3.5 ⭐️’s
After traveling back to his fathers home town of Hadlow, Texas for a family funeral, Nate decides to leave his vet practice and city life in Houston. No longer enamored by the hustle and bustle of the city after his recent divorce, Nate thinks the quite country life is just what he needs. Little did he know just how difficult a mixed practice would be! Often exhausted he learns to deal with each new situation, many quite humorous. Nate has more than one reason for the move to Hadlow, his father died in an accident there many years ago, an accident that no one has ever talked about. Nate is finally ready to ask questions, but with each question answered more questions pop up. Will Nate get the answers he needs so that he can put the past to rest and finally be able to start afresh? Porter has a slow easy going writing style and this enjoyable read will appeal to many. Thank you to Legacy Book Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to LSBBT and Brian Porter for a review copy of this book.



The Short Story: Dreamy, Restless, Unsettled ~ I loved it.


Houston veterinarian Nate Holub finds himself untethered from the life he knew. Divorced from a woman he still loves, he fears he’s losing his relationship with his teenage daughters. An uncle dies and Nate attends the funeral, held in his father’s hometown in rural Texas. Out of the blue, the local vet offers Nate a job. Drawn to the place by his childhood memories and the mystery of his own father’s death, Nate agrees.


Nate struggles to adjust to the difficulties of rural vet work, the long hours, the loneliness, and the suspicions of his new customers and neighbors, he doubts his ability to fit in. Stll, he’s able to forge deeper relationships with some of his family including his aged grandmother, Viola, and he begins to investigate the circumstances of his father’s tragic death, uncovering shocking family secrets as he does.


I loved this book! From the descriptive prose of the Texas countryside, the tender but realistic handling of family relationships, the budding love story drawn in a slow-arcing dance between two people wary of getting hurt, it was a pleasure to read and savor. At the heart of the story is the mystery of Nate’s father’s death, the repercussions of which are still felt in the sleepy town of Hadlow, and the resolution will shock you. All in all, a super read.


I highly recommend this book to readers who love a great story, well written, well plotted and one that lingers in the memory well after the last page is turned.

Nate Holub is weary of his small-animal veterinary job in Houston. When he’s offered a position as the second vet in the large-animal practice in his small hometown of Hadlow, Texas, he decides to make a change. He takes the job. Moves to the country. And proceeds to do a lot of second-guessing of his decision.
We meet a varied cast of characters as Nate encounters them. His cousin Wink in particular stands out, as it seems like he’s got some kind of beef with Nate. Other standouts include Nate’s laconic grandmother Viola, his reclusive cousin Tilly, and his partner (boss?) in the vet practice, Everett. They all bring a unique point of view to the story and add their own individual threads to this tapestry of family. I think Tilly was one of my favorites. She was such a surprising character that her interactions with Nate, though brief, really stood out in my mind. She illustrated how easy it is to lose connection with part of our family, whether through physical distance and the passage of time or through efforts made to create that distance.

The animal interactions in the story are vividly and effectively drawn, and you can tell Porter knows that of which he writes. I’ve heard this book likened to James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small. I’ve never read that book, but if it evokes the same feelings of compassion and connectedness with animals, I might like it, too. Some of the scenes involve surgery on animals and animal death, but they aren’t thrown in for shock value. I imagine that’s part and parcel of a veterinary practice. Nate himself struggles to handle it, and more than once questions whether he made the right decision coming back to Hadlow.

He also questions whether he’s doing the right thing looking for information about his father’s death. He knows there’s more to the story than he was told, and his mother has long tried to keep that information from him. Memories come back to him in flashes, and as he digs, he learns more about what actually happened. But is this a path he should be taking, or would it have been better for everyone if he’d let past events lie?

At its heart, this is a story of family, their connections to each other, their connections to the land where generations have been born and raised. Nate thought he’d left his home place behind. In returning, he must decide whether to live focused on the past or whether it’s time to plant his own roots there and give his daughters a foundation from which they can grow. It’s not an action-packed story, although there are some moments of tension. Rather, it’s a quiet, reflective tale that gives the reader space to consider their own family ties, how they might hinder and how they might help. It makes me miss my own growing up in the country, just a little. This is Brian Porter’s first novel, but I sure hope it isn’t his last. He’s an author to watch.

Brian Porter's debut novel doesn't read like a first novel. It's filled with gorgeous descriptive prose making you feel the hot Texas summer, the cool fishing holes, its trees bushes and birds, the cattle and pecan trees feel like your own memories.

I was interested in this novel because Nate, the narrator, lived in Houston. Having spent fourteen years there, i wanted to read and remember all the locations I had become familiar with. That merely added to my reading enjoyment. Porter's experience is evident in his realistic depiction of a veterinarian's life. (Didn't you always wonder how you perform a c-Section on a cow out in the field?)

Nate Holub is unhappily divorced. His ex-wife has remarried and taken custody of their fraternal twin daughters. He accepts a job offer in the farm country southwest Texas location where he grew up. It's a life-changing move and brings with it insomnia and reconnection with his grandmother, aunt, cousins and other relatives. Central to this story is the circumstances surrounding the death of his father and the secret here is totally unexpected.

This novel, though not fast moving, is impossible to put down. Every page is filled with language so real that you smell and taste and gaze at landscapes you feel you are in. It builds to a surprising climax. The rather abrupt ending is all that kept it from earning Five Stars.

Veterinarian Nate Holub, recently divorced, moves from Houston to Hadlow, his father’s hometown in rural East Texas. The novel details his struggles to adapt to being a country vet working more with large farm animals than family pets. At the same time he tries to learn more about the accidental death of his father Dennis three decades earlier. As he reconnects with family, he uncovers some family secrets.

It is obvious that the author has drawn on personal experiences in depicting the life of someone in veterinary practice. Personally, however, I found the “intricacies of bovine obstetrics” less than appealing reading. Having worked in a hospital, I’m not squeamish, but some of the details about surgical procedures seem unnecessary: “After putting on surgical gloves, he picked up his scalpel and made an incision through the scrotal skin to expose the glistening white parietal tunic. He cut through the tunic and applied gentle pressure to pop the testicle through the opening. He isolated and stripped the spermatic cord and then crimped it with an emasculator, crushing and cutting the cord simultaneously. ‘Made sure you don’t leave the tail of the epididymis here.’” The description of a bovine C-section is even more detailed.

This type of detail left me wondering about the intended audience for this book. Is it intended for those in veterinary practice and those interested in the field? Some of the terminology will not be familiar to the average reader. Of course the author tries to include something for everyone. There’s mystery surrounding Dennis’s death, family drama, and even romance. Then there’s the humour, which often borders on slapstick: “Nate spit out a leaf and stumbled out of the vehicle” and “he tripped over a potted plant and landed hard, banging his knee on a steppingstone and ripping a hole in his coveralls” and “he knocked over a large bottle of vitamin B12, which fell and shattered, spilling the thick amber liquid all over the counter and floor” and “one of the other dogs jumped on his back and started humping him. He felt the dog’s breath on his ear, drool running down his neck.” At times, I was reminded of the James Herriot books.

I did not find Nate an appealing character. He has been a vet for 17 years but in so many ways he seems so inexperienced. Would he really be allowed to go out on calls to farms if he doesn’t know “how to prepare the tranquilizer dart or load the gun”? He claims to be haunted by questions surrounding his father’s death, but his investigation proceeds at a glacial pace. He’s an adult, yet he never asked questions before? There’s little to admire in the way he behaves as a father to his daughters. He says he’ll have them visit “once his spare bedroom was furnished and the house tidied up” yet almost a year passes before he has them stay with him? He worries about the distance developing between the girls and him, yet he does little to maintain a close relationship.

The book could use some judicious editing. The descriptions of the countryside, for instance, seem to include lists of flowers: “lantana, winecups, daffodils, spiderwort, daisies” and “Indian paintbrush, evening primrose, dandelions, prairie nymphs” and “Mexican hat and Indian blankets” and “bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, phlox, evening primrose, dandelions, squaw-weed, and prairie spiderwort.” Then there are scenes that lack relevance: Do we need to know about Skeeter Pilat’s competitive barbecuing or the various stories told by locals in Rita’s café or that a meal at family gatherings “usually consisted of barbecued chicken and sausage, along with boiled potatoes, green beans, rolls, fruit salad, deviled eggs, and sweet tea. For dessert, there was banana pudding, pecan pie, and kolaches – poppy seed, cheese, and pear”? I understand the need for local colour, but some details are just tangents.

More than once I found myself losing interest and asking where the novel was going. It is certainly slow-paced, like Nate’s investigation, and there is little suspense. There is no great compelling reason to solve the mystery surrounding Dennis’s death; certainly Nate does not walk around like man haunted by the past or he wouldn’t take over a year to get answers to his questions. Yet the sole purpose of Nate’s queries seems to be so he can learn to not be “mired in the past” so he can “appreciate the present”? No one is ever in any real danger, though some encounters with large farm animals are portrayed as possibly being dangerous. Nate is occasionally met with animosity, but real conflicts don’t develop. The lack of narrative tension is a problem.

The novel did not appeal to me because of its slow pace, detailed descriptions of veterinary procedures, lack of focus and suspense, and a lacklustre protagonist. The author’s writing style is clear, and he knows veterinary medicine and is familiar with the setting, but I found reading the book a bit of an effort.

Note: I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5 Stars - One of the standout aspects of Dreams of Arcadia is the author’s meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the veterinary scenes that populate the narrative. Porter’s vivid descriptions and extensive knowledge in this area make these scenes come alive, immersing readers in the world of animal care. The depth of these passages is a testament to the author’s dedication to research and his ability to transport readers into the main character, Nate’s mind. However, as a side note, do not eat lunch while reading the castration scene.

Nate, the story’s protagonist, is portrayed with great realism and complexity. The author skillfully captures Nate’s physical reactions, allowing readers to truly experience his emotions and sensations. This attention to detail enhances the overall reading experience, creating a deeper connection between the reader and the main character. Nate’s journey, intertwined with his dreams, was both captivating and thought-provoking.

However, one aspect that left me wanting more was the lack of explanation or resolution surrounding Nate’s physical reactions to events in his life. While the detailed descriptions of his physical responses added a layer of authenticity, the story never fully delved into the reasons behind these reactions or offered a clear resolution. Although this mystery may be intentional, some readers (such as myself) might yearn for a deeper understanding.

Despite this minor drawback, Dreams of Arcadia is a compelling and immersive novel that I enjoyed beyond my other recent reads. Brian Porter’s writing style is engaging, and his ability to create a vivid atmosphere is commendable. This book took me back to my teens when I could not get enough of James Herriot’s books.

While some questions remain unanswered, the overall reading experience is undeniably enjoyable. I’m not sure if there is a plan for another book, so in the meantime, I’ll just settle on my own happy thoughts of how Nate’s life progresses. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an immersive and wonderfully written story.

This was a very enjoyable book that I was compelled to keep reading late into the night. Nate is a veterinarian who is enticed to move back to his small hometown after attending his uncle’s funeral. He leaves a Houston small animal veterinary practice and goes to work at a country practice which involves a lot of large animals. I learned more than I wanted to know about cows and calving. Interesting stuff! Nate deals with his feelings about leaving his twin daughters in Houston with his ex-wife and trying to find out the circumstances of his father’s death years ago. He learns a lot about his extended family and finds peace for himself. I look forward to Brian Porter’s next book.

My thanks to Legacy Book Press for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Dreams of Arcadia (2023) is an engaging and beautiful (but also gritty) story of new beginnings, reconnecting with family, family secrets and life in a small town.

Nate Holub is a veterinarian working in Houston. Recently divorced, his wife also having custody of their fraternal twin daughters Emma and Marianne, Nate decides to make a change in his life and when he is offered a job as vet in the small country town his father came from (the local vet Everett Templeton invites Nate to join his practice), he accepts. This is not only a change in terms of place but also the very nature of his practice for unlike in Houston, the majority of a country veterinarian’s ‘patients’ are large animals (mostly cows and also horses), something he so far only knows in theory. His initial days are shaky, tough and exhausting and he doubts his ability to handle the demands of the practice, but with time, begins to settle in. Hadlow is also the town his father was born and grew up in, though Nate himself only went there as a child on weekend visits or special occasions. But now that he’s back he also wants to reconnect with family, his grandmother Viola, weakening with age but still living on the family farm, working in her garden and keeping charge of things, and his aunt Ruthie and her family who live on their own farm, and cousin Wink (son of his uncle Jerome) who does seem to bear Nate some animosity. Alongside is also a secret or mystery surrounding Nate’s father’s death. Nate’s father Dennis had died in an accident at a young age, and his estrangement of sorts from Nate’s mother made it an issue that has never been talked about too much. But now in Hadlow, as he meets people from the past—family and others who knew Dennis—bits and pieces begin to emerge.

Dreams of Arcadia is a wonderfully written book that draws one in right from the start. Nate is a character one can relate to and empathise with, and one is keen to follow his journey as he tries to start anew, rebuilding in a sense his practice as also relationships, having to navigate things in Hadlow with family he’s been disconnected from for long, as also with his daughters with whom equations (and the closeness they once shared) seem to be changing as they are growing up.

I loved the author’s beautiful descriptions of the gorgeous countryside woven all through the book. Whether it is the beautiful gardens in some of the homes (including an almost magical ‘secret’ garden that he stumbles upon) or the countryside itself with its beautiful creeks and profusions of flowers, the writing gets one to experience it all. At times, like when Nate is at the stream his father used to go fishing at, there is that feeling of serenity that the reader can experience too.

But with the peace and beauty is also the harder, grittier side of things, and this comes into the story for one from his practice. Here the author’s own experiences are clearly woven in, and I felt unlike some of the other books written by and around veterinarians I’ve read, this one gave a far more hard-hitting picture of its realities—whether it is (relatively) lighter difficulties like being tossed by a cow (yes, that’s a lighter one even though it hurts badly) or having to deal with a trying cat ‘Wild Bill’, or the many many hard days when cows are calving, the story tells it all. And being me who finds it hard reading about animals hurt or in pain, this was not easy reading. Besides the practical difficulties of treating cases which present complications and the sheer physical exhaustion involved, we can also experience the emotional burdens such situations carry—harsh realities that must be faced when one is trying to help animals. In the cases he handles, also emerges a rather interesting one from his aunt Ruthie’s farm and that was one I really enjoyed following since it presented a ‘mystery’ in its own sense and the solution was not something I’d ever encountered before.

The other ‘heavier’ part of the story is of course the relationships and family secrets. While those like Ruthie who he has been more closely connected with are welcoming and supportive, his grandmother, because of her age and health is distant (sometime completely in her own world) while others like Wink are almost hostile. Likewise, the town’s other residents are a mix (as is usual) of pleasant and unsavoury characters, but as he grows to know them and interact with them, new friends and connections are made, with some surprises along the way. I really enjoyed seeing his relationship with his daughters being ‘rebuilt’ in a sense (it was never soured, just a distance having come between them) with both very much interested in his happiness, and him getting to know the young women they are growing into. The mystery surrounding his father’s death is also resolved and with a solution one doesn’t see coming, giving us a satisfying ending.

This is a lovely (but realistic) book involving several aspects and elements of life, of family and relationships, of nature and much more, which makes for gripping reading.

4.5 stars

Nate Holub is a recently divorced small animal Vet in the Houston area. Nate needs a change along with a way to cope with the feeling like his losing touch with his teenage daughters. Nate takes a trip back to Hadlow, Texas to attend a family members funeral. While there he runs into the area veterinarian who is a friend of the family. Nate is invited to come look at the Vets office and see what it is like which is a little different than what he is used to. When Nate is done with his visit, he leaves with a job offer and he even though he is leaving his daughters and mother behind it is a move he needs to make even though he has minimal experience with farm animals. Over time Nate starts to meet family members he has not seen in a long time or at least since the funeral and these start to bring up memories and many questions especially surrounding the death of his father and there are some who think he should leave things alone. As Nate starts to get his answers it will lead up a surprising twist at the end. In the beginning this felt like feel good vet story but it becomes so much more. Definitely give this one a read.

Nate moves back to his home town after his divorce. There he reconnects with his family, makes new friends, tries to solve the mystery of his father's death, and maybe finds love. I really enjoyed this book. Am looking forward to more by this author.

A enjoyable read and a first time author for me. I look forward to reading more by this author. Beautiful prose, excellent characters, and a good storyline.

Nate Holub thinks he is ready for a change. Newly divorced, he accepts a job as a vet in the small town that he grew up in. As the saying goes, nothing stays the same, and his hometown is nothing like he remembered. Had he really thought through making the transition from dogs, cats, and other small animals to caring for cows and horses? Can he learn everything necessary for a country vet? Nate begins settling in and reaches out to his grandmother. He hopes she can direct him to pieces of his past, stories, and family members long forgotten. One question that lies heavy on his heart is the death of his father. How exactly did he die? Nate feels that his past is incomplete. He believes the remaining family will help him find answers. What was the falling out that happened years ago? Nate believes that by seeking these answers, he will find the peace he needs.

Brian Porter has crafted a multi-generational story of truth, hope, and healing. The main character, Nate, is divorced and feels out of place. The opportunity to return to his hometown is not so much a desperate attempt to return home as it is a grown man needing a new place in the world. Nate’s renewed connection with his family also shows him how they have always loved the land. In helping his grandmother, he connects to the family legacy and also shows how the family is the heart of who we are. Nate’s confidence is damaged but grows as he works in the community. Nate begins to trust others and open himself up to new experiences. He remembers how to be happy. With Nate’s persistence the family that lost connection begins to connect anew and appreciate all that they have. Any fan of family fiction will enjoy this wonderful book.

Right away I liked Nate Holub when he goes to Texas to work in a Veterinarian Hospital in his father’s hometown. Previously he'd worked in large clinics in bigger towns and he's uncertain about whether he can make it as a country vet.

Soon, however, Nate discovers that the biggest challenge he faces is unraveling the tightly held family secrets that cover the truth about his father's death thirty years prior. The mystery and the dynamics of the characters add drama to the story and the pacing is just right, as little bits of the truth come out at just the right time.

The narrative is filled with vivid descriptions of the people, the place, and life in the country, and the story is peopled with characters with distinct personalities that are engaging.

Add in a gripping plot, a touch of romance, and you have a terrific read.

Writing: 4/4 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 4/4

A gentle book about an East Texas veterinarian who leaves Houston (and the end of a disappointing marriage) for the rural lands of his father’s youth. The main character is very human and very relatable — he is supported by a whole array of well depicted and quite real people from the individuals in the small town to his many relatives, most of whom he hasn’t seen in years (or has never actually met). There is quite a bit of description of the landscape, the real (and brand new to me) day to day big (and small) animal vet cases and procedures, and his own internal thought processes. He works to solve the little (but critical) every day mysteries that populate our professions and interpersonal engagements. I particularly liked the solution to the issue of one family’s ailing cows when no diagnostic test could turn up any problems. I won’t give it away here!

Nate Holub’s life has taken a turn. After a divorce and a family funeral he returns to his father’s birthplace to work in a rural Veterinarian Practice. Here he’s pushed to new limits professionally and personally and uncovers a family secret that’s haunted him since his father’s death in his childhood. As Nate learns about a new veterinarian practice and procedures his discomfort about his life and its pathways becomes more clear to him. Starting over is difficult but it's dealt with beautifully in this novel.
A beautifully poignant story of starting over while returning to family. Nate's rediscovery is well crafted by Porter in this debut novel/novella.
I love the veterinary detail and the breadth of love for a place I’ve never been but now feel I’ve experienced. The scenery was vividly painted without feeling like a creative writing exercise.
Having lived in Prague for six years I especially loved the Czech connection - a history I’d never known.

4.5 - With a mysterious overtone and a literary delivery, Dreams of Arcadia is a spectacular and unique read.

Nate Holub needs a change of scenery. He leaves his life in the city and takes a veterinary job in his deceased father's hometown. There, he reconnects with his family. He also has to face a different pace of work in the country. At the same time, he also comes to realize that there is more to his father's death than he'd previously believed.

I've never read a book that had such a central focus on veterinarians. Admittedly, I have a low threshold for animals in any sort of distress so there were parts of this I found difficult to read, but overall it was fascinating. I love to read novels where I end up learning something. I also enjoyed the characters as well as the writing style. Wonderfully rural!

A huge thanks to the author for inviting me to read a digital ARC through NetGalley!

Divorced veterinarian, Nate, tired of the rat race of city life, decides to take a job offer to join a practice in his father’s hometown, a place he remembers from his own childhood before his father’s death. This is a story of a man searching for himself and his place in the world, a place he can call home. As he settles into a rural life, coming to terms with his teenage daughters growing up without him being close, he discovers all he thought he knew about his father’s family might not be the complete story. There are beautiful descriptions of country scenes, gritty scenes of the things a veterinarian must see and do to care for farm animals in distress, and an underlying mystery of the circumstances surrounding his father’s accidental death. The writing is easy to read and builds the story slowly, at a pace suitable for rural life. Recommend.

Dreams of Arcadia
by Brian Porter
It is a very rich, beautifully described landscape of Veterinarian Nate Holub . Loved the writing that you see as a picture of film as you read. Highly recommended,

It's a story that's very much about the American countryside. I was very interested in following the story of Veterinarian Nate Holub's investigation into his father's death. It piqued my curiosity until the very end.

Family secrets sweep through this brilliant story that leads to a gripping finale. Author Brian Porter stuns with his exceptional writing and storytelling. A highly recommended novel that is very hard to put down and well worthy of five stars.