It is   1914. As war engulfs the British Empire, a young Royal Navy gunner, George Royal, is waiting for his next ship in his home port where his best friend has fallen in love with beautiful Carrie, a woman with secrets. But when she also becomes attracted to George she  puts the friendship between the two men in jeopardy.
Unprepared for war, Britain’s leadership is severely tested. Worse yet, the Prime Minister’s love for a young woman occupies his thoughts even during Cabinet meetings as  his bickering warlords are making fate-changing decisions.
These two  stories, separate but inextricably linked, reveal how the personal lives and motivations of leaders can influence the course of a war and the fate of those fighting it -- on one hand, the personalities and machinations of the leaders and, on the other, George’s coming-of-age through a love triangle at home and his experience of the comradeship, excitement and tragedies of the war at sea.  

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Professional Reviews...

Royal Navy & Maritime Book Reviews
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Comments by Readers...


"Brilliant story of love, political intrigue and world war."
"At last, a magnificent work of romance and war by a British author who knows what he's writing about. Ex-Royal Navy officer William Daysh has captured the sweep and vastness of World War One sea battles, when the English Navy was supreme and Germany was determined to destroy it. His wonderfully-described scenes of thunderous naval duels are counterpoint to a story of unrequited (or is it?) love between the British Prime Minister and the young Venetia Stanley, an emotionally-ripping affair that caught him just as Britain was going to war in 1914. From the book: 'The direction of Britain's war effort was...in the hands of decision makers wracked by divisive argument, led by a lovelorn Prime Minister plagued by emotional distractions.'
"It is the story also of a young Royal Navy gunner coming of age through intense tragedy and his own journey through life, love, and heart-breaking loss. Daysh's combat scenes on land and at sea are some of the very best I have ever read, the tender moments among the principals are lovely, and his gift for details and dialogue make 'Over By Christmas' a splendid adventure. A grand tale such as this is the result of masterly talent and, without question, extensive research and dedication to crafting a terrific book. I won't give away the surprising ending but I cannot wait for 'OBC II'! It's fun to imagine what actors will play which parts when 'Over By Christmas' comes to the big screen, as it truly deserves."
                                    Don Struke, Baltimore, MD USA,  26 April 2008
 

Over by Christmas...

"This book is a fascinating account of the First World War at sea.  We are constantly informed about life in the trenches but little is said about this aspect of the war.  Excellent research, good characterisation, he captures the (difficult to explain) relationships within marriages where the stiff upper lip was paramount in the older generation and they didn't let their feelings show.  All in all a thumping good read, I couldn't put it down. 
Would highly recommend."
                                                                                       Anon

Over by Christmas...

"An incredibly well-written, well-researched book, made more interesting by the way the author has woven ordinary people’s lives into the story of the Great war and the government of the day. I feel this book would prove to be interesting and educative to people who would normally not read war stories. The book moves rapidly from one aspect to another so the reader is always ready for more.
Personally I thoroughly enjoyed the book; I read it over two days and I must congratulate the author on the excellent grammar, perfect spelling and totally believable cockney – hard for some authors to handle! The sexual scenes for that era are handled beautifully and I also enjoyed the Asquith chapters! Just shows you what goes on in our government! Talk about Profumo and Prescott!"
                                                                                      Anon

Over by Christmas...

"I very much enjoy historical novels, so was particularly pleased to be able to read this one.  I found it to be extremely readable and it gave me an insight to aspects of the First World War and life at home at that time which one hears little about. "
                                                                                      Anon

Over By Christmas...
 

"This well researched book describes life in the early years of WW1. It is not as you might think a boring history lesson but looks at life and conditions as they were during this period. There is a love story that illustrates all too clearly how little influence women of that time held, leading to Emmeline Pankhurst and her suffrage movement. The Coronel Disaster where two British battleships are sunk with no survivors by a superior German Fleet is brilliantly told and must have the reader wondering how these great ships which look invincible when alongside in Portsmouth Dockyard are really nothing more than death traps. The Gallipoli campaign is well told, in particular the conversations at the British Admiralty between Asquith, Fisher, Churchill and others provide a valuable background and understanding as to why these disasters occur. There is much much more in this book which Bill writes in his convincing and easy to read style and the end came all too quickly. Congratulations on a great effort and put me on the list for OBC2. "

                   Michael Power, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 11 May 2008
 

Over By Christmas...

"As a survivor of air combat over Europe during World War Two, I think I have some understanding of how my father’s generation was affected by the 1914-1918 cataclysm known as the War to End All Wars. My father luckily did not experience World War One but had he been English rather than American, he would have seen many of his contemporaries in the British military and government caught up in questionable decisions made by stubborn leaders. The resulting loss of life, equipment and ships is appalling, and the author of Over By Christmas shows how these leaders were unduly influenced by those around them.

 The story is told by following the lives of people at the top of government and people far below, who in many cases were sacrificed and sent to death by leaders who made bad decisions without second thoughts or vestige of remorse.  You will experience exciting descriptions of German and English battleships maneuvering while shelling each other, and you’ll witness the terror of the crews while they fight to survive. The realism of war at sea and on land at Gallipoli is absolutely outstanding.
One of the major culprits, if I may use that word, was the British prime minister, who should have focused totally on the future of his nation, but was head-over-heels in love with a woman young enough to be his daughter, to the dismay of his wife. The reader wishes he would spend more time running the country and less time writing letters to the alluring lady. For the book’s young Royal Navy gunner, George, and his shipmates, their futures depend on the courage required to keep going forward in spite of the odds.  The continuing love story of George and Carrie was finalized in a bittersweet ending that was different than most affairs of the heart , and yet one could see that it must end that way.
This is a fascinating book with a lot of twists and turns, and thoroughly enjoyable. "
                    Jim Skophammer, Lincoln, California, USA, 03 June 2008

Over By Christmas...

"Over By Christmas is about ordinary lives set within major events during the first two years of the First World War which is so well researched that it includes interesting, and little known, detail about conditions during that period. The story includes a robust fictional cast of characters together with prominent contemporary politicians and senior military personalities which has been assembled into an entertaining docu-drama which, having started to read, is difficult to put down. The story line, with the exception of historical events, is not at all predictable and the ending permits a sequel which I hope will appear soon. I enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in recommending it as an excellent read."

                              Harold Jemmett, Fleet, Hampshire, UK, 05 July 2008

Over By Christmas...

"This is a beautifully crafted story, expertly interweaving the main fictional characters into the political and social mores at the time of the 1914-18 War. William Daysh has used publicly available data and personal papers to tell a poignant tale of love between George Royal, a young Naval rating and Carrie, a young girl of the servant class. He contrasts this with the sugar-daddy and passionate affair between the British Prime Minister and the young and inexperienced Venetia Stanley.
George's friend Bill Guy first meets and falls in love with Carrie, but she also has eyes for George. The machinations of this triangle, interwoven with expert and vivid descriptions of sea battles and the doomed Dardanelles 'adventure', show the author to have an instinctive sympathy with those serving in the armed forces and facing death. This is an enthralling book."

  Mr. B. Wright "Book Wright", Colchester, Essex, UK, 06 July 2008

                                  
Over By Christmas...