Lyla Sage

The way Lyla Sage took every internalized thought I have had about myself, and then wrote Ada.... crazy that she can do that.

After Done and Dusted and just knew there was not a book that Lyla could write that I wouldn't automatically love. and If it's even possible, I love this book even more than I loved the first. Wes and Ada are my everything. They are my endgame. The way they interact with each other... the softness of it all. He is the sun and she is the moon.

Gorgeous Gorgeous writing and characterization as always from Lyla... and I can see the strings starting of the next book she is releasing and I can not wait :)… (más)

I had such a good time with this book! After reading quite a few positive reviews for this book, I decided to give it a go myself, and it was everything I had hoped it would be. Emmy and Luke were fantastic characters and I wanted nothing more than to see them find their happily ever after. Once I started listening to this gem, I did not want to stop!

Emmy moved back home to her family’s ranch after a riding accident left her unable to get back on a horse. This is a big problem since she races horses for a living. Luke is her brother’s best friend and has always been almost like a member of the family. When Luke offers to help her get over her fears so that she can ride again, she takes him up on that offer. The chemistry between this pair is palpable and they can’t resist each other for very long.

These two were perfect together. Even though they have known each other for years, I felt like they truly learned to understand each other once they spent some time together. It was great to see them fall for one another. I liked that they were able to help each other work through some things and stood up for each other when necessary. The secondary characters were incredibly well-developed and added a lot to the story. I can’t wait to see more of them in future books in the series.

Aaron Shedlock and Stella Hunter did a fantastic job with the narration of this romance. I thought that they were both able to bring their characters to life which added to my enjoyment. Both narrators had very pleasant voices which complimented each other’s very nicely. I thought that they were able to add just the right amount of emotion to their reading which helped to heighten the listening experience. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. This was a fun romance with characters that were easy to fall for. I cannot wait to read more of this entertaining series.

I received a review copy of this audiobook from Penguin Random House Audio.… (más)

Did I ever think I would love cowboys.... no..... do I now love cowboys.... absolutely. Lyla's writing is so well done, creating a world and characters that are terribly relatable. The world of Rebel Blue Ranch was created in such a way that makes me feel like I could drive to WY and find myself there in town. You want to know and be friends with all of these people. I found myself identifying with various parts of Emmy, even though I'm not a horse rider in WY. This is also the first book I have read in a while that writes ADHD in the most realistic way.

Luke Brooks has officially became my 2023 book boyfriend of the year. The dual POVs help readers understand both characters motivations and emotions behind their actions and I found myself wanting more of their story. I cannot wait for the rest of the series and to read more about my favorite cowboys :)… (más)

After a riding accident that left her reeling, barrel rider, Clementine "Emmy" Ryder has come home with her tail between her legs. Plagued by panic attacks, Emmy doesn't know if she will ever be able to ride again, but Luke Brooks, with whom she has had a love/hate relationship since childhood, is determined to give her a chance to resume her riding career. As they start to become closer, Luke and Emmy worry about how her brother and Luke's best friend, Gus will react to their relationship.

Done and Dusted is an easy, fun read that is predictable and light on plot and character development. However, it also draws in the reader, making it difficult to put down. Some heavier issues are touched upon, like ADHD and abandonment, but the plot focuses mostly on the romance between the protagonists, while weaving in some interesting secondary characters. One cute aspect of the book is the graphics at the beginning of each chapter and how those change at the beginning of the epilogue. Overall, Done and Dusted is an enjoyable book.… (más)