Review: Lost & Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch #3) by Lyla Sage

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? ~ Goodreads

Source: Libro.fm ALC in exchange for an honest review - (audiobook) Narrated by Jason Clarke, Samantha Brentmoor

Review: Once my go-to genre, I have struggled with romance the past few years. Not too many have kept my attention past the first one or two chapters but I saw someone I trust give this one a rave review on Instagram and had it pop up on Libro.fm for review at the same time, and thought I'd give it a go. I'm SO glad I did! 

Aside from being off romance the past few years, I really hate romance on audio - yet this one worked for me - even with a growly hero. I usually hate hearing that lol

Gus, the aforementioned growly hero, is drowning under the weight of responsibility. He has his 6 year old daughter, Riley, for the summer, while her mom, Cam is away for work. He runs the family 8000 acre Rebel Blue Ranch and feels the pressure to live up to his dad's legacy as he takes over, while moving the ranch forward to meet modern times.

Gus can't be everywhere at once and he slips up, big time, when he forgets to pick up Riley at an after school practice. His family forms an intervention and proposes a solution in the form of Teddy Anderson - his little sister's best friend and, in the words of Gus, a chaos demon.

Teddy is creative, flirty, bold and yeah - a little chaotic but she's at a crossroads after her best friend, Emmy becomes engaged, she loses her job and she worries about her aging/ailing father.

Gus offers Teddy the job of watching Riley on the days he's working the ranch, which includes staying at their place a few nights a week so she can be with Riley first thing in the morning. 

To say these two are oil and water would be an understatement. Where Teddy is spontaneous and flirty - Gus is measured and controlled. They have fought for years & most of their friends and family - despite suggesting this arrangement in the first place - aren't sure they won't kill each other lol

Hate to lovers is my favorite trope and this one was done so well! They truly don't like each other but slowly come to understand how similar they are. They love big, often sacrificing their own dreams and happiness and neither asks for or accepts help easily. 

There is conflict, but this is, thankfully, pretty low drama. While it starts as hate - it's more of gentle needling on Teddy's part and grumpy grunts from Gus. Neither is actually cruel - they just don't like each other and that's fine. But over time, they start to see the burden the other carries and step up to share some of the load.

I love how once they got past the - oh shit - I actually like this person stage - they never really pulled back. They kept being there for each other and admitted when they were confused or scared. There's also no drama when it comes to Cam, Riley's mom, and I adored that! 

I have not read the first two books in the series but that wasn't necessary - other than missing some of the bonds they share - like Emmy and Teddy's friendship. Emmy came off as selfish to me despite being told they were best friends. I'm sure I would have had better context had I read Emmy's book first. 

Another highlight of Lost & Lassoed was Teddy and her dad's relationship. It's just been the two of them and he has a few health scares that rock Teddy and, as someone who mostly grew up with just my dad, I got that. 

My minor, reader specific nitpick, is the there's a lot of dirty talk for the sex scenes. I'm not a prude, I like a good sex scene lol but I'm, personally, not a fan of explicit dirty talk - but to each their own. I also didn't love the from out of nowhere nickname - Teddy Baby.

All the love for this one and bonus points for an illustrated cover that doesn't blend into the sea of illustrated covers! It's unique and fits the story perfectly.