One Old, One New - Lyla Sage Edition

One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Lyla Sage.

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Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
Published by Dial Press on March 5, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

She’s the city girl who refuses to be saddled with a man. He’s the cowboy who wants her anyway.

The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.

When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.

Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.

Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?

It was so wonderful to be back at the Rebel Blue Ranch. This series has really captured my heart with its small town feel and the family at the center of it all, the Ryders. I cannot get enough of being in the midst of their family affairs. There is just something so special about their relationships and the family dynamic that pulls me in and makes me want more.

Yes, the Ryders provided me with miles of smiles, but I also adored the hero and heroine of this story. Ada's life was on the upswing. She still bore the scares of her disastrous marriage, but she was working hard to bring her business to the next level. I felt a connection to her and those feelings she harbored. She felt unlikable and that she was on the outside, but she may have finally found her place and her people at the Rebel Blue Ranch. This was super heartwarming for me, and it was a pleasure watching Ada grow and blossom in those hospitable conditions.

I adored Wes as well. It's so wonderful that romance authors are embracing the golden retriever hero because they really are spectacular. Wes was a middle child who felt like he lived in the shadow of his other siblings. I loved that this redesign was all his and rooted for it to be a great success.

But the friendship he formed with Ada was even more special. He was a man of small gestures which were actually big. Ada had been in a controlling marriage and she was determined never to rely on someone in that way again. Wes really "saw" her and understood her boundaries. Instead of doing for her, he taught her or gave her the tools. He fostered her independence, and this was so great for her confidence. Ada also supported Wes in ways that were important for his emotional and mental health. They were just amazing together.

This was such a fantastic trip back to the ranch, and I cannot wait to return again.

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Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
Published by Dial Press on November 5, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

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

From the author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the highly anticipated next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which enemies turn to lovers when they're forced to work together during one hot summer.

Teddy Andersen doesn’t have a plan. She’s never needed one before. She’s always been more of a go with the flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn’t seem to be going her way this time.

Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it’s starting to change. Teddy’s used to being a leader, but now she feels like she’s getting left behind, wondering if life in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore.

Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn’t know what’s taking care of his family’s 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he has to admit that he can’t manage everything on his own. He needs help.

His little sister’s best friend, the woman he can’t stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy's the only option he’s got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he’ll never find what he needs.

Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether or not to act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned?

We have watched them spar for two books, and we finally get to find out why while also watching a friendship and more blossom between Gus and Teddy.

My affection for this series grows stronger with each book, and there are so many reasons why. I was thinking about this as I read the author's note. Sage talks about finding the heart of this book which she felt was the relationships between the fathers and their children. Those were definitely highlighted and very strong in this book, but I feel that it's the relationships that shine in every Rebel Blue book. The love and support that exists within the Rebel Blue family is something I envy and adore reading about, and it shined once again in Lost and Lassoed.

Cam and Gus had co-parenting down to a science, but things were getting a bit tough with Cam out of town for an internship. The Ryder family suggested a part time babysitter to help Gus out with his daughter, Riley, and that help came in the form of Teddy. Knowing the history between Teddy and Gus made this an interesting suggestion, but it also afforded them the time and space to see a different side of each other.

Teddy was at a sort of crossroads in her life. There were a lot of changes taking place with some relationships evolving and other ending as the boutique she worked at for many years was closing. The babysitting job allowed her to contemplate her next steps and really think about what she wanted to do with her life, and as I previously said, it let us see a different side of Teddy. A softer, more tender side as well as her creative side.

It was fun to get more Riley-time, too. That kid was precious! And how can you not admire how much love was lavished on her. She had two wonderful parents, but also so many other caring adults in her life. But that was just the way it was in the Rebel Blue family. They were there for each other, and that was on display multiple times in this book.

I also must say that Sage did a great job setting me up for the next book. We got to know Cam a bit in book two, but there was this heart-to-heart she had with Gus that was very revealing and helped me mentally prepare for what book four has in store.

Overall, I was thrilled with my return trip to the Rebel Blue Ranch. I loved witnessing the softer, mushier sides of Gus and Teddy, as well seeing them find their forever together. I know I say this every time, but I am eager to return for the last book of the series.

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