Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc copy of Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage. I loved this book!! It was so sweet and endearing whilst also being super funny. I also loved guessing who the couples in future books would be and I’m pretty sure Gus and Teddy are soulmates - Dusty and Cam need a book too!!
I love Lyla Sage’s writing and cannot wait for more Rebel Blue Ranch books. If you enjoy small-town cowboy romances - think Chestnut Springs - you’ll love this series!

I loved Wes & Ada’s story! Two people with internal scars who become a source of safe space for one another.

Learning more about Wes’s character really showed that the happiest people are not always happy all the time, and the way he was able to be so vulnerable around Ada & also his family was so refreshing to read about in a male character. My girl Ada - there were parts of her I could relate to and others I couldn’t, but overall she creep into my heart from the very beginning and her story was so inspiring.

I loved seeing the dynamic between all the characters in this one - from the sibling bond between the Ryder siblings, the girl friendships with Emmy, Teddy & Cam and crumbs between Teddy & Gus (I’m so excited for their book!!).

Despite the ending feeling a little rushed (and a certain scene feeling a little open ended), I enjoyed reading this book a lot.

Thank you to Netgalley & Quercus Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

After Ada Hart’s marriage fell apart, she was determined that she would never need a man to take care of her. Since then, she has established her own business and has snagged an important project at one of the largest ranches in Wyoming. When she arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. After sharing a passionate kiss, she quickly leaves, leaving behind her computer. Upon arriving at her new job, she finds out that the cowboy is none other than her new boss, Weston Ryder. Weston is thrilled that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. His excitement is dampened when Ada makes it clear that she will have nothing to do with him outside of work. However, despite Ada doing all that she can to put a distance between them, she feels so right when she is with Wes. All Wes must do is convince her to trust in him.
I enjoyed seeing Ada trust again, in someone so genuine as Wes. His support of her, showed patience and determination. I did find that his connection was quite quick from the start, but this was probably more so, as Ada was so reluctant to start a relationship. I loved Wes’s family and friends, who gave an added level of depth to this story. The author handled issues such as depression with subtlety and an openness that did not overwhelm the romance. A great read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐

• opposite attracts
• golden retriever boy x black cat girl
• forced proximity
• small town

I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first, Done and dusted! While I wasn't really interested in Emmy and Luke’s love story, I appreciated Ada and Wes more.

The mental health rep was interesting, but I would've preferred if Wes’ situation was showed a little bit more than this.

Overall, it was a cute and funny romance, perfect for everyone that is in their cowboy romance era 🤠 Also, the friend group created by the girls (Emmy, Ada, Teddy, Cam) was adorable. Girl power 🫶🏻

I’m really excited to read the third book! I bet that Teddy and Gus love story will be amazing.

I loved Swift and Saddled so much!
It is the perfect mix of a sweet and steamy small town romance. I mean who doesn’t love a chap wearing cowboy with a soft core🥰
I enjoyed being back at Rebel Blue Ranch in Wyoming - it makes me want to run away and start my own horse/cattle ranch with my very own cowboy!

I loved the growth between Ada and Wes - they felt so genuine and I’m so swept up in their relationship.
Let’s just say the calf in the garage scene would have had my heart melting too🐄

With the digital copy I also read the first chapter of the next book… let’s just say Teddy and Gus! OMG I’m so excited!! We NEED this book! I cannot wait to see more of Rebel Blue Ranch!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Quercus Books for a copy of this book!

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 4.5 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

"Her eyes were like magnets, and when she wasn’t looking at me, my eyes searched all of her until they could find hers again."

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

"He was like the sun. No matter what, he would keep coming up."

“You’re the moon,” he said. “And I’m the tides. You pull me in without even trying, and I come to you willingly. I always will.”

i was right, i did like this one more than the first! and i'm so glad that the cover is as pretty as the first. this book was so sweet, short and fun and it made me beyond happy to be back at rebel blue ranch. the characters and the different types of relationships between them felt very real. the quotes in this book are amazing! if you're looking for a small town cowboy romance that is heartwarming, comforting and wholesome, then i definitely recommend reading this book! can't wait to read about teddy and gus next!!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley and Lyla Sage for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

This was one of my most anticipated release of 2024 because I devoured Done & Duster and think about it regularly still.

Swift & Saddled just didn’t quite hit the mark me though. It took a while for me to get into it and actually start enjoying it (about 40%) yet at the same time felt slightly rushed.

The depression representation felt gimmicky to me and was just thrown into the mix to have mental health rep throughout the series. As someone who suffers with depression themselves, it didn’t feel realistic to me. Having said that, Ada’s trauma response to her previous relationship was perfect.

I will probably still read the next book in the series because I NEEEED to understand what is going with Teddy and Gus…

Thank you Quercus Books and Lyla Sage for the Arc!

OMG so much goodness here! Meadowlark, small-town Wyoming. Start with that gorgeous cover, it reminded me of the penny dreadful comics when I was a kid. So much nostalgia!

I agree with other readers who thought that even though Ada is utterly gorgeous, Wes stole the show. A caregiver still finding his way in a big, boisterous extended family, his mental health rep was spot on. Wes’ depression was so thoughtfully shown, especially his awareness that it was not something he had, more it was part of who he was.

Ada is neurodiverse, and this adds to her challenges as she comes to Meadowlark, but isn’t sure how she can stay. She’s hurting from a marriage failure, and she’s insecure and lonely. She finds love, family, adventure and friendship at Rebel Blue Ranch.

It’s steamy, and they are both adorable, with all the respect and consent and consideration I could wish for 🌶🌶

This is just a wonderful read. There’s angst, but more importantly there’s kindness, and caretaking and vulnerability. I even re-learned how to drive a manual 😃. There’s plenty of momentum and I was committed from chapter one. Enjoy!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Lyla Sage for the ARC.

Swift and Saddled is the first book I've read from Lyla Sage, and it was so good that I'm now going to read Done and Dusted because I need Emmy and Brook's story. Wes was just swoon worthy in this book, and I fell in love with him straight away, and I enjoyed Ada growth throughout the book.

AHHH absolutely love her books!! Characters and vibes are both amazing! Gives me chestnut springs vibes in the best way possible.

I didn't think I could love a cowboy romance more than I loved Done and Dusted.. until I read this book - it was incredible!

The tension between Wes and Ada from their first kiss is EVERYTHING 😍 that she tries so hard to resist because he's her boss but just can't resist his charm, is just *chefs kiss*.

I loved that the story touched on some sensitive subjects such as mental health and also controlling relationships showing the vulnerability in both the FMC and MMC.

And let's not forget the spice, I mean.. their connection and the tension is 🥵 I was swooning, kicking my feet and it left me blushing!

I'm hoping there is a third booking coming because I am desperate to get lost in the world of these characters again, Lyla Sage's writing is just incredible!

This is my first cowboy romance, and oh boy, what planet have I been on! How have I not found them sooner?!? 😅

It features some of my fave micro topes/settings:
He falls first.
Opposites attract.
She's a designer, renovating his place.
Forced proximity (she's living on site!)
Found Family ❤️
He's a small-town guy... she's a city girl 🎶 does that remind anyone of a song??

Swift and Saddled is the sequel to Done and Dusted in the Rebel Blue Ranch series starring Ada and Weston. You don't have to read in order (I'm going to go back and read the first), but it does give away which couples get together 😋

Now I have just one problem... I NEED MORE COWBOY READING RECS! 📚 😆

Overall, this was a fun, fast read with laughs, feels and steam.

4,5/5

Great novel! I immediately became attached to Ada. I loved her determination and courage. Her attraction to Weston is instantaneous and their immediate chemistry can be felt across the pages. Weston is also a very good main character. It's so rare to see a man talk openly about his doubts and vulnerabilities. Seeing him suffer, struggle, and acknowledge his chronic depression and not be ashamed to seek treatment or talk about it was really touching. Watching their love story slowly build around the renovation of Weston's project was beautiful and sweet. I also loved the secondary characters and can't wait to discover their stories too.

Besides sports romance, I really like romantic stories that take place on ranches with cowboys. I was curious about this story even though I haven’t read the first book in the series (and I don’t think it’s necessary, I got the gist of things without is). I was quite pleased. The characters were so amazing, especially Wes with his tender heart and caring nature. Ada was so relatable to me, feeling not being likeable enough. I also liked the mental illness representation. The conflict was so lifelike and I really liked how undeterred Wes was by it, how he chose to be patient with Ada and had faith in her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

I loved this book!!!

I knew I would enjoy it before I started it because I adored the first book. But this one was even better.

Ada and Wes were so so cute and their chemistry was so clear to read you couldn’t deny it. The plot and character developments were literally perfection and I liked that the story wasn’t forgotten and replaced with just smut! As sometimes the smut takes over the story.

Also the found family trope was adorable. I love that she became friends with people from wes’s group of friends.

Ugh I just love them. I recommend this book a thousand times over.

thank you netgalle for a giving me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

without spoiling too much, we follow West and Ada and how they fall in love.

It is not a bad book but it is not for me. Lyla's writting is not for me. Starting with the positive, i enjoyed the family dynamics, the horses and the sneak peeks for following books but this one?? not that much. Ada lost all her bravery the moment she stepped out of that bar and i missed that Ada from the first pages so much. It was also too much instalovey which is a me thing. i didnt like the ada trying to be different and she is not like the other girls part, and the if you dont like this thing is bcs of the patriarchy bit like cmon be for real. The dialogues left me wanting for something that i did not find in any part of the book and there were aspects that needed to be more talked about like ada's ex husband. it felt like the author didnt know what to write to make it interesting, wrote THAT part and then decided to just leave it there. Maybe in following books we will have an explanation but as of right now im not hopeful

My oh my, it was so good!

A perfect small town story with a cowboy to hit you right in the feels.

I'm not a fan of insta-lust, but this one was done so well! Wes and Ada have so much chemistry. Their smut scenes were great.

Wes is my kind of man. He's perfect! He's kind, caring, loving, but also possesive and hot. I loved how considerate he is. He is a consent king, he never wanted to push any of Ada's boundaries. He was open about his struggles with depression, I am so thankful for the representation, I am head over heels for men who aren't afraid to be vulnerable.

Ada was a great character as well. I felt so bad for her struggles and trauma for the past relationship. She was a breath of fresh air, in a sea of sometimes comically sunshine heroines, she's reserved, shy and even not that likable at a first encounter. I could really relate to her. There's not necessarily a reverse grumpy and sunshine trope, I wouldn't say despite all of it Ada is a grump, Wes has some of a golden retriever energy inside him, but he also has depression so. I like how that opposites attract trope isn't as in your face here. Both Ada and Wes feel like real people and not creatures with saturated personalities for a romcom.

Highly recommend!

“You’re the moon…And I’m the tides. You pull me in without even trying, and I come to you willingly. I always will”

This book had big shoes to follow in because I loved Done and Dusted and I am delighted to say that this follow up is 100% as good as the first book.

We have two very different characters in this book - Ada and Wes. Wes is a gorgeous, cinnamon role of a man. He acts like Ada is the sun - he can’t do enough for her and it is clear that he worships her.

Ada is a great character - she’s complex, battling with trying to protect herself and also desperately wanting to be loved by Wes. The chemistry between these characters starts early and just builds and builds until it reaches a happy breaking point. Lyla Sage found the sweet spot where it was a slow build but not so slow I became impatient and just wanted them to get on with it.

The whole Ryder family are back in this series and I loved being back in their embrace. They are the family everyone would love to live in and Amos continues to be one of my favourite characters.

I just loved this book. It’s well written, well developed characters and a fantastic continuation of a series which is fast becoming a new favourite.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Quercusbooks for letting me read and review an advanced copy

This book SLAYED just like the first.
I'm obsessed with anything Lyla sage writes she grips me every time.
A beautiful cover and a beautiful book and story.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a sucker for cowboy romances!! It feel like there’s some kind of drug in these books.

After I read the first book in this series, I was instantly hooked. And I was really intrigued about Wes & Ada’s book. I absolutely loved the black cat x golden retriever energy this book was giving.

I really loved Ada’s character. At first we saw her be really reserved and closed off to people but loved how at the end of the book she opens up and lets people in. Related to her about the struggles she faced with developing meaningful female friendships. So to see the friendship that developed between her and the other girls was so wholesome.

Wes was just adorable. I don’t think I saw any flaw in him. Like what’s there not to like about a hot cowboy who’s a gentleman and makes you feel supported and wanted?? Like hello I’d marry that man right then and there. Appreciated that the book touched on mental health struggles especially from a man’s POV because we don’t see that a ton in books.

I also can sense the found family trope this book is gonna serve when we’ll get the next books and that is always my fave thing. Very patiently waiting for Gus’s book now.