Saratoga Roan

by Bree M. Lewandowski

Five years is a long time to miss someone. When Cassandra's horse spooks during a routine training session and she falls, for a split second her life flashes before her eyes. And it's Rhett she sees. Her first love. Cassandra knows it's time to go back. She just hopes it's not too late to try again. With his brother and estranged, mentally ageing father coming to live with him, and a business to run, Rhett doesn't have time for the past. Which is a good thing because he left so much of his heart within those memories. So when he sees her again, it's a shock to his system. He's spent the last five years blaming her for the downfall of their relationship. But sometimes pride can keep you from getting what you really want. As past arguments resurface between them, Cassandra and Rhett discover a huge revelation that not all their disagreements were without reason. Some were medical. Can they start again or will Rhett's pride keep them apart?

146 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2021

About the author

Having lived all her life in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, author Bree M. Lewandowski incorporates all aspects of her life in her writing. A ballet dancer at a young age, continuing to teach ballet through her career as an author, she often turns to the tumultuous world of dance to find threads of a story. In love with classical literature, her writing not only pays homage to the style of writers like Dumas and Hugo, she also believes in creating main characters who are larger than life. Yet, struggles with body image, mental and emotional health, and the strained relationships so many have also play in and out of Lewandowski's writing. In the end, all these attributes combined, she loves to tell a love story.

Reviews

[Lorrene Huisman]

I truly loved this book and how much it pulled at my heart strings, it not only made me feel a lot of emotions, but got me thinking on my own personal life, sometimes you lose something dear, but does lightening strike in the same spot twice? If you lost something but that bolt of lightening hit again would you embrace it or this time truly lose it forever?

Cassandra and Rhett had a good relationship from what I understood of their past. Cassandra ended things, and may have basically hurt Rhett when he needed her the most out of anyone he knew. It seemed she had put his heart more into darkness than he already was. Years go by and a surprise meeting of them spending time together makes them re surface. Can years of hard feelings be put aside or will they truly consume anything they once had? In truth something I believe they both realized, just because something is lost maybe, just maybe its not truly gone forever?

There was so much to this amazing book aside from just Cassandra and Rhett's story. The characters surrounding them really brought everything going on to life in more ways than one! The story was real and so was all the emotional tolls of pain and sufferings, to happy and wonderful feelings, to tears I shed for the characters and how those characters affected others. The book was more than just a good read, it was a must read for me. I loved the work by this author how they completely sucked me in and made me feel well basically everything possible among these wonderful characters I read about!

All in all, this was an amazing book and I truly cherished every moment I read in this very engaging story. The author completely took my soul and made me on the same land as the characters I so very much connected with. It was beautiful from start to finish. I highly recommend reading this true treasure!

[Angela]

3.5 Stars

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski is a second chance contemporary romance, with angst, drama, family issues/drama, heartache, new beginnings, discovery, and revelations- in a small town setting.
Cassandra and Rhett have a past history that is coloured with heartache. But when Cassandra is forced to confront her past, she realises that she has never really gotten over her first love. Feeling it is time to take charge of the direction her life has taken, she returns with a hopeful heart.
Rhett feels the weight of responsibility pressing down on his shoulders, he has little time left for anything else, let alone the person who delivered such a huge dose of pain into his life. With his own family drama and business taking up most of his focus, he definitely wasn’t prepared for a blast from the past. Will Rhett set aside his pain and pride and give love a second chance? And what happens when everything finally comes to light?
Happy reading….

Thank you, Bree M. Lewandowski!

[Rainbow Unicorn]

I was needing a a short read, this write up attracted me, but, as is often the case with shorter books, this did not flow smoothly and in places felt disjointed.

[Cath]

The main characters in the story are Rhett and Cassandra, who were in a relationship some five years before and when he refused to further their relationship in a physical manner until she was twenty, not nineteen, she left him without a word, leaving him heartbroken and angry. He already had a father, Callum, who he butted heads with every day whilst working on the family ranch, with his older brother Tom unable to take over the mantle of running the ranch due to health issues, which their father refused to even take note of for years. Now, five years later, Tom’s wife has left him and he has moved back to the ranch to look after their father who now has dementia. Tom had been trying to cope on his own, but was struggling to look after their father, who was never an easy man to please and the dementia now makes everything so much more difficult to achieve, when their father, in his lucid moments, still believes he can run the ranch and ride the horses. Rhett runs the ranch with Matt, whilst Tom looks after their father in the main farmhouse, which Rhett had converted so they all had their own spaces, otherwise his father’s presence would be likely to send him mad. Their ranch is well-known for looking after and training horses and the stables are a main earner for their business, with ranch horse as well as private owners having their horses boarded there.
A new horse is arriving, from back east, but being delivered by a company who don’t take care of the horses well on the journey, and Rhett stops them as soon as they enter the yard. When he opens up the horse box, he recognises the horse straight away, it belongs to Cassandra and that means she must be coming back to the very place he tried to persuade her nineteen year old self, that she belonged and by his side! He doesn’t want to see her but knows he will have to. She has come back as she has inherited her aunt’s old home, but also because she finally realised that she loved him as much as he loved her back in the day. Now she needs to find out if he will allow her back into his life and his heart. This isn’t a simple romance that can be picked up upon, as there is a lot of painful memories for Rhett and Cassandra knows that she hurt him badly, never having understood why he always refused to be intimate with her and be her first! There are medical and psychological reasons behind his actions in the past and he isn’t sure that she will stick around once she finds out about them. The ending was a bit sudden for me after the reveal towards the finish, and I would have loved to see them get over the issue and what would happen to them next, in an epilogue perhaps. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Marissa]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski

3 out of 5 stars

A story of second chances. Cassandra Verlice ran from Rhett Farris five years ago. Cassandra isn’t really sure why she ran. All the reasons she had when she left didn’t make sense after her plane took off and she was on her way to a new life. When Cassandra received the call that an aunt she barely knew willed her a house practically in Rhett’s back yard, it didn’t matter. Cassandra was just going to walk away. A startling experience made Cassandra realize that all she wanted in her life was Rhett. If she went back, could she win him back? Would he even talk to her? Her plan was nearly perfect.

Rhett Farris’ life was in the process of major adjustment. His brother, Tom, had gotten downsized just days prior to his wife leaving him via email. Tom moved in with their father, whose diagnosis of dementia was becoming more apparent. When the senior community their father was living in got shut down, Rhett asked Tom and their father to move home. If that wasn’t enough, she sauntered back onto Rhett's ranch. Cassandra Verlise.

Rhett and Cassandra could have a second chance if Rhett is willing to forgive. Rhett and Tom could have a second chance if they can work together regarding their father. Rhett and his father could have a second chance at a relationship in the time that his father has left if Rhett can put old anger and hurt aside. Can Rhett capture any of these chances? Only one is answered. The others are left open for interpretation. I hope there is a sequel so that some of the questions can get answered!

[Jennifer]

This is an enjoyable and engaging contemporary romance with a second chance at love theme. Cassandra has a horse accident and her life literally flashes before her eyes and it’s the face of Rhett, her first loves that she sees. Their relationship ended badly five years ago and they have not seen each other since, but Cassandra hopes it’s not too late to try again. However, Rhett who was left in the small town they both grew up in when Cassandra left, still blames her for the end of their relationship, and for breaking his heart. Rhett has his hands full with a business to run, a mentally ageing father to care for and an estranged brother so the last thing he needs is a reminder of his painful past.
So when Cassandra turns up and makes it clear that she has returned for him, Rhett has to rethink what he really wants and stop his pride from keeping them apart. When old disagreements and arguments resurface the couple discover a major revelation, that some of their problems were actually medical. This is a heartwarming and at times heartbreaking story which had me hooked from start to finish. The main characters, Cassandra and Rhett are both likeable and relatable and I liked how their relationship developed throughout the story. I was cheering them on and hoping that they would get their happy ever after.

[Liz]

Oh my this was so, so, so, good! I really enjoy just about everything that I have read from Ms. Lewandowski so when I saw the gorgeous teasers from Saratoga Roan on my feed I knew without a doubt that I needed this story in my life ASAP, so I one-clicked and dove right on it without a single hesitation. I was instantly swept away by this second chance love story and very real and raw portrayal of what it is like to live and survive the trials of watching someone we love and care for deteriorate before our eyes as well. Almost a reverse love story as well. As children we grow up and with a veil over our eyes shielding us from the pain that will come when our parents will inevitably be older and someday no longer be who they once were. In this case we see Rhett’s struggle with his father and Alzheimer's, a devastating condition that had to be difficult to write about but Lewandowski did with such grace and a passion that was evident with every word. I was numbed with sadness and yet soothed with the romance that was at play too. This is a book that you don’t want to miss and one that I would be happy to re-read for sure. I can’t wait to see what will come next from Bree M. Lewandowski!

[Bobbi Wagner]

This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites by her. This is a second chance romance story that is written with a lot of heart and soul. I enjoyed being pulled into the story by the characters and the emotional roller coaster they took me on. I also enjoyed how connectable they are and how they kept the story engaging. This is a fast paced story that kept me turning pages to the end. Cassandra falls off her horse, knocking her head. The site that flashes before her is her first love Rhett. She realizes it's time to go back to see if there is any chance for them left. When he sees her, he is surprised. Will the same things that kept them apart, keep them apart still? Will they get a second chance or will pride step in and take over? I enjoyed their chemistry together as well as their growth throughout the story. I found myself hoping they would get back together. You will have to read this book to find out which I highly recommend. This is worth the pick up for sure!

[Cindy]

Saratoga Roan
By Bree M. Lewandowski
☆☆☆☆☆
This is a full length ranch style romance. Complete with cowboys and horses. Families and those that drama have touched. Read how Rhett keeps the ranch alive, takes his brother and estranged ill father in. After making the necessary changes to accommodate his father. Rhett has some pretty hard trials to get through, but can it do it? Let's not forget the beautiful Cassandra, the one that hurt him, well she is back as well. So read on to see if things will heat up or cool down for this couple.
Bree M. Lewandowski is to thank for this contemporary romance. I love how this story quickly became a page turner. I could not put it down. Rhett and Cassandra play their part well in this story. The whole list of characters brings Saratoga Roan to life. The book was easy to follow, leaving your focus on the main characters. I look forward to the next Second Chance Romance. Well Done Bree M. Lewandowski! Well Done!

[Kerry carr]

This was a beautiful romance. It was heartbreaking in parts and the anger that is between Rhett and Cassandra at the start really hurts. But you can feel feel characters grown through this book and as they mature they realise that things aren't always what the seem.

Cassandra and Rhett dated year ago but after several attempts by Cassandra to take their relationship physical and Rhett pulling back all the time she got annoyed and left.
Why if he claims to love her won't he show it?

Fast forward and Rhett is now running his father's stables and Cassandra returns determined to make Rhett hers and get the man back she loves.
However things are that simple and something that plagues Rhett could derail their relationship again.
Will they work it out this time? Or will one of them run away again?.

[Tausha Treadway]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski. I loved this book. Its the story of Cassandra who broke up with Rhett 5 years ago. She didn't handle it very well at all and Rhett was in a bad place when she did it. Now 5 years later she is walking back into his life like nothing ever happened. Rhett is trying to take care of his father who has Alzheimer's which is very trying on all involved. Cassandra is having to face her past and trying to make things right with Rhett all at the same time. She is somewhat overwhelmed. Rhett is dealing with his dad and this horrible disease while trying to see if he can trust Cassandra again. Can he forgive her for leaving him before and trust she won't do it again? This book had me all up in my feels. I was up late in the night flipping the pages! Loved this book so much!

[Debi]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski

5 Stars

This is my second book by this author and I stayed up too late finishing it, then trying to figure out the words to use to explain why it was I loved this book so much. It was a short read that I thought I could go to bed, get it started then finish today, but no, I read the whole thing. I love that although it was short, it was full of content. It was meat and potatoes and no spice and I couldn't put it down. You expect a short story like this to be an instant love story without a lot of bulk to it. This story had a rich storyline that moved quickly yet had so much going on with the ranch, the horses, the characters, the connections (both good, bad, and sad) and I appreciated that. I truly did not want the story to end and still hope there's more to come for all of these characters. I truly loved it and highly recommend!

[Nakyshia Leger]

Saratoga Roan is a sweet story about the reuniting of Cassandra and Rhett. Cassandra needed to board her horse and Rhett’s place was the perfect scene, and also the perfect chance to try to win him back. Their breakup five years earlier was explosive, but there were secrets both Cassandra and Rhett hid from one another. They now have to explore their true feelings, do some soul searching, and come to terms with the parts of their past that led them to where they are. This book reads so smoothly, it didn’t take long to get through it. Cassandra and Rhett are complex characters with complex pasts. They draw you in and make you instantly love them. Bree M. Lewandowski has created the perfect feel good story for anyone who loves a little drama and some sweet romance.

[Lisa]

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. We are getting to know Rhett, his family and his ranch. I really enjoyed that. We also get to learn why Cassandra returned. The second half got wonky for me. There are random words and thoughts running through their heads. Particularly Rhetts. At times I didn’t know what he was talking or thinking about. I tried rereading slowly, going back a page but nothing gave me a clue. Eventually I just called it a kerfluffle and passed it by to keep reading. The ending made me feel incomplete.

I loved the idea of this story. There is ranch/ horse work, family disputes, ana a couple that everyone is rooting for them to be together. As I said..I really liked this (other than issues above).

[Mrs Lopez Overbooked]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski is a country romance about two young lovers who ended up going through some trials and tribulations. Cassandra caused plenty of heartache when going halfway across the country from Wyoming to New York to Rhett because he was not giving her the love and affection she was wanting. But, one horse brings Cassandra and Rhett back together when she is needing to board her when deciding to move back to Wyoming and trying to to start again with Rhett. Can the heartfelt lovers rekindle their love from 5 years ago? Or will they go their separate ways? I enjoyed this world world wind fast paced romance. It gave me a Beth Dutton and Rip Yellowstone vibe. I truly hope there is a sequel to find out what happens next with them.

[Karen Marsh]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski was a sweet story. While it is a different type of love story than I normally like, it was still pretty good. It was a mature love story with a back and forth of paces that threw me for a loop. If you enjoy a mature love story with great descriptions, 10/10 would recommend it!

Following Cassie and Rhett was a whirlwind of people with a little bit of a mystery. Putting together their history as readers snatch up bits of information that she leaves for us was a lot of fun! As a reader you normally get it all at once or make it up yourself in a love story. The description of the places, people, and horses is beautiful, I wish we had that for emotions too though.

[Stephanie]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski is one of the best romances that I have read in a long time. Ms. Lewandowski’s characters are amazing from the rugged, handsome, over protective cowboy to the seductive, feisty, and demanding cowgirl he loves. It’s been a long time since Rhett has seen Casandra will Cassandra be able to convince him that she’s different then she used to be? Or will Rhett keep his distance and shun her? But what really set this apart for me was the horse ranch, and her use of descriptive details for all of the horses. Personally I love romance stories but throw horses in and that just makes it that much better for me. So if your looking for a great quick weekend read then I highly recommend Saratoga Roan.

[Anantha Rusum]

This is a book of second chances, a contemporary romance which celebrates growth, love and loss in a relationship. After 5 years of break up, Cassandra and Rhett come face to face with each other, Cassandra wanting to give it a second shot and Rhett blaming her for breaking the relationship. Rhett has too much on his hands and the hurt and anger he feels towards her is understandable. How the two characters mature, understand each other and let the hard feelings go forms the central piece of this beautiful romance. I especially liked the way the two lead characters are portrayed, their hurt, their anguish and eventually the growth. It is a gradual process.
I enjoyed this romance, it was a good read.

[ReneeReads]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski starts off slow but builds up steam. There is so much detail written into the storyline I feel like I know what it is like to work on a horse ranch in Wyoming. The emotions of Rhett and Cassandra come across so strongly that I could feel myself getting frustrated or yearning for something to happen just like the characters were. This book does a wonderful job illustrating that things are not always what they seem. This felt like the beginning of a story that needs a series to continue expanding on all of the different characters and their relationship to one another.

[Amy Hannagan]

Usually second chance romances aren't my thing, but I gave this one a chance as the author has such a deft way with words and always weaves lovely tales. I'm so happy that I did. This is such a well-rounded story that follows a family dynamic that is far from perfect, brings back a lost love who was too young to know what she had, and a working horse ranch that demands constant attention. The characters practically leap off the page with their raw emotions and realistic responses to real life problems. This is a short read, but so worth the time. I found myself laughing and crying.

[Kerry Baker]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski is an enjoyable second chance romance. I found this book to be quite a quick and easy read, perfect for getting lost in on a lazy afternoon. The characters are relatable which makes them easy to connect with. I wanted to find out more about them and see how things would turn out.
I thought the author did a great job of creating an easy flow to the book. It was paced well and pushed forward in all the right places. This is a well written romance story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Lucy Vincent]

There is NOTHING like a story with romance, horses, and healing in it. Saratoga Roan is one of the best ranching stories I’ve ever read, and if you enjoy Amanda Cabot’s Texas Dreams books, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too! Rhett is a hard-working man keeping the family horse ranch running, when out of the blue, his first love returns to the ranch. Cassandra, hoping to re-spark the relationship, wonders if it might be too late. With a medical complication thrown in the mix, who knows how their story will unfold?

[Mikaela]

Lewandowski brought a wonderful novel to us with Saratoga Roan. Not only was I reflecting inward with the family troubles described, I was passionately routing for Rhett and Cassandra the whole time. The writing was beautiful and made me miss the farm I grew up visiting. This is a great book that describes the triumph and difficulties that many of us face in real life, without feeling phony or fake. I felt like I was reading a recounting of a friend throughout the duration of this book. An excellent read that makes your heart warm.

[Tanya]

She falls off her horse and her life flashes before her and she knows she needs to repair things from the past. His life is full with everything so the last thing he expects is to see her again. He has kept his heart in the past when she left. What will she say to him? Will the problems of the past affect them now? Is the damage done too much to overcome? See if they will sort it all out

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenni]

3.5 stars

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowksi is a western second chance romance story. It is a push and pull storyline as they both come together again for the first time in five years. Can they overcome their past and move forward or will the pain be too much and keep them apart? This is a short very quick and easy read. I enjoyed seeing their relationship reignite, as well as the drama that comes with leaving behind a first love.

[Felicia Bates]

Saratoga Roan
Bree M. Lewandowsky
4 out of 5 stars

I don’t read a lot of second chance romances but I was really drawn to Saratoga Roan by the synopsis. I quickly found myself pulled into the storyline and felt the attention to detail was rich and vivid.The characters were relatable and likable and the storyline flowed very smoothly. This short romance was the first I’ve read by Bree M. Lewandowksy but I look forward to seeing what
some of her other writing has to offer in the future.

[Jeanne Richardson]

I've read several books written by Bree M. Lew; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

She has done a good job at writing a good second romance story. Cassandra & Rhett have been apart for five years but as soon as they see each other they both realize they’ve never stop loving each other.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sunday]

Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski
Four Stars

Saratoga Roan is a second chance romance by Bree M. Lewandowski. This is not the first book I have read by this author, but it is my new favorite. I like shorter romances lately, because my reading time has become limited. This story sucked me right in from the beginning. The characters were very detailed, and the author has a way of describing the scene where I felt I was right therein the story. This is a great story that I highly recommend.

[Marichus Real]

I don’t know what to say about this book. I found it dense, and the first part was difficult to read for me. Rhett was full of anger with his father, his brother and Cassandra. He just stays fine with the horses.
I’m sorry but I couldn’t see the sense of this story, but I’m sure other readers would probably like the book. 2 stars and a half.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara]

Five years ago Cassandra Verlice walked away from Rhett Farris after a heated argument and she is now back. There is so much tension, angst, drama, family issues, heartache, revelations, and romance. I found the story to be well written and well worth reading. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.