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. 

Back Catalogue Books - Q&A with Caroline Finnerty

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!

I would like to welcome Caroline Finnerty to my blog today. I have read a couple of her books in the past and thoroughly enjoyed them, so its a pleasure to be able to host her today.

1) Please tell me about your first book, and what started you writing in the first place.

My first novel is called 'In a Moment' and it is the story of two mothers and the ultimate love for their sons. I had the idea for it after I became a mother for the first time in 2009. I remember looking at my daughter when she was a few weeks old and being overwhelmed with love for her but what I then discovered came with that love is the vulnerability and constant worry that if anything should ever happen to that child how would a person ever cope? I was driving along one day when the idea for the story came to me. I started writing it while I was on maternity leave and then when I went back to work, I continued to write it in the evenings and weekends. The story wouldn't leave me.

2) How many books have you written and what are they?

I have had four books published to date, In a Moment, The Last Goodbye, Into the Night Sky and My Sister's Child.

3) Which book are you most proud of writing?

This is a hard one as they capture my feelings at a particular point in my life. I suppose my second novel 'The Last Goodbye' which tells the story of Kate Flynn; a girl who has spent her whole life running away from her past seems to have struck a chord with a fair few people. It’s a story of love and loss, forgiveness and new beginnings. I had a lot of lovely readers contact me after reading it so if you forced me, I would choose it.

4) Which book was your favourite to write?

I think probably my first novel 'In a Moment' because I was writing it purely for myself and my own enjoyment. I had no contract at the time and I can remember being excited as I reworked it and tweaked it. I enjoyed crafting it and the writing process (yes I am a weirdo :).

5) Who are your favourite characters from your books and why?

Little Jack from 'Into The Night Sky' will always hold a special place in my heart. I really felt he was my other child as I was writing it, so much so when I was in a shop one day and saw a Real Madrid jersey, I found myself thinking 'oh Jack would love that'. Anyone who has read the book will know that they are Jack's favourite team. A lot of people have said to me since they loved him too so perhaps there may be a sequel for him down the line to see how his life turned out in the end.

6) If you could go back and change anything from any of your books, what would it be, and why?

Oh dear, I'd change so much. I actually can't read my books once they're published because I know I'd find so many things I'd want to change and you'd find me curled up in a cringe-induced ball of misery. As a writer the more you write, the more your style grows and I think you just have to accept that that was your best at that time in your life.

7) Which of your covers if your favourite and why?

I've been fairly lucky with my covers to date, I loved the cover for My Sister's Child, I thought the girl in the red dress was very eye-catching.

8) Have you ever thought about changing genres, if so what else would you like to write?

I have an idea for a historical fiction novel and have started researching it but it is daunting. I'm probably procrastinating by staying at the 'research' stage for a bit too long but hopefully soon I will have the guts to start it.

9) Looking forward can you let us know what you are working on next?

I have just finished my fifth novel 'The Lies She Told'. It's the story of a single father called Aidan who discovers a letter belonging to his late wife, which has devastating consequences for him and his entire family. Now when I say finished, I've just submitted it to my agent Sallyanne Sweeney so there will probably be a bit more work to do before it's ready to go on submission.

10) I dare not ask for a favourite author, but is there any author’s back catalogue you admire and why?

I really admire Maggie O'Farrell. She always seems to get it right. She knows how to tell an emotional tale without being overly sentimental. 

11) Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your back catalogue of books?

My stories touch on real family dilemmas and always have an emotional edge at their heart. I hope you will enjoy them.

Thank you so much Caroline for this fascinating interview. I am looking forward to your fifth novel, and hope it gets published soon. Since In A Moment is your favourite book, I have now read it, and the review is also available on Rachel's Random Reads from today. 

About Caroline Finnerty

Caroline Finnerty is the Irish author of the novels, In A Moment, The Last Goodbye, Into The Night Sky and My Sister’s Child. She also complied the charity anthology 'If I Was a Child Again' in 2013 in aid of Barnardos. Her stories touch on real family dilemmas and always have an emotional edge at their heart. She is currently working on her fifth novel, The Lies She Told. She lives in County Kildare with her husband, three young children and their dog.

You can find out more about her on www.carolinefinnerty.ie

Amazon purchase link http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caroline-Finnerty/e/B007X4NSBE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1468358747&sr=8-2-ent

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolinefinnertywriter/

Twitter: @cfinnertywriter


Instagram: @carolinefinnerty

Book Review & Giveaway - My Sister's Child by Caroline Finnerty - Around The World Blog Tour

The Around The World Blog Tour is a partnership between TripFiction and #BookConnectors ~ bloggers and authors, travelling the world, through fiction.

TripFiction was created to make it easy to match a location with a book and help you select good literature that is most pertinent and relevant to your trip. A resource for armchair and actual travellers, it is a unique way of exploring a place through the eyes of an author. We blog, and chat books and travel across Social Media, and love to meet authors and bloggers as we take our literary journey.

http://www.tripfiction.com/

Book Connectors  was created as a place on Facebook for Bloggers, Authors and small Publishers to share their news. 

We encourage book promotions; information about competitions and giveaways; news of events, including launch events, signings, talks or courses. Talk about new signings, about film deals .... anything really.

Book Connectors is  a friendly group, there are no rules or guidelines - just be polite and respectful to each other. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1466353170351020/

Amazon UK

Title: My Sister's Child

Author: Caroline Finnerty

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied review copy

Publisher: Poolbeg Press

Publication Date: 13th August 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

My Sister's Child is the story of two sisters, and one huge question. 

Jo is the elder sister, responsible and hardworking. Isla is carefree and has always avoided being tied down. The sisters have always had a strained relationship, but when Isla asks Jo for something that rocks the very foundations of the family that Jo has worked so hard to have, she is horrified. And, as Isla persists in her pleas, Jo fears she will lose the one thing she holds most dearly. 

Thought-provoking and compelling, this is a layered and moving story of sisterhood, love and lies and the finely-woven link between nature and nurture that will challenge the way you think about motherhood. 

My Sister's Child is a seriously impressive story, which will throw up all sorts of questions for the reader. In fact I suspect this could be a very good book group book, for that reason alone. 

At the heart of the book there is the question of Nature vs Nuture, or who is really the parent. It deals with infertility and the various ways you can solve that, including donor eggs.

This is a story about a family, and mainly sisters Jo and Isla. Depending on who the focus was on, depends how they see their relationship, but Isla once did a completely selfless deed for Jo, and when she years later, asks for something similar, but that will bring up a lot of ancient history, and Jo is not sure she can bring herself to agree.

The sisters had a tough time as children, and various incidents in their past have had a real baring on how they formed as adults, especially with regards to certain characteristics. 

There are a lot of serious topics dealt with in this story, and its clear that Caroline Finnerty must have done a large amount of good research into them, in order to write about them so well. Everything is clear and concise, with a good turn of phrase, so you understand the moral and legalities of certain issues. 

From what I have discovered after finishing the book, I believe that Caroline has used the latest laws that are coming into force in Ireland, regarding donor rights, so this will keep the book very relevant for a long while.

There was a huge disagreement during the majority of the book, which tears the family apart, and I really couldn't decide who I was siding with. Both Jo and Isla's points of view were presented so well, that I had some empathy for both of them, as well as Ryan (Jo's husband) and their "Little Star"Réiltín. 

There is no point me discussing the story with you in great detail, as I can't risk giving away something that could spoil your enjoyment of the book, but suffice to say, My Sister's Child will draw you in, and will affect a lot of people. 

I found My Sister's Child to a fascinating look into family life, and the various issues it produces are dealt with appropriately and along with it there is a great story. 

Thank you so much to Poolbeg Press and Caroline Finnerty for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Win your choice of Caroline Finnerty book in paperback (Open Internationally)

Caroline Finnerty has offered you a chance to win one of her books, of your choice. 

She has written 4 books for you to have the choice between, and for more info on them, please take a look at Caroline's author page on Amazon. If any take your fancy, then please do enter this giveaway. 

Giveaway open internationally, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 15/10/2015. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:

Caroline Finnerty is the Irish author of the books 'In a Moment', 'The Last Goodbye', 'Into The Night Sky' and 'My Sister's Child'. She also compiled the anthology 'If I was a Child Again' in aid of Barnardos. She lives on the banks of the Grand Canal in Co. Kildare with her husband, three small children and their dog.

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Thank you so much to Anne Cater for pairing me with Caroline for this Around The World Blog Tour. I've always loved my Irish fiction, and this was no exception. It has been a pleasure to take part.