He's the devoted single dad who runs Dark River's best restaurant. She's the newcomer looking for a fresh start far from her family's shadow. Neither expected a connection that would make them question everything they thought they knew about love.
When twenty-four-year-old Emma Hayes takes a first-grade teaching job in Dark River, she's looking for independence. She never expected her favorite student's father to be the same man who caught her eye—and her lingerie delivery—at the post office.
At thirty-four, Theo Midnight's life is built on two his seven-year-old daughter, Chloe, and the award-winning restaurant he runs with his brother. He doesn't have room for distractions, especially not an inconvenient attraction to his daughter's teacher, who is ten years his junior.
But as Emma becomes a staple in their lives, the chemistry between them moves from a slow simmer to a heart-stopping boil. From shared moments and stolen glances, to a life-changing kiss on a rainy landing, their bond becomes impossible to ignore.
And just as they begin to find their rhythm, Theo's ex-wife returns, threatening to unravel everything they've started to build. With their futures on the line, Theo and Emma must decide if their connection is worth the fallout, or if protecting their hearts means letting go of the only thing that finally feels right.
Until the Stars Fall is the third installment in The Midnight Men series—a steamy, emotional small-town romance perfect for listeners who love devoted single dads, age-gap sparks, and the risk of falling for the right person at exactly the wrong time.
Series
Book 1: Until the Storm Breaks Book 2: Until You Say Stay Book 3: Until the Stars Fall Book 4: Until the Sparks Fly Book 5: Until Our Hearts Collide Book 6: Until We Come Home
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.
3 or 4 stars couldn’t decide. So a generous 3.5 stars 🌟 This was a okay read. But it just didn’t grab my full interest. Flipped through the smut and the book still seemed to take a while to read. Liked the characters. Personally I would not have been so forgiving to Victorian, she was a S..T mother. Not too sure this author is for me, I might try one more book, 📕
For some reason I didn’t connect with the two main characters in the same way that I did with the previous two books. This meant that although I enjoyed listening to the book it didn’t captivate me as much, I just wanted more depth from the characters. However it was an easy enjoyable listen and I’ll continue to listen to series when the next books are released on audiobook.
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 :(
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Until the Stars Fall by Nate Wilder was such a sweet, comforting romance with just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting.
The story follows Emma Hayes, a twenty-four-year-old starting her first teaching job in Dark River on a temporary contract, who unexpectedly ends up living in Theo Midnight's downtown apartment. Theo—a thirty-four-year-old single dad running the town's best restaurant alongside his brother—is strictly focused on his business and his seven-year-old daughter, Chloe. But as Emma becomes a bigger part of their daily lives through school and their shared space, the undeniable chemistry between them takes over.
What I appreciated most about this book was how grounded and low-stress it felt. There isn't a massive, over-the-top obstacle or world-shattering drama for the couple to overcome, which made the narrative feel much more realistic than your typical romance. The quiet, everyday moments—sharing space, late-night chats, and working around Chloe—built a genuine connection that was easy to root for.
That being said, Theo definitely pushed my buttons at times. My biggest frustration was watching him handle his ex-wife when she resurfaced. I really struggled with the fact that he never truly stood up to her for the way she treated Emma, leaving Emma to navigate uncomfortable boundaries that Theo should have put his foot down on much sooner.
Because the conflict stays fairly mild, it reads a bit low-stakes at points, but if you love a devoted single dad, a gentle age-gap/teacher dynamic, and a story that feels genuinely grounded in real life, this installment in The Midnight Men series is well worth the pick-up!
Until the Stars Fall is the third book in The Midnight Men (brothers) series. This is Theo and Emma's book.
Theo is a single dad and he likes structure. He has a daughter and she needs things to be constant and that is what Theo is. Emma is a first grade teacher and Theo's daughter loves Emma. So, why wouldn't it work out right?
I really enjoyed the last book and so I was pretty surprised how much I enjoyed this one. I always have a soft spot for a single parent read, but I just really liked how calm this book was. The best part of the read was the tension between Theo and Emma. I liked reading how much they wanted each other, but Theo wanted to be responsible.
I'm not a fan of age-gap reads (ever since I became a mom to a pre-teen daughter), but I didn't mind it so much in this one. My kid's teacher is 26, so reading about Emma being a 24 year old elementary teacher wasn't a stretch at all.
I enjoyed listening to the narrators too! Which I didn't think was possible, bc I really liked the narrators in the previous book. I do like how each book has different narrators.
Overall, Until the Stars Fall was an easy read / listen from start to finish. I will continue the series.
Another great book by Nate Wilder. This one is an older single father and a younger woman. The hero in this one Theo Midnight is the single father we’ve seen in the previous books. He’s part owner, along with his brother Alex, of a high end restaurant in Dark River. Emma is our teacher heroine who is working as a fill in teacher across the country whose current teaching assignment is in Dark River. As a teacher she is not meant to have favourites but can’t help having a close bond with Chloe Midnight , a precocious young girl and daughter of Theo. Theo gas primary custody of Chloe as her mother didn’t want full custody and is more of a society woman.
When Theo and Emma meet, sparks fly but there are major hurdles. The age difference is just one of them. There’s also the fact that Emma likes to travel and never stays in one place for long. But in romance books love conquers all and there is the required HEA.
I found this to be another great book by Mr. Wilder. I enjoyed the main couple Theo and Emma. They were right for each other. And again I loved the closeness of the bothers. Even though they were all adopted and not blood related, there is a real bond that shines through. This one, like the others , gets my thumbs up.
This was such a cozy small-town romance, and I absolutely loved both main characters. Honestly, I completely forgot about the age gap because of the connection they shared. There was something so comforting about the way they could simply exist in each other's presence. Their relationship felt natural, safe, and full of warmth, which made this such an enjoyable read.
There were definitely moments when Theo frustrated me. I struggled with how he never really stood up to his ex-wife for the way she treated Emma. However, his brother made a great point about Theo always being the mediator and trying to keep the peace. While it didn't excuse everything, it helped me understand his character better, and by the end, I found myself appreciating that quality in him more.
And because of that Theo has officially earned a spot on my list of favorite fictional men. ❤️
I'm also really excited to continue with the rest of this series. I unexpectedly fell in love with the Midnight family and the sense of comfort and community they bring to the story. I can't wait to spend more time with them.
“Life is strange. You can be so lost, so certain you’re on the wrong path, and then suddenly, without even realizing it’s happening, you find yourself exactly where you’re meant to be.”
I enjoyed this one overall, but I think I just wanted a little bit more from Theo’s story. I loved him as a character, and I thought he and Emma had great chemistry, but the pacing of their romance felt a little off for me. It started with a really nice build up, and then suddenly we seemed to jump ahead, and I felt like I’d missed a chunk somewhere along the way. I also wasn’t particularly invested in Emma’s family storyline, although I understood why it was there, and the third-act break wasn’t my favourite, but I was happy it was resolved quickly. That said, it was still an easy, enjoyable read with characters I liked, a cute kid dynamic, a sweet ending, and some fantastic spice. The audiobook was really well narrated, and I especially loved Christian Fox as the MMC. It definitely isn’t my favourite of the series, but I enjoyed being back in this little world, and I’m glad I read it.
If you want a SPICY book, this one is for you. It’s, thankfully, not totally your typical romance story ( for example… the scene in the bar when the ex wife’s hand was on Theo’s arm and Emma walked in unexpectedly, you’re sure it’s going to be a typical freak out, but it wasn’t your typical scenario). The book is a sweet romance (I’m appreciative that it’s narrated from different perspectives) and a good happily ever after (so easy to engage and follow), but there is not a lot of “substance” to the story.
Audiobook producers need to STOP letting men play female characters - it ruins what could be a good book. Men mimicking women’s voices is awful - especially when it’s supposed to be some sexy chick that sounds like some old lady underneath a hairdryer with curlers in her hair at a back woods beauty salon. Mix that in with what should be some steamy, romantic scene…yuck.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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".
I liked the book, but I felt like there was a tad too much grace given to Theo's ex. She cheated on him during their marriage, decided she only wanted minimal contact with their young daughter Chloe in the divorce, even frequently canceling when her husband (the one she cheated with) was too busy or whatever. Then when Theo got with Emma, she wants to be all b*tchy about Emma's age and if he's moving too fast, etc. Thennnn all of a sudden, she magically wants to be a mom to Chloe! Theo didn't necessarily put her in her place. Everyone pretty much tiptoed around the ex for the sake of Chloe. I see why Emma felt insecure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Theo and Emma—what a match they made in this one! He’s quiet, yet a powerful provider and caretaker. She’s an intelligent, gentle-hearted woman strong enough to speak her truth to get what she wants.
This one for me was heartfelt and surprising. Let’s just say the reserved and sweet ones can also be dominant. Just another way Theo cares for Emma.
If you’re looking for a single dad with a huge heart with a young daughter who steals the page when she arrives… read this one!
Also I did an immersive read… the audio ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christian Fox and Stella Hunter were beyond fabulous.
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.
I have such a difficult time with books that don’t follow the timeline in the book. The first time Theo picks her up is during thanksgiving weekend and it is also stated that the board meeting is January 15. So during that, let’s say 6 week period, they start sleeping together, go out of town (where she gets pregnant) and then she find out she is pregnant and says she is really, really late. All the while they keep saying it has been months that they have been together. Unrealistic timelines really make my brain disengage from the story.
This is the 3rd book in the Midnight Men series and my favorite thus far. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Stella Hunter and Christian Hunter and their performance is outstanding! First grade teacher, Emma, and single dad/restaurant owner, Theo, first meet in the post office over lingerie and candy - and he notices the “freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks like constellations.” Their story is beautifully written. Looking forward to the next books in the series!
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.
I thoroughly enjoyed every word. It wasnt till the end did i realise the author was male. First time for me. Made me realise i want to read again, starting with the first book in the series. Plus factor was the incredible food, as a chef it was a delight as well. Thank you.
Excellent!!! Beautiful love story! Nate Wilder is a masterful romance writer! On to Book 4!!! Oh NO! Books 4, 5, and 6 are not on Audible yet. I want to listen because I LOVE many of the male narrators. Reading the actual book or on Kindle just isn't the same as listening to a sexy male voice!
Each book in this series has gotten better. The spice in this one was 🔥! I think seeing the character development among the brothers from book one plays a role in me liking each book more but I think the writing style of the author slightly changed as well. I am a sucker for a single dad trope so the book had an advantage over the others.
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Another good book by Nate Wilder. I would call this one the earnest one. Not as lyrical or involved as the first two but still a solid piece in the series. One you read to get to the other side.
I didn't read this series in order ,but I'll tell you it was a great read all of them.I read all five books in 4 days .. loved each story .Nate Wilder you show such insight and respect. Wow!! Cant wait to read more from you