Connectedness

Rose Haldane, Identity Detective #2

by Sandra Danby

from Amazon.com

TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, ARTIST JUSTINE TREE HAS IT ALL... BUT SHE ALWAYS HAS A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
Justine’s art sells around the world, but does anyone truly know her? When her mother dies, she returns to her childhood home in Yorkshire where she decides to confront her past. She asks journalist Rose Haldane to find the baby she gave away when she was an art student, but only when Rose starts to ask difficult questions does Justine truly understand what she must face.
Is Justine strong enough to admit the secrets and lies of her past? To speak aloud the deeds she has hidden for 27 years, the real inspiration for her work that sells for millions of pounds. Could the truth trash her artistic reputation? Does Justine care more about her daughter, or her art? And what will she do if her daughter hates her?
This tale of art, adoption, romance and loss moves between now and the Eighties, from London’s art world to the bleak isolated cliffs of East Yorkshire and the hot orange blossom streets of Málaga, Spain.
A family mystery for fans of Maggie O’Farrell, Lucinda Riley, Tracy Rees and Rachel Hore.

Genres: Fiction, Womens Fiction

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 10, 2018

About the author

Sandra Danby is a proud Yorkshire woman, tennis nut and tea drinker. She believes a walk on the beach will cure most ills. Unlike Rose Haldane, the identity detective in her two novels, IGNORING GRAVITY and CONNECTEDNESS, Sandra is not adopted.
Rose Haldane, journalist and identity detective, reunites the people lost through adoption. The stories you don’t see on television shows. The difficult cases. The people who cannot be found, who are thought lost forever. In IGNORING GRAVITY, the first of the ‘Identity Detective’ series, journalist Rose Haldane is confident about her identity. She pulls the same face as her grandfather when she has to do something she doesn’t want to do, she knows her DNA is the same as his. Except it isn’t: because Rose is adopted and doesn’t know it. Finding her mother’s lost diaries, Rose begins to understand why she has always seemed the outsider in her family. Then just when she thinks there can’t be any more secrets…
CONNECTEDNESS is the second book in the 'Identity Detective' series. Artist Justine Tree sells her art around the world, but does anyone truly know her? When her mother dies, she returns to her childhood home in Yorkshire where she decides to confront her past. She asks journalist Rose Haldane to find the baby she gave away when she was an art student, but only when Rose starts to ask difficult questions does Justine truly understand what she must face.
Published by Beulah Press, both books are available at Amazon as ebook and paperback.
Member of Society of Authors, Alliance of Independent Authors, RNA NWS member

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed by Linda on www.whisperingstories.com

‘Connectedness’ what a read!! Totally captivated within a few chapters of starting to read this book. A gripping tale of love, loss, and human struggle.

The book begins with a young student in the first steps of life, going to Malaga, Spain for Art college. We read of the highs and lows of being a student and being far away from home. Then how something happens charges an impact on the rest of her life.

Brilliantly written with very good descriptive language that shows such emotion on a very sensitive/delicate subject. So good that I was able to feel passion and sentiment.

The story flowed well and the plot unfolded gently through the book. It has a exceptionally good storyline that totally absorbed me and made it hard for me to put the book down. The characters came across realistic and I felt I knew Justine as she journeyed through her life, loving her respect for her family, the kindness and love she showed for her friend Darya. Lastly the deep love she held for her daughter.

I cant praise this book enough just loved it, and I one hundred percent recommend this lovely book and it is now one of my all time favourites! Well done Sandra Danby and I shall look forward to reading more from this author.

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one with speed.
Her debut was awesome and I thoroughly enjoyed it so was aware of her style of writing.

It took a bit to get into but once I got into it I was following it pretty well.

A well known artist with a secret.
If the secret is revealed will she loose her followers?

Will the daughter she wants to find connect with her now her baby she gave away is an adult?

Nothing is simple, nothing is straight forward in this book, then nor is life right?

A very well written book that draws you into the deeper parts of others emotions.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I was adopted and relate to the main issues encountered in the book. However, the book was tedious to read and a little disjointed between the flashbacks and different parts of time. There is extreme detail about the artistic processes. The book has beautifully written parts. However, some of the characters are too emotionally complex while others are too shallow. I would read more in this Identity series, however.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Sandra Danby, and the Beulah Press for the electronic copy for review.

[Liza Perrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this extremely well-written mystery-family saga. It’s the second in Sandra Danby’s Identity Detective series and I have not read the first (yet!), but this did not deter at all from my enjoyment.


Justine Tree, successful collage artist, asks identity detective Rose Haldane to search for the daughter she gave up for adoption in 1983.Will this terrible secret that Justine carries close to her heart threaten her art career?


The story is told mainly through Justine’s viewpoint, flitting effortlessly between present-day London’s art world to isolated Yorkshire, and the hot streets of Málaga, Spain in the early 80s, where Justine went to study art. And where she found love.


With her well-defined, sympathetic characters, layers of meaning, and sensual, all-engaging descriptions, the author takes us on a highly-emotional and gripping journey through the art world, exploring love, loss and human weakness, all coming together in a truly heartfelt conclusion.


Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a very well-written story.

[Judith Barrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Connectedness. Although it is the second novel in the ‘Identity Detective’ series that features Rose Haldane, journalist and identity detective, who reunites the people lost through adoption, it can be read as a standalone novel. In Connectedness the story revolves around the protagonist, successful artist, Justine King, who discovers her life is, and has been, a web of lies and secrets. She is vulnerable and haunted by incidents that happened in her younger days as a student. The suspenseful plot is revealed through a clever blend of her past and present and has a steadily growing pace after an intriguing prologue.

There are numerous layers to this book, details that are cleverly drip-fed throughout to reveal many themes: of sadness and distress, memories, anger, grief, familial love, discovery, loss and regret.

The characters are well rounded and portrayed to evoke sympathy and understanding in the reader. Both the internal and spoken dialogue add to their credibility.

It is obvious the author has researched the art world that is the basis of the story. Research that adds to the character of the protagonist who uses her emotions, her fears, her pain, both consciously and unwittingly, when producing her work. There is a wonderful sense of art being part of both the human condition and the environment around us,

The descriptions of the settings of contemporary Filey in Yorkshire, Malaga in Spain in the eighties and London are evocative through the use of all the five senses and give a wonderful sense of place. At times I felt I was travelling alongside the protagonist in her journey of discovery.

And the denouement is poignant and satisfying.

Just the one reservation, and I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t like the title. If I hadn’t been intrigued by the book description and if I hadn’t loved the cover on first sight, I wouldn’t have chosen Connectedness. It doesn’t mean anything to me. Suffice it to say I’m glad I did choose this book.

This is the first book I’ve read by Sandra Danby It won’t be the last. The idea of the story itself is intriguing and she has a sensitive yet powerful writing style that I have no hesitation in recommending to readers who enjoy contemporary and women’s’ fiction.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connectedness is the second book in Sandra Danby's series featuring journalist and "identity detective" Rose Haldane. Readers like me who haven't read the first book, Ignoring Gravity, can be reassured that Connectedness works perfectly as a standalone. However, you may well find yourself wanting to go back and read the first book to find out more about how Rose's own personal experience fuelled her interest in helping others to reunite with lost family members.

The story moves between London in 2010, when Justine, now an established artist, hires Rose to search for the daughter she gave away many years earlier, and Spain in the 1980s. The impulse for Justine's decision is the death of her mother and a feeling that now is the time to confront the mistakes of the past. She also feels increasingly aware of the contradiction between the emotional openness others see in her art and the secrets she keeps hidden.

I particularly liked the parts of the book in which the young Justine travels to Málaga to study art, in the footsteps of Picasso. The reader experiences alongside Justine a different climate, food and lifestyle. It's during this time that Justine falls in love for the first time but also makes a series of decisions that will change her life forever.

It has to be said that Justine isn't the easiest of clients and Rose is initially frustrated by Justine's reticence and unwillingness to impart information. Gradually, Rose manages to break down the barriers Justine has erected around her earlier life. Eventually the pair find a common bond and Rose is able, with the assistance of some useful contacts, to make progress with her research. I won't reveal the results but safe to say there are touching scenes towards the end of the book which also sees Rose pondering a new venture.

For Justine, her experiences inevitably provide the inspiration for making new art. "So she was exploring the idea of things that belonged together, which could be separated in space but never detached, because they were attached invisibly, forged together, welded, melded, stitched and linked. Flesh, stone, metal, biological matter, timber, people, family. Memories, knowledge, thoughts, experience, history." In other words, connectedness.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and loved this author's debut, Ignoring Gravity, the first in the Identity Detective series and so I was waiting eagerly for the next book in the series. And wow, did it deliver! Connectedness is perfection, a masterpiece. A beautiful book on so many levels. The title and the stunning cover drew me in and the prologue took my breath away. I had to read on to know why, what, who. I felt for Justine - her ache, angst, grief, her quest for answers - all so realistic, so sensitively portrayed. The writing is so very evocative bringing to life the settings and the characters so vividly for the reader. I thought the author's debut was exceptional but with this one, she has lifted the bar. I cannot wait to read her next. Highly recommend this amazing book and series to everyone.

[Hope Sloper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Danby does it again, only this time, I felt she did it better. It could have been that I was able to connect more with Connectedness than the first of this series, Ignoring Gravity. More so in the sense of her reflections of her parents. My children are getting older, and while I try not to think too hard about what they have hidden, are hiding, and will hide from me, I expect it because I was once young and did the same. There is no such thing as total transparency between child and parent. I believe that.

This is the second novel in the Identity Detective series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone. Though I don’t recommend it because the tie-in is very well-done and beautiful. You would be shorting yourself the importance of the moment.

Justine’s life, art, surroundings, and relationships are both realistically detailed and engaging. In truth, it doesn’t stop there. The other characters are equally as enjoyable to read and play a crucial part in Justine’s journey – past, present, and future.

A fantastic read.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realise this was the second in a series but it can easily be read as a standalone. The concept of the story itself is fascinating: In the ‘Identity Detective’ series, Rose Haldane, journalist and identity detective, reunites the people lost through adoption. They are the stories you don’t see on television shows. The difficult cases. The people who cannot be found, who are thought lost forever. Rose Haldane is a version of those people that reunite families on Surprise Surprise and Long Lost Families. Although the setting isn’t a glamourous TV studio we have the vivid descriptions of London’s Art world, the blustery cliffs of East Yorkshire and the hot, blossom laden streets of Malaga, Spain.

I really loved the character of Justine Tree, acclaimed, best-selling artist who is literally tortured by her art and past secrets. Her pain, fear and regret are splashed across canvas for all to see. When she is forced to bring back horrific memories of her time as a student she is struck down by powerful migraines and sometimes her only relief is to paint through the pain. The description of the art was fantastic ; so vivid and real.

Justine gave up her daughter 27 years ago and has never got over the pain but in revealing the truth she is cautious how she will be perceived in the public; her secrets are already out there in art form and open to interpretation but no one knows the full truth of her past. Does Justine care more about her daughter, or her art?

A beautiful story about art, true love, loss and regret – Connectedness is an absolutely engrossing story and one that I highly recommend!

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
Beginning with a short, intriguing prologue, we become acquainted with Justine King as she attends her mother’s funeral in Yorkshire. Justine is a very successful artist and her story unfolds through present and past narratives. Justine’s return to her childhood home kindled memories, and thoughts on the path her life had taken after learning of her friend’s betrayal when they were teenagers. Turning emotions into art she created a collage which paved her way into art college and a subsequent year of study in Malaga.

Justine’s time in Spain was difficult, financially and emotionally, made worse by having no support. On her return to England, just as she thought things might work out, she faces a devastating choice. All of Justine’s migraine pain and sorrow are reflected in her art, which brings her acclaim as a best-selling artist.

'The knowledge that she produced her most honest art after intense pain did not help her fear of being found out. After every headache session, she put the canvases at the back of her store-room and told no one. In a way she did not understand, the pain unlocked her vulnerability, stripping away her carefully constructed layers of untruths. She was terrified that if someone saw a headache painting, they would guess the real story. That one lie, the one in the beginning, had doubled and tripled and quadrupled so now she did not know what in the tangle of her life was true and what had been fabricated to hide what she had done.’

Eventually Justine contacts Rose Haldane, journalist and identity detective, and asks for her help. So many years of keeping secrets makes it very hard for Justine, she isn’t at all sure she’s strong enough to cope with the distress and uncertainty of laying bare her past and all the hurt that would entail.

A beautifully written story encompassing love, loss, regret, adoption and art, taking place in Yorkshire, London and Spain over three decades. Evocative and description prose brings places to life with sights, sounds and scents. Justine becomes a very sympathetic character as layers are peeled away and more and more of her past is revealed. Her need to know despite the doubts and reservations is realistic, understandable and handled extremely well. Certain sections brought tears to my eyes, the scenes are so well described. The secondary characters are also well defined and the details throughout show the amount of research it must have taken to make the narrative entirely believable. A very engaging read.

I chose to read and review Connectedness for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on a digital copy from the author.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connectedness can be placed within the wide-ranging genre known as 'women’s fiction' and features the effect that adoption has on all those involved. This book contains characters from Danby’s previous book Ignoring Gravity and although this can be read as a standalone, some readers might enjoy reading the books in sequence.

The story introduces us to Justine; she’s an artist. Her mother has recently died and Justine looks back at her life, questioning many of her decisions. Through a series of flashbacks, we are taken to 1982. Justine was studying art in Spain for a year. Knowing how hard her parents had worked to finance her trip, she refused to ask them for help when she ran out of money. Instead she struggled to survive as best she could. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bl5

[Barbara Rohde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series by Sandra Danby with adoption as its central theme. In this book Justine Tree, a renowned collage artist, asks Rose Haldane to search for the daughter she had given up for adoption. The characters are all well-rounded and the story switches from Spain in 1983 to England in 2010. Danby writes well and her well thought out novel takes the reader on a journey primarily through the relinquishing mother's viewpoint.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. It can be read as a standalone even if there's a previous one.
The style of writing is really good, the characters are interesting and well designed.
Recommended.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Sandra Danby’s first novel - Ignoring Gravity - and was pleased to have the opportunity to read the second one via NetGalley. Although this is a follow-on novel from the first,it could equally be read as a standalone. Danby does not rely just on the story of the search carried out by her identity detective - Rose Haldane, but builds up a detailed and believable picture of the life of her main character, Justine. Well written with realistic characters and the setting out of the story in a carefully and balanced way, I would highly recommend this novel . Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[ABCme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Beulah Press for the ARC

2010. Justine's current succes, a collage series called The Unbearable Greenness of Green, brings us art and nature, friendship and abandonement. Federico, Darya and Rose are all in some way connected to the artist. The chapters jump to 1983 and back getting closer to the secret that Justine has been keeping for years, scared of loosing her credibility as an artist. Beautifully written at an easy pace, it takes us by the hand as we witness the artist struggle to create, take care of her friend and at the same time make sense of her past.
I was impressed by the unwillingly produced headache paintings, explaining the truth as a pain-thing. Equally wonderful is Justine's tender care for Darya.
There are deep thoughts on life and surroundings that are recognizable to all of us.
Eventually all comes together in a heartfelt ending.
Connectedness is a gripping story of love, loss and the human struggle to be your one true self.
An amazing read.

[Katharine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Ignoring Gravity, the first book in this series so had been looking forward to reading this one which has been on my TBR pile for a long time. I wasn’t disappointed and in fact thought this was a better book. It’s intriguing, engaging and beautifully written. I love the concept for this series and I’m looking forward to Rose’s next identity investigation.
(I received a copy of this book from Netgalley).

[Isabell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes



Sandra Danby at her best!

Having read and loved the first book (Ignoring Gravity) in the Identity Detective series I looked forward to reading a new novel from Sandra Danby. Connectedness is the book in the series, yet it can easily be read as a standalone novel. The books in the series all feature Rose Haldane, who helps to reunite adopted children and their birth families, and who was adopted herself. Connectedness centres around the artist, Justine King, whose life is a tangle of lies and secrets. Justine Tree asks identity detective Rose Haldane to search for the daughter she gave up for adoption in 1983.Will this terrible secret that Justine carries close to her heart threaten her art career?

I’d like to thank Sandra Danby for the opportunity of reading such a gem. I'm not sure why but I had been putting off reading this book for months, and I am of course now kicking myself, as its an amazing book.I did not know what to expect of this book in the beginning but it has had everything I wanted from a a great read in the end. I quickly found out that Sandra has a very compelling style of writing peppered with a healthy dose of love, betrayal, secrets, regret, grief and loss and adoption mixed with engaging characters that keep you turning page after page. Sandra Danby’ gorgeous writing and the intriguing format the story is told in really did make this a special kind of novel. The story is told mainly through Justine’s viewpoint, flitting effortlessly between present-day London’s art world to isolated Yorkshire, and the hot streets of Málaga, Spain in the early 80s, where Justine went to study art. Danby definitely added a nice flavor of London, Yorkshire and Málaga. Even I don’t know all the cities I could not help but feel enveloped in each city's atmosphere and aesthetic background. Not only were the settings in this book researched well, also there are lots of information of art as it plays a hugh part in this novel. This is a novel that I found hard to put down as it swept me along on a roller-coaster of an emotional ride. I had to pull myself together not to burst into tears. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a very well-written story about a family saga.

There is one thing that actually bothered me. During Justine‘s collage years in Málaga there were a lot of words written in spanish when she spoke to a friend. The spanish words were not translated I had to actually look up all the words to understand the main message of the conversation. Thankfully my kindle has a translation function so it was not too much trouble for me.

[Claire Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is deftly plotted with vivid characters and a mesmerising story. I truly loved the way Justine’s past was woven into her present, reminding us that we are all, like her art, collages made from the memories and experiences we pick up on our travels and via the people we meet. Justine’s search for redemption is sensitively told as is Rose’s role as facilitator and confidante. There is so much to admire in this book, Connectedness, is a must-read for this summer.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clever novel that explores our relationship with the environment, as well as the different ways in which we are connected to it and to others. Sandra Danby has chosen two perfect locations, Filey with its windswept coast and Malaga in Spain, both of which appeal for different reasons. I can readily understand how you can be drawn back to your birthplace yet feel more alive under the Mediterranean sun. Throughout the book, there is the suspense of the protagonist's daughter, whom she gave up for adoption. There is a sharp contrast too in the journalist who was adopted as a baby so we see the emotions from both sides. The ending is neatly done and very poignant. This is a book that will stay with you.

[Amanda Huggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connectedness is the second novel by Sandra Danby in the ‘Identity Detective’ series, yet it can easily be read as a standalone novel. The books in the series all feature Rose Haldane, who helps to reunite adopted children and their birth families, and who was adopted herself. Connectedness centres around the artist, Justine King, whose life is a tangle of lies and secrets.

I really enjoyed Danby’s first book, Ignoring Gravity, and so I was looking forward to reading Connectedness. It certainly didn’t disappoint. I found this novel more engaging than the last – as Hope Sloper said, ‘Sandra Danby does it again, only this time I felt she did it better.’

This is a beautifully written novel, exploring themes of love and regret, betrayal and impossible choices, grief and loss, and of course, adoption. It is a compelling and believable story, and the characters are well-defined, sympathetic and rounded. Danby brings the settings to life, and carries you there with the characters, using all the senses to evoke the vivid sounds, scents and sights of Spain, Yorkshire and London.

The book is well-researched, and art plays a huge part in the story. I really enjoyed the close and fascinating detail about the art world, and the way that Justine’s art is woven into her very being, the way she subconsciously and consciously uses it to express her hopes, fears, pain, and vulnerability.

[Bookmuseuk]

I absolutely adored this extremely well-written mystery-family saga. It’s the second in Sandra Danby’s Identity Detective series and I have not read the first (yet!), but this did not deter at all from my enjoyment.


Justine Tree, successful collage artist, asks identity detective Rose Haldane to search for the daughter she gave up for adoption in 1983.Will this terrible secret that Justine carries close to her heart threaten her art career?


The story is told mainly through Justine’s viewpoint, flitting effortlessly between present-day London’s art world to isolated Yorkshire, and the hot streets of Málaga, Spain in the early 80s, where Justine went to study art. And where she found love.


With her well-defined, sympathetic characters, layers of meaning, and sensual, all-engaging descriptions, the author takes us on a highly-emotional and gripping journey through the art world, exploring love, loss and human weakness, all coming together in a truly heartfelt conclusion.


Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a very well-written story.

[Elizabeth Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justine Tree is a successful artist, about to be accepted into the Royal Academy. But we meet her in her childhood home on the East Yorkshire coast, remembering her childhood, as she clears her mother’s home after her funeral. She remembers the encouragement of her parents and her early interest in the life of Picasso. But she also realises that she is acting a part, concealing secrets from her past.

Justine’s home in London is shared with Darya, a much older woman who understands her art and has been a substitute mother for 27 years. As Darya sinks into dementia, Justine decides to make more effort to find the baby she gave up all those years ago, a secret which fuels the pain in her art. She seeks help from journalist, Rose Haldane, who has previously investigated her own adoption. As we follow the story we also discover cracks in Rose’s “happy” life.

The story moves back to the early 1980s when Justine was a penniless student in Picasso’s birthplace of Malaga. Bullied by her tutor, and struggling with the language, she meets Frederico, an architecture student who teaches her to embrace Spanish food, language and the way of life. The sensual description of the succulent Spanish food shared with Frederico, defines their building passion and is vividly remembered by Justine.

There are many layers in this sensitive story. The nurturing Justine received from her mother is only appreciated in retrospect,
“In the last year, Darya had aged like a film on fast forward.
I wasn’t there for Mum. I will not abandon Darya.”
Will Justine’s daughter forgive her? Will they be reconciled and what of Frederico, the love of her life?

This is the second book of the “Identity Detective” series, all centred on Rose Haldane who wishes to reunite those who lost members of their family due to adoption. I have not yet read the first book but will be seeking it out soon. Sandra Danby is a thought provoking author whose sense of place enhances a fascinating mystery.

[Kati Berman]

Connectedness by Sandra Danby

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am impressed with all the 5 and 4 star reviews , but for me this book was only three stars at best. Others described the plot, so I will be brief there. Justine Tree is a successful artist, her art is displayed not only locally, but all over the world. We meet her, as she is cleaning out her mother’s house in Yorkshire after her death. During this time, she is also thinking about her childhood, her relationship with both her parents and especially her college years in Spain, where she was a penniless student who fell in love with Frederico. The story goes back and forth between 1982-83 and the present. I don’t mind this sort of writing, but I found the transitions rough and not easy to follow. I also had trouble with the author using Spanish words not translated during the college years. This was even true, when I had to actually look up a word in order to understand a very significant event. This definitely bothered me a lot. I personally couldn’t connect with Justine through most of the book, it got better toward the end. I was bored to tears through the first half of the novel, then finally it picked up. Overall, for me, just a so-so story, three stars at best.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instant connection

Right from the first words I felt a connection with this book. It was about identity, creativity and exploring connections. I enjoyed the descriptions of the art, the background in art slowly revealed and then the intrigue of the need to find her daughter. I look forward to reading the sequel and other books by Me Danby.

[Helen Christmas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing story on many levels, beginning with the introduction of artist, Justine Tree. The story hops from the aftermath of her mother's death to flashbacks to a childhood in Yorkshire then the inspiration for her art. In between the modern day setting however, is an underlying story set in Malaga, a place where she studies art as a student. This is the part I found most intriguing with beautiful descriptions that capture the essence of Spain.

This is not a quick an easy read, more a slow and contemplative novel.

The pace seemed a little slow at the start with attention to details that were lost on me, but this is a subjective view. This is not intended to downgrade my review, more, that I am an impatient reader, eager to push aside the garnish and get to the meat and potatoes. On reflection, maybe this level of detail is needed to reflect this woman's emotional journey; a story that makes you think. It got me thinking about art, where at future exhibitions I will imagine the artist, look at art through new eyes and question the story that lies behind it. I am not going to say any more but it transforms into a truly moving story that had me close to tears at times. Later in the novel, I was reintroduced to the main character, Rose, a point where the book became more captivating, as it involves a little detective work. Praise to the author, this is a wonderful story and I can only imagine the hard work, research and editing that has gone into it. Despite its length it is beautifully written too.

[Alva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connectedness is a story of two women brought together by adoption. One an adoptee and one who gave away her baby. Rose and Justine's voices tell a powerful story about loss and love, regrets, questions that may never be answered.
Justine's life through her art is mesmerising as we journey with her from her days as a young art student in Spain, to a celebrated artist, with a secret that's killing her inside. She cannot keep up with her own lies.
Rose is investigating and reporting. That's her job, but she cannot keep her personal life and history separate from her latest assignment. Justine is an enigma in the art world and Rose has many questions. What is Justine hiding and why does Rose feel she herself will be affected by the outcome of this story?
Connectedness takes us to early eighties Málaga, noughties London and the isolated world of East Yorkshire, each location holding a special place for these two women as their stories unfold.
Brava! Sandra Danby.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully complex tale of a middle aged (she turns fifty during the novel) artist’s early life in Spain at an Art College and the consequences that come back to really bite her on the bum later in life. It is multi faceted and, unusually for me, the denouement and it’s aftermath actually had me reaching for a handkerchief several times over to wipe away genuine tears of emotion. Please do pick this up. If you can, read the earlier book, Ignoring Gravity, which features Rose, one of the heroines of this one, first, but for a lovely warming winter tale, touched with real emotion, this beats many of the chit lit stuff that passes these days for literature.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read the first book in the series so I wasn't sure what to expect.


I always enjoy a book with secrets and this one has a lot.

I enjoyed learning about Justine, art, a past love affair, but since I don't speak Spanish, it was jarring to see words in Spanish where I had to put the book down and look up the meanings.

One thing that held my attention was the emotional parts if the story.

[Linda Hardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn't get into the book, found it very slow going, and the jumping from different time lines I just did not connect with the book

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I selected this title I didn't realize it was the second in the series so I'm not sure what I may have missed from the first book, but I'm guessing not a lot as this was easy to read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed the exploration of adoption as well as the artistic process of Justine but overall it kind of fell flat for me. I grew increasingly annoyed by Justine and I felt like Rose had a lot more to say so perhaps the next book will flush out Rose's character a bit more.