Veterinary Partner (Thresherton Community #1) by Nancy Wheelton
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, 2020
- Genre: Thriller, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 314 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Widowed Callie Anderson was new to managing her farm. On top of balancing bills, managing barn works, and raising her tween daughter Becky, Callie suffered from the endless threats and harassments from the Krugers. When the newly relocated Dr. Lauren Cornish came for veterinary duties, little did either of them know that their lives were tied whether they were ready or not.
Do not let the cover fool you. Veterinary Partner is as much a romance as it is a thriller. With all the infuriating and disgusting hassling from the Krugers, it was not a light reading. I felt so helpless against all those horrible things Heinz and Kyle Kruger were getting away with and feared for the safety of Callie, Becky, and Lauren during the entire time. It was tense, and considering the annoyance stirred up in me, Wheelton did a great job of making painting Krugers revolting.
Before I go into the relationship between Callie and Lauren, I adored the fact that there were many children in this small-town story. And many strong single mothers, too. Callie was a widowed single mother with Becky, and Lauren had Sam and William who rejected her after her divorce. Lauren’s friend and coworker Val was also a single mother raising Gwen, Becky’s best friend. Amidst Callie and Lauren’s budding romance and the horrendous Krugers, I think Becky had stolen the show. She was very sensitive and observant, at times commenting on and accepting things that the grownups were too preoccupied to notice. She broke my heart with her words and then warmed it. Also, wasn’t it fun that her full name was Becky Anderson, just like the news anchor?
Callie and Lauren both had serious insecurities that made their relationship development frustrating to read sometimes. Callie wanted full control of her life and Lauren was terrified of disappointing people she loved. There were a lot of one-step-forward-two-steps-back, but them caring for each other despite all the falling out that happened in between was genuine and evident. I am glad they had each other during this unsafe time.
Sometimes, secondary characters left the radar for too long I wonder if everyone had forgotten about them. And important routines and personal details surfaced somewhat randomly, making me wonder if Wheelton planned them beforehand or developed them while writing. Despite the slight confusion over possible spontaneity, Veterinary Partner was a decent work.
I think the story ended a little bit prematurely and another chapter or two might provide a more wholesome ending. Since Lauren had not reached enough closure with her past and many other things were still up in the air, it did not feel like a real closing or an HEA. I secretly hope Wheelton is planning for a sequel to address the inconclusive issues at hand.
Veterinary Partner is an emotionally loaded thriller romance worth checking out. [31 May 2020]
I received an e-ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
