Saturday 1 October 2016

Book Review - In a Moment by Caroline Finnerty - Back Catalogue Books



Back Catalogue Books is my new regular Saturday feature, focusing on books that are not the latest releases. There is going to be a mix of Q&As and also reviews, depending on what I have the space for. 

If you are an author wanting to take part in Back Catalogue Books then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you. 


I hope everyone enjoys this weekly look back at some of the slightly older books that are about but still great, and that I eventually make a dent in my TBRs as a result of it! 

Amazon UK
Title: In a Moment
Author: Caroline Finnerty
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Purchased
Publisher: Poolbeg
Publication Date: 27th November 2013
Rating: 5 Stars


Adam & Emma are a couple being torn apart by their past. Their relationship is only held together by a thread. As their marriage disintegrates around them, Adam tries desperately to salvage it – while Emma does everything in her power, not only to avoid the issue, but to avoid him. 

But what has brought them to this point? Why is Emma traumatised by the very sight of him? And why is Adam having recurring nightmares? 

Jean McParland has long been living her own nightmare, battling with her son Paul whose violent outbursts have terrorised her and his younger siblings in their own home. Torn between her love for her eldest son and fears for the other children, Jean has shied away from taking decisive action . . . while their lives continued to spin out of control. 

Then, in just one moment, Adam, Emma and Jean’s lives became inextricably linked and were changed forever.

Although I have read other books by Caroline Finnerty, I have only just read her debut novel, In A Moment, and I am so impressed by the quality of it, even knowing that she has written other fantastic books. This is an accomplished debut, and it had my hooked for the majority of the story. 

It is a reasonably serious book, there really aren't that many laughs to be had, but it always makes a good change for me to read something with this level of depth. This is a book that has been written in multiple parts, and there are two main families that are focused on. 

The are Adam and Emma who are barely communicating, something has happened in the fairly recent past, but the issue itself is skirted around for quite a while, leaving you to come to your own theories, while the story starts to get its legs.

The second part, focuses on Jean's family who are being terrorised by someone very close to them, and leads to Jean having to make some potentially heartbreaking decisions. In Jean's story we learn all about her past up to the present day, and although part 1 of the book I had struggled to really engage with, it was from here onwards that the story became unputdownable for me. 

I was enthralled by Jean's story and as the action then goes back to Adam and Emma, things become a lot clearer, and you start to understand from both of their points of view just how their lives have fallen apart recently. 

Although I never felt close to tears, I'm sure people who do get incredibly emotional with books, would cry at points of this. I really felt for Emma and Adam, and Jean, in fact all of the characters. 

Emma's best friend Zoe and her new relationship provides the light relief, in small sections, just to rebalance your emotions, and I really enjoyed seeing how she was getting on too. 

In a Moment really does dissect how many lives can change in the blink of an eye, how one decision can have a massive impact over the rest of your life. A thoroughly impressive book, that whether you are new to this author or have read others, I would recommend you read. 

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