... 'Connections' is different as it is a collection of stories, all based around a hotel - 'White Sands' - in the Carribean.
There are 12 chapters in the book and each chapter has a heading of a name and room number.
Chapter one begins with Corinne, who's in room 404 and is a crime-writer. ... Read review
Advantages: A Good Read and Not too Heavy Disadvantages: Not an addictive read
...her rescue.
Connections is a good real and while being a collection of stories, it connects all the characters of the hotel. It also connects the book to other books (ie. Bree and Isobel, characters from other books, have chapters of their own, and there is a reference made to Jin from 'Anyone but Him').
I don't think that this book is an addictive read because it's not one long story, but for this reason it is a light ... more
Sheila O'Flanagan is a popular Irish writer who has written a lot of popular novels. Her novels are normally one long continuous story. 'Connections' is different as it is a collection of stories, all based around a hotel - 'White Sands' - in the Carribean.
There are 12 chapters in the book and each chapter has a heading of a name and room number.
Chapter one begins with Corinne, who's in room 404 and is a crime-writer. She is on a working holiday, trying to get inspiration for her next novel, but is having a case of writer's block. It doesn't help when she sees everyone on the beach reading crime books by a different writer.
The next chapter centres around Bree in room 217, who is here on holiday with her partner, Declan. He is 20 years older than her and widowed and he has been to White Sands with his wife. Bree is naturally upset when she realises that Declan is trying to relive the same holiday that he had with his wife.
Esther in room 403 is the main character of chapter 3. Her 4 children are quite worried about her being there on her own, but she knows it's just what she needs. She had spnt many years with an abusive husband. She hadn't told anyone what her marriage was like and had even protected her children from it. She booked her holiday 3 weeks after her husband's death.
Room 105 is where Jennifer's staying - she's chapter 4. She had come out to get married to Harry but she can't - and I mean really can't - compete with Harry's mother for his affections.
Chapter 5 is about Gala. Sh'e in room 205, and she's come out with elderly parents. They don't keep well so she is their carer. She goes everywhere with them and resents that se hasn't had a life of her own. She breaks out a bit at the end of her chapter with a funny incident involving the lobsters.
The following chapter - number 6 - is about Isobel, and she's room 608. Isobel has dumped her fiance, Tim, at thealter and has thrown herself int her job in Spain. Her boss has now repaid her by sending her on this trip where, co-incidentally, someone se previously fell head over heels with, Nico, is staying in the room next door!
Rudy in room 311 is the subject of chapter 7. He has his 10-year old son wih him on holiday but is it all as cut and dried with the holiday as it seems?
Chapter eight is Tara in room 316 who goes over to the Carribean for her friend Suze's wedding to Kevin. Tara is bridesmaid and takes her boyfriend Tom with her. Only snag she realises will be having to face best man, Ian, who she went out with a couple of times. Things are fine when they meet - until Ian tricks her into bed.
Receptionist of the hote, June, is chapter nine's heroine. With a black father and a white mother, June has always thought about where she belongs. She went to the Carribean to see her father's cousin after a hurricane hit her town, and eventually settled down there.
Grainne, rooom 522, is star of chapter 10. She is out with her husband celebrating their 25th anniversary, a present from their twins, but is her mind on her husband or on someone else?
Chapter eleven is about Dee, room 505, who is PA to a successful businessman. He sends Dee on a three-week holiday each year while he is on holiday with his wife and family. She talks a lot, and I get the impression that she is lonely as when she is working she probably doesn't get much chance to meet people or to have a life.
The final chapter is about Sahndi, who isstaying in exclusive Coco Villa. She is winner of a pop contestand gets duped into exclusive photos by paparazzi photographer. All ends well when Corinne comes to her rescue.
Connections is a good real and while being a collection of stories, it connects all the characters of the hotel. It also connects the book to other books (ie. Bree and Isobel, characters from other books, have chapters of their own, and there is a reference made to Jin from 'Anyone but Him').
I don't think that this book is an addictive read because it's not one long story, but for this reason it is a light hearted read - it's easy to pick up and slot back into because each chapter changes anyway.
A copy of this book can probably be picked up cheaply on ebay or Amazon.
Welcome to the Caribbean resort of White Sands, where the sparkling turquoise sea laps against a glittering shore, lush green palms sway gently in the breeze, and everyone has a story to tell. In this wonderful collection of interlinked short stories, we are transported to the Caribbean island resort of White Sands. In touching, poignant and delicious tales Sheila O'Flanagan introduces some of the most likeable and interesting characters she's created. There's Tara, who's arrived with the man she wants to marry only to find that an old rejected lover is planning to get in the way; Grainne, who's been sent with her husband by their children to celebrate the anniversary of a shotgun wedding twenty-five years earlier, and who thinks the time has come to move on - or has it? Rudy's on an idyllic break with his young son which is set for an unexpected ending; and Isobel - of "Isobel's Wedding" - has arrived with no idea that her old lover Nico might be staying just next door. Romance is very much alive in the hot Caribbean nights...
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