On the Land, We Shoot Straight

By: Sasha Avice

Narrated by: Chris Merlin

“I ain’t no expert on what gets a man spooked.

But I reckon if you ever wanna talk on it, well then…I reckon I’m all right at listenin’.”

Grady’s been running his ranch and farm just fine on his own since his daddy died. But when young Jesse Cole blows up on his porch, Grady hesitates before sending him on. There’s something in the way Cole turns to leave that makes Grady want to pull him back in.

There are murmurs in town about the kind of boy Cole is. The kinds of things he’s done. But as they work together and then start helping each other out because that’s just what buddies do on the land, Grady begins to feel something he’s never felt before. Something not ‘just buddies’ at all.

As the year rolls on, Grady feels himself drawn deeper into the trauma Cole won’t speak about. He ignores the warnings from his wife in the city and the gossip in town. Cole seems to think this unspeakable thing will define him forever, but the further Grady’s pulled into his orbit, the more willing he is to forfeit everyone else in his life to show him that isn’t true.

©2026 Sasha Avice (P)2026 Sasha Avice, Pink Flamingo Productions

Absolutely Spectacular, best cowboy romance!

I've read more than a few queer cowboy romances. I think everyone expects 'Brokeback Mountain' and it's hard to break the mold. But so many things about this story break the mold, I don't even know where to start..

First off, this story is about maintenance of a ranch. One guy is trying to do everything by himself before a destitute young man that he's vaguely familiar with comes along.

Neither of them are prone to speaking, but you don't end up resenting the silence they share before their romantic/sexual connection.

The entire story is very engaging and interesting outside of the romance; almost like a mystery novel you want to solve.

Why is Cole reluctant about sharing his past? Why does our other MC live so far from his wife??

This is definitely a book I recommend you go into blind. No context is needed, and anything you can learn from a review is a spoiler.

There's a reason this book has such amazing reviews; because it's absolutely amazing! Congratulations to the narrator as well, he did a great job at bringing this story to life! So much depends on a narrator in romance novels, and this man+the author did a bang up job!

I'm definitely looking for other books from this author and narrator in the future!