I was really worried about this book. I was dying for a Teddy and Gus story from the second I finished the first story, and this did not disappoint. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve read a string of average books lately, or it just hit the right spot, but this was everything I wanted. This is how a best friend’s brother, grumpy sunshine book should be. Set over a summer, but not feeling rushed, and you can see the natural progression of the relationship growing, as well as the characters growing to understand each others flaws and quirks. No sudden instalust or love here. No just ‘bam feelings’. It was Perfection. Loved it. Can’t wait for the next. It was worth the wait.

I received and arc of this on netgalley from hachette Aus, all reviews are my own.

I was so incredibly grateful to be approved to read this, I am obsessed with the previous two books and the third did NOT disappoint. The way teddy and Gus build their relationship is so real and raw! It made it even more special to have it all happen with him as a single father!
The epilogue… I can’t contain my excitement for the next book! Incredibly written and in a way to leave room for potential rebel blue ranch books! Thankyou for creating more quality cowboy romances!

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you Hachette Australia). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been waiting for Gus and Teddy's book since their first on page interaction in book 1, Done and Dusted. The aminosity between the two of them sparked off the pages!

This is an enemies to lovers story - and the slow burn and the change from hate to love in the relationship was well done. Always look deeper than face value!

Teddy (FMC) is at a cross roads in her life. Well technically she is at a full stop! Things are just going south in general and she is having crisis of what if this is it. One of these things is the loss of her job - so well she is working things out she agrees to be a nanny for the summer to help her arch nemesis out.

Gus (MMC) is just flat out trying to be everything to everyone and inevitably some balls drop. He is also not used to asking for help. I really connected with this character as I am the same. Asking for help is hard especially when you are meant to have everything under control!

I loved having the main characters from the other books pop in and out. This series is truly about family and I am here for it.

The only downside for me in the book was Gus and Teddy inner monologues about wanting a traditional family. I feel like adding the word traditional was unnecessary. It came up a few times and it made me feel a bit meh.

Overall I enjoyed this book and can't wait for Cam and Dusty's book!

‘And the truth was, I’d rather fight with Teddy than be happy with anyone else.’

LYLA SAGE SHOWED THE HELL UP WITH TEDDY & GUS, THANK YOU MA’AM.

This book is the easiest five stars I’ve given. It’s cheeky and tender, a saucy minx with a gorgeous heart and the best kind of slow burn sparks and crackling tension that is why I still love a good western romance classic meets all-the-snaps sass of Something to Talk About.

Thank you Lyla for writing this book and the way you honoured and brought Teddy and Gus to life. This truly is a love letter to the dads and men that show up always. It’s a dedication to the soul sisters who are their own love language.

It’s the heart of Gus and Teddy and all the ways your person sees you, and you show up for each other where it matters. They are a love story.

With No Spoilers, Teaser Honourable Mentions Are:

🎸 August x Theodora
🎸 Hissing Forced Proximity
🎸 Lionheart Teddy
🎸 Amos and Hank are National Treasures
🎸 Sneaky dimples and forehead kisses
🎸 Teddy and Emmie
🎸 Gus Ryder’s mouth. Enough said 😏

I honestly didn’t want this book to end. Lyla’s storytelling is authentic and audacious, it’s bawdy and beautiful, small acts and significant love.

Lost and Lassoed will forever remain etched on my heart ♥️

Thank you again to Hachette Australia and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Favourite moment (no spoilers) is:

“What if I want to hear you say it?”
“Then you’ll have to do better than that.”
“God, you’re annoying,”

A Rebel Blue Ranch 5 ⭐️ 🩵

2.8 stars

“Lost and Lassoed” by Lyla Sage follows Teddy Andersen as she finds herself feeling lost for the first time in her life. Known for her laid-back attitude, Teddy is suddenly shaken by a series of small crises—her favourite vintage jacket gets ruined, her sewing machine breaks down, and her best friend announces her engagement. These events prompt Teddy to reassess her contentment with her small-town life. Meanwhile, Gus Ryder is grappling with the pressures of managing his family’s expansive 8,000-acre ranch while also taking care of his lively six-year-old daughter over the summer. With his responsibilities piling up, Gus reluctantly turns to Teddy for help. As she is his younger sister’s best friend and someone with whom he has a fraught history, their collaboration stirs up long-buried feelings. This tension challenges them both as they struggle to balance their growing attraction with their need to keep their relationship professional.

In the first two books of the series, "Done and Dusted" and "Swift and Saddled," it's clear that Teddy and Gus are portrayed as total enemies who can't stand each other. Their interactions highlight their animosity, which made me eager to dive into this book, especially since I enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope. Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. While I didn't hate it, I didn't love it either. I anticipated a slow build-up to their relationship, but they only genuinely hated each other for a brief portion of the story. Then, quite abruptly, they began to see each other in a new light, and by the 40% mark, they were already acknowledging their attraction. I wish the author had opted for a slower burn or provided more details about their evolving relationship. As a result, it was challenging to connect with the characters, as the story felt quite surface-level. However, I did find empathy with Teddy’s struggles, particularly her relationship with her dad and best friend. Her concern for her father's health and their shared heartfelt moments were genuinely touching. I also related to Teddy's frustration and sadness regarding the changes in her friendship with Emmy, her best friend, as Emmy’s relationship with her fiancé evolved. I appreciate the author’s exploration of how love relationships can impact friendships.

On top of that, this story features a single-dad trope with Gus and his six-year-old daughter, Riley. I found it refreshing that Gus has a friendly relationship with Riley’s mother, Cam, which isn’t something you usually see in these kinds of stories. I’m thankful for this cause then we don’t get any OW drama.

Another thing that really disappointed me was this random flashback chapter that came out of nowhere. We were suddenly given hints about something that happened between them, only to find out it was a kiss that added no real depth to the storyline. Then, out of the blue, we get this whole chapter about that kiss, and it felt totally unnecessary and out of place in the story. I don’t understand why we couldn’t have a detailed explanation or a conversation between them about why they harboured such long-standing hostility instead of focusing on this insignificant flashback. It just didn’t fit well with the rest of the story at all.

Overall, I find Lyla Sage’s books tend to stay quite surface level for me. "Lost and Lassoed" is a quick fun read, but it didn’t quite capture my heart. I think that there are so many other books featuring MMC cowboys, small-town settings, forced proximity, and the single-dad trope that are far more engaging and thrilling than this one (Heartless by Elsie Silver). It’s disappointing because I had eagerly awaited Teddy and Gus’s story for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the ARC.

Absolutely devoured this one. It was so easy to read. Enemies to lovers, best friend’s older brother, single dad/temporary nanny, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine. Perfection 🥰

@authorlylasage can do no wrong ♥️♥️

Wow. Just wow. This is far and away my favourite instalment of the Rebel Blue Ranch series thus far. Emmy and Brooks were electric, Ada and Wes were like a warm hug. But Gus and Teddy? Inevitable, magnetic. Just, yes. This is a cowboy romance that ticks all the boxes.

As always, the wider universe is just superb. The cast of characters around the ranch are great (shout out to Amos) and it is nice to see past couples evolving and growing beyond their respective novels. Teddy, is just my girl. Theodora is such a well written character, the fun, flirty, full of life one who will stand up for her friends and strangers alike. She was written in a manner that gave her so much depth and direction, between her family complications, road blocks with her career and feeling left behind as her friends moved on, there was something in Teddy for all of us who have (or are about to) hit thirty and found that the plan might need to change. Her femininity and focus on fashion and by extension creating clothes isn’t something that’s disguised or frowned upon, but a key part of her character and celebrated. And Gus, Cowboy Daddy August, doesn’t he just check all the boxes. Hot dad? Yeah. Hard working? 100%. Good with animals? You know it. The oldest child syndrome is strong with this one and his intense need to protect his family was so well written, his worry leapt from the page. Also, the dyslexia representation? Bravo. It was there, it was worked in, in an authentic manner, but it wasn’t a defining characteristic or overshadow any part of Gus’ character.

And their dynamic! It was both a slow burn and an angsty longing. We were given time to see the relationship between them shift from antagonistic, to begrudging respect, to intense longing. It was nice to see friendships develop between characters in this book, Teddy and Dusty’s friendship in particular was sweet and it was nice to see the opposite end of the relationship between her and Emmy.

I’ve been waiting for this book since Teddy and Gus had their first interaction in Done and Dusted, and it delivered. I am beyond excited to see where the series goes from here and can’t wait to see how things progress with Cam (girl seems like she needs a self-care day ASAP). Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.

"Lost and Lassoed" by Lyla Sage immerses readers into the heartfelt complexities of Teddy and Gus' evolving relationship amidst the rustic charm of Rebel Blue Ranch. This third installment in the Rebel Blue Ranch series deftly weaves together several engaging tropes—forced proximity, best friend's brother, enemies to lovers, and nanny romance—creating a narrative that is both tender and exhilarating.

The story follows Teddy and Gus as they navigate the shifting dynamics from adversaries to allies, and ultimately to lovers. Teddy's spirited nature, nurtured by her lifelong friendship with Emmy, Gus' sister, adds a wild and unpredictable element to their connection. Meanwhile, Gus, initially seen through a lens of animosity, reveals his sensitive and caring side as their relationship deepens.

One of the book's strengths lies in its rich character development. Teddy retains her free-spirited essence throughout, providing a refreshing counterpoint to Gus' more grounded demeanor. The poignant subplot involving Teddy's father's health scare adds a layer of emotional depth, underscoring the fragility and resilience of family ties.

Central to the narrative is Teddy's evolving bond with Riley, Gus' daughter, which blossoms organically amidst the backdrop of ranch life. This relationship not only serves as a catalyst for Teddy's personal growth but also anchors her burgeoning connection with Gus.

"Lost and Lassoed" is a testament to Lyla Sage's storytelling prowess, blending romance, family dynamics, and personal growth into a seamless tapestry. With its poignant moments and heartwarming resolutions, this novel is sure to captivate fans of contemporary romance and leave them eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, ‘Wild and Wrangled’.