The Summer of Impossible Things By Rowan Coleman

Today it is my stop on the blog tour for The Summer of Impossible Things by one of my favourite authors Rowan Coleman and I will be sharing my review on her upcoming novel.

If you could change the past, would you?

Thirty years ago, something terrible happened to Luna’s mother. Something she’s only prepared to reveal after her death.

Now Luna and her sister have a chance to go back to their mother’s birthplace and settle her affairs. But in Brooklyn they find more questions than answers, until something impossible – magical – happens to Luna, and she meets her mother as a young woman back in the summer of 1977.

At first Luna’s thinks she’s going crazy, but if she can truly travel back in time, she can change things. But in doing anything – everything – to save her mother’s life, will she have to sacrifice her own? 

My Review

Having been a fan of Rowan Coleman for years I look forward to each of her releases and this time it feels like the longest wait ever for the release of The Summer of Impossible Things. Now if I am being completely honest here for the first time I was a little bit apprehensive when I read the blurb for this book because I am not a fan of time travel whether it be book or film so this wouldn't have been a book that I would have picked up if it was by another author but I have such admiration for this authors writing that I decided to give it a try.

When Luna and her sister Pea discover that their mother had been keeping a heartbreaking secret from them all their life they make the trip back to their mothers childhood home where Luna soon discovers that she has a remarkable ability to go back in time and potentially right the wrongs all those years ago.

It was a very cleverly thought out plot and Rowan delivered the storyline with her usual addictive and descriptive writing style which made this an enjoyable read. What really shined through in this book was the desperate love Luna had for both her mum and her sister Pea she was willing to literally sacrifice everything without hesitation to be able to protect the ones she loved which made my heart go out to such a selfless beautiful character.

As ever Rowan Coleman has delivered a compelling read with a unique plot with characters that you instantly warm to and a storyline that is unpredictable from start to finish.

This is definitely one of those books that will get you thinking about the changes that you would make if you could go back in time, but each little change could make a dramatic change of direction in your life for the good and the bad so maybe we should just deal with the hand we are given.

I enjoyed this book, maybe not quite as much as all of her other books but that is purely for the fact that the topic is not my kind of thing so anyone who does love time travel will love this book because it is so well executed. 

Hardback               Kindle

We are all Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman

I have been so eager to share my review for We Are All Made of Stars by the lovely Rowan Coleman, whilst reading this book it really opened my eyes up to the art of letter writing and how personal and touching they are. Rowan has such a wonderful way with words and she has no trouble putting her whole heart into letter writing. Take a look at the letter which she wrote to her husband Adam for Fathers Day.

You can hear Rowan read her letter to Adam by clicking Here all I can say say is Adam must feel very loved and I am sure this will be a letter he will treasure forever. Now it is over to Rowan to tell us a little about her interest in letter writing and why it is an important part of her wonderful new book. 


I mourn the passing of the hand written letter. There is something about a letter that is special, indelible. A letter can be tied in ribbon, or folded away into a wallet, between the pages of a book, in a way that a text or tweet never can. The paper, the envelope, the handwriting all means something unique. It puts a person, and their thoughts into one moment in time, and it keeps them there. It captures thoughts, and emotions in the same way that a photograph captures an expression. And that’s why I started to write letters again, and why letters became a very important part of my latest novel, ‘We Are All Made of Stars.’

My Review
Do not miss me, because I will always be with you…I am the air, the moon, the stars. For we are all made of stars, my beloved... Wherever you look, I will be there.

Stella Carey exists in a world of night. Married to a soldier who has returned from Afghanistan injured in body and mind, she leaves the house every evening as Vincent locks himself away, along with the secrets he brought home from the war. During her nursing shifts, Stella writes letters for her patients to their loved ones - some full of humour, love and practical advice, others steeped in regret or pain – and promises to post these messages after their deaths. 

Until one night Stella writes the letter that could give her patient one last chance at redemption, if she delivers it in time…

We Are All Made of Stars is the title of the new book by Rowan Coleman and what a wonderful title for such an accomplished read. It seems like such a long time ago since I finished reading The Memory Book so I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this authors new book baby.

Stella is the night nurse at Marie Francis Hospice and Rehabilitation Centre, she sits with some of the patients and writes a last letter with them for their loved ones to be sent after they have died. But when she writes one particular letter she feels that she should send this letter before the patient dies against her wishes.

Stella is struggling at home with husband Vincent who was a soldier in Afghanistan who returned home injured but life is nothing like it was before and there doesn’t appear to be any light at the end of the tunnel.

What an incredibly endearing read. I love the structure of this book as we move along with the story we are treated to the various letters from patients to their loved ones some which brought a tear to my eye and some made me laugh, the first one of the book in particular because I could imagine myself writing a similar one to my husband. I thought the whole letter writing idea was perfect because it really gets you thinking about if it was me on my last days who would I write to and what would I write so it really does get you thinking and it is wonderful that these family members who have lost a loved one has some last heartfelt words to read and something to keep with them to help them through the grief.

Stella was a very devoted and compassionate character and as soon as I was introduced to her I found myself being drawn into her life and felt the compassion and warmth she had when at work but also the utter heartache and devastation she faced each day when she returned home. Even now I have long since finished reading the book I still find I can’t let go of her character she was such a pure inspiration.

Stella isn’t the only great character we also have Hope, Vincent and Hugh along with some amazing supporting characters too, each of the characters bring something very insightful and helped to make the book have such an impact on me but it really was Stella who touched my heart.

This was a heartfelt read that covers some very emotional and delicate content and yet Rowan Coleman has delivered such a powerful read written in such a careful way with such tenderness, she sure does manage to put her whole heart and love into each and every one of her books.

Hardback                 Kindle

The Lovely team at Ebury have kindly offered a copy of We Are All Made of Stars to giveaway. This is a UK only giveaway. GOOD LUCK xXx


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The Memory Book by Rowan Coleman.

I have long been awaiting the release of Rowan Coleman's new book as I am a huge fan of this author and the synopsis won me over.

Today the lovely Rowan Coleman has popped over to the blog and left us a video introducing her new book to us.

Thank you for the video message Rowan I am certain your book is going to be a massive hit.

My Review

Rowan Coleman is one of my favourite authors. I have loved each and every one of her books. None of her books are similar in any way which is why I look forward to her books so much as you never know what she has in store for us next.

The Memory Book tells the heartbreaking story of Claire who is a mother of two beautiful girls and a wife to a loving husband Greg. Sounds like a perfect little family from the outside but Claire is suffering from early onset Alzheimers.

Things are rapidly disappearing from Claire's mind, how long will it be before she doesn't even recognise her own children as she has already lost the memory of her love for her husband Greg.
Greg gives Claire a Memory book so that she can fill the pages with wonderful loving memories.

Although I have loved all of Rowan Coleman's books, The Memory Book is by far my favourite. This was an incredible read that saw the authors writing style at its best. This was such a delicate subject which made this book a very emotional read. I was captivated from beginning to end and I didn't want this book to come to an end.

Claire was such a loveable, courageous character and what she is going through is heartbreaking, not only the effect it is having on her in the present time but also her worry for her children when she is gone moves you to tears and makes you want to hold all of your love ones close and cherish them. The characters and the storyline both felt so life like which made this a very moving read because this is actually happening to people in the world.

The book is mainly told from both Claire and daughter Caitlin's perspectives which gave us a view from both sides, the thoughts and actions of someone with Alzheimers and also what is is like to live with a love one with the disease. It is remarkable how the author manages to get accross the mindset of someone who has Alzheimers, how quickly the fog can just cloud your mind and also how others treat you sometimes is rather childlike even if it is for their own safety.

Although this is a tender read there was also some uplifting, comical times especially when Claire had her three year old accomplice around!
This was a breath-taking tender read that will stay on my mind for a long time to come. As much as I will recommend this book I will not be sharing my copy as this one is for keeps.

The First GEM rating of the year!!


Kindle                 Hardback

Woman Walks into a Bar by Rowan Coleman

I am not a fan of short stories but when I heard than one of my favourite authors was releasing one and that all the money the book earns will be going to Charity I decided to give it a try.

I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this novella, this is perfect to read on a train journey to work something quick and easy reading. The main character Sam in a very lovable, genuine character who works in a supermarket. She is a single mother and thanks to her daughter and her friends she is back in the dating scene. It soon becomes apparent that with internet dating it is a bit like a Disney film kiss the frogs and the hopefully prince charming will come along!

The book is fun but also touches on a darker situation which was a nice balance. I am surprised how much I loved Sam in such a short space of time. I was still left wanting more but then I find this with all of Rowan Colemans books, you never want them to end!

This is a great way to do your bit for charity and also have a little treat for yourself at the same time. Easily the best novella I have read.

Great Price,Great Treat, Great Cause !! xx

Dearest Rose by Rowan Coleman

I do love that moment when you hear one of your favourite authors has another book due to be released. It is no secret that one of my top authors is Rowan Coleman so when I received an early review copy of Dearest Rose I was ecstatic and I wasted no time in getting started.

Plot

 'You are a remarkable woman and you deserve all the happiness, contentment and love in the world. I, for one, know that I have never met anyone quite like you.'

When Rose Pritchard turns up on the doorstep of a Cumbrian B&B it is her last resort. She and her seven-year-old daughter Maddie have left everything behind. And they have come to the village of Millthwaite in search of the person who once offered Rose hope. Almost immediately Rose wonders if she's made a terrible mistake - if she's chasing a dream - but she knows in her heart that she cannot go back. She's been given a second chance - at life, and love - but will she have the courage to take it?

The author has brought us a fantastic wide mix of characters in this book. Our Heroine Rose is such a vulnerable and delicate character who is full of emotion and yet hollow at the same time. Her life and  her story is heartbreaking and the only thing bringing light into her life is her daughter Maddie and a postcard from a stranger who she hopes to meet again someday. I love Maddie she is such an unusual character you can’t help falling for her quirkiness and yet again the heart strings are pulled when you find out the reason she is how she is.

This book has been written beautifully with heartbreaking and raw emotion on every page but the storyline feels so delicate and tender it must have been very difficult for Rowan Coleman to write this book but I know that her hard work will pay off with this book.

Shona brings a little light to the book when she arrives to give Rose a helping hand and this was needed in this book just to bring a little humour to an incredibly touching book.

This is completely different from the authors previous books but it is obvious that this has been written right from her heart. I do not usually read books about abuse as unfortunately there is enough of that in the real world but I had to read this and I am so glad I did for once I do not feel my words can do this book the justice it deserves.

Rowan Coleman had brought us a heartbreaking and truly compelling read that is full of raw emotion and pure courage. I highly recommend this book along with a box of Kleenex but one thing is for sure I won’t be loaning my copy out this one is here to stay on my shelf !

Paperback              Kindle

Lessons In Laughing Out Loud by Rowan Coleman

We all seem to be Rowan Coleman fans over here on Rea Book Review so there was no hesitation in picking up her new book Lessons in Laughing Out Loud. After Rowan kindly gave an interview to us we have been eagerly awaiting the release date of this latest book and it has finally come and the book has been read so now it is time to let you know if this book is worth picking up and if she has managed to give us another exciting read.

Plot

Willow and Holly are identical twins. They are everything to each other. Holly calls Willow her rock, her soul mate, her other half. And Willow feels the same about Holly. They are alike in every respect except one – Willow is afraid on the inside. And all because of a secret – one that binds the sisters closely together and yet has meant their adult lives have taken two very different paths.


Willow often feels there are large parts of her missing, qualities she only knows she’s lacking because she sees them in her sister. For a very long time Willow has felt separated from Holly by one terrible moment in time – a moment that meant Willow’s life was never the same again. And when the past catches up with her, Willow realises it’s finally time for her to face her fears, and – with Holly’s help – learn to laugh out loud once more…

My Opinion
Rowan Coleman Strikes again! Our main Character Willow is such a warm and loveable character. She seems so down to earth which makes us connect with her straight away as she is a believable, realistic character. What made me love Willows character was that she seemed to be hiding a secret and this made her character more intriguing. We really want to see our heroine find some happiness in life but happiness doesn’t seem to find Willow.


One of the other characters who come up a lot in this book is Chloe. Chloe has issues with Willow and I like the way that she is so much like the teenagers of today who are so stubborn and would not just let the situation go easily it took time for her to come around. I really liked her character she seemed so angry but I think this was just masking her vulnerability.


Rowan has based this story on many issues that seem to be becoming a regular occurrence in life now which makes the book feel a little deeper than her previous works. Although there is the deeper topic here Rowan approaches these issues gently without being judgmental and she manages to wind a little light hearted humour around the topics which manage to lighten the situation a little.


What I loved about this book was the mysterious element around the shoes ( I am saying no more as we do not do spoilers over here!) and the suspense. I really had no idea how this book was going to end or what the deep dark secret would be that seemed to be ruling poor Willow’s life.


There really is a mixture of content in this book although there is a relative amount of romance and humour in this book there is so much more to this truly captivating storyline.

I really feel that this book was worth the wait and I would defiantly recommend you pick this book up and find yourself getting lost in this wonderfully written story. I only hope that Rowan doesn’t keep us waiting too long for her next piece of work!!

You can order your copy here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lessons-Laughing-Loud-Rowan-Coleman/dp/0099551268/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

We Welcome Rowan Coleman To Rea Book Review

Earlier this week I had a poll over on Rea Book Review page on Facebook. With so many great books all being released this month I wanted to see what book everyone was eagerly awaiting to get their hands on. Lessons In Laughing Out Loud by Rowan Coleman came out on top. To celebrate coming top in the poll and with her book release date fast approaching Rowan agreed to an interview with Rea Book Review.

What made you choose a career in Writing?

I didn't exactly 'choose' a career in writing, I yearned, hoped and longed for one. Before I finally became a full time writer I worked around books in one way or another for almost ten years, writing in my spare time and then one day I entered and won Company Magazine's Young Writer of the Year short story competition, and that gave me the chance I'd be working towards to get published.

Where did you get your inspiration for Lessons In Laughing Out Loud From?

Lessons in Laughing Out Loud was really inspired, in a round about sort of way, by my last novel Happy Home for Broken Hearts. That book, more than any other I'd written made me think about my own past, and my own dark secrets. Lessons is my attempt to examine through the heroine, Willow, the way I have dealt with past trauma and actually writing it made me realise I haven't dealt with it at all. As result of writing this book I'm going to try and change that.

Are your characters based on people you know?

As I have just confessed Willow is more like me than any character I've written for some years - but in this books all the supporting characters have come right out of me head and are entirely fictional.

What was your favorite book of yours to write and why?

Every book is different. If I think about the easiest book to write it was still my third novel River Deep. A book that marked a change for me in my style of writing was The Accidental Mother, but I do think that Lessons is my favourite book, because it is so intensely personal.

What was the last book you read?

Not So Perfect by Nick Perring, this is completely brilliant, by the way. And also a fantastic short story by horror writer Mark West. The books I want to read over the summer is Game of Thrones, I adored the TV adaptation and can't wait for season two, so its turned me on to the books.

If you were to be stuck on a desert Island reality tv show what would be the two things you would have to take with you?

If I was stuck on a desert island reality show I'd have to take tweezers and mascara. Never knowingly seen with out full lashes in place and tidy eyebrows!

Thank you to Rowan for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the success with your new release.

Lessons in Laughing Out Loud is due to be released on the 21st July and can be pre-ordered on Amazon on the following link

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lessons-Laughing-Loud-Rowan-Coleman/dp/0099551268/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310641036&sr=8-1

The Happy Home for Broken Hearts by Rowan Coleman

Rowan Coleman is an Author who I had not come across before. I was surprised when I googled the author to find that she has had many books published which I have not seen or heard of before. The front cover is your typical chick-lit style book which is what grabs us chick-lit lovers straight to it on the shelf.

Plot
Ellie has hit rock bottom. After losing her husband in a car crash she finds herself unable to leave the house, and in a serious amount of debt. Ellen needs to find a way to bring in the money to keep a roof over her and her son Charlie's head. Ellen's sister comes up with the idea of renting out the spare rooms of the house. A real mix of people came to rent the house an old lady Allegra who is an author, sexy Sabine who works with Ellen's sister and Matt a writer for a lad's magazine. Each of the new tenants bring with them the problems with their lives. With many secrets and twists and turns in the book will they all be able to help each other with the terrible mess they have made of their lives?

Characters
Ellen- Ellen is our main character in the book and from the first chapter I warmed to her. She is heavily grieving but at the same time she is trying to sort financial things out for her and her son. Through out the book we see Ellen's character grow and we as the reader hopes that she will be able to take steps to making her way back to happiness and more importantly to be able to leave the house giving her her life back.

Charlie- how can you not feel for this little boy. The poor lad has lost his father and now it feels like all to soon he is loosing his mother too. Charlie seems to be very wise and clued up for his age and he really cares about his mum and tries to help her to realise she has a problem. He has hit that point in a childs life where he has more questions but with his father not around he must be finding it very hard.
Hannah- This is the one character which I couldn't take to from the minute she appeared in the book. Hannah is Ellen's sister and I found that each time she cropped up I was wary of her
Matt- This guy is like an onion when you start to peel back the layers you find different parts to him. I have to say I loved his character. It was great to read the changes in his character.


My opinion

I have to say this now I really enjoyed this book. After reading this book I can not wait to get to the shops and hunt out another one of Rowan Coleman's books! This book had you gripped from the first chapter it was so hard to put down. I read the book in two days and when I finished I felt a little lost!!
The storyline stays on an even keel all the way through the book so at no time was there a part of the book which was low enough to make you feel like skipping a few paragraphs.

With a lot of the story being about grieving and broken hearts the story could have been quite depressing and challenging to read but Rowan Coleman cleverly put a light bit of banter here and there which helped to keep the book light hearted and enjoyable.

This book had everything you could want in a book, a touch of humour with a lot of emotion and a spoonful of romance!

I think I also found the book an enjoyable read as for a chick-lit book it was not farfetched which meant that you actually believed a lot of what you was reading was really going on which made you feel closer to the characters and hoping for the best for them.

I love the fact that the ending of this book was perfect. It did not feel rushed and it did not give too much away but gave us enough to answer all of the reader's questions there for not leaving us on a cliff hanger!
I would defiantly recommend this book and I would also say judging from this book Rowan Coleman is an author to look out for. I can only hope that her other books are just as good as The Happy Home for Broken Hearts. If you are looking for a well written chick-lit book this is defiantly one to give a go. Keep a look out in your shops over the next few months as I have heard there is also to be a new release from Rowan Coleman ;-)

More Information
ISBN 978 0 09 952522 6
www.rbooks.co.uk

also check out http://www.rowancoleman.co.uk/books-adult#book1rev iew this will give you a snippet from the book.

Look out for her other Adult books
Growing up Twice
After Ever After
River Deep
Woman Walks Into a Bar
The Accidental Mother
The Baby Group
The Accidental Wife
The Accidental Family.