After falling in love with Elsie Silver’s cowboy romances, I was excited to dive into Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series. Here are my reviews for Done and Dusted (book 1), Swift and Saddled (book 2), and Lost and Lassoed (book 3):

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press
Pub Date: 10/24/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Done and Dusted is the first book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series and is Lyla’s debut. Emmy Ryder returns to her hometown Meadowlark, after an accident ends her horse racing career. She reconnects with Luke Brooks, the town’s bad boy and her older brother’s best friend, who finds himself irresistibly drawn to her despite the consequences. As Emmy tries to figure out her future, their rekindled connection can either relive her spirit or burn everything down.

After falling in love with Elsie Silver’s cowboy romances, I was excited to dive into Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series—and what a fantastic debut it was! I was captivated by the plot, the supporting characters, and the vibrant setting of Rebel Blue Ranch. Emmy’s character is endearing and her compelling backstory about returning to her hometown added depth to her persona. I appreciated getting Luke’s perspective, understanding his transformation from his past self to the better man he is now. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Emmy and Luke worked so well, with Luke providing genuine support as Emmy navigated her challenges. Their romance was believable, although Emmy’s hesitation, given Luke’s connection to her brother, was realistic. Their connection ultimately unfolded in the most heartwarming way. A standout for me was Emmy’s best friend, Teddy, whose unwavering support and loyalty were touching. After reading Done and Dusted, I immediately started reading Swift and Saddled, featuring Wes and Ava!

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press
Pub Date: 3/5/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Swift and Saddled is the second book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. Ada Hart, an independent city girl and interior designer, clashes and connects with Weston Ryder, a charismatic cowboy who turns out to be her new boss in Wyoming. Despite her resolve to stay professional, their growing attraction makes it difficult to maintain her boundaries.

I enjoyed reading Done and Dusted so I was excited to pick up Swift and Saddled ASAP! Although I’m kicking myself for not picking up Lyla Sage’s books sooner, I’m glad that this second book was released just a few months ago. Lyla returns with her engaging writing style. Normally, I’m not a fan of insta love stories, but the way Ava and Wes’s relationship developed felt natural and compelling. I appreciated Ava’s character and her backstory, particularly how the story portrays making friends later in life and finding a “found family.” The friendship dynamics among Ava, Cam, Teddy, and Emmy were heartwarming, highlighting their support for each other. Wes, known for his golden retriever energy from the first book, is explored more deeply here. Beyond his upbeat exterior, we learn about his struggles with depression, a facet of his character that adds depth but I felt that this could have been explored further. I enjoyed the book even though I wasn’t a fan of the third act breakup and the quick ending. Now, I can’t wait to read Teddy and Gus’s story in Lost and Lassoed later this year!

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press
Pub Date: 11/5/2024

Thank you to Dial Press for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lost and Lassoed is the third book in the Rebel Blue series. Teddy Andersen finds herself struggling with changes in her life, including her best friend’s engagement and doubts about her future in her beloved small town. Meanwhile, Gus Ryder, overwhelmed by responsibilities on his family’s ranch and his daughter, reluctantly accepts Teddy’s help, leading to unexpected romantic tensions as they navigate their newfound feelings.

Now that I’m fully invested in the Rebel Blue series, I couldn’t wait to read Teddy and Gus’s story. Spoiler alert: this was a 5-star read and Lyla Sage’s best work yet! Lost and Lassoed pulled at my heartstrings, and the ending was sweet! The story is told from two perspectives: Teddy and Gus. I loved how Lyla made each character deeply complex and showed their growth throughout the story. I was also impressed with how Lyla integrated Riley, Gus’s six-year-old daughter, and wrote her character perfectly for her age. The enemies-to-lovers and slow-burn romance was chef’s kiss! It was great to see Emmy, Brooks, Wes, and Ava continue on here as supporting characters. Now, Wild and Wrangled, the fourth book in the series, can’t come soon enough—I can’t wait for Cam and Dusty’s story! If you love Elsie Silver’s books, I highly recommend picking up this series!

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 7/9/2024

Thank you to Berkley Romance & PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ian Chase’s public divorce jeopardizes his hockey career, but teaming up with Delilah Baker, his best friend’s little sister and baking show host, offers a solution. As their fake relationship helps both their careers, the lines between what’s for the show and real feelings starts to blur.

Lana Ferguson has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors! Her ability to craft compelling stories across various romance tropes never ceases to amaze me and I was thrilled to dive into a hockey and baker romance with The Game Changer. The chemistry between Delilah and Ian was both sweet and spicy, making their connection irresistibly engaging. Their banter was on fire, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to their blossoming romance. What stood out to me was Ian’s character development throughout the story, which added depth and authenticity to the narrative. The dual perspectives from Delilah and Ian kept me thoroughly engaged, allowing me to connect with both characters on a deeper level. The quirky side characters, especially Delilah’s older brother and Ian’s best friend, Jack, brought additional charm to the story. Jack’s dynamic presence has me hoping for his own love story in a future book. The Game Changer is now my all-time favorite book from Lana Ferguson to date. Highly recommend picking this one up!

Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon
Publisher: Forever
Pub Date: 6/4/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon, Ashanti Wright is thrilled about her thriving dog boarding business and dreams of expanding with a doggie bake shop, but her plans hit a snag when the building she wants is sold to the surly Thaddeus Sims. Despite his disdain for dogs, Thad takes in his grandmother’s Poodle, leading to a viral sensation with Ashanti’s French Bulldog and sparking unexpected chemistry between Ashanti and Thad.

I’ve been hooked on Farrah Rochon’s writing since Forever Pub introduced me to The Boyfriend Project series! I still remember meeting Farrah last year at Steamy Lit Con when she was so excited to be in the final stages of finalizing her cover for this book. When she told me what it was about, I was so stoked! Any books involving dogs? Definitely count me in! Pardon My Frenchie checks all the boxes. There are two main characters going through their own struggles who find each other, don’t get along at first, but eventually support each other. I love how Farrah portrays Ashanti and Thad. I have to admit, like Ashanti, I didn’t like Thad at first because he initially didn’t love dogs (red flag!), but he grew on me, and I could see why Ashanti fell in love with him. As for Ashanti, I wanted to give her a hug and tell her she’s doing amazing and everything would be okay. Farrah creates realistic characters while also giving us hope that everything will be okay. The enemies-to-lovers trope, slow burn romance, dog love, and New Orleans setting are the perfect combo for this book! Now I can’t wait for Evie’s book! Highly recommend picking this one up if you’re a dog lover!