Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced readers copy of this book.

Sigh... I really *REALLY* wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it just kinda missed the mark for me. The premise is solid, characters good, but honestly, it just felt... rushed? A little forced, maybe? There were so many story tangents that could have led to something great, but instead just wrapped inexplicably easily.

I had super high hopes after all of Rebel Blue, but Sweetwater Peak just didn't make it.

📚Trope(s): Grumpy cinnamon roll MMC, closed-off FMC, small town
What you get: GHOSTS!
⭐️Plot: 3/5
🔥Chemistry: 4/5
🌶️Spice: 4/5

I’ll start off by saying I love Layla Sage, but this book often felt clumsy. Collin’s felt under developed as a character. We get a glimpse into her jaded past with photography but I just don’t find it believable that she would have let herself be gaslighted by two men in the industry. Sage mentions that she felt really challenged when writing this book. Maybe there is some industry trauma she’s alluding to.
I struggled to find connections between the story of the town and Toades, Collin’s losing her gift to talk to ghosts, her issues with photography and her sister Clarke. I think Sage was trying to make too much happen.
Brady is a great character. He developed on the page quickly. And I fell in love with the town. Little call backs to Cam and Amos were also really nice.
Overall I think there’s more to develop here and I can smell a series evolving. I’ll still read the rest of the series if that is where this is going.

This was so fun and cute! I have been missing the feeling I had reading the Rebel Blue Ranch series and was also in the mood for spooky fall vibes. This fit my mood and I am excited to hear more ghost stories in Sweetwater Peak.
The banter in this is perfect! Collins is such a badass fmc, I am obsessed with her whole attitude and vibe
Pepperspraying the mmc and still managing to fall in love? Amazing!!

This has easily become one of my favourite Lyla Sage novels. When first meeting Collins you immediately gain a sense of familiarity with the character, whether it be how we see someone in our lives or relate to her personally. Her journey of re-discovering her dreams and ambitions had me in an absolute chokehold, it was beautifully written and had me reflecting on more than one occasion about myself. The build in romance between Collins and Brady was beyond adorable and had me kicking my feet from how cute and wickedly caring they are to one another.

Soul searching is the perfect fall Cozy Romance with a little bit of spice to keep you warm! Collins and Brady were an unexpected but perfect pairing and Sweetwater Peak has me yearning for a vacation in underneath big skies!

I was very excited to read this book as I love small town vibes, and when you add in a paranormal factor, it sounded amazing! While there were some cute parts, and the story did pick up in the second half, it took a really long time to get into this book and ultimately I wasn't invested in this story.

This paranormal small-town gem is utter perfection. Sage hits on themes that romanticize the American West: fresh starts, honoring history, and what it means to feel ready to put down roots. Utterly obsessed and I will recommend to all my romance reading friends!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

I have been a sucker for Lyla Sage since Dona and Dusted graced my Kindle. 1. The covers are gorgeous. 2. The characters are swoon-worthy, and 3. They make me want to start riding horses and join a ranch. That being said, if you are expecting the exact same thing with Soul Searching, you will be disappointed. The cover is still beautiful, Collins (fmc) is swoon-worthy, and there are ghosts, but no horses. There are a few fun mentions of the Rebel Blue characters and nods to the ranch that I ate up. That being said, there were some issues I found with this new adventure that I didn't see in her earlier novels. The two main characters stuttered or struggled to talk almost every time they were around each other. They lived together and yet still stuttered. It was extremely repetitive and got old. Brady, the mmc fell flat for me. I couldn't picture what he looked like (other than the cover) and his personality was just meh. Also, the number of times Sage used an Em Dash on a page numbered 3-4 at times, and by the last 1/3 of the book, I was paying more attention to those than the story. I love Lyla Sage and Rebel Blue, but so far I'm not sold on Sweetwater. Maybe the 2nd of the series will redeem it for me, because of course I'm going to read it. This just felt rushed and repetitive and did not give Collins the justice she deserved.

A charming paranormal romance set in a ghost-filled small town. Collins and Brady's slow-burn relationship is both funny and emotional, with meddling spirits adding a unique twist. Perfect for readers who enjoy cozy, supernatural love stories.

Sweet but completely and totally forgettable. I finished only 4 days ago and have already completely forgotten it. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Super disappointing as it looked really good. 2.5 stars.

My first Lyla Sage novel and I get why they are popular. The western and spooky vibes were the perfect addition to this romance. This book got good at about 50% in, the romance was well paced but could have done with a little more ghosts and mystery earlier on. All in all, would recommend to romance readers who haven't yet dabbled in Lyla Sage. 3.5 stars.

I love Lyla but I struggled with this one. I felt like the main characters didn’t have as much chemistry as I’m used to. I loved the setting and the family aspect, but I would have loved to learn more about the Sullivan enterprise stuff. I felt like I ended up with more questions than answers

Spice: 4🌶️
Rating: 3.5/4? let's say 3.75⭐️

If you liked (loved) the Rebel Blue Ranch series I feel safe in saying you'd also love this one, but definitely keep a somewhat open mind. The supernatural aspect wasn't a forerunner in the plot (imo) but was an interesting addition. That being said though, I really have no idea how I feel about this book!!! I love Lyla's writing, there's definitely something so comforting about the way she writes and the way she creates her small towns. Even though this was diverted from Rebel Blue, seeing the odd tie in was amazing! I'll always be glad to read a Lyla book🥰

The ghost thing though? I didn't hate it, but it definitely took a while to wrap my head around that. I loved the spooky abandoned buildings and exploring that Brady and Collins did, it had that Halloween-y vibe to it and I eventually grew to like the ghosts (especially lil Earnest!!) but I'm not actually sure that it served that much to the overall plot of the book? In true Lyla fashion, this ended on this most ANNOYING cliff-hanger so maybe it will come up a little more in the next set? I am assuming the next book in the series will be her sister (or else I will be very mad especially with that last little line in the epilogue!!!) so we shall see!

Thank you so much for letting me read the ARC, I'll be looking for the next one for sure!

No spoilers. Just want to share that I really enjoyed this book!! Lyla Sage is so great at writing about the complexities of relationships- including families and towns. I love Sweetwater Peak and the unique way that we get to learn about its history. Big fan of the supernatural turn she’s taking in this series. Also highly recommend seeing Lyla Sage in person if you ever get the chance- she is so fun and has the best witty remarks, it just made me appreciate her books even more.

This book was utterly delightful! I was initially skeptical about the paranormal aspects, but it works so incredibly well in telling the story of Sweetwater Peak. I found Collins' strained relationship with her hometown to be authentic in the way that it's both comforting and confining.

Thank you so much to The Dial Press for the opportunity to read this one in advance. Everyone close to me knows I love Sage's work and this one is no different. Being able to explore a new town with her classic sense of humor, writing style and characters whose struggles and successes pull at your heartstrings is such a privilege. Collins, Brady and the whole Sweetwater Peak gang already have my whole heart. This book is the perfect lightly spooky, deeply romantic, and utterly delectable read and it has everything I love about the romance genre. A+++++++++, 100000 stars for Lyla Sage, yet again!

Oh my goodness. I thought I loved Lyla before with the Rebel Blue series but Soul Searching was just a whole new level. This was true to her style and had an instantly lovable/relatable cast and cozy setting but with the new supernatural element it just made the reading experience even more fun. I can't think of a single critique of this book just so many details that I absolutely adored. Not only were Collins and Brady perfect for each other but we also to Amos Ryder's older brother Boone but we got an Amos and Cam Tucker cameo that had my heart melting. I'm assuming the sequel to this will follow Collins' sister and Im so excited to see her story and her ability as well!

This was so CUTE. The perfect blend of cozy with a fun paranormal aspect that’ll be perfect for Halloween.
The setting and characters were honestly, such a vibe. I’m in love with Sweet Boy Brady and walking disaster Collins.

The entire story made me homesick for a place I’ve never been, and I’m officially obsessed with Sweetwater Peak.

Also, shout out to the lore and guest appearances from Sage’s other novels!

I enjoyed this book so much. I am a huge fan of the author's previous series and this one did not disappoint at all.

LYLA HAS DONE IT AGAIN! Though Meadowlark and Rebel Blue Ranch is a hard setting to beat, Sage's Sweetwater Peak fills the void nicely. I really appreciated how the ghostly details were handled. Supernatural isn't usually my genre but this felt grounded and not at all cheesy. 5 Stars