Done and Dusted: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel Paperback – October 24, 2023

This book feels like a warm hug. It’s sweet, fun, easy to read, relatable, joyful, LOVABLE! Plus, it has some of my favorite tropes: brother’s best friend and cowboy romance! You say yee I say haw!!!Lyla Sage made one of the best debuts by writing this book. I was totally invested in the story and rooting for Lemmy (Luke + Emmy) the whole time! They deserved to be together, and their relationship developed in the best possible way.Luke is hot! I mean, I know he’s a fictional character, but man the way Lyla describes him, not, makes him such a desirable MMC. He is also vulnerable and cares for the people he loves.And Emmy is just the sweetest! She’s also fierce and dealing with a lot, but the way she rebuilds herself is fan-fucking-tastic!The side characters are also great! Emmy and Teddy’s friendship felt so relatable, they were truly BBF’s and their bond was really special.Lyla’s writing is captivating, she kept me hooked the entire time, and the story felt real. I’ll never stop recommending this book!

Emmy has made a career for herself riding horses, but after a scary accident barrel racing she decides she needs a break and returns home to Rebel Blue Ranch. She hopes coming home will help her deal with her anxiety of getting back in the saddle, but quickly realizes it won't be that easy. Luke Brooks, is Emmy's brother's best friend and has been around the family his whole life - he's basically another member of the family. When Emmy comes home, Luke knows she's off limits as his best friend's little sister, but he can't seem to take his eyes off her. Once he realizes she is having anxiety with riding, he immediately wants to be there for her and help her get back in the saddle. Emmy also realizes he's not the guy she grew up arguing with - he might be something more!This was a super cute cowboy romance. It's a quick, easy read with some spice. Both characters are easy to like and the story is easy to follow. If you're a fan of Elsie Silver and like cute, romantic books with some spice, then this is the book for you!

This was adorable. Such a fun, quick read. Luke was swoon worthy and the love story had me all giddy.Gus better have a good story coming because he’s on my naughty list right now.

OMG, I never thought I would read a book with cowboys in it. I kept seeing this on blogs and Instagram, with everyone saying how fantastic it was, so I finally gave in and picked it up. And I LOVED it. You guys, I got this yesterday and finished it yesterday. It was a slow burn, but it was so worth it. I loved every one of the characters, especially Emmy and Luke. And the setting was terrific. The way Emmy described her walks and the colors of the trees was incredible. Fall was coming, so imagine. I promise you will love this as much as I did. I loved how the spice was romantic. Don't miss the chance to fall in love with Rebel Blue Ranch.✨ Cowboy romance✨ Small town✨ Brother's best friend✨ Forbidden love✨ He falls first✨ Slow burn✨ Found family✨ Dual POV✨ Friends to lovers

I kept seeing Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage pop up on my social media from other accounts I follow, which intrigued me enough to pick it up, especially when it had one of my favorite tropes, Brother’s Best Friend. I can’t ever pass up a book with this trope, so I borrowed a copy of the book from my local library to read it.The main characters, Emmy Ryder and Luke Brooks had known each other for years since Luke is basically a part of the Ryder family and was always around when Emmy was younger due to him being best friends with one of her brothers. When Emmy returns home to Meadowlark, Wyoming, after having an accident that devastated her and stopped her from doing what she loved, she ends up running into Luke at the local bar, and she’s not thrilled about it at first. She remembers how he used to treat her and how he’s been known as the bad boy for years. Luke’s not the same person as before, and he knows he should stay away from Emmy, but it’s kind of hard not to when he’s at her family’s house constantly. He also knows something is wrong with Emmy, and he’s determined to find out what happened to her and why she returned home.The undeniable chemistry between Emmy and Luke is a highlight of Done and Dusted. Despite their best efforts to resist their feelings for one another, it was inevitable that it would grow stronger with each encounter. Luke’s role in helping Emmy overcome her fears and rediscover her passions definitely made me love his character, and I loved how it added a layer of depth to their relationship, making their romantic journey all the more enticing.Done and Dusted was a good read, but it didn’t quite capture my heart. There were enough intriguing elements in the book that were cute and steamy and kept me interested in the story. I definitely loved the fact that it didn’t have the third-act breakup scene, which was a breath of fresh air. The over-protective brother who threw a fit, though, I wasn’t a fan of at all. The whole time, the main characters had to worry about him finding out, and they shouldn’t have, especially when Emmy is an adult and makes her own decisions.Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars, and I’m glad I read the book because I found a new author. I’m definitely going to check out the rest of the books in the Rebel Blue Ranch series.I recommend this to readers who enjoy reading a small-town cowboy romance where the FMC tries not to fall for her big brother’s best friend, especially when she can’t seem to stop running into him after she returns home.Audiobook Recommendation: If you enjoy listening to your books, check out the audiobook of Done and Dusted. I ended up buying the audiobook because I tend to listen to books more nowadays, so I can get things done while also still enjoying reading books. Aaron Shelock and Stella Hunter were the narrators for Done and Dusted, and I loved both of these narrators.Trope(s)/Element(s):✓Small Town Romance✓Cowboy Romance✓Slow Burn Romance✓Brother’s Best Friend