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Scrap Metal
Is there room for love in a heart full of secrets?
One year ago, before Fate took a wrecking ball to his life, Nichol was happily working on his doctorate in linguistics. Now he’s hip deep in sheep, mud and collies. His late brother and mother had been well suited to life on Seacliff Farm. Nichol? Not so much.
As lambing season progresses in the teeth of an icy north wind, the last straw is the intruder Nichol catches in the barn. He says his name is Cam, and he’s on the run from a Glasgow gang. Something about the young man’s tired resignation touches Nichol deeply, and instead of giving him the business end of a shotgun, he offers Cam a blanket and a place to stay.
Somehow, Cam quickly charms his way through Nichol’s defenses and into his heart. Even his grandfather takes to the cheeky city boy, whose hard work and good head for figures help set the farm back on its feet.
As the cold Scottish springtime melts into summer, Nichol finds himself falling in love. When tragedy strikes, Cam’s resolutely held secret is finally revealed and Nichol must face the truth. He’s given his heart away, and it’s time to pay the price.
Warning: Contains explicit M/M sex and the disruption of a quiet Scottish town by a fistfight and some tight designer jeans.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2012
About the author
Harper Fox
59 books1,109 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 549 reviews
November 27, 2014
och, aye. sorta.
a funny thing, context.
this book contains a vast number of intensely beautiful scenes, with lines like this:
“one great advantage of arran in winter—you could break your heart with dignity."
...which felt wonderful to read, and was in the third paragraph, and pretty much primed me for an astonishingly gorgeous story in the highlands.
which: yeah.
it was, mostly. with a whole string of lines like that.
i suffered a minor stumble over a momentary lapse into standard mm-romance turdery—the gape and clench of a butthole—but then it was right back to the great prose, with a scandalously good i-love-you, and a graceful slide into the remainder of the book, featuring elegant writing as vibrant as it was (mostly) restrained.
and then—
—and then.
*rueful smile*
ah, well.
my one, spoilery objection:
which just felt wrong, and turned an automatic four-star experience into a three, along with that rubbishy cover and implausibly tidy end to the archie storyline.
and now i just feel weird as fuck.
because shit—what writing.
what a grand sweep of story.
...sorta.
a funny thing, context.
this book contains a vast number of intensely beautiful scenes, with lines like this:
“one great advantage of arran in winter—you could break your heart with dignity."
...which felt wonderful to read, and was in the third paragraph, and pretty much primed me for an astonishingly gorgeous story in the highlands.
which: yeah.
it was, mostly. with a whole string of lines like that.
i suffered a minor stumble over a momentary lapse into standard mm-romance turdery—the gape and clench of a butthole—but then it was right back to the great prose, with a scandalously good i-love-you, and a graceful slide into the remainder of the book, featuring elegant writing as vibrant as it was (mostly) restrained.
and then—
—and then.
*rueful smile*
ah, well.
my one, spoilery objection:
which just felt wrong, and turned an automatic four-star experience into a three, along with that rubbishy cover and implausibly tidy end to the archie storyline.
and now i just feel weird as fuck.
because shit—what writing.
what a grand sweep of story.
...sorta.
July 24, 2013
Ever wondered what life on a Scottish farm, that looks out over steep cliffs and is tucked away in a corner of the world, would be like?
Here's your chance!
Oh, to be immersed in the life of Sturdily built Scotsmen, who still speak Gaelic and stand proudly in the turf of their own lands. Only, the farm in this story is a ramshackle one, its inhabitants an eccentric grandpa, Harry, and his grandson Nichol, who was meant for a big city life with his talent for foreign languages and his handsome looks.
Instead, he's running around in the mud with sickly lambs and understands only enough of finances to realize that their farm is drowning in its debts, while the ghost of his brother - who should have run and inherited the farm instead, but was snatched away from life too early - haunts him.
"Harry wouldn't allow a microwave in the house, but we did have a battered kitchen radio via which, when the wind was in the right direction, I could sometimes pick up reminders of modern music, and my former life. (...) God, I had loved this track, danced away dozens of messy Edinburgh small hours in its grasp."
Fox paints a gorgeous, bittersweet picture of a sober farm life and its contrasting priceless surroundings. The latter Nichol doesn't even notice anymore, if he ever did. He dutifully slips into the life his brother was supposed to live. That is, until a burglar one stormy night proves to be the final straw. When unfamiliar sounds wake him up, he takes Harry's gun and stalks to the pen, where the sheep spend the night. There, between the hay bales he finds a skinny, beautiful lad, whose troublesome past brought him to this unlikely, forgotten place...
The flowery prose is mostly impressive. However at times Fox appears to get lost in her, now and then overwrought, sentences. I can imagine why some reviewers claimed to have difficulty sloughing through the prose and get a grip on the actual plot.
Although I personally loved Fox's lyrical descriptions, I, too, noticed how she could get carried away. Especially when describing love scenes, her pick of words seemed far-fetched and downright too extravagant to capture me. As I said, I enjoy poetic prose, but during steamy scenes my eyes simply flash over the sentences and I often appreciate a sharp, focused and intense writing-style, instead of...
"A fierce endless spending that turned the sun blood red in my vision and almost stopped my heart. (...) ...he rasped, powering up one more time into my body, holding us both briefly high in the zenith, up with the clouds and the ravens, safe in the hands of God."
Sickly lamb "MEH"!
Strangely enough, Nichol and Cameron remain surprisingly unremarkable characters. With this author, I had expected more complex personalities. I would have been quite happy to just read about these guys and their delicate love, but since Fox insisted on adding suspense, I need to point out that she didn't dose it that well: there were enough lulls in the story to make me realize that Scrap Metal would have benefited from being more compact. There were parts where I sinned...and skimmed.
So if you're a fan of plot-driven, fast hot reads, then this is probably not for you. However, if you love to indulge in romantic prose, slow burning love and highlight parts on your ereader like crazy, I'd say give it a go!
"Words and breath failed him and he hung on to me, chest heaving. Then he got hold of my jaw and guided me in for a kiss, swollen mouth, fresh come and all. he was robust about body fluids, I'd discovered, and we'd enjoyed a few sublimely messy exchanges."
Here's your chance!
Oh, to be immersed in the life of Sturdily built Scotsmen, who still speak Gaelic and stand proudly in the turf of their own lands. Only, the farm in this story is a ramshackle one, its inhabitants an eccentric grandpa, Harry, and his grandson Nichol, who was meant for a big city life with his talent for foreign languages and his handsome looks.
Instead, he's running around in the mud with sickly lambs and understands only enough of finances to realize that their farm is drowning in its debts, while the ghost of his brother - who should have run and inherited the farm instead, but was snatched away from life too early - haunts him.
"Harry wouldn't allow a microwave in the house, but we did have a battered kitchen radio via which, when the wind was in the right direction, I could sometimes pick up reminders of modern music, and my former life. (...) God, I had loved this track, danced away dozens of messy Edinburgh small hours in its grasp."
Fox paints a gorgeous, bittersweet picture of a sober farm life and its contrasting priceless surroundings. The latter Nichol doesn't even notice anymore, if he ever did. He dutifully slips into the life his brother was supposed to live. That is, until a burglar one stormy night proves to be the final straw. When unfamiliar sounds wake him up, he takes Harry's gun and stalks to the pen, where the sheep spend the night. There, between the hay bales he finds a skinny, beautiful lad, whose troublesome past brought him to this unlikely, forgotten place...
The flowery prose is mostly impressive. However at times Fox appears to get lost in her, now and then overwrought, sentences. I can imagine why some reviewers claimed to have difficulty sloughing through the prose and get a grip on the actual plot.
Although I personally loved Fox's lyrical descriptions, I, too, noticed how she could get carried away. Especially when describing love scenes, her pick of words seemed far-fetched and downright too extravagant to capture me. As I said, I enjoy poetic prose, but during steamy scenes my eyes simply flash over the sentences and I often appreciate a sharp, focused and intense writing-style, instead of...
"A fierce endless spending that turned the sun blood red in my vision and almost stopped my heart. (...) ...he rasped, powering up one more time into my body, holding us both briefly high in the zenith, up with the clouds and the ravens, safe in the hands of God."
Sickly lamb "MEH"!
Strangely enough, Nichol and Cameron remain surprisingly unremarkable characters. With this author, I had expected more complex personalities. I would have been quite happy to just read about these guys and their delicate love, but since Fox insisted on adding suspense, I need to point out that she didn't dose it that well: there were enough lulls in the story to make me realize that Scrap Metal would have benefited from being more compact. There were parts where I sinned...and skimmed.
So if you're a fan of plot-driven, fast hot reads, then this is probably not for you. However, if you love to indulge in romantic prose, slow burning love and highlight parts on your ereader like crazy, I'd say give it a go!
"Words and breath failed him and he hung on to me, chest heaving. Then he got hold of my jaw and guided me in for a kiss, swollen mouth, fresh come and all. he was robust about body fluids, I'd discovered, and we'd enjoyed a few sublimely messy exchanges."
March 29, 2012
4.5 stars
Exquisite to die for romantic love story and so beautifully written. The Scottish backdrop is vividly portrayed, I could easily picture myself looking out onto that breathtakingly harsh landscape. Nichol's life on the farm is bleak and a tough slog everyone he loves has left even his beloved Clover has disappeared, nowhere to be found. The frozen icy conditions add to the grim sad outlook and reflects the mood that surrounds and embraces the occupants of Seacliff. When Cameron arrives he brings about change some peace for Nichol and Harry (grumpy grandpa). Seacliff slowly awakens from its miserable existence the dark clouds have lifted and the skies are shining. Even Clover returns to the fold with sweet lovely presents. They were all waiting for that special person to arrive.
By now you probably have clued in to the fact that I loved it to bits, all of it the hikes across the rugged hills, the trip to the waterfall "dreamy" the new love of the land that Nichol sees through Cameron's eyes. The slow build and affection they have for each other is gorgeous even with that pesky secret that is between them. Cameron that adorable boy has a past and it's about to catch up to him you feel it and know it's coming I was hoping and wishing I was wrong but nope it caused a few anxious and teary moments. Every time I think about Nichol and Cameron what comes to mind is harmony, happiness, contentment, acceptance and joy. True partners in every sense of the word.
A very special mention of course goes to Clover although I am a bit miffed that we didn't get to see more of the darling that feisty personality needed to show its self more! Highly recommended even though I don't think my review has done this fabulous book the justice it deserves "sighs'.
Exquisite to die for romantic love story and so beautifully written. The Scottish backdrop is vividly portrayed, I could easily picture myself looking out onto that breathtakingly harsh landscape. Nichol's life on the farm is bleak and a tough slog everyone he loves has left even his beloved Clover has disappeared, nowhere to be found. The frozen icy conditions add to the grim sad outlook and reflects the mood that surrounds and embraces the occupants of Seacliff. When Cameron arrives he brings about change some peace for Nichol and Harry (grumpy grandpa). Seacliff slowly awakens from its miserable existence the dark clouds have lifted and the skies are shining. Even Clover returns to the fold with sweet lovely presents. They were all waiting for that special person to arrive.
By now you probably have clued in to the fact that I loved it to bits, all of it the hikes across the rugged hills, the trip to the waterfall "dreamy" the new love of the land that Nichol sees through Cameron's eyes. The slow build and affection they have for each other is gorgeous even with that pesky secret that is between them. Cameron that adorable boy has a past and it's about to catch up to him you feel it and know it's coming I was hoping and wishing I was wrong but nope it caused a few anxious and teary moments. Every time I think about Nichol and Cameron what comes to mind is harmony, happiness, contentment, acceptance and joy. True partners in every sense of the word.
A very special mention of course goes to Clover although I am a bit miffed that we didn't get to see more of the darling that feisty personality needed to show its self more! Highly recommended even though I don't think my review has done this fabulous book the justice it deserves "sighs'.
January 15, 2013
Harper Fox is the writer I envy most, for her ability to marry lyrical prose and poetic description with vivid characters in just the right proportions. Her books are deeply emotional but the emotion is contained and subtle and not forced. This story was no exception - a main character who made my heart ache for him, a plot with twists and heartbreak and hope. A resolution I desperately wanted, even though I didn't see how she would pull it off. And behind that story of love and loss and unflinching trust, the gorgeous, gritty, realistic details of a sheep farm on a remote island. This is the story of three men - Grandfather, stranger, and main character - who came together in a family, were torn apart, and finally remade into something lasting with the strength of love. Just beautiful, and going immediately into my favorites.
August 22, 2012
REVIEW COMPLETED AUGUST 22, 2012
Come on, then, I thought. Blind me. Strike me bloody dead, up here on this rooftop, the highest point for two hundred yards around. I'm harboring a I love him more than anything else on God's earth, and at the same time I feel like he reached into my chest and turned my heart to stone.
4.5 stars.
The home of Nichol and his grandfather Harry, Seacliff Farm, is in serious financial distress. To top everything off, Nichol catches an intruder in the barn while the lambing season progresses. His name is Cameron and he's on the run from a Glasgow gang. Cam didn't intend to rob Nichol, but what he needs is shelter. Cameron stays and is working as their trainee farmhand. Since Cameron is quite a math geek, he helps get the farm back on its feet. And by doing this, he earns the respect and love of Nichol's granddad Harry.
Scrap Metal is a paean to a spectacular countryside as well as a love between two wonderful men. It's about loss, pain, love, redemption and acceptance. What truly stands out here is the lush and poignant setting. Scrap Metal is beautifully written. If you are on the lookout for a thoughtful and quiet read, then look no further because I'm sure this story will draw you in. The prose is sublime, very eloquent and evocative. Even though the story feels melancholic and reflective, there's nothing wrong with that. Just a fair warning: you won't laugh out loud while reading this book.
Isle of Arran
My last read was very disappointing and I got quite worked up. Therefore, I'm very glad that Scrap Metal helped me to calm down again. One thing's for sure, the lyrical prose will surround you like a soothing blanket.
I loved the build-up and the pace in general. It's slow yet steady. And while you can feel their chemistry and need for one another, it's the subtleties that let this story shine. The author really cares about lovely details; she brought everything to life, and yet it never was too much. Even though there's not a lot of sex in this story, what's there serves a purpose and it's beautifully written. I really enjoyed it. While the story has a calm feel to it, do not worry though, some drama is about to happen. Although I never mentioned it in my reviews, I have to say that Gaelic is a lyrical and very romantic language. And I do adore it when authors intertwine some Gaelic words with the English dialog.
Yes, forever, Nic. A-chaoidh.
Cam likes to make sculptures out of spare parts and scrap metal.
Unfortunately he did not sculpt a horse though.
Why not five stars?
I'm not quite sure how to explain it. Nevertheless it's possible that the writing was so utterly beautiful and lushly done that it overshadowed the characters--sort of. Maybe I'd have liked a little bit more character development. Well, I know it's "criticizing" on a high level.
Overall Scrap Metal is a very riveting and wonderfully penned m-m novel. If you love a beautiful setting combined with a good plot and likable characters, then give this story a try. Last but not least I'm happy that I found another great m-m author.
Highly recommended.
"There," he whispered, his mouth a moth brush over my ear. "The love song must've worked."
Come on, then, I thought. Blind me. Strike me bloody dead, up here on this rooftop, the highest point for two hundred yards around. I'm harboring a I love him more than anything else on God's earth, and at the same time I feel like he reached into my chest and turned my heart to stone.
4.5 stars.
The home of Nichol and his grandfather Harry, Seacliff Farm, is in serious financial distress. To top everything off, Nichol catches an intruder in the barn while the lambing season progresses. His name is Cameron and he's on the run from a Glasgow gang. Cam didn't intend to rob Nichol, but what he needs is shelter. Cameron stays and is working as their trainee farmhand. Since Cameron is quite a math geek, he helps get the farm back on its feet. And by doing this, he earns the respect and love of Nichol's granddad Harry.
Scrap Metal is a paean to a spectacular countryside as well as a love between two wonderful men. It's about loss, pain, love, redemption and acceptance. What truly stands out here is the lush and poignant setting. Scrap Metal is beautifully written. If you are on the lookout for a thoughtful and quiet read, then look no further because I'm sure this story will draw you in. The prose is sublime, very eloquent and evocative. Even though the story feels melancholic and reflective, there's nothing wrong with that. Just a fair warning: you won't laugh out loud while reading this book.
Isle of Arran
My last read was very disappointing and I got quite worked up. Therefore, I'm very glad that Scrap Metal helped me to calm down again. One thing's for sure, the lyrical prose will surround you like a soothing blanket.
I loved the build-up and the pace in general. It's slow yet steady. And while you can feel their chemistry and need for one another, it's the subtleties that let this story shine. The author really cares about lovely details; she brought everything to life, and yet it never was too much. Even though there's not a lot of sex in this story, what's there serves a purpose and it's beautifully written. I really enjoyed it. While the story has a calm feel to it, do not worry though, some drama is about to happen. Although I never mentioned it in my reviews, I have to say that Gaelic is a lyrical and very romantic language. And I do adore it when authors intertwine some Gaelic words with the English dialog.
Yes, forever, Nic. A-chaoidh.
Cam likes to make sculptures out of spare parts and scrap metal.
Unfortunately he did not sculpt a horse though.
Why not five stars?
I'm not quite sure how to explain it. Nevertheless it's possible that the writing was so utterly beautiful and lushly done that it overshadowed the characters--sort of. Maybe I'd have liked a little bit more character development. Well, I know it's "criticizing" on a high level.
Overall Scrap Metal is a very riveting and wonderfully penned m-m novel. If you love a beautiful setting combined with a good plot and likable characters, then give this story a try. Last but not least I'm happy that I found another great m-m author.
Highly recommended.
"There," he whispered, his mouth a moth brush over my ear. "The love song must've worked."
January 30, 2016
Written March 18, 2015
4.6 Stars - This was utterly spellbinding reading, so incredibly beautiful told — what a wonderful story
I finished reading Harper Fox's historical Brothers of the Wild North Sea (4.5 stars) last week, and I really enjoyed the writing and the intense feeling in that one. ~ A new attempt and now with a 12:20 hrs contemporary audiobook novel narrated by Sean Gormley.
Oh yes, this was very, VERY good
Ms. Fox isn't disappointing, once again a great novel. Well written in a beautiful way. Characters I felt so much for. ~ I wanted to be there on that windy island with them. I wanted to help with all that hard farm-work. I wanted to keep them happy and just share they ups and downs.
Ohhh... This was a magic listening partly, and in the same time so ordinary, believable and simple. ~ You just have to grab the chance for luck when there is a opportunity.
***********************************************************
Isle of Arran, Scotland U.K.
Fate changed Nichol Seacliff's life a year ago. He had to go back to the Scottish island, Isle of Arran and to his family's old "Seacliff Farm". Nichol left his 'own' life, friends and work (doctorate in linguistics) in Edinburgh, to help out his grandpa Harry. There had been a heartbreaking sad accident leaving the old man alone with lambs, sheeps and collies. ...there on that cold windy island.
It is a hard life on a sheep farm and there aren't much money or any profits at all. Nichol is still after a year of grieving his mother and older brother in a sad and nearly depressing mood. He just wish he could leave it all and go back to his old life but he can't. Not yet anyway. Their life and old way of living on the island is dear to his grandfather.
Then one night changes things. There is an intruder in the barn, a cheeky Glasgow city boy, Cameron (Cam) Vaughn. Nichol is touched by Cam's poor tired resignation and offers a blanket and a place to stay. ~ So are they three men on the farm...
***********************************************************
It was wonderful to follow these three men through everyday wear. Be there with them and those surprisingly glorious moments —the first kiss, dancing in the kitchen, newborn lambs, beautiful panoramic islands views, laughter and joy, etc— and their inner change. It's a bit dirty, windy, unfashionable old and it sneaks in cold air into the old house. It is now, in the present, but could have been 40 years ago too.
Grandpa Harry is a bit ill-tempered, stubborn and dominant. Nothing should change, and all three pine and are quiet about what should be said. Nichol and Cam are unsure what their progressing relationship could be, they are sweet (and horny), but both fears to handle changes, to try and go one step further.
Hearts healed, gained new force and began to bloom.
But then the those sunny warm first spring-days comes, cuddly kittens are born, old dreams awoke, and it gets warm again. In their hearts and in mine. - Love is in the air ...for all three.
***********************************************************
So beautifully described, so earnestly told - magnificently crafted and dramatic heartbreaking romantic. Maybe there are some minor lacks, but who cares? This story and characters will not leave my heart for a long time.
Highly recommended! — As a very well, intense and lively, narrated audiobook as well.
I LIKE - wholeheartedly, I was charmed
4.6 Stars - This was utterly spellbinding reading, so incredibly beautiful told — what a wonderful story
I finished reading Harper Fox's historical Brothers of the Wild North Sea (4.5 stars) last week, and I really enjoyed the writing and the intense feeling in that one. ~ A new attempt and now with a 12:20 hrs contemporary audiobook novel narrated by Sean Gormley.
Oh yes, this was very, VERY good
Ms. Fox isn't disappointing, once again a great novel. Well written in a beautiful way. Characters I felt so much for. ~ I wanted to be there on that windy island with them. I wanted to help with all that hard farm-work. I wanted to keep them happy and just share they ups and downs.
Ohhh... This was a magic listening partly, and in the same time so ordinary, believable and simple. ~ You just have to grab the chance for luck when there is a opportunity.
***********************************************************
‘The mug was so warm, and my hands so cold, that it didn't feel as if we belonged in the same universe.’
Isle of Arran, Scotland U.K.
Fate changed Nichol Seacliff's life a year ago. He had to go back to the Scottish island, Isle of Arran and to his family's old "Seacliff Farm". Nichol left his 'own' life, friends and work (doctorate in linguistics) in Edinburgh, to help out his grandpa Harry. There had been a heartbreaking sad accident leaving the old man alone with lambs, sheeps and collies. ...there on that cold windy island.
It is a hard life on a sheep farm and there aren't much money or any profits at all. Nichol is still after a year of grieving his mother and older brother in a sad and nearly depressing mood. He just wish he could leave it all and go back to his old life but he can't. Not yet anyway. Their life and old way of living on the island is dear to his grandfather.
Then one night changes things. There is an intruder in the barn, a cheeky Glasgow city boy, Cameron (Cam) Vaughn. Nichol is touched by Cam's poor tired resignation and offers a blanket and a place to stay. ~ So are they three men on the farm...
“Maybe we walked past each other in the crowd.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I wouldn’t have walked past you.”
***********************************************************
It was wonderful to follow these three men through everyday wear. Be there with them and those surprisingly glorious moments —the first kiss, dancing in the kitchen, newborn lambs, beautiful panoramic islands views, laughter and joy, etc— and their inner change. It's a bit dirty, windy, unfashionable old and it sneaks in cold air into the old house. It is now, in the present, but could have been 40 years ago too.
Grandpa Harry is a bit ill-tempered, stubborn and dominant. Nothing should change, and all three pine and are quiet about what should be said. Nichol and Cam are unsure what their progressing relationship could be, they are sweet (and horny), but both fears to handle changes, to try and go one step further.
Hearts healed, gained new force and began to bloom.
But then the those sunny warm first spring-days comes, cuddly kittens are born, old dreams awoke, and it gets warm again. In their hearts and in mine. - Love is in the air ...for all three.
‘He was the heart of my world, my gravity, my sun. My life before him was a dream from which I’d joyously awoken. He turned this dusty cell into a prince’s chamber, hung it with satin and silks. I loved him.’
***********************************************************
So beautifully described, so earnestly told - magnificently crafted and dramatic heartbreaking romantic. Maybe there are some minor lacks, but who cares? This story and characters will not leave my heart for a long time.
Highly recommended! — As a very well, intense and lively, narrated audiobook as well.
I LIKE - wholeheartedly, I was charmed
December 16, 2012
Harper Fox is an exceptionally gifted writer. Scrap Metal is a testament to that. Because you don't simply read this story. You experience it.
You experience the breathtaking beauty of the Isle of Arran, and Seacliff Farm. The elements of nature. The sounds of vehicles, animals and the people (at some point I realised I read the dialogue with a Scottish intonation. No kidding.)
And you experience the characters and the spectrum of their feelings as if they're part of the island, the landscape. Desolation and despair and resignation and helplessness and grief are interwoven with cold and rain and sleet and the gloom of the dark Scottish winter. Hope and laughter and love and lust and desire are connected with spring, the summer sun, the sounds of a waterfall, flowers, earth, nature.
I can't really explain it. But it's beautiful. So beautiful. There's also a very light touch of the paranormal that lends the story an additional mystical air.
There were some parts that didn't make much sense (for instance, Nichol claimed he had received an email even though we later learned he didn't own a computer), and the crime parts near the end were rudimentary and hasty, as was the last 20% or so of the story.
Also, the book ended and I still hadn't really understood where the author was taking the relationship between Archie and Shona. The character I felt I understood the most was the grandfather, Harry. Nichol and, mostly, Cameron, although strong and likable and clear, could have been developed more.
But those were minor issues and they won't be what I'll remember this book for. Some people have mentioned in their reviews they find Harper Fox's writing too lyrical and difficult to follow. To me, it's simply beautiful.
Scrap Metal was my first book by Ms Fox and I don't know whether it's her best, but I fully intend to find out.
You experience the breathtaking beauty of the Isle of Arran, and Seacliff Farm. The elements of nature. The sounds of vehicles, animals and the people (at some point I realised I read the dialogue with a Scottish intonation. No kidding.)
And you experience the characters and the spectrum of their feelings as if they're part of the island, the landscape. Desolation and despair and resignation and helplessness and grief are interwoven with cold and rain and sleet and the gloom of the dark Scottish winter. Hope and laughter and love and lust and desire are connected with spring, the summer sun, the sounds of a waterfall, flowers, earth, nature.
I can't really explain it. But it's beautiful. So beautiful. There's also a very light touch of the paranormal that lends the story an additional mystical air.
There were some parts that didn't make much sense (for instance, Nichol claimed he had received an email even though we later learned he didn't own a computer), and the crime parts near the end were rudimentary and hasty, as was the last 20% or so of the story.
Also, the book ended and I still hadn't really understood where the author was taking the relationship between Archie and Shona. The character I felt I understood the most was the grandfather, Harry. Nichol and, mostly, Cameron, although strong and likable and clear, could have been developed more.
But those were minor issues and they won't be what I'll remember this book for. Some people have mentioned in their reviews they find Harper Fox's writing too lyrical and difficult to follow. To me, it's simply beautiful.
Scrap Metal was my first book by Ms Fox and I don't know whether it's her best, but I fully intend to find out.
April 5, 2013
**4.25 stars**
This book came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint!
Scrap metal is a beautifully written book about a city boy, Nichol (I don't think I ever pronounced his name correctly. Ni-CK-ole? NI-cole? Nick-OLE??), who is forced to move back to his childhood home and help out his grandfather on his farm when his mother and brother unexpectedly die. His quiet country world is suddenly shaken up when he finds a stranger, Cam, hiding in his barn.
This was my first book by Harper Fox and I was pleasantly surprised by her writing style. Her prose is very poetic. She creates beautiful similes, and phrases things in a very lyrical, thoughtful way. This forged an interesting reading experience for me. In some ways, it really enhanced the story and made it more special and memorable. However, a tiny portion of me found the phrasing a little too deliberate for my tastes, if that makes sense.
What I really dug was the quiet, serene atmosphere of the book. Harper Fox did a fabulous job putting me right in the middle of rural Scotland (where all of my delicious heroes live!). I was completely sucked into the characters' world. In addition, the romance between Cam and Nichol was also very well done. There was a nice slow burn there and some wonderful, real chemistry. Not to mention, Harry, the grandfather, was a great character. I fell hard for him :)
I had a few questions at the end of the book and a few minor complaints. . I also would have liked to be in Cam's head more. I felt like he was a little aloof as a character, which I don't think was Harper Fox's intention.
Overall this book was a wonderful read. I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.
This book came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint!
Scrap metal is a beautifully written book about a city boy, Nichol (I don't think I ever pronounced his name correctly. Ni-CK-ole? NI-cole? Nick-OLE??), who is forced to move back to his childhood home and help out his grandfather on his farm when his mother and brother unexpectedly die. His quiet country world is suddenly shaken up when he finds a stranger, Cam, hiding in his barn.
This was my first book by Harper Fox and I was pleasantly surprised by her writing style. Her prose is very poetic. She creates beautiful similes, and phrases things in a very lyrical, thoughtful way. This forged an interesting reading experience for me. In some ways, it really enhanced the story and made it more special and memorable. However, a tiny portion of me found the phrasing a little too deliberate for my tastes, if that makes sense.
What I really dug was the quiet, serene atmosphere of the book. Harper Fox did a fabulous job putting me right in the middle of rural Scotland (where all of my delicious heroes live!). I was completely sucked into the characters' world. In addition, the romance between Cam and Nichol was also very well done. There was a nice slow burn there and some wonderful, real chemistry. Not to mention, Harry, the grandfather, was a great character. I fell hard for him :)
I had a few questions at the end of the book and a few minor complaints. . I also would have liked to be in Cam's head more. I felt like he was a little aloof as a character, which I don't think was Harper Fox's intention.
Overall this book was a wonderful read. I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.
August 5, 2018
Audio 3.5 stars. The narrator's performance was great but the voice was a bit mature for heroes in their twenties. Still, it was a very nice voice so listening wasn't a hardship.
Story 3 stars. It was long winded but there are two things I'm finding out I can count on from Harper Fox: beautiful writing and swoon worthy couples so no regrets listening/reading this.
Story 3 stars. It was long winded but there are two things I'm finding out I can count on from Harper Fox: beautiful writing and swoon worthy couples so no regrets listening/reading this.
December 15, 2012
3.5+ Stars
If Harper Fox was writing a piece for the Scotland Tourism Board, this would be a 5 star read. The landscape of the story is gorgeous and the writing made me feel a bit like I was floating. I will see Seacliff in my dreams.
Fox then takes this beauty and lets it overflow into the relationship she builds between Nichol and Cameron. Oh yes, there were gracefully written bits…especially some of the powerful yet tender, almost painfully romantic moments between the MC’s. A treat.
However, strip away these highlights, and I wasn’t completely sold on the story itself. If it was a story about just 2 guys and a sheep farm, I’d have loved it, simple and slow as it would be. But when the side characters started getting involved and Cameron’s background revealed, I was jarred by the abrupt sense that the author wanted to “make something happen”. It felt rushed and out-of-place and I was longing for more of the melodic prose I had fallen for in the first 2/3 of the book.
In the end, I found myself scratching my head and frowning just a bit…mad at myself that I had complained earlier on that nothing was happening. I’d have loved just more of the fellas, their sheep, and a crotchety ol’ curmudgeon.
Definitely worth reading to get the treat of Harper Fox’s writing style. But, be prepared for a slower pace and an only-mildly-satisfying storyline.
Cover Note: This is one of the few times where the person on the cover is a great fit for the character. I think her Cameron is bingo.
*always a pleasure tackling a book w/ you, Lenore. I promise not to barrel through the next one so we can discuss more! :)
June 21, 2021
When I read Harper Fox I know I can expect two things:
✔️ A setting and landscape as alive as any character
✔️Characters who are complex and flawed
I’m got both in this book set on a Scottish island.
The story was stark and lovely and rich at once.
The story was also a bit long & I lost interest here and there after the 1/2 mark.
A great performance by the narrator really helped to settle me in this small community.
My rec? A solid read with an HEA for two lost souls: one a criminal, the other a farmer.
✔️ A setting and landscape as alive as any character
✔️Characters who are complex and flawed
I’m got both in this book set on a Scottish island.
The story was stark and lovely and rich at once.
The story was also a bit long & I lost interest here and there after the 1/2 mark.
A great performance by the narrator really helped to settle me in this small community.
My rec? A solid read with an HEA for two lost souls: one a criminal, the other a farmer.
March 27, 2012
So I am totally supposed to not be reading any m/m this month, but I forgot I preordered this, so I was forced, cruelly forced I tell you, to down tools and finish this from cover to cover, compulsorily, this afternoon.
Oooh, It's FABULOUS!
Even better than Life After Joe.
Romantic, slow-burny true-love, with Scots accents. God in heaven how I loved it. Actual plot! And poetic, gorgeous writing! And a setting that had me aching with longing! And insanely hot, sensitive men having breathtaking sex. And otters! (OK, maybe just the one otter).
*Shivers* What a treat this book was.
Thankfully that should hold me over for another three weeks of non-m/m purgatory.
Thank you very much Harper Fox for sharing this story-world with me.
Oooh, It's FABULOUS!
Even better than Life After Joe.
Romantic, slow-burny true-love, with Scots accents. God in heaven how I loved it. Actual plot! And poetic, gorgeous writing! And a setting that had me aching with longing! And insanely hot, sensitive men having breathtaking sex. And otters! (OK, maybe just the one otter).
*Shivers* What a treat this book was.
Thankfully that should hold me over for another three weeks of non-m/m purgatory.
Thank you very much Harper Fox for sharing this story-world with me.
March 29, 2012
Wonderful reviews to Scrap Metal from Vio here and Jenre here.
What`s left is to happily join the chorus...
I was basking in this book...
...in the magic of Scotland and the sparse beauty of Arran.
...being inside Nichol`s head - what a beautiful soul - and watching him and Cameron finding love and happiness against all odds.
...loving the cast of secondary characters,the Cam-delivering mutts,Clover the cat that came back and Granda Harry - the old grump who couldn`t express his feelings with words.
...the wonderful ending - felt my heart being gently squeezed.
Not much left to be desired from a true romance - these two men will love each other forever - no doubt.
HIGHLY recommended!
What`s left is to happily join the chorus...
I was basking in this book...
...in the magic of Scotland and the sparse beauty of Arran.
...being inside Nichol`s head - what a beautiful soul - and watching him and Cameron finding love and happiness against all odds.
...loving the cast of secondary characters,the Cam-delivering mutts,Clover the cat that came back and Granda Harry - the old grump who couldn`t express his feelings with words.
...the wonderful ending - felt my heart being gently squeezed.
Not much left to be desired from a true romance - these two men will love each other forever - no doubt.
HIGHLY recommended!
May 14, 2013
Gorgeous and lyrically written romance. The words are as much a seduction as the tale itself. This is the kind of book that leaves me yearning--wanting. The wild places, desolate and stark, call to me. I could wander Seacliff Farm and never see another human, be blessedly content. The prose allowed me to interlope, to trespass and live in that crisp and untamed space.
Nichol is the dutiful second son who returns to help when tragedy strikes. He does not whinge, but steps up without thinking for a moment about his sacrifice and fulfills responsibilities. Yet, when an opportunity presents itself to lighten his burden he doesn't ignore it.
Cameron is the enigma, a charmer. Good-hearted, hard-working, and the kind of person who breathes life into a room with their mere presence. For Harry and Nichol, he is the ballast in their tumultuous relationship. But a man of secrets eventually has to spill them.
I'd rate the story a 4, but I so enjoy reveling in the language that I have to give the book a 5.
Favorite quote:
"I’d stay until the waterfall turned our flesh to mineral, and there we’d be, a sign for future lovers who found their way here…"
Nichol is the dutiful second son who returns to help when tragedy strikes. He does not whinge, but steps up without thinking for a moment about his sacrifice and fulfills responsibilities. Yet, when an opportunity presents itself to lighten his burden he doesn't ignore it.
Cameron is the enigma, a charmer. Good-hearted, hard-working, and the kind of person who breathes life into a room with their mere presence. For Harry and Nichol, he is the ballast in their tumultuous relationship. But a man of secrets eventually has to spill them.
I'd rate the story a 4, but I so enjoy reveling in the language that I have to give the book a 5.
Favorite quote:
"I’d stay until the waterfall turned our flesh to mineral, and there we’d be, a sign for future lovers who found their way here…"
June 25, 2013
3.5 Stars because my unwelcome cynicism
My first book by Harper Fox comes highly recommended and it was quite lovely. A beautiful Scottish Island setting, accomplished characterisation and a plot designed to draw inspiration, wonder, humour and empathy too. All delivered with a poet’s flare and a bold passion for love and Mother Nature.
The plot itself is quite a simple one. Two young men fall in love on a sheep farm – a bitter old man learns to be nice (kind of)– an ex-boyfriend who wants not to be - the neighbouring widow who would really make a good match for Nichol, and the dangerous secrets that Cam holds too close to his chest.
What makes Scrap Metal special is Fox’s writing. Everything is brought to life with her lyrical descriptivism, the way the mood of our narrator Nichol is metaphorically reflected by nature and the weather is superb. With Harper Fox, a hill is not just a hill; a rock is not a rock. A five by five dusty utility room is not just that when passion is unleashed – it’s a dusty cell turned into prince charming’s chamber, hung with satin and silk.
And yet - I find myself warring with respectful appreciation of a brilliantly talented author and my own trivial cynicism. This is where I hold up my hand and say: a rock actually is just a rock no matter how grand you make it seem. For me her loquacious poetic prose and lyrical descriptivism is both a treat and a hindrance to this story. Too often I found the story slowed down by overly descriptive surroundings. Yes, it looks and smells lovely, but it’s still just a tree, a hill or a sea breeze. Clearly I am one of those people who walk through the pretty forest just to reach the pub.
As much as I admire her writing, I became immune to it at the 60% mark and thus her talent is almost wasted on a cynic like me. Perhaps Harper Fox will educate reform me; she did in fact have me glued to this story till 2am so that’s saying something. But still, I found the plot itself too ordinary for my taste, too slow and wordy and too dreamily wrapped up.
This is all personal and I DO encourage everyone to read it, even the cynical buggers like me should have a read of this just for the joy of indulging in such a talented writer.
April 6, 2017
This has been sitting on my kindle and I'm glad I finally read it. I loved everything about it! The characters, setting, writing and pacing - all of it was fabulous. This is my first book by Harper and it definitely won't be my last!
January 31, 2020
Scrap Metal is a beautifully written novel set on the Scottish island of Arran. Nicol lives on the farm run by his curmudgeon of a Grandfather Harry who has no hesitation in showing that he preferred Nicol's deceased brother to himself.
Nicol's life changes forever when on the night of a severe storm, he finds a stranger in the barn. It is not long before Nicol, and the stranger, Cameron, share a love that dares not speak its name. Their idyllic relationship is blasted when someone from Cameron's past makes an appearance, seeking to reek revenge on Cameron. The reader is carried along breathlessly to the end of the novel as Cameron tries to exorcise the ghosts of his past.
Harper Fox writes beautiful prose and we are treated to colourful descriptions of the island of Arran. She also writes tenderly about the love between Nicol and Cameron as well as the the difficult relationship, between Nicol and his grandfather.
This is the first I have read of Harper Fox's novel---and I can't wait to read another. Highly recommended!
Nicol's life changes forever when on the night of a severe storm, he finds a stranger in the barn. It is not long before Nicol, and the stranger, Cameron, share a love that dares not speak its name. Their idyllic relationship is blasted when someone from Cameron's past makes an appearance, seeking to reek revenge on Cameron. The reader is carried along breathlessly to the end of the novel as Cameron tries to exorcise the ghosts of his past.
Harper Fox writes beautiful prose and we are treated to colourful descriptions of the island of Arran. She also writes tenderly about the love between Nicol and Cameron as well as the the difficult relationship, between Nicol and his grandfather.
This is the first I have read of Harper Fox's novel---and I can't wait to read another. Highly recommended!
June 5, 2013
What a gorgeous outstanding book, poetic, lyrical and instantly engaging.
It's about Nichol Seacliff, a linguistic student, who is forced to abandon his thesis and returns to his family's farm on Arran, an Scottish island fifteen miles away from the mainland. He has to work long grueling hours under his grandfather's stern eye. Struggling under harsh physical conditions and bottling up a year's worth of grief and pain, Nichol is down and out when Cameron arrives at the farm. He's clearly on the run from something. Nichol finds himself offering Cameron a place to stay in return for helping him with the chores around the farm...
The first pages are brutal. I felt the cold, harsh wind, saw the inhospitable god forsaken area, cried with Nichol about his missing cat Clove and wanted nothing more than to save him, take him in my arms and keep him warm. :)
But with Cam's arrival Nic's desperation seems to vanish like the cold winter and seing the island with Cam's wondering eyes I began to love Seacliff and the rugged beauty of the island...
And there is not only the beautiful island and the guys I fell in love with. There is Clover, Nichol's cat which returns suddenly and unexpected. It was so wonderful to witness the love Nic feels for his cat.
The door creaked and swung open. This time we both jumped. It took me a moment to look down far enough to match cause to the effect. Keen-edged relief swept me. A tiny dark shape, insinuating itself into the room by main force.
“Oh, is it you, Miss Buttinsky? Don’t you knock?”
Yes, my cat—with a huge moustache.
“Oh, God.”
The rat was the size of a small squirrel. She was having trouble carrying it, not that she’d admit it, but I could tell by the set of her shoulders. There must have been a battle royal to bring it down. The weight of it was making her waddle slightly. As I watched, she came to stand in front of me, looking me over consideringly. Then she turned and dropped her prize onto Cam’s naked foot...“
Did I say I love this cat? LMAO
And there is Harry, Nic's grumpy Granda. He seems to be a hard man, yes, but he is also shaped by the poetic language he speaks. When he turnes on his stubborn charm... you a r e lost, instantly. LOL I loved him to bits. :) Him and his poetic Gaelic tongue.
“I’m not surprised you lost some of your Gaelic.”
But I haven’t. That was what I wanted to say to Harry. I remember every word you taught me, in here with the book and out on the moors and the shore where you pointed to dobhar, the otter, iasg-dearg, the salmon, the eagle iolair whose name you pronounced like the upward yearning of wings - oh-lia, oh-lia.
I smiled. Yes, that was Gaelic for you—wrapping you in mists right from the start, from the motorway signs on the border that said failte – welcome - and were meant to come out of your mouth as fawl-cha... Beauty. Music... I couldn’t forget the poems, not when I was taught them so young.
Did you hear me, old man? It’s the nearest I can come to saying sorry.
I turned the page. The summer poem was long, a great cadenced paean to life such as only a man who’d lived through West Isles winters could sing. Softly I began the next verse...
One of many highlights is Nic and Cam's hike to the Cliaradh waterfall. A waterfall that cascades from a cliff top in three huge drops, each of them broken by a horizontal outcrop of black rock, and ends in a night-black pool.
Cam and Nic are too cute together. The love between them is natural and passionate but it blossoms slowly and steadily. Their story is so achingly beautiful you'll feel your heart yanked out your chest and then gently, lovingly placed back again.
Harper Fox is a gifted and skilled author who amazes with her ability to transport her readers into another world and delight them with her poetry. I can't recommend this book enough.
April 1, 2012
Although I gave high rating to the first three stories I read from Harper Fox, one constant pain in the a** for me to completely enjoy her stories is her writing style. It has always become too wordy, too convoluted, like she wants to cram so many poetic words, it becomes difficult for me to get into it. It's like enjoying the beauty of the sea, but to get to that, I need to swim through a thick puddle of mud. So heavy and exhausting. That is why, after Nine Lights Over Edinburgh, I decide to just stop reading her.
Then, these glowing reviews come in for this one. It makes me curious, darn it! *glaring eyes to all those friends on my Goodreads timeline*. So I give it a go. Honestly, I actually stop reading this by Chapter 2. Putting it down, because once again, I feel tired reading it. Too many unnecessary poetic details, definitely NOT winning any points from me.
... until several chapters later, when a scene of Clover (the cat) brings a rat on put it down on Cam's feet, and BAM, suddenly, I get that shining light. Suddenly, the characters become so endearing -- and I start to care for them. It's enough for me to powering through the writing style barrier, and I then appreciate the beauty of the story.
The setting becomes vividly gorgeous -- a bit isolated, the farm, but at the same time, perfect for the kind of angst and love between Nichol and Cameron. Both Nichol and Cam win my heart; Nichol with his unconditional love to Cam, even when he finds out Cam's secret. Cam with his baggage and smart brain for numbers and passion for art. Even Harry, that old grouch, which of course, one event involving him (you readers know which one) just breaks my heart.
So the story and characters become a winner, once again.
If only the language makes it more enjoyable, this could be one perfect read *sigh*
Then, these glowing reviews come in for this one. It makes me curious, darn it! *glaring eyes to all those friends on my Goodreads timeline*. So I give it a go. Honestly, I actually stop reading this by Chapter 2. Putting it down, because once again, I feel tired reading it. Too many unnecessary poetic details, definitely NOT winning any points from me.
... until several chapters later, when a scene of Clover (the cat) brings a rat on put it down on Cam's feet, and BAM, suddenly, I get that shining light. Suddenly, the characters become so endearing -- and I start to care for them. It's enough for me to powering through the writing style barrier, and I then appreciate the beauty of the story.
The setting becomes vividly gorgeous -- a bit isolated, the farm, but at the same time, perfect for the kind of angst and love between Nichol and Cameron. Both Nichol and Cam win my heart; Nichol with his unconditional love to Cam, even when he finds out Cam's secret. Cam with his baggage and smart brain for numbers and passion for art. Even Harry, that old grouch, which of course, one event involving him (you readers know which one) just breaks my heart.
So the story and characters become a winner, once again.
If only the language makes it more enjoyable, this could be one perfect read *sigh*
March 26, 2016
There is a quality to Harper Fox's writing that really draws me in, a lot of it I think is because she clearly loves the landscapes she sets her books in, and how the characters often take on elements of the setting.
I thought that this was beautiful, as usual, the relationship between Cam and Nichol was lovely , delicate and fierce was balanced by the relationship of Nichol and Harry (his grandfather) which was overlaid with sadness. But there was also such a feeling of hope as well.
Then the last 15 -20% of the book happened, and it was so sudden and jarred with the rest of the book.
Overall I loved this though.
I thought that this was beautiful, as usual, the relationship between Cam and Nichol was lovely , delicate and fierce was balanced by the relationship of Nichol and Harry (his grandfather) which was overlaid with sadness. But there was also such a feeling of hope as well.
Then the last 15 -20% of the book happened, and it was so sudden and jarred with the rest of the book.
Overall I loved this though.
February 21, 2022
This was one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in a long time. The words flowed like water over a rock. The last chapter was so touching I cried.
However, I almost walked away so many times. Chapter after chapter drug by and I kept thinking maybe I should DNF. I stuck with because so many of my Goodreads friends gave it such glowing reviews.
However, I almost walked away so many times. Chapter after chapter drug by and I kept thinking maybe I should DNF. I stuck with because so many of my Goodreads friends gave it such glowing reviews.
December 17, 2012
I attempted to write a real review for this. I promise you I really did...
...but all I could come up with was a list of adjectives like:
I loved every wonderful word of it and it was well worth every tear I shed.
...but all I could come up with was a list of adjectives like:
Beautiful
Mystical
Vivid
Lyrical
Leisurely
Foggy
Old-Fashioned
Cold
Heart-Wrenching
Remote
Encouraging
I loved every wonderful word of it and it was well worth every tear I shed.
July 31, 2018
I've had this book for ever and a day...and I'm beyond grateful I finally slipped into it's beautiful magic.
Gorgeous setting.
Captivating characters.
Lush writing.
Yeah, it was just what I needed.
I've found myself drawn back into it's addicting vortex several times since I finished the final pages.
If you haven't read it yet...you should.
Gorgeous setting.
Captivating characters.
Lush writing.
Yeah, it was just what I needed.
I've found myself drawn back into it's addicting vortex several times since I finished the final pages.
If you haven't read it yet...you should.
September 11, 2016
Thanks to my Mishy for another BR.
This is a great read, beautiful writing, characters to root for, some sexy, some excitement, and a smashing finale.
This is a great read, beautiful writing, characters to root for, some sexy, some excitement, and a smashing finale.
May 5, 2018
Harper Fox has a writing style characterised by a beautiful meditative quality that I've now grown to truly appreciate. Scrap Metal is no exception.
Set in a few months of passage from winter to summer in the rugged and isolated Arran Island, the novel focuses on two main MCs, Nichol - a native islander who has to renounce his life and academic ambitions in Edinburgh to go home and take care of his grandfather's farm after his mother and brother die in a car accident - and Cameron - a mysterious and reticent boy from Glasgow who ends up on the island when running away from his violent past life and stays on with Nichol and Harry as an unpaid farmhand.
Both characters are caught in a moment when they appear adrift in life and in desperate need of some safety and security but things are not as straightforward as they may seem initially.
The narrative intertwines Nichol and Cam's personal problems with the issues connected to the managing of Seacliff Farm - family ties, violent pasts, wrong choices and secrets conjure up an atmosphere that is melancholic and full of sadness and regrets but that also contains the possibility of change and of second chances.
One of the strongest points in the book for me - as in all the other novels by Harper Fox I've read so far - is the care and attention with which she recreates on the page the world inhabited by the characters. The harsh life on Arran, with its rich and fascinating Gaelic language and folklore, comes vividly to life and takes the reader into a realm that seems to be suspended in time and unspoiled by the grime and violence of the outside world - that world that Cam is so desperate to leave behind.
The island's luxuriant nature - that Nichol has to re-learn to see and appreciate - creates a very convincing contrast with the urban corruption of the Easterhouse area in Glasgow where Cam has grown up and met his undoing.
There are narrative moments that didn't convince me entirely - - but the novel is otherwise very solid, compelling and full of beautifully restrained lines that proved to me again that Harper Fox is indeed an excellent writer in the m/m genre.
If I'd really have to find one flaw with the book, I'd have to point my finger at the cover. It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine, as my friends know from my incessant complaints, but the image on the cover is completely disconnected from the book's content. Where the novel is quiet and thoughtful, the cover is brash and way too clichéd - something much better than this could have been done with it.
I'd certainly recommend it and as of today (5th May 2018) I've decided to update all my reviews of Harper Fox's novels to 5 stars. They're amazingly written, engaging, with great characters and they bloody deserve full ratings!
In the picture: Arran Island.
Set in a few months of passage from winter to summer in the rugged and isolated Arran Island, the novel focuses on two main MCs, Nichol - a native islander who has to renounce his life and academic ambitions in Edinburgh to go home and take care of his grandfather's farm after his mother and brother die in a car accident - and Cameron - a mysterious and reticent boy from Glasgow who ends up on the island when running away from his violent past life and stays on with Nichol and Harry as an unpaid farmhand.
Both characters are caught in a moment when they appear adrift in life and in desperate need of some safety and security but things are not as straightforward as they may seem initially.
The narrative intertwines Nichol and Cam's personal problems with the issues connected to the managing of Seacliff Farm - family ties, violent pasts, wrong choices and secrets conjure up an atmosphere that is melancholic and full of sadness and regrets but that also contains the possibility of change and of second chances.
One of the strongest points in the book for me - as in all the other novels by Harper Fox I've read so far - is the care and attention with which she recreates on the page the world inhabited by the characters. The harsh life on Arran, with its rich and fascinating Gaelic language and folklore, comes vividly to life and takes the reader into a realm that seems to be suspended in time and unspoiled by the grime and violence of the outside world - that world that Cam is so desperate to leave behind.
The island's luxuriant nature - that Nichol has to re-learn to see and appreciate - creates a very convincing contrast with the urban corruption of the Easterhouse area in Glasgow where Cam has grown up and met his undoing.
There are narrative moments that didn't convince me entirely - - but the novel is otherwise very solid, compelling and full of beautifully restrained lines that proved to me again that Harper Fox is indeed an excellent writer in the m/m genre.
If I'd really have to find one flaw with the book, I'd have to point my finger at the cover. It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine, as my friends know from my incessant complaints, but the image on the cover is completely disconnected from the book's content. Where the novel is quiet and thoughtful, the cover is brash and way too clichéd - something much better than this could have been done with it.
I'd certainly recommend it and as of today (5th May 2018) I've decided to update all my reviews of Harper Fox's novels to 5 stars. They're amazingly written, engaging, with great characters and they bloody deserve full ratings!
In the picture: Arran Island.
July 31, 2015
https://rainbowgoldreviews.wordpress....
This is one of those books that will not blur together with all the others, even if you have read hundreds of different stories, but will always stand out as something rare and special. The characters stole my heart, the vivid descriptions of the land stole my breath and the poetry of Harper Fox's elegant writing and Sean Gormley's authentic narration stole me away from my life and took me on an incredible journey.
This story will captivate you and never let you go.
This is one of those books that will not blur together with all the others, even if you have read hundreds of different stories, but will always stand out as something rare and special. The characters stole my heart, the vivid descriptions of the land stole my breath and the poetry of Harper Fox's elegant writing and Sean Gormley's authentic narration stole me away from my life and took me on an incredible journey.
This story will captivate you and never let you go.
February 20, 2019
An Audible Romance Package pick, this was lovely story. The narration had a lovely accented, lyrical tone. Just as the author intended, I'd imagine.
The story was good. It felt so real. I simple lived (and loved) it.
3.5 stars!
The story was good. It felt so real. I simple lived (and loved) it.
3.5 stars!
May 11, 2013
If a picture can paint a thousand words then this book was for me a literary landscape masterpiece. The beautiful, lyrical and descriptive writing carried me off to the Scottish highlands. A place as desolate and lonely as it is beautiful and majestic.
Here we meet Nichol, who has returned to help is grandfather on his farm after losing his mother and brother in a tragic accident. He leaves behind him a bright academic life studying linguistics at Edinburgh Uni and not forgetting the gay scene either. Here on this remote sheep farm living with a grandfather who never really had accepted him feels even more alone than he has ever been but his sense of family loyalty still the greater tug brings him back. He's desperately lonely. This all changes when he discovers Cameron in his barn after breaking in for shelter from a stormy night. He feels the attraction immediately but Cam holds a dark secret and is on the run. Cam becomes Nichol's world, but the dark secret Cam is hiding could threaten the love and everything Nichol holds dear.
I loved this book! The writer brings a depth of emotion into the MCs that swept me away on an emotional tide, bringing the life, the hardships, the close family ties and bonds on a remote Scottish highland vividly to life. I love the way she also makes use of the traditional Gaelic, cleverly done so you still new what was meant. This is also a beautiful and lyrical language. Putting a stark contrast on the generation gap where for Nichol's Granda it was practically a native language for him, Nichol although able to speak it used it only sparingly and when forced too. I could hear those Celtic tones after learning Cornish in school which is another Celtic derivative language.
If you haven't read this book yet then you have really missed out on something truly exquisite. A real gem.
Here we meet Nichol, who has returned to help is grandfather on his farm after losing his mother and brother in a tragic accident. He leaves behind him a bright academic life studying linguistics at Edinburgh Uni and not forgetting the gay scene either. Here on this remote sheep farm living with a grandfather who never really had accepted him feels even more alone than he has ever been but his sense of family loyalty still the greater tug brings him back. He's desperately lonely. This all changes when he discovers Cameron in his barn after breaking in for shelter from a stormy night. He feels the attraction immediately but Cam holds a dark secret and is on the run. Cam becomes Nichol's world, but the dark secret Cam is hiding could threaten the love and everything Nichol holds dear.
I loved this book! The writer brings a depth of emotion into the MCs that swept me away on an emotional tide, bringing the life, the hardships, the close family ties and bonds on a remote Scottish highland vividly to life. I love the way she also makes use of the traditional Gaelic, cleverly done so you still new what was meant. This is also a beautiful and lyrical language. Putting a stark contrast on the generation gap where for Nichol's Granda it was practically a native language for him, Nichol although able to speak it used it only sparingly and when forced too. I could hear those Celtic tones after learning Cornish in school which is another Celtic derivative language.
If you haven't read this book yet then you have really missed out on something truly exquisite. A real gem.
October 21, 2012
Amazing. Review to come.
**
First, I need to get this out of my system. Archie you are a bastard.
This was such a gorgeous book to read. I just sank right into the prose, so descriptive and sorry, yes, again...absolutely gorgeous! It's hard to put into words just how amazing I thought the writing was here. This is a book that I will return to again and again just to wrap myself in the words.
The story of Nichol and Cameron is one of an unrequited and almost unacted upon attraction and that was soooo frustrating at times as they danced around each other. I wanted nothing more but for these two lonely souls to find love and happiness together but there are so many obstacles here. Nichol's grandfather, Nichol's ex-boyfriend, Cameron's mysterious past, Nichol's reticence. Even with all these things in concert to pull them apart they just keep gravitating together. I loved these men!
There are so many great reviews out there for this book. I can't do anything but just reinforce those and highly recommend this one for any lover of M/M fiction. A beautiful story with compelling characters and incredibly descriptive narrative that will draw you back to it for many re-reads.
June 4, 2016
"The killers are nice in the open air." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIZdjT...
Easily 5 stars. A beautifully written m/m romance set in my neck of the woods. A new favourite author in Harper Fox, I shall be reading more of her work without fail. Such humourous compelling characters in Nicol, Cam and the cantankerous Granda Harry. Plus gorgeous descriptions of the isle of Arran, I could smell the gorse!
'He was looking straight into my eyes. "My sins don't show on the outside," he whispered. "Not yet. I'm sure they will."
"Mine too," I told him. He opened his mouth, and I brushed a finger over his lips. "Hush. I've got one too now - a sin of my own."
"What did you do, love - leave a gate open? Let the sheep onto the road?"
"No. My sin's that I don't care about yours.'
Easily 5 stars. A beautifully written m/m romance set in my neck of the woods. A new favourite author in Harper Fox, I shall be reading more of her work without fail. Such humourous compelling characters in Nicol, Cam and the cantankerous Granda Harry. Plus gorgeous descriptions of the isle of Arran, I could smell the gorse!
'He was looking straight into my eyes. "My sins don't show on the outside," he whispered. "Not yet. I'm sure they will."
"Mine too," I told him. He opened his mouth, and I brushed a finger over his lips. "Hush. I've got one too now - a sin of my own."
"What did you do, love - leave a gate open? Let the sheep onto the road?"
"No. My sin's that I don't care about yours.'
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