Speechless

Speechless #1

by Kim Fielding

Travis Miller has a machining job, a cat named Elwood, and a pathetic love life. The one bright spot in his existence is the handsome guitar player he sometimes passes on his way home from work. But when he finally gathers the courage to speak to the man, Travis learns that former novelist Drew Clifton suffers from aphasia: Drew can understand everything Travis says, but he is unable to speak or write.

The two lonely men form a friendship that soon blossoms into romance. But communication is only one of their challenges-there's also Travis's inexperience with love and his precarious financial situation. If words are the bridge between two people, what will keep them together?

Genres: M M Romance, Disability, Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, LGBT, Fiction

62 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

Kim Fielding lives in Oregon and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is "eclectic" and she finally got that seventh tattoo.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was...really well done!
Okay, so I had to google aphasia (in case you're like me...aphasia=loss of ability to understand or express speech caused by brain damage.) and my heart ached for Drew.
I LOVED how both Travis and Drew had imperfections but they were perfect for each other.
That is seriously....one of my favorite things.
It was tender and sweet.
It was short and to the point.
And...it made my heart full.

*4 perfect-fit stars*

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5* Touching love story about two men with very different disabilities. One has lost an eye, the other has aphasia (unable to speak or write due to a brain injury).

I wish the characters had been a little more fleshed out and the intimacy not ftb, but I loved the simple sweetness of the overall story.

[Nick Pageant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read about two guys with some extra challenges finding love. I'm a total sap when it comes to these sorts of stories and Kim Fielding does them really well. Recommended when you've got an hour to kill and want to feel warm and cuddly.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to hug this story and never let go.

Love, humor, T-Birds, Supernatural shout outs, and Anarchy in the UK! What’s not to love here? :D

There are so many ways to communicate in this world. Hand shakes, winks, waves, and words. Some forms just force us to look and listen a bit more than others. Words, touches, facial expressions, music, and silence. Kim Fielding’s Speechless showcases them all! A warm, open, heartfelt tale with love and romance thumping and pumping in every page, gesture, and beat. Travis’ honest, straight forward, lonely voice swept me in at word one. Charmed me from head to toe!

Andrew “Drew” Clifton and Travis Miller found each other in this world. Two men forced to alter how they viewed the world and how they moved through it. Life’s cruel sense of unfairness hit them hard. But with courage and strength, Travis and Drew got back up and kept right on fighting with an “I’m not a bloody idiot” attitude and independence. God, I fell hard and fast for these two! Fate, kismet, Cupid—call it whatever you want, but when Travis happened by Drew’s porch and looked up…both of their lives and hearts changed forever. Drew cannot speak or write, so these two found a language all their own.

”Sometimes Travis felt almost hypnotized by those long, strong fingers and those ever-moving eyebrows. And, oh God, that full lower lip….”

Shoulder bumps, hand holding, songs, gasps, and groans---the way Drew and Travis connected and reached out to each other is unforgettable. The way Ms. Fielding captures their romance on the page is unforgettable. Such a warmhearted, *sigh* inducing read. Walks, dancing, cuddling, sharing the newspaper over coffee….there were so many moments that made me smile. I could feel the glow and warmth in every kiss, fluffy towel, and guitar strum. One of the most romantic reads I have experienced in a long time.

One personal sidetrack before I go. :) I am a walker. Every city, street, or corner contains a distinct flavor or energy. Smells, sounds, and secrets to explore. If you look, you will see and feel it all as you walk by or in it. I love to be in it! The way a neighborhood can open up and share its secrets and people with you is captured here with huge love. Ms. Fielding nailed that energy and magic of walking through the world.

I could say more, but I won’t. Why can’t Drew talk? Can their relationship survive the bumps in life? Come see and listen for yourself. An instant favorite for me that I will read again and again.

**Re-read 7/31/25**
Drew and Travis say so much in words and without. I love 'em!

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, so this is a really beautiful love story. Short but very rich with small amusing parts and more depth than many long books can generate.
Also, it's a very different story than anything else I've read. I'm a little sad that there isn't more of Travis and Drew. I don't think I'd get bored following them through their lives.
Well, and I love the cat.

Drew still pretended not to notice him, but he moved his hand over and began stroking right behind Elwood’s ears. “Elwood is an ungrateful slut,” Travis observed. Drew chuckled and rubbed gently behind Travis’s ear too.  😽

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find psychology and brain disorders to be a very interesting field so I was immediately drawn to the premise of this book. A man with aphasia (Drew) struggling to live and find love? I'm in. And it did not disappoint. I adore how the book was told from Travis' point of view. It was interesting how we, as the readers, were left to also interpret Drew's actions. The writer didn't take the easy way out and place us in Drew's head. The book was drama-free, sweet, and very artfully done. It was very short but worth the money spent to buy it. A great read.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for the story and extra 0.5 stars for the refreshing physical imperfection of the characters.

Travis Miller is a machinist with one empty eye socket after an accident when mowing a lawn. Drew Clifton is a former novelist who suffers aphasia -- a language impairement; he cannot speak or write -- after a car accident. Two gentle but lonely soul who happens to meet and connect, in more than just physical. Even if the conversation is one sided (since Drew cannot speak), I still feel that they 'talk' a lot and learn about each other. It's a breath of fresh air, having characters that are not always gorgeous (or if they are, still have the 'imperfection', like inability to speak).

It's quite an easy read -- there's no heavy drama or overloaded sugarness. There is a short separation before the HEA -- but it is not caused by cheating or indecisiveness, just a fact of real live gets in the way before Travis makes a decision to grab a chance on love. And in the end, you will find out that sometimes, gestures can make up for words and they can be as wonderful.

Just lovely ...

PS: The story has a cat. But the interaction with the cat is minimum. This cat person is slightly disappointed *pout*

[Sheziss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story first, science after (only as a curiosity).

"Blessed are those who don't talk because amongst themselves they get along."

(Mariano José de Larra)

I'm getting to know Kim Fielding's style. It seems she likes to use that formula, the formula of choosing two different misfits and bringing them together. I must admit it works, as her stories are cute and warm. It was really weird because, even though I kept in mind Drew is aphasic I still forgot Travis is one-eyed. It's funny because to date, I've known some people who lack one eye, but none with the other disability.

It's always beautiful to see how one person who can't make himself be figured out finds his better half who however manages to understand him. I think that's what real love is, but in most of the cases it's less evident, as their flaws are usually on the inside. Experiencing some external handicap is another thing altogether, and sometimes it's harder to assume.

This short is just adorable and feel-good. It was just a pleasure to read and it was delicious for my taste buds.



************************************************************

My knowledge of aphasias is rudimentary at best but I have a feeling this is a Broca's.



There are different areas in the brain, one who "hears", another one who "understands what you hear", another one who "moves your lips and vocal cords to talk" and all of them are connected to each other. I one of them is not right, there is one kind of aphasia or other, or maybe it's the pathway that goes from one to another which is affected. Anyway, you can "hear" well but you cannot "understand what you hear" or you can "understand what you hear" but you can't make your cords to form the words. Maybe you talk perfectly fine but what you are actually saying doesn't make sense, and you can be aware of it, or you can be not. Sometimes you don't understand a thing but you have no problem repeating the words you hear, even if you don't understand them. Or maybe you can understand and talk perfectly but you can't repeat a thing of what is being said to you.



The same with writing, maybe you can write, maybe you cannot, maybe you can understand what you write, maybe you don't. Maybe you don't understand a written word but you can copy it.



It's a real mess. It's normally due to strokes or traumatic brain injuries, one cerebral artery doesn't supply with blood a certain area and the cells suffer/die.

I'm strangely glad the author came ahead of me and answered a question I had on the tip of my tongue: Why not using sing language? She was quick and said: it's too close to be a language to use when you have this aphasia, so it's useless to try to learn it. A candy for the author for her providence.



More stuff if you are an inquisitive person:







Brain areas and their arterial blood supply:

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance about two men who navigate their blossoming relationship through their difference in social standing and through their disabilities (one having lost an eye and the other the ability to speak and write).

Travis is a blue collar worker. In his daily walk home from work he sees a man sitting on a sidewalk and playing guitar. After several weeks of thinking about him and seeing him on the street, Trevor starts talking to him and discovers that Drew cannot talk and uses gestures to communicate. Not even bothered in the slightest, Trevor nourishes their friendship and coaxes Drew out of his shell.

The resolution to this story is lovely although the big obstacle (Trevor's job) wasn't resolved by the end.

4 stars!

[Vio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good, what I loved the most was both Travis and Drew weren't perfect or handsome, they had a bit more going for them, substance and character that made them feel more alive. Another bonus they didn't let the physical obstacles stand in the way when it came to the crunch. Oh and Elwood was adorable too bad he took a back seat to make way for the guys! Ami says it all much more eloquently in her review.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

RE-READ: JUN 2020

I forgot how nice this short story was... Drew, despite his disability, is independent and very expressive - he can communicate quite unproblematically... with someone who is patient enough and attentive enough to make an effort with understanding him.
Travis is a genuinely kind guy, he doesn't find Drew's communication problems discouraging, in fact, he keeps babbling for the two of them ;)
I liked the story very much cause both MCs are just "normal" - Travis is a machinist, he works a lathe at a big factory, and Drew is basically unemployed - living off his insurance money and royalties. Their dates and weekends together are nothing fancy - no high-life entertainment or high-class accomodations. They really could be your very neighbours and you wouldn't even notice them ;)
Add to the mix a one-eyed cat (just like Travis is) and you get a short, feel-good read - perfect for a quick detour from RL :)


ORIGINAL REVIEW:

A true gem! Not too long (a novella actually) but full of emotions and feelings. I loved the way the MCs got to know each other, their everyday interaction, gentle attention and the final affection. It's a book full of hope and the budding love is sweet but not in a fluff way. What seems to be a very simple story is, for me, a superb depiction of how two lonely, a little damaged people can come to a beautiful end.

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite what both MC's are dealing with, in Drew's case a very real physical disability that makes it impossible to keep being a writer and isolates him in society and Travis's eyepatch, shyness and recurring unemployment, this was not a angsty difficult read.
It was almost like a breath of fresh air, two pretty much normal guys, with issues, no on page sex, sweet read, but not diabetic sweet.

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but intense. And so beautiful!
4,5 stars.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful short. All the angst in the story had already happened away in the past so we are left with two lonely survivors upon whom fortune smiled one day and they found each other.

Loving here means:

Drew seeing Travis, not just the façade but what Travis is inside.

And

Travis hearing Drew even though he was silent.

At first I could not understand how aphasia works, how a person could read but not write, hear but not speak. I came to an understanding of sorts by seeing that Drew had an output problem rather than an input one.

Although I always want more of characters I like, I think that the length of this novella was good considering that there was no other plot than the relationship

A tribute to Elwood - a good dude

[atmatos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute short story about two wounded people that find solace and love with each other.
I really enjoyed the fact that the main character didn't have a glamorous job, nor did he whine too much about the fact. He was normal and that was very refreshing.
The romance was sweet and simple, a slow tumble into love instead of the abounding piles of stories that have insta-love this was also very refreshing.
So all in all this was a great story to get over a book hangover with.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an endearing and romantic tale, not too sugary and really cute!! 4 stars and a big from me

Not a very long book, so this will be a shortie review. The tale stars Travis, a machinist who is blind in one eye from an accident with a lawnmower (moral...wear goggles!!)and wears an eyepatch, rather like pirates of old, and Andrew (Drew), an English novelist who has aphasia and can understand but not speak or write, which is a bit of a bummer for a novelist, but we can thank his previous boyfriend for the condition which resulted from a car accident and then the git walked out!!

Travis walks past Drew's house most days on his way home from work, and sees Drew sitting on his garden wall, playing his guitar most evenings when the weather is OK. One evening after not seeing Drew for several days because of the weather, Travis takes a chance and speaks to him, telling him how much he appreciates Drew's guitar playing...cos Travis is quite a solitary guy and has hardly any friends...of course as Drew doesn't reply, and Travis wonders why, Drew produces one of his many cards from his pocket which explains why he can't speak, and our story really begins.

Many thanks to Vlad for the recommendation.....I've already downloaded the sequel The Gig (which is free at the mo from DSP!!)

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

Rating Speechless feels kind of hard; I definitly liked the blurb and the whole idea behind the story.

Travis - a blue collar worker who is willing to sacrifice his personal life for his work out of fear to slip back into unemployment - finds joy in passing a handsome guitar player on his way home. He is looking forward to this particular moment of the day and is always sad when bad weather keeps the beautiful stranger away.

When he finally gives in and talks to the mysterious man, he finds out that Drew suffers from aphasia - he can understand everything Travis says without having being able to talk or to write himself.

I loved the way these two characters interacted, but somehow the whole story moved way too fast. I kept missing background information and I really believe that the whole concept of the story would have worked way better in a slightly longer work. I read in several reviews, that these two characters had their respective appearances in other Kim Fielding books, but having read any of them so far, I was unable to really get into the characters!

I still loved Kim Fielding's writing talent and I will definitly have a look at the second very short part of the series hoping to find out a little more about Drew and Travis.

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3,75 stars*

Romance with a psychological or medical background has always been a favourite of mine.

I have never heard of aphasia before.
Drew can read and understand, but he can't speak or write. Which means he basically can't communicate in the 'usual' way. It is pretty unimaginable how difficult life is for him, particularly considering he was an author before he was hit with this condition after an accident.

I was amazed by his resilience, the way he copes every day and how he manages to make himself understood. However, we don't get any real glimpses into what goes on in his mind, because the story is told solely from Travis's POV.

Not that I didn't like Travis. He is a genuinely nice guy, just a bit lost and lonely. And their budding relationship was soft and gentle and wholly enjoyable- however, don't expect any steamy scenes!
But I just missed Drew's thoughts.

A lovely story, but there could have been more depth.

[Bookwatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

SWEEEEEEEET ROMANCE! With absolutely no angst... it's just loooooove and a remarkable couple!

The story will be told by Travis... walking home everyday after work Travis will see a man, sitting and playing a guitar... that's Drew.
After a lot of pondering (like two pages, lol) he will decide to risk... a direct contact... and... the romance will begin!

It's a short story and I read it soooo quickly. Probably because it's short, but let's not ignore also another factor... how pleasant the reading was for me! It's a sweet romance, and certainly if you are searching for a quick but intense love story read it... and beware... Travis and Drew's love story will conquer your heart, and for a while you will see both as they are... perfect... in their imperfections... they are just... perfect!

5 stars

[Deeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story that focuses on human emotion.

I loved how Travis and Drew came together, and how they slowly built on their feelings. I loved that these characters felt real. I really loved how even without Drew speaking, or having as much input to this story as Travis, I still felt like I knew him.

A wonderfully uplifting story, wish it could have been longer.

It did make me nostalgic to re read Dabeagle’s free on line story with a similar theme, for those interested it can be found here
http://www.dabeagle.com/storymainpage...

[Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! Travis and Drew were adorable! I actually got upset close to end, no spoilers, but it was heart-breaking. This is a quick, lovely read with compelling, wonderful characters. I can't recommend this one enough. I know I'll be reading it again when I need a comfort story for those blah days!

ETA: I have to upgrade this one more star. I just read another Fielding story that was just as short but didn't quite work as well as this one. There's a lot of depth here in the characters that I'm just loving so much.

[T.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty little gem of a story, though it could have been more fleshed out. The aphasia aspect of it never felt like a contrived plot device, but I wanted to know more about the two main characters. Kim Fielding is definitely an author to watch, given this and how much I enjoyed her previous work Good Bones.

[Meep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread - huh just figured the 'love conquers' crossover out, thee two are repeatedly referred to but didn't make the connection.
Again, it's sweet, just somehow doesn't stick with you.
-- --

Very likeable characters and premise yet unfortunately the book falls flat for me.

The characters are original and feel real; no perfect looks and chiseled abs here (BIG YAY, not that those aren't nice per se but it's so nice to read of characters you can believe in), both have a disability and neither gets a miracle cure. Which is a big plus for realism.

Pacing is slow despite the book length, nothing felt rushed and they make a lovely couple, it gives the feel that they'll work out long term. The cat had he appeared more would get a star all to himself. CUTE CAT.

It's refreshingly angst free; while in other hands these characters would have suffered introspection overload it's all kept simple. Perhaps too simple. I'd not have minded a few misinterpretations here and there, but there is practically no plot. Language and prose is very simple and that does suit the story to some extent but is also limiting.

Despite the postives I found that I checked my reading progress several times. What was maybe an hour's read felt a lot longer. That's not a sign of enjoyment.

The book is written in first person (edit - sorry not first person, just follows his pov, I forget the techy terms!) yet feels distant, often it's a recounting of mundane actions. We learn what food they ate, then their mouths tasted like those foods. IPA is the beer style of choice. It's all tell not show, while I know evey step they took I still don't know what either felt about those things, how or if they were effected, there's no reaction to stimuli.

There's a seperation (I'll not say why) and I never felt any conflict there. The friend calls out of the blue, the step-mom appears out of the blue, why? and if Drew could skype the step-mom he doesn't like, couldn't he skype his love? The possible 'other man' is very casual about his rejection, almost brotherly.

Travis is missing an eye, when his eyepatch is mentioned I felt I'd missed a step - this is the pov character yet I didn't know this yet? We never learn how Drew makes reservations... and I figure thats because the author couldn't think of how either

A great outline, but I wanted it filled out; I wanted to connect and care more for the characters.

[Agla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great, short but it felt complete and had depth. Drew has aphasia so he can't speak or write but can read and understands perfectly when spoken to. Travis has one eye and feels very lonely in this new city he moved to. They get to know each other slowly and communicate really well. They were very cute. I really great story!

[SheReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh...what a sweet little M/M romance. Two lonely men with disabilities find their way into love. Smut revelers-there's no lewd scenes in this one but sometimes a little L.O.V.E. is necessary too, no?

There's no drama in this one.

P.S. The cat, Elwood, is a hoot.

[Elsa Bravante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un relato corto dulce y bien escrito.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A precious novella about two men who feel disconnected from the world finding happiness together. Travis Miller is a machinist who's been unsuccessful in love. Drew Clifton is a former novelist who lost the ability to speak and write after a brain injury. When Drew starts wooing Travis with a combination of guitar playing, body language, and notecards, they find that communication isn't really a problem. What is? Money, specifically for Travis, because his job isn't stable. He has to make difficult choices about how to survive and what he can afford to sacrifice.

Some reviewers on Goodreads wish that this novella was longer so they could spend more time with the characters, and I would want that too... except that I can't imagine how to make it longer without adding drama just for the sake of drama. Lack of (manufactured) drama is one of the things I appreciated about this story. The other is the easy, affectionate bond between Drew and Travis, including the various ways they have (often very entertaining) conversations.

The followup short, The Gig, is also charming.

Diversity note: Both characters are disabled (Travis lost an eye in an accident), but that's not the point of the story or an obstacle to their relationship. It just is and they're both fine with it. Love that about it.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels so good to be reading again, enclosed in a world that is not my own.

This book was sweet, so sweet. It made my heart sing. Both Drew and Travis were adorable together. I just wished they hadn't spent that time a apart. And my biggest complaint is that it was too short. I wanted to read more about these two. Still, it was heartwarming to watch how they interacted and how Travis' eye or Drew inability to speak never came between them. They didn't let their differences stand in the way of their relationship, they loved each other, flaws and all.

[Jyanx · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful romance with two imperfect characters free of excessive angst or self pity. It was wonderful watching them grow closer together, and finding a way to share what was in their hearts.

[Santy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

Very short and sweet and hit the spot.

No angst , just two men getting to know each other and falling in love.

Loved it.