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A review by readandwright
Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
3.75
Thank you to The Dial Press for my advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.
2023 was the year I finally got into westerns and cowboy romances. It’s truly a subgenre I never thought I’d be into, but I am decidedly obsessed. Swift and Saddled was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. I really liked it! I definitely loved Done and Dusted more, but that was such a perfect reading experience for me I think it would be hard to recreate.
I loved being back at Rebel Blue and I can’t wait for another book from Lyla in this universe and beyond!
Synopsis:
“She’s the city girl who refuses to be saddled with a man. He’s the cowboy who wants her anyway.
The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.
When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.
Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.
Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?”
The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.
When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.
Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.
Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?”
What I Liked:
- Being Back at Rebel Blue—I am obsessed with this ranch and this family. I loved being back with the whole family.
- The Family Relationships—The best part of this series is that the whole family is so wonderful. I loved getting to know Cam a little more and seeing her relationship with Riley, Emmy and Teddy. I loved seeing Emmy and Luke happy. It was so wonderful. And Amos! I love Amos so much.
- Character’s Individual Journeys—Wes and Ada both had a lot to work through in order to be good partners to each other. I loved how they worked through things on their own and with each other.
What Didn’t Work For Me
- Forced Chemistry? Lack of? Something was Off—The book starts with a near one night stand…and then I felt like the chemistry petered off until the storm scene. I’m sad I feel this way because I LOVEEEEEEED Done & Dusted so much.
- Felt too Soon for an “outsider”—I loved being back at Rebel Blue but I feel like I wasn’t ready to view it from an “outsider’s” perspective…maybe because I am so excited for Teddy and Gus’s book! At least I think they’ve got a story coming…I just didn’t jive with this set up.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Content Warnings:
mental illness, domestic abuse, divorce, panic attacks/disorders, death of a parent