Like the last few years we at Love Bytes are reviewing the whole DSP advent calender
There will be a review posted each day (except Sundays and Holidays so some days will have two reviews instead) throughout the month of December.
Let us know what you think of the reviews and the stories and have a chance to win a fabulous giveaway.
First Prize: 10 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)
Second Prize: 5 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)
Third Prize: 3 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)
Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: The Faller
SERIES: Dreamspinner 2018 Advent Calendar Warmest Wishes
AUTHOR: Daniel De Lorne
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 51 Pages
RELEASE DATE: December 01, 2018
BLURB:
Being caught with another man sends Charlie Young fleeing his family to the forests of southwestern Australia to scrape together steamer-passage to the big smoke of London. But life as a timber faller isn’t easy and it’s made worse when the men he works with are brash, bigoted, and often brutal. All except Jack Tapper, who’s the kind of gentle giant that sets Charlie’s heart racing.
While the other men head into town for Christmas, it’s just Charlie and Jack and acres of forest. But trees tell no tales and a few days alone is the perfect opportunity to indulge a bourgeoning passion. When the men return and find things not as they once were, Charlie and Jack have to make the hard decisions about whether to stay where they are or run for their lives.
REVIEW:
The Faller is a fast read, but I enjoyed getting to know Charlie Young. The story is set in the early 1900’s in Australia and Charlie is a young man who was shunned by his family when they discovered him with another young man. He was driven out and has run to the forest to work as a timber faller until he makes enough for passage away from his troubles. There is only one problem. Charlie isn’t a big strapping guy who fits easily into that sort of lifestyle. Through most of the story he is nursing huge blisters on his hands from holding and swinging the heavy axe that he must use to hand hew out the large wooden things the fallers produce. I’m not a hundred percent of what they were but I pictured railroad ties in my mind, and it worked.
Wooden things aside, Charlie is struggling, and considering giving up entirely. The only thing holding them there is the fact that he is penniless and will starve if he doesn’t work. He is already skipping meals because he doesn’t have enough money. Things change quickly though. Three of the men set off to town for Christmas, leaving Charlie alone with the biggest guy in the camp. A man who has never spoken to Charlie in more than grunts. One thing leads to another and things heat up between the two men. What will happen when the other men come back, and one of them discovers Charlie and Jack’s secret?
The only problem I had with the story was the ending. I would really like this to be the beginning of a continuing story. I’d like to see what happens next.
I’d recommend this one. It was fast, but enjoyable.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Thank you for the review. I like stories that show a character that gets shunned by his family and how he deals with it.
I don’t read historical because if the bigotry and racism sucks in our time, a hundred years back was even worse and although it sounds interesting I don’t think I’ll give it a go. Thank you for the review 🙂
Cool review
Thanks for the review. I confess not to be too intrigued by the blurb first, but I might give it a go now.
Thanks for the review. I think I’ll try it now.
Love the setting!
Thank you for the review. It sounds like an interesting read.
Another one where I may have read the blurb and put aside for a while but the review does make it sound interesting
So far among my favourites this year. Really liked the story.