The Connellys of County Down

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Synopsis

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.

Synopsis source: Goodreads

Review

Genre(s): Contemporary Fiction, Family Drama
HB&W Rating: 3.75
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Rep: Mental Health, Unjust Criminal Justice

This was a touching story about the things we do and how far we go to protect family and the repercussions that protection has not just on us but on those we are protecting.

I loved the way the author discussed mental health issues and TBI side effects and normalized therapy. I loved the different perspectives, which really allowed us to see those things more clearly. I felt for Tara so much and her story underscored just how flawed our criminal justice system is, as if we needed additional examples when all we need to do is look at the news. I thought the romance was sweet and loved Tara and Brian together.

I was fortunate to receive both an eARC and audio ARC of this title, and I’m happy to report that the audio narration was well done. I might have liked dual narrators, one male and one female for those respective POVs, but Barrie Kreinik did a great job nonetheless narrating both male and female parts.

The tension built nicely throughout the story, keeping me listening or catching back up in the eBook. I loved how everything came together in the end. If you enjoy character studies, family dramas, second chances, a touch of romance and a HEA, you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you to Celadon Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Until next time, enjoy getting lost in a good book!

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