From Amazon:
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.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Sum of All Sorrows
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2025
This book is profound, and the writing is superlative. We start with love and loss and how it affects loved ones still living. Let me say right now, everyone has their own vision of Loss and how they coped, healthy or not. The one constant in this story is family and family isn’t always blood. Family includes those you want in your life. The book is epic in length, but still an easy read. I do love how hope and love of family brings everyone together in a full circle. Alcohol is not the answer to huge loss, and making your daughter into a surrogate mother isn’t real. I have one trigger warning for those who could be affected and that is one scene of attempted rape, and one of rape. The monster who did this, the rape itself, are not a full read into the scene, but the character who was raped was verbal at the time, and in severe nightmares. The actual act is not in this book. So you may not be triggered. Overall, the psychology of each character is amazing to think about. I do love a good love story and this novel has several to say the least.
When Angels Fly 