Genre: Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Trans FTM
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Seasoned Park Ranger Will Avery has found his home in the Denali wilderness, cherishing his solitary routines for the decade leading up to 1991. The trade-off that no one knows of his identity as a transgender man feels worth it for the comforting assurance he finds in the towering glaciers.
Until Will discovers an unexpected passenger in his truck—the visiting wolf biologist everyone in the Park is ecstatic to meet—Nikhil Rajawat.
Nikhil doesn’t return his new colleagues’ fervor. He’s dreamt of Denali for one reason: the pinnacle of his research, and it isn’t anyone’s business that this is the last year he’ll get to chase the wolves. He doesn’t expect to fall for the Ranger who forces him to carry bear spray in the backcountry. Just as Will doesn’t expect to ask Nikhil to share his bed.
But when their dreamlike summer comes to an end, and Nikhil resolutely leaves on a plane bound for India, a devastated Will pretends he didn’t just plead for Nikhil to stay. And one year later, when Nikhil suddenly re-appears in Denali without explanation, Will must decide if Alaska is his solitary refuge—or if perhaps there’s a home somewhere in the world for two.
The Review
At the age of seventeen, a traumatic change shook Will Avery’s life. He made his choices and became a Park Ranger, and now spends his life in the Denali wilderness in Alaska. He’s worked at various national parks throughout the years, and has lead a very solitary life. He’s not so much closeted as afraid of what others will see. He can only hope that someday he will be ready to share himself with someone.
Rajawat (Nick) Nikhil is from India. He’s a scientist who has come to Denali to record the movement of the wolf packs in the park. Immediately he picks out Will to be his guide. Will is dumbfounded at the choice – and he doesn’t have time or conversation skills needed for visitors. It seems Nikhil doesn’t either.
Set in the early nineties, Will and NIck’s journey through the park will also take them both to a place of raw emotions.
Beaumont takes an intriguing look at a trans man’s solitary life in the wilderness, from the age of seventeen, dealing with all the issues that come with such a major change, and the time it takes for someone transitioning to feel comfortable with themselves, and to reveal that true self to someone else. There’s just not physical pain and suffering but also a mental and emotional toll. And in Will’s case, the loss of his father’s love that can never be mended, and the pain of having an abusive mother.
Nikhil has to deal with his own family issues and the strong ethnic beliefs and customs of his homeland, and is still in the closet.
Will is also dealing with the loss of a long time friend – Lugnut – his old grey malamute. There are a few characters that he has befriended too – Gina Vargas, head of the kennels, and Kelly Morgan, control and tracking expert.
Beaumont takes us on a journey of raw human emotions that is very much Will’s story. It’s an emotional voyage – heartbreaking, wonderful and unforgettable. the story details a physical journey too, including the preparations needed to live in the wilderness. His vivid descriptions portray the beauty and harshness of the weather and wild life that inhabit Denali.
This is the first book I’ve read by C.L. Beaumont and I was thoroughly entertained and impressed with his creativeness in this heartfelt novel. I highly recommend Names For The Dawn – it’s a very unique story!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
