Reviewed by Mal
TITLE: On the Land, We Shoot Straight
AUTHOR: Sasha Avice
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 288 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2025
BLURB:
“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.
REVIEW:
Cole pulls at my heart from the first page and Grady stoically holds it. I will never get over how exceptional Sasha Avice is in pulling us into characters, immersing us in the world she created in Freeson rural Australia, the connection she builds and builds and solidifies between these characters till you miss the the book literally when it’s done. One of the stand out things aside from the exceptional story and writing were the Animals, the one Cole lost, Chloe, Red, Lady and Dog – I adore them specially little lamb. The other is the land, the authors love for the land always shines through.
Cole shows up one day (appearing for all intents and purposes destitute) and despite his reservations Grady takes him in. What follows is a love story that’s completely atypical since Grady is a man of few words and Cole while bursting with them is reticent. So the tale unfolds like a map a mystery a puzzle where we are putting pieces together as they fall in love. The story is beautifully told from Grady’s pov, it’s an intimate look into the man and his uncovering of all that is Cole. Cole, who is such a contradiction in terms. We see the building joy, the building connection but we also see these glimpses of a dark cloud, a heaviness that creates this tone that’s indescribably sad, a sad that rests in Cole and a Sad that builds rage in Grady. As it slowly reveals itself what has happened to Cole, we as readers itch and scratch and clench our teeth at the sheer devastation the anger I felt the tears I cried are deserved on behalf of this heartbreaking character Avice wove for us. There are also burst if sunshine in the book to balance it out, beautiful sweet funny moments where Cole can be his sweet sassy self!
There are people in this book I genuinely hate, many people tbh but I’m not spoiling the story so I won’t say but I am very grateful to have my dear friend @lady for this buddy read allowing me to vent.
It’s a love story, it’s an unwavering love, a protective love, a love filled with fire and heat and a love with understanding, a love that sees. A BIG love. A love story that will stay with me forever.
RATING: 
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