Lost and Lassoed | Lyla Sage

 "roll with the punches, teddy andersen. and punch back if you need to."

    This is the third and penultimate book in the 'Rebel Blue Ranch' series, this time covering our beloved enemies - Teddy and her best friend's brother, the grumpy Gus. I knew from the first mention that there must be something more between them and that trading insults was just their way of flirting. And, yes - I was right.

    The boutique that Teddy worked at has closed permanently. She needs a job for the summer while she figures out what she wants to do with her life. Insert Gus – her nemesis, who has realized that he can't do everything by himself and is in need of help with his daughter. Teddy is his only option, as his sister Emmy so helpfully points out. He offers her a job to babysit, and due to being unemployed and her father’s medical bills mounting, she's not in the position to turn it down. We’ve seen these two in previous book, we know what tension’s simmering. And we’re in for a ride.

    Theodora Teddy Andersen has the fiercest and softest heart. She is a chaotic, headstrong, and fearless person, but here she is revealed to have a softer, creative, more caring, and compassionate side. She’s also perceptive and supportive when the people she loves need her. He loves fashion and creative pursuits. Her care of her ailing father was lovely, though even he noticed that her reluctance to move on with her life – lest he need her – was holding her back, and encouraged her to take chances.

    And though Teddy never knew how to take care of herself or be vulnerable with other people, it was reassuring to see her accept that she could simply be herself with Gus and Riley. The way that she felt safe enough to share and show her private thoughts and fears with him was heartwarming. Her friendship with her lifelong best friend, Emmy, shows how changing relationships and seeing other people succeed can bring challenges and sadness, and how it takes time to embrace this part of life. She felt like she was behind, and it was so real, raw, and life like most of us have felt this way. I know that I have. I loved watching her go through the pains of growing in life as an adult, when friendships drift a bit with the changes life brings: getting serious as a couple, married, and other developments that sometimes take priority.

    August 'Gus' Ryder, is the embodiment of the grumpy cowboy. I've always known that behind his grumpy and cold-hearted exterior, he hides a tender and caring side for the people he loves. He is the perfect blend of tough exterior and hidden warmth. Gus is an incredible father – he is thoughtful, affectionate, and so patient with Riley. The way he loves his daughter is everything. But as the eldest Ryder brother, and the one in line to inherit the ranch from Amos, he carries a lot of responsibility, and he’s often reluctant to delegate his work or share his stress with family members, believing that he has to be involved in all aspects of their business.

    Teddy and Gus love fiercely and deeply when it comes to their people and family, and they both fear not giving or loving enough, or simply not being enough. Both are caretakers, burdened with the weight of being the solid pillar of the family. They’re so similar in their fears and the way they love others, and they bonded over this instantly. No matter how much they bickered – and their banter is hilarious – it soon became obvious to both how similar they are. I loved the dynamics between them, from friends who simply spent time together doing mundane, domestic things – listening to each other talk, taking care of Riley, comforting each other, and making sure the other person was okay – to actually giving into their romantic feelings. I also loved how Teddy helped Gus realise that he can't do it all on his own and that it's okay to open up, let others in, ask for help and share some of his responsibilities and weight that he tries to carry alone. The reason for their animosity is revealed as well, and it is actually believable that something so small could snowball into this big thing because that's exactly who these two are.

    I absolutely 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, and definitely had a role in Gus’ feeling bubbling to surface. Teddy and Riley are the perfect duo; I loved how chaotic they both are and how deeply they care for each other.

     These books are peak escapism. I love the word that Lyla Sage built in Medowlark – it feels small, and secluded, cozy. Getting lost in these characters’ stories is just what I need when life gets a bit too busy and noisy, and I will can’t wait for the last book in this series to come out.