Reviewed by Lily 

TITLE: Then the Stars Fall

AUTHOR: Brandon Witt

PUBLISHER:  Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 350 pages

BLURB:

The death of his wife four years earlier left Travis Bennett a shell of the man he used to be. With his dog by his side, Travis raises his three children, manages his business, and works as a ranch hand. But every day, every minute, is an aching emptiness.

Wesley Ryan has fond memories of the small Ozark town of El Dorado. Seeing it as a safe place to put his failed relationships behind him, Wesley moves into his grandparents’ old home and takes over the local veterinary clinic. An early morning visit from Travis and his dog stirs feelings that Wesley seeks to push away—the last thing he needs is to fall for a man with baggage and three kids as part of the package.

Life, it seems, has other plans.

REVIEW: 

This story felt very real to me because each character was fallible and lovable. I love the characters of Travis and Wesley who were grieving for their losses in their own ways. Travis is a widower who was still grieving the loss of his wife and Wesley just moved from the city and was the new vet who made no secret that he was gay. The way these two met made me very emotional because Travis’ pain and fear was so real whilst Wesley was just wonderful with the way he handled Travis’ emotional state. Wesley was simply a wonderful character. I loved the way he established himself in this small town because he did not have an easy time at the beginning.

The attraction between Travis and Wesley left me feeling very emotional, especially their first kiss. That part left me breathless.

This story has a lot of unforgettable characters and some are well loved pets. Who could not adore pets like Dunkyn and Dolan!!!

Travis’ struggles with his sexuality, grief and his guilt were very powerful. What is revealed later in the story is an eye opener and made me feel so much compassion for Travis and his family. This story is a beautiful romance but also touches some significant social and emotional issues. I read this book in one day because I was so caught up not only in the romance but also with what was happening with the town folk as well as their pets. The writer did not forget anyone. Everyone’s story has a resolution one way or another and I simply adored that the writer did not forget the animals. All in all, this book left me in awe of Brandon Witt’s style, wit, compassion and empathy. This writer wrote this story not only with skill and imagination but also with his heart.

I can’t wait to read his other books.  I really hope there will be more stories from that town so that I know how Travis and Wesley are progressing in their lives.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Dreamspinner  

Amazon 

Amazon.uk

ARe