ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! I am a Lyla Sage LOVER, so I wasn't sure what this book would entail. It was a slow burn, but once I got into it, I couldn't be stopped. There were soooo many good surprises in this novel, and I loved EVERY second, and every character. Sweetwater Peak. You have a special place in my heart. Collins? Clarke? Brady? BOONE!!! My dear, Lyla Sage. You knocked this out of the park, and I cannot wait to read more!!! AHHH! Thank you for this gift of a new =]

Thank you Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback and Net Galley. Having a chance to read this ARC?? Priceless.

Thank you netgalley!!
Okay so I love Lyla with my entire heart but this one just didn’t do it for me — the ghosts were cool but a little different and it overall felt like something was missing like some kind of connection wasn’t there…I’m so sorry :(

Thank you, NetGalley/ Random House Publishing, for the advanced copy of Soul Searching by Lyla Sage! Overall, I rate this book 3.75 stars! What drew me into this book was the western paranormal romance/ magical realism aspect. I had so much fun reading this book. It had everything I really appreciate in romance books, with a spooky ghost aspect. Overall, it was sweet and romantic, with an emotional side that also included some funny, lighthearted moments. I discovered Lyla's books this year, and one of my favorite things about Lyla is her ability to make her characters feel so real and how relatable they are. Yes, this is a fun romance novel, but it is also serious/moody and follows the character's line of self-discovery. I loved how Lyla was able to capture both themes within the book. Romance novels are so much more emotional and raw when the two characters somehow find their way to each other and support them through their struggles! With Collins and Brady, I loved the relationship they had and what it grew to be. It was a little unrealistic with how fast they fell for each other, but I think it shows how enthralled they were with one another. I enjoyed every part of this book, and especially loved the spooky ghost aspect of it! I can't wait to recommend this when it releases!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

With how beloved her Meadowlark series is (including by me), I knew it would be hard to follow. Admittedly, this book was a slow start for me and it took me awhile to really get into it. I even considered not finishing, but I am so glad I persevered. I've fallen in love with Sweetwater Peak and the universe she is setting up there (that is still connected to Meadowlark, thank goodness!).

The Rebel Blue Ranch series made Lyla Sage a must-read author for me, so naturally I was so excited to get to read the first in her new series early. Soul Searching had so many of the same qualities that make all of Lyla’s books so lovable - characters that are relatable, a romance that makes me giggly, and a family dynamic that you want to be a part of. I loved Collins as a protagonist, with her snarky exterior and soft heart. I’d say the romance storyline was still at the center, but we also have a bit more going on aside from it, and I’m excited to see those storylines continue. I was a little nervous for how the paranormal aspect would play out, but I actually really enjoyed it. Lyla weaved the ghosts in so well and they added so much to Collins’s journey and to the book as a whole for me. I didn’t feel taken out of the story at all, either, by combining a world with ghosts and the world that the Rebel Blue Ranch series (ghost free, as far as we know) exists in. All that to say, I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait for Clarke’s book and I can’t wait for more Boone Ryder <3

This was honestly a little disappointing. I super enjoyed Lyla Sage's other books. Each book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series had a compelling romance, great characters, and an important plot that added substance to the book beyond the relationships. This book, however, took several plot points that it wanted to include, shoved them all into 350 pages, and didn't do any of them well.

The romance went from 0-100 real quick and just didn't feel authentic at all. This felt more like a novella, despite being 350 pages, and the way our characters were saying "I love you" so quickly was honestly jarring. The sex scenes were way too plentiful for a book this short, and honestly, although they were good, they were about half of the actual on-page content we got from Collins and Brady. I felt as though we knew NOTHING about Brady besides the fact that he had an ex-girlfriend and he's inexperienced in bed. I'm not joking, that is it. Lyla alluded to this whole mysterious and troubled backstory with him, which we never got a full explanation of. Collins, we got a bit more of on-page, but even so, she wasn't a very fleshed-out main character. And hot take, but I'll say it...not every romance book needs to be dual POV. I could have lived without hearing from Brady.

Secondly, there was a half-baked family/sister/failing business plot that needed way more to feel impactful. I feel like this should have been the strongest part of the book, and yet, it just wasn't written to its full potential. Her mom and dad were in the book for a total of 10 pages and were flat as pancakes, and her sister and her only had a relationship that consisted of a miscommunication. Lyla found a way to fan service some characters from RBR into this book that truly didn't need to be there. Their presence also solved one of the only issues in the entire book so quickly and effortlessly that it made it pointless. I thought she was starting an entirely new series? So why include older characters that, to me, have served their purpose?

Thirdly, the actual ghost/supernatural aspect of this book was very much on the back-burner, which is sad because this book is described as being a lot more paranormal than it is. I fear that a lot of people will be disappointed coming into this, expecting a spooky romance book, because they are getting none of that. Collins can see and communicate with ghosts, but recently the spirits have gone silent, and that is supposedly a huge plot point in this book. It is only referenced when needed to move the plot along, and does nothing to the actual romance or relationships between any of the characters in this book. Lyla needed to lean into this way more because I forgot every single time that Collins was supposed to be a ghost whisperer or whatever.

I think Lyla tried to pack too much into a book with not enough pages to make it work. I've read Lyla making it work before, so I'm disappointed and confused at what went wrong here. I am sure this will follow a similar structure to the other series, so I will read the next one, but yeah, I am just hoping for a bit more next time.

2.5 stars.

I can appreciate Lyla's anxiety about sending us on a new journey to a new place after we all fell so deeply for Meadowlark. But don't worry, Sweetwater Peak does not disappoint. I love this little town in the shadows already. I can't wait for the next one. Brady and Collins were so sweet and tender, even when he thought she was nuts for talking to herself. They felt inevitable. It was really sweet.

I’ve loved all of Lyla Sage’s books, but I just was not vibing with this one unfortunately :( Personally, I didn’t enjoy the characters or the paranormal element to it. I know a lot of girlies will love this, but this one just wasn’t for me.

I will forever read anything that Lyla Sage publishes into the world - after escaping to Meadowlark in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, I was dying to know what was next from Lyla Sage. Soul Searching was it! While I will forever keep Done and Dusted at the top of my favorites list, Soul Searching did not disappoint. Sage writes in a way that made me feel completely immersed in the story and like I was living in Sweetwater Peak myself. While the supernatural element is not something I would typically go for, it didn't overrun the rest of the story and the romance between Brady and Collins. I loved the family vibe as well. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

It has been a long time since I've delved into paranormal romance and I was very pleased with this read. The story gave me everything I typically enjoy in a book: small-town vibes, supernatural elements, and a scorching romance that will leave you blushing long after you have finished reading. The main characters felt very unique yet relatable, despite the added element of supernatural abilities. The world-building itself did feel reminiscent of other paranormal romances I have read over the years, but the characters definitely brought out a distinctive quality to the overall plot. If you love a paranormal romance book with sizzling chemistry and a supernatural twist, then I would very much recommend this read for you!

Lyla Sage does it again!! If you've read the Rebel Blue Ranch series, you know Sage is good at creating slightly flawed, but still immensely loveable quirky characters in the American west. And she does it again here with Soul Searching. I particularly enjoyed that she didn't lean on the ranch tropes that served her so well in the past - this is clearly a shared universe, but is quite different in tone and focus, and I appreciate the versatility. And honestly - the supernatural element had me rolling my eyes a bit when I first read the description of this one, but the way it operates and plays out just feels so natural and not overdone - I really, really enjoyed the quirky nature of it all. Fans of Ashley Poston will really enjoy this one - I'll definitely be recommending it to my readers.

Thank you for the eARC!
The Rebel Blue series is one of my favorites so I was unsure how this new series would hold up. But Ms Sage you have done it again! I absolutely loved Soul Searching and I’m already dying for book two. I loved the character of Collins. The spooky western elements? Chef’s kiss! I loved how Lyla was able to make the connections between Medowlark and Sweetwater Peak without it feeling too forced. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series and pretty much anything Lyla writes!!

Big shoutout to NetGalley for getting this ARC so early! If Lyla writes it, I’m reading it! I didn’t really know anything about this new world until diving in and although it’s very different than the Meadowlark cowboys, it was still incredibly sweet. I loved the magical realism and small town crossover. Plus there’s some cameos from some of our favorite rebel blue employees. Really excited to see where this series goes!

This book is what every library book club needs to read this up coming winter especially small town libraries. There is so much love for a small town in this book.

This was such a cute and cozy read with a hint of paranormal romance. I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance and getting to discover the characters back story before they got together. A lot of the side characters were actually quite fun to discover and the link to Meadowlark was heartwarming. The ending felt rushed in comparison to the build up of the town and characters. I imagine it will be answered in the next few books, but I would have enjoyed a little closure with certain plots.

This was a spooky romance full of ghosts with spark of mystery that was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the Montana setting, the family dynamics, and the small town vibe. The newest from Lyla Sage, this releases on Sept 30th. The characters didn‘t charm me quite a quickly as in her last series, but they grew on me and I‘m looking forward to the next in the series. Thanks to netgalley for an ARC

Lyla has done it again , y’all.

This book is another love letter to small towns, but instead of a heartfelt message of yearning, it was one of resilience and resistance in the face of corporate greed (don’t worry, there is also plenty of romance for the girlies! Lyla would never do us like that!)
The paranormal aspect was very well done, and makes sense within the story. Collins’ relationship with the ghosts of the town and the mysterious muting of her ability to hear them is a compelling story that had me yelling “please talk to your sister!!”

I have loved everything Lyla sage has written and this one was no different. I absolutely loved this

This book is like a warm hug from your hometown—and also like that hometown is full of matchmaking ghosts with boundary issues. Lyla Sage blends cozy small-town romance with just enough supernatural weirdness to make it feel fresh. It’s sweet, it’s sad, it’s sexy, and it has ghosts. What more do you want?

Soul Searching was a unique and cute romance! I think this would be the perfect romance to read in the fall/around Halloween. The ghost aspect of this boom was different and I was unsure about it at the beginning but ended up really enjoying the ghostly encounters and impact it had on the story.
I loved both Collins and Brady. Brady was a solid and loveable love interest.
No drama or third act breakup which I appreciate in a romance!!