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Driftwood
This is the FoxTales edition of the book previously published by Samhain Publishing. Other than the cover art and description, the book is the same.
Thomas Penrose is a village doctor in rural Cornwall. Popular with patients and friends alike, and handsome into the bargain, he lives in a romantic clifftop tower by the sea. It’s a wonderful life – if only Dr Tom could enjoy it. He’s a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, fighting a lonely battle against alcoholism and PTSD.
Determined not to inflict his troubles on anyone else, Tom keeps himself to himself. But fate has other ideas, and brings a handsome surfer crashing to his feet after a dreadful wipe-out on Porth Beach. Just another crazy surf bunny? Not a bit of it – Flynn Summers is one of Cornwall’s heroes, a fearless search-and-rescue helicopter man. Why is he risking his beautiful neck in the stormy off-season waves?
Despite the rocky beginning, Tom and Flynn become friends. Both are concealing sorrows behind a tough facade, and for once in his life Tom thinks he’s met someone who can handle him, shadow-side and all. But Flynn isn’t a free man. He’s unhappily locked into a bond of obligations and bad memories with formidable pilot Rob Tremaine – and Rob has no intention of letting Flynn go.
As Tom and Flynn begin their high-risk, high-reward romance, will the tides of the past sweep in to destroy their new love?
Thomas Penrose is a village doctor in rural Cornwall. Popular with patients and friends alike, and handsome into the bargain, he lives in a romantic clifftop tower by the sea. It’s a wonderful life – if only Dr Tom could enjoy it. He’s a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, fighting a lonely battle against alcoholism and PTSD.
Determined not to inflict his troubles on anyone else, Tom keeps himself to himself. But fate has other ideas, and brings a handsome surfer crashing to his feet after a dreadful wipe-out on Porth Beach. Just another crazy surf bunny? Not a bit of it – Flynn Summers is one of Cornwall’s heroes, a fearless search-and-rescue helicopter man. Why is he risking his beautiful neck in the stormy off-season waves?
Despite the rocky beginning, Tom and Flynn become friends. Both are concealing sorrows behind a tough facade, and for once in his life Tom thinks he’s met someone who can handle him, shadow-side and all. But Flynn isn’t a free man. He’s unhappily locked into a bond of obligations and bad memories with formidable pilot Rob Tremaine – and Rob has no intention of letting Flynn go.
As Tom and Flynn begin their high-risk, high-reward romance, will the tides of the past sweep in to destroy their new love?
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2010
26 people are currently reading
963 people want to read
About the author
Harper Fox
58 books1,176 followersHarper Fox is an M/M author with a mission. She’s produced six critically acclaimed novels in a year and is trying to dispel rumours that she has a clone/twin sister locked away in a study in her basement. In fact she simply continues working on what she loves best– creating worlds and stories for the huge cast of lovely gay men queuing up inside her head. She lives in rural Northumberland in northern England and does most of her writing at a pensioned-off kitchen table in her back garden, often with blanket and hot water bottle.
She lives with her SO Jane, who has somehow put up with her for a quarter of a century now, and three enigmatic cats, chief among whom is Lucy, who knows the secret of the universe but isn't letting on. When not writing, she either despairs or makes bread, specialities foccacia and her amazing seven-strand challah. If she has any other skills, she's yet to discover them.
She lives with her SO Jane, who has somehow put up with her for a quarter of a century now, and three enigmatic cats, chief among whom is Lucy, who knows the secret of the universe but isn't letting on. When not writing, she either despairs or makes bread, specialities foccacia and her amazing seven-strand challah. If she has any other skills, she's yet to discover them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
October 8, 2015
dumb as a box of hair.
*stares bleakly at litany of notes taken to explain how stupid this book was*
*despairs*
*closes tab*
*opens new tab*
*suffers spasm of OCD*
*returns to goodreads*
*returns to review pane*
*pauses*
YOU CAN'T MOUNT AN OCEAN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION IN A STORM, 20 MINUTES AFTER A COMA, WITH A BROKEN COLLARBONE AND TWO CRACKED RIBS.
*considers ending the review right there*
*does not end the review right there*
...and the human butthole does not flutter. with or without a dick in it.
*clicks save*
*stares bleakly at litany of notes taken to explain how stupid this book was*
*despairs*
*closes tab*
*opens new tab*
*suffers spasm of OCD*
*returns to goodreads*
*returns to review pane*
*pauses*
YOU CAN'T MOUNT AN OCEAN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION IN A STORM, 20 MINUTES AFTER A COMA, WITH A BROKEN COLLARBONE AND TWO CRACKED RIBS.
*considers ending the review right there*
*does not end the review right there*
...and the human butthole does not flutter. with or without a dick in it.
*clicks save*
April 23, 2013
3.5 solid stars
Truth is, Harper Fox could make a flea-infested wet blanket that smelled of rot feel romantic. Her style is not for everyone. I know to some she is cheesy as can be and others roll their eyes at her overly-lyrical, poetic style. But, for me…she’s magic.
I want to go to every location she describes in a book.
I want to get to know every person she introduces to me.
I want to get lost in the love of every couple she brings together.
Her books reek of loneliness, desperation, redemption, and love. And with each new one I read, my appreciation of her style increases. Her books are to be savored like an aged scotch (<-look at me tryin’ to be all Fox’esque in my review!). And now that I'm getting used to her words, I can giggle at times that I shouldn't...yet still enjoy what I'm consuming.
For the first 2/3 of the book, I felt a bit lost. It could be the odd formatting of my ebook, but I wasn’t always exactly sure what was going on in what I was reading. But, then, I reminded myself to SLOW DOWN and indulge in the words on the page. And once that happened, well, the book took over and I felt so enraptured by Tom & Flynn and Bella (a dog…don’t worry) and their discovery of love that saved them all. *sigh*
This one had the “throw-some-adventure-in-towards-the-end-of-the-book” that all of her books have. And it was suspenseful, and exciting…and yet as out-of-place as it is in all her other reads.
Though I loved Tom & Flynn, they’re not my favorite of her couplings…but again, she knows how to write GREAT LOVE between 2 broken MC’s…and for that, I am smitten by them.
If you have a tolerance for waxing-poetic, and are in the mood for a deep, lyrical romance…then you might want to give Harper Fox a try. And Driftwood would be a good choice to start…
May 15, 2014
Angsty, lyrical, and quintessentially Harper Fox.
I'm all over the map when it comes to my Harper Fox books. Life After Joe is on my all-time favorites list and then I have All Roads Lead To You, which I two-starred. A lot of my ratings for this author depends on my mood and my mindset. She writes in a very particular way which you either love or hate.
Harper Fox is a master of the "broken man". These men have complicated relationships with each other, with former lovers, and with their families. They are three dimensional and flawed, sometimes so flawed that I have trouble connecting to them. This author doesn't write simple romance. Nothing is simple, and that reflects in everything from the language that she uses to the ways that her characters view relationships.
This particular book was a middle of the road Harper Fox for me. At times, the overly descriptive language caused me to step back from the story. There was also a little trouble with the connection between Tom and Flynn. I couldn't quite get a grasp on them as a couple and I wasn't completely onboard with their relationship.
I did, however, love the angst. MAN, these guys are messed up! PTSD, selective amnesia, destructive relationships, self-flagellation... what didn't these men have wrong with them? However, I am a sucker for an angsty story and two broken men finding peace with each other, so something about this story drew me in and wiggled into my heart.
So a middling rating for this one. It was both wordy and hard to get into and emotional for me.
I'm all over the map when it comes to my Harper Fox books. Life After Joe is on my all-time favorites list and then I have All Roads Lead To You, which I two-starred. A lot of my ratings for this author depends on my mood and my mindset. She writes in a very particular way which you either love or hate.
Harper Fox is a master of the "broken man". These men have complicated relationships with each other, with former lovers, and with their families. They are three dimensional and flawed, sometimes so flawed that I have trouble connecting to them. This author doesn't write simple romance. Nothing is simple, and that reflects in everything from the language that she uses to the ways that her characters view relationships.
This particular book was a middle of the road Harper Fox for me. At times, the overly descriptive language caused me to step back from the story. There was also a little trouble with the connection between Tom and Flynn. I couldn't quite get a grasp on them as a couple and I wasn't completely onboard with their relationship.
I did, however, love the angst. MAN, these guys are messed up! PTSD, selective amnesia, destructive relationships, self-flagellation... what didn't these men have wrong with them? However, I am a sucker for an angsty story and two broken men finding peace with each other, so something about this story drew me in and wiggled into my heart.
So a middling rating for this one. It was both wordy and hard to get into and emotional for me.
July 8, 2011
I think this is the best-written m/m romance book I have read. The characters are fascinating, the themes of PTSD, abuse, obsession, loss and betrayal make the plot rich and unexpected. The language is flawless. Little details ring true and luminous.
The final climactic scene did push me to the edge of disbelief in its plot twists, but not enough to take me out of this story. And the ending was satisfying. I immediately went and bought every book by Harper Fox that was available for my Nook.
The final climactic scene did push me to the edge of disbelief in its plot twists, but not enough to take me out of this story. And the ending was satisfying. I immediately went and bought every book by Harper Fox that was available for my Nook.
did-not-finish
October 19, 2011Could Not...Would Not...Did Not finish this book!!!
I actually liked the first two chapters, but then it got really, really slow and boring. The characters were not developed at all; they had all these issues but I did not understand who they were other than them being two self destructive nearly suicidal men. The writing was not for me at all. I didn't understand any of the imagery and analogies and many times I was left thinking "What the fuck does that mean?"
So, I stopped at 48%.
I actually liked the first two chapters, but then it got really, really slow and boring. The characters were not developed at all; they had all these issues but I did not understand who they were other than them being two self destructive nearly suicidal men. The writing was not for me at all. I didn't understand any of the imagery and analogies and many times I was left thinking "What the fuck does that mean?"
"Long, slow strokes, easy as sunlight, never relinquishing the embrace."
"Flynn found full reach inside him and began to ride him hard. Tom knew that he had within himself a compact, sturdy strength, diminished a little by the way he had been living but still there to call upon."
"Flynn's hand tightened hard on him, and he burst to a pleasure so bright that it put out the sun."
So, I stopped at 48%.
May 16, 2013
Sea, sand and surf. Throw in a RNLI rescue, a Cornish gale and gun running, you have a super Harper Fox story. Tom and Flynn are damaged goods and when Tom rescues Flynn from a surfing accident or attempted suicide then you have two characters that are desperately in need of each other. Tom suffers from PTSD from his time in the Army in Afghanistan and Flynn is in an obusive relationship with no way out. These two unlikely characters find the strentgh they need in each others arms in order to cope with the suffering they are both experiencing. However, Flynn's partner David is possessive and tries to hold Flynn in a poisonous relationship with what can only be described as a form of blackmail and guilt. Everything comes to a head when on a stormy night David flies out with Flynn on a rescue mission and tries to kill him. How the story pans out then you'll have to read it.
Harper Fox with this story has written an action packed love story with unlikely characters who find themselves caught in a web of illegal activities which threaten their very lives. The strength they find in each other gives the power to overcome this. Harper Fox once again delivers a very descriptive and powerful tale. Her writing is not everyone's cup of tea, but she manages to transport you to a point where you can almost feel, smell and experience the wild Cornish coast. This is not an author that you can skip and skim through a book, but have to sit down quietly and savour every word, description, simile and sentence construction. Then you get the most from her writing. I really enjoyed this read and give it a solid four stars. I felt the book was not quite to the standard of her book Scrap Metal which is absolutely beautiful.
So I never add pictures to my reviews, but as this book is set in Cornwall where I come from, a Cornish boy born and bred, I could relate to all the locations she writes about as I have often been there. Harper Fox herself has also recently moved to Cornwall. So I will indulge myself by posting a few photos of these places.
So here is Kynance Cove where Tom meets Flynn for the first time and remains a constant backdrop throughout the book.....
St Michael's Mount. An island for 9 hours a day, cut off from the mainland when the tide is in.
Lanyon Quoit, one of the many bronze age Menhirs, momuments and stone cirles that can be found all along the Cornish coast. This is the setting for a rather wild love scene....
Penzance, the town where Tom works in ER.....
The RNLI station at Sennen. Although in her book she refers to the town as Porth which is fictional, it's obvious from her writing which RNLI station. These guys are among some of the bravest guys that exist, risking life and limb to save others in trouble off the Cornish coast.
Just an impression of a Cornish storm or gale. When these things hit land coming off the Atlantic then you don't go out the front door. I remember as a child waking up in the night and sat in the living room with my parents listening to the wind howling outside and my father cringing every time he heard a roof tile go flying. This is Sennen in a storm where the lifeboat station is.
And finally a shot of Flynn as the so called "Teabag" in the team. I laughed out loud when I read this as being very apt and descriptive. Just the imagery.
Another great buddy read with Macky and Tina
Harper Fox with this story has written an action packed love story with unlikely characters who find themselves caught in a web of illegal activities which threaten their very lives. The strength they find in each other gives the power to overcome this. Harper Fox once again delivers a very descriptive and powerful tale. Her writing is not everyone's cup of tea, but she manages to transport you to a point where you can almost feel, smell and experience the wild Cornish coast. This is not an author that you can skip and skim through a book, but have to sit down quietly and savour every word, description, simile and sentence construction. Then you get the most from her writing. I really enjoyed this read and give it a solid four stars. I felt the book was not quite to the standard of her book Scrap Metal which is absolutely beautiful.
So I never add pictures to my reviews, but as this book is set in Cornwall where I come from, a Cornish boy born and bred, I could relate to all the locations she writes about as I have often been there. Harper Fox herself has also recently moved to Cornwall. So I will indulge myself by posting a few photos of these places.
So here is Kynance Cove where Tom meets Flynn for the first time and remains a constant backdrop throughout the book.....
St Michael's Mount. An island for 9 hours a day, cut off from the mainland when the tide is in.
Lanyon Quoit, one of the many bronze age Menhirs, momuments and stone cirles that can be found all along the Cornish coast. This is the setting for a rather wild love scene....
Penzance, the town where Tom works in ER.....
The RNLI station at Sennen. Although in her book she refers to the town as Porth which is fictional, it's obvious from her writing which RNLI station. These guys are among some of the bravest guys that exist, risking life and limb to save others in trouble off the Cornish coast.
Just an impression of a Cornish storm or gale. When these things hit land coming off the Atlantic then you don't go out the front door. I remember as a child waking up in the night and sat in the living room with my parents listening to the wind howling outside and my father cringing every time he heard a roof tile go flying. This is Sennen in a storm where the lifeboat station is.
And finally a shot of Flynn as the so called "Teabag" in the team. I laughed out loud when I read this as being very apt and descriptive. Just the imagery.
Another great buddy read with Macky and Tina
May 14, 2013
Buddy read with Wacky Macky and Marky Mark! :*
Harper Fox is a new author for me and reading this book was like jumping in unknown waters. The writing style was different from what I've read so far and I stumbled a few times when the sentences grew longer and longer and I repeatedly lost the thread.
Nonetheless the language is beautifully lyrical and emphasizes the situations the characters are in. Mrs Fox writes with an incredible sense of place, details and landmarks. She captures the savage beauty of the Cornish coast just perfectly. A great help were Mark's gorgeous photos of all the landmarks mentioned in the story.
The MC's are two really screwed up characters. Dr Thomas Penrose is an alcoholic dealing with depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Isolated from everything and everyone he lives alone in his silent watchtower looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Flynn Summers, a helicopter pilot, is borderline suicidal, dealing with survivor’s guilt and trapped in an abusive relationship.
Driftwood is a story of determination, of acceptance, of survival, of growth and of love. Both men are flawed but the strength that they give each other lets the love and hope surface above the pain.
Recommended read if you enjoy interesting and complex characters. :)
Hugs and kisses for Mark for giving us so beautiful pictures of the places in the book. Thx again :)
December 4, 2025
Quick update at bottom
------------------------
The cover is ridiculous. Both guys in the book are in their late twenties to thirties at least. That kid is barely legal.
Anyway, I have few complaints about this. One is that a surfboard appears out of the blue. (The guy can barely walk and is being helped and then a little while later has his surfboard next to him.) Someone did something that got other men killed and yet he claims Right.
I like that Tom tells Flynn that he won't mess around with him if he's still involved with his last lover. I like that when Flynn later
But basically, this is typical Harper Fox with lots of danger and suspense, fear and love, angst and more angst. The men are real, though, and their angst is very realistic given what they've been through. Although in the real world, their relationship would be dangerously close to being codependent, that doesn't happen. They are an adorable couple and I really wanted them to be happy.
Of course there's a great dog in here, and her intelligent antics are actually not that far outside of reality. I've heard stories that fit everything she does.
In short, this was everything I look for in a book and everything I've come to expect from Fox.
Update 4/15/2013:
I forgot to add that I had a soundtrack in my head for this book. Okay, a song, not a full soundtrack, but still, it felt like the book to me. It's Demons by Imagine Dragons, my current "most into" band. (That differs from Favorite Band a title which is held by Muse.) Here are the lyrics:
"Demons"
When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood’s run stale
I want to hide the truth
I want to shelter you
But with the beast inside
There’s nowhere we can hide
No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
When the curtain’s call
Is the last of all
When the lights fade out
All the sinners crawl
So they dug your grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess you made
Don’t want to let you down
But I am hell bound
Though this is all for you
Don’t want to hide the truth
No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
They say it's what you make
I say it's up to fate
It's woven in my soul
I need to let you go
Your eyes, they shine so bright
I want to save their light
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/imagin...
------------------------
The cover is ridiculous. Both guys in the book are in their late twenties to thirties at least. That kid is barely legal.
Anyway, I have few complaints about this. One is that a surfboard appears out of the blue. (The guy can barely walk and is being helped and then a little while later has his surfboard next to him.) Someone did something that got other men killed and yet he claims Right.
I like that Tom tells Flynn that he won't mess around with him if he's still involved with his last lover. I like that when Flynn later
But basically, this is typical Harper Fox with lots of danger and suspense, fear and love, angst and more angst. The men are real, though, and their angst is very realistic given what they've been through. Although in the real world, their relationship would be dangerously close to being codependent, that doesn't happen. They are an adorable couple and I really wanted them to be happy.
Of course there's a great dog in here, and her intelligent antics are actually not that far outside of reality. I've heard stories that fit everything she does.
In short, this was everything I look for in a book and everything I've come to expect from Fox.
Update 4/15/2013:
I forgot to add that I had a soundtrack in my head for this book. Okay, a song, not a full soundtrack, but still, it felt like the book to me. It's Demons by Imagine Dragons, my current "most into" band. (That differs from Favorite Band a title which is held by Muse.) Here are the lyrics:
"Demons"
When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood’s run stale
I want to hide the truth
I want to shelter you
But with the beast inside
There’s nowhere we can hide
No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
When the curtain’s call
Is the last of all
When the lights fade out
All the sinners crawl
So they dug your grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess you made
Don’t want to let you down
But I am hell bound
Though this is all for you
Don’t want to hide the truth
No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
They say it's what you make
I say it's up to fate
It's woven in my soul
I need to let you go
Your eyes, they shine so bright
I want to save their light
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/imagin...
August 23, 2010
I always love a romance when it is not just about the physical reaction but a study of character as well, so to speak. This is what "Driftwood" offers.
Dr. Thomas (Tom) Penrose lives a reclusive life, returning after his third and final tour in Afghanistan as an army medical officer. His days consist of walking the lonely Cornish road with his Irish wolfhound, Belle, taking care of the village people, then returns to his silent watchtower. He has his demons, an alcoholism to overcome the nightmare of wars, trying to forget a one-night lover who died there.
Until he meets a force of nature, in the form of Lieutenant Flynn Summers, a member of SAR unit, Royal Naval Air Service -- when Tom saves Flynn after the other guy caught in a deadly breaker of a wave while he is surfing. Flynn is not without demons of his own. He is trapped in an abusive relationship, complete with evidence of bruised fists in his body as well as suicidal tendency to forget an accident that killed his crew and ended his career as a pilot of an Airborne Surveillance and Control.
Bonded by their pain as well as an attaction that cannot be denied, Tom and Flynn must confront their demons as well as Flynn's violent lover if they want to survive the relationship.
This book started slowly for me, I had a difficulty to grab the story, to get myself into the tone and words in the beginning. However, about 15% into the story, it started to pick up and I found myself being sucked into the vortex of Tom and Flynn's turbulent relationship.
When I got to chapter 5 when Tom and Flynn opened up to each other about their past, I was choked up and my heart squeezed. Though using the 3rd person from Thomas's POV, but there were still enough conversations to see why Flynn was such a fuck-up ... why he felt that he deserved to be in an unhealthy relationship. I could feel his pain, anguish, and humiliation, since trapped with an abusive lover is probably one of the most humiliating situations a man could find himself in.
It was a rollercoaster ride, a non-stop emotional as well as real action until the explosive climax. I usually give this kind of story a 5 star, but I have a problem with the language. It's my own problem, really, there are authors that I cannot get easily into. Like their language doesn't flows as smoothly as I want it to be. PS: Elaine just told me that the term is British voice
BUT, it does put a dent on my finishing this book quickly, thus I can't give higher rating. Though it will not stop me for checking other books from Ms. Fox
You made the best of every second you could spend with them, and then…you let them fly.
Dr. Thomas (Tom) Penrose lives a reclusive life, returning after his third and final tour in Afghanistan as an army medical officer. His days consist of walking the lonely Cornish road with his Irish wolfhound, Belle, taking care of the village people, then returns to his silent watchtower. He has his demons, an alcoholism to overcome the nightmare of wars, trying to forget a one-night lover who died there.
Until he meets a force of nature, in the form of Lieutenant Flynn Summers, a member of SAR unit, Royal Naval Air Service -- when Tom saves Flynn after the other guy caught in a deadly breaker of a wave while he is surfing. Flynn is not without demons of his own. He is trapped in an abusive relationship, complete with evidence of bruised fists in his body as well as suicidal tendency to forget an accident that killed his crew and ended his career as a pilot of an Airborne Surveillance and Control.
Bonded by their pain as well as an attaction that cannot be denied, Tom and Flynn must confront their demons as well as Flynn's violent lover if they want to survive the relationship.
This book started slowly for me, I had a difficulty to grab the story, to get myself into the tone and words in the beginning. However, about 15% into the story, it started to pick up and I found myself being sucked into the vortex of Tom and Flynn's turbulent relationship.
When I got to chapter 5 when Tom and Flynn opened up to each other about their past, I was choked up and my heart squeezed. Though using the 3rd person from Thomas's POV, but there were still enough conversations to see why Flynn was such a fuck-up ... why he felt that he deserved to be in an unhealthy relationship. I could feel his pain, anguish, and humiliation, since trapped with an abusive lover is probably one of the most humiliating situations a man could find himself in.
It was a rollercoaster ride, a non-stop emotional as well as real action until the explosive climax. I usually give this kind of story a 5 star, but I have a problem with the language. It's my own problem, really, there are authors that I cannot get easily into. Like their language doesn't flows as smoothly as I want it to be. PS: Elaine just told me that the term is British voice
BUT, it does put a dent on my finishing this book quickly, thus I can't give higher rating. Though it will not stop me for checking other books from Ms. Fox
You made the best of every second you could spend with them, and then…you let them fly.
February 3, 2019
I like it. Would make a good brain-off action film.
-- --
The Good - It's a Harper Fox the writing is elaborate and draws you along the lonely coastline with it's ageless ragged cliffs and fierce seas. I loved it; I could sense the history, feel the breeze, smell the sea, taste the salt.
A doctor barely holding it together and the golden surfer he rescues. Their emotions run deep and nature provides the perfect backdrop. I enjoyed getting to know Dr. Tom Penrose and saw his fascination with fly-boy Flynn.
The Bad - But the book isn't perfect because then comes the plot! Too much plot.
Overcoming their various issues would have been more than enough to pad out a novel. Instead events and capers are piled on and it actually detracts from the story. While the attraction between the two men is felt there's nothing to show how they work together, things happen to them and they are never masters of their own fate. While reading I wanted them together but a cynical part of we wonders how long it would work.
There's also some unreliable narration; Flynn's recollection of an event proves faulty, I had difficulty with this because on first telling it didn't add up yet there's no indication that Tom doubts it. This happens again later Tom takes Flynn's word for something but later shows he knew it wasn't true.
The Ugly - Cheating. I don't like cheating, the situation of the character made it dangerous too. Would have preferred Flynn to show some spirit and end things rather than events save him.
The stupid -
- A disappearing under the waves then reappearing at his side surf-board.
(mentioned in other reviews but spoils)
The Beautiful - BELLA. The most wonderful, most dignified, most clever, most warm-hearted doggy ever. I love her squeaky snarl, her huge appetite and her loyalty. She's clever but believable and adorable.
I saw the book's many flaws but reading it was enjoyable. Loved it in the moment, so it gets full stars despite the fact it doesn't stand up to analysis. Wish Fox would get help with her plotting - Love her writing but her plots do tend to build to improbably finales.
-- --
The Good - It's a Harper Fox the writing is elaborate and draws you along the lonely coastline with it's ageless ragged cliffs and fierce seas. I loved it; I could sense the history, feel the breeze, smell the sea, taste the salt.
A doctor barely holding it together and the golden surfer he rescues. Their emotions run deep and nature provides the perfect backdrop. I enjoyed getting to know Dr. Tom Penrose and saw his fascination with fly-boy Flynn.
The Bad - But the book isn't perfect because then comes the plot! Too much plot.
Overcoming their various issues would have been more than enough to pad out a novel. Instead events and capers are piled on and it actually detracts from the story. While the attraction between the two men is felt there's nothing to show how they work together, things happen to them and they are never masters of their own fate. While reading I wanted them together but a cynical part of we wonders how long it would work.
There's also some unreliable narration; Flynn's recollection of an event proves faulty, I had difficulty with this because on first telling it didn't add up yet there's no indication that Tom doubts it. This happens again later Tom takes Flynn's word for something but later shows he knew it wasn't true.
The Ugly - Cheating. I don't like cheating, the situation of the character made it dangerous too. Would have preferred Flynn to show some spirit and end things rather than events save him.
The stupid -
- A disappearing under the waves then reappearing at his side surf-board.
(mentioned in other reviews but spoils)
The Beautiful - BELLA. The most wonderful, most dignified, most clever, most warm-hearted doggy ever. I love her squeaky snarl, her huge appetite and her loyalty. She's clever but believable and adorable.
I saw the book's many flaws but reading it was enjoyable. Loved it in the moment, so it gets full stars despite the fact it doesn't stand up to analysis. Wish Fox would get help with her plotting - Love her writing but her plots do tend to build to improbably finales.
May 15, 2013
I admit to being a Harper Fox fan and this novel did not disappoint. Set in coastal Cornwall "Driftwood" relates the story of two broken men, one current and one ex military. Dr. Tom,recently returned to his home county after a hellish tour of duty in Afghanistan and Flynn a survivor of an horrific and fatal helicopter crash that killed his crew.
I know Ms Fox has been criticised by other reviewers of her other novels for being "Flowery" with her prose, but this just adds to the poeticism of her descriptions in my opinion. I was transported to the wild and rugged Cornish coast, which I know well and to the roaring storm of the helicopter crew rescue chapter; gripping and a joy to read.
My pet hate with novels in the M/M genre is over descriptive and pornographic sex which is irrelevant and needless to the progression of a story. Harper Fox makes the sex relevant to the development of her characters and it is neither overly descriptive of pornographic, it is an expression of love or in certain cases as with this story, it also serves as an expression of abuse, rather an abusive relationship.
A Happy Ever After, with thanks to my favourite character Belle the Wolfhound.
I know Ms Fox has been criticised by other reviewers of her other novels for being "Flowery" with her prose, but this just adds to the poeticism of her descriptions in my opinion. I was transported to the wild and rugged Cornish coast, which I know well and to the roaring storm of the helicopter crew rescue chapter; gripping and a joy to read.
My pet hate with novels in the M/M genre is over descriptive and pornographic sex which is irrelevant and needless to the progression of a story. Harper Fox makes the sex relevant to the development of her characters and it is neither overly descriptive of pornographic, it is an expression of love or in certain cases as with this story, it also serves as an expression of abuse, rather an abusive relationship.
A Happy Ever After, with thanks to my favourite character Belle the Wolfhound.
October 22, 2019
I'm going to say it's been about 8 years and a few hundred other books since I first read this one. So listening to Chris Clog read it no audio was practically like enjoying it for the first time. Revisiting previous reads on audio is fun but I think it's almost time for something new...right after I enjoy one more favorite.
January 23, 2021
Ah, it's been way too long since I've read a Harper Fox romance. The characters, and the action, and the sex... wow. Driftwood is one exciting story!
Audio nicely done by Chris Clog.
Audio nicely done by Chris Clog.
February 24, 2014
I am always happy to get lost in the imagery spun by Fox. The added bonus here is water. I am a sea creature and to be gifted the lyrical beauty of the ocean makes me ecstatic. I love all the facets, even the ones that terrify, electrify and steal your breath away.
This envelope rich and heavy enfolds Tom's story. As he struggles to claw back from the edge and emerge.
It was still like being caught in an avalanche, a bloody cosmic washing machine, tumbling them limb over limb into a coughing, spitting heap in the shale.
Or the alluring…
Wind song, lifting from the south as the sun touched the water. The soft slap of waves on a harbour wall or hull. And always, like bright silver stitches in the tapestry, seagull cries, lifting up the sky from the earth, creating wild free space for thought to take flight.
Or the partnership…
And if he had to be shot blindly into the dark, who better to trust with the task than Vic? Shell-shocked nutcase he might be, but centuries of wrestling the ocean ran in his blood.
This envelope rich and heavy enfolds Tom's story. As he struggles to claw back from the edge and emerge.
Balled up, clutching blindly at the dog’s scruff with one hand, he wept, unable to believe the depth, the age, of the wounds gaping wide in him.For him the solitude of the West Country is necessary, more than home it is a refuge. How Flynn knocks him off his feet and drags him out of his self-imposed exile is not a happy tale, but one that makes you smile nonetheless. It makes you believe that even from dark and desolate places life can spring forth, reincarnate and flourish.
May 30, 2015
I survived. I mean I'm finished. Review soon.
June 28, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this an A- for narration and a B for content at AudioGals, so that's 4-and-a-bit stars.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed about the books by Harper Fox I’ve listened to so far is the incredibly strong sense of place that she evokes through her lyrical writing and the vivid descriptions of the locales in which her stories are set. Many of her books are set in Cornwall, which offers plenty of material for evocative description and Driftwood, one of her earliest works, makes particularly effective use of its setting in a remote Cornish village near the sea.
The story opens as former army medic turned local GP, Doctor Thomas Penrose, is walking his large rescue dog, a wolfhound named Belle, along the beach of Kynance Cove, where he notices someone far out at sea getting ready to surf the huge wave that’s about to break. Simultaneously impressed by the man’s agility and cursing him for an idiot, Tom watches helplessly as the surfer, at first riding the wave easily, suddenly comes a-cropper, and plunges into the dangerously strong tide. Tom should really go and fetch help – he’s not on duty and this isn’t his responsibility – but when the man doesn’t surface immediately, he knows he can’t leave without knowing if he is dead or alive. Tom swims out to find him and brings him back to the shore, a bit shaken but fortunately unharmed.
Flynn Summers is a Lieutenant in the SAR – Search and Rescue – Unit of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, and used to be a helicopter pilot, but after a tragic accident a couple of years earlier which killed all but one of his crew, he no longer flies. Like Tom, Flynn is carrying a lot of emotional baggage, but something immediately clicks between them, and Tom feels the pull of attraction towards another man for the first time in over three years. Tom’s three tours in Afghanistan have left him with PTSD, and every so often, when his memories threaten to overwhelm him, he seeks refuge at the bottom of a bottle – several bottles, in fact – going on benders that last for days. (I should point out that as he knows full well what he’s doing, Tom is at the very least responsible enough to make sure his shifts are covered at his surgery and the local hospital, so he’s not treating patients while he’s shit-faced!) He is mostly content with his life as a country doctor, but has resigned himself to a life alone. Life in rural Cornwall doesn’t exactly present many opportunities for dating other men, and in any case, Tom hasn’t been very interested in sex for quite some time, since well before he left the army.
But with Flynn, he feels the kind of connection he’s never experienced with anyone, and Flynn makes it clear that the feeling is mutual. Both are interested in exploring that connection, but Flynn sadly explains to Tom that he’s in a relationship, and that would seem to be that.
Except… it isn’t. Tom is pleased, a few days later to see Flynn at a local event where the SAR team is present (and which, if he’s honest, he only attended in the hope that Flynn would be there), and it’s obvious that Flynn is equally delighted to see Tom. But then Flynn’s boyfriend Robert Tremaine makes an appearance, and Tom is instantly alert to the fact that something isn’t right. Robert is friendly, but there’s a definite sense he’s put a big fat “hands off” sign around Flynn; Tom realises immediately that he’s possessive and is clearly not happy that Flynn is friendly with another man, and suspects the relationship is – at the very least – an emotionally abusive one. His concerns are borne out when Flynn, burdened with survivor’s guilt and tied to Robert out of a debt of gratitude, finally and heartbreakingly opens up some days later, confirming Tom’s worst fears about his relationship with Robert and explaining why he feels he deserves to be in such an abusive situation. But for the first time in the two years since the accident, Flynn has begun to feel that perhaps he does deserve better – meeting Tom has given him the strength to face the truth and to end things with Robert.
The emotional connection between Tom and Flynn is intense, and I loved the way these two damaged people found the strength in each other to face their problems and start to deal with them. Between them, they have a lot of baggage – but things are about to take a turn for the worse when the pair become unwittingly entangled in a web of illegal activities perpetrated by a criminal gang who will stop at nothing in order to safeguard their very lucrative enterprise.
In a way, this expansion into romantic suspense territory made Driftwood feel like a book of two different halves – the first a gently moving romance between two damaged individuals, the second a fast-paced action yarn in which our protagonists’ lives are in very real danger. I also asked myself at one point if Tom and Flynn didn’t have enough to deal with, what with the PTSD and alcoholism (Tom) and an abusive relationship and suicidal thoughts (Flynn) – and if throwing in a sub-plot concerning gun-running off the Cornish coast wasn’t overkill. But with that said, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy that aspect of the story, even though I have to admit that there were a couple of implausible plot points, and that the transition from gentle but intense love story to action/romantic suspense tale was a little jarring.
Having very much enjoyed Chris Clog’s narration of the author’s Seven Summer Nights, I was keen to listen to him again, which is one of the reasons I selected Driftwood for review. He has a pleasant, well-modulated voice which is easy on the ear, and his portrayal of Tom – a man plagued by inner demons, but with sufficient self-awareness to recognise them – is pitch perfect, as he expertly conveys an inner core of strength beneath Tom’s softly-spoken manner. Flynn’s tone is brighter and slightly deeper by contrast, and Mr. Clog does an excellent job of portraying the intensity of the emotion that lies between the couple, hitting all the right notes throughout, but especially in the scene where Flynn confesses the hopelessness of his situation to Tom. He employs a slight Cornish accent in his interpretation of Robert, which works very well to differentiate his speech from Tom’s and Flynn’s and also to make it clear to the listener that he’s local to the area (and therefore likely to be who Tom thinks he is) – and all the secondary characters are solidly realised and skilfully delineated. The performance is nuanced and well-paced throughout and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of Chris Clog’s narrations.
In spite the reservations I’ve expressed, I’d still recommend Driftwood to listeners looking for an intense love story who don’t mind a bit of suspense mixed in with their romance. The story is beautifully written, Flynn and Tom are likeable, flawed protagonists and Chris Clog’s excellent narration wraps it all up in an attractive and enjoyable package.
I've given this an A- for narration and a B for content at AudioGals, so that's 4-and-a-bit stars.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed about the books by Harper Fox I’ve listened to so far is the incredibly strong sense of place that she evokes through her lyrical writing and the vivid descriptions of the locales in which her stories are set. Many of her books are set in Cornwall, which offers plenty of material for evocative description and Driftwood, one of her earliest works, makes particularly effective use of its setting in a remote Cornish village near the sea.
The story opens as former army medic turned local GP, Doctor Thomas Penrose, is walking his large rescue dog, a wolfhound named Belle, along the beach of Kynance Cove, where he notices someone far out at sea getting ready to surf the huge wave that’s about to break. Simultaneously impressed by the man’s agility and cursing him for an idiot, Tom watches helplessly as the surfer, at first riding the wave easily, suddenly comes a-cropper, and plunges into the dangerously strong tide. Tom should really go and fetch help – he’s not on duty and this isn’t his responsibility – but when the man doesn’t surface immediately, he knows he can’t leave without knowing if he is dead or alive. Tom swims out to find him and brings him back to the shore, a bit shaken but fortunately unharmed.
Flynn Summers is a Lieutenant in the SAR – Search and Rescue – Unit of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, and used to be a helicopter pilot, but after a tragic accident a couple of years earlier which killed all but one of his crew, he no longer flies. Like Tom, Flynn is carrying a lot of emotional baggage, but something immediately clicks between them, and Tom feels the pull of attraction towards another man for the first time in over three years. Tom’s three tours in Afghanistan have left him with PTSD, and every so often, when his memories threaten to overwhelm him, he seeks refuge at the bottom of a bottle – several bottles, in fact – going on benders that last for days. (I should point out that as he knows full well what he’s doing, Tom is at the very least responsible enough to make sure his shifts are covered at his surgery and the local hospital, so he’s not treating patients while he’s shit-faced!) He is mostly content with his life as a country doctor, but has resigned himself to a life alone. Life in rural Cornwall doesn’t exactly present many opportunities for dating other men, and in any case, Tom hasn’t been very interested in sex for quite some time, since well before he left the army.
But with Flynn, he feels the kind of connection he’s never experienced with anyone, and Flynn makes it clear that the feeling is mutual. Both are interested in exploring that connection, but Flynn sadly explains to Tom that he’s in a relationship, and that would seem to be that.
Except… it isn’t. Tom is pleased, a few days later to see Flynn at a local event where the SAR team is present (and which, if he’s honest, he only attended in the hope that Flynn would be there), and it’s obvious that Flynn is equally delighted to see Tom. But then Flynn’s boyfriend Robert Tremaine makes an appearance, and Tom is instantly alert to the fact that something isn’t right. Robert is friendly, but there’s a definite sense he’s put a big fat “hands off” sign around Flynn; Tom realises immediately that he’s possessive and is clearly not happy that Flynn is friendly with another man, and suspects the relationship is – at the very least – an emotionally abusive one. His concerns are borne out when Flynn, burdened with survivor’s guilt and tied to Robert out of a debt of gratitude, finally and heartbreakingly opens up some days later, confirming Tom’s worst fears about his relationship with Robert and explaining why he feels he deserves to be in such an abusive situation. But for the first time in the two years since the accident, Flynn has begun to feel that perhaps he does deserve better – meeting Tom has given him the strength to face the truth and to end things with Robert.
The emotional connection between Tom and Flynn is intense, and I loved the way these two damaged people found the strength in each other to face their problems and start to deal with them. Between them, they have a lot of baggage – but things are about to take a turn for the worse when the pair become unwittingly entangled in a web of illegal activities perpetrated by a criminal gang who will stop at nothing in order to safeguard their very lucrative enterprise.
In a way, this expansion into romantic suspense territory made Driftwood feel like a book of two different halves – the first a gently moving romance between two damaged individuals, the second a fast-paced action yarn in which our protagonists’ lives are in very real danger. I also asked myself at one point if Tom and Flynn didn’t have enough to deal with, what with the PTSD and alcoholism (Tom) and an abusive relationship and suicidal thoughts (Flynn) – and if throwing in a sub-plot concerning gun-running off the Cornish coast wasn’t overkill. But with that said, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy that aspect of the story, even though I have to admit that there were a couple of implausible plot points, and that the transition from gentle but intense love story to action/romantic suspense tale was a little jarring.
Having very much enjoyed Chris Clog’s narration of the author’s Seven Summer Nights, I was keen to listen to him again, which is one of the reasons I selected Driftwood for review. He has a pleasant, well-modulated voice which is easy on the ear, and his portrayal of Tom – a man plagued by inner demons, but with sufficient self-awareness to recognise them – is pitch perfect, as he expertly conveys an inner core of strength beneath Tom’s softly-spoken manner. Flynn’s tone is brighter and slightly deeper by contrast, and Mr. Clog does an excellent job of portraying the intensity of the emotion that lies between the couple, hitting all the right notes throughout, but especially in the scene where Flynn confesses the hopelessness of his situation to Tom. He employs a slight Cornish accent in his interpretation of Robert, which works very well to differentiate his speech from Tom’s and Flynn’s and also to make it clear to the listener that he’s local to the area (and therefore likely to be who Tom thinks he is) – and all the secondary characters are solidly realised and skilfully delineated. The performance is nuanced and well-paced throughout and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of Chris Clog’s narrations.
In spite the reservations I’ve expressed, I’d still recommend Driftwood to listeners looking for an intense love story who don’t mind a bit of suspense mixed in with their romance. The story is beautifully written, Flynn and Tom are likeable, flawed protagonists and Chris Clog’s excellent narration wraps it all up in an attractive and enjoyable package.
January 17, 2025
2.5 stars
uhhhhhhhmmmm
hwhut is hyappening
The first 2/3 of this book was decently good, if a bit melodramatic. I'm used to a certain amount of that from this author, so it wasn't bothering me and was cruising to a 3.5 or 4 star rating. But then, literally everything happens. Things that could not happen happen. Even an ex-army doctor who has amazing reflexes could not have lasted the ABSOLUTE GAUNTLET OF HORRIBLE THINGS-NESS he was subjected to.
Let's, uh, sketch out a brief list, shall we? (We need to remember that Tom's (doctor) love interest Flynn, is trying to extricate himself from an abusive relationship with his former rescue helicopter co-pilot, who turns out is running drugs and guns on the side and Tom has worked that out.)
Tom gets intentionally driven off the road by someone who knows he knows. He's driving a Range Rover, without seatbelts OR airbags, and was going about 50 mph. He's somehow found alive by Flynn (which, spoiler, they did not have enough time to fall in love, I don't know when or how they did it, we were not shown the falling, just the smashing, both of a sexual nature and of a car crash nature).
Flynn pulls him free of the crash after some difficulty, because the car's about to blow! It does, indeed, blow up and Flynn tackles him to take the brunt of the explosion
Tom drifts in and out of consciousness in the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT where he is IN A COMA for FIVE WHOLE DAYS. Flynn stays by his side the whole time, until he gets called away on the sixth morning to do a helicopter rescue with the evil sort-of ex.
Tom wakes up that afternoon, because he senses the storm? Or something? Has a quick chat with his doctor and then decides to covert ops his way out of the hospital with a broken collarbone, cracked ribs, extensive bandages to cover his lacerated legs and feet (forgot to say he smashed three vodka bottles in his kitchen while trying to fight the demon drink the night before his car accident), and who knows what else. He casually slips out of the hospital bc he has an overnight bag in the staff room or something. Sure.
Catches a taxi, goes to a bar for intel on what's happening with the rescue helicopters. Gets a bad feeling, leaves to . . . walk to the harbor, I guess? Almost gets run over by another car, but turns out that car is his friend Vic's and he just HAPPENS TO HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL BRAND NEW LIFEBOAT HE JUST FINISHED.
They head out in the storm, immediately find the crew of Flynn's helicopter that went down. Flynn's not there! He and evil sort-of-ex were fighting when they were forced to bail out and jump in the sea with the life raft. Vic and Tom (who is still grievously injured, btw) swap boats with the lads and head out with the raft (has an outboard motor) to keep looking for Flynn.
Of course they find him like two minutes later
Of course he's still alive, even though he probably should have succumbed to hypothermia
They keep looking for evil sort-of-ex, but not that hard.
Storm stops, sun comes out, boat on horizon
Oh no
Bad boat with bad guys
Evil ex
blah blah blah
They get the jump on them, Vic takes out the driver, eventually tosses a gun to Flynn, Flynn shoots evil definitely ex bc he was gonna shoot the love of his life Tom and . . . scene.
EXCEPT NOT
Bc then they go back to Tom's crumbling tower by the sea (INSTEAD OF THE GODDAMN HOSPITAL YOU ABSOLUTE CHUNDERING DIPSHITS) and have two kinds of sex! With Tom in this deplorable state and Flynn probably still hypothermic and with half the sea still in his lungs.
AND THEN!!!!!!!!!
Soon after HIS FUCKING CRUMBLING TOWER ACTUALLY DOES CRUMBLE INTO THE SEA and they barely make it out in time with the dog but of course they do because of course.
What the fuck.
I would rate it lower, but I did actually have fun screaming about how my disbelief could not withstand this amount of suspension.
uhhhhhhhmmmm
hwhut is hyappening
The first 2/3 of this book was decently good, if a bit melodramatic. I'm used to a certain amount of that from this author, so it wasn't bothering me and was cruising to a 3.5 or 4 star rating. But then, literally everything happens. Things that could not happen happen. Even an ex-army doctor who has amazing reflexes could not have lasted the ABSOLUTE GAUNTLET OF HORRIBLE THINGS-NESS he was subjected to.
Let's, uh, sketch out a brief list, shall we? (We need to remember that Tom's (doctor) love interest Flynn, is trying to extricate himself from an abusive relationship with his former rescue helicopter co-pilot, who turns out is running drugs and guns on the side and Tom has worked that out.)
Tom gets intentionally driven off the road by someone who knows he knows. He's driving a Range Rover, without seatbelts OR airbags, and was going about 50 mph. He's somehow found alive by Flynn (which, spoiler, they did not have enough time to fall in love, I don't know when or how they did it, we were not shown the falling, just the smashing, both of a sexual nature and of a car crash nature).
Flynn pulls him free of the crash after some difficulty, because the car's about to blow! It does, indeed, blow up and Flynn tackles him to take the brunt of the explosion
Tom drifts in and out of consciousness in the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT where he is IN A COMA for FIVE WHOLE DAYS. Flynn stays by his side the whole time, until he gets called away on the sixth morning to do a helicopter rescue with the evil sort-of ex.
Tom wakes up that afternoon, because he senses the storm? Or something? Has a quick chat with his doctor and then decides to covert ops his way out of the hospital with a broken collarbone, cracked ribs, extensive bandages to cover his lacerated legs and feet (forgot to say he smashed three vodka bottles in his kitchen while trying to fight the demon drink the night before his car accident), and who knows what else. He casually slips out of the hospital bc he has an overnight bag in the staff room or something. Sure.
Catches a taxi, goes to a bar for intel on what's happening with the rescue helicopters. Gets a bad feeling, leaves to . . . walk to the harbor, I guess? Almost gets run over by another car, but turns out that car is his friend Vic's and he just HAPPENS TO HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL BRAND NEW LIFEBOAT HE JUST FINISHED.
They head out in the storm, immediately find the crew of Flynn's helicopter that went down. Flynn's not there! He and evil sort-of-ex were fighting when they were forced to bail out and jump in the sea with the life raft. Vic and Tom (who is still grievously injured, btw) swap boats with the lads and head out with the raft (has an outboard motor) to keep looking for Flynn.
Of course they find him like two minutes later
Of course he's still alive, even though he probably should have succumbed to hypothermia
They keep looking for evil sort-of-ex, but not that hard.
Storm stops, sun comes out, boat on horizon
Oh no
Bad boat with bad guys
Evil ex
blah blah blah
They get the jump on them, Vic takes out the driver, eventually tosses a gun to Flynn, Flynn shoots evil definitely ex bc he was gonna shoot the love of his life Tom and . . . scene.
EXCEPT NOT
Bc then they go back to Tom's crumbling tower by the sea (INSTEAD OF THE GODDAMN HOSPITAL YOU ABSOLUTE CHUNDERING DIPSHITS) and have two kinds of sex! With Tom in this deplorable state and Flynn probably still hypothermic and with half the sea still in his lungs.
AND THEN!!!!!!!!!
Soon after HIS FUCKING CRUMBLING TOWER ACTUALLY DOES CRUMBLE INTO THE SEA and they barely make it out in time with the dog but of course they do because of course.
What the fuck.
I would rate it lower, but I did actually have fun screaming about how my disbelief could not withstand this amount of suspension.
January 12, 2023
This story was very similar to Scrap Metal, to the point where my opinion of it was heavily influenced by comparing the two. What I also found interesting is that each book had certain elements that were better done in one book than the other. While I ended up liking certain elements of this story more than Scrap Metal, there were other aspects that I felt weren’t done as well, which is why I settled on my 3 star rating.
One of the things the book does well and shares with Scrap Metal is the beautiful writing and the gorgeous descriptions of the scenery. While Scrap Metal had focused heavily on the land (the Scottish Highlands/Islands), Driftwood takes place on the Cornwall coast and everything related to the coast/ocean was a huge part of the story, since the MCs meet while one of them is surfing and that same character works as part of the military ocean search and rescue team. While the scenery descriptions were beautiful, I did find that the author went overboard with the lyrical prose. I had similar issues with A Midwinter Prince, which makes sense since the author published both Driftwood and A Midwiter Prince in 2010 and they were some of her earliest work. In both stories, the lyrical writing drifted way too close to purple prose from time to time with some sentences being unnecessarily stuffed full of metaphors and descriptors, to the point where it was difficult to understand what the sentence meant or the sentence was pointless.
Another thing that both Scrap Metal and Driftwood shared was that the MCs are very physically affectionate with each other and despite sex not being a huge part of their relationship initially (the reasons why differ in each book), they really adore being together so they start calling each other ‘love’ and acting like they’re an old married couple despite not having been together for long. Unfortunately, Driftwood didn’t have as much on-page relationship development as Scrap Metal did. Due to Driftwood being quite a short novel and the suspense plotline taking up a considerable part of the story, the MCs actually don’t spend that much on-page time together. In fact, I realized by the end of the story that they’d only spent a handful of hours interacting with each other, yet we’re supposed to believe that they’ve fallen in love during that short period of time. Not only did I want to see the MCs interacting a lot more on-page than they did but comparing their relationship development to Scrap Metal’s MCs made me lean more towards the latter romance rather than the former. Maybe the author noticed the same thing and that’s why Scrap Metal is significantly longer than Driftwood?
Something else I noticed that the author did better in Scrap Metal than Driftwood was the use of important side characters. In Scrap Metal, the MC’s grandfather was a very important part of the story and because of that, the author made sure readers got to spend lots of time with him. In Driftwood, Tom’s friend/former military comrade Victor was also an important part of the story but unfortunately, the majority of their interactions were done through telling instead of showing. Scenes such as Tom going to help Victor when he’s having another PTSD-induced episode or when they go to court to fight for more funding to help Victor were all done through telling and I never felt connected to Victor and I didn’t really know him. As a result, I wasn’t able to fully appreciate Victor’s mental health improvements or having him be a huge part of the suspense plotline’s climax near the end. Again, it seems like the author might have noticed this because it was done much better in Scrap Metal.
But one thing that I felt was done better in Driftwood was how the suspense plotline was handled. In Scrap Metal, I got annoyed that the suspense plotline is hinted at but nothing happens with it until 70%, when things suddenly go completely nuts and way too much happens at once. This led to a jarring tone change that I didn’t like. But in Driftwood, the suspense elements were woven throughout the entire story. Right from the time we meet Rob (Flynn’s abusive ex-boyfriend), readers know he’s not a good guy. Very quickly, Tom starts to suspect that Rob abusing Flynn isn’t the only bad thing that Rob is doing and as time goes by, more evidence piles up and all of the plot threads in the story converge until the truth is revealed and this leads to a thrilling climax. Having everything being revealed slowly throughout the story made the whole situation much more enjoyable.
That being said, this story is yet again another example of the author deciding to shove the plot into Crazy Land at about 70%. As I said, some of the suspense stuff was done well (I especially like the reveal that ) but the author went way too far in terms of how ridiculous and OTT things got. It got to the point where I was laughing because the situations were so absurd. For example – .
Overall, despite the suspense shenanigans in Scrap Metal being crammed into the final 30% of the book, I still prefer Scrap Metal over this story. I really loved Belle (Tom’s dog), the military aspects and the mental health issues that both MCs struggled with. But overall, I felt Scrap Metal was better. The longer length allowed the romance to develop more, I enjoyed the side characters more in Scrap Metal and while there was too much happening in the final 30%, at least none of it came close to being as absurd as it was here.
One of the things the book does well and shares with Scrap Metal is the beautiful writing and the gorgeous descriptions of the scenery. While Scrap Metal had focused heavily on the land (the Scottish Highlands/Islands), Driftwood takes place on the Cornwall coast and everything related to the coast/ocean was a huge part of the story, since the MCs meet while one of them is surfing and that same character works as part of the military ocean search and rescue team. While the scenery descriptions were beautiful, I did find that the author went overboard with the lyrical prose. I had similar issues with A Midwinter Prince, which makes sense since the author published both Driftwood and A Midwiter Prince in 2010 and they were some of her earliest work. In both stories, the lyrical writing drifted way too close to purple prose from time to time with some sentences being unnecessarily stuffed full of metaphors and descriptors, to the point where it was difficult to understand what the sentence meant or the sentence was pointless.
Another thing that both Scrap Metal and Driftwood shared was that the MCs are very physically affectionate with each other and despite sex not being a huge part of their relationship initially (the reasons why differ in each book), they really adore being together so they start calling each other ‘love’ and acting like they’re an old married couple despite not having been together for long. Unfortunately, Driftwood didn’t have as much on-page relationship development as Scrap Metal did. Due to Driftwood being quite a short novel and the suspense plotline taking up a considerable part of the story, the MCs actually don’t spend that much on-page time together. In fact, I realized by the end of the story that they’d only spent a handful of hours interacting with each other, yet we’re supposed to believe that they’ve fallen in love during that short period of time. Not only did I want to see the MCs interacting a lot more on-page than they did but comparing their relationship development to Scrap Metal’s MCs made me lean more towards the latter romance rather than the former. Maybe the author noticed the same thing and that’s why Scrap Metal is significantly longer than Driftwood?
Something else I noticed that the author did better in Scrap Metal than Driftwood was the use of important side characters. In Scrap Metal, the MC’s grandfather was a very important part of the story and because of that, the author made sure readers got to spend lots of time with him. In Driftwood, Tom’s friend/former military comrade Victor was also an important part of the story but unfortunately, the majority of their interactions were done through telling instead of showing. Scenes such as Tom going to help Victor when he’s having another PTSD-induced episode or when they go to court to fight for more funding to help Victor were all done through telling and I never felt connected to Victor and I didn’t really know him. As a result, I wasn’t able to fully appreciate Victor’s mental health improvements or having him be a huge part of the suspense plotline’s climax near the end. Again, it seems like the author might have noticed this because it was done much better in Scrap Metal.
But one thing that I felt was done better in Driftwood was how the suspense plotline was handled. In Scrap Metal, I got annoyed that the suspense plotline is hinted at but nothing happens with it until 70%, when things suddenly go completely nuts and way too much happens at once. This led to a jarring tone change that I didn’t like. But in Driftwood, the suspense elements were woven throughout the entire story. Right from the time we meet Rob (Flynn’s abusive ex-boyfriend), readers know he’s not a good guy. Very quickly, Tom starts to suspect that Rob abusing Flynn isn’t the only bad thing that Rob is doing and as time goes by, more evidence piles up and all of the plot threads in the story converge until the truth is revealed and this leads to a thrilling climax. Having everything being revealed slowly throughout the story made the whole situation much more enjoyable.
That being said, this story is yet again another example of the author deciding to shove the plot into Crazy Land at about 70%. As I said, some of the suspense stuff was done well (I especially like the reveal that ) but the author went way too far in terms of how ridiculous and OTT things got. It got to the point where I was laughing because the situations were so absurd. For example – .
Overall, despite the suspense shenanigans in Scrap Metal being crammed into the final 30% of the book, I still prefer Scrap Metal over this story. I really loved Belle (Tom’s dog), the military aspects and the mental health issues that both MCs struggled with. But overall, I felt Scrap Metal was better. The longer length allowed the romance to develop more, I enjoyed the side characters more in Scrap Metal and while there was too much happening in the final 30%, at least none of it came close to being as absurd as it was here.
February 5, 2012
I liked very much the first part of the book, then it developed into a complicated plot and it became too big for the story, in my opinion.
Tom is a doctor suffering from PTSD after being in Afghanistan. He lives in solitude in a crumbling tower in Cornwall with his dog Belle. Flynn works as a rescuer, after surviving the crash of the helicopter he was piloting. He was saved by his lover, but he lost the rest of the crew. His lover is a controlling man, who is turning from carer to abuser. When Tom rescues Flynn during an almost suicidal surfing incident, there's an immediate spark of interest and attraction.
The story is entirely in Tom's point of view. I liked very much knowing him, learning his strengths and weaknesses, watching his lucid struggles against his condition. It's fascinating how he can analyze his problems even when he's almost surrendering to them. He might not always be brave, but in the end he is very honest. Flynn is a beam which attracts Tom, even if Flynn is damaged. Both Tom and Flynn are flawed, and they're both addicts: Tom is always courting alcohol, even if he tries to control his cravings, and Flynn can't get rid of his lover, he can't severe the ties of dependence and gratitude.
I think all these problems would have provided a sufficient conflict in the book, so when the plot made us discover the shady traffic of Flynn's ex, I felt it slip out of my hands and become a bit unbelievable. I also must confess that, from that point on, I almost lost interest in the story, because I just wanted to see the characters work their problems out against the trials of every-day life, not because they were forced by big, external events.
The author writes stories with an incredible sense of place, with details, vistas, landmarks that reflect and emphasize the situations the characters are in, their moods and in a sense their destinations. The writing is really awesome and it pushes all my buttons. Harper Fox should trademark "great writing & beautiful places."
Tom is a doctor suffering from PTSD after being in Afghanistan. He lives in solitude in a crumbling tower in Cornwall with his dog Belle. Flynn works as a rescuer, after surviving the crash of the helicopter he was piloting. He was saved by his lover, but he lost the rest of the crew. His lover is a controlling man, who is turning from carer to abuser. When Tom rescues Flynn during an almost suicidal surfing incident, there's an immediate spark of interest and attraction.
The story is entirely in Tom's point of view. I liked very much knowing him, learning his strengths and weaknesses, watching his lucid struggles against his condition. It's fascinating how he can analyze his problems even when he's almost surrendering to them. He might not always be brave, but in the end he is very honest. Flynn is a beam which attracts Tom, even if Flynn is damaged. Both Tom and Flynn are flawed, and they're both addicts: Tom is always courting alcohol, even if he tries to control his cravings, and Flynn can't get rid of his lover, he can't severe the ties of dependence and gratitude.
I think all these problems would have provided a sufficient conflict in the book, so when the plot made us discover the shady traffic of Flynn's ex, I felt it slip out of my hands and become a bit unbelievable. I also must confess that, from that point on, I almost lost interest in the story, because I just wanted to see the characters work their problems out against the trials of every-day life, not because they were forced by big, external events.
The author writes stories with an incredible sense of place, with details, vistas, landmarks that reflect and emphasize the situations the characters are in, their moods and in a sense their destinations. The writing is really awesome and it pushes all my buttons. Harper Fox should trademark "great writing & beautiful places."
May 14, 2013
Buddy read with Mark and Tina
Harper Fox has a style, its a style that I think you either love or you don't. I do, I'm a fan because I love her lyrical way of writing, its poetic and romantic and always evocative of the time or place she sets her stories in and around. Whatever you think of them, you always feel as if you've been transported to the actual place she's writing about. In this case its Cornwall, not a place I've ever visited but I literally felt I was with Tom and Flynn ( the Mc's ) on that wild beautiful coastline. Helped by Marks " readalonga pictures " of all the landmarks mentioned in the story.Gorgeous!
The first book I read was Scrap Metal and that absolutely blew me away so unfortunately its become the poster book that I use to compare her other books to and as much as I enjoyed this my 5 stars still stay with ' Scrap'. I was pretty torn on rating this. It ducked and dived between 4 and 5 stars all the way through. The reason I settled on 4 was because for the first time I felt that some of the lyrical writing did seem a little over complicated, there were moments when I had to go back to reread a couple of lines to get it scanning right in my head before I read on and that personally just interfered slightly, at times, with the flow of the book.
What I did love was the connection between these two emotionally damaged people whose actual romance is compelling because of the intensity of feelings that they generate, and throwing an abusive character who threatens their relationship and their lives into the mix added a frisson of danger that by the end of the book had me sitting on the edge of my seat biting my nails ... it was one of the points when it almost reached the 5 I would have ( in my heart) loved to have given, but overall my head won and it gets 4 solid stars!
Another buddy read with Mark and Tina. Thanks guys, these reads are fun. Big thanks Mark for giving us those beautiful pictures of the places in the book to go alongside the read. :)
Harper Fox has a style, its a style that I think you either love or you don't. I do, I'm a fan because I love her lyrical way of writing, its poetic and romantic and always evocative of the time or place she sets her stories in and around. Whatever you think of them, you always feel as if you've been transported to the actual place she's writing about. In this case its Cornwall, not a place I've ever visited but I literally felt I was with Tom and Flynn ( the Mc's ) on that wild beautiful coastline. Helped by Marks " readalonga pictures " of all the landmarks mentioned in the story.Gorgeous!
The first book I read was Scrap Metal and that absolutely blew me away so unfortunately its become the poster book that I use to compare her other books to and as much as I enjoyed this my 5 stars still stay with ' Scrap'. I was pretty torn on rating this. It ducked and dived between 4 and 5 stars all the way through. The reason I settled on 4 was because for the first time I felt that some of the lyrical writing did seem a little over complicated, there were moments when I had to go back to reread a couple of lines to get it scanning right in my head before I read on and that personally just interfered slightly, at times, with the flow of the book.
What I did love was the connection between these two emotionally damaged people whose actual romance is compelling because of the intensity of feelings that they generate, and throwing an abusive character who threatens their relationship and their lives into the mix added a frisson of danger that by the end of the book had me sitting on the edge of my seat biting my nails ... it was one of the points when it almost reached the 5 I would have ( in my heart) loved to have given, but overall my head won and it gets 4 solid stars!
Another buddy read with Mark and Tina. Thanks guys, these reads are fun. Big thanks Mark for giving us those beautiful pictures of the places in the book to go alongside the read. :)
Read
September 1, 2014I have decided not to rate this book. It was a difficult read in many respects. The writing wasn't the greatest and there was my big pet hate and if you read my shelves you will see what that is. The book had a lot of potential and maybe I'm just not very good with reading it properly, but I was confused some of the time. I understood the dialogue perfectly but the rest I was baffled.
Tom and Flynn were two broken men, both had their demons and both struggled with their pasts. I felt Tom mixed feelings about Tom. I loved how nice and loving he was to Flynn. Then David was mentioned and I felt like I lost a lot of respect for the man. It was as if I was reading about a separate character because it did not fit with the man I was reading.
Flynn, his was a character I pitied. His dealing with Robert had me conflicted through most of the book and his overall character was annoying. Saying that I did sort-of like him. It's confusing for me to say why. Mainly because I'm not sure why myself. But there was something there I liked.
The pile of round white quartz stones gleamed on the turf.
The writing was poetic? I really don't know because I'm not sure I remember a book like this. The author had British characters and I have always been able to understand them, so the dialogue was no issue for me. But in general... I can't describe it.
Even alone, his hungers seldom went beyond an ache in his gut—unsatisfiable, unreachable yearnings inside the caudal curve of his spine.
I loved Belle, Tom's dog. I am a dog lover and she was something I could like through the book. It was the only complaint I didn't have, and the one thing I was sure of. So I can say give it a try, but be warned you might not enjoy it.
Tom and Flynn were two broken men, both had their demons and both struggled with their pasts. I felt Tom mixed feelings about Tom. I loved how nice and loving he was to Flynn. Then David was mentioned and I felt like I lost a lot of respect for the man. It was as if I was reading about a separate character because it did not fit with the man I was reading.
Flynn, his was a character I pitied. His dealing with Robert had me conflicted through most of the book and his overall character was annoying. Saying that I did sort-of like him. It's confusing for me to say why. Mainly because I'm not sure why myself. But there was something there I liked.
The pile of round white quartz stones gleamed on the turf.
The writing was poetic? I really don't know because I'm not sure I remember a book like this. The author had British characters and I have always been able to understand them, so the dialogue was no issue for me. But in general... I can't describe it.
Even alone, his hungers seldom went beyond an ache in his gut—unsatisfiable, unreachable yearnings inside the caudal curve of his spine.
I loved Belle, Tom's dog. I am a dog lover and she was something I could like through the book. It was the only complaint I didn't have, and the one thing I was sure of. So I can say give it a try, but be warned you might not enjoy it.
October 1, 2019
3.5 stars
I am really enjoying these Harper Fox books available from Audible Escapes. Great stories by talented narrators.
I am really enjoying these Harper Fox books available from Audible Escapes. Great stories by talented narrators.
April 13, 2011
Excellent m/m romantic suspense about a former British Army doctor who hides out in a crumbling tower on the coast of Cornwall, alternately working at the village clinic and binge drinking. He rescues a handsome surfer caught in the undertow, with no clue what the consequences will be...
March 9, 2024
Wow, I forgot a lot more of this than I thought I had.
This was going ok, even with the insta-love and the cheating (the bf was an abusive bastard, and that's the least of his sins, so don't feel sorry for the douchenugget), but that ending... 🙄 It's like someone asked Fox how many soap opera tropes she wanted in her climax and she chose all of them. Seriously, we have Because obviously there wasn't enough excitement going on. But at least I have another book for my new "magical libido" shelf! And this is a double magical libido, since one guy is just awake from a coma and the other guy is in shock from nearly drowning. But nothing fixes all your ills faster than a boner, am I right?!!! 🤦🏻♀️
Honestly, this probably doesn't even deserve two stars, but I was amused by how silly and OTT the drama it got and the dog was a sweetie pie. The writing was pretty decent too.
The narration by Chris Clog was pretty good, though he could have changed his voices a bit more with some of the characters.
This was going ok, even with the insta-love and the cheating (the bf was an abusive bastard, and that's the least of his sins, so don't feel sorry for the douchenugget), but that ending... 🙄 It's like someone asked Fox how many soap opera tropes she wanted in her climax and she chose all of them. Seriously, we have Because obviously there wasn't enough excitement going on. But at least I have another book for my new "magical libido" shelf! And this is a double magical libido, since one guy is just awake from a coma and the other guy is in shock from nearly drowning. But nothing fixes all your ills faster than a boner, am I right?!!! 🤦🏻♀️
Honestly, this probably doesn't even deserve two stars, but I was amused by how silly and OTT the drama it got and the dog was a sweetie pie. The writing was pretty decent too.
The narration by Chris Clog was pretty good, though he could have changed his voices a bit more with some of the characters.
February 14, 2022
It was entertaining but the violence felt a bit out of place. It did not really make sense to me. It just was there and I needed more why and how and inner monologue and so on.
November 21, 2025
Two troubled souls meet by chance and off we go. You could say it's a bit insta-lovey but I don't mind the slightest. This is a just another captivating story from author HF. It's angsty and it's lovely. What I also really liked was that here was a bad guy I really wished all the worst. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 16, 2021
Driftwood
By Harper Fox
FoxTales publications, 2017
Five stars
I have no idea how I missed this one back in 2017, but I’m glad it caught my eye. I’ve been fretting about having no Harper Fox in my life as I wait for the final damn chapter in the latest Tyack and Frayne serial episode.
“Driftwood,” set in Fox’s beloved Cornwall, is in most ways a classic m/m romance. The story centers on two youngish men, both tied to the military, both of them damaged profoundly by their experience. There’s even a meet-cute moment, if you consider Tom Penrose’s saving Flynn Summers’s life in high surf on a lonely beach to be cute.
The thing is that Harper Fox writes every book as if it was “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee. The names are a coincidence, but to me, the 1960 American classic is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in my long life. Harper Fox is that good. Seriously. I repeat myself all the time, but even this book, classic m/m as it is, is as beautiful on every page as Harper Lee’s famous novel. Fox’s writing takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes.
The beauty of the wild Cornish coast is all but painful as seen through Fox’s prose. Flynn Summers is equally beautiful, although Dr. Penrose comes across as less so, only because the book is entirely written through his eyes—and he doesn’t think much of himself. The only reason we know Tom Penrose is a special person is that his massive rescued Irish wolfhound Belle clearly adores him. As if the general power of Fox’s writing isn’t enough, her introduction of one of the most winning dogs in all modern literature just pushes my adulation that much further.
Finally, Harper Fox plays by the Chekov’s Gun rules perfectly. Whether it’s a narrow country lane or an army-issued Browning pistol, nothing is put on the page by chance. Every detail matters, not just in the way we feel as readers, but in the way the story ultimately plays out. It is one of my personal joys to read gay romance novels, to make up for all the decades when I had none to read; it is a further joy to read novels of such extraordinary caliber. The pain and trauma in her plots are existential, and that’s not a word I toss about casually. The love in her books is existential, too: the ultimate weapon against cruelty and despair.
Reading this book made my day.
By Harper Fox
FoxTales publications, 2017
Five stars
I have no idea how I missed this one back in 2017, but I’m glad it caught my eye. I’ve been fretting about having no Harper Fox in my life as I wait for the final damn chapter in the latest Tyack and Frayne serial episode.
“Driftwood,” set in Fox’s beloved Cornwall, is in most ways a classic m/m romance. The story centers on two youngish men, both tied to the military, both of them damaged profoundly by their experience. There’s even a meet-cute moment, if you consider Tom Penrose’s saving Flynn Summers’s life in high surf on a lonely beach to be cute.
The thing is that Harper Fox writes every book as if it was “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee. The names are a coincidence, but to me, the 1960 American classic is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in my long life. Harper Fox is that good. Seriously. I repeat myself all the time, but even this book, classic m/m as it is, is as beautiful on every page as Harper Lee’s famous novel. Fox’s writing takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes.
The beauty of the wild Cornish coast is all but painful as seen through Fox’s prose. Flynn Summers is equally beautiful, although Dr. Penrose comes across as less so, only because the book is entirely written through his eyes—and he doesn’t think much of himself. The only reason we know Tom Penrose is a special person is that his massive rescued Irish wolfhound Belle clearly adores him. As if the general power of Fox’s writing isn’t enough, her introduction of one of the most winning dogs in all modern literature just pushes my adulation that much further.
Finally, Harper Fox plays by the Chekov’s Gun rules perfectly. Whether it’s a narrow country lane or an army-issued Browning pistol, nothing is put on the page by chance. Every detail matters, not just in the way we feel as readers, but in the way the story ultimately plays out. It is one of my personal joys to read gay romance novels, to make up for all the decades when I had none to read; it is a further joy to read novels of such extraordinary caliber. The pain and trauma in her plots are existential, and that’s not a word I toss about casually. The love in her books is existential, too: the ultimate weapon against cruelty and despair.
Reading this book made my day.
May 10, 2011
4.5 Stars
I loved Harper Fox's prose, characterization, setting and the atmosphere in this story. Fox's characters are complex, flawed and quite human (and that obviously counts as a plus for me). I couldn't stop reading the story of these men who were acutely hurt by either war or violence, and their painful journey toward healing through a little tenderness, love, self-awareness, lies and angst.
I had to suspend disbelief during the climactic scene with the "villain" due the physical condition both Flynn and Tom happened to be in. However, by that time I liked the story and characters to the extent that this did not become a big detriment to my overall enjoyment of the story.
After reading Life After Joe, Nine Lights over Edingburgh and now Driftwood, Harper Fox is fast becoming a favorite author in this sub-genre.
I loved Harper Fox's prose, characterization, setting and the atmosphere in this story. Fox's characters are complex, flawed and quite human (and that obviously counts as a plus for me). I couldn't stop reading the story of these men who were acutely hurt by either war or violence, and their painful journey toward healing through a little tenderness, love, self-awareness, lies and angst.
I had to suspend disbelief during the climactic scene with the "villain" due the physical condition both Flynn and Tom happened to be in. However, by that time I liked the story and characters to the extent that this did not become a big detriment to my overall enjoyment of the story.
After reading Life After Joe, Nine Lights over Edingburgh and now Driftwood, Harper Fox is fast becoming a favorite author in this sub-genre.
Read
September 13, 2021Overall book rating: 3.8
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Well I finished this somewhere in July without ever saying so.
Not because I didn’t like the book, just because life is hectic and I forgot before moving on to another book.
I really enjoyed this one simply for what it was. Was there in my humble opinion a heap of unnecessary action? Why yes, yes there was.
Did I still enjoy the read? Very much so.
It’s Harper Fox in all its glory and it was good. Thank you
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Well I finished this somewhere in July without ever saying so.
Not because I didn’t like the book, just because life is hectic and I forgot before moving on to another book.
I really enjoyed this one simply for what it was. Was there in my humble opinion a heap of unnecessary action? Why yes, yes there was.
Did I still enjoy the read? Very much so.
It’s Harper Fox in all its glory and it was good. Thank you
June 17, 2014
2.5 stars
This may not have been the best book for me to introduce myself to Harper Fox. It took me almost a month to read it. I had to force myself not to give up.
I liked it, but I was so lost in all the words. I had to keep reading to figure out who was doing what and I still don't know when their first time actually was. I mean, I think I do and I went over it again with my friend who read it but neither she and I can figure out what happened that morning.
So... yeah. This was sad and good lord it was sad. I liked Tom and Flynn but there were times I really questioned what they were doing, you know?
Will I try more from the author? You bet your ass. I just hope I don't get lost again.
This may not have been the best book for me to introduce myself to Harper Fox. It took me almost a month to read it. I had to force myself not to give up.
I liked it, but I was so lost in all the words. I had to keep reading to figure out who was doing what and I still don't know when their first time actually was. I mean, I think I do and I went over it again with my friend who read it but neither she and I can figure out what happened that morning.
So... yeah. This was sad and good lord it was sad. I liked Tom and Flynn but there were times I really questioned what they were doing, you know?
Will I try more from the author? You bet your ass. I just hope I don't get lost again.
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