Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6437
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 Springs. 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.
Book Review (Previously posted on this site.)
Wesley moves back to the small town of El Dorado after a break up, but there is no hiding he’s a city boy. He drives a yellow Miata convertible with a rainbow dog sticker and everyone in town knows just what that means. He is faced with prejudice and sometimes violence, but he stays in town to be close to a family that was once good to him.
Travis is heart broken, he just lost his wife to cancer, his dog is sick and he has 3 kids to raise. He doesn’t want to be attracted to the “swishy” Wesley, so he’s a jerk at first, but later, he begins to think Wesley might just be exactly what he needs to heal.
The town finds out about their romance and makes life rough for both the couple and their family. Prejudice like this just doesn’t die an easy death and they drive a wedge between Wesley and Travis that has to be overcome before they can really be together.
The kids in this story are great, and (blessedly) easy going about a new love interest for dad, even though it’s a man. Wendy, Travis’ sister is also amazing, and helps to keep things running smoothly when times get rough.
There is an amazingly happy ending after a lot of hard work and some devastation, and our pair finally settles in to life HEA.
**
This is an amazing book. It is sad, realistic, funny, sweet, tender and somewhat sexy. The love scenes are fade to black, and that may turn some people off, but the emotion is there and the love story is incredible.
I loved the setting and the pragmatism shown by the “country folk” and really appreciated the truly bi-sexual nature of Travis. He absolutely loved his wife and mourns her deeply. But… he is absolutely attracted to (and later in love with) Wesley and that is also part of who he is.
I highly recommend this book for the romance and the writing.
Audio
Andrew McFarrin really did an amazing job with this amazing story. He handles the emotion well, I loved the difference between Travis and Wesley – striking and perfect! – he handles the female and children’s voices well and overall really impressed me.
Overall 5 of 5 hearts
