4 Stars I was so excited to get an advanced copy of Swift and Saddled after quickly finishing the first book in the series, Done and Dusted, on audiobook and loving it. For those who love small town, cowboy romances from authors like Elsie Silver and Ava Hunter, you will love the Ryder family and Blue Rebel Ranch!

A year after her divorce, city-girl Ada Hart is hired as the interior designer for the renovation of a forthcoming inn at Blue Rebel Ranch in small town Wyoming. Just after arriving in Meadowlark, Ada shares a kiss in a dive bar with a cowboy whose name she didn’t catch before running off. But low and behold, that cowboy turns out to be Weston “Wes” Ryder, the man who hired her for the job and her boss for the next few months. Wes is thrilled to see Ada again after their kiss, but less thrilled that she seems to want nothing more to do with him, even though they both feel the pull between them.

I really enjoyed that both Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled were fast paced, easy, low-angst reads. They are the perfect palate cleanser after reading a “heavier” novel. A delightful read that I definitely recommend!

One thing I loved about this book (and it was something I loved about Done and Dusted) is how relatable these characters are. Ada had insecurities I can completely understand and Wes is just so sweet and has his own struggles and I appreciate the way they’re talked about.

Both Ada and Wes had their own issues but neither one tried to “fix” the other. They let their friendship build and their relationship develop and they have such a genuine connection that I was rooting for them from the start. It’s insta-lusty but I do find it to be a more of a medium-burn romance, and they have a really good level of open communication which I love!

This book is just sweet, spicy and so much fun. I love the side characters, they don’t take away anything from the story they just add some fun banter and just make the vibe of the story much more fun.

I love this series so far and I’m very excited to see where it goes! And thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Lyla Sage for the ARC!

Modern day cowboy romance. Really sweet and short read. Great banter among characters. Can’t wait for Gus and Teddy!

𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐧. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐖𝐲𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?

Took the words right out of my mouth, Ada.

This book starts with a bang in a bar hallway, and thus I was hooked.

Ada Heart is our FMC, city girl interior designer down on her luck and looking at the Rebel Blue Ranch as her big break.

Weston (Wes) Ryder is the middle brother of our three Ryder siblings and the cinnamon roll to end all cinnamon rolls. Listen if you like your MMC's sweeeeet and empathetic and communicative and also possess a dirty mouth you need not look any further. I have found him. And he's perfection.

𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞.
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬.
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥.

Ada has been in a controlling former relationship and is still trying to trust people. All people. And always feels like no one is going to like her upon second thought. And she tends to run before she can be disappointed or let down.

Wes is solid. And good. And honestly she needed this adorable wonderful man to really allow her to trust that people can be good and have good intentions. He is her perfect match in that way.

𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞—𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞.

I really appreciated the mental health rep we get from Weston - diagnosed with depression and on medication he manages his depression the best he can. He's so precious that you can't imagine he hasn't found a nice girl in their town but the truth is he didn't want a nice girl. He wanted a girl with an edge. That challenges him and makes him feel alive.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝 𝐟*𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧.” ... 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲.”

I also appreciated that even though he's sweet, he's sexy as hell with a dirty mouth. Praise be.

“𝐅*𝐜𝐤,” 𝐈 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐀𝐝𝐚’𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧. “𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞, 𝐀𝐝𝐚.” 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝. “𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐩.”

Also massive props for the 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚 and the spicy epilogue. All hail the spicy epilogue!!

I absolutely LOVED and adored this book. All the stars. I swooned and teared up and I just couldn't put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I was super grateful to receive this arc!! I really enjoyed this just as much as the first one maybe more! Wes has my heart. I love a bad boy but a good boy just hits different. I love how patient Wes was with Ada. He cared so much for her. It was nice to read the sweet cowboy side most of the time they are grumpy, which I do enjoy but I really liked this. And the spice woah it was so good. I also like Lyla writing style as an author it’s very easy to fall into and I can’t wait for the next one!! 4.25/5 stars!!

I really had higher hopes for this one based off the first few chapters but it fell into the same lull like the first book and I found myself just losing interest. It took me a while to figure out what exactly it was that I wasn’t vibing with in these books and I think it comes down to the lack of character connection. Right from the get go we were supposed to feel the chemistry between Ada and Wes but I just didn’t feel it. It felt more like we were being told they had this crazy connection without it actually being there.

Overall it’s not a bad read, I’ll still give it 3 stars. But it’s missing that sparkle that would take it into that 4-5 star range for me.

DNF at 40%. I am interested in these characters but the story is incredibly boring. The book initially sucked me in but failed to keep my attention moving forward. Done and Dusted had the same issue (even though I do think that one was better). One thing that this book has going for it is the cover. So much better than other cowboy romances! Thank you to The Dial Press for and NetGalley for the E-ARC.

Picking up a Rebel Blue Ranch book is like being whisked away to charming Wyoming ranch and cuddled in the biggest group hug ever. This cast of characters is entirely charming, the romance sizzles, and the friendships will steal your heart. It’s no wonder Lyla has become an instant sensation!

Things I liked:
- The family and friendship dynamics between the Ryders and the other side characters
- The set up for potential couples in future books
- Mental health/ depression representation
- Ada’s relationship with other female character and her struggle feeling like she doesn’t fit in with female groups

Things I struggled with:
- Lack of a backstory with Ada’s ex husband. I felt like her trauma from that relationship was discussed a lot but what actually happened to cause that trauma wasn’t
- While I really appreciated the scene where Wes discussed his depression it felt like that was the only time it was acknowledged and then after that it was never mentioned again. It just didn’t feel realistic
- The romance felt very instalove
- The pacing was very strange. I think scenes that could have really added more to the story were over far too quickly and once we hit the 70% mark it started to feel a bit repetitive

Overall, while I did enjoy myself I was left wanting more from the characters and the development of the relationship.


Thank you to NetGalley, Lyla Sage, Dial Press, and Random House for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Lyla Sage, the publisher, and NetGalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Swift and Saddled follows FMC, Ada Hart, an interior designer who recently was divorced and feeling like she failed at life. Ada heads to Meadowlark, Wyoming to take on a big project. Ada runs into MMC, Weston Ryder, at a bar and has a steamy connection with him right off the bat. Ada and Wes hit it off, but when Ada starts her first day at her new project, the two cross paths once more- Wes hired Ada. The two have an undeniable connection, how long until they fold for one another?

Lyla Sage does not disappoint!! I adored this book. I love Ada and Wes so much. I liked this more than Done and Dusted, which is bonkers to me because I loved the first book so much! Weston is a golden retriever boyfriend and deserves so much love since he is always giving love to others no matter what!! Ada deserves so much love and I think Wes is the perfect person for her in that regard. The two love deeply and have so much chemistry, it is just chef’s kiss. The spice in this was really good. I didn’t feel like it was too much or too little. My cheeks hurt from smiling at their flirting, it was so good.

The topic of depression was touched on slightly and I do think it was well done. Lyla Sage did a good job at showing the impact depression has had on Weston’s character and showed that yes he has been depressed, BUT he is pushing through, seeking treatment, and working on his mental health. I thought the dialogue between Weston and Ada about depression was subtle but important, compassionate, and sweet. I think Ada showed Wes that he’s more than his depression and can and deserves to be loved.

I loved reading about Emmy and Luke’s relationship and seeing how they’ve grown together. I am so excited to have a book about Teddy and Gus!!! I can’t wait to read about those two!!

I love love love this series so far and Lyla Sage is now an auto buy author!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and getting an ARC was so exciting. I love me a good cowboy romance and this certainly delivered. I fell in love with Weston and Ada right away. The struggles that Ada was dealing with were so real. I wish that what Wes was doing through was touched on a little bit more. I loved seeing a male main character being opened and honest about mental health struggles and wish it was touched on more. Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend giving it a read when it comes out. If I had to pick my favorite between the two in the series so far I would say this one is my favorite!!

3.5 ⭐️

This was super fast paced and enjoyable- the beginning was kind of slow and cringy though, so it did take a while to get into. However, I really liked the calming western vibes of the whole book overall. (The smut was really good too 👀)

Is Western romance my new thing? After this one I think yes. It’s fun. It’s spicy. Evidently cowboys are the best. For a quick little read pick this one up.

I was surprised by this book! I had never read anything by Lyla Sage before and I promptly picked up the first book in this series, Done and Dusted, after finishing this one. I love when the man falls first and Wes was a great romantic lead. He respects Ada and her talents and gives her space when he thinks she needs it. Their love was healing!

I devoured this book. The mental health representation was simply perfect. Wes's struggles with depression felt very real, and Ada's empathy was everything. The romance had the best progression from strangers to lovers. I adored the first book in the series and I'm so happy that Lyla continues to write great cowboy romances. I am pumped for the next book in the series, and I hope for a fourth one.

Is there anything about Rebel Blue not to love!? Ada and Wes, goodness I just loved their story.

Ada's life had been rocky with a failed marriage and failed out of interior school. She had nobody but herself to dig her out of the hole she had fallen in. She trusted only herself and had walls built up keeping people from getting to close.
When she arrives to Meadowlark to start on the largest project of her career, she's found herself at a local dive bar exchanging glances with a sexy cowboy. Feeling bold, she leads him to the back of the bar where they exchange some heavy kissing she's only dreamed about. She thought she would never see him again, until the next morning when she realized he was her new boss.
Wes was happy to be starting his dream project at Rebel Blue Ranch. When the mysterious woman from the bar shows up as his new interior designer, he's ecstatic. When Ada lays it down she's only in town to complete her job and not be distracted, Wes doesn't go away.
Can Ada continue to push her feelings away or will Wes tear down her walls along with Rebel Blues?
Rebel Blue and the Ryder family has stolen my heart all over again. Loved everything about this novel!

4.5🌟
Wes and Ada🥹the absolute sweetest couple. I love the black cat x gold retriever trope and this was perfect!!! Once again I could not put this down—it was beautiful, entertaining, steamy but also full of emotion. I’m also so obsessed with the Ryder family and Rebel Blue Ranch—Lyla has me wanting to pack my bags and move to Meadowlark!
The little pieces of Emmy and Brooks too were amazing🫶🏻

Also…Teddy and Gus are next!!!! The way I’m so feral for their story I need it immediately!!! I have been eating up every little crumb she has given of them so far and the sneak peek chapter at the end!? I’m unwell. Counting down the days till Lost and Lassoed come out😍🩵

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage is book 2 in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. This spicy and sweet cowboy romance tells the story of Ada and Wes, seemingly polar opposites, but truly made for each other in all the ways that count. I loved Ada immediately. She’s fiery, funny, sarcastic, and creative. Her journey throughout this book added so much depth and relatability to her character. Watching her realize she is worthy of a good, kind, and healthy love made my heart melt.

And Wes. Sweet, sweet boy Wes. One of the most thoughtful, genuine, and gentle book boyfriends out there. He is THE standard. He will run into a raging storm to rescue and bottle feed a baby cow, and will also make you blush with the things that come out of his mouth. He felt like a safe place to land and I know he just gives the best hugs.

Ada and Wes crept up on me so beautifully and slowly. I absolutely adored their story and how Lyla depicted each of their individual struggles in a realistic way. I need more of them!

I was very excited to get an eARC for "Swift and Saddled" by Lyla Sage after devouring "Done and Dusted". The second book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series follows the middle child of the Ryder family, Wes as he embarks to make his own mark on the family ranch. As part of this new venture, Wes hires interior designer, Ada Hart, who is out to prove to herself that she can be successful and a fulfilled human on her own. Unbeknownst to them, Wes and Ana make out in the bar the night before meeting in-person to start work. Ada is insistent that this relationship remain professional and that she cannot jeopardize her new career, but how long can she resist kind, caring and sexy Wes Ryder. Can Ada and Wes be in a relationship while both holding on their individual dreams?

I enjoyed this fun and sweet story. I actually think I loved Wes and Ada more than Brooks and Emmy. They are both caring and communicative. However, I didn't feel any stakes in this story like I did in the first book. I love the Ryder family and their love for one another as well as all the supporting characters. I wish we got more from the Cam and Dustin story that was hinted at, maybe in the next book or maybe they get their own book eventually. I assumed this would be a trilogy, but why not make it a tetralogy. (I had to look that up. I had no idea what a 4 book series would be called).

"You are the moon. And I am the tides." <-- Insert me squealing. Swift and Saddled was the perfect follow-up book to Done and Dusted! Not everything was rainbow and sunshine, but I mean this in the best way. This couple felt REAL. They worked through their past demons together and complimented each other PERFECTLY. I binge-read this book in a day and was not ready for it to be over. I cannot wait to read more books from Lyla Sage! Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me this opportunity.