Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage on November 5, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Romance / Western
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
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“It was a beautiful thing to watch your best friend be loved in the way you know she deserves.”
Teddy Andersen doesn’t have a plan. She’s never needed one before. She’s always been more of a go-with-the-flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn’t seem to be going her way this time. Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it’s starting to change. Teddy is used to being a leader, but now she feels like she’s getting left behind, wondering if life in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore. Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn’t know what’s harder: taking care of his family’s 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he has to admit that he can’t manage everything on his own. He needs help. His little sister’s best friend, the woman he can’t stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy’s the only option he’s got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he’ll never find what he needs.
To say that I was happy to be back in Meadowlark at Rebel Blue is an understatement. I adore this place as it has become a comfort to me. It’s like being wrapped up in a warm blanket on a rainy day. I desperately wish this place were real. That said, I do wish we could’ve had more of them openly expressing their love for each other. I was really hoping for more moments of them together, sharing their affection in front of the world, instead of having so many of their most intimate moments hidden behind closed doors. There were just a couple of things that I wanted to see more of, and that’s why this wasn’t a five-star read, but I loved it regardless.
I gave this novel four stars. I adored the moments with Gus, Teddy, and Riley together. The things they did as a trio added a nostalgic, cozy, and homey vibe. They make such a beautiful family, and seeing Teddy dote on Riley as if she were her own child was everything. Lyla crafted this story so beautifully, adding meaningful layers about life’s challenges. She intricately explored the father-daughter relationships between Gus and Riley, and Teddy and Hank, unknowingly healing a lot of “daddy issues” along the way. I can’t wait to see which other cowboys we’ll get in this series, and I’m so excited for Dusty and Cam’s book!