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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series, so I was curious to see how she’d approach a new genre. I’m not typically drawn to fantasy or paranormal romance — I tend to prefer stories grounded in reality — but I was intrigued by the unique premise of this one. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully work for me.
The paranormal element, particularly the “seeing ghosts” aspect, felt underdeveloped. Rather than coming across as a meaningful or fleshed-out gift, it occasionally made the protagonist seem more unstable than insightful — a perspective seemingly validated by the male lead’s skepticism. There was also some unresolved confusion regarding a key plot point:
It’s never clearly explained whyCollin suddenly stops hearing her ghost companions. We’re told she gave up photography due to a toxic work environment and went into a downward spiral, after which the ghosts went silent. Later, she has one brief interaction with Earnest, a ghost who’s supposedly been part of her life for years — and then it seems like everything just… resets? It was unclear whether this was intentional or just left hanging.
The romance also fell a little flat for me. The slow burn lacked the emotional tension or angst that typically makes that trope satisfying. When the love confession finally happens, it feels abrupt, coming so soon after their first intimate moment that it almost reads as post-hookup euphoria. The pacing felt off again when a major conflict was introduced at the91% mark — after only a quick mention earlier — and resolved just a few pages later . It felt rushed and anticlimactic.
On a stylistic note, I found the repeated use of “stuttering” in dialogue distracting. Nearly every time a character was nervous, it came out as “I-I…” or similar. It would’ve been refreshing to see a variety of ways those emotions could be portrayed through body language or internal thought.
That said, Lyla Sage’s voice and creativity are evident, and I appreciate her willingness to explore a new direction. While this story didn’t quite land for me, I’m sure it could still resonate with readers who enjoy light paranormal elements blended with romance. I’m curious to see how her writing continues to evolve.
The paranormal element, particularly the “seeing ghosts” aspect, felt underdeveloped. Rather than coming across as a meaningful or fleshed-out gift, it occasionally made the protagonist seem more unstable than insightful — a perspective seemingly validated by the male lead’s skepticism. There was also some unresolved confusion regarding a key plot point:
It’s never clearly explained why
The romance also fell a little flat for me. The slow burn lacked the emotional tension or angst that typically makes that trope satisfying. When the love confession finally happens, it feels abrupt, coming so soon after their first intimate moment that it almost reads as post-hookup euphoria. The pacing felt off again when a major conflict was introduced at the
On a stylistic note, I found the repeated use of “stuttering” in dialogue distracting. Nearly every time a character was nervous, it came out as “I-I…” or similar. It would’ve been refreshing to see a variety of ways those emotions could be portrayed through body language or internal thought.
That said, Lyla Sage’s voice and creativity are evident, and I appreciate her willingness to explore a new direction. While this story didn’t quite land for me, I’m sure it could still resonate with readers who enjoy light paranormal elements blended with romance. I’m curious to see how her writing continues to evolve.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Materializing on September 30, Soul Searching by Lyla Sage is the first book in her new Sweetwater Peak series (it’s giving spooky steamy Stars Hollow).
- Collins is trouble. She’s an award-winning photographer who’s lost her spark and reluctantly returns home.
- Oh, sweet boring Brady. He’s a cute nerd who left his big-city job to start over as an upholster and heal his heartbreak.
This new paranormal cowboy romance is scary-good! I was immediately hooked by the premise, enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters, plus the dual point of view and slow burn romance were perfection.
Soul Searching has something for everyone: Slow burn, medium spice, Black cat/shy guy, Returning home/fresh start, Small mountain town, Found family, Opposite twin sisters, Forced proximity, Coworkers as roommates, Sibling conflict, Saving local landmarks, Spooky side quests, Sparking up in abandoned church, Bit of true crime and mystery, Unfinished business.
The ending and the multiple plots are a big set-up for the series and I’m already excited for the next book. Hopefully, we’ll get a deeper dive into the Cartwright family and residents of Sweetwater Peak (plus the Amos Rider connection).
Big thanks to Netgalley, Dial Press, Random House for the opportunity to share my honest review of this uncorrected proof!
- Collins is trouble. She’s an award-winning photographer who’s lost her spark and reluctantly returns home.
- Oh, sweet boring Brady. He’s a cute nerd who left his big-city job to start over as an upholster and heal his heartbreak.
This new paranormal cowboy romance is scary-good! I was immediately hooked by the premise, enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters, plus the dual point of view and slow burn romance were perfection.
Soul Searching has something for everyone: Slow burn, medium spice, Black cat/shy guy, Returning home/fresh start, Small mountain town, Found family, Opposite twin sisters, Forced proximity, Coworkers as roommates, Sibling conflict, Saving local landmarks, Spooky side quests, Sparking up in abandoned church, Bit of true crime and mystery, Unfinished business.
The ending and the multiple plots are a big set-up for the series and I’m already excited for the next book. Hopefully, we’ll get a deeper dive into the Cartwright family and residents of Sweetwater Peak (plus the Amos Rider connection).
Big thanks to Netgalley, Dial Press, Random House for the opportunity to share my honest review of this uncorrected proof!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Contemporary romance can be very hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed Lyla Sage's Rebel Blue series and thought the paranormal element of Soul Searching seemed like a fun addition to the mix. Unfortunately, I don't think the plot and genre elements of this story ever gelled. There's a Hallmark Movie-style real estate plot, a tragic ghost story, and some awkward family drama, and none of these threads seem at all connected to each other or to the main couple's romance. We meet almost none of the local townsfolk, making the quaint mountain town of Sweetwater Peak seem deserted. I wanted to root for Collins & Brady as a couple, but they were pretty bland. Brady in particular has no distinguishing characteristics besides being kind and good at restoring furniture. This book just wasn't my cup of tea, although I continue to appreciate the way Lyla Sage writes mutual and enthusiastic consent between her main characters.
I loved the premise and thought it was executed brilliantly!
The balance between major plot, personal story and side plot was brilliant and I was always engaged in the story.
The characters are brilliant and complex and loveable.
The paranormal element was done really well and tied in well with the story.
The romance felt slow burn and quick at the same time somehow and worked really well. I loved Collins’ character development and thought it ended very satisfyingly and I’m ready for the next book thank you!!!
The balance between major plot, personal story and side plot was brilliant and I was always engaged in the story.
The characters are brilliant and complex and loveable.
The paranormal element was done really well and tied in well with the story.
The romance felt slow burn and quick at the same time somehow and worked really well. I loved Collins’ character development and thought it ended very satisfyingly and I’m ready for the next book thank you!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
slow-paced
This book had a slow start, which almost made me DNF. It picked up about 50 or 60% of the way in though I found that even the spicy scenes weren’t very compelling. the main reason it’s getting a 3.75 as opposed to just a three is because I am very curious about what’s gonna happen with her sister in the next book.
I am a huge Lyla Sage fan, but this book was a major letdown.
I’m not sure what this book was missing exactly, but it lacked something that is inherent to Sage’s past works. I didn’t buy into the main relationship, and this did not have the gothic/spooky vibes it’s marketed to have. And perhaps that’s the issue- it’s being mismarketed!
I will continue to read Sage’s next book, but even diehard fans (like myself) may struggle with this one.
Thanks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’m not sure what this book was missing exactly, but it lacked something that is inherent to Sage’s past works. I didn’t buy into the main relationship, and this did not have the gothic/spooky vibes it’s marketed to have. And perhaps that’s the issue- it’s being mismarketed!
I will continue to read Sage’s next book, but even diehard fans (like myself) may struggle with this one.
Thanks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm a big time fan of the Rebel Blue Ranch books so when I got to read Soul Searching early, I was so excited. This book exceeded my expectations. It was the perfect mixture of romance, ghosts, and all of my favorite tropes. I liked that Collins and her sister could both see and talk to ghosts and I've never read a book where one of the main characters is a furniture refurbisher. I liked the connections between the main characters, like how her photographs are what inspired Brady to move to Sweetwater Peak in the first place. The plot was a great mixture of serious romance and funniness.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lyla Sage gave us a fun, ghosty, rom-com, and I'm not mad at it! Soul Searching follows Collins, a down on her luck photographer who has lost her ability to communicate with the dead, and Brady, a slightly shy and awkward upholsterer. The descriptions of those two characters alone had me SO excited to dive into this one, and I loved how Collins and Brady's relationship started with chaos (pepper spray is no joke) and develops into a relationship with humor, curiosity, and understanding. While Brady felt a little too one-dimensional at the start, he came around in the end, and I only wished for a little more time in his POV. I just love a dude who is down BAD for his crush, and Brady is that dude. Collins drove me a little insane, and I wish we would have seen more of her and her sister interacting.
However, as someone who grew up in a middle-of-nowhere town, I'd have to say my favorite part about this book was Sweetwater Peak. I could picture the town immediately, and it's clear through Sage's writing that she has an appreciation for an overlooked small town that holds so many stories. I loved getting to go along with Collins and Brady as they toured Collins's most favorite (and haunted) spots. The ghosty elements made it all the more fun, and I excited to come back to Sweetwater Peak for Clarke's story!
However, as someone who grew up in a middle-of-nowhere town, I'd have to say my favorite part about this book was Sweetwater Peak. I could picture the town immediately, and it's clear through Sage's writing that she has an appreciation for an overlooked small town that holds so many stories. I loved getting to go along with Collins and Brady as they toured Collins's most favorite (and haunted) spots. The ghosty elements made it all the more fun, and I excited to come back to Sweetwater Peak for Clarke's story!