Talk Dirty, Cowboy by Elle Thorpe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eight seconds to glory. One second to lose it all.
Talk Dirty, Cowboy
Bowen Barclay lived to ride bulls—until his single-minded focus cost his wife her life. Four years on, raising his son alone is the only thing he’s getting right. His rodeo career is going down in flames, and instead of dating, he’s playing his kid’s video games.
Paisley Ackerly loves to sing. Loudly and offkey, but in the privacy of her run-down home, it’s only her children she’s torturing. Until her 10-year-old leaves his gaming console on, with a handsome cowboy still on the webcam, listening to every word.
Being accused of internet creepery isn’t the best way to meet a woman, but when an instant spark ignites between the two, it isn’t long before online chat spills over into real life dirty talk.
But while Paisley might love Bowen’s filthy mouth, when the pressures of his public career and her secret past explode, words won’t be enough to save them.
This single-parent romance brings the steam against a backdrop of professional bull riding, rodeo, and small-town cowboys.
“Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy!”
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😘🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Duet Narration
🦸🏻♂️ Hero: Bowen Barclay
Bowen lives for the adrenaline rush of bull riding — eight seconds of chaos, control, and clarity. It’s not just a job; it’s his identity. But that devotion came at a cost. His marriage to Camille was strained, his connection to their son distant. Then, after the ride of his life, he learns Camille has died in a tragic accident on their farm. The guilt is crushing. Bowen is a man chasing glory while haunted by the wreckage left behind.
🦸🏼♀️ Heroine: Paisley Ackerly
Paisley is the kind of heroine who doesn’t just survive — she rebuilds. A single mom juggling nursing school and delivery shifts, she’s clawed her way out of a toxic marriage with nothing but grit and two kids who light up her world. Aiden, her ten-year-old gamer, and Lily, her kindergarten whirlwind, are her anchors. She’s broke, exhausted, and fiercely independent — and she’s not about to let some online stranger mess with her son.
🔥 Plot Snapshot
Four years after Camille’s death, Bowen logs into his son’s video game and unexpectedly meets Paisley, who mistakes him for a creep and lets him have it. Once the misunderstanding clears, sparks fly. What begins as awkward webcam banter turns into late-night gaming sessions and reluctant laughter. They bond over digital battles and real-life messes, slowly peeling back layers of grief, guilt, and guardedness.
❤️🔥 What Worked
• Paisley’s backstory hits hard: the betrayal, the resilience, the quiet triumph of reclaiming her life.
• Bowen’s aging bull rider arc adds depth — he’s not just chasing a title, he’s chasing redemption.
• The romance unfolds with patience and emotional honesty. No insta-love, no forced intimacy — just two broken people learning to trust again.
🤨 Room for More
• Bowen’s guilt over Camille’s death simmers beneath the surface. I wanted more exploration of that emotional reckoning — not just regret, but how it reshapes his choices.
🎧 Narration Vibes
Dorje Swallow and Sofia Lette deliver a duet performance that’s magnetic. Their Australian accents lend authenticity and warmth, and while I usually lean American in my narrator preferences, this one won me over. The dual POVs are well-balanced, and the emotional beats land beautifully. It’s a narration that elevates the story rather than just delivering it.
📝 Final Thoughts
This audiobook blends grit, grief, and unexpected connection with a slow-burn romance that feels earned. Bowen and Paisley aren’t perfect, they’re real. And that makes their story worth listening to. If you’re into emotionally grounded love stories with a touch of rodeo dust and digital meet-cutes, this one’s a ride worth taking.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
View all my reviews
Books Best Blog 