story review Featured Story: The Hollow Hills
Entry posted by Renee Stevens in Featured Stories
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Welcome to another Monday! While Monday's might be the start of your work week, there is also a bright spot, at least on THIS Monday. Today we have a review from Cole Matthews on Valkyrie's in progress story, The Hollow Hills. Just a reminder, if you'd like to bring some attention to a story that you're reading, you are more than welcome to write a blog review for it! We do have a review team, but we also welcome reviews from members outside of the review team. If you're interested in reviewing a story for the blog, please message @Timothy M. to sign up for an available review slot.
Valkyrie
Reviewer: Cole Matthews
Status: In Process
Word Count: 86,114
Writers dream in stories. We fantasize about scenes, conjure characters to people them, and fill their fictional lives with events and emotions. That’s what a writer does to create a truth of their own.
Readers indulge in a writer’s fancy, digging deeply into the words and images conveyed. A reader interprets a writer’s words and the characters come alive.
At least that’s what happens when reading a story like “The Hollow Hills” by Valkyrie.
This is Valkyrie’s introduction of the story to the reader.
This story centers around The Hollow Hills - a horse farm in Vermont - and Galen and Joshua. Galen moves to New England after breaking up with his boyfriend and meets Josh. Their relationship is anything but easy, with many obstacles standing in their way. When tragedy strikes, they need to learn how to redefine their lives and live with the after-effects.
The story seems pretty straight-forward.
It’s not.
Galen and Josh both have rich personal histories. Each man’s past affects their actions and reactions. These characters are steeped in pain, happiness, love, and fear, and they struggle to make their lives better.
Surrounding these men are other characters, both loving and deeply flawed. They provide the kind of contour and texture that makes both men feel like people we know.
In fact, I can identify with these guys personally. They are that real.
The story is called “The Hollow Hills,” which is the setting for this drama. However, Valkyrie has managed to make this horse farm another actor in the story. The ranch is the place where Galen and Josh meet and interact, but those interactions take on a greater meaning as the farm becomes a protector.
The horses too, are integral parts of the story as both men learn to heal with their help.
So far, I’ve only described the setting, the story outline, and the theme. The story is so much more, so let’s take a look.
Here is an excerpt from the first chapter, from Galen’s perspective.
A knock on the door interrupted my musings. I opened it, expecting to see the landlord, but instead, looked up into the blue eyes of the blond-haired hunk standing before me in his tan sheriff’s uniform.
“I see you made it, cuz.” Liam said, grabbing me in his arms and lifting me off the ground.
I grunted “Ugh! Let go of me, you beast!”
He walked into the apartment a few steps before setting me down and closing the door. “I can’t tell you how good it is to have you back here, Galen.” Liam said. He looked around the mostly empty apartment and gave me an apologetic look. “I ripped the furniture company a new one for not having all your stuff here in time. Lot of good it did.”
I shrugged and slumped my shoulders. “Not a big deal, cuz. It’s the story of my life lately. I can sleep on the couch for a little bit. I’ll live.” My tone of voice must have belied my words because Liam put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
Galen’s past is still part of him. He’s struggling with the loss of his partner, Jamie, and yet he’s not alone. The man has a cousin, Liam, who is there for him like a brother. Jamie left him therefore Galen is dealing with waves of self-doubt and a crisis of confidence. He’s determined to move on though.
Then, Galen meets Josh, and feels a striking attraction. Josh has a boyfriend, but that doesn’t prevent Galen from experiencing an interest in him. And vice versa.
In chapter four, we begin to see the world through Josh’s eyes. Let’s take a peek.
Galen and Roger were as different as night and day. I scowled into my cup. I had those feelings for Roger once, but accepted our arrangement long ago. We fulfilled a need in each other that no one understood, especially Alannah and Liam. I wanted nothing more than for Roger to move in with me, but he worked so far away from the farm that it wasn’t practical, especially in the winter. The Hollow Hills was my home and there was no way I was leaving it, not even for Roger. I loved him and wished we could spend more time together, but after Henri I gave up on the notion of spending the rest of my life in domestic bliss with another man. It just wasn’t in the cards for me.
I needed to stop thinking of Galen as anything more than just a friend. I wondered what the beautiful blond saw in me. He could have his choice of men. Why me? I was nothing special. I was older than him by about ten years I guessed. I wasn’t gorgeous or famous. Well, I was in both the cooking and show-jumping worlds, but Galen wasn’t a part of either.
Josh also has a past filled with love and disappointment that he carries with him. His boyfriend, Roger, is a person he believes is good for him. The thrill of being around Galen is tempered by his love for his partner.
Josh’s housemate at the ranch is Alannah, who can’t stand Roger. She’s a warm, no-nonsense woman, and something makes her view their relationship critically. What could that be the reason?
You’ll have to read the story to find out.
“The Hollow Hills” is written in first person from Galen and Josh’s perspectives. It’s set in modern times and I would characterize it as a novel. It contains some very disturbing content, so if you avoid stories with violence or depression, this isn’t the book for you. Valkyrie is finishing the last couple of chapters so it will be complete shortly. If you want a moving, emotional story you can sink your teeth into, you will enjoy “The Hollow Hills.”
It’s worth the wild ride.
Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: adult, rape, animals Rating: Mature
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