Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Ray Connelly and Christopher “Viv” Vivvens Connelly are living their life with their extended blended family. Ranging from Ray’s grandmother Catherine down to the toddlers, life is full for the two men. However, they wish that they could have one day without some stress invading their lives. From finding Viv’s brother Declan to the custody fight over Jaime’s boyfriend Bear, life has been chaotic the last several months. All told, taking care of ten “children” along with balancing work and school takes a lot of work for the two men.
Ray and Viv are most worried about their adult “children” who are really siblings that they are responsible for. Girly is having relationship problems with Dan, who happens to be interested in Girly’s brother Nate. When Girly breaks things off with Dan, Dan runs to the family retreat to have time to think. Declan was found with Nate in a house where the “landlord” decides to take rent out on the young men living there by having sex with them. This prompts the family to establish a safe house for young men who have nowhere else to turn. Viv meanwhile has turned the running of his club over to the older children while he concentrates on running the Connelly business and going to university to further his education. Ray contents himself in managing the household with five youngsters, one of which seems to never be able to shake off ear infections. The men must also deal with someone from the past who has not learned his lesson yet that he and alcohol do not mix.
This wonderful family story is the second in the Connelly Chronicles series. With such a large, blended family, I will admit I was a little lost at times having not read the first book in the series, which is now on my to be read list. I had a bit of a difficult time figuring out exactly which character belonged to which branch of the family for a bit. But in the end it really did not matter as it is never a case of yours or mine but our family. While Ray and Viv form the center of this extended family, its heart and soul is Catherine. Always seemingly one step ahead of things, she is always there with sage advice, even if the recipient does not want it. Ray and Viv obviously love each other and their large family and are learning how to deal the different personalities within it. They feel that if life could just let them breathe for a day or two without the seemingly constant drama, things would be just a bit better. But they keep marching on, trying to make their family as happy as possible given the relationship dynamics in the family.
The cover art by Posh Gosh has our two protagonists above superimposed above a view of an Australian coast. It is a fitting cover for the book.
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Book Details
EBook, 237 pages
Edition Language: English
Published: October 2016 by Pride Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-78651-485-1
Series: Connelly Chronicles
- Family Connections (Connelly Chronicles #1)
- Beautiful Goodbyes (Connelly Chronicles #2)
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 