Deep, complex characters, men with flaws and issues of various kinds, and a realism that can make me laugh as well as cry are some of Brandon Witt’s strengths when writing novels. All of the above are part of why I return to his stories each time a new one is published. And ‘Mapping the Forest’ covers all of those bases and then some. Plus the setting is a charming little tourist town by the name of Estes Park (I looked it up – it actually exists), inhabited by a fantastic crew of supportive friends. But the primary focus is on two fascinating men: Gabe, who is a seasonal park ranger in the nearby Rocky Mountain National Park, and Luis, who has recently bought a business catering to tourists. I loved them from the beginning, as much for their snark and sense of humor as for their struggles with emotions that take both of them by surprise, if for very different reasons.

Gabe is a ranger with all his heart. He is passionate about the national park, the animals under his protection, and the opportunity to spend his working day outside. But there are lots of issues with his homophobic boss, and even though Gabe has been working at the park for six years, he has still not gotten a full-time position. His personal life is not doing so well, mainly because he has had an unrequited crush on one of his friends, so when Gabe meets Luis he is not looking for romance.

Luis has a hard time dealing with his husband’s death in a ski accident two years before this story takes place. He more or less bought his steak ride business with the lodge that goes with it on an impulse, just because he wanted to get away from all the memories. Trouble is, he took them all with him, and he can’t seem to let go of them. I felt for him and cheered him on every step of the way when he finally began to heal from his devastating loss.

Gabe and Luis do not have an easy time of it. There are misunderstandings, panic reactions leading to Luis running away when things get too intense for him, and for quite a while I had my doubts these two would ever manage to get closer. It was a realistically slow process, and I am glad that Brandon did not gloss over the real issues that can occur when people grieve for a partner. Recovery can be slow, but between Gabe realizing that it may take a while for Luis to open up to him, and Luis finally understanding he has to WANT to live again, the resulting road they travel together was realistic, enthralling, and utterly charming.

If you like stories about real men with real problems, if deeply emotional relationships that encounter multiple obstacles of all kinds are your thing, and if you’re looking for an intense read that manages to find an excellent balance between “serious” and “delightfully humorous”, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I am so happy it is the first volume in a series!


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )

3.5 ( )