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Connections
In touching, poignant and delicious tales of life by the ocean, Sheila 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 a rejected lover is planning to get in the way; Grainne, who's been sent with her husband by their children to celebrate their anniversary, and who thinks the time has come to move on. Rudy's on an idyllic break with his young son which is set for an unexpected ending; and Isobel - of ISOBEL'S WEDDING - discovers her ex-lover Nico might be staying just next door. Romance is very much alive in the hot Caribbean nights...
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
16 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Sheila O'Flanagan
95 books1,200 followersAs you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 16, 2022
More like a series of short stories then a novel, although based in the same place.
February 8, 2021
Delightful, easy to read with engaging, realistic characters and situations. Nuanced and complex. Reads well as short stories and equally well as an integrated whole.
April 6, 2024
This book wasn’t really what I expected. Each chapter focussed on a different character staying in a different room in a luxury hotel in the Caribbean. I thought because the book is called “connections” that there would be more connections between the characters, but only a couple connected with each other. Each characters chapter was almost a stand alone story and just as you were getting into a character, it would move onto a different character. I also felt like some of the chapters finished on cliff hangers that were never really addressed.
The book was not the usual sort of book I read but I did think it was ok, but the different stories in each chapter did disrupt the flow of the book a bit.
The book was not the usual sort of book I read but I did think it was ok, but the different stories in each chapter did disrupt the flow of the book a bit.
February 20, 2020
Lovely light-hearted storyline.
Revolves around the guests at a 5☆ Jamaican resort.Each chapter focusing on the past of each guest, wrapping up neatly at end of book.Reader almost wishes she had more guests to read about.....the story grows on you!
On whole, its an eye opener that every person walking this earth has a story to tell...and its never happy happy.Through lifes obstacles they all survive, smile and enjoy their time in the sun.
Revolves around the guests at a 5☆ Jamaican resort.Each chapter focusing on the past of each guest, wrapping up neatly at end of book.Reader almost wishes she had more guests to read about.....the story grows on you!
On whole, its an eye opener that every person walking this earth has a story to tell...and its never happy happy.Through lifes obstacles they all survive, smile and enjoy their time in the sun.
July 3, 2013
A strange book that claims to be something that isn't and therefore disappoints. The connections are mostly that they are at the White Sands Hotel and very little else.
It's a series of short stories, some are good, some are great, but it isn't what its promoted as. Some are told in first person but most stories are third person subjective.
Its great for the beach or bath, easy reading.
I did rate it 2 but I liked the ending so upgraded it to a 3.
It's a series of short stories, some are good, some are great, but it isn't what its promoted as. Some are told in first person but most stories are third person subjective.
Its great for the beach or bath, easy reading.
I did rate it 2 but I liked the ending so upgraded it to a 3.
August 23, 2007
Great book if you are on the beach,or just need to put it down at a moments notice while dealing with kids etc. Good read. Several short stories about people all connected to the same resort in the caribbean.
December 7, 2017
Series of short stories set at a Caribbean resort of White Sands, where the turquoise sea sparkles & the lush palms sway gently in the breeze.....
Each guest has their own tale to tell, although some interlink briefly. There's Jennifer who is set to marry the man of her dreams until an unexpected wedding guest comes....yes, it's her future mother-in-law!
Writer Corinne is suffering from writer's block, while Grainne & Aidan are celebrating 25 years of marriage - or are they?
There's a bit of everything here, romance, laughter, sadness & heartbreak...an enjoyable read.
Each guest has their own tale to tell, although some interlink briefly. There's Jennifer who is set to marry the man of her dreams until an unexpected wedding guest comes....yes, it's her future mother-in-law!
Writer Corinne is suffering from writer's block, while Grainne & Aidan are celebrating 25 years of marriage - or are they?
There's a bit of everything here, romance, laughter, sadness & heartbreak...an enjoyable read.
June 6, 2018
I don't often read books of short stories – I have tried but I usually end up disappointed. However, this is an exception – it was very entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had thought that it would be good to have book that I could pick up, read one story and then put it down but I found myself reading it from cover to cover in one day.
I don't know what it is about the Irish but they are very good at telling stories that are linked in some way, as is the case with this book. It reminded me of The Lilac Bus and Silver Wedding by Maeve Binchy. The characters were interesting, as were the different stories, and the final chapter made for a great ending.
I don't know what it is about the Irish but they are very good at telling stories that are linked in some way, as is the case with this book. It reminded me of The Lilac Bus and Silver Wedding by Maeve Binchy. The characters were interesting, as were the different stories, and the final chapter made for a great ending.
January 31, 2021
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! It was the perfect beach read. I love the concept of telling short stories about different people staying at the same resort, and O'Flanahan executed it so well! Each story was interesting and full in its own right, and I liked that the characters showed up in each other's stories. I found the characters really well flushed out and believable, and all very different with a range of stories. One of the most enjoyable books of short stories that I've ever read.
October 14, 2018
This was a collection of short stories each one about a guest at a swish holiday hotel in the Caribbean. Each guest has a slight link to the sun just of the next story. A light read which seems to have been on my book shelf for ever.
February 17, 2019
enjoy this authors books very much, great writer,
June 21, 2019
What a lovely collection of short stories you could even say but all intertwined. . love the ending... Shows how wrong you can be about people.
April 19, 2020
Loved reading the different stories. So well put together!
August 6, 2020
I do so love sheila O'flanagan's books. This one though isn't one of my favourite ones.
January 19, 2022
Perfect Summer holiday read- loved the characters and the combinations. Left me wanting to read the next chapter - hopefully there is a sequel to discover.
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September 24, 2025One of the worst books I have ever read
Expected more from the author
Expected more from the author
July 15, 2019
I have enjoyed this short book, very easy to read and you just feel like you are on the beautiful beach...I would love to know what has happened to some people like the bride who left the guy on their wedding day, so I feel that the story could develop a bit more as you left hanging on what will happened to them, but otherwise a lovely read.
May 18, 2023
a lovely easy read.
April 16, 2016
I picked this book up without realising it was twelve short stories rather than one whole collective story. Often times I felt like I wanted more of a particular story because they were just so good. Some stories were romantic, some funny, some heartbreaking, but all very real in the sense of everyday life.
Here are a few things I've learned (and are quotes) from this book:
1. I don't think I'm really a holiday sort of person. Especially not a lie-all-day-in-the-sun holiday person. I like travelling, definitely, but that’s a completely different sort of thing. I love going to new places and having new experiences.
2. Why was it that so many people hated the word 'died'?
3. Life has a habit of hitting you in the face just as you think it's time to peek over the parapet.
4. There was no point in wanting to be someone else. Life didn't let you.
5. I think it's wonderful that you could suddenly decide to do something stupid and crazy and so not like you.
6. Closing your eyes isn't a great way of hiding from anyone!
7. Love is for fools.
Here are a few things I've learned (and are quotes) from this book:
1. I don't think I'm really a holiday sort of person. Especially not a lie-all-day-in-the-sun holiday person. I like travelling, definitely, but that’s a completely different sort of thing. I love going to new places and having new experiences.
2. Why was it that so many people hated the word 'died'?
3. Life has a habit of hitting you in the face just as you think it's time to peek over the parapet.
4. There was no point in wanting to be someone else. Life didn't let you.
5. I think it's wonderful that you could suddenly decide to do something stupid and crazy and so not like you.
6. Closing your eyes isn't a great way of hiding from anyone!
7. Love is for fools.
August 27, 2013
I was a bit disappointed with this book. Based on the Caribbean resort of White Sands, the synopsis promises 'a journey of intrigue and romance, as intertwining tales unfold from beach to bedroom to bar.' I was therefore expecting a series of cleverly woven stories, where individuals from each story had a part to play in the others.
Until the very last section though, none of the characters stories interwove at all! You are basically left with a series of short stories based around one place. I'm not a great fan of short stories as they always leave me wanting more (or wondering...why?), and although a couple of these were really good, the fact that I was waiting for other characters to appear who never did left me a bit disenchanted. I believe the publishers should change the book jacket wording to more accurately reflect the authors work.
Until the very last section though, none of the characters stories interwove at all! You are basically left with a series of short stories based around one place. I'm not a great fan of short stories as they always leave me wanting more (or wondering...why?), and although a couple of these were really good, the fact that I was waiting for other characters to appear who never did left me a bit disenchanted. I believe the publishers should change the book jacket wording to more accurately reflect the authors work.
November 7, 2011
I think the concept of this book was excellent and do not feel cheated having read it. I loved catching up with charachters from previous reads. (I hadn't realised that I had actualy read so many of Ms O'Flanagan's works). The only problem I now have, is I want to go the Carribean and stay at White Sands Resort! (if it exists).
February 2, 2014
I'm not a huge fan of short stories. I was a little bit disappointed as I thought the stories would link in together a bit more than they did. most of the stories were quite good, but personally I would have preferred it more if there were three or four main stories, so I could have got more chance to connect with the characters.
February 23, 2015
A couple of familiar characters here from other full-length books. A pity I'll never know the ends of the stories, except for Isobel's. Each story is a snippet from each character's life while they're on holiday in the Caribbean. Entertaining, but I'd rather know how things end up for everyone.
Rated 6/10 at http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/9...
Rated 6/10 at http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/9...
July 25, 2011
i found this book to be a nice easy read. its grate for summer time and i love the way the chapters were each about a person staying at the hotel. Also,somhow each person had the other people/person linked into it and it was really cool (i thought it was very clever)
August 14, 2011
An attempt is made to connect 12 women’s stories by placing them in the same hotel I felt cheated that this collection of short stories was packaged as a novel. This was not made clear on the cover of the book. It has been sold as a tale of interweaving characters. Be warned. It’s not!
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August 6, 2011I'm not normally a huge fann of SO, but have to admit she did this well. The short story format suits her writing style, and i loved all the different characteres and stories, not to mention the fact that they were all connected. Also loved Isabel's cameo - great sequel!
January 12, 2013
i loved connections! at first i didnt know what to expect from the collection but i fell in love with the characters! the stories are told in an honest and most human way- like checking out someone's journal and understanding why they act the way they do. i totally recommend it!
March 7, 2013
A very well written book, I like that it zooms into every character's life while keeping them all at one location. Life is that way, we all have our own stories. Our surface certainly serves no justice to what we go thru in life.
June 8, 2013
The short stories all revolving around the same location, made me realize how everyone has a story of their own. That people we meet on holiday would be having their own problems and fairy tales. Insightful, and beautiful. Perfect book for a weekend getaway.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews