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mallorypen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m working my way through Harper Fox’s library of free offerings on Audible, and I’ve noticed that her work ranges from intricate, archeological/anthropological explorations with a zesty element of romance, a sprinkling of military history, and a dash of mysticism to rough-and-tumble Cornish romances to “books written for beer money.” This book falls into the Cornish romance category, which, through not my favorite of her work, is usually a fun time. (Fun fact: she will use “sunbeam” as an endearment in every novel and I love it.)
Tom and Flynn are both compelling characters, and Rob is a perfect villain. Belle the wolfhound is a wonderful companion, and the side characters of Vic and the doctor are clearly their own unique people, despite their short screen time.
Flynn’s abuse is heartbreaking, and there is a part of me that wanted him and Tom to give one another space at the end, so Flynn could heal and have time to better known himself before immediately moving in with another man. That said, there would be no spice in that scenario, nor would there be such a sweet and fluffy ending. The sacrifice of a slightly more healthy ending to the tale was worth it!
Tom and Flynn are both compelling characters, and Rob is a perfect villain. Belle the wolfhound is a wonderful companion, and the side characters of Vic and the doctor are clearly their own unique people, despite their short screen time.
Flynn’s abuse is heartbreaking, and there is a part of me that wanted him and Tom to give one another space at the end, so Flynn could heal and have time to better known himself before immediately moving in with another man. That said, there would be no spice in that scenario, nor would there be such a sweet and fluffy ending. The sacrifice of a slightly more healthy ending to the tale was worth it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
pawtory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I wanted to like this book more bc as always Fox has a beautiful way with words. I loved the MCs and their flawed, hurt but trying selves. Unfortunately, there were some scene jumps that were too jarring and other things that occurred that felt forced. I think it had the potential to be an amazing book but perhaps bc it being short is why it felt too rushed at times. Note that all of the severe tag warnings are not between MCs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Rape, Car accident, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: War, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
Infidelity/toxic relationship/sexual violence/rape etc tags:jessslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
Dr. Thomas Penrose hasn’t been the same since coming back from Afghanistan. Haunted by the past, Tom maintains a strictly ordered existence that is upended when he rescues a surfer. Flynn Summers is a disaster waiting to happen. One of two survivors of a crash that killed his crew, Flynn seems to believe he doesn’t deserve happiness and he pays a sort of penance by staying in an abusive sexual relationship with fellow crash survivor, Robert. Attraction burns bright and hot between Tom and Flynn, but for them to have a chance at a relationship, they have to overcome their respective pasts…before it drowns their present.
I love a good tortured hero and Driftwood has not one, but two. What captured my interest about Driftwood is that Harper Fox bases her heroes’ torment in realism. War, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, survivor’s guilt, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and abuse all come into play in Driftwood and Ms. Fox deftly handles each one, seamlessly weaving them into the story. At its heart, however, Driftwood is a lovely romance, one that kept me avidly reading. Tom and Flynn so deserve to find happiness with one another, for each is an honestly good, caring man. But with the odds stacked against them, Ms. Fox had me on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book, which made for a captivating read.
Sensual, seductive, and at times hauntingly beautiful, Driftwood was a wonderfully satisfying read. It’s the first book of Ms. Fox’s that I’ve read and it won’t be the last.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
I love a good tortured hero and Driftwood has not one, but two. What captured my interest about Driftwood is that Harper Fox bases her heroes’ torment in realism. War, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, survivor’s guilt, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and abuse all come into play in Driftwood and Ms. Fox deftly handles each one, seamlessly weaving them into the story. At its heart, however, Driftwood is a lovely romance, one that kept me avidly reading. Tom and Flynn so deserve to find happiness with one another, for each is an honestly good, caring man. But with the odds stacked against them, Ms. Fox had me on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book, which made for a captivating read.
Sensual, seductive, and at times hauntingly beautiful, Driftwood was a wonderfully satisfying read. It’s the first book of Ms. Fox’s that I’ve read and it won’t be the last.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
karlijnmerle's review against another edition
4.0
I like <3
Yeah, this was really a nice story. Definitely one of my faves. The story, the MC's, the way they act and handle. Yes, definitely gonna re-read this one.
Yeah, this was really a nice story. Definitely one of my faves. The story, the MC's, the way they act and handle. Yes, definitely gonna re-read this one.
kiki124's review against another edition
4.0
Delicate story
of tough men battling the waves
of grief, guilt, lust, and loss.
of tough men battling the waves
of grief, guilt, lust, and loss.
scarletine6's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Although I enjoyed the story and narration neither set my heart alight. The story became a bit confused and convoluted when Tom escaped from hospital, and I honestly think it would have been a better story if we'd have had some chapters from Finn's POV. All of the exciting stuff seemed to be happening with his storyline, and yet we were plodding on with Tom and his issues.
The Cornish setting did bring back some happy memories of holidays in Cornwall, and the characterizations of the locals were spot on.
Although I enjoyed the story and narration neither set my heart alight. The story became a bit confused and convoluted when Tom escaped from hospital, and I honestly think it would have been a better story if we'd have had some chapters from Finn's POV. All of the exciting stuff seemed to be happening with his storyline, and yet we were plodding on with Tom and his issues.
The Cornish setting did bring back some happy memories of holidays in Cornwall, and the characterizations of the locals were spot on.
ristaylor's review against another edition
4.0
Harper Fox is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. She has a way of making words sing. Her phrasing is lyrical and her descriptions are crisp and clean. This book is almost a character study of a man who has chosen to live at the edge of life away from anything that can hurt him. Ironically he is a doctor and must interact with other people on a daily basis. His decisions are grounded in a reality that allows him to really know what his boundaries are and when he has reached his limit. In meeting Flynn he has to reevaluate his limits and open his boundaries.
As one other reviewer on Good reads said - she is becoming "the queen of angst" - but she does it very well. Her heroes both have tons of baggage they bring to the table and the sorting is hard work. But the work is the heart of the book and one I enjoyed very much.
As one other reviewer on Good reads said - she is becoming "the queen of angst" - but she does it very well. Her heroes both have tons of baggage they bring to the table and the sorting is hard work. But the work is the heart of the book and one I enjoyed very much.