I thoroughly enjoyed Soul Searching. I loved the idea of combining paranormal and western aspects. Boone was my favorite character and I loved the nods to the RBR series.

Overall, I would recommend this book to others. It made me laugh and made me tear up, and I’m excited to read Clarke’s story as well.

Soul Searching is an entertaining blend of small-town charm, light paranormal elements and sweet romance. The story follows Collins, a tattooed rebellious spirit who returns to her hometown of Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming.

Collins returns home hoping to reclaim her connection to the spirit world, but ends up reconnecting with her past, her roots, and a quietly charming guy, who might just be her future.

This isn't a book that dives deep into heavy themes, but it doesn't need to. The romantic arc is low-drama and heartwarming. It was easy to read and delivered what I expected, romance and ghostly vibes. I have not read any of the authors other books, but I will be trying Done and Dusted soon.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview copy of Soul Searching. I started reading Sage's Rebel Blue Ranch series in April (I'm writing this in late July), recommended it to friends, and we all finished the entire series by the end of June. When I saw a new Lyla Sage book available on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. Unfortunately, Soul Searching fell flat for me.

Maybe I was just unable to suspend my disbelief that a tiny remote town would be able to sustain as many small businesses as possible or that the ghosts would just disappear when Collins and Brady were ready to indulge in some spice. Maybe I couldn't get past a couple actions that gave me the ick. I'm not sure. I just know that Soul Searching didn't work for me the way the Rebel Blue books did.

Will I still pick up future offerings from Lyla Sage? Yes. Will I finish this particular series? I don't know.

I was so excited for this book but had to DNF at 50%. It was so. BLAND. BORING. SOULLESS. There was not a single personality to be found anywhere in this book. And the ghosts? Barely there and boring.
Listen. POV characters can keep secrets from other characters, but they cannot keep secrets from the reader. We are in their heads. We should know why the main character mysteriously quit her job despite being in turmoil over it, even if she won't tell her family. Leaving it a mysterious ~secret~ was a cheap trick to keep the reader enthralled, but all it did was annoy me to the point of DNFing.

That's not what l expected unfortunately but the vibes were fun! I'm sure reading this during the fall would have made it even better.
I really enjoyed that the male main character wasn't the stereotypical "perfect guy" like in so many other romances.
He was blushing and unsure of himself, which was a refreshing change. I also appreciated how supportive he was of the female main character.
The romance element felt a little late to start, and once it did, it went from 0 to 100 really fast. The "I love you" came way too soon for my taste.
I also wish the ghost aspect had been more central to the plot. Like I mentioned, Ghost Whisperer was one of my favorite shows growing up, so I was hoping for more of that vibe. But I understand that she was struggling with her ability.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#soulsearching #netgalley

Collins, photographer and ghost whisperer extraordinaire, has lost her abilities to communicate with her ghost besties. Brady, a city transplant who is running from his past, decides to help Collins fall back in love with Sweetwater Peak so she can get over her block. They work together to do some soul searching and find out how to love themselves, as well as each other, while also working to save her family business.

This one wasn’t really for me. I expected spooky, creepy ghosts when I read the title, not actual soul searching within themselves. The story is decent, but there was more showing than telling in a lot of places.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!!

i stopped reading lyla's rebel blue ranch after the second book because i simply couldn't connect with the way she wrote or the characters. however, when this arc was posted, i though about giving her a second chance seeing as she was venturing into fantasy territory. 

i applaud lyla for venturing into new territory, but, unfortunately, i feel like her writing has gone downhill the more she writes. at times (most of them), it felt like she was telling and not showing, which made it incredibly difficult to read, as i found myself bored.

we could also talk about the fact that "sweetwater peak" was mentioned almost 130 times, even though it's literally the name of the series and where the book is taking place. it felt like she though the readers might be dumb and not remember the location i she didn't mention it once every three pages. 

i fear this book was stuffed like a thanksgiving turkey with so many tropes that we ended up with a shallow book where nothing was fully developed or resolved.

in terms of the main characters, the only thing i will say is i couldn't find the connection between both of them.

many thanks to Random House Publishing Group and lyla sage for the arc of soul searching in exchange for my honest opinion.

this will be posted on the 21st of july, on my goodreads account

LYLA SAGE HAS MY WHOLE HEART !!!!! I've been in literal tears *for months* because of how much I miss Rebel Blue Ranch and my Meadowlark family, and this cured me. Boone Ryder, hello????????? Cam ???? LIKE YES, MOTHER DELIVERED!! I can't wait to see how this series progresses... and if there's more to the supernatural Sweetwater Peak world!

Thank you for the galley!

miss Lyla might've fell off with this one a little bit... there wasn't anything glaringly wrong with it, but I couldn't connect with the characters, the setting, or the romance that felt bland. I even forgot I was reading this for a month because it just didn't stick out to me at all. Also the plot outside of the romance didn't feel too urgent and it all resolved itself way too easily and way too rushed, especially for how long of a book this was. The best parts were the Rebel Blue easter eggs and Boone

I enjoyed the paranormal aspect of this book. I loved that Lyla tied in other characters from her first series. I felt really connected with Collins, I just wish that’s the same character building was the same with Brady. My favorite character definitely was Boone. Looking forward to next book in series.

I’m glad Lyla stepped away from cowboy books tbh, but this also wasn’t really it for me. I thought the concept of a literal ghost town was such a cool idea, and this definitely could’ve had nostalgic spooky vibes with romance, but overall it missed the mark.

It felt like this plot was trying to build up to something that never ended up happening; there was no drama. And then the “conflicts” were literally solved in one chapter at the end. The characters also didn’t have much growth, or maybe they just lacked depth. Boone probably had the most depth, and that’s only because we know the Ryders so well at this point.

But anyway, it wasn’t bad but it just didn’t feel like it was plotted out or paced well. Maybe this is mean, but it felt like a draft?

Collins is coming back to her hometown of Sweetwater Peak (although she doesn't want to) in hopes of reconnecting with her ability to speak with ghosts. But her family doesn't know that and thinks she is back to help save the family antique business. She loves her family but wants to stay somewhere else, that's where Brady comes in. He has a spare bedroom and is a bit. of a secluse, whether he chooses to be or not is the question. Collins and Brady start to form a connection that starts with them going on adventures around Sweetwater Peak and it continues to grow into something more?

4.5 stars

YES! I was a bit hesitant on the concept of ghost being involved but it really made the book for me. I love the small town, the forced proximity, the found family, and the ghosts! Collins and Brady are so special to me. Especially Brady, who I related to a lot. Being in my post grad era, really got me thinking about how it comes with a bit of loneliness and it's important to seek out people when you have the chance. Also the way Brady LOVES!! OMG! He is so nerdy and dorky! My kind of man! And he knew exactly how to take care of Collins and be there to support her.

I will read anything and everything Lyla releases! That is all because if I keep going, I might end up writing my own book about how much I love this one!

This was my first Lyla Sage book, I read a bit of the first book of her other series but ended up putting the book down halfway through as I’m not a big cowboy romance reader but this one intrigued me with the paranormal aspects of it.

Soul Searching is hard for me to rate, when I finished I had to sleep on it before I wrote my review and rating. There were so many aspects I really enjoyed but there were also some that I didn’t.

Let’s start with what I liked:
I loved the paranormal aspect with the twins being able to see and communicate with ghosts. And I loved how those stories weaved it way into the plot and how it was such a big part of who Collins was as a person.

I enjoyed the romance between Collins and Brady. I thought it was well done.

Boone and his rag tag group of animals. Boone was by far my favorite character.

What I didn’t like:
The spicy scenes. Maybe I’m just vanilla but there was a certain thing that just completely grossed me out. Also, I didn’t feel like the Brady in those scenes matched up to the Brady we saw in the rest of the story. Especially with the way he was during their first encounter. It just didn’t match up in my head.

There’s also a few things left unresolved at the end, which I guess it probably on purpose if this is the start of a series. But it felt like an abrupt end.

Overall, I would probably rate this 3.5, rounded up to 4 and I will probably pick up the next in the series.

"Soul Searching" is a moody romance set in Sweetwater Peak Wyoming which is just two hours north of Meadowlark, the setting of Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series. While I very much enjoy reading Lyla Sage, this one definitely had a different feel- more creepy, more angsty, more dark, definitely more frustrating. FMC Collins was a bit hard to like regardless of her paranormal abilities. She kept making choices that were straight self-sabotage. And even though it was written in a way to give insight into her depressive state- it was still difficult to watch play out. MMC Brady is a helper. He helps Collins, he helps her parents, he even braves the wrath of cranky old man Boone just to give him a hand with repairs. I do like them together though.
I very much enjoyed a few of the ghosts like Elda and Ernest and how the apartment ghosts seemed to be angling to get Collins and Brady together- like by turning off Brady’s water mid shower! The subplot of the White Lady was a pleasant surprise as well. But my favorite extra tidbits were the little cameos from Amos and Cam from the Rebel Blue series!
If you’re a fan of Lyla Sage definitely give this one a try but know it hits differently.

Oh my god yes yes yesssss give me the PINING THE YEARNING BRADY THE MAN YOU ARE😍😍 The dual pov had me going feral and Collins + Brady were so perfect for each other. Finding solace and hope and love and joy together. I’m obsessed.

I really loved the plot line of this book too!! Small town, both characters running away from (or back to) something, forced proximity, and ghosts!! I may even reread it come Halloween time because of the spooky vibes. Boone was my favorite side character but all of them were so well written and important to the story.

I’m writing this at 11pm so alas my thoughts are a little incoherent but my final note on this book is: the communication was incredible and I’m SO glad there wasn’t a third act break up. I was going to lose my mind if there was one but we are all good friends— go on and read in peace knowing there’s a HEA!

Sage swaps cowboy riding for ghost hunting in her newest, Soul Searching!

Soul Searching follows Collins, a famed photographer, who returns home feeling like a failure. As she begins to work and live at the local upholstery shop, she finds so much more than she ever could have imagined: ways to heal, ways to hope, and a way to come home again.

It's a killer new look for Sage, and I can't wait to see more in Sweetwater Peak!

This unfortunately lacked the magic I’ve come to expect from Lyla Sage books. The characters felt flat and I really didn’t see the chemistry between the two main characters.

I love Sage's ability to capture small town life, familial relationships, and self-doubt. The dual-POV is a fun treat. Collins and Brady are dynamic and sweet, acting as captivating foils to each other. I can't wait to read more in this series!

5☆'s

"I just... I wonder if every decision I've ever made was leading me to you."
"I know mine led me to you."

First off, thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

There are so many things I want to say, but I find it difficult to string the words together in a way that is comprehensible. Starting this book was difficult for me. I wasn't sure how I'd take the transition from Meadowlark to Sweetwater but Lyla made it easy.

Like her other works, Soul Searching is driven by the character growth of the couple we come to love in each story. This time we meet Collins, a badass photographer who struggles to live up to the expectations she places on herself on the behalf of the people in her life. And Brady, a sweet and gentle man looking to escape the monotony of city life and an unhappy relationship.

I wish we couldn't gotten further along with the resolution of the secondary story line, but I know that will most likely come along in the second book with Clarke's story. The paranormal aspects of the story weren't as fleshed out as I'd like, but this isn't primarily Paranormal romance so I can't be too upset. It's a romance with aspects of paranormal in it. Which some people may enjoy more than others.

I did enjoy seeing all the cameos and references to Meadowlark, as part of me still can't believe that series has been wrapped up. Overall, I think this was my second favorite of all her other works. Swift and Saddled remains reigning champion.

Soul Searching by Lyla Sage is a unique twist on a regular country romance. With sisters who can see ghosts, this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a bit of supernatural in their books. If you are a fan of her others, I would definitly recomend this one!