These pages contain the lives of sixty people. Sixty glimpses into psyches and souls of emotionally driven individuals. People like you and me, filled with anger, jealousy, joy, and wonder. Spend time getting to know them, forging connections. See who you fall in love with, who you disdain, who you want to invite out for coffee and who you’d like to forget by the end of the book. Jump into the water and see who and what you’ll be flooded by.
~ My Review ~
As soon as I finish a poetry book, I take a day to let the words just stew and sometimes, I'll go back and pick up the book again just to reread the passages that resonated with me. This was a collection of different eyes and personas. This could be any one of us, at any point in our lives. Stories that were told in moments that mattered, like our first kisses, our first loves, our last kisses, that stranger we bumped into at the train, our family secret, our regrets, our mountain of dreams and trials. I felt myself blushing at a few of these stories. In some, I could only hope there were happy endings or at least, satisfactory for the person. At the end of the day, isn't that what we hope for, at least? Our own version of happy ever afters. Well done, Morse, for an inspiring collection that just flooded (me) by.
Rating: 5/5About the Author
T. Haven Morse is a multi-genre writer with a focus on writing poetry, stories, articles and essays that speak to the heart of readers. She lives in a magical cottage in the woods and spends as much time as she can, walking among the pines, live oaks, and honeysuckle vines for peace and inspiration in Evergreen, TX. Haven is a part of the Bountiful Balcony Books family and is pleased that you’ve discovered her work.
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An extended edition off of the best-selling poetry book, Uncaged Wallflower. This edition has over 110 new poems and over 40 illustrations. Uncaged Wallflower is for those who feel trapped in the thoughts their minds produce, unable to express them with the rest of the world out of fear of critique or disagreement. For the people who need an extra dose of positivity in their day and inspiration to follow their dreams. This is not a poetry book for you to read and relate to in a sorrow filled way. It is for you to read and say yes, I can be better, and I will.
~ My Review ~
I wanted to begin my 2018 with positive affirmations, and I knew Jennae Cecelia who oozes positivity and light in all her words was something I needed to read. This extended edition didn't disappoint. I was already a fan from her previous works and I continue to be a grateful fan for the way she pieces together her poetry. Some read like bite size affirmations that I need to hear on repeat, others sound like a friend who offers her support and implores you to listen to yourself more, love yourself more and share your dreams to the Universe more. I have a few earmarked that I know I'll keep coming back to for years to come.
Some of my bite sized faves: Comfort Zone One life. Many stories to make. A comfort zone should no longer hold you in place. Dreams are meant to be chased not buried in fear. - get running Rating: 5/5 StarsAbout the Author
Jennae Cecelia is the self-published and best-selling author of the poetry books, Bright Minds Empty Souls, Uncaged Wallflower, I Am More Than a Daydream, and her latest release, an extension off of Uncaged Wallflower.
She has developed a strong passion for writing uplifting poetry that encourages her readers to reach their full potential and learn about fulfilling their dreams. Jennae's soul is happiest when she is meditating, doing yoga, drinking coffee, exploring nature, drawing, or being around people who lift up her spirits. The extended version of This is not a Spectacle explores human curiosity towards strangers and investigates where curiosity becomes fascination with another’s grief or misfortune from afar. The poems range from my experiences of a car accident, my own fascination of others and strangers’ impressions of me. It is an expression of anger from those who least want to be stared at and be put on display. ~My Review~I'm a huge fan of Isabelle Kenyon's poetry. I had read the first book (see review here) and one thing I wanted was for Isabelle to have more poetry! This collection does not disappoint! Kenyon continues to give us a commentary on social issues, such as homelessness, and offers a glimpse of the forgotten, such as the elderly, or perhaps those who silently stood in the sidelines during the #metoo movement, but with a story, nonetheless. I appreciate the poet's take on these issues, as only a poet can take a jarring forgotten life and try as she might, spark a little light into it. Except, it's on the reader to take that spark and do something worthy to these words. Lovely words they may be. Another job, well done! About the AuthorIsabelle Kenyon is a Greater Manchester based poet and a graduate in Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance from the University of York. Her poems have been published in many poetry anthologies, such as the Inkyneedles anthology, the Great British Write Off, the Wirral festival of Music, Speech and Drama, The Tiny Tales anthology and the Festival of Firsts, as well as achieving third place in the Langwith Scott Award for Art and Drama. Her microchapbook, published by Origami Poetry Press will be out soon! Social Media: https://inkyizzy4.wixsite.com/flyonthewallpoetry https://www.facebook.com/flyonthewallpoetry/ "The Lonely Heart Wanders"is a collection of poetry about the path our hearts take during our lifetimes. It can twist and turn with the relationships and experiences we go through. The heart is capable of the most intimate connections. It is strong, yet very fragile. It is tested through battles of love, lust, hate, deceit, self-love, depression, friendship, marriage and even death. ~ My Review ~I enjoyed this collection. While I admire Matt's passion in his words, I felt like this should have been more organized in how the entire collection was laid out. It jumps from being in love, to the bitterness of old wounds, to inspiration and a take on today's political climate and changing societal landscape. The randomness was a little off putting at times. When you read about an inspirational poem and then it's followed up with an erotic poetry, it's a bit jarring. Overall, I did come to appreciate the messages he imparted. ***EDITED TO ADD: I use Goodread's rating system. *** 3/5 liked it About the AuthorMatt Banks is a modern poet, who has been writing since he was a teen. "The Lonely Heart Wanders" is currently his only collection of poetry. Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Science, and currently works at a local elementary school in Memphis, TN. He loves kids and is dedicated to serving young students and special needs children. He is married to his wonderful wife Sylvia. They recently welcomed their first son, Dominic, into the world.
Today is the cover reveal for We have a few good memories, don't we? by Katie Lewington. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.
Blurb:
The eighth book written by prolific blogger, and poet, KATIE LEWINGTON, We have a few good memories, don't we? interprets the ways in which we experience LOSS. Whether that be a lover losing their other half, a piggy bank being robbed of pennies, or a tap running dry. At the core of We have a few good memories, don't we? is the longing, end, and reflection of a long-term relationship. The poems in this chapbook are Hunger, Steps, Saint River, The Blaze, Storm, Hindsight, Red Green Amber, Piggy Bank, Tear, Midnight, Cupid's Bow, Digest, and Epitaph. You can find We have a few good memories, don't we? on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36558578-we-have-a-few-good-memories-don-t-we Excerpt
Tear
sink in which any water not sucked into the plughole trickles gush flowing through pipes tumbling sink left wet weeping for loss tap drips, inconsolable About the Author
Katie Lewington wrote her first poem aged 16. Even though, after analysing a poem for her hellish English GCSE, she vowed she would have nothing more to do with poetry. She has now published a number of books on Amazon.com, as well as having poetry published in places such as Ghost City Review, Seafoam Magazine, Tuck magazine, Spillwords.com, Pink Litter, Horror Sleaze Trash, Haikuniverse, and Ugly Sapling press.
She is also passionate about helping her fellow indie writers and her blog has many weekly features in aid of exposing these writers to the public. Her blog https://katiecreativewriterblog.wordpress.com hosts book tours, shares her opinions on small press/independently published books, and has two weekly features, called The Sunday Spotlight, and Prompt Thursday. She would love to see you around! Curious by nature, when not satisfying her thirst for knowledge through books, Katie Lewington is listening to TalkSport on the radio, travelling, watching her football team Tottenham Hotspur on the television, and engaging with other writers and bibliophiles through social media.
You can find and contact Katie Lewington here:
- Blog: https://katiecreativewriterblog.wordpress.com - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLpoetry/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lewington_katie - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielewington/ - Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14054005.Katie_Lewington -Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Katie+Lewington&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Katie+Lewington&sort=relevancerank Giveaway
There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of We have a few good memories, don't we? Five winners will each win an e-copy of We have a few good memories, don't we? by Katie Lewington.
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below: one day i met a guy who stole my heart, we created a world for ourselves. and another day he broke my heart and shattered my soul. i took the tattered pieces of this broken soul and became anew. - here lies the hurting, the healing, and the learning Get your copy here. ~My Review~Let me preface this review by saying that I love reading and watching romance. My favorite part, however, in all cinematic scores and countless of stories, is where they take all these emotions of the heartbreak, and we get to be witnesses to the fragility of our heroine's heart as these hurt and pain and tears come on. And then, the most incredible thing happens. The music changes. Her face lights up and you see her taking back her life. Your heart beats faster as you see her conquering one thing at a time, no matter how small or trivial. That's my favorite part. Always. When she finds her worth; when she creates her own story. Reading love, & you reminded me of why I love that part. Because it reminds us that we are fragile for giving our heart, our bodies, and soul to another and asking them to please protect it, nurture it and complement it. When the person we deem worthy takes this gift and crushes our spirit, of course, we're broken. How can you not be? I was quite moved by Gretchen's heartbreak. INVESTED, really. I appreciated that she took her tormented heart and wrote. Her anger and bitterness - the pacing, the words - made me feel for her. (sidenote: how do you fall in love with a stranger you've never met? read their poetry) And then that moment came, where she "....took the ashes from the forest and threw them in the ocean i went back to the forest and planted sunflowers of love and happiness and joy and forgiveness and peace of mind and me" Words of healing. What a journey to get to where she is. First there was a beginning, and then there's an end...but always, we remember about love, & you. Rating: 5/5 on my reread pile About the AuthorGretchen Gomez is a writer and blogger from Bronx, New York. First generation Puerto Rican. She’s been writing poetry since the age of 11 and although silenced for many years, she cut the ties with silence. “love, and you” is her first published poetry collection and she is working on other collections at the moment. Gretchen makes art out of all her past experiences. You can find her here: blog: chicnerdreads.wordpress.com twitter: chicnerdreads instagram: chicnerdreads tumblr: chicnerdreads.tumblr.com
Afterlife is a collection of poetry about catharsis, self-love, and self-revolution. Afterlife is a journey from the darkness to the light again, and again, and again.
~ My Review ~
It's not often I get to read someone's thoughts written down in raw free form and wonder where is the hope and light in this? And when I find something light after reading something foreboding, only to read a few more darkness, I think...when will this dark and light cycle end?
For others, it's an endless loop. Some of us, find an opening and others either, live in denial of this or oblivious to its existence. For this particular collection, I am amazed that in this loop, the author found a rope to pull themselves out to freedom. This was quite a read. This was a lot to take on and I'm amazed that Melissa was able to take all this emptiness, all this emotion and purge it out this collection. Bravo.
*** REMINDER that I use Goodreads rating. 4 Stars means I really like it. Because of the heaviness of the subject matter, I don't know if I'll read this collection again - my 5 stars are my reread pile - BUT I'm excited to read more from this author. I think it's brilliant and they need to bump up their release date for their second collection, in my opinion.
About the Author
Melissa Jennings lives with their cat, Dora, in the sometimes sunny but always vibrant city of Glasgow, in Scotland. Melissa is currently studying towards an MA in English Literature at the University of Glasgow. They are an avid reader and a writer of many genres - poetry is just the first step.
To follow them, visit their website at www.melissajennings.co/
Organized in four sections – Inception, Longing, Chaos, and Epiphany – K.Y. Robinson's debut poetry collection explores what it is to want in spite of trauma, shame, injustice, and mental illness. It is one survivor's powerful testimony, and a love letter "to those who lie awake burning."
~ My Review ~
I can't find adequate words to describe how I feel after I finished this book. But of course, I'll try! This collection was very moving. It started a little slow but I appreciated the build up; the wind-up from "inception" to "epiphany." I loved the metaphor in that. Our lives start out somewhat slowly in the beginning, and something, or someone, pushes us into this path of longing, and brings chaos into our world, and before we know it, we are lost in our own creation, our own madness, our own lives that we don't recognize who we are....until we've reached an "a-ha" moment; the epiphany that we own our life.
I had several favorites in this collection. I had several that made me tear up and push aside; triggering and haunting as they were. Several more poems that I couldn't believe simple words strung together would invoke such passion from the author, that as the reader, I'm sure I blushed several times. Beautiful read for those who want to understand why there is this chaos (in) longing. About the Author
K.Y. Robinson is an introverted writer based in Houston, Texas. She received a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in history from Texas Southern University. She has loved words pressed against pages since childhood, and has been chasing them ever since. The Chaos of Longing is her first published poetry collection.
Find her online at kyrobinson.net charcoal thunderstorms is a collection that dances with a more youthful and adventurous escape of poetry. the book has eighty poems divided into five chapters and six short stories and tales. the paperback version allows for the reader to create art within the pages where the poems dwell. there is an art to loving a storm, here is where it begins. Please add to your TBR on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36562528-charcoal-thunderstorms ***Look for this space for buy links *** ~ My Review ~I adored this book with its whimsical imagery of dragons, kingdoms and queens. Broken up into 6 sections, it was hard to pick which section of poetry was my favorite. I loved the childlike imaginings and wonder that flowed in and out of her words. I could almost taste and feel and see those memories of innocence and daydreams. I'll be rereading this collection from time to time to remind myself that there was a time where my laughter sounded carefree and joy seemed like an ordinary emotion, not something to choose. Well done, Cheyenne. ***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.*** About the Authorcheyenne raine is a creative writer, with a passion for spreading light and love. she spends her free time writing and wandering through life. she enjoys spontaneous adventures and reflecting on new and old moments she has experienced. find more of her work and creations on her website: www.rainepoetry.com
Here lies the anatomy of the first Heartbreak.
But, take my advice, you can grow, you can heal, you can learn, no matter what. Just pick yourself up and keep going. ~My Review ~
This was short and definitely not sweet, but very raw read about being consumed with another person so much that they undeniably become a part of us, and then the heartbreak comes where we are forced to evaluate who we are before, and who we are after. It had moments where you sense the poet's epiphany about letting go of and wrapping herself up in the beauty and strength that is her. Lovely. I enjoyed the illustrations that went with this collection.
I had several favorites (my grey sky, Home Calls) but this one I loved the most, simply because I feel this sums her up from what I have observed of her on social media: I planted wildflowers in the cracks of my own armor. - I don't need you anymore I am free About the Author
McKayla DeBonis was born February 23rd, 1998.
She is a bookworm of a soul and realized that her mind was spinning with the same creativity of her beloved writers, leading to her own poetry, prose, and other writings. Her Hogwarts house is Hufflepuff and you'll definitely find her with a cup of coffee in her hand and her nose in a book at all times. You can find her on any social media platform as, mckayladebonis She also reviews books at mckayladebonis.com |
Book Pick:I use Goodread's rating scale1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK 3 stars – liked it 4 stars – really liked it 5 stars – it was so amazing, it's on my reread pile! Categories
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