Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

34 reviews

midnightmoon_dreamer's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Good but I didn’t love Ada’s characters. I feel like we didn’t see enough about her story which made it harder to understand her actions. Weston, on the other hand, is the man of my dream. The way is character and his struggles are written makes him really come alive, especially with the dual POV. We also see a lot of the other characters from the previous and next books (a lot of setting up the next 2 books). Overall I liked this fun quick read. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

aprilpamyl's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kaitrates's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

“I was more than happy to be an accessory for her greatness.”

Whew I went on a journey with this book y'all! I loved it hated it then loved it again. So, let's break it down.

What I Loved

Wes. This man was down so bad and I loved how he saw Ada and loved Ada and didn't let her just lean into her trauma but showed up time and time again to help her brain-body realise that this relationship was different. It was safe.

Also, I felt like he was a good embodiment of non-toxic masculinity with his gentleness and his sweetness and also his cow hotness. Honestly, he reminded me of Hugh Jackman (specifically in australia for yk obvious reasons)...then again, so does everything lately. 😏

The mirror scene. OKKKKKKKKKK. 🔥

The resolution. I LOVED that their HFN started with long distance, with neither of them giving up their dreams for love. GAH.


The setting was dreamy AF.

The friendships.I felt so seen in Ada struggling to make friends. Like girllll I get you! I felt like she was somewhat autistic coded but it definitely wasn't committed rep. And I loved seeing start to let people in and let herself be loved. 🥹 

"And that’s how it went for the next couple of hours. We traded stories and anecdotes, and I carefully added new pieces of Wes to my growing collection of things about him that I was holding close to my heart."

What I Disliked

The lack of depth. The book touched on some really important topics (e.g. depression, arousal nonconcordance, abusive relationships) but didn't dig into them. And sure, not every book has to, but I found myself wanting more from this story and, ultimately, feeling a bit disappointed.

The lack of lube use and sexy times with a soft peen. Listen this is such a sex educator thing to say but if you mention MULTIPLE times that they both struggle with physical arousal of their bits, I do not want a magic peen-adjacent solution!!!! I want them to have hot hot sex anyways but in a creative way! Use lube! Give us prostate play!

I hate when books perpetuate this idea that if you're just with the right person or they do the right things, all your sex issues will be resolved. This is not how the brain-body works okay?! I was so excited to see the characters talk about these struggles and then so let down when the answer wasn't even an abundance of foreplay (seriously the first time they have sex and she remarks how well things are going I was like, "that's it?!"

ANYWAY *steps off soap box*

Insta-lust. Although it wasn't the worst it could be.

The T Swift references.Listen I know she's everywhere in contemporary romance but JFC there are reasons OTHER than misogyny for why people don't like her. This scene would've been so much more meaningful if it had just been the girls screaming and didn't come with a side of cult messaging. 

All in All

This was a very fluffy candy-like which attempted to include some deeper themes but I don't think exactly nailed that. It was cute and hot and also frustrating AF at times. 

I'm game to try some of her other books the next time I need a proper palate cleanser.

CNs: depression, past abusive relationship
Sex tags: oral sex, hand sex, makeout, PIV

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rachel_jones03's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amp18's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

smolivreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lyla Sage, you wonderful woman, you did it again. Y’all, these books are GOLD. I gobbled this book UP. 
It’s just so fun and the characters are so real. The conflict is never cheap or superficial. The characters all come with their own baggage and mess and it feels so honest. I LOVE romances that don’t have a third act breakup and so far, Lyla Sage is two for two on that front. She’s just better. 🤩
Let’s start with our leading lad and lady: Wes and Ada. They were so good for each other. The golden retriever and the black cat, the sun and the moon. Wes is hands down the most emotionally mature and respectful leading man I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He always respects Ada’s decisions, her need for space at times, and never pressures their relationship. He truly is the most steadfast and trustworthy man. I am so head over boots for him. 😭
Ada is so messy but so so wonderful. She’s been crushed down and is trying to learn how to be herself. Her journey is bittersweet but wonderful. She grows so much as a person, breaking down all her built in insecurities and learning to let people love her. I was so happy when she started trusting the girls of Rebel Blue. 🥹 
I loved Wes and Ada’s love and this story was so so so good. 
Back by no one’s demand: the Amos and Teddy appreciation corner!!! I love them!!!!!
OH MY GOD AMOS IS AN ICON. He is such a sneaky mastermind in this book and I lived for it. He sees people and he sees how they make their own trouble and he meddles just enough to help everyone be happy. He was, once again, incredibly touching and sweet and made me tear up (multiple times). Everyone deserves a father figure who is kind, gentle, supports your dreams, and loves you deeply. If you don’t have that in your life, well, you do now and his name is Amos Ryder. 🥹 (Lyla, I beg of you, do not do anything untoward this man, I won’t recover)
Now for my other favourite: Theodora. Teddy continues to be the bestest of friends. She continues to see people for who they are and meets them where they’re at. She is the best hype woman and such a wonderful girls girl. I love her. She is joy personified and such a bright light. I cannot wait for her book. I saw the breadcrumbs being laid and I am absolutely feral for Lost and Lassoed. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lex_is_bookish's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lisettemarie's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted reflective

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

abidavisf's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fate brought me to Swift and Saddled. I started another book the same day that I was going to continue with, but something told me it was time to return to Rebel Blue. I’ve had a terrible week/month/year, I won’t lie. On a day in which my depression was really taking over, and the black clouds loomed above me with no light in sight, I was welcomed by two of the most relatable characters I’ve had the privilege of reading.

Ada and Wes are clear soulmates. From their physical attraction to the way they bounce off of each other mentally, it’s obvious. I love a romance, and the romance in this book was great, but it isn’t what drew me to these characters. What drew me to Ada and Wes, and to Swift and Saddled as a whole, is how accurately it portrays depression, anxiety, self-esteem, trauma, abandonment, and more. I felt seen by both Ada and Wes, and, on a day when I really felt like giving up, that was just what I needed.

Swift and Saddled portrays depression so realistically. We don’t see the ins and outs of a low day, but we do see the constant torment, dread and unease that comes with knowing when your next Big Low is coming or when your coping mechanisms are eventually going to give out on you. It’s a when, not an if. Not a lot of people get that. Wes gets it. Lyla Sage gets it. I get it.

Wes’ description of depression was perfect: “depression wasn’t a logical disease … it was impossible to predict … not if, but when I would sink into another dark hole and have to decide to claw my way out.” Living with a depression requires you to make choices every day, to take your meds, go to therapy, take a walk, whatever works for you. I really appreciated seeing the choice and the genuine hard work and effort it takes into just living reflected so accurately in this book.

I am a depressed person, but I am also a lonely person. Both Ada and Wes speak to me in so many ways. Ada’s loneliness and, frankly, complete lack of self worth are engrained in me. They are a huge part of who I am. Some days, I can’t figure out if they contribute to my depression or are caused by it. Either way, Ada not remembering a time when she wasn’t lonely registered with me so completely. Everybody has someone or something, but not me and, at the start of this book, not Ada. Having a character like Wes read her so well and want to show her that she has so much value was lovely. It made me feel bad for my friends who so badly want to do that for me and tell me so. Maybe, one day, I’ll be as brave as Ada and let someone in. I hope so.

Swift and Saddled wasn’t as horse-y as I’d have liked, but it makes sense based on Ada and Wes’ day to day. I’d love to see more of their lives in the future to see how their days work with their own animals, so hopefully they’ll be popping up a lot during the rest of the series.

I don’t think this review, if we can call it that, was coherent, so I’ll summarise:

- Depression is portrayed so accurately in this book, and I am truly grateful for that
- I understand Ada on a spiritual level. I want her happy ever after. She deserves it. I wish we’d gotten some more context around her ex (how they met, where he went etc), but I feel like I know her all the same.
- Wes chooses every day to keep on keeping on and I am so proud of him

I’m going to have to come back to this for a proper read and review when I’m less emotional but, for now, I’ll say: thank you, Lyla Sage. You don’t know me and you didn’t know I needed your words but you gave them to me anyway.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

koistyfishy's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4 Baby Blue Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

So I picked this up thinking that this was book 1, AND VERY SOON REALISED this is book 2... But I said fuck it... Guess I'm in my Cowboy Era and decided to jump right in.

This book was a really fun time! Ada is an interior designer, and based on a referral from a friend to a friend she ends up with a project to remodel the Rebel Blue Bed and Breakfast. The night before her first official day, she waltz's into a local bar looking for food and meets an unknown man. She immediately makes "goo-goo" eyes at him and he makes "goo-goo" eyes at her so they end up locking lips. When someone catches them she flees like a modern-day Cinderella. The next morning, she rocks up at her new place of employment and finds out that her new boss, Wes, is none other than the mystery man she was swapping saliva with... And determined NOT to get involved romantically with her new employer, she puts a nice little cockblock into any further kinky hijinx.

Now, this was sweet and adorable and just utterly wholesome. It met everything I was expecting in what you'd think you're going to get when reading a little cowboy romance. Wes checked every one of my boxes with pretty little GREEN CHECK MARKS. He was a walking green flag, a CHARMING gentleman who was just raised right with all his perfect manners and behaviour. He can communicate and kinda knows how to handle his emotions.

Then we have Ada who is pretty insecure and almost seems cold. The Grumpy in the Grumpy X Sunshine mix but she's not a typical "Black Cat" - she has never been given a chance to fly on her own. She has just come off a very oppressive and emotionally abusive marriage where her ex-husband dictated her life to the point of unhealthy codependence and control. She needs to learn how to be herself again, explore her limits and boundaries and learn to be able to do things on her own without her husband. I really did enjoy her growth and how she built up her self-confidence daily.

Their relationship was a hit-and-miss for me, because it took a long time for them to finally act on their feelings, even after numerous people explicitly made it clear they didn't care that Wes was her boss. Only saying she only shouldn't hurt him by starting something and then leaving... the two had this almost "instalove" pull which contradicted the delay in relationship. THEY WERE PINING FOR THE OTHER… and while it can be argued that it was more lust - if that were the case I would have expected a quicker payoff... This wasn't a frustration per se, it was just the battle of the conflict didn’t make sense… The why they couldn't be together especially after they both were so attracted to each other, didn't add up.

Something that I loved was the importance of friendship and how someone accepting you could be the first step to healing. Ada, through the course of this book, learnt how to invite people into her life, not only from a romantic relationship perspective but also through the "Girl Squad" she formed with Wes's baby sister, Teddy and Sam. I loved that these girls protected each other, stood up for each other and made everyone comfortable and feel part of something.

There are also aspects of dealing with mental health issues. Wes does suffer from Middle Child Syndrome in that he is often overlooked, ignored or neglected by his family. He also suffers from depression, so I appreciated that this book was not shying away from his struggles, showing that anyone (even the man who appears to be a perfectly put-together charming gentleman), could suffer from a mental illness. It was almost as if his condition was purposely downplayed. Showing that if it's not made into a big deal, him having bad days, then it can be accepted as normalised. Highlighting that there is NOTHING wrong with him... Or it could have been downplayed cause this is a fluffy romance and sometimes they don't go too deep into issues.

The writing was pretty easy to follow and fluffy, so you can kick back, relax, and enjoy. I experienced this book through audio. The writing characteristics were heightened by the amazing job Teddy Hamilton and Vanessa Edwin did, because it felt smooth and fluffy and flowed effortlessly.

Two things unfortunately bothered me and it's why this didn't get 5 stars. The first is I wish that it went a little bit more into the weeds and details of the actual project of what she was doing at Rebel Blue. It's very vague descriptions of the renovations, or just comments that they were completed but never really explained what it was they were completing... I mean the biggest thing I know about the design is she made flower-stained curtains.

The Second thing (and this is pretty minor) is that the way people explained Wes and who Wes was in his POV, did not always line up. He is described as gentle and sweet, a typical golden retriever... but in his head he swears like a fucking sailor. Now I am not saying a "nice guy" cannot say the word FUCK... But if it's the first chapter of his POV and there are 4 Variations of the word fuck in this chapter... he is not exactly matching up to cute and polite... Now it might be because of my own intrinsic bias for characters I normally hear portrayed by Teddy Hamilton, that when he says FUCK those men are normally "bad boys"... but this dichotomy just stood out as weird. I also found it pretty sleazy that their "Bar Meet-Cute" is him saying "I am going to leave you here while I go have a drink, if you want some fun YOU come to me...."

The Tropes in this include:
▶ Cowboy Romance (Small Town Romance)
▶ Workplace Romance (Forced Proximity)
▶ Opposites Attract (GrumpyXSunshine)
▶ Dual POV
▶ Instalust but Slow Burn
▶ Found Family
▶ One Bed
▶ Reverse Age Gap (2 Years) is that even considered an age gap??
▶ Banter
▶ Grey Sweatpants and HE BRINGS HER FOOOOD!
▶ Attempted Third Act Breakup


SO.... all in all! This was cute sweet and enjoyable and while there are some weird things I am happy I chose to save a horse and ride this cowboy! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings