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A Hard Gemlike Flame
A Hard Gemlike Flame, the fourth novel in the Kavanagh saga, is an unblinking adult tale of love, betrayal, truth, honesty, falsehood, deception and tragedy. What binds Mick Kavanagh and Cathleen Murray, what saves them, is passion in the face of a devious and nearly successful campaign to separate them. Only their strength in each other keeps them together--and sane.
408 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2012
About the author
Jim Wills
7 books3 followers Jim Wills, author of A Hard Gemlike Flame, the fourth of the Kavanagh stories, and the three other chronologically arranged titles in the Kavanagh saga: A Few Men Faithful I, Philly MC II, and Shooter in a Plague YearIII, has had careers as varied as the novels he writes. He has been a motorcycle mechanic, academic, hard rock miner, book editor, commercial writer, baker and an author.
His lifelong interest in Irish history and literature, with all their triumphs and failures, forms the bedrock for these novels. Each one stands on its own, but they are more rewarding read as a continuous history of the Kavanagh family, in Ireland, in North America, from 1916 to 2020. His fascination with dialect, street vocabulary, and musical lyrics that define a place, a culture, and a time are evident throughout.
He lives in rural Ontario with his partner, Wendy Carlson and, betimes, Wendy's daughter, Kate Amies.
Other works by the same author include Tools Are Made, Born Are Hands: Baking True Artisan Breads in a Wood Fired Oven.
His lifelong interest in Irish history and literature, with all their triumphs and failures, forms the bedrock for these novels. Each one stands on its own, but they are more rewarding read as a continuous history of the Kavanagh family, in Ireland, in North America, from 1916 to 2020. His fascination with dialect, street vocabulary, and musical lyrics that define a place, a culture, and a time are evident throughout.
He lives in rural Ontario with his partner, Wendy Carlson and, betimes, Wendy's daughter, Kate Amies.
Other works by the same author include Tools Are Made, Born Are Hands: Baking True Artisan Breads in a Wood Fired Oven.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 8, 2013
"A Hard Gemlike Flame" by Jim Wills is the fourth novel in the Kavanagh saga and this time the author has turned his talents on to the genre of romance in the broadest sense, although it is yet again a tale of morals, concerning trust, honesty and deceit.
Frustrated Mick Kavanagh gets a break in advertising through Cathleen Murray, a wealthy and powerful woman, who hires him and falls for him at the same time.
They come from different worlds and both fear the strong attraction and bond between them. Can they find common ground with him coming from such a poor background? Can his disapproving parents prevent their union?
Erotic, full of literary quotes and ideas on what it means to be Irish Mick is truly Irish and teaches Cathleen about it as they embark on their affair and the turbulences that their young relationship undergoes. There are several interesting side characters that add to the plot and make the story complex and interesting.
The book is a surprising addition to the saga but it certainly freshens and livens up the selection in the series so far. As history fan I was personally a little disappointed that the series is more contemporary, but the choice is well in line with the authors previous frequent changes of direction and thematically it complements the other books in the series very well.
Frustrated Mick Kavanagh gets a break in advertising through Cathleen Murray, a wealthy and powerful woman, who hires him and falls for him at the same time.
They come from different worlds and both fear the strong attraction and bond between them. Can they find common ground with him coming from such a poor background? Can his disapproving parents prevent their union?
Erotic, full of literary quotes and ideas on what it means to be Irish Mick is truly Irish and teaches Cathleen about it as they embark on their affair and the turbulences that their young relationship undergoes. There are several interesting side characters that add to the plot and make the story complex and interesting.
The book is a surprising addition to the saga but it certainly freshens and livens up the selection in the series so far. As history fan I was personally a little disappointed that the series is more contemporary, but the choice is well in line with the authors previous frequent changes of direction and thematically it complements the other books in the series very well.
April 6, 2014
I have to first say that I have not read the other books in the Kavanagh Series, so I am starting fresh here.
A Hard Gemlike Flame tells the story of Mick Kavanagh and Cathleen Murray, both very different people, but alike in that they each have their own faults and inner demons, and they are drawn to each other like a moth to the flame.
A wide range of feelings and emotions are explored in this book, from love and romance to erotic and sexy to hate and anger. This one has it all. And the writing itself has a literary feel to it, with the Irish influence being the icing on the cake.
Together, it all adds up to a pleasant reading experience and time richly spent.
*FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for my review. The opinions are my own.
A Hard Gemlike Flame tells the story of Mick Kavanagh and Cathleen Murray, both very different people, but alike in that they each have their own faults and inner demons, and they are drawn to each other like a moth to the flame.
A wide range of feelings and emotions are explored in this book, from love and romance to erotic and sexy to hate and anger. This one has it all. And the writing itself has a literary feel to it, with the Irish influence being the icing on the cake.
Together, it all adds up to a pleasant reading experience and time richly spent.
*FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for my review. The opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews