Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – All That Was Taken by Lisette Brodey #psychothriller

Published on by dgkaye

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Lisette Brodey’s psycho-thriller/romance – All That Was Taken.

Emotionally damaged John Hennessey leaves his rented home on Catalina Island with his dog Kono, and moves to Teal Beach Bay to escape his past. While waiting for his new home renovations to be done, he stays at the Sundial Inn where he befriends the owner, Sunny Harrison, and there’s where this story begins.

A slow burn in the beginning as we get to know the two protagonists and a peek into their pasts, which of course, made them the people they are now.

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Blurb:

All That Was Taken is a contemporary fiction novel that delves deeply into love, loss, and healing but comes with a suspenseful twist.


For eight years, John Hennessey has lived in near-solitude on Catalina Island. He keeps his world small, for every precious thing in his life has been taken from him. But when his peaceful existence is threatened, he buys a cottage farther up the California coast in the sleepy town of Teal Beach.


There he meets Sunny Harrison, owner of the Teal Beach Sundial Inn where he stays until his cottage is ready for move in. The connection between them is magical, though both are surviving painful pasts and are afraid to trust … especially as an undercurrent of darkness dwells in their midst.


In no time at all, their quiet lives explode. Sunny receives ominous phone calls while John grapples with his own unsettling communications. Their bond strengthens as dangerous enemies threaten.


New guests at the hotel appear to have ulterior motives, and with each passing day, more and more feels eerily out of place. As tensions escalate and the enemy comes into focus, John and Sunny know they face grave danger from people with no conscience. Yet, they have no idea what diabolical plans lie in wait for them.


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 several situations that may be triggering to some readers. If this is not to your liking, please don’t read this book. Thank you.

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My 5 Star Review:

Emotionally damaged John Hennessey and his dog Kono move to Teal Beach from Catalina Island to run away from his past. There he meets Sunny Harrison, owner of the Sundial Inn where he stays while his new beach cottage is being renovated. Sunny is a widow who has never been with anyone else since her husband Grey was murdered. A friendship develops between John and Sunny, and although they are both aware of the sparks flying between them, tread carefully into a relationship as grief and fears keep this relationship a slow development.

With many minor characters in this story to add suspense to the story, it wouldn’t be a story if there wasn’t trouble in paradise as some ‘shady’ guests check in to the hotel.

The author brings in quite a few shady, but minor unsavory characters who show up from the character’s past to heat up the action. And secrets will all come to the forefront, tying in both the lives of Sunny and John. A great mixup of romance and evil plots which adds great mystery to this, no longer, sleepy beachtown read.

©DGKaye2023

61 thoughts on “Sunday Book Review – All That Was Taken by Lisette Brodey #psychothriller”

  5. Thanks, Debby. I like the setting of the story, and it sounds like an engaging read. Congratulations to the author and thanks for sharing this review.

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  14. Debby, you give this book five stars, so it is obviously well written. I do like the setting, and both John and Sunny are surviving painful pasts and are afraid to trust. The plot sounds intriguing, but the disclaimer gives me pause. Thanks for another stellar review!

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  15. What an intriguing story. It sounds enticing but I’m not into psychothrillers and the author’s warning has put me off. I’ll hold on for your next review. 🙂

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    2. Thank you, Norah. I’m glad you are not buying the book if it’s not for you. I definitely put those warnings there for a reason; no book is for everyone and I like to be completely honest. 🙂 All best wishes to you.

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      1. Thanks, Lisette. I appreciated your warning. It helps you link with your target audience. I wish you many appreciative readers.

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  16. Spot on for your enticing review of Lisette Brodey’s psycho thriller: All That Was Taken, Debs, and hearty congratulations to the author – wishing her mega sales. Cheers. x

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  17. Hi, Debby:

    Thank you SO kindly for reading and reviewing ALL THAT WAS TAKEN.

    I appreciate your hard work and kindness so very much.

    Yes indeed, this book has a few evil characters that even surprised me as I was writing. I’ll just say this: things happen that I truly never saw coming, but as a writer, I love when that happens.

    You’re the best!

    Lisette

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    1. Thanks Lisette. My pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed it. That’s the beauty of writing, sometimes the story leads us instead of us leading it. 🙂

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  18. Debby, a lovely review and sounds like an engaging (and slightly intense) combination of romance and thriller! Congratulations to Lisette on a wonderful share of her book!

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  19. I love that this novel delves deeply into love, loss, and healing. I also like very much, Debby, what you said about the relationship between John and Sunny. Lisette’s note about having characters speak to her is very intriguing. Hmm… A book to put on my ever growing list.

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