Done and Dusted
by Lyla SageSeries: Rebel Blue Ranch #1
Published by The Dial Press on June 6, 2023
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 356
Narrator: Aaron Shedlock, Stella Hunter
Length: 6 Hours And 51 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules.
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 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?
I kept seeing Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage pop up on my social media from other accounts I follow, which intrigued me enough to pick it up, especially when it had one of my favorite tropes, Brother’s Best Friend. I can’t ever pass up a book with this trope, so I borrowed a copy of the book from my local library to read it.
The main characters, Emmy Ryder and Luke Brooks had known each other for years since Luke is basically a part of the Ryder family and was always around when Emmy was younger due to him being best friends with one of her brothers. When Emmy returns home to Meadowlark, Wyoming, after having an accident that devastated her and stopped her from doing what she loved, she ends up running into Luke at the local bar, and she’s not thrilled about it at first. She remembers how he used to treat her and how he’s been known as the bad boy for years. Luke’s not the same person as before, and he knows he should stay away from Emmy, but it’s kind of hard not to when he’s at her family’s house constantly. He also knows something is wrong with Emmy, and he’s determined to find out what happened to her and why she returned home.
The undeniable chemistry between Emmy and Luke is a highlight of Done and Dusted. Despite their best efforts to resist their feelings for one another, it was inevitable that it would grow stronger with each encounter. Luke’s role in helping Emmy overcome her fears and rediscover her passions definitely made me love his character, and I loved how it added a layer of depth to their relationship, making their romantic journey all the more enticing.
Done and Dusted was a good read, but it didn’t quite capture my heart. There were enough intriguing elements in the book that were cute and steamy and kept me interested in the story. I definitely loved the fact that it didn’t have the third-act breakup scene, which was a breath of fresh air. The over-protective brother who threw a fit, though, I wasn’t a fan of at all. The whole time, the main characters had to worry about him finding out, and they shouldn’t have, especially when Emmy is an adult and makes her own decisions.
Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars, and I’m glad I read the book because I found a new author. I’m definitely going to check out the rest of the books in the Rebel Blue Ranch series.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy reading a small-town cowboy romance where the FMC tries not to fall for her big brother’s best friend, especially when she can’t seem to stop running into him after she returns home.
Audiobook Recommendation: If you enjoy listening to your books, check out the audiobook of Done and Dusted. I ended up buying the audiobook because I tend to listen to books more nowadays, so I can get things done while also still enjoying reading books. Aaron Shelock and Stella Hunter were the narrators for Done and Dusted, and I loved both of these narrators.
Trope(s)/Element(s):
✓Small Town Romance
✓Cowboy Romance
✓Slow Burn Romance
✓Brother’s Best Friend
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