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Rebel Blue Ranch #1
Done and Dusted
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 11:52:20
20 copies available
U.S. only
She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules.
For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.
Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.
Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?
For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.
Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.
Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2023
11029 people are currently reading
242192 people want to read
About the author
Lyla Sage
12 books13.2k followersLyla Sage lives in the Wild West with her loyal companion, a sweet, old, blind rescue pitbull. She writes romance that feels like her favorite things: sunshine and big blue skies. She is also the author of Done and Dusted. When she’s not writing, she’s reading.
Instagram: @authorlylasage
TikTok: @authorlylasage
Threads: @authorlylasage
https://linktr.ee/authorlylasage
Instagram: @authorlylasage
TikTok: @authorlylasage
Threads: @authorlylasage
https://linktr.ee/authorlylasage
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43,167 reviews
July 28, 2023
well, y’all know what they say: save a horse, ride a cowboy. especially if that cowboy is Luke Brooks.🤠✨
i cannot and will not get over how much i love the cover of this book. automatically buying the rest of the series simply for this reason.
(p.s. this is your sign to add more cowboy romance to your tbr immediately. you’re welcome.)
i cannot and will not get over how much i love the cover of this book. automatically buying the rest of the series simply for this reason.
(p.s. this is your sign to add more cowboy romance to your tbr immediately. you’re welcome.)
April 22, 2025
WHAT A FUN. CUTE. AND STEAMY BOOOOK!!!
i had so much fun w this one. yeehaw! 🤠 the banter, their friendship, the spice???? loved. and it was so short and quick.
HOWEVER.. TEDDY AND GUS????? I NEED. I NEEEEED THEMMMMM NOWWWW!!!!!
i had so much fun w this one. yeehaw! 🤠 the banter, their friendship, the spice???? loved. and it was so short and quick.
HOWEVER.. TEDDY AND GUS????? I NEED. I NEEEEED THEMMMMM NOWWWW!!!!!
December 5, 2024
Not to be dramatic but this book made me want to yee-hawl myself off a cliff.
July 10, 2023
if i had a pound for everytime he called her “sugar” i'd be a billionaire
June 28, 2023
4.5⭐️ BROTHERS BEST FRIEND??? Sign me up. I loved this book sm.
June 26, 2023
from this book i've learned that PTSD, panic attacks, and ADHD are no match for sexy cowboys. never mind therapy apparently all you need is a good dickin
December 30, 2024
I don't think I'm asking for too much when it comes to romance. I want banter, I want sizzle, and I want swoon. And yet, somehow, I keep coming across romance books with none of the above.
Emmy was thrown from her horse during barrel racing, so she's now back at her family's ranch recovering mentally from the accident and figuring out her next steps. Of course there's a cute boy next door who just happens to be her brothers' best friend and totally off-limits. All of a sudden, sparks are flying and Emmy and Luke can't help falling for each other.
Okay that's a great premise. But right off the bat, there's a problem. Where are the sparks? I detected not an ounce of sizzle or tension anywhere in here. The characters were bland, their conversations were bland, and I had a hard time imagining anyone falling in love or lust while saying such bland and boring things to each other.
A large part of the problem is the writing style. It essentially intercuts scenes inside the characters' heads (where they constantly go on and on about how beautiful the other person is and how attracted they are to them), with the aforementioned bland dialogue, with some additional scenes of them talking to their BFFs about how much they like the other person. It was just tell, tell, tell, with no show at all.
The things is, tension (romantic or otherwise) always comes from what is unsaid, not what is said. So if you have a story that is all tell and no show and essentially overshares and overexplains the feelings that the characters have for each other, then you have effectively killed good and dead the most important element in a story.
Another issue is the characters. It's not that they're unlikable, because that would mean there is something to dislike. It's more that they feel generic, like cardboard cutouts of what romance leads should be. Luke is nice and handsome and always there to lend a hand, while Emmy has deep-seated issues that Luke will inevitably swoop in and make all better. I guess I just expected a little bit more.
Even the cowboy element felt so bland. If you take out the fact that they're on a ranch and Luke wore a cowboy hat once in the whole story, and substitute a different sport for barrel racing, this would literally be any other romance. I don't think there was even a single cowboy expression or "yeehaw!" in here.
The other thing that was disappointing was the ADHD rep. There was specifically an author's note at the beginning of the book talking about how she has ADHD, and she wrote Emmy with that in mind. I'm always so heartened to see diverse representation in books, so when Emmy's ADHD turned out to be little more than her being messy and late to things, it felt lacking.
I'm sorry, but this book did not live up to the hype. Sure, if you're wanting a generic romance with some horses thrown in, there's nothing wrong with this one. But if you're hoping for even a little bit more, you're better off looking somewhere else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Emmy was thrown from her horse during barrel racing, so she's now back at her family's ranch recovering mentally from the accident and figuring out her next steps. Of course there's a cute boy next door who just happens to be her brothers' best friend and totally off-limits. All of a sudden, sparks are flying and Emmy and Luke can't help falling for each other.
Okay that's a great premise. But right off the bat, there's a problem. Where are the sparks? I detected not an ounce of sizzle or tension anywhere in here. The characters were bland, their conversations were bland, and I had a hard time imagining anyone falling in love or lust while saying such bland and boring things to each other.
A large part of the problem is the writing style. It essentially intercuts scenes inside the characters' heads (where they constantly go on and on about how beautiful the other person is and how attracted they are to them), with the aforementioned bland dialogue, with some additional scenes of them talking to their BFFs about how much they like the other person. It was just tell, tell, tell, with no show at all.
The things is, tension (romantic or otherwise) always comes from what is unsaid, not what is said. So if you have a story that is all tell and no show and essentially overshares and overexplains the feelings that the characters have for each other, then you have effectively killed good and dead the most important element in a story.
Another issue is the characters. It's not that they're unlikable, because that would mean there is something to dislike. It's more that they feel generic, like cardboard cutouts of what romance leads should be. Luke is nice and handsome and always there to lend a hand, while Emmy has deep-seated issues that Luke will inevitably swoop in and make all better. I guess I just expected a little bit more.
Even the cowboy element felt so bland. If you take out the fact that they're on a ranch and Luke wore a cowboy hat once in the whole story, and substitute a different sport for barrel racing, this would literally be any other romance. I don't think there was even a single cowboy expression or "yeehaw!" in here.
The other thing that was disappointing was the ADHD rep. There was specifically an author's note at the beginning of the book talking about how she has ADHD, and she wrote Emmy with that in mind. I'm always so heartened to see diverse representation in books, so when Emmy's ADHD turned out to be little more than her being messy and late to things, it felt lacking.
I'm sorry, but this book did not live up to the hype. Sure, if you're wanting a generic romance with some horses thrown in, there's nothing wrong with this one. But if you're hoping for even a little bit more, you're better off looking somewhere else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
November 30, 2024
4.35!
“Emmy was worth the wait. I’d been waiting thirty-two years for her without even knowing it, and she’d been right in front of me the whole time.”
Honestly I have nothing much to say other than this being one of the coziest, comfiest, cutest and hottest book that I have ever read, I flew there this book like I actually sat down and read the whole book in one sitting, it was that well written. Honestly I am not even joking, the pacing and the writing complimented the each other and the book so much, I was not bored once and I did not wanna stop either. You bet your ass that I will read all of lyla sage's books because this was amazing. Also NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP for the win!!
Luke brooks was such a cutie, he was the right amount of jealous which made the book so much fun. I loved how he brought the side out of emmy which so many people missed and finally made her feel like she wanted to live there and his whole interaction and banter with emmy was so fun to read. Emmy was sooooo fun to read about honestly!! the way she didnt tip toe around and just went ahead with her thoughts made everything so much better!! it literally saved the book from being a massive chunk.
The romance felt so natural with their chemistry and their banter that it felt so real. I loved how they interacted with each other! Them together was so cute and at times also hot!! That forbidden aspect of this relationship I think was my favourite part mainly because how well it was handled and because how interesting it made the romance. I feel like the romance overall was my favourite part of the book and the way it teases the other books like just give me teddy and gus's book please.
Overall, I would recommend!
___
This is honestly going on my comfort reads shelf because they were such cuties and hot at the same time 🤭
___
Finally starting this after procrastinating for over 5 months lol also uff buddy reading with your irl friends when you live far away and have different schedules is so hard 😭
-Buddy reading with Roxy as we re-enter our cowboy era (she finally got out of the slump!!)
“Emmy was worth the wait. I’d been waiting thirty-two years for her without even knowing it, and she’d been right in front of me the whole time.”
Honestly I have nothing much to say other than this being one of the coziest, comfiest, cutest and hottest book that I have ever read, I flew there this book like I actually sat down and read the whole book in one sitting, it was that well written. Honestly I am not even joking, the pacing and the writing complimented the each other and the book so much, I was not bored once and I did not wanna stop either. You bet your ass that I will read all of lyla sage's books because this was amazing. Also NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP for the win!!
Luke brooks was such a cutie, he was the right amount of jealous which made the book so much fun. I loved how he brought the side out of emmy which so many people missed and finally made her feel like she wanted to live there and his whole interaction and banter with emmy was so fun to read. Emmy was sooooo fun to read about honestly!! the way she didnt tip toe around and just went ahead with her thoughts made everything so much better!! it literally saved the book from being a massive chunk.
The romance felt so natural with their chemistry and their banter that it felt so real. I loved how they interacted with each other! Them together was so cute and at times also hot!! That forbidden aspect of this relationship I think was my favourite part mainly because how well it was handled and because how interesting it made the romance. I feel like the romance overall was my favourite part of the book and the way it teases the other books like just give me teddy and gus's book please.
Overall, I would recommend!
___
This is honestly going on my comfort reads shelf because they were such cuties and hot at the same time 🤭
___
Finally starting this after procrastinating for over 5 months lol also uff buddy reading with your irl friends when you live far away and have different schedules is so hard 😭
-Buddy reading with Roxy as we re-enter our cowboy era (she finally got out of the slump!!)
November 23, 2023
4.5 -cowgirl- stars
❃ - the writing was so fast passed oscillating between a prefect combo of cute, fluffy moments and hot, steamy scenes.
❃ - the protagonists’ were painted through the storyline with more depth than them "being together". they were lovable as a couple and even as individuals. emmy (fmc) was dealing with a shattered life after facing a life-altering trauma. luke (mmc) had not experienced the warmest household but the way his character was so kind and understanding with emmy, trying to help her cope with her fears -those moments were so beautifully orchestrated- it was simply and plainly precious. their relationship was perfectly balanced every time he was there for her she was there for him.
/!\ mini tiny spoilers /!\
❃- unpopular opinion im not a fan of brother’s bestfriend romance and im always reticent to read them but this one was so refreshing:
1➺he didn’t want to hide their relationship because he feared he brothers rection, on the contrary, he was so proud to be with her and enarmoued that he could’ve screamed it on a rooftop.
2➺ she wasn’t in love with him for her entire life or had a crush on him (minus a little crush at 13yo that quickly evaporated). she didn’t attribute him more than the role of her brother’s bestfriend or the guy that was much older and always annoyed her because he was always stuck in their house and ranch and thankfully he didn’t see her as a sister until boomboomshakala she grew up ..
3➺ sadly we got the homosapien-brotherly-act of "don’t ever touch my sister blablabla" *deep, deep breath* however, i decided to overlook it but i sincerely hope the brother is more likable in his own book.
P.S: the next book isn’t about Gus (the meh-brother) and Tobby (emmy’s bestfriend) but please, PLEASE LYLA just confirm that they’ll end up together 😭 I CANT BREATHE UNTIL I KNOW FOR SURE
~•~•~•~
rn all i need is cute..
❛ I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder.❜
❃ - the writing was so fast passed oscillating between a prefect combo of cute, fluffy moments and hot, steamy scenes.
"It was like everything about her was designed to drive me crazy."
"Hand me a pillow, and then lift your hips.” I did what he said." and.. imagine the rest 🤭
❃ - the protagonists’ were painted through the storyline with more depth than them "being together". they were lovable as a couple and even as individuals. emmy (fmc) was dealing with a shattered life after facing a life-altering trauma. luke (mmc) had not experienced the warmest household but the way his character was so kind and understanding with emmy, trying to help her cope with her fears -those moments were so beautifully orchestrated- it was simply and plainly precious. their relationship was perfectly balanced every time he was there for her she was there for him.
"He rested his forehead against mine. “What was that for?” I breathed.
“no one’s ever stood up for me before,” he said." c r y i n g. 🙂
"you made this? For me?” He looked at me like making this was the most obvious thing in the world for him to do. I had this funny feeling in my chest. No one had ever done anything like this for me before. I couldn’t believe it. “When did you do this?”
“Last night."
/!\ mini tiny spoilers /!\
❃- unpopular opinion im not a fan of brother’s bestfriend romance and im always reticent to read them but this one was so refreshing:
1➺he didn’t want to hide their relationship because he feared he brothers rection, on the contrary, he was so proud to be with her and enarmoued that he could’ve screamed it on a rooftop.
“I’ve been people’s dirty little secret before, and I didn’t care because I didn’t care about them, but I care about you.” His voice was firm, but still soft and kind.” s c r e a m i n g.
2➺ she wasn’t in love with him for her entire life or had a crush on him (minus a little crush at 13yo that quickly evaporated). she didn’t attribute him more than the role of her brother’s bestfriend or the guy that was much older and always annoyed her because he was always stuck in their house and ranch and thankfully he didn’t see her as a sister until boomboomshakala she grew up ..
"He deserved better.aren’t they so cute ?🥺
It was weird, spending time with Brooks this way. I’d known him nearly my entire life, but I didn’t actually know him."
3➺ sadly we got the homosapien-brotherly-act of "don’t ever touch my sister blablabla" *deep, deep breath* however, i decided to overlook it but i sincerely hope the brother is more likable in his own book.
P.S: the next book isn’t about Gus (the meh-brother) and Tobby (emmy’s bestfriend) but please, PLEASE LYLA just confirm that they’ll end up together 😭 I CANT BREATHE UNTIL I KNOW FOR SURE
~•~•~•~
rn all i need is cute..
August 10, 2023
I love cowboys
February 28, 2024
2.25/5
A bit boring, unoriginal, with lots of overused phrases that can probably be found in hundreds of romance novels these days. These are the first things that came to my mind after finishing it, because seriously, you could find hundreds of almost identical books, but I still somehow enjoyed it to some extent as I basically read it in two days.
I think the book could have been more enjoyable if the main characters were more likeable. The heroine was okay, even though some of her actions were just stupid, but the hero? This guy was insufferable most of the time.
You definitely threw her under the bus.
He shows up tipsy and late with his hookup to take you home because his best friend asked him to, and you smile at the memory because at least he showed up? The bar is in hell.
The writing style was entertaining enough to keep me engaged in the story, although I still skipped some things because I didn't care about them, but some of the sentences here were painful to read.
Is this sentence a requirement in romance books nowadays? I've seen this exact phrase in at least hundreds of romances.
It’s literally the TikTok sound. The originality is dead in books these days.
Honestly, I picked up this book because the second story is coming out in a few days and I wanted to see if this series is worth reading, and now I'm not even sure if I'll read it. Maybe, maybe not. I remember liking some of the books in the Chestnut Springs series from Elsie Silver and I feel like Lyla Sage took a lot of inspiration from it, so like I said, maybe I'll read the second book, because it might be the same situation as in the Chestnut series, in which some books worked for me and others didn't. We’ll see.
A bit boring, unoriginal, with lots of overused phrases that can probably be found in hundreds of romance novels these days. These are the first things that came to my mind after finishing it, because seriously, you could find hundreds of almost identical books, but I still somehow enjoyed it to some extent as I basically read it in two days.
I think the book could have been more enjoyable if the main characters were more likeable. The heroine was okay, even though some of her actions were just stupid, but the hero? This guy was insufferable most of the time.
"Emmy is in Meadowlark?” Gus’s tone was tight. Shit. I definitely threw Emmy under the bus.
“Yeah, she left my bar with Kenny Wyatt last night.” Again, shit."
You definitely threw her under the bus.
"I felt the smallest of smiles tug at the corners of my mouth, thinking about Luke Brooks having to ask that girl to drive him to go pick up his best friend’s little sister."
He shows up tipsy and late with his hookup to take you home because his best friend asked him to, and you smile at the memory because at least he showed up? The bar is in hell.
The writing style was entertaining enough to keep me engaged in the story, although I still skipped some things because I didn't care about them, but some of the sentences here were painful to read.
"You can take it, sugar. I’ll go slow.”
Is this sentence a requirement in romance books nowadays? I've seen this exact phrase in at least hundreds of romances.
"How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“On the house.”
“You sure?” she asked."
It’s literally the TikTok sound. The originality is dead in books these days.
Honestly, I picked up this book because the second story is coming out in a few days and I wanted to see if this series is worth reading, and now I'm not even sure if I'll read it. Maybe, maybe not. I remember liking some of the books in the Chestnut Springs series from Elsie Silver and I feel like Lyla Sage took a lot of inspiration from it, so like I said, maybe I'll read the second book, because it might be the same situation as in the Chestnut series, in which some books worked for me and others didn't. We’ll see.
April 16, 2024
not me giving 5 stars to another small town cowboy romance. 🙃
July 23, 2023
DNF* If Luke called Emmy “sugar” one more time I was going to throw my Kindle across the room.
August 2, 2025
No can do, Sugar.
Honestly though I will probably read more.
Honestly though I will probably read more.
April 19, 2025
cute but they were just acting like horny teenagers for 300 pages
June 27, 2023
genuinely what was that writing
July 4, 2023
★ 1 star
i didn’t enjoy this book at all. i really tried to get invested but i just couldn’t.
the characters weren’t well developed, the story itself bored me to death and the romance was way too insta-lovey for my taste. i honestly didn’t see any chemistry between the main couple because it felt rushed and forced.
i didn’t enjoy this book at all. i really tried to get invested but i just couldn’t.
the characters weren’t well developed, the story itself bored me to death and the romance was way too insta-lovey for my taste. i honestly didn’t see any chemistry between the main couple because it felt rushed and forced.
November 11, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ This was such a fast read, super cute! If you like Elsie silver Chestnut Springs, you’ll love this
September 13, 2024
3 Stars ★
“ You deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted doesn’t mean you’re done.”
This gave me major Yellowstone vibes, and I'm not mad about it. From the description of the ranch, the background and other reasons that I won't give away. I ate this up for those very reasons.
Done and Dusted is the first book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. This roped me in with the small town, brother's best friend, cowboy romance that was fast-paced, cute, and fluffy with just the right amount of tension and banter. I simply had a hard time putting it down.
Emmy returned home to her family's ranch, Rebel Blue, in Meadowlark Wyoming after an accident she had. She hadn't told anyone what had happened since she'd been home. One day, while in the stable on the ranch, her brother's best friend Luke witnesses her being uncomfortable with her horse. He finds out that she is unable to ride since the accident happened and offers to help her trust her skills again by giving her lessons to teach her to ride again. Will their lessons turn into more?
Clementine "Emmy" Ryder is a champion barrel racer who is suffering from trauma after the accident she had. She is kind and caring, often times putting on a facquade that nothing is wrong with the ones she holds dear. While inside, she is struggling with her adhd, getting lost in her thoughts and the quiet. I didn't connect with her on a personal level, but I did enjoy her and her witty comebacks that made me giggle.
“I thought it would get better. I really thought it would get better.”
Luke Brooks is a cowboy on Rebel Blue Ranch and the owner of the local bar Devils Boot. He has a lot on his plate but doesn't let it show always showing up and helping out when needed. Luke acted like he didn't care, but deep down, he has the biggest heart and is protective over the ones he holds dear. The only thing that I didn't care much about him was the nickname sugar it was overused, and it just made me feel sick. I will never like that nickname from another book taking it to another level, iykyk.
"I didn’t really know how to be in love, but I knew I wanted to be with Emmy in every way I could."
Emmy and Luke didn't like each other at first, built a friendship, then quickly became lovers, making it feel very insta-love. If we had gotten to see more of them and their moments, it wouldn't have felt this way so much. Though they moved fast, the spice was a delicious slowburn that I was here for. I did love that though they grew up together, he never once viewed or referred to her as his sister. It was always his best friend's sister. I did enjoy their banter, tension, and the way that they helped one another.
“I’m serious, Emmy. I don’t know when it happened, but I like you. I like you a lot more than I fucking should, and I know we shouldn’t do this because a million things could go wrong, but you feel so right.”
The ending was cute but didn't seem unique to me. I did enjoy this and was happy that there wasn't a third act conflict. This was exactly what I was looking for, though some of it didn't appear to be original. This being her debut I'm hoping the next to come have more originality.
Favorite Quotes and moments
“You didn’t ask me why I came home.”
“I don’t care why you’re here, only that you are.”
“When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her. And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time."
“You know, if you don’t like the road you’re on, you can always pave a new one.”
"I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder."
“I’ve been people’s dirty little secret before, and I didn’t care because I didn’t care about them, but I care about you.”
“Thank you,” he continued, “for taking care of my baby girl.”
“She can take care of herself,” I said. “I know she can, but you made sure she didn’t have to do it alone.”
~~~~~~
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚Pre-read:
I think it's time for me to enter my cowboy romance era again. Here we go, yeehaw 🤠
“ You deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted doesn’t mean you’re done.”
This gave me major Yellowstone vibes, and I'm not mad about it. From the description of the ranch, the background and other reasons that I won't give away. I ate this up for those very reasons.
Done and Dusted is the first book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. This roped me in with the small town, brother's best friend, cowboy romance that was fast-paced, cute, and fluffy with just the right amount of tension and banter. I simply had a hard time putting it down.
Emmy returned home to her family's ranch, Rebel Blue, in Meadowlark Wyoming after an accident she had. She hadn't told anyone what had happened since she'd been home. One day, while in the stable on the ranch, her brother's best friend Luke witnesses her being uncomfortable with her horse. He finds out that she is unable to ride since the accident happened and offers to help her trust her skills again by giving her lessons to teach her to ride again. Will their lessons turn into more?
Clementine "Emmy" Ryder is a champion barrel racer who is suffering from trauma after the accident she had. She is kind and caring, often times putting on a facquade that nothing is wrong with the ones she holds dear. While inside, she is struggling with her adhd, getting lost in her thoughts and the quiet. I didn't connect with her on a personal level, but I did enjoy her and her witty comebacks that made me giggle.
“I thought it would get better. I really thought it would get better.”
Luke Brooks is a cowboy on Rebel Blue Ranch and the owner of the local bar Devils Boot. He has a lot on his plate but doesn't let it show always showing up and helping out when needed. Luke acted like he didn't care, but deep down, he has the biggest heart and is protective over the ones he holds dear. The only thing that I didn't care much about him was the nickname sugar it was overused, and it just made me feel sick. I will never like that nickname from another book taking it to another level, iykyk.
"I didn’t really know how to be in love, but I knew I wanted to be with Emmy in every way I could."
Emmy and Luke didn't like each other at first, built a friendship, then quickly became lovers, making it feel very insta-love. If we had gotten to see more of them and their moments, it wouldn't have felt this way so much. Though they moved fast, the spice was a delicious slowburn that I was here for. I did love that though they grew up together, he never once viewed or referred to her as his sister. It was always his best friend's sister. I did enjoy their banter, tension, and the way that they helped one another.
“I’m serious, Emmy. I don’t know when it happened, but I like you. I like you a lot more than I fucking should, and I know we shouldn’t do this because a million things could go wrong, but you feel so right.”
The ending was cute but didn't seem unique to me. I did enjoy this and was happy that there wasn't a third act conflict. This was exactly what I was looking for, though some of it didn't appear to be original. This being her debut I'm hoping the next to come have more originality.
Favorite Quotes and moments
“You didn’t ask me why I came home.”
“I don’t care why you’re here, only that you are.”
“When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her. And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time."
“You know, if you don’t like the road you’re on, you can always pave a new one.”
"I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder."
“I’ve been people’s dirty little secret before, and I didn’t care because I didn’t care about them, but I care about you.”
“Thank you,” he continued, “for taking care of my baby girl.”
“She can take care of herself,” I said. “I know she can, but you made sure she didn’t have to do it alone.”
~~~~~~
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚Pre-read:
I think it's time for me to enter my cowboy romance era again. Here we go, yeehaw 🤠
December 16, 2024
A relatable fmc, and a hot cowboy!! Honestly the best combo. This was super cute! 🫶🏼
March 25, 2024
I loved this omg it was so cute🥹
Rtc!
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I haven’t read a cute little romance in ages bc i have been reading a lot of fantasy lately but i want to get back to romance so here i am breaking my romance fasting with this one🤣
Rtc!
——-
I haven’t read a cute little romance in ages bc i have been reading a lot of fantasy lately but i want to get back to romance so here i am breaking my romance fasting with this one🤣
April 18, 2025
painfully white, there’s a few characters in here i believe would call me a slur
September 15, 2023
2.5 stars
confused by the hype for this book. it was very mid.
confused by the hype for this book. it was very mid.
November 14, 2024
Hear me out- If Beth Dutton and Rip (Yellowstone iykyk) were not as violent and as damaged as they were - lol this would have been their story lol.
Super cute and sweet romance - RTC
Not me shoving a western romance right in the middle of my Fall TBR bc my library finally has a copy available for me 🤭😁
👢🤠🦂🐴🌵🏜️🌞🐍
Super cute and sweet romance - RTC
Not me shoving a western romance right in the middle of my Fall TBR bc my library finally has a copy available for me 🤭😁
👢🤠🦂🐴🌵🏜️🌞🐍
dnf
July 2, 2023 dnf @ 44%
i love her lack of energy, go girl give us nothing!
i love her lack of energy, go girl give us nothing!
March 21, 2024
“I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder.”
“Save a horse, ride a cowboy” is the new motto of my life.
I'm definitely enjoying my cowboy era these days. Also isn't the cover of this book looks ✨️ G O R G E O U S ✨️
This book is super cute, and had adorable, wholesome small town moments and Ryder family moments, all the fluff and steamy scenes, and the heartwarming romance story that I needed. Also this had brother's bestfriend trope with a pinch of hate to love relationship.
“I know we shouldn’t do this because a million things could go wrong, but you feel so right.”
I enjoyed the story though I was a little bore in between the chapters. The characters were written so well considering that it is Lyla's debut novel The pacing was fast which why I liked it even more. I wish we got scenes where they were working together to get more natural sense of their relationship and slow burn romance.
➸ Luke Brooks
Broody bar owner and a Cowboy in Meadowlark 🤠 this man is just perfect and damn the things he did for Emmy and everyone made him even more than just perfect. T-shirt mutilator and careless Luke is everything you need because no matter how he tries to show he doesn't care but he does and so deeply that he would do anything to help his loved ones. His thoughtful and protective side was just so adorable 🥺💘 I really need find myself a Luke Brooks because who doesn't love a hot and thoughtful cowboy in their bed with a dirty dirty mouth.
“When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her. And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time.”
➸ Emmy Ryder
A horse rider who is back in her hometown after her accident while riding. I didn’t felt much connected to her in the start but she did grew on me slowly throughout the book. She is grumpy, sassy and loves to be in control but when Luke entered her life everything changed for the better for her and I liked how she never denied what she felt for him but actually acted on those feelings.
“Luke wasn’t my secret. He was just mine.”
╰┈➤ Luke and Emmy
Luke and Emmy were amazing. Their hate to love dynamics and banter added more tension and spice to their romance. He never thought of her as his little sister even when she was young, it was always Gus's little sister and his “SUGAR” for him. They helped each other and start trusting each other more and knowing more about each other and bringing out each other's soft sides. But I wish we actually get to read those scenes. They were kind of skipped over.
“Fuck off, Brooks.” He let out a low whistle that ended in a chuckle. I hated when he did that. “Glad to see your tongue is still sharp as ever, sugar.” The way he said “sugar” was almost demeaning.
“Don’t. Call. Me. That.” I paused after every word, letting my annoyance with Brooks punctuate every syllable.
Their relationship developed from kind of enemies to friends to lovers. Luke always cared about her since they were little kids and he did in his own way which always pissed Emmy. But present Luke helped Emmy to deal with her fear of racing again and helped her with everything she needed. They were always there for each other no matter what 🥺💘 Emmy Luke's love was steady and slow and perfect the way they are for each other.
“You made this? For me?” He looked at me like making this was the most obvious thing in the world for him to do. I had this funny feeling in my chest. No one had ever done anything like this for me before. I couldn’t believe it.
“When did you do this?”
“Last night.”
He rested his forehead against mine.
“What was that for?” I breathed.
“No one’s ever stood up for me before,” he said.
Why are they so cute!?
The ending was super cute with the exact amount of drama and I hope we get more of Luke and Emmy in the next books. Also the whole brotherly my-little-sister-was-off-limits-for-you-brooks drama Gus created was definitely not needed and I hope he becomes less annoying in his book but I know sassy Teddy knows how to shut him up 💅🏼 and I love Wes so much in this one and he is such a sweet cinnamon roll 🥹 and I'm already in love with him 💘 I'm even more excited for the upcoming books in this series!
June 25, 2025
4 ⭐️ A sweet and very sexy debut western romance
"Even if you weren't in my bar, you would be my business. You've always been my business, and you'll always be my business."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ cowboy romance
✨ Wyoming ranch setting
✨ he's a reformed bad boy and owner of the local bar
✨ she's a barrel racer returning home after a scary fall
✨ brother's best friend
✨ forbidden love
✨ he falls first
✨ annoyance to love
✨ "I can't stay away from you anymore"
✨ amazing banter
✨ 3/5 spice
✨ found family
✨ ADHD rep and sensory issues (fmc)
✨ dual pov
✨ low angst
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
I’m usually not a huge country, small-town romance girlie, but I am now!!! I absolutely adore this story! The characters are so lovable, the spice is top-tier (don't let the innocent cover fool you), and the writing makes you feel like you're transported to Rebel Blue Ranch in Meadowlark, Wyoming. It's low angst and high swoon - the perfect feel-good book!
Luke and Emmy totally have my heart. These two have so much chemistry and I LOVED their banter.
I found Emmy to be so relatable, and I really appreciate how this story addresses ADHD, anxiety, and trauma. 👏
And Luke is . . . good lord, this man is just so f**king HOT. The words that come out of his mouth are absolutely filthy. For example:
I also never knew being called sugar was fucking sexy until I read this book.
I've also never read a story where I fall in love with every single side character. Wes, Teddy, Amos, Gus, Riley, and Hank are all so wonderful in their own ways, and I liked how Lyla explored the different relationships the MCs have with each of these characters. And while I love them all, Wes is definitely my favorite with his loyal, quiet, but sexy, golden retriever energy!!!!!!! I seriously need his book, Swift and Saddled, ASAP!
This is one hell of a debut novel, and I'm so proud of Lyla Sage for creating this beautiful world!!! You crushed it, babe!!
Thank you so much Lyla Sage for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
-
Update: just finished the audiobook and it’s an easy 5-stars!!!! Listening to it has made me fall in love with this story even more! I love both the narrators and think they do an amazing job bringing the characters and Rebel Blue Ranch to life.
-
Rebel Blue Ranch Series:
1. Done and Dusted: 4⭐️
2. Swift and Saddled: 4.25⭐️
3. Lost and Lassoed: 5⭐️
4. Wild and Wrangled: 4⭐️
-
Favorite Quotes:
Today, I saw the only thing in my life that I ever thought was prettier than Rebel Blue, and that was Emmy.
_______
It's like I had spent my life getting pieces of her, and now I was finally putting the pieces together. Guess what? There wasn't any piece of Emmy that I didn't like. I was so f*cked.
_______
She fit in my arms like she was made for them. I'd like to think that she was.
_______
My dad was like a river, steady and strong. I could see how my mom got swept away.
_______
"Sugar, you deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted, doesn't mean you're done."
_______
I didn't really know how to be in love, but I knew that I wanted to be with Emmy, in every way that I could. I wanted the kitchen slow dances, night out with shots, rides through the mountains, hot sex, afternoon naps, two-lane highways with the windows down. I wanted it all.
_______
Luke wasn't my secret. He was just mine.
_______
"That's right, sugar. Keep riding me."
_______
"Even if you weren't in my bar, you would be my business. You've always been my business, and you'll always be my business."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ cowboy romance
✨ Wyoming ranch setting
✨ he's a reformed bad boy and owner of the local bar
✨ she's a barrel racer returning home after a scary fall
✨ brother's best friend
✨ forbidden love
✨ he falls first
✨ annoyance to love
✨ "I can't stay away from you anymore"
✨ amazing banter
✨ 3/5 spice
✨ found family
✨ ADHD rep and sensory issues (fmc)
✨ dual pov
✨ low angst
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
I’m usually not a huge country, small-town romance girlie, but I am now!!! I absolutely adore this story! The characters are so lovable, the spice is top-tier (don't let the innocent cover fool you), and the writing makes you feel like you're transported to Rebel Blue Ranch in Meadowlark, Wyoming. It's low angst and high swoon - the perfect feel-good book!
Luke and Emmy totally have my heart. These two have so much chemistry and I LOVED their banter.
I found Emmy to be so relatable, and I really appreciate how this story addresses ADHD, anxiety, and trauma. 👏
And Luke is . . . good lord, this man is just so f**king HOT. The words that come out of his mouth are absolutely filthy. For example:
“Stop staring at my cock like that, sugar.”
My eyes shot back up to Brooks. “L-like what?”
“Like you want me to put you on your knees and shove it down your throat.”🥵
I also never knew being called sugar was fucking sexy until I read this book.
“Tell me you’re mine, Emmy.” I needed to hear it.
“I’m yours.”
“That’s right, sugar. I’m the only one that gets to have you like this.” 💕
I've also never read a story where I fall in love with every single side character. Wes, Teddy, Amos, Gus, Riley, and Hank are all so wonderful in their own ways, and I liked how Lyla explored the different relationships the MCs have with each of these characters. And while I love them all, Wes is definitely my favorite with his loyal, quiet, but sexy, golden retriever energy!!!!!!! I seriously need his book, Swift and Saddled, ASAP!
This is one hell of a debut novel, and I'm so proud of Lyla Sage for creating this beautiful world!!! You crushed it, babe!!
Thank you so much Lyla Sage for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
-
Update: just finished the audiobook and it’s an easy 5-stars!!!! Listening to it has made me fall in love with this story even more! I love both the narrators and think they do an amazing job bringing the characters and Rebel Blue Ranch to life.
-
Rebel Blue Ranch Series:
1. Done and Dusted: 4⭐️
2. Swift and Saddled: 4.25⭐️
3. Lost and Lassoed: 5⭐️
4. Wild and Wrangled: 4⭐️
-
Favorite Quotes:
Today, I saw the only thing in my life that I ever thought was prettier than Rebel Blue, and that was Emmy.
_______
It's like I had spent my life getting pieces of her, and now I was finally putting the pieces together. Guess what? There wasn't any piece of Emmy that I didn't like. I was so f*cked.
_______
She fit in my arms like she was made for them. I'd like to think that she was.
_______
My dad was like a river, steady and strong. I could see how my mom got swept away.
_______
"Sugar, you deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted, doesn't mean you're done."
_______
I didn't really know how to be in love, but I knew that I wanted to be with Emmy, in every way that I could. I wanted the kitchen slow dances, night out with shots, rides through the mountains, hot sex, afternoon naps, two-lane highways with the windows down. I wanted it all.
_______
Luke wasn't my secret. He was just mine.
_______
"That's right, sugar. Keep riding me."
_______
May 23, 2025
this is 2.5 ⭐️ I have nothing else to say.
March 15, 2024
4.25, groundbreaking? no. so good? ya, for sure. luke & emmy 5-ever ౨ৎ
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