This book was cute and kept me mostly entertained for the majority of the story. I liked the MMC and the dynamic that he had with his family. The main character's inner dialogue bothered me at some points. I think having a little more background on why she was the way that she was would have helped with her characterization. It also bothered me that the main characters ex husband call at a certain point in the story and she doesn't pick up the phone and then you just never hear about that plot point again. Overall, the story was enjoyable but a bit lacking.

Oh my gosh… this book y’all!!

Lyla Sage created this incredible world with so many full of life characters!

Ada is a strong, independent woman, who has followed her dreams of interior design all the way to Rebel Blue… and Weston Ryder.

The story had so much depth to it and was really thought out. So did the characters, we really get to connect and know them and that is the thing I’m looking for when reading!

This isn’t your typical boss/employee book, and it was such a unique reading experience!

I loved the side characters as well, and can’t wait for more books on them!

Definitely my top read this month!

I had the pleasure of diving into Swift and Saddled, a modern cowboy romance that skillfully combines humor, vivid imagery, and wholesome character development to create a truly enchanting experience.

From witty banter to laugh-out-loud moments, Lyla Sage seamlessly carries the narrative with humor, making the reading experience not just romantic but amusing. The clever dialogue between the characters adds a light-hearted touch that perfectly complements the rugged setting of the modern-day cowboy story.

Speaking of setting, the imagery of Rebel Blue Ranch in this novel is nothing short of spectacular. The author paints a vivid picture of the vast landscapes, dusty trails, and spectacular skies, transporting readers to the heart of the cowboy experience.

What truly sets Swift and Saddled apart is its exceptional character development. The Ada and Wes are not just romantic archetypes but fully fleshed-out individuals with depth and complexity. As the story unfolds, so do the layers of the characters, revealing their vulnerabilities, strengths, and the intricacies of their relationships. It's a refreshing take on the romance genre that adds a meaningful depth to the narrative.

Swift and Saddled is a triumph in modern romance. It balances humor, vivid imagery, and character development with finesse, creating a story that is not only romantically engaging but also a joy to read. If you're in the mood for a love story that will have you screaming, crying, and throwing up, look no further. Saddle up for a wild ride through the heartland of love and Wyoming with Swift and Saddled. A huge thank you to Lyla for including the epilogue; I was ugly crying knowing our other Rebel Blue Ranch characters are doing well.

GUYS!! this book was so cute!!! I was literally giggling & kicking my feet the entire time. Swift and Saddled is the perfect small town romance with just the right amount of spice. The romance is sweet, steamy, and it just felt authentic. Ada & Wes may seem like opposites; she is the black cat to his golden retriever energy. But they balance each other so well & you can truly see how much they care about each other. The male main character was so refreshing. Wes is the sweetest/nicest boy and he would do anything for Ada. I love that the author included topics of mental health & Wes’s struggle with depression. It is rare to see that representation in male main characters and is something I wish we would see more of in books. It made the story feel real and honest.

My favorite part about this book & the Rebel Blue Ranch series is the found family! I’m OBSESSED with the Ryders and how they welcome others with open arms. I love the close relationship between the siblings. The DAD!! He is my favorite character!! I love that he is a schemer and will find ways to bring the main characters together. I find myself wishing I was a part of their family. I also loved the small town setting, I never thought I would say this, but I need to book a trip to Wyoming ASAP!

This is only the second cowboy romance I’ve ever read, but it definitely won’t be my last! I will say I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first Done & Dusted and recommend giving this one a try!

Read if you like:
- small town romance
- Cowboys
- Found family
- Black cat/golden retriever energy
- Like watching HGTV
- Love language: acts of service

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review<3

I absolutely loved Swift And Saddled. If I am being honest I did not read the first in the series but this one was so good and made me order the first one immediately after finishing. Its a cowboy romance. This book has Elise Silver "Heartless" vibes and it is phenomenal. Thanks for the arc!

I feel in love with Lyla Sage’s writing as soon as picked up Done and Dusted so when I was sent an arc of Swift and Saddled I was over the moon. Meadowlark is such a beautiful setting and the Ryder family is impossible to not love wholeheartedly. Wes and Ada have such an adorable and inspiring love story that you can’t help but root from their very first encounter. Ada is the black cat to Wes’s golden retriever and their energy and attitudes compliment each other so well. It’s hard finishing a book within the Rebel Blue Ranch world because you truly do not want to leave it or the characters behind. This is easily one of my favorite romance series I’ve read in quite a while and I dread the wait until I have the next one in my hands (I’ve been waiting for Teddy and Gus to get together since the very beginning).

This story had the making of such potential!! That first scene…🔥🔥 The character are likable, the chemistry is there. However, the pace of which this love story proceeds after that is mind boggling. It’s a story killer for me. I want to love it, I could have loved it…but I don’t.

I don’t know if I’ll give other books in this series a chance yet or not.

I received this book from the publisher & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Lyla Sage's Swift and Saddled was the heartwarming, spicy, wholesome book I didn't know that I needed. The pacing and plot were great, the writing was smooth and addictive, and the characters are undoubtedly some of the best I've ever read about. Both Ada and Wes have believable backstories that affected their characters in the present; Ada with her trust issues & flight response, and Wes with his depression & 'middle-child syndrome'. What I loved the most is that neither Ada nor Wes tried to change or fix the other; they met each other where they were at and loved them more for it. Wes' depression was a focal point of the book for me personally, because I loved the way in which Lyla Sage presented it to the reader. Wes isn't ashamed of his mental illness; he accepts it and embraces his treatment regime of his dog, drawing, therapy, and medication. When Ada asks Wes about his depression, he explains the realities of his depression and the two have an honest, candid conversation about mental health. I just really loved the mental health representation in this novel.

Rebel Blue Ranch, as a setting, was so wholesome and just felt like home. I'm not typically a fan of anything country, but I could get used to life on this ranch. Wes' family was also one of my favourite parts of the novel, because they all had their own distinct personalities but felt unified as a family unit. They loved each other and welcomed Ada like one of their own.

And their first time together during the storm was the most spicy yet wholesome thing EVER. I loved how open their communication was and the whole thing was just so romantic and sweet. Wes himself is so romantic and sweet. I didn't think I could love a cowboy so much!

Thank you to the publisher, The Dial Press, via Netgalley for providing me with an electronic advanced copy of Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties.

*Arc review for Swift and Saddled.

Just like everyone else, I read Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage. I love a good small town/enemies to lovers. Unfortunately, Done and Dusted wasn’t a hit for me, but I still wanted to give the next book a chance.

So here we are with the arc for Swift and Saddled. This cover is so good and cute. I really do love a small town, cowboy romance. Rebel Blue sounds like a dream ranch.
My biggest pet peeve in cowboy romances are they aren’t even cowboys. They never ride a horse, they only have the boots. This is not that. The men are riding and moving cattle. I love it!
I also love how Done and Dusted opened in the bar and now so does Swift and Saddled.
Ada comes in to quietly get work done on the big project when in comes a hottie cowboy making eyes with her. She acts on impulse and makes out with this stranger, but then runs away without his name.
I am here for making out with random men, but unfortunately the brave fmc disappears from the rest of the book. The character in the first scene is not the character throughout the book. In both books, it seems as though the author doesn’t know her characters very well. They are all very flat and non interesting. Couple that with lack of actions and the book becomes boring.
But what is throughout the rest of the book is the constant reminder that Ada is not like the other girls. We get this in different forms but it’s a repeat of her not having female friends. Not liking country music or Taylor Swift or not being a care taker. All off that amounting to the repetition of being different from the other girls. It was too much.
What we didn’t get enough of is the showing and not just telling. This was my issue with Done and Dusted and it didn’t improve with Swift and Saddled. The lack of having an actual conversation with dialogue, opposed to telling the reader a conversation was had, are different things and changes the quality of the book.
We also needed more about Ada’s ex husband. It’s so extremely vague. Why did he, her husband, ghost her. And why did he call her after years of no contact. WHY?
There are many more things we needed more of, but this isn’t meant to be a drag review.

In the end, I feel like these books fell into the popular book accounts and it took off from there without the actually substance it needed.
It turns out this series is not for me, and that’s ok.

Black Cat and Golden Retriever Boy, SIGN ME UP.

This story was adorbz, I love how cute they were together. I had a great time reading this, same fun and fast paced story like her first novel.!

Thank you so much Lyla Sage and The Dial Press for the eARC!

P.S I am SO excited for the next installment in this series. I know it’s going to be my favorite already! I can’t wait!!!

If a soft cowboy falling for a hardened-by-the-world city girl interests you, Swift and Saddled will be right up your ally! I loved getting to read more about the Ryders and Rebel Blue in this book, especially their warm nature of bringing everyone they love together. This book felt like a warm hug after a hard day; if comfort fictional characters are your thing, this is for you. I felt a whole range of emotion for Wes and Ada and the rest of the gang and I wanted more with every page I turned! My only complaint is that I wish it was longer so I could spend more time at Baby Blue with them…but I’ll just have to (impatiently) wait for the next book!

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
Rebel Blue Ranch #2

A FMC who has tattoos and wears docs in a cowboy romance, is my kind of main character! Ada is clearly a city girl who ends up finding her way out on the ranch, finally feeling like she belongs. Both sides of Wes’s character were well done; the depression representation, and the happy, genuine, golden retriever side felt real. These two made for a great pairing; they complemented and helped each other in the best ways. Between those two love birds, the picturesque Ranch, and all the friends and family dynamics, it was so easy to get pulled in while binging this book. The banter had me laughing while the heartwarming moments made me want to melt; I love all the Rebel Blue Ranch Characters and I can’t wait for more.

🐴 Small Town Romance
🤠 Boss / Employee
🐴 Ranch and Cowboys
🤠 Spice
🐴 Depression Rep
🤠 Found Family

While this is the second book in the series, it stands on its own well. I have not yet read Done and Dusted (but I'll be looking to read it now!), but it does feature the same characters and continues their story arcs, so if that is important to you, read Done and Dusted first.

It is so wonderful to see more accurate representations of mental health in romance books lately. As someone who struggles daily with anxiety and depression, I understand the toll it can have on your life. Including and discussing mental health issues as they relate to the characters really makes for a more authentic and honest narrative. I have never really felt closer to characters as I did in this book, and I honestly think the discussion and inclusion of anxiety, depression, and self-worth helped me to feel seen and respected.

In a way, I'm kind of mad that this book is fiction. I want to be at Rebel Blue Ranch. I want to spend the night in Baby Blue. I want to walk the trails and meet Waylon the dog and Loretta the calf. I want to feel the sunshine on my face.

Also, I will be purchasing physical copies of these books because that cover? Perfection. I need it on my shelves.

I'm usually not one for cowboy romances but I am absolutely hooked on this series! Wes is a darling and SUCH a great communicator. He's already out in so much work to understanding himself and figuring his shit out, which I 100% appreciate. Wow where do I find a Wes?? Ada is a terrible communicator (raise your hand if you also get defensive and rude when you think someone is about to overstep a boundary) but I adored her and I was so happy to see her grow via the support and care of Wes and his friends + family.

Loved this second book in the series! Rebel Blue remains an awesome backdrop to the romance and I highly enjoyed getting to know Ada and Weston.

It feels so good to be back in Meadowlark and man did I miss me some Ryders. I was in dire need of a hot, fun, sexy, small town, cowboy romance and Layla did not fail to deliver. This book is such a beautiful story!!

I absolutely loved both of these characters and found myself relating so much to Ada. I loved growing with her along her journey at Rebel Blue while learning more about her past in the city. I think it’s so powerful when characters are battling inner turmoil but are able to find comfort in each other growing together while also individually. I loved how depression was portrayed through Wes, I think it’s so important to have books that talk about the struggles of mental health and the reality of day to day life. I also think it’s beautiful how the MMC battled with it because men are more prone to struggle alone, however his family dynamic was so supportive and caring it really pulled on my heart strings.

I don’t think there is a single mean bone in Wes body. He is absolutely everything I’d want in a father figure for my children and who I can pray my daughter could end up with. He is the perfect gentlemen in every perspective. Plus who isn’t a sucker for dimples?!?

I can’t wait to see more character dynamics, I love how this book set up the plot for the third, I think I know who stories are coming and who will end up together🤭 definitely a must read for small town country romance lovers!

miss lyla sage has done it again. wes + ada are truly everything to me. getting to watch them grow individual but also together was so special. they gave me all the feels. i knew i was gonna be obsessed after the very first chapter. the way i instantly get sucked right back into meadowlark and never want to leave. black cat x golden retriever trope is one of my ultimate fav tropes and this is a new all time fav!!!! i felt so seen throughout this book. the mental health rep is outstanding. i saw parts of myself in ada and wes multiple times ~ isn’t that the best feeling? when you feel so seen and heard through characters that feel so real. so dang special. i am never leaving rebel blue ranch and that’s final ◡̈

Okay idk why goodreads is not letting me rate this thing but anyways, 4 STARS!! Loved it so much but Done and Dusted reigns supreme between the two. Something about the way the first book hit just cannot be beat but this came damn close.

Not an ounce of toxic masculinity was found in our boy Weston. He was so supportive of Ada and literally anything she did. He just wanted her to live her best life and I could not love him more for it. There's a line at the end that is so important and wonderful and I just loved that he gave us that.

Lyla writes another excellent addition to her catalogue and I KNOW TEDDY AND GUS' STORY IS GOING TO BE SO GOOD DUDE. SO DAMN GOOD. I know that one will have me screaming.

A huge thanks to Lyla Sage and Penguin Random House for the ARC!

First of all, I'm not crying, I swear. It's not like their love story made me tear up and now I don't know what to do with myself or anything. That's not what happened. Stop lying.

In all seriousness, I enjoyed this SO MUCH. I wasn't expecting to connect this deeply with the main character in a rom-com, but Ada struck a chord with me within the first ten pages and refused to let me go. I resonated with many of the issues she dealt with regarding people, and her subsequent character development was so rewarding. Lyla Sage wrote such a complex, endearing main character that I was genuinely sad to finish the book because it meant I wouldn't get to be in Ada's head anymore. Seeing the world through her eyes reminded me of myself, and that added an emotional layer to the story that I can honestly say I didn't expect. Also, like Ada, I love Spanakopita and was not expecting a whole chapter devoted to making it—if that doesn't give you reason enough to read this, seriously, what does?

Wes's POV was even better than Luke's in my opinion, if only because I come from a big family like his and related to how he viewed life through the lens of a big brother. I know what that's like, and it made him that much more likable in my eyes. Like, if a green flag were a person, it would be Weston Ryder. That man couldn't hurt a fly if the fly got on its knees and begged him. I just love him so much.

Also, the more difficult content covered was done so well, and I want to thank Lyla Sage for taking the time to showcase the different effects a bad relationship can have on a person. It was so nice to read a story that for once didn't paint the love interest as the "fix-it" of all the MC's trauma; Wes made Ada happy, not perfect. Any doubts I had about how the topic of abuse would be handled were immediately quashed, and for that I'm glad. A single person can't be the solution to another's problems, and this book conveyed that very well.

Overall, this was such a sweet story with a fun spicy side and I highly recommend it to anyone/everyone with a working brain. You won't regret it, I promise. Now, if the Lost and Lassoed cover could be revealed that would be amazing. Please and thank you ❤️

Speaking of the next stories in the series, is anyone else hoping for a Cam/Dusty story? And an Amos/Stella story? No? Just me? I'll see myself out...

oh my goshhhh i adored this book. wes and ada were everything i could have asked for and i loved watching their relationship and feelings develop. the depression/mental health representation was done so well. ada is my new favorite fmc because i literally related to her on another level i quite literally felt like i was reading about myself at some parts. i loved getting to see emmy and brooks again and seeing little hints of what the next book in the series will be! this would have been 5 stars but i felt like i wanted more of their relationship like dates and cute little things but overall i loved this and i can’t wait for the next book