Title: Done and Dusted
Author: Lyla Sage
Publisher: Self-published
Pages: 356
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤
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Done and Dusted
Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has returned to her hometown of Meadowlark after a life-altering accident. Once one of the best horse riders in the country, Emmy now finds herself too terrified to even approach her own horse, let alone ride again. Determined to tackle this struggle on her own, she keeps her fears a secret, unwilling to let anyone know what she’s going through.
What Emmy doesn’t realize is that Luke Brooks has been paying close attention. He’s noticed that something isn’t quite right and, after she finally opens up to him about what happened and her fears, he offers to help her face them.
When Emmy first walked into his bar, Luke was stunned. He hadn’t seen her in years, and back then, he had never been attracted to her. But now? He can’t take his eyes off her. The only problem is, that Emmy is strictly off-limits—she’s his best friend’s little sister.
Review
This book had been on my wishlist for a while, and I couldn’t wait to dive in. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I’d never read anything by Lyla Sage before, but the reviews I found online were quite positive, so I decided to give it a try.
There were several things I genuinely enjoyed about this book. The writing style was engaging and incredibly easy to read—at times, it was hard to put down. I haven’t read much western romance before, but now I’m convinced I need to explore more of this genre because I absolutely loved it. I could totally picture myself living in a small town, wearing cowboy boots, and hanging around handsome men. Seriously, why do so many men look so good in flannel shirts and cowboy hats?
The story itself was adorable. I found myself rooting for the main characters, and the chemistry between them was undeniable. There was also a lot of personal growth in the narrative. Emmy, the protagonist, struggled with panic attacks and kept them to herself, but she eventually learned the importance of asking for help and opening up to others. Her best friend, Teddy, was incredibly supportive, and I loved that dynamic. Honestly, I’m looking forward to Teddy’s story—I’m certain she’ll end up with Gus (Emmy’s brother), and I can’t wait to see how that unfolds. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the Rebel Blue Ranch series soon.
If I had to nitpick, the only thing that slightly bothered me was the overuse of the nickname “sugar.” While I didn’t mind it initially, it was repeated so often that it became a bit much.
Overall, I understand the hype surrounding this book. It might not be for everyone, but I adored it and am now adding more western/cowboy romances to my TBR. Apparently, this is a genre I really enjoy! This book was cute, sweet, and heartwarming. If you’ve enjoyed Elsie Silver’s books, you might find this series to be a perfect fit. Plus, the cover is absolutely adorable!