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Rebel Blue Ranch, Book 2

From the publisher:

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • She’s the city girl who refuses to be saddled with a man. He’s the cowboy who wants her anyway.

From the author of the BookTok sensation Done and Dusted comes the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance featuring opposites attract and forced proximity.

The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.

When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.

Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.

Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?

https://amzn.to/3VmCCyE

This is the second book in the Rebel Blue series, and I absolutely loved the “city girl meets country boy” dynamic. It blends several beloved romance tropes—opposites attract, workplace romance, cowboy charm, forced proximity—and balances them beautifully with equal parts fun, banter, angst, and emotional depth. It’s fast-paced, engaging, and genuinely hard to put down.

Ada Hart arrives in Meadowlark, Wyoming, thrilled to be working on the biggest project of her interior-design career. On her first night in town, she stops by the local bar and meets a ridiculously handsome cowboy. One impulsive, steamy moment later, she leaves alone—reminding herself she’s here for work, not distractions. But the next morning, when she walks into Rebel Blue Ranch, she discovers that her new boss is none other than the man from the bar: Weston Ryder. Not exactly the smoothest start to a professional relationship.

Ada is a talented designer eager to grow her business and build a new life far from a toxic marriage. She’s stubborn, a bit shy, and—like so many of us—carries some insecurities. She believes she’s “unlikable,” but as she slowly lets people in, especially the women at the ranch and Wes himself, she begins to realize that isn’t true. Watching her form genuine friendships for the first time is one of the most rewarding parts of the story.

Wes Ryder is the quintessential cowboy hero: kind, gentle, and deeply loyal. As the middle child, he’s long felt overlooked, so when his dream of opening a guest ranch within Rebel Blue Ranch is finally approved by his father and brothers, it feels like a turning point—his chance to create something that’s truly his own.

One of the things I appreciated most about Wes’s character is how thoughtfully the author handled his depression. It’s not a dramatic plot twist or a hurdle to overcome—it’s simply part of who he is. Too often, people expect depression to look like constant sadness, but in reality, many people manage it while leading full, joyful lives. That rang true for me personally, having family and friends who live with depression. Wes is lighthearted, funny, and warm, but that doesn’t make his depression any less real. It was refreshing to see him open up to Ada about it, and I’m grateful Sage chose to portray it with honesty and care.

While Ada and Wes begin with insta-lust, their relationship evolves into something deeper and more meaningful. The pacing allows readers to watch them truly get to know each other, working through communication challenges and personal obstacles on their path to happiness. The emotional tension throughout this journey makes their eventual triumph all the more rewarding. Their journey to a happily-ever-after felt earned, layered, and incredibly satisfying.

I loved this story. It’s heartfelt, smart, and full of warmth—and it left me eager for more from the Rebel Blue series.

The series in order:

1. Done and Dusted
2. Swift and Saddled
3. Lost and Lassoed
4. Wild and Wrangled
   

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SWIFT AND SADDLED by Lyla Sage. Dial Press Trade Paperback ( March 5, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593732434. 320p.

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Rebel Blue Ranch, Book 1

From the publisher:

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules.

Discover the sizzling, small-town brother’s best friend romance that went viral on TikTok—now a special edition with an exclusive sneak peek at the next book in the series and a Q&A with the author!

“A sweet slow burn . . . sunshine in written form.”—USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson

For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.

Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.

Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?

https://amzn.to/3HkdrcS

I started this series with the last book, Wild and Wrangled, and it was so good that I went back to read the first book in the series. I am planning on reading them all.

Twenty-seven-year-old Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has spent nearly ten years on the barrel racing* circuit, living her dream as a professional rider. Her world comes crashing down when a devastating fall leaves her with a head injury and something far worse—a paralyzing fear of getting back on her horse. Unable to ride without experiencing panic attacks, Emmy makes the difficult decision to return to her family’s Rebel Blue Ranch in Meadowlark, Wyoming, keeping the real reason for her homecoming to herself.

Emmy is surprised to discover that Luke Brooks, the 32-year-old former troublemaker,is working at the ranch, helping out with horseback riding lessons. After facing rejection from his father, stepfather, and biological family, he found acceptance and belonging with the Ryders, becoming best friends with Emmy’s older brother, Gus. Not only does he teach, but he is also the owner of The Devil’s Boot bar, the only fun place to hang out in this small town. Luke has transformed himself from the bad boy Emmy remembers, but despite his changed circumstances, Emmy refuses to believe he’s truly different from the boy who teased her years ago.

When Luke offers to help Emmy overcome her fear and prepare for the upcoming Women’s Professional Rodeo Association tour in Meadowlark, she reluctantly agrees. As they work together, Emmy begins to see past her childhood memories and recognize the man Luke has become. Their growing attraction is complicated by Gus’s longstanding rule that his little sister is off-limits.

As Emmy and Luke’s relationship deepens, real feelings develop between them. Emmy and Luke try to resist, but they end up keeping their relationship a secret. When the truth comes out in a dramatic showdown between Gus and Luke, feelings are laid bare, and everyone is forced to confront what really matters.

Sage brings Meadowlark vividly to life, making the setting feel like another character in the story. With angst, sparks, and strong community ties, this romance blends beloved tropes—small-town charm, brother’s best friend, and enemies-to-lovers—into a fun, emotional read.

*My only complaint about this book is that while Emmy is a professional barrel racer, after reading this book, it wasn’t really clear what that is. A tiny explanation of the sport would have been appreciated! So I Googled, and here is the AI on barrel racing:

Barrel racing is a rodeo event primarily, though not exclusively, for women, where riders race against the clock to complete a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. It’s known for its speed, skill, and precision, requiring a strong partnership between horse and rider. Women have a rich history in barrel racing, with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) (originally the Girls Rodeo Association) founded in 1948 to provide a platform for women’s rodeo competition.

The series in order:

1. Done and Dusted
2. Swift and Saddled
3. Lost and Lassoed
4. Wild and Wrangled
   

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DONE AND DUSTED by Lyla Sage. Dial Press Trade Paperback (October 24, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593732427. 368p.

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Rebel Blue Ranch, Book 4

From the publisher:

She’s the one that got away. He’s the one that never let her go.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small-town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Camille Ashwood had always loved a plan. Her latest was her best yet. She was going to get married so she could secure her daughter’s future, get her overbearing parents off her back, and finally start building her own life in small-town Meadowlark, Wyoming. Easy, right?

But when her groom doesn’t show up to the wedding, Cam’s life is turned upside down—she doesn’t even have a place to live. That is until she finds out the house she’s loved since high school is available to rent. There’s only one problem: the neighbor.

Dusty Tucker has spent nearly all of his adult life running. Running from what, though? More like who: Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who was his first, well, everything has become a woman seemingly determined to keep him at arm’s length. And he was okay with that—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. She was getting married, after all. But now she’s single and living next door. Dusty wants to show her that they can be friends, and that he can stay put.

Despite her best attempts to stay far away from Dusty Tucker, Cam realizes that being close to him is like slipping into her favorite jeans. Easy. Comfortable. That is until past wounds start to open and feelings—both old and new—wreak havoc. Nearly ten years after they first met, Dusty and Cam begin to wonder if their first love can also be their last. And this time, will it be forever?

“Nearly 10 years after being each other’s first everything, Cam and Dusty have a second chance—but adult baggage complicates their romance. This series finale returns to the Wyoming mountains with a Yellowstone-esque slow burn that leads to the perfect happy ending.”—People

https://amzn.to/44XL7q0

This was my first read by this author, but this is the last book in a series, although it stands alone beautifully. Judging by a lot of the reviews, people loved this series and were seriously bummed that it ended, and since I really enjoyed this, I will be going back to find the earlier books.

Single mom Cam gets stood up at the altar, not an auspicious beginning to the rest of her life. But she’s strong enough to just move on by moving herself and her young daughter out of the house she shared with her former fiancé. She is thrilled to find that the house she’s always loved in town is now available for rent, and she snatches it up. She soon finds out that her neighbor is the man who broke her heart back in high school, Dusty. Dusty has been avoiding any kind of commitment for a long time, but seeing Cam stirs up the old feelings. She is not having it, though, and tries to keep her distance.

Cam is a real people pleaser, longing for perfectionism and satisfying everyone else at the cost of her own happiness. Dusty is finally able to admit to himself that he wants to put down roots, wants to feel tled down for the first time in his adult life. Dusty has never forgotten Cam, in fact, his heartbreaking yearning for her shows up in spades. They slowly find their way back to each other and realize why their timing was not right 15 years earlier.

This book hits a lot of the most popular romance tropes: childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, slow burn, single mom, small town, and a new one for me – love letters. This was such a compelling story with characters that I really cared about, despite not having read the earlier books. Can’t wait to get started on those!

The series in order:

1. Done and Dusted
2. Swift and Saddled
3. Lost and Lassoed
4. Wild and Wrangled
   

5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WILD AND WRANGLED by Lyla Sage. Dial Press Trade Paperback (April 15, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593732472. 368p.

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From the publisher:

A radiant escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and This Summer Will Be Different

As featured in People ∙ Good Morning America ∙ Cosmopolitan ∙ TODAY ∙ E! News ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ Us Weekly ∙ The New York Post ∙ SheReads ∙ and more!

I never anticipated Charlie Florek.

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.

Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.

Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.

“The sparks between Alice and Charlie fly off the page and endearing Nan adds heart. This is a treat.”—Publishers Weekly

“Readers will enjoy the steamy love story that develops but will also appreciate Alice’s personal growth. Not only does she find love, she finds her purpose in her career. Fans of Annabel Monaghan will agree with Nan that ‘good things happen at the lake.'”—Booklist (starred review)

https://amzn.to/4jEtoIa

This is the sequel to Carley Fortune’s Every Summer After, which I absolutely loved—and this one is another hit. While Fortune released a couple of other books in between, this novel stands beautifully on its own. You don’t need to read the first one to appreciate this one, but you should – it’s fantastic!

This story follows Charlie Florick, a finance bro in Toronto, but is summering in Barry’s Bay. He’s taken a sabbatical and is spending the summer at his family’s lake house. His parents are gone, but his brother and sister-in-law live nearby.

Alice, a successful photographer, decides to spend the summer back in Barry’s Bay when her beloved grandmother, Nan, breaks her hip. She rents the cottage they once stayed in when she was a teen, wanting to be close to Nan and take a break from her career. The cottage is owned by John, a widower and close family friend, who agrees to make the place more accessible for Nan. Charlie is handling the renovations, and while Alice is initially grateful, her first impression of him is less than stellar—he’s snarky, and she’s annoyed by his cocky note and the key being hidden in an outhouse.

But everything changes when they officially meet. Alice soon realizes Charlie is one of the boys from a photo she took as a teenager—a photo that launched her photography career. As he continues working on the cottage and bonding with Nan, Alice finds herself warming to him. She even has a summer bucket list of things she never got to do as a teen, and once Charlie spies it, he is eager to help her tackle it.

Despite Charlie’s friendly nature, there’s a depth and sadness beneath the surface. The two form a genuine friendship that deepens into something more, though Charlie resists a real relationship. Alice, meanwhile, isn’t looking for anything serious either—but a summer fling wouldn’t be the worst idea. As they grow closer, it becomes clear that this is more than just a fling. Charlie gets her access to a local high school darkroom, and when Alice develops the photos, she sees the truth in Charlie’s eyes—he’s in love, even if he won’t say it.

Their story builds to a heartfelt and satisfying conclusion. This novel is full of charm, banter, nostalgia, and longing. It blends the forced proximity and friends-to-lovers tropes with themes of family, healing, and rediscovering joy. There’s humor, heat, and heart—and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I absolutely loved it.

5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune. Berkley (May 6, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638910. 400p.

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From the publisher:

Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping novel from Emily Henry.

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.

Named a Most Anticipated book by The New York Times ∙ Rolling Stone ∙ People ∙ USA Today ∙ Harper’s Bazaar ∙ Marie Claire ∙ E! Online ∙ The New York Post ∙ Bustle ∙ Reader’s Digest ∙ BBC ∙ PopSugar ∙ SheReads ∙ Paste ∙ and more!

“What begins as a charming if standard rom-com evolves into a hauntingly beautiful meditation on what makes a life well lived in the latest showstopper from Henry . . . This is a stunner.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Both longtime Henry fans and new romance readers will devour this rivals-to-lovers slow burn, one of Henry’s best to date.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Henry continues to burnish her reputation for fashioning sublimely satisfying love stories with another perfectly calibrated, delectably witty tale featuring endearingly quirky, thoughtfully nuanced characters.”—Booklist (starred review)

https://amzn.to/4jEtoIa

I didn’t love this book as much as all the critics, or even as much as Henry’s other books. Actually, it is my least favorite of all her books. All that said, it is a good read, and I ripped through it in a day.

There are a lot of characters here, but the main protagonists are Hayden and Alice, and Margaret. Margaret is a recluse from a very famous, uber-wealthy family. She is living on a small island off the Georgia coast, and Alice had received a message telling her to look there for this mysterious woman. Once she confirms who she is, Margaret invites her to visit. Unbeknownst to Alice, Margaret has also invited Hayden to visit.

Hayden is a Pulitzer prize-winning biographer, and Alice loved his last book. When they both show up at Margaret’s home, she gets right to the point. She is ready to tell her life story, but she isn’t sure who she will allow to write it. She is giving them both a one month audition, so to speak – at the end of the month, they’ll give her their proposals and she will decide who will write her biography. It is sure to be a bestseller no matter who writes it, and Alice thinks this could be her big break. She has been writing celebrity gossip for an online magazine, so this would be a big step up for her. But how to compete with Hayden is weighing on her.

They arrange a schedule with each of them getting to spend three days a week with Margaret. Alice is the friendly, outgoing type, while Hayden is much more reserved. But Alice breaks through his reserve and they start sharing coffee in the morning then dinner at night. Before long, they have to come up with some ground rules – no talking about anything Margaret tells them. Besides which, she has them both sign strict NDAs. But they can’t help but compare from time to time, nothing specific, just gut feelings that Margaret is lying to them at times.

The book moves between their experiences with Margaret and their spending time together. Alice quickly realizes she is falling for Hayden, but he is keeping her at arm’s length, until that is no longer possible. They know it is going to be difficult at the end; whoever is chosen to write the book, the other will definitely have feelings about it that could, and most likely will, creep into their relationship. This dilemma follows them almost until the very end, when truths come out, but of course, the ending is a happy one.

I found it difficult at times to follow all the actors in this story. Margaret’s family is a cast of many, not to mention Alice’s and Hayden’s family have their stories as well. This is a slow burn romance of the slowest kind, but there are several twists along the way that keep the story interesting and moving along. I liked it, I just didn’t love it.

5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry. Berkley (April 22, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593441299. 432p.

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