Ride

A professional photographer gets the assignment of her career when she lands a press credential at the World Rodeo Championships. The catch: staying focused is harder than it sounds when the reigning two-time champion turns out to be someone from her past. Roxie Noir builds the tension on two fronts simultaneously, setting a woman's hard-won ambitions against an attraction she knows better than to indulge. The rodeo backdrop gives the story a vivid, high-stakes energy that grounds the romance in something tactile and specific.

The dual narration by Maxine Mitchell and Brett Galliford is a strong match for the material. Mitchell brings a wry self-awareness to the heroine's internal monologue that keeps her sympathetic even when she's clearly fighting a losing battle, while Galliford lends the hero a drawling confidence that stops just short of insufferable. At just under ten hours, the pacing moves quickly enough that the will-they-won't-they tension never overstays its welcome. Listeners who enjoy their romance with a distinct sense of place will find the audio format suits this one well.