Wild and Wrangled
Lyla Sage

She’s the one that got away. He’s the one that never let her go.

‘We went in two separate directions, but roads that go opposite come back together all the time.’

Rebel Blue Ranch is such a safe haven to me, like you’re just catapulted into their little wholesome ecosystems and you really wish for nothing more.

“There’s always the possibility of things going wrong, Cam. That’s what makes love a risk, but there’s just as much of a possibility of things going right.”

Even if second chance romance isn’t your go to trope, you can’t help but be invested in these characters - including all the found family along the way!

“I’ll love you until we’re dust, Camille Ashwood.”

This was the conclusion to the Rebel Blue Ranch series and any romance fan should add them to their TBR. Easy, fun, satisfying romance with genuine heart and community.

“Has anyone ever told you to enjoy the journey?”
“No,” I answered honestly. “No one’s ever said that to me.”

Who knew being called “Atta girl,” would be so hot? 🥵 Dusty, Dusty, Dusty. What a guy, even from high school, he had conviction and integrity and he was special.

“And when you knocked that girl down?” Dusty winked at me. “Hot!”

“No. You’re a privilege, Cam. Being in your presence is a goddamn honor.”

(Posted review to my instagram 11th April 2025)

Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon!

I absolutely love second chance romances and boy did Lyla Sage do this to perfection with Dusty and Cam!

Dusty and Cam were high school sweethearts with a case of right person wrong time.
But Dusty never stopped loving Cam, it was always her and the man was DOWN BAD 😍😍😍

I loved the dual timelines to gain a deeper understanding of their relationship.
The angst and tension between them was sizzling.

The perfecting ending to the the Rebel Blue Ranch series 🫶🏻

Wild and Wrangled is a great conclusion to such a fun series!

Here we see Cam and Dusty find their Happily Ever After, with a second-chance romance.
The high school flashback scenes were my favourite.

2 stars

Let me start by saying that this generous 2-star rating is a big concession, especially given how much I have disliked every book in this series leading up to this one. Honestly, my expectations for Wild & Wrangled were already on the floor before I even picked it up, and spoiler alert: nothing in this book made me rethink my feelings about Lyla Sage or this series. But hey, credit where credit is due—the author has this weird ability to make me mildly interested in the next book with each one. I’ll give her that.

Let’s backtrack a little. The first book in the series was a chore. I don't even know why I kept pushing through that one. People talked it up, but all I got was nothing—I hated it. The “sugar” nickname gave me the biggest ick. The characters were forgettable, and the romance? Forgettable too. But then Wes and Ada's book was next, and I was like, “okay, I’ll give it a chance cause Wes seemed cute enough.” Nope. That book was BORING. The same forgettable characters, the same lukewarm romance.

Then came Teddy and Gus, which I was legitimately excited for. I love me some enemies-to-lovers, and the setup seemed promising. But ugh, the pacing was off, there was barely any banter, and I just didn’t feel the tension I was hoping for. Now, we arrive at Wild & Wrangled, the final book in the series, and I was actually looking forward to Cam’s story. She had been this supportive character in the past books and I love how healthy her co-parenting relationship with Gus was. I was hoping her book would redeem the series… well it didn’t.

Let’s talk about Cam’s character for a second. I don’t even know where to start with her. She was honestly so unlikeable. Like, there were no redeeming qualities about her—none. I couldn’t connect with her at all. I was completely disengaged from every single one of her povs. Cam's whole "I’m going to marry for security" thing might have been an interesting premise, but her execution was flat-out boring. She was so dull, I could barely remember her actions five minutes after finishing a chapter.

Then we have Dusty. Now, Dusty wasn’t horrible. I’ll give him that. He’s the kind of guy who would do anything for Cam, and that’s cute and swoon-worthy, I guess. But here’s the thing: the relationship between him and Cam was so forced it was painful to read. You could tell that the author was trying way too hard to make their relationship happen, but it just didn’t come across as genuine. There was no natural chemistry, no spark, no real connection. I felt like I was reading a script rather than a romance novel.

Speaking of that relationship, let’s talk about the plot—or rather, the lack of it. There’s literally nothing keeping these two apart. Cam’s internal monologue? That’s about it. She spends the whole book running from her feelings, and Dusty spends the whole time... existing. There's no real tension. No external conflict. The story just kind of... happens. I couldn’t care less about their history together or their future—none of it mattered because their relationship didn’t feel real, and the writing made me feel like I was just trudging through a chore.

The third-act breakup? 🙄 Ridiculous. I can’t even begin to explain how dumb and forced it was.

This was one of the worst second chance romances I have ever read.

So, overall, did I enjoy this series? No. Would I recommend it? Sure. It’s obvious I’m in the minority here, and I’ll admit that. Maybe this series works for some people, but for me? Never again. I won’t be reading anything else by Lyla Sage. Wild & Wrangled did absolutely nothing to change my mind about this series, and I’m honestly relieved this series is finally over.

Thank you Hachette Australia for the arc.

Really loved this second chance romance. The intertwined moments from their past were so well written. Cam is so headstrong and I love that Dusty is a carefree spirit but a romantic at heart. I'm so sad this is the last book in the series. I love Lyla Sages writing.

What's to love
Second chance romance
Single mum
Small town
He falls first

📕 ASH’S RATING: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Small Town Smut, Cowboy Chaos

- - -
I’ve seen these fun covers for the Rebel Ranch series everywhere and even bought one for a friend but I hadn’t actually read one myself. So when I got the chance to read an advance copy of book 4 in the series I thought why not give it a go?

I was expecting romance (which isn’t usually my thing) but then a friend described the series as “horny cowgirl” and I immediately got nervous about what I’d signed up for 😅🤠

If you’ve read the first three books, you’ll probably slide right into this world with no problem. As a newbie, it took me a little bit to figure out who was who, but it’s written simply and everything fell into place quickly enough.

There were sweet moments I appreciated - blended families, community spirit and that classic small town everyone-knows-everyone vibe, but then there were things that made me cringe. Overused nicknames, awkward smut talk and main characters avoiding the obvious in that frustrating way that only romance books can manage.

That said, the writing style was easy, the ranch setting was nice and the characters were all very lovable but I just found myself bored at times and wanting the book to finish up quickly.

But don’t let my review sway you! As I said, this is not my genre of choice so it was unlikely to ever hit the 5 star rating for me. If you love a spicy country romance with a side of yeehaw, the one might be for you and if you’re already a fan of this series, I really hope this book finishes it for you with a bang.

Thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for the sneak peek at this one - out April 15th.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lyla Sage, and Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Quercus for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an incredible way to finish the Rebel Blue Ranch series! I was both excited and sad to wrap up this journey—I wasn’t ready to let go of Rebel Blue, Meadowlark, or the love that runs so deep within these pages. However, the bonus content at the end provided the perfect conclusion to this beautiful series.

Wild and Wrangled was such a ride. I loved revisiting Dusty and Cam’s high school sweetheart years and diving deeper into their past and history. My heart ached for them, but I was thrilled to see them find their way back to each other (Rebel Blue definitely has a special way of making that happen). I would have loved to explore more of Cam and Dusty’s relationship after their reunion, but their story was still incredibly beautiful, nonetheless.

Cam’s upbringing was heartbreaking, and learning about her struggles and motivations added so much depth to the story. It gave us a deeper understanding of why she is the way she is.

Riley was, as always, amazing. She has this incredible ability to bring people together, and the relationships she nurtures are truly beautiful to witness.

Overall, Wild and Wrangled was the perfect wrap-up to the series. The bonus content left me sobbing—such an emotional and fulfilling conclusion. If you've followed the Rebel Blue Ranch series, don’t skip this one; it’s definitely worth it.

I’m giving this a solid 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 ⭐️. I can’t recommend this series enough! Lyla Sage’s writing style is captivating, and this book was no exception. Also, who doesn’t love a series where you need to save a horse and ride a cowboy?

Really cute. I think this is my favourite of the Meadowlark series. Feel like it had much stronger and more realistic character development.

I received an earc of Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage for review in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings.

I've been waiting to read this one since I finished the rest of the series last year, and it was worth the wait. Camille and Dusty were fire; they belonged together. It took them a while, and I feel like they both needed to experience life and everything that it throws at them. But now it's their turn.

Camille has just been left the altar, and while she wasn't exactly marrying for love, she thought she would have the safety of a marriage. Now, she has to face her friends, her family, and that is the last thing that she wants to do. But she is going to have to do it because most of them want to be there for her, including Dusty. Ever since Dusty returned home, he hasn't seen much of Cam. They are both pretty good at avoiding each other. But then Cam and her daughter practically become neighbours with Dusty, and well, they can't hide as much anymore.

I loved Cam as our FMC. I’ve come to really love her through the series, but she stands out in Wild and Wrangled. I adore the way she co-parents with Gus, and even Teddy. It honestly shows her character in such an easy way. But Cam has a lot of doubts, and they seep through throughout the novel. We see her struggle quite a bit in Wild and Wrangled, and well it was hard to see, Cam’s character development was spot on.

Dusty, Dusty, Dusty. May I please have him? He is soft and mushy but also so manly. How does that even make sense? But it works for him. From the start, we can see how much Dusty cares about and even loves Cam. But we can also see that there is something else between the two of them, and as the book goes on, we find out exactly what.

The romance in this one was so hot and cold. Cam and Dusty clearly love each other, but the history between the two of them is thick and heavy. I’m not a massive fan of dual timelines and flashbacks, but they worked here really well. I liked seeing baby Cam and Dusty and messy first love.

And that’s what the romance in this book is like- messy and not in a bad way. Cam and Dusty had a lot of firsts together. They both made a lot of mistakes, and a lot of things worked out exactly how I think they should have. They both hurt each other, and they needed to work it all out. And it wasn’t a quick and easy fix.

Overall, I loved how complicated Wild and Wrangled was. It made perfect sense for Cam and Dusty, and in the end, well, it was pretty messy and perfect. I adore the found family, the second chances and all the love that both Cam and Dusty have for one another and that others have for them. This was a fantastic ending to this series, and I am so excited to see what Lyla Sage has next.

3.5⭐️

I was so incredibly excited for this book because the cameos of Cam & Dusty in the previous books had me feeling unhinged!!! So I’m so sad that this sadly didn’t live up to my expectations💔 I feel like the Cam & dusty we saw in the previous books gave everything, but the cam & dusty in their own book weren’t giving much… It was short, fast-paced & sweet, however nothing really happened so I felt bored & found myself constantly putting the book down. The third act conflict was so stupid & Cam overreacted for no reason- it genuinely made me so angry how unfair she was towards dusty. I really wanted to love this one & thought it would be my fave but unfortunately not😕 although I still think that plenty of people might find this one to be their fave! Just wasn’t for me.

Dusty is flirty, cheeky, charming & easygoing. He was such a sweet character & deserved more than Cam (I’m sorry💔). Cam is reserved, quiet, & strait-laced. I didn’t like how shitty she sometimes acted towards Dusty & the fact that she kept running away for no reason.

The first flashback chapter was so cute & showed an instant connection. Young cam and Dusty had the sweetest friendship/relationship & I always looked forward to those chapters rather than the present-day chapters, as I could actually FEEL something in those flashbacks. I didn’t feel much for present-day Cam & dusty. There was no spark or excitement, however there was a little bit of tension & a natural pull between them. The longing from Dusty was the best part tbh. He gave SO much meanwhile cam gave nothing😩 UGH I’m so sad the series ended on a not so great note…

Thank you to Hachette Aus for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

“i’ll love you until we’re dust, camille ashwood”

ahhhh 🥲🥲🥲 i loved this so much! i’m a sucker for a second chance romance and honestly dusty the MAN THAT YOU ARE.

i ate this up. i loved the flashbacks to when they were teenagers. i loved riley + her relationship with dusty, i loved the found family as always with this series. amos 🥹🥹🥹

to see cam overcome so much in her life, it warmed my heart to know that her and dusty made their way back to eachother and that dusty never gave up hope

4.5 Stars

*Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the eARC - this is my honest review*

Dusty is an absolute top-tier book man. I loved everything about him. My heart broke for him hearing about what went down when he and Cam were 17, during Cam’s wedding at the beginning, and when he thought Cam was with Gus. His pining and yearning were *chef’s kiss* especially coupled with how patient and understanding he was throughout the book in wanting to win Cam back.

Cam, on the other hand, frustrated me a little (probably because she was so relatable). I wished she would give Dusty a chance and her constant resistance felt a bit too much sometimes. I think the shift from her resisting to being all-in also happened a bit abruptly and could have been a bit better paced.

I also adored being back with all our old book friends (shout out to Teddy & Gus being my faves) and how sweet the whole gang was for Reily.

I want to also shout out how pleased I am that Lyla touched on the topic of Cam not wanting to have any more kids, that she hated pregnancy, and Dusty being unquestionably supportive of that. As a member of the CF community I love to see us and people like us represented in romance more.

Wild & Wrangled was a great addition to the series and I am so glad I got to read it early. I can’t wait to see where Lyla Sage goes next and I really hope it’s about Dusty’s little sister in Alaska.

“I’ll love you till we’re dust in the wind, Camille Ashwood”

This book had me squealing!!!

Dusty is honestly the sweetest character - he is such a sentimental, kind, and perfectly imperfect soul.
And while Cam wasn’t really my cup of tea I just loved how well written and at times, relatable, she was.
Honesty, I do think that’s what makes this series so special is how realistic and relatable all of the characters are.

I loved Dusty’s involvement with Riley - every moment kinda had me wishing that Riley was a little more involved in that regard but I also loved all the extra moments we got of Teddy and Gus, who are without a doubt my favourite Rebel Blue couple. It was really fun to see more of the coparenting aspect and how Teddy and Dusty both fit into the equation.

I didn’t love the main conflict, but I did enjoy the way it was resolved. It was so sweet to see Wes step into that role of comfort. His advice was so satisfying too.

Honestly, i loved this book and I can’t believe this series has come to an end 😭 Rebel Blue Ranch will always feel like home to me, I’m so glad I can visit whenever I want 🤍🤠

⭐️ - 3.5
🌶️ - 2/5

Wild and Wrangled comes out on the 15th of April.

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Australia and NewZealand for supplying me with this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.

"You're a privilege, Cam. Being in your presence is a goddamn honor."

Rating: 4.25/5

- small-town romance
- second chance romance
- single mum
- neighbours
- flashbacks!
- 🌶️.5/5
- dual pov

POV: You get left at the altar and have to move, leading you to live on the same property as the one who got away!

We all know I'm a sucker for a second-chance romance, and the 'it's always been you' vibes between Cam and Dusty are perfect. The flashbacks help us understand not only the depth of their feelings for each other but what went wrong.

Cam's character development – from an unhappy jilted bride to a happy mom-of-one reunited with her everything – is definitely one of my favourite parts. It's a slow burn as she hesitates to let Dusty in again, but the man patiently waits and shows her that his wandering days are over. It also helps that he builds a bond with Riley – she's a STAR!

I love how Lyla brought everything full circle in Wild and Wrangled. It's truly the perfect ending to the series, with Cam and Dusty finding their home amongst the Ryders and Rebel Blue Ranch. You have Gus having moments with Dusty and Cam, Amos giving sage advice, and even Ada and Cam becoming besties. It's the BEST 🥹.

While it's sad to say goodbye, I'm excited to see where she takes us next.

Thank you to Hachette ANZ for the early copy!

I sadly couldn't get into this one, at 30% I was still dragging through it. I feel as if the re-connection between the two happened so quickly, there wasn't any build-up or anticipation.

My gosh I loved Dusty and Cam's story. Those flash back chapters were everything 🥹 this book was the perfect ending to this series.

High school sweethearts who went their separate ways and found their way to back to each other 15 years later.

Dusty is just the kindest man ever and he loves hard. Cam is strong willed and she struggles to let anyone get too close. Loved all the sweet moments with little Riley too, her soccer game they all went to together was priceless 😍

Cam spends alot of time finding herself in this book and I really loved watching her journey. The co-parenting between herself & Gus was really special too, she was just as much apart of the Ryder family as they all were 🥰

Overall a nice, quick and easy read. I've really enjoyed this series 🤠

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 -
•Second Chance
•Friends to Lovers
•Single Mum
•Small Town
•Found Family

Sage's storytelling is lauded for its emotional depth and authentic portrayal of complex relationships. The narrative seamlessly weaves past and present, delving into themes of love, loss, and redemption. Sage's authentic portrayal of complex emotions and the enduring bonds of found family resonates deeply. Fans of the series will find this a satisfying and emotional conclusion, leaving a lasting impression.

Bride in a wedding dress, alone in a bar, downing vodka? And here's the kicker, she's not a runaway bride. Who else might be in that very same bar? Her highschool sweetheart from 10 years ago...
Cam and Dusty are acquaintances at best now days. From acquaintances to maybe friends again and then more? It's a long journey to heal the rift that's grown between them over the last decade.

I absolutely love the Swift and Saddled series so far. Wild and Wrangled's storyline was plotted out so well. It has you assuming one thing then happily drops a bomb on you that you don't see coming.

Lyla still somehow has me swooning over moody cowboys without fail.

"She’s the one that got away. He’s the one that never let her go."

Ahhh I love Cam and Dusty. After being left at the altar, Cam is ushered away by Dusty to allow herself a few hours to compose herself before going back to the real world and facing her family, and her broken plan. Despite Cam's best attempts to just be friends with Dusty, sometimes second chances are meant to be.

If you love these, then you'll want to pick up Wild & Wrangled:

🐎 Second chances
🌲 Small town
🐎 Single mum
🌲 Cowboy romances
🐎 Slow burn

Thank you to Hachette ANZ for an arc of this one! All opinions are my own.