The Accidental Family - Rowan Coleman

...pleased when I picked up The Accidental Family because I realised it is a sequel to one of her earlier books - The Accidental Mother. I had read this a while ago and really enjoyed it so it was interesting to see what happened to the characters afterwards. Having said that though, The Accidental Family can be read as a stand alone novel although it does have an added value if you read The Accidental Mother first.

In the first book Sophie ...
...a fatal car accident. At the end of the book, the girls' long lost father has reappeared and Sophie has fallen in love with him. They all move to Cornwall and this second book follows what happens as they start to become a family and Sophie and Louie plan their wedding.

It 's the sort of book that is quite funny in places but also very thought provoking as the strength of the couple's relationship is tested in many ways - not least when ... more

I have always enjoyed Rowan Coleman's books so I'm always pleased when I spot a new one of hers. I was especially pleased when I picked up The Accidental Family because I realised it is a sequel to one of her earlier books - The Accidental Mother. I had read this a while ago and really enjoyed it so it was interesting to see what happened to the characters afterwards. Having said that though, The Accidental Family can be read as a stand alone novel although it does have an added value if you read The Accidental Mother first.

In the first book Sophie Mills suddenly finds herself looking after her best friend's two daughters after a fatal car accident. At the end of the book, the girls' long lost father has reappeared and Sophie has fallen in love with him. They all move to Cornwall and this second book follows what happens as they start to become a family and Sophie and Louie plan their wedding.

It 's the sort of book that is quite funny in places but also very thought provoking as the strength of the couple's relationship is tested in many ways - not least when Louie suddenly discovers that he has a previously unknown about grown up son from a former relationship! It's the sort of story that, if you have been in the situation of forming a new family, that it's very easy to identify with.

Much of the story is taken up with Sophie's worry that perhaps things are moving a bit too fast. On the one hand she is really excited about the wedding but then she worries that she and Louie hardly know each others and it's only the circumstances that they have found themsewlves in that has made them so close. She is particularly worried when Louie's discovery about his son causes him to virtually shut her out from his thoughts and he spends far too much time with his old flame. There are many twists and turns in this story and right up to the very end Rowan Coleman keeps you guessing as to whether the family are going to make it together or not. It all goes at a good pace and there's plenty there to keep your interest!

I thought all the characters were great and extremely believeable. I really could identify with Sophie and the two little girls are depicted so well that they reminded me of my own two daughters - right down to wanting to be bridesmaids wearing fairy wings! There are also a whole host of minor characters who really add to the flavour of the story. My favourite was the old Mrs Tregowan - a widow who has been married four time and loves telling Sophie about all the risque events from her past. She also has a lot of wisdom too and is also not beyond the hope that there might yet be another love of her life just waiting around the corner.

Overall this book is a very good read and has all the right ingredients to make you want to read on. It's funny, thoughtful and moving and I have to admit there were one or two parts that had me very close to tears! That's definitely the mark of a good book.

The paperback is currently available from Amazon for £4.15.
 

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