Coming Home, Falling Hard: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

What if the person you left behind was the one who could finally help you find your way back to yourself? In Done and Dusted, the first book in Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series, we’re taken deep into the heart of small-town Wyoming, where second chances ride in with the dust, and love doesn’t ask—it demands.

With its blend of emotional depth, whip-smart banter, and slow-burn chemistry, Done and Dusted is a small-town romance that packs heart, humor, and just the right amount of ache. Whether you’re a longtime lover of cowboy romances or simply in the mood for a story that feels like a warm summer night after a long, brutal storm, this novel delivers.

Why Done and Dusted Is the Feel-It-in-Your-Bones Romance We Crave

There’s something timeless about the small-town romance, especially when it’s done with the kind of care and complexity Lyla Sage brings to the page. In a time when love stories are expected to be fast and flashy, Done and Dusted takes its time, honoring the reality that sometimes healing means coming home—even when home is filled with memories that sting.

What makes this book matter now is that it doesn’t shy away from emotional scars. Instead, it leans into them. It’s not just about cowboy boots and flirty bar banter. It’s about grief, rediscovery, the pull of unfinished stories, and the risk it takes to open yourself up again.

Back to the Ranch, and Back to Him

The story follows Clementine “Clem” Ryder, a barrel-racing, sharp-tongued force of nature who returns to her hometown of Meadowlark after years away. She’s brash, guarded, and absolutely not ready to fall for anyone—especially not Luke Brooks, her big brother’s best friend and the man who’s been a steady presence in her life, whether she wanted him to be or not.

Luke is everything a small-town cowboy hero should be—steadfast, protective, and simmering with feelings he’s spent years trying to bury. Their relationship crackles with unresolved tension from the start. There’s shared history, unspoken attraction, and that magnetic push-pull of two people who both know exactly how to get under each other’s skin.

But Sage doesn’t take shortcuts with their chemistry. Instead, she builds it slowly, layering vulnerability and backstory until every glance, every argument, and every kiss feels earned. This isn’t a story about falling in love quickly. It’s a story about choosing it—again and again, despite the pain.

Tropes That Hit Every Emotional Note

Done and Dusted offers up some of the genre’s most beloved tropes, but with a depth and maturity that sets it apart. Here’s what you can expect:

• Brother’s best friend romance with off-the-charts tension and emotional stakes
• Small-town setting, rich with heart, community, and long-buried history
• Second-chance vibes, especially around coming home and confronting the past
• Grumpy-sunshine energy, with Clem’s sass clashing deliciously with Luke’s stoic calm
• Found family and emotional healing, anchored in slow, believable character growth

This book is full of grit—but also grace. There are challenging moments, yes, but also gentle ones. It’s the kind of romance that makes you laugh on one page and swallow a lump in your throat on the next.

Who Will Love This Book

Done and Dusted is made for readers who:

• Crave character-driven romance with emotional depth and southern charm
• Love cowboy romance but want more than just boots and drawls
• Are suckers for slow-burn chemistry with real vulnerability
• Appreciate resilient heroines who don’t apologize for taking up space
• Want stories that explore grief, homecoming, and the complexity of love that spans years

If you’re a fan of Elsie Silver, Devney Perry, or Kristen Ashley, this book is going to feel like exactly the kind of emotional ride you’ve been craving.

Final Thoughts: Saddle Up for Something Real

Lyla Sage’s Done and Dusted doesn’t just give you romance—it provides you with resolution, rawness, and redemption. It’s a story about letting yourself be seen, about finally facing the pieces of your life you tried to leave behind, and about what it really means to come home—not just to a place, but to a person.

This book will sweep you away with its slow-burn sizzle, break your heart a little with its honesty, and piece it back together in the way only the best love stories can.

So grab your hat, hold on to your heart, and dive into Done and Dusted. It’s not just a cowboy romance—it’s a full-body, full-heart experience.