Until the Stars Fall

The Midnight Men #3

by Nate Wilder

He's a single dad who owns Dark River's best restaurant. She's the new teacher with a temporary contract. Neither planned on a connection that would make them question everything.

When twenty-four-year-old Emma Hayes takes her first teaching job in Dark River, she never expects to end up living in Theo Midnight's downtown apartment. Or that the renowned restaurateur would make her pulse race every time he walks into a room.

Theo has spent the last three years focused on his seven-year-old daughter Chloe and the award-winning restaurant he runs with his brother. The last thing he needs is an inconvenient attraction to Chloe's teacher—especially one ten years his junior.

As Emma becomes more entangled in their lives through school, an after-school program, and their living arrangement, the chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore. Each shared moment over homework, each accidental touch passing in the hallway pulls them closer, despite every reason they should keep their distance.

And just when they can no longer deny their feelings, Theo's ex-wife returns with demands that threaten everything. Now Emma must decide if fighting for her place in their lives is worth risking her career, while Theo faces the ultimate choice between protecting his heart and taking a chance on love again.

Until the Stars Fall is the next installment in The Midnight Men series, perfect for readers who love forbidden romance, devoted single dads, and the risk of falling for someone completely wrong for all the right reasons.

Series
Book 1: Until the Storm Breaks
Book 2: Until You Say Stay
Book 3: Until the Stars Fall

Genres: Audiobook, Romance

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2026

About the author

Nate Wilder writes small-town romance—steamy, emotional, and full of the kind of chemistry that keeps you reading past midnight. A former journalist and chef, he's a devoted romance reader who believes the world needs more love, more steam, and more happily-ever-afters. He writes from Washington state, where he is supervised in all matters by his opinionated cat, Nala.

Reviews

[Valeriem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVED the first two books in this series. The relationship in this one was my least favorite. I didn’t love how Emma was blatantly trying to seduce Theo, and it didn’t make sense to me that he just changed his mind one night. Her behavior made her seem 24- without consequence for all of the pieces in play… a child, being that child’s teacher, etc. Then they went from zero to 60 in one encounter with the whole dominance nuance. It didn’t seem true to the character of Theo.
I have LOVED Nate Wilder’s books. He has been my favorite new author to read, and I’ve read these in quick succession. I guess I appreciate more of the slow, angsty build than the explosion. I can’t wait to see what happens with Dom.

[Eya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Singe dad, small town, and age gap romance sounded so appealing whenever you see it in a book. I thought I’m gonna have the best time which I sort of did in the first few chapters however, there’s a bunch of stuff that I didn’t like as I read through it.

1.) The story was having a normal pacing until it wasn’t. I’m not sure where it started but the storyline picked up its pace to the point where the relationship between Theo and Emma felt fast and underdeveloped.

2.) I would love it if they had a slow burn romance because wow it takes guts to flirt with the parent of your student 😭 I can’t put my mind into it! Somehow, their relationship quickly turned sexual with just few meetings 😭

3.) I also have a bone to pick with Victoria. She really just up and went back as if nothing happened. I didn’t like how she was reintroduced to the story again, easily got redeemed, and gets along well with Emma and Theo. I would’ve loved to see a development in between the time where she tries to come back and how she manages to rebuild that trust. It would have been a good bridge for me to understand her character more.

I would say it’s a 1.5 star at least since I did enjoy the first few chapters, it’s just that these things were what put me off :(

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this based off of the first two in the series. This one felt rushed and incomplete. Victoria went from not being a very active parent, which was even mentioned in the other books, so suddenly available and taking Chloe more often than ever before with zero character building or explaining. That made it seem more like Theo jumped at the chance to have more time for Emma, when the first two books painted Theo as someone who barely leaves Chloe’s side.

When Theo picks up Emma when she was on her late night cheese run, that was the dumbest part of the whole book. I felt like a chapter was missing before that.

I felt like the author pulled chapters to shorten the book.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is a new first grade teacher in Dark River living in an extended stay motel when she bumps into Theo Midnight at the post office spilling her candy and dropping her Simone Perele lingerie box.
Theo is a 34 year old single Dad raising his daughter Chloe and part owner of a local restaurant with his brother Alex.
Sparks fly between Emma and Theo but, with a ten year age difference issues are bound to arise.
Read on to follow the unfolding of their relationship and the part that Theo's ex-wife, Victoria plays in her attempt to return to Dark River.
If you like steamy love scenes and love conflict you'll enjoy "Until the Stars Fall".

[Sarah Tummey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked Theo and Emma when they were with Chloe and around other people. I don't think 10 years was a good choice if the author wanted an age-gap, as that's not really significant; 20 would have worked better. I thought the twist at the end with Victoria was a bit predictable and didn't enjoy this as much as his other books. It might be nice to have a book about Victoria finding love again, but the series is called the Midnight Men, so that rules out focusing on other characters, which is a shame; he could have named it Dark River after the town instead.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Nate's stories

This is my 3rd book by Nate and I enjoyed each one. And I really love getting the next one to see the continuation of the Midnight family. Theo was the rock steady of the guys but he got blown away by Emma, the teacher. Or was it their meet cute at the post office and her packages? I love their journey. You will too.

[Ann M Dearnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh

These books just keep getting better! So hooked on this author, I've laughed, cried and cursed all in one or two chapters!!!
Best reads ever and by a man! Who would've thought, great talent.

[Monkeylover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emma bugged me the whole book. And in my opinion, she acted 24. The last 30% of this book sucked. I also hated the pregnancy trope at the end, like why do book couples always have to get pregnant and after less than a year together. They can simply just be together.

[Fancy LC · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Peggy Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book a five even though I don't like the spanking parts still a good read