I will now be sharing the reviews from the first few months of 2021. The focus tends to be on new releases but good books deserve to be in the spotlight too on a regular basis.
I was delighted to review the latest book from LIsette Brodey..in January 2021 – 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.
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Fab review Sal. Congrats to Lisette. I look forward to reading this book. 🙂 xxx
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Thanks Debby ♥
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Thank you so much for sharing your review of my novel again. I so appreciate it very much. You are truly wonderful and you work so hard to make Smorgasbord Blog Magazine one of the most exceptional sites out there. Kudos to you and again, big thanks!
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My pleasure Lisette.. good books deserve a spotlight on a regular basis… enjoy the rest of the week..hugs
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Excellent review, Sall. Thank you.
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Thank you John…hugsx
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Many thanks, John!
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This book sounds really worth reading. Thanks for the review, Sally.
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Thanks Elizabeth..hugsx
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Thank you so kindly. This book meant a lot to me; I hope it will for others.
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Puling review, Sally! Thank you! Sounds a very varied family saga. Will remark for read. Michael xx
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Thanks Michael.. an interesting fusion read…hugsx
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Thats my intention too, Sally! Thank you for the information. xx Michael
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Thank you so VERY much! Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks for sharing Michael…hugsx
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:-)) xx
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Lovely review! Thanks for sharing, Sally, and congrats to Lisette. Hugs 💕🙂
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Thanks Harmony…hugsxx♥
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Thank you so much!
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I can imagine how such a sudden and tragic death changes a family and kicks off a difficult journey of upheaval toward healing. A wonderful review, Sally. Congrats to Lisette!
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Very challenging Diana and many families fracture because of it…♥
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After my brother was shot and killed, we made all kinds of quick decisions, some regrettable. I could relate to the premise of this story. It’s hard.
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That is tragic Diana, such long reaching effects..♥
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Beautiful review. Thanks, Sally! xx
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Thanks Alex…lovely book..hugs
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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Thank you for your very thoughtful comment. It is much appreciated. 🙂
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