We chat with author Lyla Sage about Wild and Wrangled, which is the final installment of the Rebel Blue Ranch series. When Cam is unexpectedly left at the altar on her wedding day, she and her young daughter Riley are forced to move into the house right beside Dusty Tucker, Cam’s first love who has recently returned to Rebel Blue Ranch after years of travel. Despite trying to keep Dusty in the “friend zone”, old feelings quickly start to resurface.
Hi Lyla, welcome back! How has the past year been since we last spoke?
Thank you so much for having me! I feel like we spoke yesterday but also like…decades ago? Time is a funny thing. It feels like Swift and Saddled came out yesterday. At the same time, I feel like I’m so different than I was last year. And what a year it’s been! I think I was actually writing Wild and Wrangled last time we spoke. It’s truly been a year of Rebel Blue Ranch—touring for Swift and Saddled, Lost and Lassoed, and getting ready to send this series off with a bang.
If you could describe Wild and Wrangled in five words, what would they be?
Soft, Nostalgic, Sweeping, Vulnerable, and Heartwarming.
What sets Wild and Wrangled apart from other contemporary romance novels?
Contemporary Romance is an incredibly special space to be in right now. I’m in league with some of the best authors in the game, so I have a hard time deciding what sets my work apart. Like, I can barely believe I have the opportunity to be at this table. I’ll tell you what I do know: Wild and Wrangled is exactly what I wanted it to be. I feel so content with this story and the ending it provides for Rebel Blue. I hope readers will, too!
What was the inspiration behind the setting of Rebel Blue Ranch? Did you model it after a real-life place?
I’ve always said that Rebel Blue Ranch is a love letter to the people and places that built me. There are so many parts of my life that are wrapped up in Rebel Blue and in Meadowlark. So yeah, it’s modelled after real life places, but I hold those places close to my heart. I love how they’ve informed my books, this world, and upcoming places in the Lyla Sage universe.
Did you have a favourite scene or chapter in Wild and Wrangled that you really enjoyed writing? Tell us about it!
I had so much fun writing the flashback chapters. Truly, I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. It was such a joy to see the beginnings of Cam and Dusty on page. I think my favorite flashback is probably their first kiss. Young love is so consuming and exhilarating, and I had the best time trying to communicate that rush of feelings on the page.
What do you hope readers take away from Dusty and Cam’s story?
I hope readers take away a sense of hope and comfort. I hope when they turn the last page on Wild and Wrangled, they know that Rebel Blue Ranch will always be there when they need it—that even though this is the last book, they are welcome there anytime for the rest of forever.
Did you encounter any challenges while writing Wild and Wrangled and, if so, how did you overcome them?
Compared to Lost and Lassoed, writing Wild and Wrangled felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. No one really knew where I was going with the fourth book, and there was a sense of freedom in that. I felt like I was writing it just for me, and that was really special.
I think my main challenge with Wild and Wrangled was just that I was tired. I really haven’t taken a beat since I wrote Done and Dusted in 2023, but I love these books and this world so much. It’s been an honor to share these stories with the world, and on the hard days, that keeps me going.
You’ve shared that Wild and Wrangled is the final book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series but is there any chance that we’ll see some of the Ryder family again in future works?
The Rebel Blue Crew will always be an important part of the Lyla-verse, no matter where the wind takes me. They’re part of my genetic makeup as a writer, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’ll also see some Rebel Blue Ranch novellas from me at some point in the future!
What’s up next for you? Can you tease any information about one of your future or upcoming releases?
My next book, Soul Searching, comes out on September 30th. It’s the first book of the Sweetwater Peak Duology. It has all the things you’ve come to expect from a Lyla Sage novel—Western flare, family ties, and wide open spaces. This time, though, I’m bringing a bit of a paranormal twist as Sweetwater Peak is a small, haunted ghost town.
Lastly, what are some upcoming book releases that are on your spring/summer TBR list?
Oh, so many! I think the number one book on my TBR right now is No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel. It came out earlier this month, and I’m hoping to have some time to read it while on the Wild and Wrangled tour. I’m also excited about Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory, What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon, Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, I Want to Burn This Place Down by Maris Kreizman, and The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas.
