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Wed In The West #8
Back in the Saddle
A SECOND CHANCE IN THE SADDLE All widowed veterinarian Zach Talbot wants is to raise his two boys in the peace and quiet of his New Mexico town. Who'd have thought that being roped into helping a woman choose a horse for her son would upend the single father's whole world? Except ex-actress and rodeo rider Mallory Keyes isn't just any woman. With its wide-open spaces and sky that goes on forever, Whispering Pines is the ideal temporary haven after the accident that changed Mallory's life forever. Falling for the sexy, caring man who found the perfect palomino for her eleven-year-old wasn't in her short- or long-term plans. Zach's also determined to get Mallory back in the saddle. Can she return the favor by helping to heal the still-grieving vet's heart?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 16, 2016
17 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Karen Templeton
209 books35 followersAs the mother of five sons, now grown, Karen loves to write about real people dealing with the drama (and humor) of everyday life. Over the past fifteen years, Karen has written nearly 50 books for Harlequin/Silhouette and Red Dress Ink, and three of her Special Edition titles (A Mother's Wish (2009) Welcome Home, Cowboy (2011) and A Gift for All Seasons (2013) have won the RITA award, the romance industry's top prize for published authors. In addition, her November 2014 title, Santa's Playbook, earned the Romantic Times Gold Seal of Excellence, out of the hundreds of releases reviewed by the magazine for that month.
She is very active on Facebook, as both Karen Templeton and her full name, Karen Templeton Berger, running giveaway contests whenever she has a new release... or just feels like it. Or you can reach her via her website at www.karentempleton.com, which contains recent news as well as excerpts from both current and backlist titles.
She is very active on Facebook, as both Karen Templeton and her full name, Karen Templeton Berger, running giveaway contests whenever she has a new release... or just feels like it. Or you can reach her via her website at www.karentempleton.com, which contains recent news as well as excerpts from both current and backlist titles.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 9, 2016
Back In The Saddle by Karen Templeton. Mallory Keyes is a former rodeo barrel racing star. She is a former movie star. Married her older director. Had a baby boy who is now a teenager. Had an accident and now in a wheelchair. After the accident she got a divorce. Mallory bought a small ranch in New Mexico to get away from news people. She left her son with her husband who remarried. He talks with her son every day. He doesn't tell her how his dad and his wife are always gone and pay no attention to him.
Mallory's mother meets the Vet in New Mexico. She is trying to match make the Vet, Zach Talbot and Mallory. Zach has an 8 and 3 year old boys. His wife dies two years ago and says he won't lose his heart to another women.
Things click between Zach and Mallory. A very good read.
Mallory's mother meets the Vet in New Mexico. She is trying to match make the Vet, Zach Talbot and Mallory. Zach has an 8 and 3 year old boys. His wife dies two years ago and says he won't lose his heart to another women.
Things click between Zach and Mallory. A very good read.
February 24, 2016
Oh, the feels! Back in the Saddle has them in spades. A widower you just want to hug. A paraplegic actress who is more down home sass than LA chic. And every single secondary character in the book is so darned likeable you just want to jump inside the book and hang out with them. Did I mention the animals? The warm AND the fuzzies. ;)
Settle in with your coffee/tea/cocoa/wine, etc and enjoy this fast read by an author who knows how to take big families, mix in a crazy assortment of pets and some sweet lovin' and blend it all into a perfect happy ever after.
Settle in with your coffee/tea/cocoa/wine, etc and enjoy this fast read by an author who knows how to take big families, mix in a crazy assortment of pets and some sweet lovin' and blend it all into a perfect happy ever after.
May 24, 2020
This is more of a "warm fuzzy feeling" five stars than an "OMG BEST BOOK EVER" five stars... but it was just so tender and real. Everyone in this book is drawn so carefully, even the children (whom I usually find distracting), and they get treated just as carefully as they deserve. Lots of hard choices and healing, but also humor and heart. A great choice if you need to read something that restores your faith in people treating each other gently and kindly.
Really lovely.
Really lovely.
November 17, 2016
This one had me snurfling in places. Excellent read. I particularly liked that the heroine was in a wheelchair and Templeton didn't back off on that. She wasn't magically cured. But she had a great life anyway. Loved it.
April 1, 2018
4.5stars...really sweet read:-) love this series 'Wed in the West' by this author...heartwarming, feel good, the sense of community/belonging comes across so well....will definitely read other books in this series:-)
August 15, 2023
Light reading second chance at love feel-good romance series.
February 20, 2016
Back in the saddle is about second chances for both love and a normal life. Both main characters are living a half life at the beginning of the novel. Watching them both let go of the fear and pain of the past and to believe that are both worthy of love, in my opinion, is the theme of the novel.
The story starts out with Zach Talbot, the brother of Levi Talbot from 'A Solider’s Promise', and he is the father of two young boys. Zach has been suffering from the loss of his wife when she died a couple of years before the novel began. He is a single father who is not interested in a forever after relationship because of the pain he suffered. As a veterinarian, he meet a woman, Dorelle Keyes, and she is the mother of a famous Hollywood actress. Dorelle enlists Zach’s assistance to help her daughter, Mallory Keyes, find a horse for grandson, Landon. Zach does not make the connection on who Mallory is until they meet. Can Mallory help heal his broken heart?
Mallory moved to New Mexico with her mother to escape the paparazzi who have been following her unrelentingly since her injury. Mallory considers her New Mexico property as a vacation home and is staying there to give herself and her son, who is in California with his father and her ex-husband, a break from all the chaos that the media is causing in there lives. She survived a skiing accident that caused her paralysis from the waist down, which for the most part ended her acting career. Now living life as a paraplegic, she has adjusted to her situation and in many ways she is effected by the injury but she does not let it define her. Mallory is what we want our Hollywood heroes to be, in other words, unspoiled by success and down to earth. As the story unfolds you see the woman and her heart just as Zach does.
With a little help from family, the two keep running into each other and a strong connection develops between them. In Mallory's youth she was a Barrel racer and Zach helps Mallory get back part of herself that she lost by helping her to ride horses again. Mallory shows Zach that there is still life to live after tragedy. Overall, this is a well written, sweet, and romantic story and I highly recommend it!
The story starts out with Zach Talbot, the brother of Levi Talbot from 'A Solider’s Promise', and he is the father of two young boys. Zach has been suffering from the loss of his wife when she died a couple of years before the novel began. He is a single father who is not interested in a forever after relationship because of the pain he suffered. As a veterinarian, he meet a woman, Dorelle Keyes, and she is the mother of a famous Hollywood actress. Dorelle enlists Zach’s assistance to help her daughter, Mallory Keyes, find a horse for grandson, Landon. Zach does not make the connection on who Mallory is until they meet. Can Mallory help heal his broken heart?
Mallory moved to New Mexico with her mother to escape the paparazzi who have been following her unrelentingly since her injury. Mallory considers her New Mexico property as a vacation home and is staying there to give herself and her son, who is in California with his father and her ex-husband, a break from all the chaos that the media is causing in there lives. She survived a skiing accident that caused her paralysis from the waist down, which for the most part ended her acting career. Now living life as a paraplegic, she has adjusted to her situation and in many ways she is effected by the injury but she does not let it define her. Mallory is what we want our Hollywood heroes to be, in other words, unspoiled by success and down to earth. As the story unfolds you see the woman and her heart just as Zach does.
With a little help from family, the two keep running into each other and a strong connection develops between them. In Mallory's youth she was a Barrel racer and Zach helps Mallory get back part of herself that she lost by helping her to ride horses again. Mallory shows Zach that there is still life to live after tragedy. Overall, this is a well written, sweet, and romantic story and I highly recommend it!
February 20, 2016
4 1/2 STARS!
A great story that pulls at your heartstrings many times over. It was a pleasure to be thrust into the Talbot family once again as we learned Zach's story and saw Levi & Val continue their journey to wedded bliss. Zach & Mallory were simply magical together.
Mallory Keyes decides she just has to get away from the Hollywood lifestyle for awhile, so she buys a place in Whispering Pines, New Mexico. Her life changed years ago after an accident, and though she loves her son dearly, she needs some time away from the spotlight.
Zach Talbot is doing his best to hide away from anything more than doing his job as the town Veterinarian and raising his adorable sons. When he stumbles into a meeting with Mallory, not even realizing who she is at first, he feels drawn to her. She's a breath of fresh air with her down to earth take on life.
Will they decide to take the chance on the attraction building when they are around each other, or is each too scarred from the cards life has dealt them to move forward?
** Received free in exchange for an honest review **
A great story that pulls at your heartstrings many times over. It was a pleasure to be thrust into the Talbot family once again as we learned Zach's story and saw Levi & Val continue their journey to wedded bliss. Zach & Mallory were simply magical together.
Mallory Keyes decides she just has to get away from the Hollywood lifestyle for awhile, so she buys a place in Whispering Pines, New Mexico. Her life changed years ago after an accident, and though she loves her son dearly, she needs some time away from the spotlight.
Zach Talbot is doing his best to hide away from anything more than doing his job as the town Veterinarian and raising his adorable sons. When he stumbles into a meeting with Mallory, not even realizing who she is at first, he feels drawn to her. She's a breath of fresh air with her down to earth take on life.
Will they decide to take the chance on the attraction building when they are around each other, or is each too scarred from the cards life has dealt them to move forward?
** Received free in exchange for an honest review **
May 27, 2017
My review is at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books! http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/re...
March 2, 2016
I especially loved this book because I have a friend who is a paraplegic and as her friend, rode with her to learn how to drive with handsets for gas and brakes. I saw the same optimistic courage in Mallory. Nothing would stop Mallory from finishing what she starts, whether it is moving to New Mexico from LA or a fresh start to her life. She is a loving person and as you read, you see the deep love she feels for others, especially children. Her son helps her make the best decision of her life. The understanding of disabilities that Karen portrays in the book is remarkably authentic. Mallory and Zach both dive deep into their hurt feelings to discover who they really are. It is a romance that could be used for counseling. Pick it up for a quick read that inspires you to push past your own fears. Well written, with heart, Karen Templeton
February 21, 2016
Romances about characters with physical disabilities are becoming more common, to the point I was wondering what would make this author's book different from the rest. Should have known Karen Templeton would put her own trademark stamp on it. Family, realistic problems, healing from heartache, and complex characters. What makes this book different? Humor, an unexpected and truthfully depicted heroine and a caring hero in glasses. Sigh. When was the last time I read about a wonderful hero like this? Just a lovely story from beginning to end. Can't wait for the next in the series.
February 28, 2016
Back in the Saddle
Karen Templeton
Written beautifully with grace and compassion, but not pity Karen has given a story that shows Zach and Mallory having to face fears that have overwhelmed them. Death of a loved one and a debilitating injury keep them from being truly happy in their lives. Family and circumstances seem to be working to get them past their fears so they can have a HEA.
Once I started I had to keep reading to find out what was in store for Zach and Mallory.
Karen Templeton
Written beautifully with grace and compassion, but not pity Karen has given a story that shows Zach and Mallory having to face fears that have overwhelmed them. Death of a loved one and a debilitating injury keep them from being truly happy in their lives. Family and circumstances seem to be working to get them past their fears so they can have a HEA.
Once I started I had to keep reading to find out what was in store for Zach and Mallory.
Read
March 17, 2016"... hearts mend under the wide New Mexico sky in Templeton’s latest tearjerker. The dialogue, both conversational and comical, rocks. But it’s the poignant love story between the tenderhearted, grieving hero and the brave, disabled heroine that is exceptional" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Wed in the West
Miniseries: Wed in the West
April 14, 2016
Bumped this up a star as the heroine is disabled and permanently in a wheelchair.
This is only the second romance that I have read with that scenario.
A bit slow in middle but picks up and has a great last line to tie up the story.
This is only the second romance that I have read with that scenario.
A bit slow in middle but picks up and has a great last line to tie up the story.
September 20, 2016
I wish I could give this sweet romance more stars because it was written by a New Mexico author, is set in New Mexico, and features a heroine with a disability. Beyond that though, there just was not enough originality in the characters or plot to make it stand out.
February 26, 2016
4.5 Stars
So, so good! Characters that tug at your heartstrings and won't let get and a story that will stay with you for a long, long time. Excellent!
So, so good! Characters that tug at your heartstrings and won't let get and a story that will stay with you for a long, long time. Excellent!
Read
March 20, 2016DNF
This just wasn't working for me. I don't think I was in the mood for it., so it goes back on the TBR pile for the time being.
This just wasn't working for me. I don't think I was in the mood for it., so it goes back on the TBR pile for the time being.
Read
April 23, 2016This book did not work for me at any level. Clichéd uninteresting characters all way to good to be real.
April 14, 2018
Great story about a widower with two young children, a disabled divorcee with a child who is in Los Angeles with his father, and their conviction that they are meant to be single.
Or are they?
Or are they?
April 30, 2016
Quick, easy read with a twist. I really liked how caring and sensitive Zach was with his sons, Mallory, and Mallory's son Landon. Overall I'm glad I gave this book a chance.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews