Done and Dusted: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel

Lyla Sage has made herself an auto-buy author with this debut novel. Emmy and Luke’s story was so fun and light-hearted, and the writing was beautifully written. I was immediately immersed into the Meadowlark and Rebel Blue Ranch universe. If I could give this more stars, I would! Clementine “Emmy” Ryder is a professional barrel rider and the youngest Ryder sibling. She returns to her hometown after suffering a riding accident that hinders her confidence and belief in herself. Luke Brooks is a broody bad boy, bar owner, and Emmy’s oldest brother’s best friend. Emmy was a constant presence in his childhood until years later, he saw her in a different light. Determined to get answers on why Emmy is back in town, he forms a friendship with the Meadowlark sweetheart… and some feelings along the way. Emmy is a fiercely brave and independent badass that we can’t help, but want to protect and cheer on. I loved her feisty comebacks to Luke, but also seeing her vulnerable side when she decided to finally open up. I admired her determination in the face of overwhelming obstacles. I’m a huge fan of books that include neurodivergence rep in some shape or form, and the way it was portrayed was extremely well done. Luke is a soft boy at heart. He cares so deeply for the people he loves, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to take care of them. I loved how sweet and understanding he is with Emmy when she needs him to be. It was so easy to see the ways that he cared for her, made sure that she was safe, and how his feelings quickly turned into him falling for her. Every time he called her “sugar,” I was screaming, kicking my feet in the air, and grinning so hard to the point that my cheeks were hurting! The sass and banter between them had me laughing, while their tension had me swooning. Sure, they didn’t really like each other growing up, but they really connected and became fiercely protective of each other. I enjoyed the Emmy’s family and the cast of side characters; I look forward to seeing them in future books! Gus and Teddy, I’m looking at you! If you want a yee-haw, small town romance to make you swoon from one moment to fanning yourself during a certain whiskey scene, I highly recommend this book. Lyla, I can’t wait for your second book!

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage is the kind of small town cowboy romance that makes your heart full and your cheeks hurt from smiling. This is Lyla Sage’s debut novel, and the first book of hers I’ve read, but I am absolutely hooked. It’s the perfect mix of sweet, emotional, and spicy, with that cozy, small town charm I can never resist. The story follows Clementine (Emmy) Ryder, a record breaking barrel racer who returns home to heal after riding accident leaves her mentally scarred. Struggling with fear and self doubt, Emmy just wants a little peace and the last thing she expects is to reconnect with Luke Brooks, the owner of The Devil’s Boot, the only bar in Meadowlark, Wyoming, and more importantly her brother's best friend. Luke has always been an unofficial member of the Ryder family, growing up alongside Emmy’s brothers, Gus and Wes. He’s known Emmy forever, but when she walks into his bar after years away, something shifts. Their childhood familiarity and annoyance for each other turns into something deeper and more charged as they slowly rebuild a connection neither of them saw coming. When Emmy confides in Luke about her accident, something she hasn’t told anyone else, it sparks a reluctant friendship that slowly grows into more. Luke helps Emmy ease back into riding, giving her lessons that not only rebuild her confidence but bring them closer together. He’s endlessly patient, kind, and protective, seeing Emmy for who she truly is and never judging her for her fears or her ADHD triggers and coping mechanisms. Luke never forcers Emmy to be anything but herself. He sees her for who she truly is and just wants to be alongside her and see her happy. Luke's calm patience allows Emmy to figure herself out in her own time all while feeling safe and cared for. As their relationship grows, she leans more into him as her safe space as she heals mentally and decides what she wants to do with her life. Luke was once reckless and wild, but now he is steady, grounded, and quietly yearning for something real. He and Emmy balance each other so well. She supports him with the same care and gentleness he offers her, and their relationship unfolds with heartwarming tenderness and chemistry. Plus, the spice was absolutely delicious. I love a MMC that takes control in the bedroom. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the Rebel Blue series and spend more time with these characters. Done and Dusted was everything I love in a small, town romance, heart, healing, humor, and cowboys who make you kick your feet and wish you could transport yourself to their fictional ranch.

Pros: This is a sweet, mildly spicy small town romance. It isn’t as fast as some and doesn’t have the crazy plot twists of others but it comes with a promised happy ever after and a great found family. Really nice representation for adhd and how some people just process things differently. Cons: This could be a little too small town, cozy for some readers who depend on fast paced drama to keep them going.

Phew! Hold onto your cowboy hats, folks, because Lyla Sage just delivered her debut novel which is an absolute gem; "Done and Dusted"! 📚✨ This book had me absolutely captivated from the get-go with its fabulous western themed, retro cover. I can't tear my eyes away from it! I'm seriously thinking of hanging it on my wall like a prized piece of artwork! 🖼️👀 We dive into the story with Emmy Ryder making her triumphant return to the family ranch after a decade spent living in another state. She's on a mission to conquer her anxiety following a horse-riding accident. Talk about bravery, folks! 🐎😨 Now, let's talk about Brooks, a man of many talents! Not only does he lend a hand on the ranch, but he also owns the local bar. Although he had a challenging upbringing, he always found solace within the Ryder family's warm embrace. Talk about finding a sense of belonging! 🏜️🍻 Back in the day, Emmy and Brooks didn't exactly see eye to eye. She regarded him with some skepticism, and he viewed her as nothing more than his best friend's younger sister. But my, oh my, how the tides have turned! Years later, they're all grown up and discovering each other in a whole new, more romantic light. Sparks are definitely flying! 🔥💑 And guess what, folks? We also have a delightful ensemble of characters joining the adventure! Emmy's got her spirited brothers, Wes and Gus, her dear old dad, and her best friend, Teddy. Let me tell you, I'm yearning to have a Teddy-like friend in my own life. She's caring, funny, and fiercely loyal. She's the kind of friend who stands up for her loved ones and loves with all her heart. I can't wait to unravel more of her story! 🌟💪 "Done and Dusted" is fast paced and hard to put down. There are quite a few storylines going on to keep you interested. It might sound crazy, but it all comes together brilliantly, leaving you hungry for more stories about the other characters. I'm telling you, this book will have you hooked! 💕 Now, let's talk about that ending—it's sweeter than a scoop of your favorite ice cream! 💋 The only downside is that the book left me wanting more. I need an extended edition, pronto! Lyla Sage is definitely an author to keep an eye on, and I'm eagerly counting down the days until October when "Swift and Saddled" hits the shelves.📆📚

Done and Dusted was a very entertaining and easy read. The book is fairly short, which made it easy to get through quickly, but it still felt complete and satisfying. I really enjoyed the characters and found them likable and relatable. Their personalities made the story engaging, and I enjoyed watching their relationships develop throughout the book. I especially enjoyed the storyline and thought it was fun, lighthearted, and easy to follow. The romance was one of my favorite parts of the book. The love story was sweet and enjoyable, and it kept me interested from beginning to end. I also appreciated the humor and the small town atmosphere, which added charm to the story. Who am I kidding? I love a good cowboy.🤣 Overall, this was a feel-good book that was perfect for relaxing and escaping into a different world for a few hours. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light, entertaining romance with lovable characters and a heartwarming story.

Y'ALL i never ran to add a physical copy of this book to my cart so damn fast in my LIFE! this author has become an auto-buy author for me based on a DEBUT novel. this book..... gollyyyyy this book was everything i didn't know i needed, just read it. i promise you, READ. IT. ******POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD****** in this book we meet emmy, barrel racer in the circuit, and luke, bar owner and best friend to gus and wes (emmy's brothers). emmy packs up her life in Denver and drives all the way back home to Meadowlake to the Rebel Blue family ranch after a brutal horse training accident that really shook her up. while she's home, she is working on overcoming her crippling anxiety revolving around horses and riding with the help of our (book husband) Luke. while overcoming her anxiety she fall in love (to be frank, so did i) with Luke. luke is a reformed playboy who keeps his head down and runs his bar and helps out on Rebel Blue Ranch as much as he can. when emmy storms back into town, he finally sees her for the woman she has become and now he cannot get her out of his mind. we get to witness such a beautiful love story so well written that i literally ate it up like it was my last meal. these two's chemistry was so well done. step aside book boyfriends, i am offically off the market for luke mf brooks. i am so grateful to have read this book because it gave me all the warm and cozy feelings, this is just such a GOOD book and i will be reading it again and again and again for the rest of time. i just felt as though i was living there with them, you fall in love with all the characters you meet and you actually see yourself through parts of emmy so she was very relatable. i cannot wait for the rest of the series!!!! i gave this book a 4 star spice rating because it is a slow burn but when the spice kicks in....whew, ride em cowboy. i was feeling all the feels. luke has such a filthy mouth. seriously though, if you haven't read it yet what are you doing? top 3 read of june hands down and i couldn't have imagined a better book to end the month on. seriously, please keep writing!!

Loved this book! Was a great mix of story and romance. It was nice how really Emmy felt as a character as well as Luke. They jumped off the page as did the story. I would recommend!

Done and Dusted Author - Layla Sage Pages - 365 ⭐️ 3.5 🌶️ 2 Dual POV Brother Best Friend Cowboy Romance Small Town I really needed this book lol. Having just gone on a SJM bender and getting myself into a slump slump, this book was perfect. It’s cute, funny and a HEA wrapped in a nice little bow! Now the thing I LOVED about this book is the neurodivergent representation! It’s not just mentioned that the FMC has ADHD and a sensory processing disorder, you see it in most of her actions and thoughts. As a mom with a kid with almost this exact same issue, I appreciated seeing her say “raw chicken, loud music and a persons breath made her spiral” and that it didn’t make sense to any one but her. I felt that so deeply. The support system around Emmy was so great especially Luke and her best friend Teddy. They see and acknowledge things about her like textures and hyper fixations and response processing. They either help her (like getting new bedding) or give her the space to work it out while also letting her know they’re there when she’s ready. This was a great little read and I’m excited for the rest of the series!

What a great start to this series! I loved Emmy & Luke right from the start and seeing Luke fall hard for his best friend’s kid sister was a delight. They were so sweet together - from the banter & teasing at the start to the tender moments they shared. Yes it was cheesy & predictable but I devoured this! I can’t wait to read more so that I can see what happens to everyone in this series. Edit Review

Everything is proportioned in this book; the pacing, the smut, the description! I loved the main characters and their development arcs and how the story wasn't dragging unnecessarily filling pages .

it was a nice cowboy romance, i really loved the start and the enemies to lovers parts but after that it was all so easy that made me 🫠 maybe I’m the problem because i love the hard times and books that make me suffer 😅 but ill recommend because i really like the story !!! I enjoyed the read, I really was, just a little too instant love for my taste. Can’t wait to read about Gus and Teddy, I know I’ll LOVE THEM ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

🐎REVIEW I'm a big fan of a good atmosphere in books. This book, set in Wyoming, took me right there. I smelled the fresh summer breeze and felt it on my face while watching the landscape with the car windows down, listening to Brooks & Dunn. On the book it says: "...sunshine in written form." It is so true.☀️ This is a small-town spicy cowboy romance.. It was passionate, emotional, funny, fast paced and REALLY fun to read. I loved the family dynamics and all the cozy feelings. I loved all the characters and I'm so happy I'll get to read about them too in the following books. 🤍 ✨️Summary Emmy Ryder is a professional barrel racer. After a traumatic riding accident, she leaves that life behind and comes back to her home town. She is broken by the fact that what she once loved is now her biggest fear. Luke Brooks is Emmy's older brother's closest friend. He was taken in and loved by the Ryders when he was a little kid. His own loveless family was broken and Luke was the unwanted child. He's always been trouble-- at least that's all Emmy ever knew growing up with him. But being back home after so long, she can't believe that the grown, caring man she sees in front of her is actually Luke. ✨️They realize that despite all that time they spent around each other while growing up, they never actually took the time to really get to know one another. It all changes when Luke offers to teach her how to ride a horse as if she is a beginner, to help overcome her fears. This was so compassionate and tender. I couldn't get enough. The tension was high, the chemistry was undeniable. I loved it!! "She fit in my arms like she was made for them. I'd like to think she was." "Just because you got dusted, doesn't mean you're done." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Done and Dusted, she returns home and sparks fly with her brothers best friend.