In Lost and Lassoed, Lyla Sage delivers a fun and heartwarming romance set on the picturesque Rebel Blue Ranch in Meadowlark, Montana. The story centers around Teddy, a woman at a crossroads in her life, and Gus, her long-time rival, who are forced to navigate their shared history and growing attraction.

Teddy (Theodora) grew up on the Rebel Blue Ranch, where her father worked as a ranch hand after giving up his rock-star life to settle down. Raised alongside her best friend, Emmy, the daughter of the ranch owner Amos, Teddy’s relationship with Emmy’s brother Gus has always been strained. They’ve had a tense and playful dynamic for years, with a shared attraction that neither of them is willing to acknowledge—thanks to a mysterious event from their past that’s made them both wary of getting too close. The back-and-forth banter between them is sharp, often funny, and sometimes a bit “delightfully mean.” As Emmy’s wedding approaches, she’s had enough of their bickering and makes them promise to get along for her sake.

Teddy is struggling in her own way. She’s recently lost her job at a boutique and is living with her ailing father while feeling left behind as she watches her best friend move forward in life. Meanwhile, Gus is dealing with his own challenges—his ex, Cam, is working in the city while preparing for law school, leaving Gus to juggle life on the ranch and caring for his six-year-old daughter, Riley. When Gus forgets to pick Riley up from soccer practice, he realizes he’s in over his head and reluctantly agrees to hire Teddy as a nanny, despite their ongoing tension.

At first, their interactions are awkward, as they both try to behave for Riley’s sake, but slowly, they begin to find common ground. Teddy takes to life on the ranch, and her bond with Riley grows stronger each day. Gus, who initially hired Teddy out of necessity, starts to soften as he sees how well she connects with his daughter. The more they spend time together, the more they open up about their struggles—Gus’s hectic life as a single dad and ranch owner, and Teddy’s feelings of uncertainty. As their relationship shifts from rivalry to friendship, it’s clear they’re both developing deeper feelings for each other.

Things take a turn when the group heads to Emmy and Luke’s newly renovated bar, the Devil’s Boot, where they enjoy a lively night of mechanical bull riding, dancing, and fun. It’s here that Gus begins to truly see Teddy in a new light, and the chemistry between them sparks in a way that’s impossible to ignore.

While the romance is sweet and the chemistry undeniable, I did feel that the tension from their past could have been explored further. The reason for their animosity seemed underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting more clarity about what happened between them seven years ago. Their transition from enemies to friends felt a bit rushed, especially given the emotional weight they were both carrying. However, the charming setting of the ranch, the lovable characters, and the beautiful descriptions of the Montana landscape more than make up for it. I could almost feel the fresh mountain air as they rode out to search for wildflowers, and the family dynamics on the ranch were endearing.

Lost and Lassoed is a quick, satisfying read filled with humor, heart, and a slow-burn romance that will keep you turning pages. The characters are relatable, funny, and kind, and it’s easy to see why Lyla Sage’s cowboy romances are quickly becoming fan favorites. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series, Wild and Wrangled, and can’t wait to see where the author takes us next.

thank you to netgalley and random house publishing group for this eARC!

oh my god? i loved this book. i will say, i’m a sucker for a good single parent trope (as long as the kids are well written). like that dynamic is so freaking adorable; the parent watching fondly as the love interest laughs with the kid or takes care of them? never gets old. so this book definitely has that in its favor.

i was also very excited about gus and teddy’s relationship going into this book. their dynamic in the first two books led into this perfectly. i like the play on grumpy/sunshine, because that in and of itself can feel a little tired, but the grumpy/badass thing really worked for me.

this book also did a really great job with the emotional aspects. i live for the ryder family dynamic and sage definitely got me crying a couple times with that. amos, wes, and emmy’s care for gus was written so well and i loved it. i also feel like she did a great job writing the change in emmy and teddy’s friendship. it was a legitimate, realistic problem and i felt like they were navigating it in a very realistic way.

i knew i was gonna love this book, and i did. would one hundred percent recommend this series to any romance readers, even if you’re unsure about the cowboy thing, because i was and look where we ended up.

✨Book Review✨
🤠📿Lost and Lassoed 📿🤠Rebel Blue Ranch #3

Synopsis:
🤠The grumpiest cowboy, Gus, realizes he needs some help watching his daughter, Riley, and his sister’s best friend, Teddy, who is also his arch nemesis, just happens to be available. As the summer heats up, tension turns to unexpected attraction. Will they resist or risk it all?

My thoughts:
🤔This might just be my favorite in the series so far! I loved it! ❤️
🤔The banter and chemistry between Gus and Teddy is just phenomenal!
🤔I also appreciated the themes of family and friendship throughout this book. When I compare this one to the first two, this one seemed to focus more on the storylines rather than the romance piece, which I really liked. Gus and Teddy’s connection is emotional and deep. But if you are really into romance, don’t worry because….
🤔Just like the other two, this book had some steamy scenes!!! I definitely blushed a few times while I was reading it!

Read this one if you like….
🌄Small town, big sky vibes
🤠Cowboy Romance
🤠Grumpy ☀️(Free-spirit) Sunshine
❤️Enemies to Lovers
🏠Forced proximity
💕Dual POV

📢This one is the third installment of a four book series. It recently released on November 5, 2024. The fourth book, Wild and Wrangled, comes out April 15, 2025!

🥰Thank you to @TheDialPress and @NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book! Lyla Sage has done it again with Lost and Lassoed, and honestly, I’m obsessed with the Rebel Blue Ranch series. Gus was the absolute perfect grumpy character—every scowl, grumble, and moment of stubbornness was spot-on. And then there’s Teddy, who didn’t take an ounce of his shit. She knew how to push his buttons in all the best ways, and their dynamic was chef’s kiss.

They were perfectly matched, and watching them build their little family was so heartwarming. Every scene had me smiling, swooning, or screaming into my pillow (in the best way). Also, I fear I now need a cowboy in my life something desperate—like, where do I sign up for this life?

I continue to be a fan of tnhis series even though the coveres imply cowboy genre which I guess it is but it isn't really, anyway I love this family and the characters and looking forward to the next one

I normally find myself fully immersed in books like this, but something about this didn't fully grip me. Maybe it was the writing style, the dropping and picking up of plots or the characters, but I enjoyed it all the same. That said, I did find myself tuning out during the sex, which is odd.

5 ✨

TEDDY AND GUS MY BELOVEDS. I’m just simply a ghost of nothing after finishing their book like they stole my heart, my soul and my everything and left me a shell. I’m not even being dramatic right now like I don’t know what to do now that I have read Teddy and Gus’ story. Their enemies to lovers storyline was just absolute enjoyment to the fullest with a side plot of single dad/nanny and best friend’s brother and of course COWBOY!!!! 🤠

Gus Ryder has always been the brother that spoke most to be from the very beginning with his grumpy exterior and soft tendencies for his daughter Riley. I also loooooved the small snippets we got of Gus and Teddy’s long lasting feud and how that perfectly made sense for how their book started. Teddy’s relationship with Riley was just everything and more to me. The way that they bonded so quickly was just gold to me and I loved the fact that Gus started to see Teddy in a different light because of it (or one of the reasons why). LTeddy is one of strongest and most powerful characters I have read about, the strength she has when it comes to everything with her dad was just so inspiring to me.

The enemies to lovers pipeline is always one of my all time favorite because of the extra underlining tension we get between the characters and when it comes to Gus and Teddy it’s just that. The delicious sexual tension that they have even at the beginning when they “hate” each other. And the realization why they hate each other had me SCREAMINGGGGG. It’s definitely the best book of the series yet and it made me even more excited for Wild and Wrangled with Cam and Dusty.

I love my cowboy romances and this series has just become one of my favorite cowboy series and generally one of my favorite series EVER. Lyla is an amazing author and writer and I just know her future is bright even after the Rebel Blue Ranch series ends. I’m just glad to be there for the ride!

🤭 What to expect
— loathe to love
— cowboy romance
— enemies to lovers
— single dad/nanny
— best friends’s brother
— takes place on a ranch
— small town
— interconnected series
— forced proximity
— grumpy/sunshine

Thank you @prhaudio for a free audiobook and NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an eARC.
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Sometimes you just need a book that you know you can escape into and thanks @authorlylasage for giving us this world to do just that.
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It’s been a week and I am thankful for books that bring me joy. Enemies to lovers is a fave and Teddy and Gus were perfection! Loved their banter and how they both had tough exteriors protecting gooey hearts. Loved that we get glimpses of the other characters as well. Just what I needed this week!

I love love LOVE these!!! This one is my favorite out of the 3 !!! Maybe book 4 will top it??? I loved the build up between Teddy and Gus in the first two books! This book is chefs kiss! Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review!

The couple we’ve all been waiting for did not disappoint! Hate to be coming near the end of this series

This is the third book in Lyla Sage's Rebel Blue Ranch series. And if you know me, you know these books are total comfort reads for me. Every time we go back to the ranch and immerse ourselves in this world again, it's like coming home. I've adored all three of these books and recommended them to everyone as much as I can.

Teddy and Gus❤️❤️She thrives in chaos. He prefers routine. The only thing they have in common? How much they hate each other.

I've known since Done & Dusted that Gus and Teddy were meant to be. Every reader felt the underlying tension in their sassy banter for each other, and we couldn't wait to get to their story. For that very reason, I went in with so many expectations for these two. Honestly, Lyla nailed everything I wanted and more.

Teddy is someone all us women can relate to at some point in our lives. The caretaker, the woman looking forward, not knowing where she is going in life, or the best friend going through it when your friend is in a different place in life than you are. Teddy goes forward and never stops reaching for what she wants with that zeal for life we all wish we had. She's that loud, strong friend we all need. I adore her. ❤️

Because of all that, Gus is her perfect balance. The responsible, grumpy dad who is always taking on everything for everyone is the type of person Teddy needs. They don't want to admit it, but they are really good for each other. (And that compatibility! 🔥) They trust each other and need each other. I've loved watching their growth.

For all these reasons (and all the laughing and crying I did while reading this one!), it is now my favorite in the series. Lyla delivers an "enemies to lovers" story that never disappoints and was worth the wait. I hope you all love this one as much as I did.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A huge thank you to @netgalley
@thedialpress for my digital ARC. And of course, thank you to @authorlylasage for giving us such wonderful stories and always being such a sweetheart. 😉 I can't wait for Wild & Wrangled.

Lyla sage is a goddess especially with her cowboys! this was a fun spin on nanny and enemies to lovers is always a hit for me.

Love stories between cowboys and city girls are always a delightful mix! Their very different lives can bring about such fun and unexpected moments. When their paths cross, it creates a unique and special bond that lasts forever.

Teddy (FMC) was happy to be settled in her hometown but recently has felt stuck as friends' lives and work opportunities have shifted. Gus (MMC) is a bit of a grump with all of his responsibilities (his 6-year-old daughter and taking over the family ranch.) Both of them live to torment the other, until...

I'm not usually an enemies-to-lovers OR cowboy romance person, but Sage convinces you when you discover the characters' depth and how they balance each other out. This was a fun one.

Read if you like:
•Single Parent
•Enemies to Lovers
•Best Friends Brother
•Meddling families
•Second Chance
•Sunny vs grumpy

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Explicit Open Door: At least two intimate scenes, explicit language with a variety of sexual acts.

Lost and Lassoed continues the Rebel Blue Ranch series. This time we get the annoyed to lovers story of fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants Teddy and stick-in-the-mud Gus. These two have been picking at each other since we first met them in Done and Dusted and the culmination of their years of antagonism is very satisfying. Their growth both together and as individuals throughout the book feels very earned and when they realize how well suited they are to each other, you really buy it as the reader. This series just gets better and better. Each new pairing has been exactly the one that I wanted to read about and their stories have been so satisfying. I'll be sad to see it end!

Perfection. I read "Lost and Lassoed" in one sitting. Lyla Sage's writing feels incredibly real! From the emotions to the layered dynamics of the family and friendships - and the actual ranching! This series is the highlight of contemporary Western romances.

I love how Teddy & Gus each so desperately want to take care of others and then find respite in each other. The co-parenting is also done well - and now I am greatly looking forward to Cam's story!

This story can be read as a standalone, but the whole series is fabulous.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

I’ve read all of the books in this series. This book is a continuation of a different family member who live on a ranch. The dynamics between Gus and Teddy was so fun, and completely sexually charged. My favorite troupe is enemies to lovers & this book did not disappoint. This book was very steamy and also in parts it was funny.

This grumpy x sunshine combo is just the thing to get you out of a reading slump.

Gus thinks he's got everything covered with the ranch and raising his six-year-old daughter on his own while her mother and future stepfather are in Jackson. Things are being forgotten, he needs a hand, and Teddy needs a job since her boss decided to sell the boutique that she's helped to build to its current success.

Under some pressure from Emmy and the rest of the Rebel Blue family, Gus and Teddy reluctantly agree to work together for the summer and things come to realization that neither of them is as bad as the other paints them.

As always I loved Lyla Sage's writing in this novel! This is the 3rd book in her debut smalltown cowboy romance series. The first book hit for me, the second didn't, and then this one made up for it! The FMC and MMC are both very likeable, and the length of the book is on the shorter side but packs a punch in for the length. For fans of Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series, this series should be your next read! :)

“It turned out, much to my surprise, that Teddy Andersen was pretty good company when she wasn’t being a fucking menace.”

Lost and Lassoed, is a heartwarming, fast-paced romance that’s the perfect mix of humor, emotion, fun, and steam. This book is part of an interconnected standalone series “Rebel Blue Ranch”, since reading the first book (Done and Dusted) I have been patiently waiting for Gus and Teddy's story! Happy to say that their story did not disappoint!

Teddy suddenly loses her job when her boss decides to retire and sell her clothing boutique. This leads to an unexpected turn of events, her best friend's brother Gus, needs someone to pick up his daughter. Gus cannot stand Teddy and she isn’t who he had in mind to step in to help him. But no one else can help, so she’s the only option. The struggle of being a hardworking rancher, balancing his family life, and career, leads Gus to needing a nanny. His family talks him into hiring his nanny.

I absolutely ate this up! I love all these tropes and they fit so well in the story. Teddy’s confident, loud, not afraid to speak her mind, and loves deeply. One part that made her very relatable was that she felt like everyone around her is finding their “person” while she’s still figuring things out. It made me feel seen and gave me hope to find happiness like she did. Gus is grumpy, cowboy, with a hidden tender heart. I loved the dynamic between Gus and Teddy, together they fit like puzzle pieces and I did not want to stop reading! The undeniable chemistry, hysterical banter, and HOT sexual tension. The spice was sweet but also HOT af! I love spice and would totally love more. I definitely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone that loves these tropes and wants a great blend of humor, sexual tension.

Tropes:
cowboy romance
small town romance
hate to love
single dad x nanny
forced proximity
grumpy x sunshine
best friend's brother
cowboy romance
small town romance

4.5/5 stars
2.5/5 spice