Emma's Review: The Year That Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

Three women celebrate their birthdays . . . 30. 40. 50. But their milestone birthdays mark the start of a year that will change everything . . .

Ginger isn't spending her 30th the way she would have planned. Tonight might be the first night of the rest of her life - or a total disaster.

Sam is finally pregnant after years of trying. When her waters break on the morning of her 40th birthday, she panics: forget labour, how is she going to be a mother?

Callie is celebrating her 50th at a big party in her Dublin home. Then a knock at the door mid-party turns her perfect life upside down . . .

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An Evening with Cathy Kelly and Fanny Blake

Before I started blogging almost 4 years ago it was very rare that I actually got to meet authors in person as not many authors I read have visited bookshops in my area for book signings, in fact the only authors I'd previously met were Terry Waite and Jodi Picoult when they came to book events in a local bookshop that has since closed.

But over the last couple of years I have been extremely fortunate to have been invited to quite a few events, although most of them are in London, which although I'm on a main commuter route is not easy to get to on a work day as normally have to try and get a couple of hours off work.  Also as any of my friends will tell you my sense of direction is DREADFUL but in the last year I have now visited many different locations across London and with my underground route planner and Google Maps I've only gotten lost a couple of times!

But a few weeks ago I received an invite to an event that I knew I definitely wanted to go to and as luck would have it, it was obviously meant to be for me to attend as it was being held on my day off and there was a special offer on train tickets.  So yesterday afternoon saw me heading off to the big smoke again to the offices of Orion Publishing for an event to meet bestselling Irish author Cathy Kelly whose books I've been reading since her debut back in the 1990's (which ages us both!).

The evening began with a chance for us all to mingle and enjoy a drink and some nibbles and then the formal part of the evening began with another Orion author Fanny Blake chatting to Cathy about her latest book Between Sisters which is published today followed by a Q&A session with us all.

Author Interview: Cathy Kelly

I'm a huge fan of Cathy Kelly's writing having read all of her books over the years since I first picked up a copy of her debut novel Woman to Woman when I was on holiday in Ireland in the late nineties (which sadly ages us both!).  So it's my pleasure to invite Cathy to the blog to talk to her about her latest book Between Sisters which is published this Thursday. 

Between Sisters is a little bit mysterious – it starts with a nearly forty-something mother-of-two going to work and staring at older women, the way she always does, because she wonders which of them might be her mother. Her mother – and her little sister, Coco’s mum – left when they were small children and has never returned. This secret – why did she leave? – is at the heart of the book. The girls were brought up by their grandmother, Pearl, who lives in pretty Delaney Gardens and is a huge presence in the women’s lives. But she knows her granddaughters are not entirely happy. Coco is commitment-phobic, a throw back to her childhood because she can’t trust people – because people leave. Cassie is afraid of never coming first and she sees that she never does with her husband. 

Then a tragedy occurs and things change, new people come into their lives and they have a chance to solve the mystery….. where did their mother go? And would she like to see them now? 

What inspired you to write about two adult sisters wanting to re-connect with their absent mother who walked out on them when they were young?
I was half-way through It Started With Paris and I had two sisters who are not exactly estranged but like – and a selfish man – had come between them. They’d once been close but this closeness had gone.  Leila’s allegedly-fabulous husband had kept her from her family and then he’d run off, but when she was with him, she didn’t see much of her mother or her single-mum sister, Susi.

I began to think about writing a book with the opposite dynamic: sisters who are incredibly close.  Cassie and Coco are closer than many sisters because their mother left them when they were small. Cassie was seven and Coco was one when this happened. Coco relies hugely on her older sister, even though they’re loved and adored by their granny, Pearl. But that closeness remains – I think that the loss of their mother when they were young, makes them cling to each other. And it also makes them think that important people in your life can leave, which is vital to the story in that Coco has a broken engagement and Cassie is worried about her marriage

Between Sisters features some great characters, who did you have most fun creating, Cassie, Coco or Pearl? 
Coco was a joy to write because she was so sparky, had so much fun with her best friend, Jo and Jo’s adorable nine-year-old daughter, Fiona – and also because she ran a vintage shop. I love vintage clothes and know a bit about it but don’t really wear vintage because I look like I am in a play. Cassie was harder because she is this lovely woman who has what looks like the perfect marriage but it’s not and that dynamic is always harder to write. Pearl was a joy to write as she’s this wonderfully enlightened lady in her late seventies, who has a youthful soul, a dear male friend, and huge love in her heart. Also, she has a pug, Daisy. Who can’t like writing about pugs?

Books Read: Cathy Kelly - It Started with Paris

It all started with Paris. At the top of the Eiffel Tower, a young man proposes to his girlfriend, cheered on by delighted tourists. In that second, everything changes, not just for the happy couple, but for the family and friends awaiting their return in Bridgeport, Ireland... 

Leila's been nursing a badly broken heart since her love-rat husband just upped and left her one morning, but she's determined to put on a brave face for the bride. 

Vonnie, a widow and exceptional cake-maker, is just daring to let love back into her life, although someone seems determined to stop it. 

And Grace, a divorced head teacher, finds the impending wedding of her son means that she's spending more time with her ex-husband. After all those years apart, is it possible she's made a mistake?

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Guest Post & Giveaway: It Started With Paris by Cathy Kelly

I was over the moon to be asked to be part of the blog tour for Cathy Kelly's latest book It Started With Paris as I've been a fan of her writing for years and have read all of her previous novels so was already looking forward to reading it.

I'm a bit behind with my reading schedule, due to personal reasons, so the planned review to run alongside this guest piece is not going to ready today as I only just started reading it yesterday, sorry Cathy, but should hopefully be uploaded later this week.

It all started with Paris. At the top of the Eiffel Tower, a young man proposes to his girlfriend, cheered on by delighted tourists. In that second, everything changes, not just for the happy couple, but for the family and friends awaiting their return in Bridgeport, Ireland...

Leila's been nursing a badly broken heart since her love-rat husband just upped and left her one morning, but she's determined to put on a brave face for the bride.

Vonnie, a widow and exceptional cake-maker, is just daring to let love back into her life, although someone seems determined to stop it.

And Grace, a divorced head teacher, finds the impending wedding of her son means that she's spending more time with her ex-husband. After all those years apart, is it possible she's made a mistake?

Cathy has very kindly written a short piece giving us an introduction to a few central characters that you'll meet in the book. 

It Started With Paris introduces us to lovely Grace, a divorced head teacher who has the perfect divorce in that she and her ex are kind to each other, never used their children as ammunition and are still friends fifteen years later. But when Grace’s grown up son gets engaged, and wedding plans means she spends more time with her ex, she begins to wonder if they made a mistake getting divorced all those years ago. Except he has a partner now, so she must be mad to be thinking this way, right..?

Books Read: Cathy Kelly - Christmas Magic

Source - Bought (Amazon)

Synopsis

Cathy Kelly, the number 1 best-selling Irish author, has created her first collection of heart-warming short stories. Christmas Magic is full of charming tales of life, love and the everyday dilemmas that we all face, all told in Cathy’s warm voice.

From Dolores and Genevieve, two spinster sisters who must finally break free from their mother’s powerful personality, to Alice, who is facing having to open her home and her heart to the one visitor that she doesn’t want this Christmas, from a captivating family story triggered by a letter to Lily’s disastrous arrival at her best friend’s wedding, these are stories to make you laugh, cry and nod in recognition.

Relax and unwind in front of a roaring fire and indulge yourself in these, and many other humorous and uplifting tales. Remember that Christmas comes but once a year, so let the magic reel you in…