When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.
While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys’ secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever.
The Connellys of County Down is a moving novel about testing the bounds of love and loyalty. It explores the possibility of beginning our lives anew, and reveals the pitfalls of shielding each other from the bitter truth.
THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN
Tracey Lange
Based on the story told to them by their mother in their youth. We meet the siblings as adults. Each dealing with the consequences of their own actions.
We start with Tara. Tara has just gotten out of prison. Serving a sentence for drug charges. She has little left for her on the outside and is struggling to put her life back together.
Geraldine is the one holding the home down and keeping things running smoothly while Tara is gone. She’s also keeping a big secret that threatens her very stability.
Eddie is newly divorced and spends his time taking care of his son Conor and trying to keep things together for his family.
I really enjoyed THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN.
The reading experience feels like Lange has been given guardianship over these characters. It feels like she tended to them with time, care, thoughtfulness, and appreciation.
There is character development and there is THE CONNELYS OF COUNTY DOWN. I was moved by their flawed perfection. And it will be a long time until I forget these characters. Perhaps until I read Lange again.
Thanks to Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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