Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage tells the story of Ada Hart, a strong and independent woman who has been through a lot in her life. After a failed marriage and struggling to make a name for herself as an interior designer, she finally lands a big project at one of the largest ranches in Wyoming. However, she never expected to come face to face with the handsome cowboy she met at a dive bar, who turns out to be her new boss. Ada is a strong and determined character who has worked hard to build a successful career for herself. Her interactions with Weston, her boss, are filled with chemistry and tension that kept me eagerly turning the pages. I loved how their relationship developed slowly and naturally, with both characters having to overcome their own personal struggles and insecurities. The setting of the book, a ranch in Wyoming, is beautifully described and adds to the overall charm of the story. What I appreciated about this book was how it tackled serious issues such as overcoming past trauma and learning to trust again. It added depth to the story and made the characters more relatable and likable. The chemistry between Ada and Weston is undeniable and their journey to finding love is both sweet and emotional. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written romance with strong and relatable characters.

I have not read anything by this author before, but I will definitely be looking out for their work in the future. I loved seeing the story unfold and seeing the characters grow.

Another fantastic cowboy romance set in the Rebel Blue ranch universe. All our favorites are back in this second book that features middle sibling, Wes, as he runs into Ada at the bar, has a hot kiss and doesn't realize she is the recently divorced out of town interior designer he hired to help him with his plans for a boutique guest cabin on the ranch.

Sizzling chemistry, great mental health rep (Wes has a history of depression and takes anti-depressant medication) and no third act break up made this book was a quick and VERY satisfying read.

It was also great on audio and highly recommended for fans of Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series or Kyla Grosse's Cowboys of Night Hawk series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: open door

Listen, 3.75 isn't bad. I feel like I loved Done and Dusted more. I really did enjoy Swift & Saddled. I felt like the story was a little rushed. Everyone loves a good short book, but in my opinion if this was 25-50pages longer, I feel like the story could be more fleshed out if that makes sense. This is honestly the only thing that is keeping me from rating it 4 stars.

I loved Wes! I loved him in Done & Dusted and this book made me love him even more. I felt like I could relate to him (well honestly, both characters haha). He's always putting everyone above him and for once he was able to put himself above others and make his dreams come true. The same can be said for Ada. She has a lot of character development in this book, overcoming her drama from a previous marriage. And I feel like she learned to communicate more in this book. However, with this being said I feel like their "conflict" was resolved too quickly, which again brings me back to how I felt like this book was rushed.

One of the things I really liked though was the fact that Ada didn't all of a sudden "change" and fall head over heels first when getting into a relationship with Wes. Of course, she was going to be a little cautious when it came to getting in another relationship after her husband left her and then sent over divorce papers. Wes was respectful in the fact that he just let her take it day by day and come to her own conclusions without pushing himself onto her.

Anyways, I will still be reading the third book. I read the snippet and already know I am going to be obsessed with Gus and Teddy

I am a bit obsessed with cowboys in romance and Lyla Sage writes them so well.

Wes and Ada had an instant attraction from their first meeting but had to hit the brakes when they realized Ada was the new interior designer hired by Wes.

Ada believes it’s best to keep their distance, especially since she is still feeling a bit guarded after her divorce. Wes likes everything about Ada, but he respects her boundaries.

While working together Wes and Ada’s attraction only grows stronger and slowly Wes starts breaking through her walls. He’s kind and patient and he makes her feel capable and worthy; something she never felt with her ex.

The sweet romance of Wes and Ada's love, the family dynamics within the story, and the happy ending, all made Swift and Saddled a delightfully charming read.

It was also nice to catch up with Luke and Emmy and the other potential future couples; I cannot wait to read Teddy’s story.

I wanna start off by saying thank you to Lyla Sage and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Swift and Saddled. This is my second ever ARC and first ever review. This was such a perfect book to pop my review cherry.

Ada knew Teddy (Clementine’s best friend) from college and when Ada started up her renovation business, Teddy suggested Ada’s services to Weston Ryder who wants to fix up the old house on his family’s ranch. Ada arrives in Meadowlark with a divorce under her belt along with insecurities that stem from her “failed relationship”. Her first night in town, Ada meets a handsome cowboy in a bar and they share THE kiss. Next day, she finds out that handsome cowboy is her boss.

I’ve been waiting for this book since June and it did not disappoint. I loved it so much. Ada and Wes’s relationship was everything I didn’t know I needed. They really understood each other and paired nicely together. I’m always a sucker for found family vibes and this book made me very happy on that front. Ada and Wes both had their insecurities and issues that were written and addressed very well. However, I wasn’t a fan of the ending. It didn’t really make sense with all the progress Ada had made. But nonetheless, Swift and Saddled was a 4.5 star read for sure.

LYLA SAGE HAS DONE IT AGAIN

Will never get over Wes

He was perfect

THE COVER IS SO CUTE
I will never get over
Done and Dusted was one of my favorites last year so I was super excited for this book. It did not disappoint

I loved Done and Dusted so I was super excited to read the sequel! This one started off good and I was hooked! I read it in one night.

I really liked Ada and Wes. I liked that he listened to her and taught her the skills she needed to feel comfortable. Also bonding over saving a baby calf? 100% perfect rancher romance bonding. I want to see it in every cowboy romance from now on.

I did have mixed feelings about Wes's depression diagnosis. Unlike Emmy's ADHD in the previous book I didn't really feel like it was particularly authentic representation. It felt a little more like Wes needed something to be vulnerable about and having a diagnosis did the trick. I do understand that he was in remission at the time of the story, but depression is a lot more than feeling sad and I don't think the story really captured that.

I also would have liked some more details about Ada's past and to learn more about why her ex left. I felt that story line was a little incomplete. I also was a little torn about her having a career that wouldn't work in his town.

Overall I really loved this book and would highly recommend it. I just had a few things that I wished were a little different so I could love it even more.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ - This book has several open door steamy scenes that are detailed.

Done and dusted was my gateway into cowboy romance. I don’t like country anything. But you best believe I am absolutely feral over these books.
Swift and saddled did not disappoint. Ada and Wes were absolute perfection. This book had:
⁃ city girl x country boy
⁃ He fell first
⁃ Hot cowboys- duh.
⁃ Black cat X golden retriever j
Lyla Sage has very quickly become a must read author, her books are absolute perfection down to the cover art (I mean look at it! It’s stunning).
Ada’s character is hugely relatable and honestly so is Wes. I loved the mental health representation here- I always love seeing it in books.
I have to commend the writing because this book had me kicking my feet and laughing out loud. Wes is an absolute gem and really dropped those swoony one liners on us. Meadowlark has very quickly become another home for me and I am not so patiently awaiting the next book :)

Many thanks to @thedialpress and @netgalley for my #gifted copies. Pub date 3/5/24.

Book 2 of the Rebel Blue Ranch series. Wes and Ada.

I read this book in less than 24 hours! I am totally obsessed with the Ryder family, and I just can't get enough of them. I loved everything about this book! I felt this one was a little deeper than book 1 because it deals with mental health and depression, and I thought Lyla did an amazing job incorporating that into the book. I loved how the whole Ryder family was in this book, especially Emmy and Luke! Ahhhh, I can't wait for book 3 LOST AND LASSOED, and it will be through Teddy's POV!!

Ada was briefly mentioned in book 1 that she would be the interior designer for the renovation Wes is doing of the old ranch house. When Ada arrives in town, she finds herself at the local dive bar, The Devil's Boot, but she has no idea what she is getting herself into. I definitely recommend this series, and Lyla's writing is just so amazing, and she makes me want to be part of the Ryder family!

Swift and saddled

It’s hard to not fall in love with the Rebel Blue Ranch. I was so excited to have been approved for an ARC. Wes’s character is one that intrigued me in book one. The fact that his character had so much depth was amazing. His struggle with depression is something that many people can relate to.

Ada was a spit fire. She went through a lot emotionally and needed the emotional support that the Ryders family was able to provide her. It was lovely to see her come into her self confidence.

I’m praying that two more couples get their own books in this series. So I’ll cross my fingers and hope for the best.

Ready to dive into a "golden retriever x black cat" story that will sweep you off your feet? Look no further than Lyla Sage's Swift & Saddled! This book is bursting with excitement and will keep you hooked from start to finish. I must say, when I first started reading, I was a little unsure if I would fall in love with the characters, but boy was I wrong! The banter between Wes and Ada had me laughing out loud, and Ada's relatable personality made me feel like I was right there with her. Here's my quick take:

Get ready to explore the breathtaking mountains of Meadowlark, Wyoming. Swift & Saddled follows Ada, a closed off interior designer fresh off a divorce, as she takes on a new project at Rebel Blue, a cattle ranch. On her first night, she meets a charming stranger, who also happens to be her boss! Weston Ryder has been working on creating a guest ranch out of his dad's childhood home, and Ada is there to help him bring his vision to life. As they work side by side, the sparks start to fly. But Ada's past relationship still haunts her, and she's not sure she's ready for something new. Can Weston win her over and show her that he's not like her ex?

Sage's writing is nothing short of captivating, and the chemistry between Ada and Weston is electric. Swift & Saddled is an emotional rollercoaster filled with heartbreak, hope, finding ones self and ultimately, love. You won't be able to put it down!

Wes and Ada… Where do I even start with these two? This book made me laugh, cry, cracked my heart open and then stitched it back up.

A girl walks into a small town dive bar.. No really. Ada isn’t looking for love.. She’s looking for a release and maybe to disappear a little. She almost gets it with a good looking cowboy before she’s interrupted by the bar’s owner. Oh, and did I mention this cowboy is her new boss that she’s come all the way to Meadowlark, Wyoming to work with? 🤠 #NewProjectComingSoon

“From the first time he looked at me until now, I felt Weston Ryder saw me, no matter how hard I tried to hide it.”

Ada is bold, fierce and yet so deep in her own head. Reading Ada’s character hit a little close to home. Wondering if you’re good enough.. if you’re worthy of being someone’s friend.. I felt all of her insecurities and I just wanted to wrap our little Black Cat in a hug and tell her she was more than enough.

“I see you, Ada. I always see you, even when you won’t look at me.”

Which is basically what our Golden Retriever, Wes Ryder did. The dimples, the patience.. did I mention the panty dropping dimples? I love a man that isn’t afraid to share his vulnerabilities and is authentic. Wes’s personality just hugs you like a perfectly worn pair of Wranglers, that you choose to wear above all your other pairs. And just MAYBE you choose to wear those without panties, because Wes… well, he’s something. 🥵

As usual, Lyla nailed it with her second installment in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. A story of finding yourself, falling love and the family we find along the way.

✨ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🌾 Small Town Romance
✨ He Cooks For Her
🌾 Mental Health Rep
✨ He Falls First
🌾 Found Family
✨ Interior Designer x Cowboy

Save a horse, ride a cowboy. I love me a cowboy romance and when I saw this follow-up to Done & Dusted, I hit request real quick. This book pairs a big city girl (Ada) who is running away from her problems with Wranglers wearing cowboy (Wes) who does things like save baby calves. The setting is Meadowlark, Wyoming and two strangers meet and make out in a bar only to meet again the next day and realize they will be working together. Yup- sold!

Ada was stubborn and layered and relatable and Wes was dream boyfriend material and the steam was just right. I loved the mental health rep in Wes- yes for male mental health being highlighted too- and how honest and direct he was. Ada's fears stemming from her past relationship were very relatable as well. I loved how they both supported each other in different ways and these two really felt like characters who would end up together. I also loved the side characters who will no doubt be getting their own books. For fans of the Chestnut Springs series or The Edens series. I highly recommend this one.

I also can't wait for Teddy and Gus's story which is the next book in the series (!!)

Lyla Sage does it again! This is the story of middle child Wes Ryder and Ada Hart, the interior designer for his guest house. Wes has always been the easy going and accommodating guy and Ada refuses to be held back by another relationship after a failed marriage. Trying to keep Wes at arm’s length is harder than Ada expects.
This is another fun read by Lyla Sage. The main characters are endearing and real and the whole Ryder family is adorable.

After reading thee highly anticipated first book in the series, I was so excited for this new edition of the Rebel Blue Ranch series. This is a strangers-to-lovers story that stems from a drunken kiss at a bar. Wes and Ada share an out-of-the-blue kiss after making eye contact for all of 5 seconds at the bar, and that's where a book-long tension begins. While I didn't care as much for this book, I still thought it was well written with some swoon-worthy moments added in at the perfect times to keep me interested.

Swift and Saddled, by Lyla Sage: What a treat to return to Rebel Blue Ranch in Meadowlark! In the follow-up to Done and Dusted, middle child Wes takes over the reins from his sister Emmy as the central character, and if the covers alone don't make you want to read this series, this close-knit family of Ryder siblings should!

Wes has felt unsure of his role in the family, knowing that his oldest brother will one day take over the ranch, but he dreams of converting the old "big house" on the property to a place where guests can come and get the ranch experience. Now that construction renovations are about to begin, he has hired Ada Hart, a renovations expert from California, to spend the next few months doing the work. Ada arrives from California with a beat-up car, an empty bank account, a lot of self-doubt from her divorce, and a lot of loneliness. With all that swirling in her head, Ada does something very out of character: she makes out with a stranger at a bar the night before she starts her new job…only to discover the next day that he is her new boss…Wes Ryder. She immediately draws a professional line in the sand. She's not making out with her boss (again). But Wes isn't what she expected. He is kind, considerate, and trusting of her vision. This pushes Ada closer and closer to the line she has drawn because Wes is a gentleman and won't cross it.

I enjoy this series and how Sage writes the insecurities of her characters. Ada grappling with how she was treated by her ex and Wes searching for his place were touching parts of the story. Additionally, Wes's openness about positively managing his depression is something that I think needs more representation in books. All of the characters from the first book are back in this forced proximity, workplace, cowboy romance that left me already looking forward to the next one.

Many thanks to @netgalley @authorlylasage and @thedialpress for the opportunity to read and provide my honest book review before publication on March 5, 2024.

A charming opposites attract romance!

I enjoyed Done & Dusted so I was excited to receive an early copy of Swift and Saddled from NetGalley.. Lyla Sage's sophomore romance is fun and spicy and an adorable romance story. Looking forward to the next book in the series which is a best friend's brother / enemies to lovers story !!

The cover drew me in and I was hooked right away. Love all the fun romance stories and this one did not disappoint. Thank you for my gifted copy.

Little cowboy romances just hit the spot. It was sweet but not too corny. I love the banter and the characters were adorable. It’s the type of book id gift a friend who also reads.