bruno had more chemistry than Gabe and Molly. I WISH I was kidding! Nothing! Was! Happening! After the initial meet-cute. These two claimed to be down to bone from Day 1, but I never found evidence of this or their attraction. I think part of that was the writing style because I felt so distant from the characters, but this is simply not a well-written Romance.
If I may provide my evidence: at the 59% mark, Molly says “It’s not like we’re in an actual relationship. I’ve spent all of, what, ten hours alone with him?” In no Romance should the reader be nearly ⅔ through the book and having that sort of line dropped on them unless it is a novella. Every time Molly and Gabe were alone, they would be interrupted in predictable and annoying ways, but when I say every time I mean every time to the point that I was annoyed. And when they finally had sex, I skipped the scenes because I could not have cared less.
If I have to say something nice about this book...Tyler and Travis were fun side-characters as Gabe's kids. And this was a decent story about two people finding their new paths in life whilst happening to fall in boring love with one another, but then it shouldn’t be marketed as a Romance and readers shouldn’t be bamboozled by the pretty cover and fun title.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
But you guys - this was so boring!!! The book felt so long, and the bovines Buttercup and Bruno had more chemistry than Gabe and Molly. I WISH I was kidding! Nothing! Was! Happening! After the initial meet-cute. These two claimed to be down to bone from Day 1, but I never found evidence of this or their attraction. I think part of that was the writing style because I felt so distant from the characters, but this is simply not a well-written Romance.
If I may provide my evidence: at the 59% mark, Molly says “It’s not like we’re in an actual relationship. I’ve spent all of, what, ten hours alone with him?” In no Romance should the reader be nearly ⅔ through the book and having that sort of line dropped on them unless it is a novella. Every time Molly and Gabe were alone, they would be interrupted in predictable and annoying ways, but when I say every time I mean every time to the point that I was annoyed. And when they finally had sex, I skipped the scenes because I could not have cared less.
If I have to say something nice about this book...Tyler and Travis were fun side-characters as Gabe's kids. And this was a decent story about two people finding their new paths in life whilst happening to fall in boring love with one another, but then it shouldn’t be marketed as a Romance and readers shouldn’t be bamboozled by the pretty cover and fun title.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2026
Save a horse, read a cowboy romance…sorry, I had to!! 😂
But y’all know I am physically incapable of seeing a cowboy romance and NOT picking it up, and Save a Horse ended up being a little different than I expected but I’m not definitely mad about it!
Molly moves to Montana for a temporary teaching position after the life she thought she had planned completely blows up. Enter Gabe: rancher, single dad to 17 year old twin boys, and a man whose entire life is rooted in the place Molly already plans on leaving.
One of my FAVORITE things about this book was getting a different spin on the single dad trope. Gabe isn’t juggling toddlers or little kids. His boys are almost grown and preparing to leave for college, which puts him in this completely different stage of parenthood. And I absolutely loved Tyler and Travis! Molly’s relationship with them became one of my favorite parts of the entire story!!
I also really appreciated getting a romance between two characters in their 30s who already have careers, responsibilities, baggage, and entire lives they’ve built. Their story felt less like simply falling in love and more like asking, What happens when the life you thought you wanted isn’t actually the one that makes you happiest?
And THAT was what surprised me most about this one. There’s romance, chemistry, banter, cowboys, small town Montana goodness, and plenty of moments that made me laugh, but there’s also this deeper story about change, family, belonging, and figuring out what you actually want your life to look like.
Also, Molly drunkenly singing “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” to Gabe?! GIRL!! 😂
Thank you so much to Berkley, NetGalley, and Jen Doyle for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
But y’all know I am physically incapable of seeing a cowboy romance and NOT picking it up, and Save a Horse ended up being a little different than I expected but I’m not definitely mad about it!
Molly moves to Montana for a temporary teaching position after the life she thought she had planned completely blows up. Enter Gabe: rancher, single dad to 17 year old twin boys, and a man whose entire life is rooted in the place Molly already plans on leaving.
One of my FAVORITE things about this book was getting a different spin on the single dad trope. Gabe isn’t juggling toddlers or little kids. His boys are almost grown and preparing to leave for college, which puts him in this completely different stage of parenthood. And I absolutely loved Tyler and Travis! Molly’s relationship with them became one of my favorite parts of the entire story!!
I also really appreciated getting a romance between two characters in their 30s who already have careers, responsibilities, baggage, and entire lives they’ve built. Their story felt less like simply falling in love and more like asking, What happens when the life you thought you wanted isn’t actually the one that makes you happiest?
And THAT was what surprised me most about this one. There’s romance, chemistry, banter, cowboys, small town Montana goodness, and plenty of moments that made me laugh, but there’s also this deeper story about change, family, belonging, and figuring out what you actually want your life to look like.
Also, Molly drunkenly singing “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” to Gabe?! GIRL!! 😂
Thank you so much to Berkley, NetGalley, and Jen Doyle for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 18, 2026
I would totally watch this Hallmark movie.
Molly is having a hard year. She’s just gotten through the stress of her dissertation, finished her PHD, job searched and planned a move with her long term boyfriend to Montana, where they’ll both teach at UM. All of that blows up when she comes home to find him cheating with a rival. It’s too late to course correct - she’s going to be stuck in Montana for at least a year. Add in two flat tires as she rolls into her new tiny town and she’s just about done. Things start to look up when she meets local rancher Gabe, a super hot single dad.
Molly’s got her hang ups between the cheating and the move to a tiny town. Having to run into her ex constantly, the anger and blowback of a breakup. Gabe’s got his hang ups too - his kids are 17 and about to move on without him, he never made it past freshman year at UM before dropping out to take care of his kids, he feels inferior when around Molly. The book mostly deals with the characters going through this season of life, and how they begin to fall in love.
The writing is engaging, the story can be pretty slow and slice of life to a degree. I really enjoyed seeing mid-30s characters as the main couple, it feels sometimes like every FMC is 22 and every MMC is much older. These two are on relatively equal footing, even if they don’t realize it to start.
Tropes:
Single dad
Professor x Cowboy
A little bit Small Town x Big City vibes
Montana as a character
Found family
Open door romance
Thanks to Jen Doyle, Berkley, and NetGalley for the ARC!
Molly is having a hard year. She’s just gotten through the stress of her dissertation, finished her PHD, job searched and planned a move with her long term boyfriend to Montana, where they’ll both teach at UM. All of that blows up when she comes home to find him cheating with a rival. It’s too late to course correct - she’s going to be stuck in Montana for at least a year. Add in two flat tires as she rolls into her new tiny town and she’s just about done. Things start to look up when she meets local rancher Gabe, a super hot single dad.
Molly’s got her hang ups between the cheating and the move to a tiny town. Having to run into her ex constantly, the anger and blowback of a breakup. Gabe’s got his hang ups too - his kids are 17 and about to move on without him, he never made it past freshman year at UM before dropping out to take care of his kids, he feels inferior when around Molly. The book mostly deals with the characters going through this season of life, and how they begin to fall in love.
The writing is engaging, the story can be pretty slow and slice of life to a degree. I really enjoyed seeing mid-30s characters as the main couple, it feels sometimes like every FMC is 22 and every MMC is much older. These two are on relatively equal footing, even if they don’t realize it to start.
Tropes:
Single dad
Professor x Cowboy
A little bit Small Town x Big City vibes
Montana as a character
Found family
Open door romance
Thanks to Jen Doyle, Berkley, and NetGalley for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews