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!

The post Lost and Lassoed – Lyla Sage | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.

<p>The post Lost and Lassoed – Lyla Sage | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.</p>

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!

The post Done and Dusted – Lyla Sage | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.

<p>The post Done and Dusted – Lyla Sage | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.</p>