I loved Tracey Lange's debut novel, We Are The Brennans, and I am so delighted that her sophomore work, The Connellys of County Down, is every bit as glorious as her first book. TL has a gift for drawing you into the lives of her characters and making each one realistic and interesting. The Connellys are a flawed yet loving family and I was especially moved by the bond between Tara and her young nephew, Conor, who so badly needed a maternal influence in his life. "When parents die early they take too much with them - their children's security, their strongest guiding light and biggest cheering section. It was like being left to free-fall through life with no safe place to land." Only a child who lost a parent too soon could understand the truth of this poignant passage which applied to many characters in the book. How rarely I find a story that engrosses me so deeply that I overlook trivial details in my life such as getting some sleep. This story is a treasure and I thank Celadon Books for my highly valued ARC.