Title: Soul Searching
Author: Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 352
My Rating:

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Soul Searching

Collins can see and talk to ghosts, just like her sister, well, she used to. Her ability to communicate with ghosts disappeared, and it felt like a piece of her was gone. She also lost her job and is out of money. So she goes back to Sweetwater Peak, a small town where she grew up. Her parents and her sister still live there. She hopes that staying in Sweetwater Peak will help her heal and get back to herself. She is staying with Brady, an upholsterer, who thinks she’s a little crazy because she’s always talking to herself. At least, that’s what he thinks; she’s actually trying to communicate with the ghosts.

Review

I loved Lyla’s other books from the Rebel Blue Ranch series. I loved the whole cowboy vibe and the stories themselves. So when I saw this new book by Lyla, I knew I had to read it. I knew it was going to be a little different because the main character can see ghosts.

Let’s start with the positives. The main character can see ghosts, and she used to talk to them all the time. Her sister can also see them, and her mother can sense them. But the rest of the characters cannot see or hear them. I wanted to read a book like this because it’s almost Halloween, and I thought it would give the right spooky vibes, nothing too scary, with a bit of romance.

And I wish I could say more positive things, but I just can’t. I didn’t really have an opinion about the main characters; they were very boring to me. The ghosts in the story were the most interesting. I wanted to read more about their pasts or learn more about them. The story itself was boring. I just wasn’t feeling it. Maybe it was just me. I’ve seen some positive reviews on Goodreads, but it took me a full week to finish the book. Most of the time, I finish a book in three days or so. It felt like not much was happening.

The fact that I didn’t like this book makes me sad. I loved Lyla’s other books, but this one felt like it was written by someone else. And can I just say that I noticed a lot of em dashes in this book? I don’t remember Lyla using so many in her other books. Or maybe I just noticed because I was bored this time. These days, using a lot of em dashes can also be a sign that an author is using AI to write their books. I hope that wasn’t the case and that it was just a coincidence.

Overall, I’m just disappointed. This is the first book in the Sweetwater Peak series, but I don’t think I’ll read the other books in the series when they come out. This was not a great start. Maybe the Goodreads reviews will change my mind, but right now, I’m just disappointed. Lyla was about to become one of my favorite authors. And now that I think about it, I feel like she should publish fewer books. The last book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series was also my least favorite, so maybe she’s just rushing it.

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There’s something magical about fall: the crisp air, the golden leaves, the cozy sweaters, and of course, curling up with a good book while sipping a hot drink. For me, fall is the ultimate reading season. It’s when I fill my shelves with cozy romances, magical adventures, and comforting stories that match the season’s vibe. This year, I’ve put together a list of books I can’t wait to dive into during autumn. From pumpkin-spice love stories to heartwarming romances and even a little magic, these are the stories that will keep me company on cozy fall nights.

Cozy Fall TBR: Books I want to Read This Fall

1. Falling Like Leaves – Misty Wilson
Goodreads describtion says: Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han. I love both, so obviously I have to read this book. It has a beautiful cover that is giving us fall vibes, just like most of the books on this list. It is a teen rom-com about a city girl stuck in a quaint small town who must confront her future and her old flame while the town prepares for an annual fall festival.

2. People Watching – Hannah Bonam-Young
I absolutely love this cover and while I have never read a book by Hannah, I have heard many great stories about her books. In this sexy and emotional romance from the acclaimed author of Out of the Woods and Out on a Limb, a small-town woman’s journey to spread her wings intertwines with the arrival of an adventurous newcomer who brings out the best in her.

3. Soul Searching – Lyla Sage
I loved Lyla’s Rebel Blue Ranch series and now she is back with a different book, still small town vibes. Collins Cartwright does not want to go home. Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming, was supposed to be in her rearview mirror, but when she finds out a developer is trying to buy her parents’ antique shop out from under them, she doesn’t have a choice—at least, that’s what she tells her family. They don’t need to know she’s lost her job and is out of money. Or that the ghosts that have always been her companions have recently gone silent.

4. Rewitched – Lucy Jane Wood
When you say Fall, you also say Halloween and Witches. This book is about Lunar. Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-witches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.

5. Fall at Once – Nora Everly
Another romance book, because most of the time I love to read romance. This time a book about a firefighter, I don’t think I ever have read a book about firefighter but I am so ready for it. Fall at Once is part of the Cozy Creek Collection of small-town standalones, it is a steamy, full-length romantic comedy. It is the third book in the series, so I might read the other books first.

6. Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow – Victoria Walters
Willow Connor has one shot to save her family’s farm – turning it into Birchbrook’s first ever pumpkin patch. There’s just one she has exactly zero pumpkins and only six weeks to make it happen. Everyone in the close-knit town thinks she’s crazy, but she’s determined to prove them wrong. And apparently this is the perfect book for the fans of the Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore.

7. Cat Dragon – Samantha Birch
The cover is everything! The description on Goodreads says: Embrace the magic as this delightful tale weaves a cozy spell of adventure, self-discovery, friendship and romance. For fans of Studio Ghibli, Harry Potter, The Spellshop and cottagecore.

8. Fall I Want – Lyra Parish
The first book in the series. FALL I WANT is a spicy autumn-inspired small-town romantic comedy with a billionaire who falls first and harder. Grab a pumpkin spice latte, a warm fuzzy blanket, and make your way down to Cozy Creek. Each book in the series is a complete stand alone with a happily ever after.

9. If It Makes You Happy – Julie Olivia
I mean, this book has a dog on the cover. Michelle’s new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear. Michelle, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out.

10. A Love Like Pumpkin Spice – Hailey Frost
I swear, the cover for fall romances this year are so good. The tropes for this book are: Small-town romance Found family Friends to Lovers Emotional healing FMC Cinnamon roll MMC Cute pets Cozy Autumn vibes He falls first. Sounds pretty good to me.

11. Kindling – Bonnie Woods
When city-girl Harper arrives in the Caledonian Forest in Scotland, her hopes for her holiday are quickly dashed. She’d planned a whimsical, autumnal writing retreat, to finish her novel. But ghosted by her scammer rental host, she discovers that the cosy log cabin she’d booked for her solo getaway does not actually exist. Miles away from any hotel, she wanders through the woods until she finds the hot local woodcutter Fraser.

12. Death of a Kitchen Diva – Lee Hollis
The first book in a series with many books. Single mom Hayley Powell is barely keeping her leaking roof over her head when her boss at the Island Times gives her a new assignment–taking over the paper’s food column. When rival food writer Karen Appelbaum is found face-down dead in a bowl of Hayley’s creamy clam chowder, all signs point to Hayley. 

Final Thoughts

This list is my fall TBR, but it’s also an invitation. Maybe you’ll find a story here that calls to you too. There’s nothing better than welcoming autumn with books that warm your heart, spark your imagination, and make you feel the season even more deeply.

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Title: Lost and Lassoed
Author: Lyla Sage
Publisher: Quercus
Genre: Romance
Pages: 368
My Rating:

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Lost and Lassoed

Gus and Teddy have known each other their entire lives, but they’ve never been close. Teddy is Gus’s sister’s best friend, and for as long as Gus can remember, they’ve had a knack for getting under each other’s skin. They bicker constantly, and Gus does his best to steer clear of her.

But when Teddy finds herself out of a job and Gus needs help, their paths cross in an unexpected way. Gus, who works long hours on the ranch, suddenly has to juggle caring for his young daughter, Riley, during the summer. Normally, he co-parents with Cam, but Cam’s out of town for work, leaving Gus in a bind.

Under pressure, Gus reluctantly agrees to let Teddy step in and help. A few days a week, she moves into the house to take care of Riley, and as the summer unfolds, something surprising happens. The tension between Gus and Teddy starts to fade, and they find themselves growing closer in ways neither of them anticipated.

Review

It’s funny how I ended up picking a book with almost the exact same plot right after finishing Heartless, the first book I read in 2025. The similarities between the two were so striking that I often found myself mixing up the characters—it felt like I was still reading the same story. I guess that is what can happen if you don’t read the back of the book.

The plotlines are nearly identical: a grumpy man in need of a nanny for the summer, and a woman who steps in to help after recently losing her job. The kids in both stories are around the same age, and both books feature the classic trope where the leads go from butting heads to falling in love. Even the side characters overlapped in a weirdly specific way! In Heartless, “Betty” is a mean-spirited woman, and in Lost and Lassoed, Betty is another local woman in their small town. Then there’s “Luke,” who was the kid’s name in Heartless, but in Lost and Lassoed, Luke was a family member. It got confusing at times!

Honestly, I couldn’t help but compare the two books. Since they’re so similar, I’m giving them the same rating—but I have to admit, I preferred Lost and Lassoed. It had fewer spicy scenes (which I appreciated), and the way Gus cared for Teddy when she wasn’t feeling well completely won me over. That was hands-down my favorite part. Men taking care of their women? That’s my weakness right there.

I flew through this book—it was over before I even realized it! The writing was engaging, and I couldn’t put it down. It was such a fun, easy read.

If you loved Heartless, you’ll probably enjoy this book too. And if you’ve already read Lost and Lassoed, the Chestnut Springs series might be your next go-to. I’m fully embracing my cowboy romance era right now, and I am not ashamed of it!

After finishing this book, I knew I had to switch genres because I was worried I’d accidentally pick up another book with the same plot. So, I’ve started reading Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and so far, I’m loving it. It’s such a refreshing change!

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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!

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