My first 5* of 2024! It took me until the second book, but this is where I fell in love with Rebel Blue. No toxic silliness or over the top plot lines... just a simple, beautiful, slow unfolding story. I adore every character we've met thus far and appreciate how genuine and GOOD Wes is (without the uber over-masculine persona one might assume from an MMC of a cowboy romance). I also love how Ada is quiet, simple, and not outgoing -- totally opposite of our typical FMC who "gets the guy". There were so many beautiful sentiments and epic quotes that I had to read more than once because I fell in love with the thoughtfulness and care given to each character and meaningful exchange. I am so so happy the series is going to continue and I can't wait for the third book to be released.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Swift & Saddled makes you want to pack your bags and move onto Rebel Blue Ranch. There is such a comfy and cozy feeling to Lyla’s books. The characters feel real and so relatable that it’s like you’re in it with them.

I loved Ada’s personality from the very beginning. She had me laughing out loud multiple times. As seen in the previous book, Lyla Sage has a gift for banter and humor that lifts off the page. The familial and friend relationships that she created felt so authentic and she did an awesome job of using more trendy/current references without being cringy or overdoing it. I was living for the Taylor Swift references - it made it so easy to connect with all the girls in the group.

Lyla also has been given the gift of writing dreamy to die for cowboys. Wes was such a perfect character. The adorable scene with the cow absolutely melted my heart. I also adored the mental health rep and how genuine and honest he was. Ada and Wes were the perfect pairing for each other and we love such a supportive beau who admires his partner’s dreams and career.

The spice was top tier. I LOVED the build up of not only the tension but also the emotional intimacy. The first full spice scene was so unique and I loved how Wes was so thoughtful and prioritized her emotional safety but without sacrificing the spiciness of it all.

I read this in one sitting and remain a huge fan of Lyla’s work and I cannot wait for the next book on the ranch! 🫶🏼💙

Thank you NetGalley & Dial Press for this eARC! This review will be posted on my Instagram on March 5th and will likely be included in my YouTube January/March reading review roundup.

Man oh man I just love me a cowboy romance. Rebel Blue Ranch is everything I’ve wanted and more. It sounds absolutely stunning, with so much family and history. It sounds like the most magical place.

Ada Hart - ugh girl I just want to hug you. I felt so much of myself in her character. So hard on the outside but just wanted to be loved and accepted as she is. If only we could see ourselves as others see us. Ada was smart, hilarious and hardworking. Seeing her work through her insecurities and open up was truly inspiring. I also loved that she had tattoos.

Weston freaking Ryder - my new favourite book boyfriend OOF yall he is IT! He was kind, caring, sexy, sweet, hardworking, saves baby cows, loves his family and is open about his mental health struggles. What more could you want!

This was a great second book in the Rebel Blue series. This story follows Weston aka Wes Ryder and interior designer, Ada Hart and their romance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I am officially in my cowboy era! I fell in love with Done & Dusted as soon as I started it and once I was finished I simply could not wait any longer for the next one. I immediately requested an ARC and was so excited to be approved. Let me tell you, Lyla Sage does it again! I read this in one day, it was THAT good. Ada was the most relatable character I have ever read in a book, our personalities and insecurities are pretty much identical. I have never felt so close to a character and so seen, the amount of highlighting I did in this book was excessive. I loved how reassuring Wes was and how he loved her exactly how she needed to be loved. He was patient, kind, and didn't let her insecurities affect him. Everyone deserves a Wes in their life. Wes & Ada will hold a special place in my heart forever and I cannot wait for the next book in the series....Teddy and Gus 😍. I never knew I would be into a cowboy romance, but here I am begging for more. If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for??

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A golden retriever cowboy who is literally the sweetest man ever? Yes Lyla Sage give us more of Wes Ryder because he was the best, and perfect for Ada. Their story was a little bit of a slow burn, but it was soooooooo good. I love that we got more of the Ryder family in Wes and Ada’s story and I can’t wait to see them all in book three. It really felt like they were all such a supportive group for not only Wes but also Ada, and it was so sweet seeing them welcome her into their Rebel Blue family with open arms. The relationships in Swift and Saddled were a huge part of the book and it was very swoon worthy experiencing their budding romance, and the sweet found family aspect of the story. The entire book was so easy to get into, and the characters were all amazing. Shout out to Lyla Sage for her steamy romance scenes because they were equally hot and heartwarming to read. This series is one of my favs!

Omg Lyla Sage has done it again. Done & Dusted was one of my favorite romances of the year and I’m so happy to say Swift & Saddled is just as good! I ADORED these two. Ada was such a relatable FMC. The black cat to Wes’ golden retriever was just a chef’s kiss. I REALLY enjoyed that we got more scenes with ALL our favorite characters in it. This was absolutely sunshine and wonderful and a yeehaw fabulous time.

"I think I might have been homesick for Rebel Blue before I knew it existed."

There's just something so special about Lyla's writing. It's warm, it's cozy, it's comforting, it's honest. It feels like coming home. She can suck you into the story immediately and not let you go until you finish. I had the biggest smile on my face while reading, while also shedding a few tears and being very deep in my feels.

I thought Ada was going to be the main character I connected with the most, but Wes took the first place. It was the best surprise. I loved the mental health representation and how Lyla tackled the subject of depression in Wes. It felt like I was reading about myself. Wes is sunshine personified. He is pure, he is joy, he is so wickedly smart, he is so thoughtful, a consent king, and his mouth!? Lord have mercy. The girlies are not ready for Wes. I cannot wait to see them go feral for him.

Ada is the sort of FMC I love because she's the kind of FMC I admire. I love that she's an interior designer, what a joy it is to read about a main character with the same profession as me! A prickly black cat woman who grew to accept a life she wasn't expecting but deserves nonetheless. I loved her journey of healing and acceptance, it was so beautiful to read.

I loved Wes and Ada's dynamic. A sweet slowburn with an epic reward. I loved how Wes remained a constant for Ada, how he showed her that no matter what he will be there, how she healed and grew and accepted love she didn't feel like she deserved.

This book was pure JOY all around, I cannot wait for it to be out in the world!

Thank you so much Lyla, The Dial Press, and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange of my honest review.

“i think i might have been homesick for rebel blue before i even knew it existed”

going to start this the same way i started my review of done and dusted because it’s more true now than ever before: LYLA SAGE THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE!!!!!!! my heart quite literally feels like it’s doing cartwheels in my chest. i am truly amazed by lyla’s brain!! a true genius!!!!
i really do believe this is a perfect work of art and it has veryyyyy quickly become a comfort book to me!! like seriously, the way i feel about this book needs to be studied in a lab i just know it is not normal!! swift and saddled is the perfect level of light hearted that makes you swoon!! and fun that will have you grinning like an idiot at your kindle/book!! and romantic that will make your heart all perfectly warm and fuzzy! while still having depth and some discussions of heavier topics that make the story that much more meaningful and special. both the story and characters are so perfectly earnest and genuine and real!!!

now before i get to wes and ada; i adore the way lyla has included all of the rebel blue characters we met in done and dusted (and introducing some new ones!!!!!!!! ah!!!!) into this next story! i am so in awe of how intentional lyla is in her storytelling and how she has found the perfect balance between focusing on the current couple while still developing side characters and their relationships. lyla had me falling in love with emmy and luke even more than i already did in done and dusted and duh! gus and teddy and amos… and cam!!!!!!! i am soooo excited we are getting to know cam more, i love her to pieces already! the girlhood in this book is so powerful and fills my heart with the most love and warmth. female friendships are so so so powerful and meaningful to me and lyla really delivered with the girls here!! all this to say, i am just so in love with the way lyla has included everyone from this universe, and strengthened so many relationships, and made me fall in love with ALL of them even more, while still making wes and ada the center of the story.

ok so now for wes and ada. i’m in love with them. wes is the #1 baby boy, golden retriever, emotionally mature, levelheaded, secure mmc in the whole world. i think he might be in my top 3 book boyfriends in the whole world now. the way he cares so deeply for ada, even before truly knowing her, and is so observant of her and attentive, constantly making sure she feels safe and comfortable literally chokes me up!! he is just so tremendously thoughtful and i feel like i could write an entire page worth of how much i love wes and his actions, he is just that perfect! he is such a MAN! better than a man!!!! men could never even think about being on the level that wes ryder is on he is a whole different species i think.
and my sweet sweet ada baby. i love her to pieces. she is the most relatable and real!! she’s just a lonely girl who’s been scarred and is trying to fight her way back. my archer baby!!!! she is so terrified that people will see right through her (spoiler alert, they do) and that they won’t like what they see and leave (spoiler alert, they love her, and they stay). i’m also just obsessed with her whole “i tried so hard to not be like other girls but i actually wanted to be just like them” self-awareness and thank god for that!! i got a little scared there for a second she was going to be a taylor swift hater!! phew!
and of course, the wessda relationship: they are addicting!!! their chemistry right off the bat is insane!! and i really really enjoyed the secret mutual pining, they were both down bad pretty much immediately, even when they (more so ada) were trying to fight it. but i also love that they were more careful with each other and did get to know eachother a lot before ending up in a relationship, even if that was more so because ada’s reluctance to being in a relationship and especially one with her boss!!! their love is so pure and they just love and care for eachother so deeply and lyla did the most perfect job showing that. and i mean, the last 10% was so unimaginably breathtaking!! wes waiting at the welcome to meadowlark sign!!! like i truly could have never imagined that scene being any better. i think it’s one of my new favorite scene/chapters in a book ever. and of course, the circle back to “they were a forever sort of thing” had me bursting out in sobs.

i also want to add that lyla’s representation and discussions of mental illness in her books are so raw and real and have made me feel so understood time after time.

i’ve used “perfect” probably an absurd, boarderline excessive amount of times in this review and for that i’m sorry. but also, i truly cannot think of any better word to explain this book. absolute perfection. lyla sage amazes me and i feel so incredibly lucky that she decided to grace us with her beautiful brain and words and stories.

all the stars!!!!!

*thank you so much to Dial Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I was a big fan of DONE AND DUSTED when it was first published, so it's safe to say I had high hopes for SWIF T SADDLED. Well...it did not disappoint! It was just as cute, sweet, and sexy as the former. Lyla Sage's romances are the perfect feel-good, quick read!

I adored the first installment in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, Done and Dusted, so when I saw the sequel post on NetGalley, I could not hit the ‘request’ button fast enough. Swift and Saddled opens with a trope I didn’t know I needed -- kiss a stranger. When it turns out the stranger Ada kissed in the dive bar is her new interior design client, Wes, complications ensue.

The romance and story were both well-developed and compelling. Most of all, I liked the very real problems Ada and Wes had to work through to make the relationship work. For Wes, his cinnamon roll personality covers up some anxiety and depression, which is not something we see a lot in MMCs in romance. The representation was great to see. Ada has attachment issues based on past relationship trauma, both familial and romantic.

As others have mentioned, this cover is GORGEOUS and I love that Lyla doesn’t rely on third-act breakups. I really liked the set-up for Gus and Teddy and what looks like a new set-up for Cam (Gus’ baby mama) and newcomer Dusty.

A little cutesy in places and some weakness in the writing, but overall, a stellar second showing by Layla Sage. I cannot wait for Lost and Lassoed with Gus and Teddy. My thanks to NetGalley and the author for access to an eARC in return for an honest review.

I loved Done and Dusted and was equally enchanted by Swift and Saddled!!

The writing is well-done, but also relatable and easy to read. I loved the character development and depth Sage always includes. I did wish there was a little more about the main male character and showcasing more of his struggles.

Overall, this is a great cowboy romance and I cannot wait to read the next books in the Rebel Blue Ranch series!

Title: Swift and Saddled
Author: Lyla Sage
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Recommended: Yes!
Read if you like: forced proximity, cowboy romance, small town romance, mental health representation

While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I loved this one! I think it had a lot to do with the tropes since I prefer the tropes in this one. Either way, highly recommend this fun read!

I wanted 2023 to go out with a bang, and this book made sure it did both figuratively and literally. Ada's dealing with the baggage from her divorce when she uproots her life for a job in Wyoming. Enter Wes Ryder, the cinnamon roll cowboy dreamboat of our fantasies. I love Ada and Wes together with the sparks flying immediately, even in the Devil's Boot. He calls her sweetheart, is the absolute MOST supportive guy, and has extremely long fingers. Need I say more?

As someone with depression, I really identified with Wes's struggles even when it's "under control" through medication. I wish there was a bit more of a focus on it in the book, but I understand that Ada's issues needed to be more prevalent. And watching her find real love is just precious.

Also Teddy and Gus next!!! EEEEEEEE!!!

*Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book made me so happy ;') I enjoyed Done and Dusted but I especially related to Ada in this sequel — particularly her attachment issues and restoration approach to interior design.

I'm so glad that I got the chance to read the ARC of Swift and Saddled!

Lyla Sage has done it again! I really enjoyed Done and Dusted, but I loved Swift and Saddled. I couldn't put it down! This was easily a 4.5 star read for me.

I loved the tropes in this book (boss x employee, forced proximity, cowboy and small town romance)and I enjoyed this story from the beginning to the end. Ada and Wes are adorable and I loved both of their characters. I also liked the growth from the other characters in the book.

Book covers are normally not very important to me, but I think it's important to note that I am in love with the covers for the Rebel Blue Ranch series so far!

I cannot wait for Lost and Lassoed. I'm so excited continue this journey that Lyla is writing!

Steamy! This cowboy fantasy was elevated by discussions of mental health, self-love, and the importance of healthy relationships. The setting felt very real and vibrant. 4 Stars,

“‘Hands on the mirror, sweetheart,’ I said into her ear, and then I bit her neck.

Ada leaned forward and her palms landed on the mirror just before our eyes met in the reflection.

‘Spread your legs.’”
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ARC Review! I was so incredibly lucky to have received Swift and Saddled on NetGalley! I have been looking forward to this book since I finished Done and Dusted a few months ago. I was beyond thrilled to dive back into the world of Rebel Blue Ranch. Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Lyla Sage for writing these two!
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Wes Ryder has been dying to prove his worth on Rebel Blue Ranch, his family farm, and it comes in the form of renovating a large home on the property into a guest house. Enter, Ada Hart, an interior designer who is trying to rebuild her confidence post a painful divorce. The heat is immediately on for these two, until they learn that Wes will be Ada’s boss for the forseeable future. Pining, angst, female friendships, cowboy brotherhood, and a whole lot of love wove this into a book I would recommend to any romance lover!
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I had a few critiques on this book that I am hoping get fixed in post production. I felt like Ada wasn’t as fully fleshed out as she could have been. I was hoping to hear more about her former marriage, her mother which there seemed to be trauma with, her personal resistance and internal struggle with entering a new relationship, it all felt very fast paced. Alternatively, I really loved Wes. He felt super developed and I really felt I knew what was going on with him. I was sad there weren’t more moments between Ada and the Ryder siblings, and I will always kill for more Teddy and Gus. I think there’s a lot of small things to work on, for instance, who was Dusty and what was his purpose? I thought he was gonna flirt with Ada or Teddy. I also was wondering why we didn’t get to see Ada and Wes ride a horse together since it got brought up a few times. I also thought there would be more with the phone call from Ada’s husband. Just little things that just another pass over would fix. The world building and setting are seriously so enjoyable. I adore Rebel Blue Ranch, and that I feel like is the strongest part. I felt like I’m there when I read it. I also am obsessed with the spice scenes, of which there can always be more in my opinion but that is a personal preference.

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I am beyond grateful I got to read this. The setting, their banter, the relationship, were all so incredible. There were a few editorial things I caught, but overall I was so invested with the story, I’m willing to bank it will be fixed after another round of edits. I will think about this book for a while, especially the mirror scene. Definitely the mirror scene. 4.5/5 ⭐️!
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Lyla has outdone herself with this one. Wes and Ada have my whole heart, and I loved getting to head back to Meadowlark. I’m so excited for another trip soon.

I loved "Swift and Saddled." Funny, spicy, and surprisingly heartfelt, it's an excellent follow-up to the first in the series, "Done and Dusted." Lyla Sage crafts dynamic, interesting characters and, let's face it, I am a sucker for books set in Wyoming, Montana, or Alaska.

"Swift and Saddled" is a relatively quick a read with just enough spice to make it interesting.

Slightly off topic: you *shouldn't* judge a book by its cover, but it would be remiss to not acknowledge the unique and clever covers of the Rebel Blue books' series. Eye catching, colorful, different- bravo to the designer, I love them.