i absolutely FLEW through this one after devouring the first book in the rebel blue series this week and it was a fantastic book #2! i loved weston instantly in book #1 and only grew to love him more in this one. suuuuuch a golden retriever winner of a man! the slow burn and steam of this one was PERFECTLY executed, and i could relate so much to ada's tendency to run when things felt real. the way their relationship evolved and worked through their own issues was so beautiful and tender and REAL -- truly, lyla sage is my new favorite romance writer!!!

Swift and Saddled - Lyla Sage

Release Date: March 5, 2024
Series: Rebel Blue Ranch
Series Number: 2
POV: Dual POV
Genre and Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Cowboys/Western
Main Location(s): Rebel Blue Ranch, Meadowlark, Wyoming
Tropes: found family, workplace, forced proximity, black cat x golden retriever, he falls first, depression rep, city girl x small town guy
Microtropes: he teaches her to drive stick, mirror scene
TW/CWs: explicit language and explicit, on-page sexual content. Major Depressive Disorder, discussions about depression, references to an emotionally abusive relationship, divorce, low self-esteem, alcohol consumption, death of a parent (past, off-page)
On KU?: No
HEA: Yes
Rating: 3.5/5
Spice: 2.5/5

Summary:
Ada Hart has worked hard to rebuild her life, leaving behind a failed marriage and the pain of dropping out of her interior design program. Now thriving with her own business, Ada lands her biggest career opportunity yet: renovating one of the largest ranches in Wyoming. Determined to stay independent, the last thing she needs is a man to complicate her life—especially after a chance encounter at a dive bar with a magnetic cowboy who leaves her breathless.
Weston Ryder, a cheerful cowboy with big dreams for his family’s ranch, is thrilled to discover that the woman he shared an unforgettable kiss with at the bar is the interior designer for his ranch project. For Wes, it feels like fate, but Ada isn’t so easily convinced. Despite the undeniable spark between them, she’s intent on keeping things professional, focusing solely on the job.
As they navigate their growing connection while working together, Ada’s walls remain firmly intact, even as Wes hopes to break through. Will they risk their ambitions for a chance at love, or will their fears keep them apart?

Review:
Swift and Saddled started off strong, with an intriguing premise and likable characters, but it quickly lost momentum. Ada’s overbearing nature and lack of emotional intelligence made her difficult to connect with, while Wes’s devotion felt overly submissive. Their romance leaned heavily on physical chemistry, with little emotional depth or buildup, making the connection feel rushed and repetitive.

While the book had some enjoyable moments—particularly the steamy scenes and fast-paced writing—it didn’t deliver the same charm as the first installment in the series. It’s a light, low-stakes read that might appeal as a quick palate cleanser, but overall, it felt underwhelming and lacked the substance to make it truly memorable.

This book is a bit of a turn on the gumpy/sunshine trope, in which the guy protagonist (Weston) is sunshine and the woman (Ada) is the grumpy. Ada’s not really grumpy, though, she’s just a private and quiet person who likes to keep to herself. I really like the way Lyla Sage wrote Ada, and loved the chemistry between her and Weston.

If you’re a fan of Chestnut Springs or other western romances, then giddy on up to this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage!

I’ve accepted the fact that theirs alot of cowboy romances out there and even though I do love a good spicy read I fear this is a little overrated and a little forgettable.

I liked the first book in this series, but loved this one! Wes and Ada were so well matched and sweet together. I liked them individually as well. They had a nice connection and both grew as their relationship developed.

The Ranch is a fantastic location and I loved getting to see it through Wes and Ada's eyes. The secondary characters were featured quite a bit and there were hints for future books, but not so much that it took away from the main plot here. It was nicely paced and I enjoyed this book so much.

Swift and Saddled is the second book in the Rebel Blue Ranch. This book is about the Wes which is Emmy's brother. Ada and Wes were too cute. I loved the way he thought of her and how he sees her. Wes is such a prince charming, loving, caring, thoughtful even with his issues he is such a sweetheart. The phrase "I see you ADA, I always see you even when you won't look at me" OMG!! that was everything.
Lyla Sage is such a great writer, she makes me fall in love with all of the characters. I cant wait to keep reading the rest of the series.

Did NOT realize I loved a cowboy novel until now so Lyla Sage, thank you for your service.

This was the sweetest love story with the perfect opposites attract trope and JUST enough spice to keep it good. Honestly I loved it!! Excited for the next instalments in the series.

Lyla Sage does it again!! Obsessed is an understatement. I am so excited to have read this ARC! I haven’t related to a character more in a long time. I can truly feel all the emotions of Ada, the fight or flight response she has, the roller coaster she goes through with Wes… but the way he comforts her & knows exactly what to say… it all just speaks to me. I cannot wait for book 3!

Wes is a complete golden retriever character who dreams big, and this book did him justice. Ada is slightly black cat, who is attempting to prove that she can be successful in her field without having finished her degree. Watching Ada, a city girl from Cali, fall in love with the Wyoming mountains and Rebel Blue, as well as with Wes, was truly so fun.

There were points of this book where the plot just felt rushed, or that didn't feel like they matched the characters. Ada so quickly went from wanting nothing to do with a relationship with her boss to very happily in a relationship with Wes. But it was amazing to see her begin a relationship with his family as well, realizing all of the things she was missing back in Cali. I did feel that the ending felt true to her character, and that was important to me.

I wasn't expecting this book to be Ada and Wes' story -- I was expecting Teddy and Gus for book two! But I really loved this one. I love the mental health representation that Lyla Sage puts forward unapologetically in this series, and I love the strong female characters. Ada isn't afraid to admit that she's career-driven rather than family- or relationship-driven, which is refreshing.

Not having read the first book in the Blue Rebel Ranch series, I saddled up for this Western romance with *Swift and Saddled*. Ada Hart is on the run from a failed marriage and a stint in interior design college. She’s cashing in on a job to renovate an old farmhouse on one of Wyoming’s largest ranches. It’s her big chance to prove she’s got what it takes to follow her dreams.

Enter Weston, the unexpected wrench in her plans. He’s hired Ada to bring his farmhouse dreams to life, but sparks fly faster than a cowboy at a rodeo. Weston is all sunshine on the outside, but he’s got his own shadows to wrestle with.

Lyla Sage cranks up the romance to full steam in this middle novel. Her characters are as full-bodied as a fine wine and just as intoxicating. She spins a delightful tale set against the stunning backdrop of Wyoming’s vast ranch lands. Thankfully, Sage doesn’t just skim the surface of romance; she dives deep into thought-provoking themes and the real-life problems her characters face.

So, grab your cowboy hat and get ready for a wild ride!

'Swift and Saddled' was the perfect second book at Rebel Blue Ranch. Ada is dedicated and independent, and I loved reading about a female main character who was career-driven without remorse, and had to learn to let people in after being hurt. Wes is kind and compassionate and, as Ada remarked, oh so gentle. He was the perfect complement to Ada, and I felt like the chemistry between these two was tangible.

The found family hit so hard in this book as Ada was adopted into Wes’ clan despite fear of rejection at first. I loved seeing all the siblings interact, and the side characters are vibrant additions to this book whilst not being the main focus of what is ultimately Ada and Wes’ story.

The audiobook was rich and both narrators did excellent jobs making Rebel Blue Ranch come to life. There was a slight audio issue during the epilogue, but I think that was a production, not voice actor, issue.

My only slight issue was more of a personal preference, and that is how deeply Wes seemed to fall for Ada right at the beginning of the pair meeting. It was a little too much like love at first sight for me, but as the story progressed and Ada remained stalwart to Wes’ affections at first I didn’t mind it. Overall I really enjoyed the next addition to this series, and all of the laughs, blushes, and good ol’ cowboy country vibes it gave to me.

with a last name like Ryder, there was really only one way this was gonna go.

Lyla Sage has perfected the under 300 page small town romance. convince me I’m wrong. (you won’t). I absolutely loved the tenderness of Wes, And Ada is a perfect reminder of why black cat heroines are SO HOT (and relatable). I love how Wes let Ada learn on her own that he was never going anywhere (sometimes we need to figure it out ourselves).

This was such a good sequel to the first book! I found it to be pretty similar as far as storyline goes but really enjoyed the relationship, family dynamics. character development, and plot. Very heartwarming while also being steamy.

I enjoyed this book and all of the Ryder family. This was cozy and comforting and a quick read. Ada and Wes are adorable and I enjoyed all the real and honest qualities they portrayed. It made them relatable and easy to connect with. Looking forward to book #3!

Book 132 of 2024: Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her marriage, Ada 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 is happy now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. 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. 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?

I am unfortunately quite behind on my @netgalley reads so this is me trying to catch up! I’ve been reading some heavier books/subject matters recently so this book was a fun break from that. I loved the dual point of view that this story was told in! Ada and Wes were such great characters and I loved their relationship and how they truly challenged and brought out the best in each other. I loved that they were able to help each other achieve their dreams while still building a relationship and not sacrificing their goals. The book also had a lot of healthy discussions around depression, therapy, and medication. I love positive mental health representation in books! All of the side characters and Wes’s family were so perfect. This was a fun and light read that still had some substance to it, and I look forward to reading more books by this author!

Just when I thought I couldn't love Rebel Blue anymore, Lyla goes and drops this masterpiece in our laps! Luke + Emmy were darling, but Wes + Ada?
Literal perfection!!
I read Done & Dusted a few weeks ago in anticipation of the author event for Lyla Sage that I went to with some of my Booksta friends; I devoured it and loved it so much that I immediately jumped on NetGalley and requested Swift And Saddled. Shockingly, the publishing gods were in my favor and I was granted the eARC. I jumped right in and was so glad to be back in Meadowlark at Rebel Blue alongside Luke + Emmy and so many other charming characters.
This was such a sweet and sexy slow-burn romance! I fell hard for Wes and Emmy and found them both to be very likable and extremely relatable. I loved the vulnerability shown by each character, particularly the very realistic portrayals of depression/anxiety.
They're very real, very common afflictions that affect so many people, and yet they're still not spoken about enough. Though they can be heavy and sometimes difficult topics, Lyla addressed these themes with such openness, grace, and empathy and still managed to write a book that truly feels like sunshine!
This book had several of my favorite tropes and I was here for it!!
Cowboy romance
Smalltown romance
Forced proximity
Workplace romance-boss x employee
He falls first
Cinnamon roll MMC
Black cat, tattooed FMC
Found family
Home reno project
Depression/anxiety rep
No 3rd act breakup!!

I loved this just as much as the first novel. Amazing tension. I could live happily at Blue Rebel Ranch forever!

I can’t believe I love cowboy romances so much, but Lyla Sage continues to convince me. I can’t wait to keep reading this series.