Sexy Dirty Cowboy by Elle Thorpe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rem “Viper” James knew his secrets wouldn’t stay buried forever. He just never expected to be arrested in front of 20,000 screaming rodeo fans. Dragged into an interrogation room, Rem is given an ultimatum: testify against his old motorcycle club, or face another stint in a cell.

There’s only one answer when going back inside means leaving in a body bag.

Whitney Nicholson was left humiliated after her boyfriend’s secret life was exposed. After all, as a police detective, she should have seen it coming. So it’s salt in the wound when Whitney’s boss sends her to babysit an ex-MC member who’s been masquerading as a cowboy on the rodeo circuit.

To add insult to injury, they’re going into hiding in a tiny country town. As a married couple.

Whitney has no interest in a relationship: pretend or otherwise. But as small-town life begins to grow on her, so does Rem. There’s something sexy, dirty, and oh so hot about the man whose life she’s supposed to protect.

However, when mysterious and disturbing crimes begin occurring around them, Whitney will need to decide if her cowboy is worth risking not only her heart, but also her life.

Sexy Dirty Cowboy

Witness Protection Never Looked This Hot

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️🤣🙁😘🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Whitney

Whitney thought she had her life figured out — a solid career as a police detective and a boyfriend who traveled often for work. But when she served a warrant and found herself face-to-face with a woman holding a baby — the wife of her boyfriend — her world imploded. Two years of love, loyalty, and shared space, only to discover she was the other woman. The betrayal hits hard, and Whitney’s emotional fallout sets the stage for a heroine who’s not just tough, but deeply human.

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🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero Spotlight: Rem

Rem walked away from the outlaw motorcycle club his father ran after serving time for someone else’s crime. Trading leather for chaps, he reinvented himself as a rodeo bullfighter — a life of adrenaline, grit, and solitude. But when the past catches up and he’s arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, Rem agrees to testify and enter witness protection. His only condition? No cities. Just a quiet ranch in Wyoming, far from the chaos he left behind. What he didn’t expect was Whitney — the detective assigned to protect him, and the spark he didn’t know he needed.

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🔥 Plot Snapshot

Whitney’s reassignment to protect a witness feels like punishment — a glorified babysitting gig after being pulled off her own case, which now involves her cheating ex. She’s not thrilled about the rural setting or the brooding ex-con she’s tasked with guarding. But the ranch in Wyoming offers more than just isolation — it becomes a crucible for healing, danger, and unexpected connection. As threats close in and Rem’s past refuses to stay buried, Whitney must decide if she’s guarding a witness… or risking her heart.

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❤️‍🔥 What Worked

• The witness protection angle adds real stakes, especially when the threats escalate and danger feels imminent.
• Rem’s dual identity — rodeo cowboy and ex-MC member — brings a fresh twist to the cowboy trope. The cattle ranch setting adds charm and tension.
• The mystery surrounding who’s after Rem keeps the plot moving and the suspense taut.

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🤨 Room for More

• Chemistry between Whitney and Rem takes a while to ignite. While the steamy scenes eventually deliver, the emotional buildup felt a bit flat early on. A few more sparks in the first half would’ve made their connection more compelling.

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🎧 Narration Vibes

Dual POVs, dual narrators: Tor Thom and Stella Hunter
Tor Thom’s deep, resonant voice is tailor-made for alpha heroes — he nails Rem’s grit and guarded vulnerability. Stella Hunter brings Whitney to life with age-appropriate warmth and strength. Both narrators elevate the story with emotionally attuned performances that match the characters’ arcs.

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📝 Final Thoughts

A wounded heroine, a reformed outlaw, and a ranch full of secrets — this audiobook blends suspense, redemption, and slow-burn romance with a dash of cowboy grit. While the chemistry takes its time, the payoff is worth it, especially with stellar narration that brings every twist and turn to life.

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