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.