Between the Pines builds its entire romance around a five-day window and then makes Josie Hayes and Lincoln Carter wait a full year to face the consequences of it. That structural gap, a short intense collision followed by a year-later reckoning, is the clearest craft choice in Amber Palmer's setup, and it turns a bar-meet-cute into a second-chance story before the two leads even reunite.
Savannah Thomas narrates this 8-hour-and-3-minute audiobook from Podium Audio, released in August 2025 as the first entry in the Black Springs Ranch series, and currently priced at $0.00. Five votes sit behind its 4.0 rating, and those reviews on file range from three stars to five.
Josie Hayes runs from three things by the synopsis's own account: bad decisions, heartbreak, and cowboys, which makes it a small joke on her that Lincoln Carter turns out to be exactly the cowboy she cannot outrun. One review fills in a detail the official synopsis leaves vague, naming the bar Frank's and identifying Lincoln as the bartender working there, a specific touch that gives the "smoky backwoods bar" collision more shape than the marketing copy provides on its own. The same review also lays out the rest of the timeline plainly: five days together, a sneak-out in the middle of the night, and a return to responsibilities back in Texas, all consistent with what the official synopsis describes in broader strokes.
The reviews split cleanly on tone. One reviewer calls Amber Palmer "a new to me author" and admits surprise at how well the pacing worked, adding a rating for spice level alongside the star rating, a habit specific to romance reviewing that will look unfamiliar to anyone coming from another genre. Another quotes the book's own dedication and a stretch of in-character dialogue directly in their review, evidence that at least one reader treated Lincoln as close to a real person rather than a device. A third review, three stars and titled simply "BRAD," is far more clipped, calling the whole setup familiar and moving on without much elaboration, a useful reminder that the enthusiasm above is not universal.
Why Between the Pines Works as an Audiobook
A second-chance structure is the draw here: an instant, electric week followed by a year of Josie building a steadier life gives Palmer room to raise the stakes of reunion rather than starting the couple from zero a second time. One reviewer singles out the family dynamics specifically, calling the household around Josie a "tight knit Texas family," a detail that suggests the supporting cast carries real weight rather than filling space around the central romance. That same reviewer admits to already knowing exactly how the plot would resolve and who was responsible for the story's central twist, yet still enjoyed the ride, which says something about execution mattering here more than surprise.
At $0.00, this is a free entry point into a new series, which matters for a debut Black Springs Ranch installment asking listeners to commit to a ranch, a family, and a horse training program they have not encountered before. The reviewer who quotes the book's dedication and a piece of in-character dialogue directly suggests Palmer includes small formal touches, like a dedication page, uncommon in a genre that often skips straight to chapter one.
Weak Spots in Between the Pines
Its 4.0 badge rests on five votes that add up to 20 total, five short of what a unanimous five-star sweep would require, and the visible reviews back that gap up directly: one reader rates it a blunt three stars and complains that "everyone falls FAST and is in love instantly," wishing for more banter before the romance accelerates. That is a real, specific complaint rather than a vague dip in enthusiasm, and it lines up with the instant-connection setup the synopsis itself describes.
The synopsis also discloses mature content directly, pointing listeners to a full list of content warnings on the author's website rather than detailing them in the description itself. That is worth knowing before pressing play, since the specifics are not available on this listing, and the reviewer who flags the pacing issue also tags a spice level alongside the star rating, another signal that the romance leans into physical content rather than staying entirely off the page. The detail about the bar's name and Lincoln's job as bartender, mentioned above, also comes from a review rather than official copy, so treat it as a reader's account rather than a confirmed plot point.
The Right Listener for Between the Pines
Fans of contemporary Western romance built around a working ranch and a close-knit family will find what they are looking for here, along with readers who prefer a second-chance structure over a slow-burn one, and anyone drawn to a free audiobook as a low-risk way to try a new series and a new-to-them author. Listeners who enjoy a heroine actively rebuilding her life before romance interrupts it again will also find Josie's year of steady progress a satisfying setup rather than a rushed footnote before the real story starts. The horse training program bringing Lincoln back into Josie's life also gives the reunion a concrete, plot-driven reason to happen rather than a coincidence, which matters for anyone who finds pure-chance reunions harder to buy into.
Skip it if instant, accelerated attraction without much buildup or banter is a dealbreaker, since one reviewer's complaint about the pace lines up with how quickly the synopsis itself moves the two leads from strangers to inseparable. Anyone needing specifics on the book's mature content before listening should check the author's website first, since this listing does not spell out what those warnings cover.
The Short Version
- Narrator: Savannah Thomas narrates; the reviews on file focus entirely on Josie and Lincoln's story rather than the performance.
- Subjects: second chances, family and belonging, running from your past
- Tone: Warm with a fast-burning spark
- Bottom line: Quick and free to start, though a rushed middle stretch keeps it from a clean recommendation, per its own critical review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Between the Pines audiobook a slow burn or an instant-attraction romance?
Instant attraction. The synopsis describes an immediate, electric connection between Josie and Lincoln within days of meeting, and one reviewer specifically wishes there had been more banter before things moved so quickly. If you prefer a slower build, this may feel rushed in its early chapters.
Can Between the Pines work as a standalone audiobook, or is it part of a longer series?
It stands alone as a complete romance with a full resolution for Josie and Lincoln, though it launches the Black Springs Ranch series, meaning later installments will likely revisit the same ranch and extended family. Nothing in the synopsis suggests this particular book ends on an unresolved cliffhanger.
Does the Between the Pines audiobook include mature content?
Yes. The synopsis states directly that the book contains mature content, and rather than listing specifics itself, it points listeners to the author's website for a full accounting of what is covered. Check that site first if you need details before choosing to listen.
Why did one reviewer only give Between the Pines three stars?
That reviewer felt the romance moved too fast, writing that the leads fall in love instantly and wishing for more banter between them first. It is the most critical of the five visible reviews, and it points to pacing rather than the setting or characters as the issue.
