This is the 6th book in the «Kings of California» collection, by Maureen Child. This novel of love was very pleasant. From time to time, by interspersing more robust books, it is good to read a novel by Harlequin. This story tells the love between an American film producer man and a farmer woman in a small Irish town. It is the contradiction between the luxury and the vanity of Hollywood and the simplicity and purity of country life. It has beautiful passages.
Some quotes:
- «In Ireland scouting locations for an upcoming movie from King Studios, Jefferson had stumbled across Maura’s sheep farm in County Mayo and had realized instantly that it was just what he’d been searching for. (...).»
- «The shadow of the Partry Mountains looming behind them and the whole of Lough Mask stretching out in front of them, (...).»
Partry Mountains in County Mayo
Lough Mask in County Mayo
- «(...). "Did you always want to be a sheep farmer?"/(...). "(...), what made you choose to be what you are?"» Jefferson King askered Maura Donohue. «"I like my life being my own. I’ve always worked the farm. I answer to no one. No clock to watch, no boss to kowtow to. No harried rushing about to drive into the city."» She answered.
- «(...), no one had said anything about permanent. (...). What he had with Maura was fun. Uncomplicated. Best to leave it at that.»
- «(...) a black dog as big as a small bear (...)./(...)./“Irish wolfhound,” Maura told him [Jefferson], (...).
Irish wolfhound
Irish wolfhound
- «(...). Westport was awake and partying. Lovers walked along the Carrowberg River, (...).»
St Mary's Church and Carrowberg (Mall) River, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland.
Carrowberg (Mall) River, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland.
Carrowberg (Mall) River, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland.
- «(...) that kiss haunted him, waking and sleeping. Need was a clawing, vicious beast crouched inside him, tearing at him constantly.»
- «(...). Could the man not see that he loved her? She felt it in his touch. Saw it in his eyes. Sensed the gentleness beneath the passion and knew that it didn’t come only from desire. From lust. There was feeling there — and it was more than affection./(...). Held himself safely distanced from the risk of love. What was it, she wondered, that made him so determined to avoid giving his heart?»
- «"Don’t you get it? If I admit to loving Maura now,” he [Jefferson King] said, “I’m essentially saying that Anna didn’t count. That what we shared was replaceable."»/(...)/«"What, you’re only allowed to love one person in your life?"/(...)./"Are you saying Anna would want you alone and lonely for the rest of your life to prove that you loved her?"» Justice asked Jefferson.
- «(...) time had a way of dulling the edges of pain or grief. (...) the vaguest feeling of guilt for having to live on. To keep breathing while the one you loved was gone.»
- «(...) he could love more now, deeper now, because he’d lived longer, knew more, had experienced more. His life had made him more than he had been at the time, so he was capable of feeling more than he’d been able to at twenty.»
