my oh my miss lyla sage really outdid herself with this one!!! there’s just something about reading her books that makes me feel like i’m actually THERE breathing in that fresh Wyoming air— driving with the windows down, wind in my hair, and a sweet talkin’ cowboy (teaching me how to drive stick) by my side😉 so naturally i was THRILLED to be back in Meadowlark to fully immerse myself in wes & ada’s story… and never ever wanted to leave!

tropes:
- black cat x golden retriever
- city girl x cowboy (chaps included)
- he falls first
- mental health rep
- insta-lust turned sweet slow burn
- he calls her sweetheart
- he references “how to lose a guy in 10 days”
- he’s a consent king
- found family

from the moment wes & ada met, i knew (just as much as wes) that i was an absolute goner. their relationship may have had a quick, steamy start, but it progressed in a very natural, authentic way and truly felt like a warm hug. their physical and emotional connection was undeniable but i also felt deeply connected to both of them individually as characters. wes may seem like a “happy go lucky” kind of guy on the outside, but deep down he battles with depression in his everyday life. i felt that his mental health rep was handled with care and presented in a very realistic and relatable way that i haven’t seen in other books before. ada battled with her own insecurities and sense of belonging which made her fearful of building a new relationship with wes and the rest of the rebel blue ranch family. i related to her a lot as it often takes time for me to let many people in and feel comfortable enough to be my truest self around them. even though cowboy weston ryder fell head over boots first, he continued to hold space for ada to tear those walls down and open herself up to his family and to their love in her own time. i respected the heck out of him for it!!! this man just kept showing up, never gave up, and continued to be gentle and patient with her every step of the way.

wes & ada’s chemistry flew off the page and their instant attraction that bloomed into a sweet, slow burn had me giggling and kicking my feet more times than i’d like to admit. this man was DOWN BAD for her yet you knew ada was just as (if not more) smitten. i mean— who wouldn’t be obsessed with this wholesome, caring, big-hearted cowboy wearing chaps??? wes also just so happened to be a consent king and therefore the epitome of ✨in a world of boys, he’s a gentleman✨ so take that as you will… but don’t let it fool you into thinking this sweet cowboy doesn’t have a filthy mouth!!! when it finally hit, the spice was SPICING and did not disappoint one bit (“hands on the mirror, sweetheart”, “tell me what you like”, “leave the cowboy hat on” 😏😏😏). trust me when i say it’s well worth the wait. absolutely SWOON-WORTHY.

i simply refuse to get over them any time soon. their soft and quiet love is all i could ever hope for and more!!! it was an absolute JOY to continue this series and i cannot wait for all of my fellow yeehaw romance lovers to saddle up & enjoy the ride too!!!

a huge thank you to random house group (the dial press) & lyla sage for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

theme song: joy of my life - chris stapleton

fave quote(s): nope there’s no way i’m just choosing one!!!

“this man was on his knees and looking up at me like i was the most precious thing in the world.”

“god, he was so gentle— so comforting. he talked to me the way people talk to plants when they want them to grow.”

“you’re the moon. and i’m the tides. you pull me in without even trying, and i come to you willingly. i always will.”

“i would never have to wonder what it was like to be loved, because Weston Ryder would love me all the way.”

The story was just ok. The characters felt a bit underdeveloped and the plot line was weak. I also disliked the author’s use of Taylor Swift… basically insinuating if you don’t like her .. you are misogynistic… meh

My goodness, I adored this book 🥹

Wes might be one of my new fav characters. I adored the differences between Wes and Ada, and how they complemented each other so well.

Swift & Saddled features:
🤠 Cowboy hero
🛋️ Interior designer heroine
🩵 Depression rep
🥰 So much swoon
💕 Forced proximity
⛰️ A beautiful small-town setting
😊 Found family

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am SO excited for Teddy and Gus’ book 😍

Swift and Saddled by @authorlylasage ARC review for
book 2, after Done and Dusted but can be read as a standalone.

Visiting Rebel Blue again was so much fun. Weston and Ada were a perfect opposites attract, workplace, cowboy romance.

If you like home improvement DIY shows, cowboys and mental health rep you’ll love this one!

Wes hires Ada to help remodel the original ranch house on his family’s property. He’s a classic middle child and feels the immediate connection to Ada- even with her rough exterior and protective walls she has surrounding her after a rough divorce. He can’t stop thinking about her.

Ada is career driven and only trusts herself.

The project is a dream for both of them, Wes wants something of his own on the ranch, Ada knows this project will completely change her career.

I loved this reverse grumpy sunshine cowboy romance. DIY projects, found family, baby cows and 🤠🌶️🥵

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I actually liked this one better than the first 🫶🏻

Lyla Sage does it again. I can’t say enough good things about this series and this book. Wes and Ada are everything❤️
5/5

4.25 ⭐️

I’m going to be honest. I wasn’t very excited about the second book in this series. I loved Done and Dusted and I really wanted Gus’ story, so when I found out it was Wes’, I was disappointed.

However, I instantly fell in love with Wes’ my word the mouth on that man and the things he did for Ada. The literal space he gave her and the boundaries he stuck to even though he didn’t want to. That is a green flag man. Even telling her he would wait for her to be ready. The discussion of depression and how it impacts parts of your life was well written. It wasn’t very in your face, but it gave you a connection and understanding.

I feel the book was well written at a great pace. I didn’t get bored and rarely skimmed pages. If I skimmed, it was because I was eager to get to the interactions between Wes and Ada, not because I wasn’t enjoying the story. The author did a really great job keeping the side characters involved in the story, so you still got to see Emmy and Brooks AND you get the intrigue of Teddy and Gus’ relationship for the next story.

If you love a small town, cowboy romance, I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the arc. This will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon on 3/6/24

This book felt like a warm hug! 🥰
It gave me all the coziness vibes!!!
Like you’re reading right next to a fire place!

I don’t think I could love Wes more 🥹
The sweetest hero! He owns my heart 🫶🏼
Lyla called him a simp and she was not lying!!!!! His inner thoughts about Ava had me in a PUDDLE 🫠

Swift & Saddled is a top read of 2024 so far 🧡

I’m so proud of Lyla!
This series is getting better and better!!!

“You say you’re not nice, or warm or bright or any of those other stupid words to describe the sun. I would rather have the moon anyway.” 🌙✨

I wasn’t as invested in Wes & Ada right off the bat like I was with Emmy & Luke but that didn’t last very long. 🥺 These two are just so precious and perfect together (Loretta & Waylon too) - now I’m not sure which book in the series is my favorite. This book is just sweeter than a slice of Wes’ favorite pie. 😉

There are books and characters that you love and enjoy but then there are characters that authors have somehow, someway sprinkled pieces of your own soul into without ever meeting you. Wes being the sun to Ada’s moon like my fiancé being the sun to my moon.

“I was the moon, and the moon couldn’t glow without the sun.”

I had the best time devouring this book and can’t WAIT to come back to Rebel Blue Ranch in the next one. 🩵

This was so sweet and wholesome. This whole book felt like a warm hug!
I absolutely ate up the first half of this book and then had to go to sleep and work and then devoured the second half of the book! This is definitely a fast paced read that makes you want to read the whole thing in one sitting.

I loved seeing Wes and Ada’s relationship form over the course of the book. I love how in the end, Wes has accepted Ada for who she is and gives her the support she needs rather than trying to change her! I feel like some books have the tendency to force independent/ traumatized FMCs into becoming a stable person, when that will realistically take time in a relationship that has lasted more than 2 months.

The found family aspect of this book is perfection and the Ryder say really solidified it for me! I loved all the cameos of different people and how their relationships with Ada allowed her to accept her personality and love from others.

I can’t wait to see what comes next!

thank you to netgalley and the dial press for gifting me with an advanced reader copy~

happy publishing day swift & saddled!!!

Lyla sage has absolutely killed it with her new release. Swift & saddled is the perfect continuation of the rebel blue series!

S&S centers around Wes and Ada, meadowlark local “nice guy” and our new-to-town interior designer. Wes and Ada are the perfect example of golden retriever boyfriend and black cat girlfriend and I ATE IT UP.

The opening chapter of this book sucked me in write from the start! Lyla is truly so gifted at writing tension and scenes that have me giggling and kicking my feet! her writing is so easy to read and truly hard to put down.

the romance in S&S is seriously so sweet and wholesome. You’re rooting for them the whole time and even the major conflict was tender.

I for one cannot wait to see what else Lyla writes and I SERIOUSLY cannot wait for book 3

i finally get to yee the loudest haw that has ever been hawed about this sweet cowboy romance.
lyla sage has somehow crawled into my brain and has lovingly said arms up baby while she put on the coziest sweatshirt over my brain with this one. coming back to rebel blue ranch gives me such comfort.
we follow ada as she takes on a new renovation project in hopes of finding a new start. and who is the handsome stranger she makes out with at the bar? her new boss and head of the project at rebel blue ranch - wes ryder. wes and ada could not seem like more opposites - wes is a sweet cowboy, always ready to help. ada is a city girl who keeps to herself. but as they renovate baby blue, wr get to see how deeply they feel not only their own emotions, but for the people in their lives and for each other.
i could write a million sonnets for these two. they need to be protected at all costs. especially wes. omg. this man could full on disrespect me if he wanted to, but of course he would never because he's a true prince. AND LET ME JUST SAY that man... he knows what's up. he was written with such care and love. i love him so much.
i really feel like this book was just so... intimate. in the best way, i cannot say enough good things about this book. there was such care and love poured into the story and into the characters. and let me just say lyla including conversation about antidepressants and arousal was so refreshing and i have NO CHOICE but to respect and bow down. plz pick this up.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for my arc of Swift and Saddled!

I’ve learned two things after reading this book:

1. Give me all the cowboy romance books, stat.
2. A trip to Wyoming is now on my bucket list.

This book was so cute, so heartfelt and felt like a warm hug. I loved the dynamic between Ada and Wes. She was so determined to fight every instinct when it came to letting herself believe in things again and Wes was there to slowly break down her walls.

I loved that Ada wasn’t into “typical” girl things, she reminded me a little of myself.
Wes was so gentle and caring, but also a rugged cowboy. I loved that he could be both.

I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Ryder’s and I hope it involves a certain grumpy older brother and Ada’s best friend 👀👀
Also need more on Dusty and Cam ASAP. The tension between them, phew.

Brb, going to order my hubby a cowboy hat.

After devouring Done and Dusted earlier in the day, I immediately dove into this one. I love all the characters on the ranch, and this installment did not let me down.

Wes is renovating his father’s childhood home on the ranch, and Ada has been tasked with designing everything. Ada is jaded from her divorce, but of course that doesn’t stop her from falling with the oh so lovable Wes. Cue a bit of angst along the way and we have a wonderful story. I’m so excited for Gus and Teddy’s book later this year!

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

A big thank you to Lyla Sage, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Swift and Saddled is out and ready to be enjoyed!!

After her debut novel Done and Dusted Lyla Sage has done it again with Swift and Saddled, which is the second in this interconnected standalone series. I read this book in one sitting because it was painful to stop reading and in that time, I absolutely fell in love with Ada and Weston. Ada was feisty, independent, sweet and smart. Weston was a cinnamon roll. The two together had such a comforting and romantic relationship, one that I also felt was very relatable. I LOVED the found family in this book. Anyone looking for a small-town cowboy romance, please please please go read Swift and Saddled!!!

I have officially entered my cowboy era! I can’t believe it has taken me this long to discover Lyla Sage.

I loved Swift and Saddled! I thought the character development was really well done and liked how open and honest Wes and Ada were with one another. The discussions around mental health and past relationship trauma were handled with sensitivity and felt authentic to the characters and plot. I’m still swooning over all mentions of Wes’ white t-shirt and jeans, and that baby cow rescue!

Swift and Saddled can be enjoyed as a standalone but if you’ve already read book one in the series, Done and Dusted, you’ll have some updates on your favourite couple.

Read if you love:
🤠 Forced proximity
🤠Forearm pørn and confident stick shift drivers
🤠 Found family
🤠 Small town romance
🤠 Instant attraction but slow burn
🤠 Consent king

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Lyla Sage for a review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

Was this book as good as the previous book in the series Done and Dusted? YES! Oh my goodness was this book amazing! Lyla Sage makes you laugh, cry, scream, and swoon all in one book again! Are there any more Ryder family members that would be willing to take me? I want to be a part of this family so bad!

The romance in this book was top notch. It was all about not only finding your family and falling in love, but also falling in love with yourself. I adored Wes and Ada as individuals but I also adored them as a couple. They both had so much growth and they pushed each other to be the best version of them selves.

Wes, you win for communication skills! OMG I loved how he communicated how we was feeling every step of the way, even when Ada wasn't ready to hear what he had to say. i loved how real and relatable his struggled with depression was and how it was part of him.

Ada, you were such a complicated character and I loved reading about your growth. You find it hard to trust people and a bit hesitant in love, but you grew so much over the course of this book. I loved how your love story with Wes was so vulnerable

This was my favorite quote from the book that had me swooning, "You say you're not nice, or warm, or bright, or any of these other stupid fucking words that people use to describe the sun, but I never asked you to be the sun ..... I would rather have the moon anyway.... You're the moon.... and I'm the tides. You pull me in without even trying, and I come to you willingly. I always will"

Thank you to NetGally, Layla Sage, and Random House Publishing Group for this amazing ARC!

First of all, I would like to announce that this is my first cowboy romance and I am in love with them now.

I went into it with no expectations whatsoever but I was hoping for a nice palate cleanser from the fantasy I've been reading non-stop. Swift and Saddled delivered!

This book was set on a family ranch in Wyoming and follows Ada and Wes in dual POVs. I love a good dual POV. Anyway, Ada is a designer who is going through some pretty sad self-image and confidence issues from her past relationship. Wes is a born-and-raised cowboy who is trying to manage his depression while trying to find where he fits in with his family. I saw some parts of myself in Ada's character, her fear of getting too attached to people because of her previous experiences of being left when she least expected to be. Her walls were up but that didn't scare Wes away at all, and we love a loyal man. Wes truly knew how to talk to her and reassure her that he wasn't going anywhere. He loved her because of who she was, not in spite of it. (a summary of a quote from the book) his family was also so welcoming and i loved the found family that developed in this book!
and hey there were also some Heartland references, and c'mon, Wes feeding the baby cow just- that was perfect. There were so many moments where I was giggling and I had such a fun time reading!

The only thing I have to say is that I personally feel like this book could have been a bit longer, just to make the relationship feel more emotional and less physical. I just found it strange how Wes instantly was in love with her. I would have loved some more time building the relationship, just more small moments.
overall, I am 100% going to add this book to the ones I recommend to people.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Lyla and Random House for the arc!

my first arc!

This was the test thing I’ve ever read. I DEVOURED it. I saw so much of myself in Ada, and I don’t get that often in contemporary romances. Wes and Ada give major golden retriever/black cat energy and I loved reading a FMC that wasn’t the typical bubbly optimist with a ton of friends. I felt so seen.

I love Lyla Sage’s writing. Wes and Ada’s relationship felt so real and relatable. Their growth as a couple felt so organic and natural. The pacing and premise was fantastic, it kept me engaged an wanting to “just one more chapter” every time. I giggled and kicked me feet the entire book.

READ THIS SERIES if you love small towns, hot cowboys, strong women and the best vibes.

I can honestly say that I have never felt more seen than I did reading this book. Between Ada having a hard time making friends, feeling like she fit in anywhere and Wes having depression this book just hit home for me. I loved Done and Dusted but I actually think this one may have been even better!

3.75 ⭐️

We meet Ada who’s on her way to Rebel Blues ranch in Wyoming to start her new job a helping design a guest ranch house for the Ryder family. Once she gets into town she meets a mysterious cowboy in the only dive bar in town. Getting caught making out with the mysterious cowboy is one thing, but what going to happen when Ada realizes he the man she will be working with for months to come (Wes Ryder)? What happens when Wes discovers the beautiful woman in the bar is his new designer?

You’ll have to read to find out.

I absolutely loved this!!!!! I just love a golden retriever cowboy! They both had their own issues which helped them understand each other. The connection!! Wes is so swoon worthy! Amos Ryder is the perfect meddling father and we love him for it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC