This was a cute romance & a quick read. It was a solid story, pretty stanard & formulaic as romance goes - entertaining enough to read, but doesn't stand out of the pack - it's sweet - there's a cowboy and a woman escaping her old life; they fall in love/lust at first sight; they end up working together; he does swoon-worthy cowboy things, like go out & rescue a calf in a storm; she does spunky female-lead things, like start up her own interior design business after her divorce; and hangs out with her new girlfriends along the way; they start to fall in love, but no, it's not possible! Oh wait, it is. HEA.

I think if their respective backstories were explored a little more (him: depression; her: a previous controlling marriage) it may have made it a bit more unique, but as it is, it was fun enough to read, but no different from any other cookie-cutter romance story. I'd pick up another from the series, knowing I was going to get an easy, sweet cowboy/ranch romance with a nice ranch family & kind people at the heart of it.

I had just finished Done and Dusted and was so excited that this sequel was already on Netgally. I ran to grab it so fast!
I read Swift and Saddled even faster than the first book and loved it even more! Part of that is how relatelable Ada is of course. Not always feeling like a girl's girl and being unsure of how to make friends is so real. But I have to admit I fell madly in love with Wes. He is one of those truly, "so perfect he's unbelievable" book boyfriends. He is strong, kind, supportive and looks so hot in a cowboy hat. He loves his dog, baby animals, interior design and his family. He's almost too perfect. But I loved the fantasy anyways. Lol
I love the ranch and all the supporting cast and I'm really excited for the next book. I think it's going to be the hardest relationship yet to write. But I'm sure Lyla has a brilliant plan.

Who knew I would ever want to read cowboy romance?!
A huge thank you to the publisher and Netgally for giving me the opportunity to read this one early. I can't wait to buy a physical copy!

Honestly this book was so disappointing to me. I loved the first one but this one was just lacking. I’m excited for the next book, but wish that the third and the second could be swapped

This was super sweet and adorable. A really good second book to this series. Extremely heart warming and a feel good book. Reading ada over come her past and Wes really come into his own was a treat.

Thanks to Lyla Sage I’m officially in my Cowboy Era. 🤠

Swift and Saddled is part cowboy romance, part HGTV and it is the combo I never knew I needed until now!

I loved Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled is the perfect continuation of the Rebel Blue series. It’s so sweet, wholesome and heartwarming while still bringing the plot AND spice 🔥

I also loved seeing our favorite couple from Done and Dusted while getting glimpses of other potential relationships we will likely see as the series continues which I will definitely be buying… every. single. one.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the arc.

THE TROPES:
🤠 cowboy romance
🤠 found family
🤠 reverse grumpy/sunshine

THE THOUGHTS:
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Nelnet for this ARC!

I finished this book in 24hrs and I will absolutely be preordering a physical copy 😭 this love story was so REAL. It felt like something I could experience irl, which made it all the more enjoyable. Ada is such a relatable character, I think a lot of people are going to connect with her and many of her thoughts. Like how she feels like she doesn’t understand other people or isn’t someone others would love. And Wes is her perfect fit in how comforting he was and he gave her space to be herself. He’s an “I love you and,” not an “I love you but” character and it was so freaking sweet. Because this is an ARC I can’t share quotes but there’s one in there Wes says about the moon and I was swooning 🥰 I’m so excited for the next book!!

Absolute perfection. Lyla, you are truly one of a kind and the stories you tell are everything. Thank you for giving a fierce, black cat fmc who I related to in so many ways, and a golden retriever mmc who was the most patient and kind human being there ever could be. The way you discuss mental health in your books is something I will forever be grateful for. It is done so beautifully. Wes and Ada are two characters I will never forget. I’m so excited for this series to continue!

I was hooked the second their eyes met.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

I am obsessed with Wes and Ada 🥹 I was squealing and smiling like a goober while reading this. I loved their story! It was plot based with spice and I’m really sad it’s over, but I cannot wait for Lost and Lassoed!!!! This got me out of a weird reading funk. I loved this book so much! I cried, I squealed, I laughed, the spice was spicing! But the story as a whole was amazing!!!!!! I will absolutely be re reading and I hope this is on audio eventually too. I love all of these characters! I cannot wait for Lost and Lassoed! 🥹🥹🥹 a huge thank you to Lyla for writing another incredible book, she truly does have a knack for storytelling. It’s not even just reading a book, it’s an experience. SO SO SO good!!! I haven’t lost track of time while reading in so long, I thought I was desensitized to books.

The ways that Lyla shared about Wes’s struggles with depression were so real and relatable.

I loved the banter between the MCs!

My only qualm was the “I’m not like other girls” and the “people don’t like me” aspect. It was fine, just very slightly overdone.

OBSESSED! Better than the first and it is not close (coming from someone who loved Done and Dusted before it got trad pickup). There are not enough heroes like Wes out there, we deserve more. And you would think with how much I loved this book that Wes and Ada would have had my whole attention, but no I am already looking for crumbs of the final two couples that Sage set up PERFECTLY.

Sage is truly a new and distinct voice. While this book might seem like a traditional cowboy/city girl romance, Lyle takes down the cheese and cliches while maintaining the charm of the genre. Her FMC is hurt but also feeling herself and her ambition which makes love and lust not just inconvenient but potentially destabilizing. Yet Sage doesn't overblow the emotions, doesn't fall into miscommunication, doesn't infantilize adults. This is grown up romance, made extra charming and totally sweet. A fantastic read and a perfect sophomore book. So looking forward to more from this author.

4.5 ⭐️

I have come to the conclusion that the second book in series is always better than the first one. This one was sooooo good. It was fun, sexy, heartwarming and wholesome. I loved this. I loved Wes and his sweet dimples. I loved how the topic of depression was handled in this book and I loved how real and genuine the relationship between these two felt. Normally, these types of books tend to have way too many sex scenes and too little character / plot development but this one was so well done. 👏🏻

The first time they had sex was sooooo wholesome. I loved how open and communicative they were with each other. It felt real and normal and I loved it. Another thing that I love in books is when the FMC doesn't have many friends and doesn't know how to start friendships and she ends up finding friends and a family in the MMC inner circle. The found family was everything to me. 10/10 😭

I can see a lot of people loving this one!!! 💘

At first I was skeptical because they basically kiss each other without even knowing their names (that love at first sight trope) but it ended up working at the end and I am so glad this one delivered. "Done and Dusted" didn't work out for me but this one did!!! So excited to get the physical copy 🫶🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the arc.

Lyla Sage does it again! Wes is the soft boy of our dreams! I love how he is patient in a respectable and sweet way. It didn’t feel like he was being weird. Ada and Wes together were on fire. That opening bar kiss!! Ah!!!

The only thing that was missing for me was I wish the boss/employee trope would have been drawn out a bit more.

Steam 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5

I can’t wait for Teddy and August’s story!

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage was such a fun and lighthearted romance and I enjoyed myself while reading it. The small town setting of Meadowlark was done so well, I actually wished it actually existed. The characters had depth to them and felt very real and I could understand where they were both coming from. I enjoyed that the third act break up wasn't as winded as other romances and that the overall issue was resolved in such a realistic manner. Lyla Sage's writing is well done and definitely brought joy. I will definitely be recommending Swift and Saddled to people who enjoy cowboy and small town romances. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC. It was the perfect weekend read!

I had mixed feelings when I read the first book in this series but wanted to see how I would feel about book two. Luckily, I found that I really enjoyed this book a lot! It didn’t have nearly as much as the cringy dialogue as the first book and I felt that the characters seemed a lot more authentic. I’m definitely interested in seeing what happens with the rest of this series!!

This book was utter perfection. I loved the first book in this series but oh my god… Wes and Ada. He is a cinnamon roll cowboy with the emotional intelligence I want to bottle and clone and give to all men. Sexy, sweet, self aware… and in the bedroom- a lil freaky. Ada is strong and working through the scars of a controlling marriage. I love the Ryder family so much. And the ground work that was put in for book three… give it to me nooowwww I am so desperate 😍😍

Done and Dusted holds a special place in my heart, and is my favorite read so far this year, so when I got the ARC of Swift and Saddled I was so excited.

I loved this book so much! This was the perfect continuation of the Rebel Blue Ranch series!

The way these two interact shows their love, proving the will be one of the couples that makes it. There’s chemistry and tension that you can feel!

I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read it in March 2024!

Read this if you like:
•the most sunshine-y cowboy ever
•a sexy cowboy
•a dog
•country music
•small towns
•found family
•learning how to drive stick shift
•the song “love is a cowboy” by Kelsea Ballerini

Weston Ryder hot damn. This man was such a sexy & nice cowboy. I loved Ada. Her ideas for the house renovation were wonderful. Wes was such a mature guy and so smitten with their relationship. Chefs kiss. Quite literally cannot wait for book 3 🆘

Thank you Dial Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such an addictive and fast paced read and in my opinion, even better than Lyla Sage’a debut!

Short synopsis: Ada is an interior designer who’s next project takes her to Rebel Blue Ranch to renovate a guest cabin. What she doesn’t expect is to fall for her boss Wes along the way as well as this small Wyoming town.

Thoughts: Wes is my favorite kind of hero. He put the needs of those he loves before himself, is kind and funny, an amazing flirt and knows how to fight for what he wants. He balanced out Ada perfectly, and it was great to see her confidence and self image grow after coming from a controlling relationship. My favorite part was being back at Rebel Blue Ranch with the entire Ryder family. Be prepared for lots of Emmy and Brooks!

Read if you like:
-Cowboy romances
-Home renovations
-Golden retriever energy
-Found family
-Country music
-Pie
-Wyoming ranch setting

Thank you Dial Press for the ARC! Pub 3/5

I didn’t think it was possible to love characters in this series more than I loved Luke and Emmy…and then Lyla gave me Wes and Ada and I am ruined.

Wes is such a soft, sunshine boy, who is constantly putting the needs and happiness of those he loves before his own. And Ada…after a failed marriage and some self-esteem issues, she needs someone like Wes to prove to her that she can have all the things she wants and deserves: love, a place to call home, a fulfilling career.

I just don’t have words for how much I love these two, and how perfect this story is.

Swift and Saddled is by far one of the best small town, cowboy romances I’ve ever read. Wes is emotionally intelligent, deeply kind and a thoughtful MMCs. Ada is healing from an emotionally abusive marriage and the Rebel Blue Ranch is her soft place to land. They are the sweetest couple and Wes will make you swoon right from the start. The secondary characters are such a delight especially Amos. I highly recommend this book because it’ll leave you with a smile on your face!