The Hambledown Dream
by Dean Mayes
Review

THE HAMBLEDOWN DREAM

Australian, Denny Banister had the world at his feet; a successful career, a passion for the guitar and he is in love with Sonya – his best friend and soul mate.

DEAN MAYES

Dean grew up with an early love of words – a trait a little out of step for most children of his age and has been writing and creating for most of his life…or at least for as long as he could wield a pen and knew how to use it.

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The genesis for what became his first published novel came in 2008, when Dean started an internet blog and decided to craft a story ‘on the fly’, with no bells or whistles and put it up in instalments each week. He would announce a new edition on Facebook and Twitter and let anybody who wanted to, read it. Dean suddenly found himself with a dedicated readership, a following who, hooked on the story, would ‘tune in’ each week to read the next instalment and encourage Dean to keep writing more.

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One particular message, was to signal the turning point in Dean’s writing career. It invited him to take a look at Central Avenue Publishing of Vancouver, Canada. After talking with C.A.P’s creative director Michelle Halket, Dean became very serious about his project. He stopped publishing the story to the blog and began constructing the manuscript, stealing time whenever he could to work on the story. Within a few months the manuscript, now renamed The Hambledown Dream, was completed, submitted and accepted for publication.

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Since its publication, The Hambledown Dream has received critical acclaim from across the globe and fired Dean’s creative spark to continue writing. His second full-length novel, Gifts Of The Peramangk, was nominated as a finalist in the prestigious EPIC Awards for contemporary fiction, in 2013 and has been described as a work of significant literary achievement.

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Dean lives in Adelaide, Australia with his partner Emily and their two children Xavier and Lucy.

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Catch up with all Dean’s latest news on his Website

Like Dean’s page on Facebook

Follow Dean on Twitter

REVIEW

Before I set down my thoughts about this fantastic book, let me just say that I love the way that Dean introduces the idea of a story and it’s characters to an audience, through the medium of his blog.

He basically seems to set down his thoughts and ideas, in a short story form of instalments, building on it weekly, until the novel has taken shape. The comments and words of encouragement he receives almost appear to help mould the finished storyline, even down to the final book title.

Dean is at present, potentially working on his second novel, with a work-in-progress title of  Gifts Of the Peramangk. Why not visit his site sometime and maybe leave a comment of encouragement, together with your thoughts on his progress!

As for The Hambledown Dream – I loved it from the first page to the last!

When Dean first contacted me, requesting that I read and review The Hambledown Dream, I was at first flattered and pleased, then, after checking out the synopsis, a little sceptical and dubious, as for me, the notion of reading a paranormal romance, took me right out of my comfort zone, into an unknown genre.

I need not have worried – This debut novel of the genre for me, was a great initiation and something to be enjoyed. The only caveat that I would highlight, would be the explicit sex scenes and violence at the start of the book, which although totally in keeping with the context of the storyline, may offend some readers.

The book is described as a contemporary paranormal romance, but for me it was so much more. There was a hint of the supernatural, both physical and emotional transformation, and the obvious question of the notion of reincarnation.

Reincarnation, (derived from the Latin, literally meaning, “entering the flesh again”), is not something that I have a great belief in, but this book does pose the question to me, of how a body is selected to be the recipient of a departed soul or spirit.

In The Hambledown Dream, could it be simply that Andy had died on the ER table and the transformation took place purely randomly at the time of his resuscitation, was it a similarity in the ages of the two young men, because of their shared talents and love of music, the rescue and redemption of Andy’s tortured soul and body, or to guide Andy back to Sonya simply for Denny’s own gratification??

I’m sure that there will be  a whole raft of differing opinion about the subject, so let’s just accept The Hambledown Dream for what it is – A story of sex, sleaze, drugs and a life on the path to self-destruction; transforming itself into a story of love, passion, new beginnings, two lost souls reaching out for each other and a love so strong that even death cannot stop it.

The characters all have great definition, depth and presence, to the point where you can almost see them and feel their emotions throughout the entire story. The spiritual powers of emotion and music lay the senses bare and the mind a blank page, ready to write a whole new chapter.

The first part of the story, is fast paced and action packed, with emotions running so high in the sleazy underworld of Chicago, that the tension is palpable to the reader. You almost think that sooner or later, you will be left to pick up the pieces of a shattered life and are looking sneakily forwards to the next page, just to see if there is any more danger that one person can attract.

The underlying reasons for this life of self-mutilation and debauchery, start to become apparent, as the story of Andy’s childhood and early years begins to unravel little by little, leaving the reader with a sense of sadness at a life wasted for the want of a small show of affection and encouragement, from those he held in the greatest of esteem.

Andy’s subsequent transformation and the remainder of the story, takes on a whole new meaning, as he comes to terms with how his life might have been, if he had lived in someone else’s shoes and how that change may still be brought about, if he is only willing to open his mind to the possibilities of a life without hate and self loathing; to embrace his talents for the gift they are and to realise that the help and affection offered by people is just that, unconditional and freely given.

The description and evolution of Andy’s musical talent and experiences, only draws the reader further under the spell of this captivating story. His ability to express himself through his guitar playing and the link between this and his eventual reconciliation with his estranged father, is poignant and at the heart of the story.

His need to reach out for his still grieving soul mate is inexorable, once he full comes to terms with, understands what has happened to him and accepts the siuation as it is. A love so strong experienced by two people, is dealt with sympathetically by the author, who draws them together as if by fate, with soft, flowing and emotional lines of prose, that are only enhanced by the paranormal and supernatural overtones.

In Dean’s words from the book “This is not over”

There is a great link on Dean’s website, to an interview conducted by Joanna, at ‘The Creative Penn’, where he talks about what it takes to be a man in the romance market. It makes for some interesting reading!!

A fantastic debut novel, can’t wait for the next book, Dean.

A well-deserved 5 out of 5

I was asked to read and review this book by the author, Dean Mayes. As such, this complimentary copy was supplied by the author.

This in no way influenced any comments I may have expressed about the book, in any review I may have compiled. Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this review.