REVIEW: Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

In Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage, Teddy Andersen’s summer isn’t starting out so well. With a series of harmless but annoying things going wrong, she didn’t need to suddenly be looking for a new job on top of it all. She’s going to chalk it up to the unexpected joblessness as to why she then agrees to take care of her best friend Emmy’s six-year-old niece Riley for the summer. Because Riley’s dad? Yeah, he’s Teddy’s arch nemesis: Gus Ryder. The two of them can’t be in a room together for more than sixty seconds before they’re arguing. So, she’s skeptical how they’ll get along well enough to make it work for Riley’s sake. But as the days wear on and Teddy, Riley, and Gus fall into a routine, she has to admit there’s more between her and Gus than antagonizing each other. Something that feels a lot like it could turn into forever.

‘I didn’t know how the situation changed so fast, but all I could think about was Gus Ryder’s hands and how I wanted them all over me.’

Gus always has his hands full running Rebel Blue Ranch and being a single dad but his routines–and the help of Riley’s mom, Cam–has worked. Until now. Gus not only lets his daughter down but makes a mistake at the ranch. When his family catches wind of it, they jump in to help. He just has no idea he’s agreeing to Teddy staying at his place a couple days a week to watch Riley, which seems like a horrible idea. The two of them can’t help but bicker. Gus won’t admit it out loud, but he knows there’s always been an attraction between them. Something that he can’t act on for a multitude of reasons. But even with the best of intentions, he goes and falls for Teddy as he watches her bond with Riley and bring light and laughter into his home. Gus is ready to take a chance on something with Teddy. He’s just not sure she’s on the same page.

“I don’t have much to offer,” he went on softly. “Just a quiet life with a grumpy man from a small town, but I can promise to love you every day.”

If Lyla Sage intended to outdo herself with LOST AND LASSOED, then she completely succeeded. Teddy and Gus’s romance was about as entertaining, tender, sexy, and heartwarming as it gets.

‘The truth was, I’d rather fight with Teddy than be happy with anyone else.’

Fans of Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series likely had a lot of expectations going into LOST AND LASSOED considering all the times we got to enjoy Gus and Teddy’s hilarious bickering in the previous two books. And I can say that their romance was perfection. It hit all the right notes, continued all the delicious tension that had been building between them, and of course featured all the people we’ve come to know and love along the way. The long history between not only Teddy and Gus, but also Gus’s family with Teddy’s father made for a rich story that was filled with laughter, tears, and camaraderie that was a joy to see.

Oh, the banter between Gus and Teddy. Talk about fun! They basically lived to tease and give each other a difficult time, but it (thankfully) wasn’t filled with animosity. Without digging into their past, let’s just say that they’ve had an attraction for years but even better than that, Teddy and Gus knew they were safe with each other. They could argue and bicker. They could rile themselves up and knew that there was a mutual respect hidden somewhere down deep. But once Gus and Teddy started to get along? Whew, didn’t those strong feelings come out quick. And their relationship got hot and steamy just as quick, too.

I think readers will love the moments where the rest of the characters butt in. Especially if you’ve read either of the previous books. We had Gus’s absolutely adorable six-year-old daughter, Riley, who stole darn near every scene she was in. And there were Gus’s siblings and father who were as awesome as ever. But it was Teddy’s dad Hank who owned my heart. I couldn’t have loved him–or his relationship with his daughter–more. And if you do pick this book up, please read the author’s note at the end about her writing experience. You’ll see exactly why Hank was such a standout character.

QOTD: There was a pivotal scene at a local bar with a mechanical bull. Have you ever ridden one or been to a honky tonk bar?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: November 5th, 2024 | Dial Press | Rebel Blue Ranch #3

She thrives in chaos. He prefers routine. The only thing they have in common? How much they hate each other. From the author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the highly anticipated next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance featuring enemies to lovers and forced proximity.

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’s used to being a leader, but now she feels like she’s getting left behind, wondering if the life she lives 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 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 slips up, and 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. Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether or not to act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned?