Seven Summer Nights

4.5 stars, because it's nearly perfect, but I felt it was slightly too long.

This book has a lot of the themes and concepts Harper Fox often includes in her work: spirituality (Christian and pagan), queer identity, mental illness, and transformation. As always, she handles those weighty topics with care, while telling a great story.

It's set immediately after WWII, and there's a lot of detail about how life has changed for everyday people, because of the war. I have not read many books set in this period, although I often heard about it from my grandmother and her siblings. It was interesting to see this portrayal of tradition vs. progression, especially women's changing roles. Things were still very bad for gay men at this time, though, and this book portrays that reality directly. I was afraid the plot was going to go in a much darker direction than it did. But Rufus and Archie have both suffered quite a lot before the story begins, and they also suffer in this story.

Still, this isn't an angst-fest. The rectory is one of the most appealing places I've ever read about, and I loved all the cozy domestic scenes. This book also has some of my favorite romance tropes. Rufus & Archie fall deeply in love with each other before anything romantic/sexual happens. There's also no conflict between them. The plot gives them many opportunities to save each other's lives, and I loved every one. Because they do go through a lot, their happy ending is very satisfying to read.

I love Harper Fox but this wasn't my favorite. The first half is really slow and I lost interest several times. Once the two MCs get together though, the pace picks up considerably, with several dramatic, climactic moments and a lovely extended coda.

ETA on re-reading: I liked this book a lot more the second time around. It does require some patience, but knowing that a HEA was in the cards I could stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Plus how many M/M romances do you read that are full of such strong Girl Power? I think I must have been in a grumpy mood when I first read it, but now I think it is one of Harper Fox's strongest, and most personal, reads.