Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch, #1) (2024)

4.5⭐️ BROTHERS BEST FRIEND??? Sign me up. I loved this book sm.

well, y’all know what they say: save a horse, ride a cowboy. especially if that cowboy is Luke Brooks.🤠✨

i cannot and will not get over how much i love the cover of this book. automatically buying the rest of the series simply for this reason.

(p.s. this is your sign to add more cowboy romance to your tbr immediately. you’re welcome.)

4.5 -cowgirl- stars

❛ I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder.❜

❃ - the writing was so fast passed oscillating between a prefect combo of cute, fluffy moments and hot, steamy scenes.

"It was like everything about her was designed to drive me crazy."
"Hand me a pillow, and then lift your hips.” I did what he said." and.. imagine the rest 🤭

❃ - the protagonists’ were painted through the storyline with more depth than them "being together". they were lovable as a couple and even as individuals. emmy (fmc) was dealing with a shattered life after facing a life-altering trauma. luke (mmc) had not experienced the warmest household but the way his character was so kind and understanding with emmy, trying to help her cope with her fears -those moments were so beautifully orchestrated- it was simply and plainly precious. their relationship was perfectly balanced every time he was there for her she was there for him.

"He rested his forehead against mine. “What was that for?” I breathed.
“no one’s ever stood up for me before,” he said." c r y i n g. 🙂

"you made this? For me?” He looked at me like making this was the most obvious thing in the world for him to do. I had this funny feeling in my chest. No one had ever done anything like this for me before. I couldn’t believe it. “When did you do this?”
“Last night."

/!\ mini tiny spoilers /!\
❃- unpopular opinion im not a fan of brother’s bestfriend romance and im always reticent to read them but this one was so refreshing:

1➺he didn’t want to hide their relationship because he feared he brothers rection, on the contrary, he was so proud to be with her and enarmoued that he could’ve screamed it on a rooftop.

“I’ve been people’s dirty little secret before, and I didn’t care because I didn’t care about them, but I care about you.” His voice was firm, but still soft and kind.” s c r e a m i n g.

2➺ she wasn’t in love with him for her entire life or had a crush on him (minus a little crush at 13yo that quickly evaporated). she didn’t attribute him more than the role of her brother’s bestfriend or the guy that was much older and always annoyed her because he was always stuck in their house and ranch and thankfully he didn’t see her as a sister until boomboomshakala she grew up ..

"He deserved better.
It was weird, spending time with Brooks this way. I’d known him nearly my entire life, but I didn’t actually know him."

3➺ sadly we got the hom*osapien-brotherly-act of "don’t ever touch my sister blablabla" *deep, deep breath* however, i decided to overlook it but i sincerely hope the brother is more likable in his own book.

P.S: the next book isn’t about Gus (the meh-brother) and Tobby (emmy’s bestfriend) but please, PLEASE LYLA just confirm that they’ll end up together 😭 I CANT BREATHE UNTIL I KNOW FOR SURE

~•~•~•~
rn all i need is cute..

NO THIRD ACT BREAK-UP BABY

if i had a pound for everytime he called her “sugar” i'd be a billionaire

not me giving 5 stars to another small town cowboy romance. 🙃

I love cowboys

WHAT A FUN. CUTE. AND STEAMY BOOOOK!!!

i had so much fun w this one. yeehaw! 🤠 the banter, their friendship, the spice???? loved. and it was so short and quick.

HOWEVER.. TEDDY AND GUS????? I NEED. I NEEEEED THEMMMMM NOWWWW!!!!!

2.25/5

A bit boring, unoriginal, with lots of overused phrases that can probably be found in hundreds of romance novels these days. These are the first things that came to my mind after finishing it, because seriously, you could find hundreds of almost identical books, but I still somehow enjoyed it to some extent as I basically read it in two days.

I think the book could have been more enjoyable if the main characters were more likeable. The heroine was okay, even though some of her actions were just stupid, but the hero? This guy was insufferable most of the time.

"Emmy is in Meadowlark?” Gus’s tone was tight. sh*t. I definitely threw Emmy under the bus.
“Yeah, she left my bar with Kenny Wyatt last night.” Again, sh*t."

You definitely threw her under the bus.

"I felt the smallest of smiles tug at the corners of my mouth, thinking about Luke Brooks having to ask that girl to drive him to go pick up his best friend’s little sister."

He shows up tipsy and late with his hookup to take you home because his best friend asked him to, and you smile at the memory because at least he showed up? The bar is in hell.

The writing style was entertaining enough to keep me engaged in the story, although I still skipped some things because I didn't care about them, but some of the sentences here were painful to read.

"You can take it, sugar. I’ll go slow.”

Is this sentence a requirement in romance books nowadays? I've seen this exact phrase in at least hundreds of romances.

"How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“On the house.”
“You sure?” she asked."

It’s literally the TikTok sound. The originality is dead in books these days.

Honestly, I picked up this book because the second story is coming out in a few days and I wanted to see if this series is worth reading, and now I'm not even sure if I'll read it. Maybe, maybe not. I remember liking some of the books in the Chestnut Springs series from Elsie Silver and I feel like Lyla Sage took a lot of inspiration from it, so like I said, maybe I'll read the second book, because it might be the same situation as in the Chestnut series, in which some books worked for me and others didn't. We’ll see.

I loved this omg it was so cute🥹
Rtc!
——-
I haven’t read a cute little romance in ages bc i have been reading a lot of fantasy lately but i want to get back to romance so here i am breaking my romance fasting with this one🤣

3 Stars ★

“ You deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted doesn’t mean you’re done.”

This gave me major Yellowstone vibes, and I'm not mad about it. From the description of the ranch, the background and other reasons that I won't give away. I ate this up for those very reasons.

Done and Dusted is the first book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. This roped me in with the small town, brother's best friend, cowboy romance that was fast-paced, cute, and fluffy with just the right amount of tension and banter. I simply had a hard time putting it down.

Emmy returned home to her family's ranch, Rebel Blue, in Meadowlark Wyoming after an accident she had. She hadn't told anyone what had happened since she'd been home. One day, while in the stable on the ranch, her brother's best friend Luke witnesses her being uncomfortable with her horse. He finds out that she is unable to ride since the accident happened and offers to help her trust her skills again by giving her lessons to teach her to ride again. Will their lessons turn into more?

Clementine "Emmy" Ryder is a champion barrel racer who is suffering from trauma after the accident she had. She is kind and caring, often times putting on a facquade that nothing is wrong with the ones she holds dear. While inside, she is struggling with her adhd, getting lost in her thoughts and the quiet. I didn't connect with her on a personal level, but I did enjoy her and her witty comebacks that made me giggle.

“I thought it would get better. I really thought it would get better.”

Luke Brooks

"I didn’t really know how to be in love, but I knew I wanted to be with Emmy in every way I could."

Emmy and Luke

“I’m serious, Emmy. I don’t know when it happened, but I like you. I like you a lot more than I f*cking should, and I know we shouldn’t do this because a million things could go wrong, but you feel so right.”

The ending was cute but didn't seem unique to me. I did enjoy this and was happy that there wasn't a third act conflict. This was exactly what I was looking for, though some of it didn't appear to be original. This being her debut I'm hoping the next to come have more originality.

Favorite Quotes and moments

“You didn’t ask me why I came home.”
“I don’t care why you’re here, only that you are.”

“When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her. And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time."

“You know, if you don’t like the road you’re on, you can always pave a new one.”

"I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder."

“I’ve been people’s dirty little secret before, and I didn’t care because I didn’t care about them, but I care about you.”

“Thank you,” he continued, “for taking care of my baby girl.”
“She can take care of herself,” I said. “I know she can, but you made sure she didn’t have to do it alone.”

~~~~~~

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚Pre-read:

I think it's time for me to enter my cowboy romance era again. Here we go, yeehaw 🤠

★ 1 star

i didn’t enjoy this book at all. i really tried to get invested but i just couldn’t.

the characters weren’t well developed, the story itself bored me to death and the romance was way too insta-lovey for my taste. i honestly didn’t see any chemistry between the main couple because it felt rushed and forced.

from this book i've learned that PTSD, panic attacks, and ADHD are no match for sexy cowboys. never mind therapy apparently all you need is a good dickin

3.75* !

“I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder.”

“Save a horse, ride a cowboy”

I'm definitely enjoying my cowboy era these days. Also isn't the cover of this book looks ✨️ G O R G E O U S ✨️

This book is super cute, and had adorable, wholesome small town moments and Ryder family moments, all the fluff and steamy scenes, and the heartwarming romance story that I needed. Also this had brother's bestfriend trope with a pinch of hate to love relationship.

“I know we shouldn’t do this because a million things could go wrong, but you feel so right.”

I enjoyed the story though I was a little bore in between the chapters. The characters were written so well considering that it is Lyla's debut novel The pacing was fast which why I liked it even more. I wish we got scenes where they were working together to get more natural sense of their relationship and slow burn romance.

➸ Luke Brooks

Broody bar owner and a Cowboy in Meadowlark 🤠 this man is just perfect and damn the things he did for Emmy and everyone made him even more than just perfect. T-shirt mutilator and careless Luke is everything you need because no matter how he tries to show he doesn't care but he does and so deeply that he would do anything to help his loved ones. His thoughtful and protective side was just so adorable 🥺💘 I really need find myself a Luke Brooks because who doesn't love a hot and thoughtful cowboy in their bed with a dirty dirty mouth.

“When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her. And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time.”

➸ Emmy Ryder

A horse rider who is back in her hometown after her accident while riding. I didn’t felt much connected to her in the start but she did grew on me slowly throughout the book. She is grumpy, sassy and loves to be in control but when Luke entered her life everything changed for the better for her and I liked how she never denied what she felt for him but actually acted on those feelings.

“Luke wasn’t my secret. He was just mine.”

╰┈➤ Luke and Emmy

Luke and Emmy were amazing. Their hate to love dynamics and banter added more tension and spice to their romance. He never thought of her as his little sister even when she was young, it was always Gus's little sister and his “SUGAR” for him. They helped each other and start trusting each other more and knowing more about each other and bringing out each other's soft sides. But I wish we actually get to read those scenes. They were kind of skipped over.

“f*ck off, Brooks.” He let out a low whistle that ended in a chuckle. I hated when he did that. “Glad to see your tongue is still sharp as ever, sugar.” The way he said “sugar” was almost demeaning.
“Don’t. Call. Me. That.” I paused after every word, letting my annoyance with Brooks punctuate every syllable.

Their relationship developed from kind of enemies to friends to lovers. Luke always cared about her since they were little kids and he did in his own way which always pissed Emmy. But present Luke helped Emmy to deal with her fear of racing again and helped her with everything she needed. They were always there for each other no matter what 🥺💘 Emmy Luke's love was steady and slow and perfect the way they are for each other.

“You made this? For me?” He looked at me like making this was the most obvious thing in the world for him to do. I had this funny feeling in my chest. No one had ever done anything like this for me before. I couldn’t believe it.
“When did you do this?”
“Last night.”

He rested his forehead against mine.
“What was that for?” I breathed.
“No one’s ever stood up for me before,” he said.

Why are they so cute!?

The ending was super cute with the exact amount of drama and I hope we get more of Luke and Emmy in the next books. Also the whole brotherly my-little-sister-was-off-limits-for-you-brooks drama Gus created was definitely not needed and I hope he becomes less annoying in his book but I know sassy Teddy knows how to shut him up 💅🏼 and I love Wes so much in this one and he is such a sweet cinnamon roll 🥹 and I'm already in love with him 💘 I'm even more excited for the upcoming books in this series!

This was such a sweet, quick read and the cover is so cute! Emmy and Brooks were adorable, I was rooting for them the whole time. I don't think I’ve ever read a brother's best friend romance before and I didn't expect to enjoy it, but I did! I really liked the family aspect of the book, Emmy’s dad was so sweet. Emmy and Teddy's friendship was really fun, I loved how complimentary they were for each other! But omg the bar scene on Teddy's birthday where Brooks took Emmy into the back! 🤭

This was such a good Sunday night binge read! I loved the small town setting, and the ranch specifically, her cabin sounded so cozy! And it had no dumb miscommunication at the end! I was also picturing the bar Brooks owned as my uni town's country bar (shout out Cowboys Ranch London lol) the whole time, I miss that place 🫶🏼 If you are a fan of cowboy romances add thus to your tbr, it is a must read!

Check out my reviews for Lyla Sage’s books here:
Done and Dusted - 5 stars
Swift and Saddled - 4 stars
Lost and Lassoed - Release date: November 5th, 2024
Wild and Wrangled - Release date: 2025, TBD

cute but they were just acting like horny teenagers for 300 pages

4.25, groundbreaking? no. so good? ya, for sure. luke & emmy 5-ever ౨ৎ

This was so adorable! I read this so quick you could say it was… done and dusted in no time hehe — wait, no don’t go! Come back, I’ll try and lessen the puns. But in all seriousness, I have been roped into this series and excited to read more! Small-town cowboy forbidden romance between brother’s little sister and brother’s best friend, with a mixture of sweet found family and utterly filthy spicy moments. Some of the plot itself felt a little too cliché and rushed but, overall, a delightful story.

Luke lifted his hand to my face and tucked my hair behind my ears. “You are something else, Emmy Ryder.” His eyes were soft, content. Like he could stay here with me all day. The way he was looking at me turned my heart upside down. If I wasn’t careful, I could fall head over heels for this man before I even knew what was happening.

Enter 32-year-old Luke Brooks, former bad boy turned owner of the bar The Devil’s Boot, who used to antagonise Emmy as a kid. After being rejected by his father and his mother’s new husband and family turn him away, he finds a family in the Ryders. When Emmy shows up, he is immediately drawn to her but she cannot forget the man he was and refuses to believe he has changed.

Luke also happens to be teaching horse riding at Rebel Blue Ranch, and offers to help get her back on track for the Divisional Circuit of the WPRA (Women’s Professional Rodeo Association) tour when it comes to Meadowlark. The more time they spend, the more Emmy realises she is wrong about her impressions of him and the more Luke realises he has fallen hopelessly in love with her.

She is her brother August’s “Gus” little sister (a man who helped him when they were in school, and someone he very much looks up to) and therefore off-limits, but one thing leads to another. Luke does not want to be Emmy’s secret, but will he have any choice? And will Emmy overcome her trauma and win the Divisionals?

This is told from the first-person past-tense dual POV of Emmy and Luke.

OVERALL OPINIONS

These are:

🐎Emmy and Luke (Book 1 Done and Dusted) – of course.

🏚️Ada and Wes (Book 2 Swift and Saddled) – we are told in Book 1 Wes has a plan to make a small guest ranch and Teddy says she knows an interior designer called Ada with a large social following who can help with it. This establishes the plot for Book 2 already.

➰Teddy and Gus (Book 3 Lost and Lassoed) – the most interesting of them all. From the get-go, we can tell that Gus and Teddy do not get on at all. Overprotective Gus thinks Teddy is a bad influence on Emmy, and Teddy dislikes him for disliking her. Their tension is very apparent, and their banter is soo funny! (“Theodora, I thought I banned you from Rebel Blue,” [Gus] said. He was very obviously annoyed. | “I thought I told you if you called me that I would shove a fence post down your throat,” Teddy said in a sickly sweet voice.). She is the only one to calm him down after he punches Luke, saying it is a poor example to set for his daughter Riley who was watching him. I am most eager to read Lost and Lassoed, they have to be my favourite duo!

💞 Cam and Dusty (Book 4 Wild and Wrangled) – while only Camille “Cam” is introduced here as Gus’ former lover. They had a one-night stand resulting in Riley and became co-parents as they feel they are not compatible relationship-wise. She is engaged to someone else here, though we are not given the fiancé’s name. This is technically foreshadowing as according to the blurb, he eventually abandons Cam at the wedding aisle. Dusty is introduced in Book 2. A second-chance romance.

Interestingly,

Overall, as previously mentioned,

<< Positives >>
🠚The cover is really stunning, very retro! I like that in the Acknowledgements, Sage says that she was inspired by vintage rodeo posters in her own hometown.
🠚The heading images/chapter openers are so cute! I love that it changed with the POV: for Emmy, it is a boot and for Luke it is a cowboy hat. Cuter still, for the Epilogue, the two images combined so there is the hat and boots. This was a really nice touch!
🠚The bond between Emmy’s father Amos Ryder with both Emmy and Luke. The way he opens up to Emmy about her mother and her freak accident, as well as reminiscing on older times when he first met her was a lovely father-daughter bonding moment. And when he says to Luke “Thank you, for taking care of my baby girl” – that was so friggin sweet! He is literally the father Luke never had and we love to see that.
🠚It was good that Sage included both the healthy and toxic dynamics in families: the healthy aspect shown through the Emmy’s, and the unhealthy shown through Luke’s family.
🠚The spice was excellent! Save a horse, ride a cowboy, yessir!
🠚No third-act breakups. I don’t always mind it, I’m actually surprised it wasn’t here considering how Luke felt about Emmy keeping their relationship a secret from everyone.
🠚The handling of Emmy’s trauma and panic attacks was very well done.
🠚ADHD and sensory issues representation.

<< Negatives >>
🠚There were too many clichés in this book for me to enjoy it as much as I’d have liked. It felt like Sage wanted to take everything she knew (and potentially liked) in a contemporary romance and threw it all together.
🠚Because of my former point, the pacing felt off. Like, a lot was happening but there was *too* much to the extent that there was not enough depth to any of the characters really.
🠚I thought there was going to be forced proximity for Luke and Emmy via the chores needed done at the ranch. I feel this was a wasted opportunity.
🠚Another wasted opportunity was Emmy not telling Teddy why she was back in the hometown, surprised Teddy took it so well, I won’t lie.
🠚“Sugar” is a term of endearment and it was said 49 times in this book – and that felt like 49 times too many haha I’m sorry. Okay, I’ll be nice, maybe 40 times too many.
🠚No sooner than 20 pages in and Luke is already imagining “how she’d look wrapped up in bedsheets…my bedsheets.” – I cringed because this was way too soon. Insta-love bombed right there. Messes with chemistry.

CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Emmy꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ She is very sweet, no wonder she is Meadowlark’s sweetheart. I felt so sorry for her having her passion and ability to ride lost in an instant because of an accident, and even more so once you discover that her mother was killed in a freak accident. I am so glad she is able to conquer her fear and take a final bow in the Divisional. Her mother would be proud of her!
🠚I adore that he stands up for Luke in front of his horrid half-brother J.J.
🠚Fellow bookworm, I love that she has packed all her books and Luke is like “What the hell is in here?” haha. Aaand I relate so much to her saying “I stay up late. I like the quiet.” – literally, same gurl!

“You’ve been there for me since I got home. I don’t want you to have to do this alone.”

“Sugar, you deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted, doesn’t mean you’re done.”

”Some love stories burn hot and fast, but you two are more low and slow,” she said. “It’s a strong and steady kind of love.”

FAV QUOTES
• Brooks had always been a ladies’ man. It had taken less than a minute of all his attention being on me to understand why. He was intoxicating.
• When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her. And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time.
• “What do you need, sugar?” I replayed those words in my head over and over again. I’d never heard him talk like that—soft. In the moment, his words held me together just as much as his arms had.
• I put my knuckles under her chin so I could tilt her head up toward me and kiss her forehead. Emmy folded herself into my arms, and I held her for a minute. She fit in my arms like she was made for them. I’d like to think she was.
• Emmy Ryder might have been in like with me, but it was than that I knew I was falling in love with her.
• It was the small moments like those where I could see him clearly. Yes, he was absolutely a t-shirt mutilator, but he wasn’t arrogant, irresponsible, or careless. He was thoughtful and protective… The Luke I’d gotten to know since I’d come home was the kind of man I could fall in love with. I was starting to think he was the only man I could fall in love with.
• I didn’t really know how to be in love, but I knew I wanted to be with Emmy, in every way I could. I wanted the kitchen slow dances, nights out with shots, rides through the mountains, hot sex, afternoon naps, two-lane highways with the windows down. I wanted it all.
• “How do you know?” | “She asked for you.” Teddy shrugged. “Emmy never asks for anything.”
• I didn’t care that my family and nearly all of Meadowlark was watching. Luke wasn’t my secret. He was just mine.
• “How everyone didn’t know the man was hat over boots for you before the whole kissing incident is beyond me.”
• Emmy coming back to Meadowlark was the best thing that ever happened to me. When she came back home, I never expected to become her friend, let alone fall for her. We’d spent most of our lives in each other’s periphery, but now she was front and center.

Officially entering my cowboy era thanks to this book. 🤠

"Sugar, you deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted doesn't mean you're done."

This is western mountain sunshine encapsulated between pages with sexy spice. Such a perfect little small town cowboy romance! I just want to slowly let Meadowlark, Wyoming absorb me until I am a horse riding--or more accurately cowboy riding, because save a horse and all that--citizen. This was sweet and spicy and heartwarming and just an overall amazing debut novel from Lyla Sage. We've got a tall, sexy, badboy, tight-jeans-wearing cowboy in Luke Brooks, who owns the local bar and also teaches children how to ride horses *swoon.* We've got the sweet but struggling daughter of a ranch owner in Clementine "Emmy" Ryder, who is returning to her hometown after a horseracing accident (she's also five feet nine so shout out to my tall girlies!). Luke comes from a troubled childhood and has been basically taken in by the well-off Ryder family since he was young and is best friends with Emmy's brother. So Luke and Emmy have known each other for decades in a sibilng-type way. BUT (COW)BOY does that change when she comes back home. So good. 🤠🤍🥃☀️🐎🔥

Luke is just so perfect and honestly unproblematic. He doesn't mess up at all throughout this book like so many current romance-book-boyfriends tend to. He's just undramatic, charismatic, protective, and off-the-charts in love with Emmy. He also knows how to *properly* take a shot of whisky....*proceeds to faint.* Luke just gets Emmy, and not just because he had a platonic relationship with her when she was young. He sees her mental health struggles and becomes her safe space, her biggest supporter, and the person and place where she can go and breathe without thinking. Isn't that what we all want in a guy? A place to feel safe in a crowd full of strangers. Luke becomes her healer, her lover, and her best friend. And Emmy, in turn, becomes his home. Its a beautifully written story with a happy happy happy ending for two people who deserve it. Adored this and would recommend it to anyone. CANNOT wait for Wes’s story this fall!

4 ⭐️ A sweet and very sexy debut western romance

"Even if you weren't in my bar, you would be my business. You've always been my business, and you'll always be my business."

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ cowboy romance
✨ Wyoming ranch setting
✨ he's a reformed bad boy and owner of the local bar
✨ she's a barrel racer returning home after a scary fall
✨ brother's best friend
✨ forbidden love
✨ he falls first
✨ annoyance to love
✨ "I can't stay away from you anymore"
✨ amazing banter
✨ 3/5 spice
✨ found family
✨ ADHD rep and sensory issues (fmc)
✨ dual pov
✨ low angst
✨ HEA

My Thoughts:

I’m usually not a huge country, small-town romance girlie, but I am now!!! I absolutely adore this story! The characters are so lovable, the spice is top-tier (don't let the innocent cover fool you), and the writing makes you feel like you're transported to Rebel Blue Ranch in Meadowlark, Wyoming. It's low angst and high swoon - the perfect feel-good book!⁠
⁠
Luke and Emmy totally have my heart. These two have so much chemistry and I LOVED their banter.

I found Emmy to be so relatable, and I really appreciate how this story addresses ADHD, anxiety, and trauma. 👏⁠
⁠
And Luke is . . . good lord, this man is just so f**king HOT. The words that come out of his mouth are absolutely filthy. For example:

“Stop staring at my co*ck like that, sugar.”
My eyes shot back up to Brooks. “L-like what?”
“Like you want me to put you on your knees and shove it down your throat.”🥵

I also never knew being called sugar was f*cking sexy until I read this book.

“Tell me you’re mine, Emmy.” I needed to hear it.
“I’m yours.”
“That’s right, sugar. I’m the only one that gets to have you like this.” 💕

I've also never read a story where I fall in love with every single side character. Wes, Teddy, Amos, Gus, Riley, and Hank are all so wonderful in their own ways, and I liked how Lyla explored the different relationships the MCs have with each of these characters. And while I love them all, Wes is definitely my favorite with his loyal, quiet, but sexy, golden retriever energy!!!!!!! I seriously need his book, Swift and Saddled, ASAP!

This is one hell of a debut novel, and I'm so proud of Lyla Sage for creating this beautiful world!!! You crushed it, babe!!

Thank you so much Lyla Sage for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

-

Rebel Blue Ranch Series:

1. Done and Dusted: 4⭐️
2. Swift and Saddled: 4.25⭐️
3. Lost and Lassoed: 5⭐️ (November 5, 2024)
4. Wild and Wrangled (2025)

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Favorite Quotes:

Today, I saw the only thing in my life that I ever thought was prettier than Rebel Blue, and that was Emmy.
_______

It's like I had spent my life getting pieces of her, and now I was finally putting the pieces together. Guess what? There wasn't any piece of Emmy that I didn't like. I was so f*cked.
_______

She fit in my arms like she was made for them. I'd like to think that she was.
_______

My dad was like a river, steady and strong. I could see how my mom got swept away.
_______

"Sugar, you deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted, doesn't mean you're done."
_______

I didn't really know how to be in love, but I knew that I wanted to be with Emmy, in every way that I could. I wanted the kitchen slow dances, night out with shots, rides through the mountains, hot sex, afternoon naps, two-lane highways with the windows down. I wanted it all.
_______

Luke wasn't my secret. He was just mine.
_______

"That's right, sugar. Keep riding me."
_______

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 - I got past the cut-out muscle tees, and I've decided I love Emmy and Luke! They're adorable and perfectly dusty small-town romance ranch hand adorable-ness!!! 🐎⛰️

The biggest reason I've decided I love Done & Dusted is because Emmy has ADHD (I have ADD), and Luke used to be a bad boy player. My hubs was that way, so I guess I totally relate to those parts of the story. Lol, hope everyone gets to read it!!! 🖤🖤🖤

↑↑ Update - Finshed June 27th, 2023 ↑↑

You guys.. the hero.... wears cut-out muscle tees. I cannot even begin to describe my level of outrage. 😠😠

I'm gonna continue reading...but still.

I wanted a sexy cowboy situation. Absolutely no one asked for a cut-off muscle tee. Just no. I want to see faded tees and sun-washed board shorts whilst at the beach or on the boat, and if we're out in the sticks? I want soft twenty-year-old shirts that have been dried a million times and jeans that make butts look good. There is absolutely no call for mutilating your t-shirts and especially not in my smutty reads!!!! 👏👏

***The only one to prove me wrong has been a guy on Goodreads whose profile photo does, in fact, reflect a cut-out tee but actually comments and is respectful. If my fellow Goodreads ladies know, then you know! 😂😂

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↑↑ Update - Started June 23rd, 2023 ↑↑

NOTES:
- Small-town romance
- Childhood Frenemies to lovers
- 🌶️🌶️/5 - Lots of tension built up, and then 💥💥

dnf @ 44%
i love her lack of energy, go girl give us nothing!

2.5 stars

confused by the hype for this book. it was very mid.

*started and finished today* that’s when you know it’s a 5 star. Also the fact that when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about it and then the simple act of picking it back up had me GIGGLING.

Once I started this book I knew it was going to be a favorite of mine. Nothing beats a small town country book that has a big family and a ranch. With hot cowboys must I add!

Luke Brooks immediately became a top book boyfriend. From the second he became jealous over Emmy in the bar I was down for this man. And then he opens his mouth and I’m DONE FOR!!!!! Me reading this book was definitely a sight to see, I had the most physical reactions. I was so giddy over it I couldn’t contain myself. I don’t think I’ll get over Luke Brooks. Thank god I read this book and was introduced to this hot cowboy of a man.

Everything about this book was perfect. I loved the family vibes and I loved Emmy’s character. I love how we saw Emmy build herself back up from reaching a low in her life. She was struggling both mentally and physically and Luke had been the biggest contributor to bringing her back to the woman he had always known her to be. A strong, confident, and independent woman.

I love Teddy so much also. I resonated with her character so much and how she is so selfless. It brings her joy to do acts of services for the ones she loved without needing it in return. I truly adored her character and she also made me laugh so much.

That’s another thing about this book that I enjoyed. It was filled with humor and packed with lighthearted feels.

All around an amazing book and I won’t stop thinking about it. I can’t wait to be back on Rebel Blue Ranch in March. 🥹🥹🫶🏻🫶🏻

DNF* If Luke called Emmy “sugar” one more time I was going to throw my Kindle across the room.

This book is an absolute dream! A steamy, small town, brother's best friend, cowboy romance with stellar writing featuring lovable characters and a fast-paced romance that worked so well with the plot. I honestly cannot believe that this is Lyla Sages' debut, the story is so simple and sweet; I can't wait to read more from her.

Hear me out- If Beth Dutton and Rip (Yellowstone iykyk) were not as violent and as damaged as they were - lol this would have been their story lol.

Super cute and sweet romance - RTC

Not me shoving a western romance right in the middle of my Fall TBR bc my library finally has a copy available for me 🤭😁

👢🤠🦂🐴🌵🏜️🌞🐍

genuinely what was that writing

3.5★'s
Yeehaw🐴🩵
This was very cutesy! The plot was nothing super special, quite straight forward and predictable to be honest but it felt like being wrapped up in a romcom and it kept me entertained.
All the ranch, country and cowboy references kinda got lost on me but I enjoyed the vibe. 🌾

I did find both our mc's relatable and completely endearing. This book didn't have much depth, but the parts where the author tried to take it in those directions were probably the parts I enjoyed the most. We love an adhd girlie and a troubled cowboy.🤍

I already know that Teddy and Gus' book is gonna fkn slap.
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Pre-read:
Hmm, my current read wasn't the right vibe for rn, so trying this instead.
I need something cutesy, yeehaw 🩷