Buck Me

A Boulder Ranch Novel

De: Ashley Willow

Narrado por: Charlie L. Wood, James Cassidy

Joy Anderson never expected to find herself in a place like Cole County. When her best friend suggested she join her in the small town, there was nothing keeping her in the city, so she moved into her friend’s old place and fell into a simple routine of working part time at the Family Health Center as well as helping out at Boulder Ranch. One chance encounter with a handsome cowboy quickly changes everything. Joy’s life takes a thrilling turn at the start of rodeo season when it turns out the handsome cowboy is local legend Tate Garrison. With Tate by her side, Joy learns to embrace the excitement and challenges of her new life, all while discovering who she is and what she truly wants in life. Has Joy found the happiness and love she’s been searching for, or will the obstacles in their path prove too difficult to overcome?

Tate Garrison, a former pro bull rider turned bronc rider, is a man with a tough exterior but a heart of gold. With their parents no longer living, Tate has dedicated his life to running his family ranch and looking after his younger brother, Grayson. Despite his rough, independent lifestyle, Tate finds himself drawn to Joy. As they navigate their new relationship, Tate realizes he must confront his past and take a deep look at himself if he’s truly ready to let someone new into his life. Together, Joy and Tate forge ahead on their new journey of love, trust, and healing. Sometimes, the greatest things in life are found in the most unexpected places.

©2025 Ashley Willow (P)2025 Ashley Willow

Giddy up cowboy!

The narrators for this book are phenomenal! They truly captured the characters and gave them life! I love how feisty Joy is in the beginning. She's definitely got the sass! Tate is a grumpy cowboy who needs some joy (Joy) in his life! This book has the perfect amount of spice, drama, and the story line is perfect. I can't wait to read more in this series.

Smalltown Cowboy Romance

So I’ve not read/ listen a lot of cowboy romance. I think the last cowboy romance, I read prior to this book was Stray by DJ Kramer. Which is really funny because I used to love westerns as a kid so I thought I would’ve loved cowboy Romance by just haven’t read a lot of of them so I was really excited whenever bluenose gave me this audio to listen to. One of my biggest issues though is I get so used to bluenose doing duet narrated books that when I get in get one from them, that’s duel narrated I tend not to like them as much. But throughout this book, both James Cassidy and Charlie Wood do a pretty good job switching between a male voice and a female voice whenever they’re doing the opposite roles and that’s really just one my big pet peeves with a duel narration, but story wise I thought the story was very easy to follow with the small town romance, instant lust, kind of a boss employee romance for the second half of the book, city girl/county man. The story follows Tate and Joy. Tate is a former bronco rider who is now kind of just competing at a ranch that he grew up and Joy is working part-time at that ranch and at a doctors office and they meet because Tate backs into her car and it’s kind of just building from there. But once they meet after that it’s just instant lust relationship they’re both craving each other throughout the entirety of the book and it’s just again easy to follow, fast paced, and just like something easy to read once all you’ve read is dark romance. But thank you again to bluenose for allowing me to listen to this audio early.

A great cowboy romance!

Buck Me by new-to-me author Ashley Willow is a sweet, low drama, rodeo story with a touch of boss/employee thrown in. This can be read as a standalone, but it fits nicely as a companion to Ride Me by Britton Brinkley. We first meet Tate and Joy in Ride Me, about Tate’s brother Grayson. (And if you haven’t heard that audio performance by Sebastion York and Lacy Laurel, run right now!) In Buck Me, we get Tate’s version of events with his brother as he meets and falls in love with Joy. Ms. Willow does a nice job writing about rodeo/ranch life and I enjoyed the banter as Tate and Joy fall in love. Sometimes you just need a nice, sweet but spicy, no big drama, romance in between whatever other craziness you might enjoy reading. This book provides that nicely. I enjoyed the audio production of this book which was performed in dual narration by James Cassidy and new-to-me narrator, Charlie L. Wood. I cannot recommend enough James Cassidy’s growly voice and fantastic female voices. Ms. Wood provided a lovely counterpart in her portrayal of Joy. Buck Me is a no-stress 4 star read with 3 spicy peppers.

Tate and Joy ❤️

Story - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice - 🌶🌶🌶
Narration - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Buck Me is part of the Boulder Ranch series (multiple authors). I would definitely consider this book #2 as we already have Grayson hooked up with the good doctor. Tate is Grayson's older brother, always taking care and looking out for everyone else. The two brothers have a strained relationship, but when push comes to shove, they have each other's back. Tate and Joy have an unfortunate meet-cute, but the chemistry can't be denied between them. Both have family issues and secrets, but slowly allow each other into their guarded lives and hearts. Really enjoyed this cowboy, rodeo, small-town, workplace, interracial, bronc rider, ranch hand, spicy romance. This is a standalone, but you don't want to miss this series. And Hayden coming out of the tack room all disheveled...oooo! I hope more goodness is coming with his story!

The narration was fantastic. I rated the spice a 3/5, but I think that might be because James Cassidy REALLY brings that smexy voice to Tate's character. Charlie Wood is a new narrator to me and I really liked her performance. Great casting. 5/5 stars!

Tate and Joy

Book 2 in Boulder Ranch series,
Performed by Charlie L Wood and James Cassidy

Tate and Joy meet at the hospital where Joy works, well they met in the car park, where Tate reversed into Joy's car.

Tate is a Bronko Rider and Ranch Owner, Joy is a nurse and works Part Time at a Stable at a Ranch.

I enjoyed both performances by Charlie as Joy and James Cassidy and Tate.

A must listen!

Narration done by Charlie L. Woods and James Cassidy made me really like the characters!

Oh Tate Garrison! AHHHHH!!!!
The grumpy, manly, former bull rider melts only for Joy Anderson.

Their meet cute wasn’t perfect but it was meant to be!
If you like grump/sunshine, small town vibes, interracial romance, SPICE (HOTTTT) workplace romance then you’ll enjoy this one!

Great Narration!

Book 2 in Boulder Ranch series. I was excited to get this one. I didn't know if I would like Tate. But, he really is a good man. Joy wasn't a favorite. But, she does love her man. Give me all the rodeo books. They are a favorite!

Performed by Charlie L. Wood & James Cassidy. They were perfect for these characters.

Full of heart and heat!!

The book alone I would give a 3.5, but Charlie and James really brought these characters to life in a way that kept me listening. As a whole, I think that the book could benefit from more time dedicated to learning about our characters, their backstories, and seeing them more well developed.

There is something about a cowboy that gets me every time, and Tate embodied all of the right characteristics. He's manly, rugged, and stoic - he is a bronc rider, after all. He's been through some difficult family situations, but he has a big heart, and he turns into a big marshmallow for his woman.

Joy never envisioned herself working with horses, but she winds up at Boulder Ranch after moving to a small town from the big city. There are a couple of things about her character that I didn't *love*, but overall she was a fairly enjoyable FMC.

Charlie L. Woods is new to me as a narrator, and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance as Joy. Her voice is silky smooth and so easy to get lost in. James has the perfect deep voice for a cowboy who is a bit rough around the edges. Both narrators do a phenomenal job with their acting choices and keeping the listener engaged in the story.

short, spicy, small town romance

▪️insta-lust
▪️bull rider
▪️he falls first and harder
▪️small town

This is the second book im the series, but I didn't read the first one. It took me a minute to catch up, but I dont feel like I was lost.

Narrated by Charlie Woods and James Cassidy. Charlie is a new to me narrator and was good.

Joy & Tate

Buck Me is my first venture into the Boulder Ranch series. I fell for these characters from the opening chapter.

Tate is a kind and caring cowboy, fiercely loyal and will do anything for the people he loves. A PBR Champion, now retired from bull riding his focus now, running the family ranch and hosting bull and bronco riding events at Boulder Ranch.

Recently moved to Cole County, Joy works both part time at the health center and at Boulder Ranch. Not afraid to get down and dirty with ranch duties, Joy feels at home amongst the stables.

The chemistry between these two led to cute moments, a little frustration, oh and steamy encounters too. Tate’s kindness and respectfulness to Joy, and Joy’s love of fun endeared me to their story even more. The chemistry and connection never wavered between these two. Even during the rockier times.

Charlie L. Wood as Joy, and James Cassidy as Tate had me totally wrapped up in the characters of Cole County. From their first heated encounter I just knew Charlie and James would nail the personalities of these characters. Impressed with Charlie’s male, and so too James’ female voices. I enjoyed this dual performance greatly. I did find speed 1.0 a little slow and drawn out for me, particularly with Charlie’s delivery. IMO, 1.2 is more suited to Joy’s character personality.

Thank you Ashley Willow for this entertaining story. Thank you to Blue Nose for a wonderfully engaging Advanced Listener Copy.