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Soft Place to Fall
Stetson Major and Curtis Traynor are about as opposite as two cowboys can get. Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land he loves in Taos, New Mexico, while Curtis is a rodeo cowboy whose wanderlust never could be tamed.
But now Stetson’s momma is dying of Alzheimer’s, and she can't remember that Curtis hasn't been Stetson's boyfriend for a long time. Curtis's absence makes her cry, so Stetson swallows his pride and calls his ex-lover.
To Curtis, Stetson is the one who got away, the love of his life. And Momma is his friend, so he’s happy to help out. Yet returning to the ranch stirs up all sorts of feelings that, while buried, never really went away. Still, the rodeo nationals are coming up, and Curtis can’t stay—even if he’s starting to want to, especially to support Stetson when he needs it most.
Stetson and Curtis want to find a place where they both fit, to be there to catch each other when they fall. But family, money problems, and the call of the rodeo circuit might end their second-chance romance before it even gets started.
This is a previously published title. The publisher has changed.
But now Stetson’s momma is dying of Alzheimer’s, and she can't remember that Curtis hasn't been Stetson's boyfriend for a long time. Curtis's absence makes her cry, so Stetson swallows his pride and calls his ex-lover.
To Curtis, Stetson is the one who got away, the love of his life. And Momma is his friend, so he’s happy to help out. Yet returning to the ranch stirs up all sorts of feelings that, while buried, never really went away. Still, the rodeo nationals are coming up, and Curtis can’t stay—even if he’s starting to want to, especially to support Stetson when he needs it most.
Stetson and Curtis want to find a place where they both fit, to be there to catch each other when they fall. But family, money problems, and the call of the rodeo circuit might end their second-chance romance before it even gets started.
This is a previously published title. The publisher has changed.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 9, 2019
115 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
B.A. Tortuga
383 books634 followersTexan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her hounds and her beloved wife, texting her grandbabies, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. Following their own personal joys, BA and Julia heard the call of the high desert and they now live in the New Mexico mountains. BA's personal saviors include her wife, her best friends, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
September 10, 2020
*4.25 Stars*
Oh man, John Solo is hit or miss for me. But, when he narrates the right story, he kills it. Soft Place to Fall is definitely the right story. He does one sexy texan accent *fans self * and his voice for our two alpha males, hot, very hot.
This is such a perfect modern western.
A second chance at love.
It was never a question of love for Stetson and Curtis. But as young men they had different passions, different futures in their eye sight. Unable to compromise they burned hot until their relationship became ashes.
8 years later they're brought back together by a tragedy. Despite that ominous feel, they come together seamlessly. Taking what they could get even if permanence isn't quite an option, not when what separated them was still very much a problem. But just maybe, maybe, things could be different this time. If they could find away to put aside their pride and stubbornness. If they could learn how to communicate, adult and learn from their past mistakes.
Wonderful love story.
*Happy Sigh*
Highly recommend. Especially for those looking for a solid cowboy story with just the right amount of angst & comfort/healing.
Also food is a BIG theme here, prepare your snacks y'all.
Oh man, John Solo is hit or miss for me. But, when he narrates the right story, he kills it. Soft Place to Fall is definitely the right story. He does one sexy texan accent *fans self * and his voice for our two alpha males, hot, very hot.
This is such a perfect modern western.
A second chance at love.
It was never a question of love for Stetson and Curtis. But as young men they had different passions, different futures in their eye sight. Unable to compromise they burned hot until their relationship became ashes.
8 years later they're brought back together by a tragedy. Despite that ominous feel, they come together seamlessly. Taking what they could get even if permanence isn't quite an option, not when what separated them was still very much a problem. But just maybe, maybe, things could be different this time. If they could find away to put aside their pride and stubbornness. If they could learn how to communicate, adult and learn from their past mistakes.
Wonderful love story.
*Happy Sigh*
Highly recommend. Especially for those looking for a solid cowboy story with just the right amount of angst & comfort/healing.
Also food is a BIG theme here, prepare your snacks y'all.
August 17, 2019
Prima volta con Ba Tortuga ma io adoro i cowboys. E posso dire che entra ufficialmente tra le mie autrici preferite.
April 21, 2019
Not my kind of book. Sadly the writing style and the storyline didn't work for me.
August 12, 2021
This is cowboys at it's finest. Loved every second of it.
January 5, 2020
“Curtis knew how to deal with an emergency situation, if nothing else. He’d spent a good amount of his life in one dumbass emergency after another. He was a Texan and a cowboy, after all. They only came in dumbass.” — Curtis, A Soft Place to Fall
A second-chance romance with a very special pretend-boyfriend twist, this story is as emotionally draining as I expected it to be when I first read the blurb – but I also found reading it very rewarding because, in the end, it gave me hope. With a central theme like Alzheimer’s I knew it wouldn’t be light reading but it’s a very topical subject for a novel and with all the other elements in play, I was curious to see where the author would take it. The main characters are two cowboys at the opposite end of the spectrum: Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land, and Curtis is a rodeo cowboy with a hankering for travel and excitement. Now that Stetson’s mother is racing toward the final stages of this destructive disease and keeps asking for Curtis, having forgotten that the men broke up eight years earlier, Stetson needs his ex-lover’s help to make her life more bearable. What else can he do but to ask Curtis for a visit?
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
A second-chance romance with a very special pretend-boyfriend twist, this story is as emotionally draining as I expected it to be when I first read the blurb – but I also found reading it very rewarding because, in the end, it gave me hope. With a central theme like Alzheimer’s I knew it wouldn’t be light reading but it’s a very topical subject for a novel and with all the other elements in play, I was curious to see where the author would take it. The main characters are two cowboys at the opposite end of the spectrum: Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land, and Curtis is a rodeo cowboy with a hankering for travel and excitement. Now that Stetson’s mother is racing toward the final stages of this destructive disease and keeps asking for Curtis, having forgotten that the men broke up eight years earlier, Stetson needs his ex-lover’s help to make her life more bearable. What else can he do but to ask Curtis for a visit?
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 21, 2023
I’ll admit that anything that BA Tortuga & her writing partner, Jodi Payne put their names on are 100% Okay with me right from the start...no questions asked. BA sure does love her cowboys, and while I'll also admit I usually am not a fan of cowboy or western stories, BA has made me a fan of her sweet rodeo men. Curtis and Stetson are her two cowboys in this one and, Yep...I was in love after the first chapter. Stetson only knows how to love one way…hard and without end. He has never stopped loving Curtis, but he knew that the man’s heart and his need to be free and on the rodeo circuit, would never let them be together. But as soon as he heard Stetson’s voice on the phone, Curtis knew he’d do whatever it took, whatever he wanted in order to help him, even if it meant breaking his own heart again. Love was never the issue between them, but figuring out how to communicate sure was. That caused them more problems than they could count on both hands. My heart literally ached for Stetson. While Curtis was on the circuit, Stetson remained at home because he loved the land and knew that it was where he belonged. He worked hard to keep things going and gave up everything, including the only man he'd ever love...Curtis. Curtis used to feel like being tied to one place was like being trapped, but life without Stetson has him rethinking the way he has lived his life. Their love for each other almost bleeds out of them and I became beyond frustrated when the communications kept breaking down and they ended up at odds...again. I just wanted to shake them both. Fortunately for them and me and the book...I didn't have to. Ms. Tortuga got them sorted out just fine. The acceptance that both men found made me smile at last, and I was so glad that homophobia from the people was never one of the issues they ever had to deal with. You will cheer for these two men and be swept up in their story and occasionally even shed a few tears. Stetson had a unique kind of bravery he showed as he was taking care of his dying mother and of Curtis as well. Thank you, Ms. Tortuga, for another wonderful, warm story where the characters actually talked things out and didn’t rely solely on sex to fix everything. What sex there was, was beautiful by the way:) I love this author's work and I’ve never been let down by her or Jodi Payne.
July 26, 2020
The rancher and the rodeo champ... yes !
This is an excellent cowboy romance, that is heartwarming, heartbreaking, serious, light, a super sexy time for our cowboys.
Stetson/Roper, 29, a hot cowboy rancher, has let things slide while his Mom was terminally ill. It’s been a rough time.
He gives in and calls his ex, because he needed him.
Curtis, 30, is a studly rodeo rider who is famous, but he’s simply the only guy who he wants. Curtis had left years ago to make his mark, and he had. Curtis immediately comes to Stetson. They still love each other.
When Stetson’s Mom passes, Curtis stays to help, and together they have rekindled their fire for each other.
We see Curtis go to the finals, spend the holidays, and step up in every way. Stetson needs to begin his woodcarving again, and Curtis can bring horses to get rodeo-ready.
Together they face the finances and tough circumstances head on.
Low angst, awesome characters, totally hot sexiness, and an engaging story. Cowboy bliss !
Enjoy !
=====
This is an excellent cowboy romance, that is heartwarming, heartbreaking, serious, light, a super sexy time for our cowboys.
Stetson/Roper, 29, a hot cowboy rancher, has let things slide while his Mom was terminally ill. It’s been a rough time.
He gives in and calls his ex, because he needed him.
Curtis, 30, is a studly rodeo rider who is famous, but he’s simply the only guy who he wants. Curtis had left years ago to make his mark, and he had. Curtis immediately comes to Stetson. They still love each other.
When Stetson’s Mom passes, Curtis stays to help, and together they have rekindled their fire for each other.
We see Curtis go to the finals, spend the holidays, and step up in every way. Stetson needs to begin his woodcarving again, and Curtis can bring horses to get rodeo-ready.
Together they face the finances and tough circumstances head on.
Low angst, awesome characters, totally hot sexiness, and an engaging story. Cowboy bliss !
Enjoy !
=====
Read
November 25, 2020Overall book rating: 3
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I decided that it was me. Not the book. It took me forever to finish this one
and it's not because I didn't like it, I got distracted. A whole lot.
I guess that speaks for itself.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I decided that it was me. Not the book. It took me forever to finish this one
and it's not because I didn't like it, I got distracted. A whole lot.
I guess that speaks for itself.
October 12, 2024
Re-Read: Oct 2024
Original Read: Dec 2022
This was a highly anticipated read for me because the premise was so interesting and I love second chance romances. While the first half was exactly what I was hoping for, the second half was boring and repetitive. In addition, there were some aspects of the writing style that made it less enjoyable to read than it could have been.
Fair warning: the first half of the story is a very emotionally difficult read. That being said, the second half barely references his mother (which was one of my problems) so the heaviness isn't carried throughout.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was that the story takes place in the American South (in New Mexico) and the author went all in with her depiction of it.
EDIT: I'm adding this in after I got some comments from people who actually know New Mexico and that part of the US, as opposed to my Canadian self, who knows very little about those things. Apparently, New Mexico isn't considered to be part of the American South, nor do people there speak the way the author has the characters speaking in this book (the accent is apparently authentic for other places, but definitely not New Mexico or even Texas). While it seems this was an odd and intentional choice by the author, I still loved how natural and enjoyable everybody's speech patterns were. I realize this is most likely due to my own ignorance of the American South and my lack of exposure to such accents, but I found the experience of reading a whole book where people talked and thought using a consistent Southern accent (no matter what specific dialect it was supposed to be) very enjoyable. Now to continue my original review:
Not only was the constant parade of yummy food wonderful but the way the author infused a Southern speech pattern into the entire story was a delight to read. Every single character's thick Southern accent was clear in every line of dialog and I learned a bunch of new expressions that I didn't know previously (I now know what it means when somebody's 'fixing' to do something). It actually took me longer to read this book than I thought it would because my lack of familiarity with Southern speech patterns meant I had to read slower and re-read sections to understand what was happening. But I really loved it! One of my favorite expressions was Curtis always saying that such-and-such 'gave him a happy', which I initially thought was a sex-related expression but I realized it's just meant to convey him being happy. Here's another Curtis line that I really loved, which he says to Stetson when the latter says he was worried about contacting Curtis because he feared that Curtis had forgotten who Stetson was:
"Like I wouldn't know you in my cups or my grave. There ain't a handle made for the knife we sharpened between us."
I loved the author's dedication in carrying the accent through the entire story, whether it was in the dialog or the narrative. Admittedly, there was one common expression that I still don't understand: multiple times, Stetson is watching other people talk about something and it says he's sitting there 'with his teeth in his mouth', which...I have no idea what that means. But the Southern accent was a very fun aspect of the story.
I also really loved the unique approach to the second chance romance which the author used. Stetson and Curtis broke up due to both of them having different life plans and since they were young men at the time, they were too stubborn to compromise. Fast forward 8 years and they both still deeply regret not having fought harder for their relationship and they still love each other. So when Stetson's mother is in the final stages of Alzheimers and badly wants to see Curtis again (who she had loved like a second son), Stetson uses that opportunity to reach out. To his surprise, Curtis is just as eager to reconnect and their reunion was wonderful. There aren't any flashbacks but the author uses little details that demonstrate how well these two still know each other and Curtis realizes immediately that Stetson is really struggling (emotionally and financially) and he immediately settles back into his role as Stetson's partner and he's determined to support Stetson and help him solve all his problems. They were very sweet together and I adored how much they loved each other and how much they loved being around each other.
While the quick reunion was exactly what Stetson needed at that time, this eventually led to problems in the second half of the story.
Due to the author either ignoring or using plot conveniences for the two main plotlines in the second half, the story quickly descended into a boring slog. Curtis and Stetson had the same conversations over and over again, there were repetitive sex scenes, every meal they had was described in detail (the food was delicious and the descriptions made me hungry but these passages weren't plot), pointless side characters would come and go without impacting the story in any way and in general, the whole thing was boring and had a sappy tone that didn't interest me.
In addition, the writing style made it difficult for me to enjoy the story. There were some small issues, such as the author having the MCs use each other's nicknames (Cowboy and Roper) way too much. The sex scenes were bland and most of the good stuff happened off page. But worst of all, I had a very difficult time keeping straight whose POV each chapter was in. I think this was due to a combination of factors: both MCs being very similar in terms of speech patterns/personality/thought patterns, the author using pronouns in places where names should have been used, and a lack of dialog tags within lengthy conversations. This is only the second book I've ever read when I constantly struggled to figure out whose POV I was in so it's not an issue that I commonly have.
Overall, despite the incredible premise and a promising first half, I felt the rest of it was too sappy and boring with the author taking a surficial approach with the heavy topics that she chose to write about. This is absolutely the type of romance that many people want, but it's not the type of romance that works for me.
Original Read: Dec 2022
This was a highly anticipated read for me because the premise was so interesting and I love second chance romances. While the first half was exactly what I was hoping for, the second half was boring and repetitive. In addition, there were some aspects of the writing style that made it less enjoyable to read than it could have been.
Fair warning: the first half of the story is a very emotionally difficult read. That being said, the second half barely references his mother (which was one of my problems) so the heaviness isn't carried throughout.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was that the story takes place in the American South (in New Mexico) and the author went all in with her depiction of it.
EDIT: I'm adding this in after I got some comments from people who actually know New Mexico and that part of the US, as opposed to my Canadian self, who knows very little about those things. Apparently, New Mexico isn't considered to be part of the American South, nor do people there speak the way the author has the characters speaking in this book (the accent is apparently authentic for other places, but definitely not New Mexico or even Texas). While it seems this was an odd and intentional choice by the author, I still loved how natural and enjoyable everybody's speech patterns were. I realize this is most likely due to my own ignorance of the American South and my lack of exposure to such accents, but I found the experience of reading a whole book where people talked and thought using a consistent Southern accent (no matter what specific dialect it was supposed to be) very enjoyable. Now to continue my original review:
Not only was the constant parade of yummy food wonderful but the way the author infused a Southern speech pattern into the entire story was a delight to read. Every single character's thick Southern accent was clear in every line of dialog and I learned a bunch of new expressions that I didn't know previously (I now know what it means when somebody's 'fixing' to do something). It actually took me longer to read this book than I thought it would because my lack of familiarity with Southern speech patterns meant I had to read slower and re-read sections to understand what was happening. But I really loved it! One of my favorite expressions was Curtis always saying that such-and-such 'gave him a happy', which I initially thought was a sex-related expression but I realized it's just meant to convey him being happy. Here's another Curtis line that I really loved, which he says to Stetson when the latter says he was worried about contacting Curtis because he feared that Curtis had forgotten who Stetson was:
"Like I wouldn't know you in my cups or my grave. There ain't a handle made for the knife we sharpened between us."
I loved the author's dedication in carrying the accent through the entire story, whether it was in the dialog or the narrative. Admittedly, there was one common expression that I still don't understand: multiple times, Stetson is watching other people talk about something and it says he's sitting there 'with his teeth in his mouth', which...I have no idea what that means. But the Southern accent was a very fun aspect of the story.
I also really loved the unique approach to the second chance romance which the author used. Stetson and Curtis broke up due to both of them having different life plans and since they were young men at the time, they were too stubborn to compromise. Fast forward 8 years and they both still deeply regret not having fought harder for their relationship and they still love each other. So when Stetson's mother is in the final stages of Alzheimers and badly wants to see Curtis again (who she had loved like a second son), Stetson uses that opportunity to reach out. To his surprise, Curtis is just as eager to reconnect and their reunion was wonderful. There aren't any flashbacks but the author uses little details that demonstrate how well these two still know each other and Curtis realizes immediately that Stetson is really struggling (emotionally and financially) and he immediately settles back into his role as Stetson's partner and he's determined to support Stetson and help him solve all his problems. They were very sweet together and I adored how much they loved each other and how much they loved being around each other.
While the quick reunion was exactly what Stetson needed at that time, this eventually led to problems in the second half of the story.
Due to the author either ignoring or using plot conveniences for the two main plotlines in the second half, the story quickly descended into a boring slog. Curtis and Stetson had the same conversations over and over again, there were repetitive sex scenes, every meal they had was described in detail (the food was delicious and the descriptions made me hungry but these passages weren't plot), pointless side characters would come and go without impacting the story in any way and in general, the whole thing was boring and had a sappy tone that didn't interest me.
In addition, the writing style made it difficult for me to enjoy the story. There were some small issues, such as the author having the MCs use each other's nicknames (Cowboy and Roper) way too much. The sex scenes were bland and most of the good stuff happened off page. But worst of all, I had a very difficult time keeping straight whose POV each chapter was in. I think this was due to a combination of factors: both MCs being very similar in terms of speech patterns/personality/thought patterns, the author using pronouns in places where names should have been used, and a lack of dialog tags within lengthy conversations. This is only the second book I've ever read when I constantly struggled to figure out whose POV I was in so it's not an issue that I commonly have.
Overall, despite the incredible premise and a promising first half, I felt the rest of it was too sappy and boring with the author taking a surficial approach with the heavy topics that she chose to write about. This is absolutely the type of romance that many people want, but it's not the type of romance that works for me.
June 26, 2019
Cowboys are not normally my thing. I’m a city boy, and East Coast through-and-through. But I have some deep roots in the west, and specifically in the country where A Soft Place to Fall takes place. BA Tortuga knows it well, obviously. The land around Taos and Santa Fe is an important character in this novel; it sets the tone and provides the backdrop for this romantic drama in which there are only two other important characters.
Stetson Major is a cowboy tied to the land. Curtis Traynor is a cowboy tied to the rodeo circuit. Neither of them is thirty yet, but they’ve been on their own since they were eighteen. Their different natures and stubbornness drove them apart when they were still barely adults, but it’s their love – a love that never faded – that draws Curtis back to Taos.
A Soft Place to Fall seems to focus on the horror of losing a parent to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and for sure the rapid final decline of Betty Major is an awful thing. But, the real story hinges on the telephone call that Stetson makes to Curtis, pushed to the edge of despair, after eight years of silence. Curtis answers that call and says ‘yes’ when Stetson asks him to come see Betty in the hospital.
Curtis is a national rodeo celebrity, bruised and battered from eight years on the circuit. He is literally homeless, living out of hotels as he pursues his dream. Stetson is a quiet local hero, overwhelmed by debt and horror at his fierce widowed mother’s illness. He is trapped by his family’s land, which he still loves almost as much as he loves his horses, and all the other creatures that look to him for survival.
What follows is a surprisingly low-key pas-de-deux, as Curtis and Stetson rekindle the relationship that seemed impossible when they were younger. There is not a great deal of trauma beyond Betty Stetson’s failing health; it is all about the quiet awakening of a deep understanding that binds these two young men together.
If you think that sounds dull, you’d be wrong. Tortuga’s writing is wry and filled with local dialect. It is tender and poignant, digging into both men’s minds until we understand what makes them tick, together and apart.
A Soft Place to Fall is all about people unfamiliar to me and a place I know only at a distance; but it drew me in and kept me rapt until the very last page.
Stetson Major is a cowboy tied to the land. Curtis Traynor is a cowboy tied to the rodeo circuit. Neither of them is thirty yet, but they’ve been on their own since they were eighteen. Their different natures and stubbornness drove them apart when they were still barely adults, but it’s their love – a love that never faded – that draws Curtis back to Taos.
A Soft Place to Fall seems to focus on the horror of losing a parent to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and for sure the rapid final decline of Betty Major is an awful thing. But, the real story hinges on the telephone call that Stetson makes to Curtis, pushed to the edge of despair, after eight years of silence. Curtis answers that call and says ‘yes’ when Stetson asks him to come see Betty in the hospital.
Curtis is a national rodeo celebrity, bruised and battered from eight years on the circuit. He is literally homeless, living out of hotels as he pursues his dream. Stetson is a quiet local hero, overwhelmed by debt and horror at his fierce widowed mother’s illness. He is trapped by his family’s land, which he still loves almost as much as he loves his horses, and all the other creatures that look to him for survival.
What follows is a surprisingly low-key pas-de-deux, as Curtis and Stetson rekindle the relationship that seemed impossible when they were younger. There is not a great deal of trauma beyond Betty Stetson’s failing health; it is all about the quiet awakening of a deep understanding that binds these two young men together.
If you think that sounds dull, you’d be wrong. Tortuga’s writing is wry and filled with local dialect. It is tender and poignant, digging into both men’s minds until we understand what makes them tick, together and apart.
A Soft Place to Fall is all about people unfamiliar to me and a place I know only at a distance; but it drew me in and kept me rapt until the very last page.
November 27, 2023
It was an average story with an average performer. I like some doubt and uncertainty in a relationship and a falling out somewhere causing unresolved sexual tension. This novel skipped that, because it starts after the falling out and starts of when they meet again. The minimum amount of drama was from outside the relationship.
October 8, 2018
Read this as a submission and instantly fell in love with Stetson and Curtis's second-chance-at-love story!
August 29, 2020
Kind of a sad story that never didn’t feel sad.
Not bad just sad.
Not bad just sad.
August 27, 2024
had way too much fun with this one
March 17, 2019
Such a wonderful second chance romance.
This story is full of so many heartbreaking opposites. One MC is famous and successful, but technically homeless, the other lives a quiet life on a failing ranch. Curtis travels a lot for competitions and Stetson dreams of traveling somewhere, anywhere. They reunite after a ten year hiatus because Stetson's mom is dying.
After scraping raw some old hurts and misunderstandings, Curtis and Stetson are finally ready to commit because Curtis finally understands Stetson's need for family and roots. "...seeing Stetson here, now, Curtis got it. This was what every rodeo cowboy longed for, somewhere in his genes. Land and critters and space to breathe that was his." The time Curtis spent away from Stetson made him stronger and ready to take on that tough rancher. Stetson is so giving and self-sufficient it's scary.
In addition to the rodeo, I love getting a peek into the daily life of a rancher. The work is hard and the love of the animals and the land comes through. I love hearing about the food and different "isms." Lol, this is a funny saying: "Bless your horrorbilly heart."
It's good to read the times of joy amongst the grieving. I was sad for the passing and happy for the moments of closeness and community. And I about lost my mind when Curtis enters another competition and has to ride while injured. I swear, it was so suspenseful that I had to take a break after a paragraph so I could calm down. That's what this story is about, taking risks for the ultimate prize.
No one does cowboys like B.A. Tortuga.
* Advanced copy provided for an honest review.
This story is full of so many heartbreaking opposites. One MC is famous and successful, but technically homeless, the other lives a quiet life on a failing ranch. Curtis travels a lot for competitions and Stetson dreams of traveling somewhere, anywhere. They reunite after a ten year hiatus because Stetson's mom is dying.
After scraping raw some old hurts and misunderstandings, Curtis and Stetson are finally ready to commit because Curtis finally understands Stetson's need for family and roots. "...seeing Stetson here, now, Curtis got it. This was what every rodeo cowboy longed for, somewhere in his genes. Land and critters and space to breathe that was his." The time Curtis spent away from Stetson made him stronger and ready to take on that tough rancher. Stetson is so giving and self-sufficient it's scary.
In addition to the rodeo, I love getting a peek into the daily life of a rancher. The work is hard and the love of the animals and the land comes through. I love hearing about the food and different "isms." Lol, this is a funny saying: "Bless your horrorbilly heart."
It's good to read the times of joy amongst the grieving. I was sad for the passing and happy for the moments of closeness and community. And I about lost my mind when Curtis enters another competition and has to ride while injured. I swear, it was so suspenseful that I had to take a break after a paragraph so I could calm down. That's what this story is about, taking risks for the ultimate prize.
No one does cowboys like B.A. Tortuga.
* Advanced copy provided for an honest review.
April 7, 2019
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
B.A.Tortuga is one of my favourite writers of all things cowboy and rodeo - and this book is an excellent addition to the stable! It is a second chance romance which starts due to a really sad reason, but continues as they both recognise that time has given them a chance to consider what is important, and how the future might work for them both.
Stetson is so beautifully brought to life in this book. His acceptance that he must be there for his mother, giving up all comfort, all his important woodworking tools to pay medical bills, and finally swallowing his pride and asking ex Curtis to visit her. His lack of energy, yet his determination to do the best he can. Feeding the animals before himself, holes in his boots ... yet his spirit dulled as it is, can appreciate the good moments, and Curtis's return, even if it is only for his mother.
Curtis too is clearly a good man, who never forgot his first love. He has thrown his heart into being number one in his sport, and ignoring his heart. Now giving it a chance to love again, he knows that he has to be the strong one for his friend, and hopefully they will both come out the other end stronger, and together. Sad as it was, I though that the scenes with Stetson's mother, and with the neighbours, who had not known how to be there when she was still alive, finally come and help him in his grief. Thank goodness Curtis was there to support him.
Obviously there are some other twists for you to enjoy - but rest assured that they are both soft places for each other to fall!
B.A.Tortuga is one of my favourite writers of all things cowboy and rodeo - and this book is an excellent addition to the stable! It is a second chance romance which starts due to a really sad reason, but continues as they both recognise that time has given them a chance to consider what is important, and how the future might work for them both.
Stetson is so beautifully brought to life in this book. His acceptance that he must be there for his mother, giving up all comfort, all his important woodworking tools to pay medical bills, and finally swallowing his pride and asking ex Curtis to visit her. His lack of energy, yet his determination to do the best he can. Feeding the animals before himself, holes in his boots ... yet his spirit dulled as it is, can appreciate the good moments, and Curtis's return, even if it is only for his mother.
Curtis too is clearly a good man, who never forgot his first love. He has thrown his heart into being number one in his sport, and ignoring his heart. Now giving it a chance to love again, he knows that he has to be the strong one for his friend, and hopefully they will both come out the other end stronger, and together. Sad as it was, I though that the scenes with Stetson's mother, and with the neighbours, who had not known how to be there when she was still alive, finally come and help him in his grief. Thank goodness Curtis was there to support him.
Obviously there are some other twists for you to enjoy - but rest assured that they are both soft places for each other to fall!
May 6, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Honestly, no one does cowboy stories like author B.A. Tortuga and her latest release, Soft Place to Fall, is rich in every detail that makes this kind of novel a success. From the dialogue, with those iconic lazy drawl overtones, to the pacing of the story that almost screams reluctant cowboy trying to make amends, the story flows along like a gentle rain on a cloudy day. There is a cadence to this author’s work that immediately transports you to the place where she sets her stories and the type of characters she writes about. I was drawn into the book and felt as though I was a part of every scene—the characters felt so genuine and realistic.
I especially liked how Curtis and Stetson didn’t immediately fall back into the relationship they once had despite all the emotional memories rushing to the surface for both of them. There was a distance between them, a need to reestablish trust in one another and what they were feeling before they could begin to really plan any type of future together. The fact that the ranch Curtis had so desperately fought to keep in his family was in hock and about to be lost due to mounting past due bills gave authenticity to his fears that once again Stetson would choose the rodeo and all its excitement over staying with him to begin a new life. For Stetson’s part, the discovery that his heart had always belonged to Curtis and no amount of distance or time had changed that shaped everything he said and did to gentle his man and convince him he was there to stay.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Honestly, no one does cowboy stories like author B.A. Tortuga and her latest release, Soft Place to Fall, is rich in every detail that makes this kind of novel a success. From the dialogue, with those iconic lazy drawl overtones, to the pacing of the story that almost screams reluctant cowboy trying to make amends, the story flows along like a gentle rain on a cloudy day. There is a cadence to this author’s work that immediately transports you to the place where she sets her stories and the type of characters she writes about. I was drawn into the book and felt as though I was a part of every scene—the characters felt so genuine and realistic.
I especially liked how Curtis and Stetson didn’t immediately fall back into the relationship they once had despite all the emotional memories rushing to the surface for both of them. There was a distance between them, a need to reestablish trust in one another and what they were feeling before they could begin to really plan any type of future together. The fact that the ranch Curtis had so desperately fought to keep in his family was in hock and about to be lost due to mounting past due bills gave authenticity to his fears that once again Stetson would choose the rodeo and all its excitement over staying with him to begin a new life. For Stetson’s part, the discovery that his heart had always belonged to Curtis and no amount of distance or time had changed that shaped everything he said and did to gentle his man and convince him he was there to stay.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
December 15, 2020
This is an excellent second-chance romance. Because, here is the thing, second-chance romance stories are hard to do right. I usually find that the reason for the break-up puts one of the characters in a position in which redemption isn't believable. Not here.
Stetson and Curtis' break-up comes from familiar circumstances and wanting different things from life. They were young and unable to reach a compromise and they split-up.
But now, Stetson's mom is dying from Alzheimer, she doesn't remember that they aren't together and doesn't understand why Curtis doesn't come to see her. So Stetson stomps on his pride and calls him.
What comes next is one of the sweetest, and yet most realistic takes on a second-chance romance that I've read in a while. It's not immediate, they fight and they make-up, they cry and laugh and they finally learn to lean on each other.
It's a perfect western, with the right amount of pride and stubbornness from the characters, presenting both sides of the cowboy's life: Stetson, steady and reliable, tied to the land but utterly lonely; and Curtis, living from rodeo to rodeo, loving his exciting and dangerous life but aware that he is getting old for the gig.
Their reunion happens at the right time for both of them, with change close in their futures and the chance to fix what went wrong the first time.
Heartbreaking but also heartwarming, and narrated by John Solo, who manages the sexiest Texan drawl I've ever heard, I finished this book with a big smile and a warm heart.
Don't miss it!
Stetson and Curtis' break-up comes from familiar circumstances and wanting different things from life. They were young and unable to reach a compromise and they split-up.
But now, Stetson's mom is dying from Alzheimer, she doesn't remember that they aren't together and doesn't understand why Curtis doesn't come to see her. So Stetson stomps on his pride and calls him.
What comes next is one of the sweetest, and yet most realistic takes on a second-chance romance that I've read in a while. It's not immediate, they fight and they make-up, they cry and laugh and they finally learn to lean on each other.
It's a perfect western, with the right amount of pride and stubbornness from the characters, presenting both sides of the cowboy's life: Stetson, steady and reliable, tied to the land but utterly lonely; and Curtis, living from rodeo to rodeo, loving his exciting and dangerous life but aware that he is getting old for the gig.
Their reunion happens at the right time for both of them, with change close in their futures and the chance to fix what went wrong the first time.
Heartbreaking but also heartwarming, and narrated by John Solo, who manages the sexiest Texan drawl I've ever heard, I finished this book with a big smile and a warm heart.
Don't miss it!
February 3, 2021
4.5 Stars. I loved these two guys and the audio was fantastic! The voices for these two alpha male cowboys was delicious. This is a great second chance, slow burn romance with just the perfect amount of angst and hurt/comfort. I love that these guys broke up not because they didn't love each other but because they wanted different things from their lives, they were young and they let pride get in their way. Realistic - hell yes. It's tragedy that brings them back together and my heart hurt for Stetson. So when Curtis is back in his life the two know that they still love each other and Curtis is there to help Stetson and to be someone he can lean on (or at least as much as Stetson will let him). They still have some of the same issues but they are older and wiser this time around and they learn to communicate and talk about the problems unlike when they were younger. They were also super hot together! It was a great love story, it made me cry, it made me smile and it left me feeling happy. It felt realistic and I believed these two men were cowboys through and through.
June 4, 2024
4 cowboy stars!!
A wonderful, yet sad story of two cowboys, Stetson and Curtis, who were lovers when they were younger but went their separate ways. Stetson stayed on the ranch that is heavily in debt and Curtis went off to make a living on the rodeo circuit.
But with Stetson's mother dying of Alzheimer's and demanding to see Curtis, Stetson has no choice but to reach out to his one time partner.
What follows is a marvelous story of forgiveness, found family and exquisite world building. The "cowboy" dialogue threw me a tad, but I picked up the terminology fairly easily.
Can these two exes find common ground after eight years apart? Or will Stetson crumble from the debt of his mother's medical bills and the creditors hounding him for overdue taxes and feed for his farm animals? Will Curtis stay with Stetson after his mother passes?
Read this heartwarming book to find out! (And the cover art is near perfect.)
A wonderful, yet sad story of two cowboys, Stetson and Curtis, who were lovers when they were younger but went their separate ways. Stetson stayed on the ranch that is heavily in debt and Curtis went off to make a living on the rodeo circuit.
But with Stetson's mother dying of Alzheimer's and demanding to see Curtis, Stetson has no choice but to reach out to his one time partner.
What follows is a marvelous story of forgiveness, found family and exquisite world building. The "cowboy" dialogue threw me a tad, but I picked up the terminology fairly easily.
Can these two exes find common ground after eight years apart? Or will Stetson crumble from the debt of his mother's medical bills and the creditors hounding him for overdue taxes and feed for his farm animals? Will Curtis stay with Stetson after his mother passes?
Read this heartwarming book to find out! (And the cover art is near perfect.)
January 14, 2025
Me partió el corazón la primera parte del libro que difícil es ver la persona que amas sufrir y así... Normalmente las segundas oportunidades no me gustan pero esté libro si, no se si fue por que lo estaba disfrutando pero se me hizo muy cortó o que faltaron clímax.
P. D no se si sólo me pasó a mi pero a veces me perdía de saber quien hablaba, no sé si fue la escritura o la traducción pero es mínimo
P. D no se si sólo me pasó a mi pero a veces me perdía de saber quien hablaba, no sé si fue la escritura o la traducción pero es mínimo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2019
Soft Place To Fall is a very well done story, well written and developed. What hugely surprised me was, although the author decided to deal with some important themes, although I shed a couple (or more) of tears, the book was never too heavy or too much to take as sometimes happens to me with this kind of plots. Instead this novel was so easy to read the ending came too soon.
The romance between Curtis and Stetson is a second chance at love and I have to say it was absolutely beautiful to see how strongly the main characters were ready to reconnect; sure it showed how stupid they were to be apart all that years, but is also demonstrates how real love is destined to last no matter what. And it could sound cheesy, and maybe it is, but this is the feeling I got from this story and it filled my heart.
If you love the author previous releases, or if you are a fan of cowboys and you’re looking for a story with laughs, sweetness and sad moments, you can’t miss the new novel by BA Tortuga.
The cover art by Tiferet Design is so sweet and I don’t know how to say it with another word, so soft like the title of the book says, it’s perfect.
The romance between Curtis and Stetson is a second chance at love and I have to say it was absolutely beautiful to see how strongly the main characters were ready to reconnect; sure it showed how stupid they were to be apart all that years, but is also demonstrates how real love is destined to last no matter what. And it could sound cheesy, and maybe it is, but this is the feeling I got from this story and it filled my heart.
If you love the author previous releases, or if you are a fan of cowboys and you’re looking for a story with laughs, sweetness and sad moments, you can’t miss the new novel by BA Tortuga.
The cover art by Tiferet Design is so sweet and I don’t know how to say it with another word, so soft like the title of the book says, it’s perfect.
May 26, 2019
One of the Best Cowboy Romances
There was something about Stetson and Curtis that caught me from the start. It could have been the cover, which depicts them perfectly (Stetson in the foreground). It could have been how fast Curtis reacted to Stetson's muted cry for help in coping with his mother's oncoming demise from Alzheimer's.
But mostly it came from a beautifully constructed, excellently written, and continuingly intriguing second-chance romance between the stay-at-home cowboy Stetson and the rodeo king Curtis, who'd left his cowboy's bed 10 years before because of their deep differences in how to proceed in life.
What was most surprising to me was the sure, constant and unpretentious language that author Tortuga used. I've given up on some of her books because the vernacular of some cowboy types is simply too much for me to cope with. But she put words in Stetson's and Curtis's mouths and thoughts which were certainly tinged with southwestern inflection, but never pretentious.
I also never realized Taos, New Mexico, is such a cold place. The weather contributed to the development of the romance, and the eventual couplings these two had (if only to keep warm, LOL). In fact, the sex scenes for the most part are left to your imagination until later in the book, and I found this acceptable in a book which is far more acceptable than I expected.
There was something about Stetson and Curtis that caught me from the start. It could have been the cover, which depicts them perfectly (Stetson in the foreground). It could have been how fast Curtis reacted to Stetson's muted cry for help in coping with his mother's oncoming demise from Alzheimer's.
But mostly it came from a beautifully constructed, excellently written, and continuingly intriguing second-chance romance between the stay-at-home cowboy Stetson and the rodeo king Curtis, who'd left his cowboy's bed 10 years before because of their deep differences in how to proceed in life.
What was most surprising to me was the sure, constant and unpretentious language that author Tortuga used. I've given up on some of her books because the vernacular of some cowboy types is simply too much for me to cope with. But she put words in Stetson's and Curtis's mouths and thoughts which were certainly tinged with southwestern inflection, but never pretentious.
I also never realized Taos, New Mexico, is such a cold place. The weather contributed to the development of the romance, and the eventual couplings these two had (if only to keep warm, LOL). In fact, the sex scenes for the most part are left to your imagination until later in the book, and I found this acceptable in a book which is far more acceptable than I expected.
January 6, 2020
“Curtis knew how to deal with an emergency situation, if nothing else. He’d spent a good amount of his life in one dumbass emergency after another. He was a Texan and a cowboy, after all. They only came in dumbass.” — Curtis, A Soft Place to Fall
A second-chance romance with a very special pretend-boyfriend twist, this story is as emotionally draining as I expected it to be when I first read the blurb – but I also found reading it very rewarding because, in the end, it gave me hope. With a central theme like Alzheimer’s I knew it wouldn’t be light reading but it’s a very topical subject for a novel and with all the other elements in play, I was curious to see where the author would take it. The main characters are two cowboys at the opposite end of the spectrum: Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land, and Curtis is a rodeo cowboy with a hankering for travel and excitement. Now that Stetson’s mother is racing toward the final stages of this destructive disease and keeps asking for Curtis, having forgotten that the men broke up eight years earlier, Stetson needs his ex-lover’s help to make her life more bearable. What else can he do but to ask Curtis for a visit?
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
A second-chance romance with a very special pretend-boyfriend twist, this story is as emotionally draining as I expected it to be when I first read the blurb – but I also found reading it very rewarding because, in the end, it gave me hope. With a central theme like Alzheimer’s I knew it wouldn’t be light reading but it’s a very topical subject for a novel and with all the other elements in play, I was curious to see where the author would take it. The main characters are two cowboys at the opposite end of the spectrum: Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land, and Curtis is a rodeo cowboy with a hankering for travel and excitement. Now that Stetson’s mother is racing toward the final stages of this destructive disease and keeps asking for Curtis, having forgotten that the men broke up eight years earlier, Stetson needs his ex-lover’s help to make her life more bearable. What else can he do but to ask Curtis for a visit?
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 7, 2022
This was a slog to read and devolved into major skimming. The character of Stetson was just a mess of angst. I know he was in grief and severe financial strain. His not accepting help graciously from someone who loved him was off putting. I’m not a big fan of love with conditions. I notice that some of the higher star reviews are for the audiobook. Maybe it’s a story that’s far more interesting and romantic when read by a narrator.
January 23, 2026
'Soft Place to Fall' written by B.A. Tortuga, (Audible) narrated by John Solo
I like this storyline, and cowboys, a lot! (grin)
(great cover, too!)
A lot of this storyline was heartbreaking since Stetson's (aka, "Roper") mama was in the hospital and dying. And also because he and the love of his life, Curtis (aka, "Cowboy"), a rider in the rodeo circuit, broke up several years ago over mis-communications.
Now, Stetson's trying to hold it together and take care of the family ranch and be there at the hospital for his mom, with limited income.
However, I am gonna be nitpicky about a couple things because it shows me that the author is not very familiar with the Santa Fé and Taos and other New Mexico areas they are writing about. Oh they may have visited but they didn't do their due diligence as to some details that are glaringly obvious to those of us who know those areas well.*
So...when Stetson takes Curtis to a diner near the hospital and Curtis is looking over the menu choices and asking Stetson what's good: Curtis starts naming certain dishes, including a "Mole", BUT the narrator pronounces it wrong (editing should have caught this, if anyone knew anything about the Southwestern USA cultures). Curtis pronounced it "Mole" (just like the animal). But it's NOT the animal! It's actually pronounced "Molé" (Mo-LAY) as in Mexican cooking, since that's exactly what it is, a particular kind of sauce made with a mixture of spices, and sometimes bitter chocolate, served over enchiladas, etc. This is a savory dish, not a dessert.
Nitpicking again. There's a very small ex-mining town just south of Santa Fé, called Madrid. The narrator (so of course the author) got the pronunciation wrong. It is NOT pronounced the same as the city in Spain (ie, Ma-DRID, with the accent on the second syllable). Nope! It is pronounced MA-drid, with the emphasis on the first syllable. I know, because I used to live in Santa Fé and other areas of New Mexico, and have actually spent time in Madrid. It's a fun town, a town that's now essentially an artist's colony.
The author needs to do more research and fact-checking since they obviously are unfamiliar with that area, and they should not just ASSUME things.
Just sayin'...
All-in-all, aside from those easily correctable mistakes, I did like this MM love story, especially when both guys finally quit acting like their heads were up their butts and started really talking things out with each other!
And Boy Howdy! I was white-knuckling it through those last couple of bull rides by Cowboy!
Jeez-a-loo!
All things considered, I liked this book!
*NOTE: I see in the author's blurb that they are from Texas and now live in New Mexico? They should pay more attention to the details of what they wrote (and now on Audible) about the areas they say they live in, as nobody who does live there gets those details wrong. Seriously.
I like this storyline, and cowboys, a lot! (grin)
(great cover, too!)
A lot of this storyline was heartbreaking since Stetson's (aka, "Roper") mama was in the hospital and dying. And also because he and the love of his life, Curtis (aka, "Cowboy"), a rider in the rodeo circuit, broke up several years ago over mis-communications.
Now, Stetson's trying to hold it together and take care of the family ranch and be there at the hospital for his mom, with limited income.
However, I am gonna be nitpicky about a couple things because it shows me that the author is not very familiar with the Santa Fé and Taos and other New Mexico areas they are writing about. Oh they may have visited but they didn't do their due diligence as to some details that are glaringly obvious to those of us who know those areas well.*
So...when Stetson takes Curtis to a diner near the hospital and Curtis is looking over the menu choices and asking Stetson what's good: Curtis starts naming certain dishes, including a "Mole", BUT the narrator pronounces it wrong (editing should have caught this, if anyone knew anything about the Southwestern USA cultures). Curtis pronounced it "Mole" (just like the animal). But it's NOT the animal! It's actually pronounced "Molé" (Mo-LAY) as in Mexican cooking, since that's exactly what it is, a particular kind of sauce made with a mixture of spices, and sometimes bitter chocolate, served over enchiladas, etc. This is a savory dish, not a dessert.
Nitpicking again. There's a very small ex-mining town just south of Santa Fé, called Madrid. The narrator (so of course the author) got the pronunciation wrong. It is NOT pronounced the same as the city in Spain (ie, Ma-DRID, with the accent on the second syllable). Nope! It is pronounced MA-drid, with the emphasis on the first syllable. I know, because I used to live in Santa Fé and other areas of New Mexico, and have actually spent time in Madrid. It's a fun town, a town that's now essentially an artist's colony.
The author needs to do more research and fact-checking since they obviously are unfamiliar with that area, and they should not just ASSUME things.
Just sayin'...
All-in-all, aside from those easily correctable mistakes, I did like this MM love story, especially when both guys finally quit acting like their heads were up their butts and started really talking things out with each other!
And Boy Howdy! I was white-knuckling it through those last couple of bull rides by Cowboy!
Jeez-a-loo!
All things considered, I liked this book!
*NOTE: I see in the author's blurb that they are from Texas and now live in New Mexico? They should pay more attention to the details of what they wrote (and now on Audible) about the areas they say they live in, as nobody who does live there gets those details wrong. Seriously.
April 8, 2019
FR- Alors alors…. alors j’aime beaucoup les romans de BA Tortuga. J’aime l’univers des cowboys et du rodéo et forcément j’adore quand un roman se passe dans ces univers là. Donc j’avais super hâte de lire celui ci.
Et je dois dire que j’ai été très très agréablement surprise par ce roman. Je ne m’attendais pas du tout à l’histoire de Stetson. C’est un personnage qui m’a énormément touchée et j’ai versé plusieurs larmes pendant ma lecture.
Le rapport à la maladie de la mère de Stetson était vraiment touchant. J’ai aimé la façon dont l’auteur a traité ce sujet et j’ai aussi aimé que ça ne soit pas non plus tout le roman qui soit centré la dessus. C’est un point essentiel à l’histoire mais BA Tortuga a su doser cette partie pour qu’elle soit présente sans l’être trop.
L’histoire se concentre essentiellement sur la relation entre Curtis et Stetson et j’ai énormément aimé ce que l’auteure nous propose ici. Jusqu’à présent, j’avais plutôt lu des romans avec des star du rodéo, que ce soit au début de leur carrière ou à l’apogée. J’ai aimé que Curtis soit à la fin de sa carrière et que son choix de quitter le milieu du rodéo soit conscient et non pas du à une blessure.
Le rythme du roman met en avant la reconstruction de la relation entre les deux hommes et nous permet d’en savourer chaque étape. On passe par toute une palette de sentiments tous plus forts les uns que les autres et on ne peut que se laisser emporter par les personnages et leur histoire.
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce roman qui change un peu de ce que BA Tortuga peut nous proposer habituellement même si on reste dans ses univers types.
En résumé, un roman au rythme lent et doux . Une auteure toujours égale à elle même mais qui sort légèrement de sa zone de confort.
ENG- So well well well…. well I really like BA Tortuga’s novels. I love the world of cowboys and rodeo and inevitably I love when a novel happens in these worlds. So I could not wait to read this one.
And I must say that I was very very pleasantly surprised by this novel. I did not expect Stetson’s story at all. It is a character who touched me deeply and I shed many tears during my reading.
The relationship to Stetson’s mother’s illness was really touching. I liked the way the author treated this subject and I also liked that it was not the whole novel that centered on it. This is an essential point in history but BA Tortuga was able to dose this part so that it is present without being too much.
The story focuses primarily on the relationship between Curtis and Stetson and I loved what the author is proposing here. Until now, I’d rather read novels with rodeo stars, either at the beginning of their career or at the climax. I liked that Curtis was at the end of his career and that his choice to leave the rodeo was conscious and not due to injury.
The rhythm of the novel highlights the reconstruction of the relationship between the two men and allows us to enjoy each step. We go through a whole range of feelings all stronger than the other and we can only get carried away by the characters and their story.
I really liked this novel that changes a bit of what BA Tortuga can offer us usually even if we stay in his typical universe.
In short, a novel with a slow and sweet rhythm. An author always equal to herself but slightly out of her comfort zone.
Et je dois dire que j’ai été très très agréablement surprise par ce roman. Je ne m’attendais pas du tout à l’histoire de Stetson. C’est un personnage qui m’a énormément touchée et j’ai versé plusieurs larmes pendant ma lecture.
Le rapport à la maladie de la mère de Stetson était vraiment touchant. J’ai aimé la façon dont l’auteur a traité ce sujet et j’ai aussi aimé que ça ne soit pas non plus tout le roman qui soit centré la dessus. C’est un point essentiel à l’histoire mais BA Tortuga a su doser cette partie pour qu’elle soit présente sans l’être trop.
L’histoire se concentre essentiellement sur la relation entre Curtis et Stetson et j’ai énormément aimé ce que l’auteure nous propose ici. Jusqu’à présent, j’avais plutôt lu des romans avec des star du rodéo, que ce soit au début de leur carrière ou à l’apogée. J’ai aimé que Curtis soit à la fin de sa carrière et que son choix de quitter le milieu du rodéo soit conscient et non pas du à une blessure.
Le rythme du roman met en avant la reconstruction de la relation entre les deux hommes et nous permet d’en savourer chaque étape. On passe par toute une palette de sentiments tous plus forts les uns que les autres et on ne peut que se laisser emporter par les personnages et leur histoire.
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce roman qui change un peu de ce que BA Tortuga peut nous proposer habituellement même si on reste dans ses univers types.
En résumé, un roman au rythme lent et doux . Une auteure toujours égale à elle même mais qui sort légèrement de sa zone de confort.
ENG- So well well well…. well I really like BA Tortuga’s novels. I love the world of cowboys and rodeo and inevitably I love when a novel happens in these worlds. So I could not wait to read this one.
And I must say that I was very very pleasantly surprised by this novel. I did not expect Stetson’s story at all. It is a character who touched me deeply and I shed many tears during my reading.
The relationship to Stetson’s mother’s illness was really touching. I liked the way the author treated this subject and I also liked that it was not the whole novel that centered on it. This is an essential point in history but BA Tortuga was able to dose this part so that it is present without being too much.
The story focuses primarily on the relationship between Curtis and Stetson and I loved what the author is proposing here. Until now, I’d rather read novels with rodeo stars, either at the beginning of their career or at the climax. I liked that Curtis was at the end of his career and that his choice to leave the rodeo was conscious and not due to injury.
The rhythm of the novel highlights the reconstruction of the relationship between the two men and allows us to enjoy each step. We go through a whole range of feelings all stronger than the other and we can only get carried away by the characters and their story.
I really liked this novel that changes a bit of what BA Tortuga can offer us usually even if we stay in his typical universe.
In short, a novel with a slow and sweet rhythm. An author always equal to herself but slightly out of her comfort zone.
April 10, 2019
Soft Place to Fall by BA Tortuga
Reviews by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 5 Hearts
Stetson Major and Curtis Traynor are about as opposite as two cowboys can get. Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land he loves in Taos, New Mexico, while Curtis is a rodeo cowboy whose wanderlust never could be tamed.
But now Stetson’s momma is dying of Alzheimer’s, and she can’t remember that Curtis hasn’t been Stetson’s boyfriend for a long time. Curtis’s absence makes her cry, so Stetson swallows his pride and calls his ex-lover.
To Curtis, Stetson is the one who got away, the love of his life. And Momma is his friend, so he’s happy to help out. Yet returning to the ranch stirs up all sorts of feelings that, while buried, never really went away. Still, the rodeo nationals are coming up, and Curtis can’t stay… even if he’s starting to want to, especially to support Stetson when he needs it most.
Stetson and Curtis want to find a place where they both fit, to be there to catch each other when they fall. But family, money problems, and the call of the rodeo circuit might end their second-chance romance before it even gets started.
This is such a gorgeous bitter-sweet premise for a story, and I fell in love with it from the start. Watching a loved one suffer with dementia is the most cruel thing, but a second chance at love is the most delightful.
My heart was hurting for Stetson and that call to Curtis made me cry like a baby. That Curtis came was such a relief, and that the guys managed to find a way to each other eventually, was so very sweet and lovely.
I’ve never been to a rodeo (its on my bucket list) but having enjoyed BA’s books, I feel like I have!
This book was a gorgeous gently roller coaster of emotion, hope, despair and joy all mingled in. If you’ve got a soft spot for stubborn cowboys who fall back in love (or realise that they never fell out of love) and cope with whatever comes their way, this might be the perfect book for you.
Highly recommended!
Reviews by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 5 Hearts
Stetson Major and Curtis Traynor are about as opposite as two cowboys can get. Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land he loves in Taos, New Mexico, while Curtis is a rodeo cowboy whose wanderlust never could be tamed.
But now Stetson’s momma is dying of Alzheimer’s, and she can’t remember that Curtis hasn’t been Stetson’s boyfriend for a long time. Curtis’s absence makes her cry, so Stetson swallows his pride and calls his ex-lover.
To Curtis, Stetson is the one who got away, the love of his life. And Momma is his friend, so he’s happy to help out. Yet returning to the ranch stirs up all sorts of feelings that, while buried, never really went away. Still, the rodeo nationals are coming up, and Curtis can’t stay… even if he’s starting to want to, especially to support Stetson when he needs it most.
Stetson and Curtis want to find a place where they both fit, to be there to catch each other when they fall. But family, money problems, and the call of the rodeo circuit might end their second-chance romance before it even gets started.
This is such a gorgeous bitter-sweet premise for a story, and I fell in love with it from the start. Watching a loved one suffer with dementia is the most cruel thing, but a second chance at love is the most delightful.
My heart was hurting for Stetson and that call to Curtis made me cry like a baby. That Curtis came was such a relief, and that the guys managed to find a way to each other eventually, was so very sweet and lovely.
I’ve never been to a rodeo (its on my bucket list) but having enjoyed BA’s books, I feel like I have!
This book was a gorgeous gently roller coaster of emotion, hope, despair and joy all mingled in. If you’ve got a soft spot for stubborn cowboys who fall back in love (or realise that they never fell out of love) and cope with whatever comes their way, this might be the perfect book for you.
Highly recommended!
October 31, 2021
Incredibly Heartbreaking at Times, A Heartwarming Story of Love in all its Faces
Rating: 4.5🌈
Soft Place to Fall is a heartbreaker of a book. Full of a broken partnership , a past of broken dreams and broken promises, and a mother who is being shattered by that most Insidious of diseases, Alzheimer’s, this story is one guaranteed to have you sobbing.
Often.
It’s so well written that the pain and sheer exhaustion pouring off Stetson Major as he’s watching his mama rapidly decline tears at you. You feel every bit of his feelings and the fact that there’s very little left for Stetson to give, he’s done in.
That’s where the call goes out to his ex partner, the man his mama is calling for, to please come. And rodeo rider Curtis Traynor does.
What a story. One of reconciliations, of loss, grief, forgiveness, love, and the journey back to home and each other.
The men are strong characters and you absolutely feel the incredible loving pull they have for each other. It’s also easy to see how, in their youth, their stubbornness and goals drove them apart.
The woman dying of Alzheimer’s is difficult element as she’s so realistically portrayed. Muddled one moment, clear headed another, and then wild, anger filled, and needing to be restrained the next. If you haven’t experienced this, count yourself lucky. It’s often a very hard read. As it should be.
That’s balanced by the two men now , years later, still as deeply in love as they ever were, picking their way back to each other over obstacles still strewn across the path as it was years ago.
I was so emotionally connected to these men and their romance I didn’t even notice the pages flying by.
The only thing that kept this from an absolute 5 star rating was that I thought it wrapped up too quickly for everything that had gone on before.
I was still happy for them and us at the end.
If you love cowboys and want a heartwarming love story, look no further. Grab up Soft Place To Fall and a box or two of tissues and settle in for a marvelous read.
It’s one I highly recommend.
Rating: 4.5🌈
Soft Place to Fall is a heartbreaker of a book. Full of a broken partnership , a past of broken dreams and broken promises, and a mother who is being shattered by that most Insidious of diseases, Alzheimer’s, this story is one guaranteed to have you sobbing.
Often.
It’s so well written that the pain and sheer exhaustion pouring off Stetson Major as he’s watching his mama rapidly decline tears at you. You feel every bit of his feelings and the fact that there’s very little left for Stetson to give, he’s done in.
That’s where the call goes out to his ex partner, the man his mama is calling for, to please come. And rodeo rider Curtis Traynor does.
What a story. One of reconciliations, of loss, grief, forgiveness, love, and the journey back to home and each other.
The men are strong characters and you absolutely feel the incredible loving pull they have for each other. It’s also easy to see how, in their youth, their stubbornness and goals drove them apart.
The woman dying of Alzheimer’s is difficult element as she’s so realistically portrayed. Muddled one moment, clear headed another, and then wild, anger filled, and needing to be restrained the next. If you haven’t experienced this, count yourself lucky. It’s often a very hard read. As it should be.
That’s balanced by the two men now , years later, still as deeply in love as they ever were, picking their way back to each other over obstacles still strewn across the path as it was years ago.
I was so emotionally connected to these men and their romance I didn’t even notice the pages flying by.
The only thing that kept this from an absolute 5 star rating was that I thought it wrapped up too quickly for everything that had gone on before.
I was still happy for them and us at the end.
If you love cowboys and want a heartwarming love story, look no further. Grab up Soft Place To Fall and a box or two of tissues and settle in for a marvelous read.
It’s one I highly recommend.
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