im struggling a lot with this one. it’s currently a dnf for me.
i might try again in the future but right now its not it.

Im not feeling a connection with the characters, i’m not vibing with the plot.. ugh

Just wrapped up Soul Searching by Lyla Sage and totally fell for this small-town, slow-burn romance. The characters have such heart, and the emotional depth hit all the right spots. It’s got laughs, longing, and just the right amount of spice. Perfect for a cozy weekend read!

If you’re into second chances and soul-deep connections, add this to your TBR.

I loved the Rebel Blue Ranch series, so I was so excited when a coworker told me about this one! It was a bit sad for me to not be in the same "world" created in the first series, but I still loved it so much! Collins and Brady were cute together and I appreciated the emotional depth of the story. Paranormal isn't usually my thing, but it also didn't feel like this was too over the top. If you've enjoyed the author's other books, you'll enjoy this one too.

I just adored this. You get whispers of Rebel Blue vibes while still allowing the story to be its own. Collins is the epitome of Soul Searching - stuck yet flailing and trying to find her footing all at once. Brady’s search just needed a little inspiration. I loved how soft everything was. And the slow burn. And the ghosts. It's cool *how different* Sage went with this new series. Rebel Blue was as realistic as the romance genre gets, but folks, she can do it all!

Lyla Sage is undeniably talented—her western romances have all been five-star reads for me. So when I heard she was diving into paranormal romance, I was all in.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on this one early, and I’m so happy to say: it did not disappoint.
Brady and Collins were sweet and soft and quietly magnetic—something about them gave me major “it’s nice to have a friend” vibes (yes, the Taylor Swift kind).
I also loved the groundwork being laid for the rest of the series—it has so much promise.
Perfect for all my spooky-season girls and anyone who just loves a heartfelt romance with a touch of the paranormal.

4.5 🌟 listen up, I had a fantastic time! A delicious slow burn and ghosts? SIGN ME UP!! I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and the tension had me panting!!! I love seeing lyla indulge in a different genre while still sticking to her western roots.

Brady and Collins!!!! The flirting ❤️❤️❤️ I love that this book had banter and flirting. It was everything!! Lyla can do no wrong!

LOVE! There is no Lyla Sage book that I will not read.

Set in the same world as her Rebel Blue series, we embark into a new town full of ghosts and possibly the most stable romance hero I have read in a long time. Boring Brady (who truly isnt that boring once you get to know him) has taken in Collins Cartwright as his new roommate. However, their first meeting she sprays him with bear spray.

This was a slow and steady romance that I will be thinking about for a long time. Collins is so lost at the beginning, she can't hear the ghosts anymore and it has left her listless. When she returns to her little haunted home its a bit of a walk of shame moment that she disguises as helping her family. I loved seeing her fall back in love with her town as she falls in love with Brady

LYLA SAGE NEVER FAILS TO SWOON ME!!! I love seeing that her writing continues to improve overtime and she really hones in on her style. I really don't have enough good things to say

Thank you so much to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!

Lyla Sage does it again in Soul Searching. Her novels have so much heart and draw you right in - I love sweetwater peak as much as I love meadowlark (maybe even more) and these characters are so lovely and really drive themselves right into your heart. I couldn’t put this down, I felt so drawn into the story and I just needed to keep reading it. So delightful and comforting, this book felt like a big warm hug.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I was feral when I saw it was available and read it in one sitting. I absolutely ADORED this book. It had all the charm and fun of Lyla's other series but with an extremely unexpected side of paranormal activity that I am obsessed with. She better write Clarke's book asap because I need it yesterday. I loved both Collins and Brady and all the side characters and cried a little at the idea that some pets were anchored to their owners. I'll be thinking about that for a long time.

Lyla Sage has truly outdone herself with Soul Searching! This book is an absolute gem—a perfect blend of romance, humor, and just the right amount of supernatural intrigue. I was hooked from the very first page and couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.

Collins Cartwright is such a fantastic, relatable character—her return to Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming, and the ghosts that haunt her are a perfect mix of emotional depth and a touch of mystery. The way Collins struggles with her loss of connection to the spirits that have always been a part of her life was incredibly moving, and I couldn’t help but feel for her. Her journey to find herself—and the ghosts who push her in unexpected ways—had me invested in every word.

Brady Cooper is the perfect counterpart to Collins. He’s charming, mysterious, and very much an “I’m fine” type of guy with a secret or two of his own. Their dynamic is both sweet and fiery, with a slow-burn romance that builds perfectly. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship evolve as they navigated the ghosts of their pasts (literally and figuratively).

The setting of Sweetwater Peak, with its small-town charm, was the perfect backdrop for this story, and Sage’s writing really brought it to life. The combination of ghosts and the potential for love made for such an engaging plot that kept me turning pages to see what would happen next. The way the supernatural elements intertwined with the romance was expertly done, adding just the right touch of intrigue and mystery.

What I truly loved most about this book was the depth of emotions it evoked—there were moments that made me laugh, others that made me tear up, and plenty of swoon-worthy scenes. The ghostly elements were creepy yet intriguing, and the romance was so well-paced that it had me rooting for these characters the entire time.

Soul Searching is a beautifully written, heartwarming story with an unforgettable cast of characters. I absolutely adored this book and can’t wait to see what Lyla Sage comes up with next. If you love small-town romance with a supernatural twist, this one is an absolute must-read!

Soul Searching is the first book in the Sweetwater Peak series written by Lyla Sage.

Expected publish date: 9/30/25

What to expect:
*Paranormal beings
*Forced proximity
*Slowburn

This book isn’t the small town romance that we are used to from Lyla Sage. This is a paranormal romance between a woman that can see and talk to ghosts, and the man that feels like he is somehow drawn to her hometown. I love it!! Brady was the absolute sweetest MMC ever!

This book is an extreme slow burn! The first kiss does not take place until 63% into the story. After that, there were only a couple of spicy scenes, mainly just a lot of making out on the love seat. The way that this couple used the love seat was so hot! 🥵

No OW/OM drama, no jealously over anyone, no third act breakup! Ends with a slight cliffhanger that leads to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Paranormal romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Collins (FMC) & Brady (MMC)

This book was very fine! It somehow managed to avoid being overly twee and the FMC/MMC was good enough. My biggest complaint was that the character's names were aggressively terrible. Collins? That is not a name and there was objectively no reason for it to be so stupid. The ending felt pretty rushed-- bit of a whirlwind throwin' Brady's (not a great name either) ex in the mix and the whole thing just raaaandomly all coming together in the last 3 chapters.
Overall, pretty mid, very readable, has a good cover.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t a cowboy romance. After reading 4 Lyla Sage books, I wrongly assumed that this would follow suit and instead I got a ghost story with a side of romance with an upholsterer? It was slightly disappointing. It is also a very slow burn since the spice doesn’t happen until the last 40% of the book. It was sweet and pretty tame, like an Ali Hazelwood book. Would recommend if you prefer your romance books with low spice.

This gave me all the vibes of a late 90s/early 2000s tv show with a badass FMC and the assorted characters around her. I loved the concept so much and found it original and fresh. I do wish the plot and relationships were developed a bit more deeply/effectively, but I will always and forever be a fan of the leads that Lyla Sage writes - Brady and Collins have my heart!

There was something incredibly slow and sweet and just-right about this book. You can see Sage's writing style and craft developing with each book, and with this one the characterizations and setting stood out wonderfully. The romance is more of a slow burn, but it is there, and we do have some fun spice. PLUS THE GHOSTS?! I never pegged that we would get a Lyla Sage PNR, but here we are, and I'm so psyched for the next one.

Gear up friends, this is going to be the PERFECT spooky western read to take you into autumn!

This book has my whole heart. There’s something so beautifully haunting and tender about it. Collins and Brady are such compelling characters; both a little bit lost, a little bit stubborn, and completely magnetic together. I loved how Collins’s ability to see ghosts wasn’t just a quirky detail but a core part of who she is. Brady, on the other hand, is that perfect mix of guarded and gentle. His reluctance to open up makes every small moment of vulnerability between them feel so meaningful. The small-town setting brings a cozy, comforting vibe that balances out the slightly eerie presence of the ghosts. I adored how the ghosts aren’t just background characters. It’s heartfelt and funny and just the right amount of spooky. The romance is sweet and a little bit messy in the best way. It’s slow, and it’s thoughtful, and it builds with this quiet intensity that just made me fall in love with them even more. They both have walls up, but watching them slowly take those walls down and learn to trust each other is so satisfying. It’s not rushed or forced, it just feels right. It made me feel like love really can heal old wounds, even when those wounds are tangled up with ghosts and past mistakes. I couldn’t get enough of it.

"Soul Searching" by Lyla Sage is a captivating follow up to the Rebel Blue Ranch series, filled with heartfelt moments and unforgettable characters. I absolutely loved it and give it a glowing 5-star rating for its compelling storytelling and emotional depth!

Thank you for the ARC! Spooky western? I’m in… Well, I thought I’d be….

This wasn’t technically horrible, but it wasn’t anywhere close to being good. The writing was horrible. The characters were constantly stammering! Examples: “S-so…” “A-and…” “Wh-what?” “Th-the” “S-sure.” The overuse of “um” and EMDASHES GALORE was making me crazy. The MMC saying “Woof” unironically made me almost DNF.

I know the author wanted to be different by creating a paranormal-inspired/magical realism romance while also staying true to her western themes, but at some point during the writing process for this, she had to realize how forced it felt. The plot was half-baked and the characters were two-dimensional. I simply didn’t care much about what happened, even though I wanted to. This pains me to admit, but I want to be honest,