Tara Flynn

by Geraldine O'Neill and Geraldine O'Neill

Book Overview

It's the 1950s and for Tara Flynn, red-haired, bright and ambitious, Ballygrace House represents everything she hopes for - beautiful, elegant and a world away from the small village where she lives... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1842230875
• ISBN13: 9781842230879
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Poolbeg Press
• Length: 662 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A story of romance, awakenings, and making ones dreams clear cut realities...

I have to say I had this book for months before I decided to read it and maybe it's because of the idea I had of it being about girls in the 50's as opposed to women in the 21st century but the story rings true and these characters are fully developed and unique. This book somehow makes me think of old black and white movies with fashionable ladies drinking tea and eating cookies while they gossip about the parishioners in their catholic town (being Ireland in the 50's you can imagine the power of the Church) full of secrets and people with no knowledge of toilet seats or electric light, much less of divorce. Tara is a girl whose father is a drunk and not at all who she wants as a role model, her mother is dead and so she is raised by her grandfather and her uncle Mick. She always dreamed of bettering herself and living like the rich Madeleine and Gabriel Fitzgerald. Tara takes you on her own journey to become a lady with manners, work, and resources. She is extremely ambitious and she makes it in a difficult time but she has many challenges and heartaches along the way to her success as a career woman. She is raped by her best friend's father and goes all the way to London to get away from it all but gossip is the name of the game and all sorts of false truths were already going through the grapevine of her small hometown. Her heart belongs to Gabriel, who kissed her several times on the most amazing night of her life but she has to run away since she doesn't want to face the town after the rape and she begins once again her journey to self improvement in England and meets Frank - Oh so handsome Frank - who deceives her like many a man do when they are married and have children... Tara heartbroken and full of voids once her grandfather is gone, and her friend Madeleine dies in a car accident, has to keep working to get where she wants to in life and her steely determination is a her most wonderful virtue. She becomes a landowner and travels to see the Ballet and the Opera, and also to buy new dresses and fashionable hats to be always distinguished and elegant. Finally the romantic end you hope for is delivered and Tara stays with Gabriel Fitzgerald but her secret will always stay with her. This is a compelling read that will definitely keep you entertained and invigorated.

Great Book!

Tara Flynn is a good read, especially if you were raised in the north of England. I couldn't put it down and will be first in line for the film if ever there is one. I felt I'd lost an old friend when I had finished the book. The sequel is just as good! Tara's Riches.