Delighted to review the latest book from LIsette Brodey.. a story of family and relationships The Sum of our Sorrows.
About the book
In an idyllic suburb in Northern California, tragedy strikes the Sheppard family when Abby, the mother of three daughters and wife to Dalton, is killed in a car accident. Charlotte, the middle daughter, is in the car with her mother and survives without physical injury but remains deeply scarred on the inside.
Dalton tells Lily, his eldest daughter, that she must sacrifice long-awaited college plans and put her life on hold to take care of her sisters. Lily is torn between her devotion to family and an increasing need to find her place in the world — but how can she leave, knowing her family may crumble? Will her presence eventually cause more problems than it resolves?
The Sum of our Sorrows reveals how the aftermath of a family tragedy can precipitate sorrows never imagined. It is a tale of grief, hope, healing, coming-of-age, friendship, and survival. It is also a love story of two broken souls living through pain in search of better days and the renewal of one’s spirit.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I write characters as I hear them speak to me. Some of these stories contain non-gratuitous expletives and sexual references. This book also contains some situations that may be triggering to some readers. If this is not to your liking, please don’t read this book. Thank you.
My Review for the book January 13th 2021
This is a well written family saga, packed with complex but relatable relationships that we may well recognise from our own experiences. Father and daughters, sisters and between lovers. Friendships that fizzle out as circumstances change, or grow through surprising connections.
The author sets the scene early in the story as we learn of a family tragedy that changes the dynamic of the relationship between father and daughter and the three sisters. The spread of ages of the girls, places them all in a different stage in their lives and each is vulnerable in their own way.
As the novel progresses we are introduced to other characters who impose their own agendas on the sisters and their father, sometimes with traumatic effect. Others bring clarity and hope to the family as a whole and individually There are moments of drama and also evil, as the family try to come to terms with a mother’s death and three young women face uncertain futures.
The author does an excellent job of getting to the heart of her characters and portrays them well. The reader is left feeling that they are part of the family and involved in a very personal way as they face demons, secrets that are revealed and the future. I can recommend the book to lovers of family drama with elements of thriller, mystery and romance.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US- And: Amazon UK
A selection of books by Lisette Brodey
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Lisette: Goodreads – Website/blog: Lisette Brodey – Twitter: @LisetteBrodey – Facebook: Lisette.Brodey
About Lisette Brodey
Lisette was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. She spent ten years in New York City, and now resides in Los Angeles.
She’s a multi-genre author of nine novels and one short story collection: Crooked Moon (General/Literary Fiction); Squalor, New Mexico (Coming-of-Age/Literary Fiction); Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! (Women’s Fiction/romantic comedy), The Desert Series: Mystical High; Desert Star; and Drawn Apart (YA paranormal/magical realism), Barrie Hill Reunion (Literary Fiction); Hotel Obscure: A Collection of Short Stories (Literary Fiction), Love, Look Away (Women’s Fiction/romantic comedy), and The Sum of our Sorrows (Contemporary Fiction.)
In addition to her nine novels and one short story collection, two more of Lisette’s short stories are published in an anthology: Triptychs (Book 3, The Mind’s Eye Series.)
Thank you for dropping in today and I hope that you have enjoyed the review of Lisette’s book.. thanks Sally.
Lovely review, Sally, and equally lovely showcase of Lisette’s book. Thank you! My sincere congratulations to Lisette. I’m looking forward to the read. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you SO much for this lovely review, Sally! I so appreciate the time you took to read and review The Sum of our Sorrows, not to mention the very kind spotlight you provided when I launched the book. I truly appreciate everything so much.
Gwen, thank you so much for taking the time to read the review and for your lovely words. Most grateful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure Lisette.. and terrific read.. thank you..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Gwen.. and have a good day ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
I perked up when I read that the setting for Lisette’s book was northern California, as that is where we live. While folks from San Francisco often refer to themselves as from “northern California,” we live nearly 300 miles to the north of them in the heart of the redwood country.
The blurb and review sound intriguing. Good luck to Lissette with this one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Peter! 🙂 I’m in southern CA!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Pete and we visited the Redwoods when we were on the coast one time and they are stunning..xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, if you’re ever in the neighborhood again, you know which tour guide to call.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the amazing review, Sally! This really pushes my again getting closer to the book. Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Michael.. I am sure you will enjoy…hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Michael! 🙂 All best wishes to you! Lisette
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review Sally. I added to my TBR list.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Denise and hope to finish This Second Chance in time for Saturday review spot..hugsxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so kindly! 🙂 I appreciate that so much. 🙂
Lisette
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fantastic review Sal. Once again you’ve added calories to my TBR list! Lisette’s book sounds right up my reading alley! Just from the description, I can already relate to some of Lily’s plight. Congrats to Lisette! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Debby and I am sure you will enjoy…you will love Lily…hugs ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
No doubts ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Debby! I really appreciate the kind words. My goodness, it’s a good thing books don’t have literal calories. We’d all be in trouble. 🙂
All the best to you,
Lisette
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol Lisette, understatement! 🙂 Congrats again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a beautiful title!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much. That means a lot to me. I went through a lot of titles before this one grabbed me. For years, I planned to call it something else, but the book took a different path and so the original title no longer fit. I couldn’t write until I knew what I would call it.
Thanks again, Jessica. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Finding the right title can sometimes be as hard as writing the book, egh?! Well, you hit on a winner, Lisette 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree Jessica…xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review. Looks like an intriguing book. Congratulations, Lisette.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Don! I appreciate you taking a moment to drop me a line. My very best wishes to you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome. Same to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Don..x
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 10th – 16th January 2021 -1960s music, Breakfasts, Anti-Aging, Book Reviews and Funnies. | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine