#bookreview All The Colours In Between @EvaJordanWriter @urbanepub #blogtour

‘Life is never straightforward when you see all the colours in between….’

Today I am really delighted to be joining Eva Jordan on tour with her very poignant book All The Colours In Between. For many, this is the long awaited sequel to Eva’s bestselling novel 183 Times a Year, but for me It was my first book by the author.

Just released by Urbane Publications, All The Colours In Between is described as ‘gritty but tender, thought provoking but light-hearted, dark but brilliantly funny, this is a story of contemporary family life in all its 21st century glory’ 

I have my review for you all today so please do continue reading….

Book Info:

Lizzie is fast approaching 50.

Her once angst ridden teenage daughters, now grown and in their twenties, have flown the nest, Cassie to London and Maisy to Australia. And, although Connor, Lizzie’s sulky, surly teenage son, is now on his own tormented passage to adulthood, his quest to get there, for the most part, is a far quieter journey than that of his sisters.

The hard years, Lizzie believes, are behind her. Embracing her new career as a writer; divorce, money worries and the constant battle to weather the stormy complexities of the blended family, are all but a distant memory. It’s time for Lizzie to focus on herself for a change.

Only, things are never quite as black and white as they seem…

A visit to her daughter in London leaves Lizzie troubled. Cassie is still the same incessant chattering Queen of malaprops and spoonerisms she ever was, however something is clouding her normally cheery disposition. Not to mention her extreme weight loss.

And that is just the start.

Add to that an unexpected visitor, a disturbing phone call, a son acting suspiciously, a run in with her ex husband and a new man in her life who quite simply takes her breath away; Lizzie quickly realises life is something that happens while plans are being made.

Review:

All the Colours In Between is the follow up book in a series by Eva Jordan, featuring what I can only describe as real people with very real lives. Book one, entitled 183 Times a Year, introduced the reader to Lizzie and her family. It is described as a ‘poignant, heartfelt look at that complex and diverse relationship between a Mother and daughter set amongst the thorny realities of today’s divided and extended families’. 

Eva Jordan’s latest novel continues with Lizzie at a stage in her life when she is supposed to be getting back on track again. Her writing career is taking off, with her book having a very successful run. Her daughter Cassie is following her own path in the music industry in London. Her son Connor is a typical teen with attitude and her step-daughter Maisy is living in Australia with her partner, both involved in the tattoo business. Lizzie is happy.

‘..and so they left home…Grew up, sort of, spread their wings and flew the proverbial nest. The hard years were over. I weathered the storms, took the rough with the smooth and at the end of the day, family is family. I’ve embraced my colourful life……why then, is everything fading to grey…’

But life has a way of throwing out curve balls, as Lizzie soon discovers

All the individual characters in this novel are just fabulously portrayed, with Lizzie being my favourite. Lizzie is approaching the big Five-O, with the menopause looming. Her children are flying the nest and her loving and wonderful parents are aging before her eyes.

‘I don’t want to be an adult. I want to be a child again. Where life is black and white. I hate all the colours in between….it’s only as I’ve started to grow up…I realise how complicated life is’

Who hasn’t woken up and felt like this at times when life gets us down?

Children may leave the nest but the concern for them, as a parent, is never ending. Such is the case for Lizzie, as Cassie is obviously hiding something. There is that fine line as a parent where you want your child to be independent and make their own decisions, yet you worry all the time. Lizzie knows something is up with Cassie and when she does eventually discover the truth, a mother bear springs to mind.

Cassie’s troubles are very topical in the current climate, as are all the issues dealt with in this novel.

I’m not going to lie. I had tears rolling down my face when reading from certain sections. The emotional impact of this book was huge for me. Anyone who has experienced grief and bereavement will understand this.

All The Colours In Between is truly an emotional rollercoaster.

Eva Jordan has captured the stark reality of life and laid it out bare for us all to read. Told with humour and honesty, there were times I felt like I was reading a private diary.

If I hadn’t been asked to join this tour, I have to admit I probably may never have picked up this book, thinking it wouldn’t be for me. How wrong I was! This was the perfect read for me. It spoke to me and to Eva Jordan I say Thank You!

I’m going to leave my review now with a quote from the book from Jalaluddin Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet, that Eva Jordan included in the novel.

‘Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation’

Purchase Link ~ All The Colours In Between

About the Author:

Eva Jordan is a published short story writer with a degree in English and History.

She lives in a small town in Cambridgeshire with her partner Steve and three of their four children whom, she says, are a constant source of inspiration.

Her career has been varied but storytelling through the art of writing is her passion.

All The Colours In Between is her second novel.

Website ~ https://evajordanwriter.com/ 

Twitter ~ @EvaJordanWriter