The Ties That Bind

The Georgie Connelly Stories #2

by E.L. Lindley

After a harrowing couple of months, Georgie and James Finn prepare to take their relationship to the next level, only to find their plans scuppered by the arrival of Georgie’s estranged mother, Marilyn, who is accused of murdering her husband. Suddenly Georgie has to deal with issues that resonate back to her troubled childhood.
In an attempt to help Georgie, James and his partner Julie Sellars take on Marilyn’s case determined to prove her innocence. The more they dig, however, the more complex the case becomes, threatening to undermine everything as James begins to doubt his life in LA.
Georgie meanwhile throws herself into her work, a documentary about the public schools system which increasingly leads her into a world of gang culture and crime which she soon realises is linked to her mother’s case. As Georgie tries to find answers her life is put in danger as it becomes obvious that someone has a lot lose and will go to any lengths to stop the truth from being exposed.
If you enjoyed Business As Usual why not rejoin Georgie, James and their family and friends in this exciting, humorous adventure.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2011

About the author

E.L. Lindley is an indie writer and general lover of books in all of their forms. She has written numerous contemporary novels, including the Georgie Connelly series as well as standalone novels. When she is not writing, she is devouring the works of other writers and is delighted by how indie publishing has thrown open the world of publishing. She sees it as a win win situation, allowing writers to publish their work, whilst providing readers with a richer and more varied choice.

Lindley has always loved writing but produced her first full length novel, Business As Usual, when she decided to move on from her career as an English teacher. She now supplements her writing by working on a free-lance basis. This also affords her time to travel and she has been fortunate enough to have travelled extensively throughout the world, using her experiences as a source of inspiration for her writing.

She currently resides in Sheffield in the UK but has lived and worked in many places including, London, Oxford, Southampton, Cheltenham and Brighton. She also studied for a couple of years at the University of Arlington in Texas and has consequently made many extended trips to the USA to visit and stay with friends. Her novels reflect this and tend to incorporate both sides of the Atlantic.

Lindley writes in a style which is both light-hearted and fun but with serious undertones, often tackling gritty subjects. In all of her novels, the characters reflect her belief in humanity and the fact that the human spirit will always prevail, regardless of the situation. Lindley's primary goal is to entertain people but she is happy to take any response that she can get.

Reviews

[Zoe Saadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could not put the first Georgie Conelly's book down, this one left me with literally no room to do anything else but reading. I'm usually in a full control of my reading schedule, but not this time!
In this second book of Georgie's Connelly series, the trouble when it hit came not from her work as documentary filmmaker, a dangerous job in itself sometimes, witness the first book, but from the unexpected direction of Georgie's estranged mother, a type in herself (but did I hate this woman through the first part of the story!).
Well, as complicated as the problem was looking already, it was nothing but just the beginning. The mess that Georgie and her friends' investigation unraveled was so encompassing I didn't believe it could get any more complicated. But it did. Of course it did!
The diverse, amazingly rich, lively characters that filled this story had me perching on the edge of my seat, rooting for some, hating the others, then switching sides (yes, she made me do that, hate a person and fear him, then root for him and cheer him up just a few pages later!).
And this is what I love about these series the most. The characters, the situations, they are so alive, so true to the real world around us, no black and white, no purely good or bad guys and gals. Everyone has a story, everyone has his side to present. While the plot is never predictable, never drawn or unrealistic. Not in this series (and I would know, as by now I'm already half way through the next book of the series).
This novel can be freely read as a standalone, but I would still recommend to start from the beginning of this series, to have the full taste of Georgie Connelly's life.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Georgie Connolly is back. And although she may have been under the impression she and James Finn could spend quality time together after the traumas of recent weeks and their entanglement in the seedy world of a Russian gangster, a phone call from Los Angeles Defence Attorney, Leonard Spalding puts their plans on hold. Georgie’s mother, who abandoned her when she was six, has been charged with the murder of her husband. Bail has been set and Marilyn is now, much to Georgie’s discomfiture, released into her custody. Georgie hasn’t seen her mother for ten years and initially Marilyn’s self centred attitude clearly shows why mother and daughter are not close and explains Georgie’s reluctance to let go of her deep-rooted feelings of hurt and abandonment.

James and Julie Sellars have become partners in a private investigation and security business and have decided to take on Marilyn’s case. James has serious doubts about the validity of the accusation levelled against Marilyn after speaking to Detective Sean Collins, his and Georgie’s very good friend and newly promoted Lieutenant in the Hollywood division. As James and Julie’s investigation deepens the case becomes ever more involved.

Callie Delaney, Georgie’s best friend, has offered to have Marilyn to stay at her house, much to her husband Eric’s chagrin. Georgie, on the other hand, is grateful and guilty in equal measure. She decides to put her time and effort into research for the job at hand. Little does she know this, along with her mother’s situation, will lead her into peril from the world of gang culture with its appalling and sordid crimes.

I’m really enjoying this series and the way the books are written, with serious and sometimes deadly implications as well as a light-hearted and humorous slant. Thank goodness Georgie and James’ unpredictable relationship gains ground eventually, with both ready to admit their feelings although even then, nothing goes smoothly. They’re each too good at disrupting the balance and it doesn’t help that James is struggling with life after the Marines and Georgie is focusing more on making her documentary about the public schools system.

E.L. Lindley has created a great cast of likeable and realistic characters. Georgie is fortunate in her supportive network of friends and I love that she has her own personal friendly cab driver. Georgie is still as impulsive and liable to put herself in dangerous situations however, and this instance is no exception.

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[Georgia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Georgie Connelly Stories and it’s a terrific read. I really like the cast of characters Lindley is building through this series and she skilfully develops their personalities and interactions along with this compelling tale. I shall aim to write this review without giving away any spoilers!

Georgie Connelly’s mother, Marilyn, finds herself charged with murder and despite not having seen her for the past 10 years Georgie, or more irritatingly Georgina, is the one she calls for help. They are not close and as we get to know Marilyn it is easy to see why but as this story progresses so does the relationship between mother and daughter. Georgie is lucky to be surrounded by great friends such as The Delaney’s who are endlessly supportive and James Finn and Julie Sellers who have set up in business as private investigators and take on this case. Before long all are involved in much more than they expected finding themselves led into the dangerous world of gang warfare.

I was delighted to see James and Georgie getting closer although nothing is ever simple with those two and they are both good at sabotaging their chance of happiness. The end of this story was handled particularly well by Lindley. I found it poignant when it becomes apparent that a leopard cannot change its spots and the ending was both emotional and touching.

This series is a must for anyone who enjoys good, coherent storytelling from a talented author with an eye to turning out the perfectly written story.

[Heather Burnside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this an enjoyable read. There is a good set of characters whose tangled relationships give added interest to the story. The plot is strong with some good twists, and I particularly liked the ending, which brings everything to a satisfying conclusion.

[Dave Nicoll]

Excellentt Reading

Georgie Connelly comes again into amnother world she's not used to being in. Headstrong, as usual, it's another mix of her going off half-cocked, and others trying to help clean up after her.
A school project unleashes another trial of life and limb on Georgie, and it certainly kept me reading on, waiting to see how it would all turn out.
With Ggeorgie's mum, school pupils bullying others, it's a book well worth reading as a stand-alone, or book 2 in the series.

[Brenda Perlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ties That Bind, book 2 in the Georgie Connelly Stories by E. L. Lindley is an explosive mystery. Powerfully moving and enticing as the action comes alive off the pages. The author knows how to tell an unusual tale and does so realistically and in her own easy way. Her writing is very down to earth and not at all too complex or trying to hard. That is what I like most about her style. The drama that ensues feels real and not over the top. A fun, suspenseful ride into the unknown. The twists had me gasping as I read with great vigor.

Picking up where we left off with Business As Usual, as a reader I was able to fall right back into Georgie's life, effortlessly. The familiar characters and the authors smooth writing skills makes this sequel a pleasant, entertaining and suspenseful escape.

Quote~

"If her mother was capable of killing someone, did Georgie really want to know? Would it be better to just leave well alone and allow Marilyn to face whatever fate decreed? What if it wasn't fate, however, what if it was some corrupt government officials being pressured by the victims daughter?"