I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet James W.A. shares a collection of poems that tells the story of a boy falling in love with a girl and their relationship with each other and their faith in the book “Finality of the Heart.”
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The Synopsis
In another poetry collection, award-winning author James W. A. weaves the tale of a boy in love with a girl named Ella. Told across four sections, the themes in the individual poems progress from the newfound bliss of a budding relationship to the discernment of what it means for them, through the eyes of faith. From there, our story finds itself with two endings. In one, Ella and the speaker find lasting joy with each other and live their Forever. In another, the speaker is judged to be a Failure and must grapple with the sorrow of that future. No matter the true ending, this collection contains poems about love, loss, purpose, relationship with God and others, and what it means to embrace, for good or for ill, the Finality of the Heart.
The Review
This was such a rich and engaging book of poetry. The author writes in a way that feels both emotional and soulful at once, tapping into the rich tapestry of humanity and exploring one of the world’s most time-honored and compelling life goals: the act of falling in love. The vivid imagery found throughout these poems was astounding, and the author wrote in such a way that readers could easily connect with the story being depicted and empathize with the characters these poems brought to life.
That was what stood out so perfectly, the story. The narrative aspect of these poems made their meanings feel more engaging, and the themes these poems brought to life were equally engaging. The theme not only of love, but also of maintaining that love and balancing it with the personal relationship a person has with their own faith, was strongly felt. Yet, it was the love that had me hooked time and again in poems such as “Daylight Savings Time,” “Just One More,” and “Me Without You.”
The Verdict
Emotional, compelling, and heartfelt, author James W.A.’s “Finality of the Heart” is a must-read narrative poetry collection. The depth of the story being told, the vivid imagery in the author’s writing, and the dynamic themes explored in the poems will have readers returning to this collection time and again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
James W. A. was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area in Florida and now happily lives just outside Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating from the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg’s Honors College, he published his first book, In the Library, in 2015 and his second, the award-winning poetry collection Desolation and Epiphany, in 2023.
Poetry from James W. A. has also been featured in the literary magazines Neptune, Nectar,and The Secret Society of Poetry and he has showcased and facilitated workshops locally through KC Poetic Underground. With his newest collection, Finality of the Heart, James W. A. capitalizes on his long-time love for romantic poetry and penchant for dramatic melancholy to share a meaningful tale of duality he hopes will last through the ages.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet Tim Stobierski share a beautiful queer love story through a collection of powerful poetry in the collection “Dancehall”.
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The Synopsis
A queer love story in five acts, Dancehall follows the arc of a relationship from its earliest days to its final, somber conclusion.
In these 60 poems, you will join the speaker as they navigate the highs and the lows, the tranquility and the turbulence, the euphoria and the despair that comes with giving yourself fully to another.
Through language, imagery, and form at once universal and intimate, you are invited to take part in this love story – not as some distant observer, but as a central figure: The “you” to whom the speaker writes these poems.
Experienced poetry readers and poetry novices alike will enjoy the clean, simple style embodied in the majority of the poems.
Whether straight or queer, young or old, single or happily partnered, these poems are for anyone who has ever loved or longed for another.
The Review
This was a powerful and memorable story. The way the author was able to convey this relationship from start to finish through poetry produced an incredible and emotional read. The subtle yet powerful moments in this relationship really stand out, and the imagery the author used made the narrative these poems were telling feel alive on the page.
The heart of this book was in the main narrative itself, as the reader felt the strong pull of this emotional bond formed between two people. The closeness and the haunting memories of that closeness play a crucial role in the themes of love and loss, and the honest and important language the author uses to bring this queer love story to life was so passionate and engaging.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, emotional, and moving, author Tim Stobierski’s “Dancehall” is a must-read collection of poetry. The structure of this five-act play of sorts and the memorable imagery that captures those heartfelt moments both good and bad made this a compelling read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Tim Stobierski writes about relationships. His work explores universal themes of love, lust, longing, and loss — presented through the lens of his own experiences as a queer man. His poetry has been published in a number of journals, including the Connecticut River Review, Midwest Quarterly, and Grey Sparrow.
His first book of poetry, Chronicles of a Bee Whisperer, was published by River Otter Press in 2012.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet Louis Efron share his debut collection of poetry in the book “The Unempty Spaces Between”.
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The Synopsis
A beautiful creation of song and scar, of emotional complexity and simple witness, Louis Efron’s debut collection The Unempty Spaces Between mingles the natural and human worlds in a series of accessible, personal, universal poems. From lush to bare, the landscapes he presents us with are so intertwined with and impacted by our actions that we realize the two have always been one. Brimming with meditations deep as winter snow and boundless compassion and curiosity, these vibrant poems remain grounded in a universal familiarity that opens us up to something greater.
The Review
This was quite a beautifully written and deeply introspective read. The author’s handle on imagery is felt immediately in this book, allowing the reader to become lost in the worlds and narratives that each poem brings to life as if they are caught in the emotional wave of creativity that spills across the blank canvas of life. The unique structuring of each poem speaks to the deep thoughts and the working world in which the author’s mind inhabits.
The poems themselves are quite engaging, allowing the reader to see pieces of themselves in the work, and even in the poems that don’t directly speak to them, the reader is able to contemplate and look inward at their own lives to the core of each poem’s meaning. The poem “Nicked Wedding Ring” is a particular favorite, exposing the depths of deep emotion in the wake of a loss and the juxtaposition of those who seek out that same death out of greed or power, revealing how death shows us our best and our worst.
The Verdict
Memorable, engaging, and thought-provoking, author Louis Efron’s “The Unempty Spaces Between” is a must-read poetry collection. The fast pace of the collection and the way readers can easily sit and read through this book in one sitting and yet return to it time and time again speak to the author’s powerful words and the heart behind them. If you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Louis Efron is a poet and writer who has been featured in Forbes, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, POETiCA REViEW,The Orchards Poetry Journal, Academy of the Heart and Mind, Literary Yard, New Reader Magazine and over 100 other national and global publications. He is also the author of five books, including The Unempty Spaces Between, How to Find a Job, Career and Life You Love; Purpose Meets Execution; Beyond the Ink; as well as the children’s book What Kind of Bee Can I Be?
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet Jeannie Hall Gailey share a rich collection of poems that showcase our ability to prevail and persevere through illness and natural disaster in the book “Flare, Corona”.
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The Synopsis
Against a constellation of solar weather events and evolving pandemic, Jeannine Hall Gailey’s Flare, Corona paints a self-portrait of the layered ways that we prevail and persevere through illness and natural disaster.
Gailey deftly juxtaposes odd solar and weather events with the medical disasters occurring inside her own brain and body— we follow her through a false-alarm terminal cancer diagnosis, a real diagnosis of MS, and finally the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The solar flare and corona of an eclipse becomes the neural lesions in her own personal “flare,” which she probes with both honesty and humor. While the collection features harbingers of calamity, visitations of wolves, blood moons, apocalypses, and plagues, at the center of it all are the poet’s attempts to navigate a fraught medical system, dealing with a series of challenging medical revelations, some of which are mirages and others that are all too real.
In Flare, Corona, Jeannine Hall Gailey is incandescent and tender-hearted, gracefully insistent on teaching us all of the ways that we can live, all of the ways in which we can refuse to do anything but to brilliantly and stubbornly survive.
The Review
I was absolutely moved and captivated by the heart and passion that the author relays her story of health battles and the pandemic. The use of story-driven, sci-fi, and dystopian genre writing styles to illustrate the author’s personal story was so remarkable and thrilling to see come to life on the page, and the humor and wit that underscores these apocalyptic-style poems made this a thrilling collection.
To me, the heart of this collection resides in the themes and imagery that the author utilizes in her work. The juxtaposition of the decay and darkness that surrounds humanity with the life and love that brings the light back into our lives was so remarkably moving, and the imagery that connects a brain scan to astronomical, and solar movements were both thought-provoking and heartfelt in its delivery.
The Verdict
Memorable, moving, and insightful, author Jeannie Hall Gailey’s “Flare, Corona” is a must-read collection of poems that speak to both the perils of health crisis and the hope that humanity draws from in times of need. The scope of the poems themselves and the creativity that they spark, and the imagery that the author’s poems bring to life made this a truly wonderful read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Jeannine Hall Gailey is a writer with MS who served as the second Poet Laureate of Redmond, Washington. She is the author of five books of poetry: Becoming the Villainess, She Returns to the Floating World, Unexplained Fevers, The Robot Scientist’s Daughter, Field Guide to the End of the World, the winner of the Moon City Press Book Award and the SFPA’s Elgin Award, and upcoming in 2023, Flare, Corona from BOA Editions. She also wrote a non-fiction book called PR for Poets to help poets trying to promote their books. Her poems have been featured on NPR’s The Writer’s Almanac and on Verse Daily; two were included in 2007’s The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror. She was awarded a 2007 and 2011 Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Prize for Poetry and a 2007 Washington State Artist Trust GAP grant. Her poems have appeared in American Poetry Review, Poetry, and Ploughshares.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet James Morehead take readers on a journey from childhood to adulthood, from Soviet Union era-Russia to the Canadian wilderness, Wyoming, and beyond in his book “portraits of red and gray: memoir poems”.
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The Synopsis
Take an unforgettable journey from the Cold War USSR to Savery, Wyoming, from the mountains of Tuscany to the peak of Yosemite’s Half Dome, from the Canadian wilderness to the beaches of Normandy. James Morehead’s (Poet Laureate – Dublin, California) acclaimed collection is built around a series of memoir poems that takes readers into pre-perestroika Soviet Union through the eyes of a teenager, from Moscow to Tbilisi to Leningrad (and many stops in-between). The striking cover, designed by Zoe Norvell, is based on a 1982 lithograph by Igor Prilutsky.
The Review
This was such a moving and beautiful collection of poetry. The author does a remarkable job of using profound imagery that feels both relatable and memorable at the same time, and the varied pacing of each poem speaks to the uniqueness of the memories that make up the subject of each poem, speaking to a specific moment in the author’s life that added to their growth as a person.
To me, the author’s work really worked for the balance in the surface-level themes of life experiences in specific places with the deeper meaning of love itself. Each poem spoke not only to the location of the author’s experience, but the person that they spent that memory with, whether it was the boating trip with his father, watching his Italian grandmother-in-law bake, and so on and so forth. The details that went into each poem spoke to the experience and things around the author that resonated with the person he was with, speaking to the insightful nature of his experiences, even when the person he resonated with was his younger self.
The Verdict
Memorable, thoughtful, and engaging, author James Morehead’s “portraits of red and gray: memoir poems” is a must-read collection of poetry. The emotional and moving connection the reader makes to the author’s experiences blends well with the imagery and vividness of each poem, making this a wonderful read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
James Morehead is Poet Laureate of Dublin, CA. portraits of red and gray is his second collection, and he hosts the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast. James’ poem “tethered” was transformed into an award-winning animated short film, “gallery” was set to music for baritone and piano, and his poems have appeared in numerous publications. He is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman must open her broken heart up to the possibility of love once more in author Debbie Quigley’s “Wounded Hearts Take a Chance”.
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The Synopsis
“It all started one fine summer’s day when a first-glance attraction walked into her yard . . .”
This little book takes you along the poetic, romantic path of a woman opening her broken heart to the possibility of loving again.
To do so, she must tear down the protective walls of aloneness she has built around herself, walls of safety thrown up in the wake of infidelity and betrayal.
Letting a man into her heart again, daring to trust and to feel love and passion once more, opening herself to the risk of suffering more pain, is a big leap . . . but it’s one worth taking, and one she’ll never regret.
The Review
This was a quick yet profound collection of poetry. The author and poet do a spectacular job of crafting a collection that speaks volumes emotionally and lovingly in just a short compact read. The imagery and sparks that each poem brings to life echo the heartfelt emotions that the author hoped to relay to readers and inspire them.
To me, what made this book really just sing was the balance of emotional depth and storytelling that each poem seemed to deliver. The author wrote this book to feel very much like a short film, capturing the fear, thrill, and hope that new love often stirs up inside us all. Yet on the other hand, the powerful message of overcoming heartbreak to accept love into one’s heart again came through as well and allowed the reader to truly connect to the author’s emotional journey which was both relatable and engaging.
The Verdict
Memorable, honest, and heartfelt, author Debbie Quigley’s “Wounded Hearts Take a Chance” is a must-read short collection of poetry. The depth and quality of each poem were equally balanced with the story and emotional journey that the poems collectively formed to keep the reader invested in this quick yet powerful read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Debbie Quigley, born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, is also the author of the poetry collection Wind Whispers. A retired healthcare worker, she lives in a small hamlet surrounded by nature and wildlife. She loves to garden. Debbie’s “whisper-art” poetry is simple and real, telling a story. She has contributed to Spiritual Writers Network publications, and her poetry can also be found on Author’s Den.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Raven Howell invites young readers and parents alike to delight in the magic and wonder that is poetry in the book “The 20 Little Poems For 20 Little Gnomes”.
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The Synopsis
Discover the magic in simple moments when a child peers in the mirror to unintentionally come upon his smile, where kittens nap in boots, fairy hugs feel good, mice delight in reading books, and January snowflakes taste yummy.
Twenty whimsical poems warm the heart and inspire cheer; a collection enticing both the young and seasoned reader to explore the enchantment of the wonderful world of poetry.
The Review
This was a light-hearted and delightful read. The author did an incredible job of finding just the right balance between fun, educational, and emotional writing that will resonate with young readers just learning poetry’s magical wonder. The short length of each poem and the almost airy quality of the poems themselves helped to create that atmosphere that allows a book to be read over and over again.
The warmth of the illustrations really lent itself to the heart of these poems. The author was able to showcase both fun and thoughtful poems on everything from food to a child’s reflection, to more complex things like the emotions of sadness and joy and how we can cope. The heart and compassion for which the author wrote these poems were felt on every page.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, memorable, and engaging, author Raven Howell’s “The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes” is a must-read children’s book that meets the book of poetry. The lighthearted and whimsical nature of the poems and the warmth of the imagery blend together to create a reading experience parents and children alike will delight in sharing together. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Raven Howell writes stories and poetry for children. Having published several award-winning picture books, she enjoys sharing her love of literature by visiting classrooms and libraries. Raven is Creative & Publishing Advisor for Red Clover Reader, served as Poetry Director for Monster Magnificent, and writes The Book Bug column for Story Monsters Ink magazine. Her poems are found in children’s magazines such as Ladybug, Spider, Highlights for Children,Humpty Dumpty, and Hello Magazine. She’s an editor, and collaborating author for Reading is Fundamental SoCal.
When not writing, Raven enjoys sunshine and the beach, spending time with her family, hiking, laughing, reading, goofing around with artwork, and inventing new recipes.
Join us at our WOW! blog today, The Muffin, for the blog tour launch of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. You can read an interview with the author and have a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself.
Visit Glenda’s blog today to read her review of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. You’ll also have a chance to win a book copy too!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet Alan S. Kessler take readers on a journey of beauty and melancholy in his book “Damnation and Cotton Candy”.
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The Synopsis
A book of poetry from Alan S. Kessler, the award-winning author of the 2022 Eric Hoffer Finalist Ghost Dancer, and other books. These are poems best served with hot cocoa, melancholy, and a sharp knife.
The Review
This was such a profound and captivating collection of poetry. The author’s ability to weave macabre imagery and atmosphere into the poetry while offering commentary on life itself was so engaging for a reader to behold. The natural way the author is able to weave dark tones with profound emotions was truly inspiring to behold.
Yet to me, it was the way the imagery blended with the deep-seated themes of this narrative. From politics and warfare to hollow niceties between strangers and corporations as a whole, the message of finding hope is not in the materialism of our current world but in the philosophy and spirituality that exists just on the fringes of our society as a whole.
The Verdict
Mesmerizing, haunting, and emotionally driven, author Alan S. Kessler’s “Damnation and Cotton Candy” is a must-read book of poetry. The imagery and atmosphere do a great job of portraying the capitalist machine of our world with the truly dark and macabre aspects of life, and readers will be hard-pressed to put this creative, artistic, and chilling book down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Alan Kessler grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He says, “Childhood shapes us. Mine was, ironically, a gift. The sadism of my mother and the violence of my father, a murderer who died in prison, created within me a countervailing force, the ability to write empathetically about characters who, as Faulkner said, not merely endure but prevail.”
“Resilience isn’t an achievement, it exists as a matter of luck. I was lucky. I have a wonderful wife and four caring, intelligent children–even a dog,” according to Kessler. “I am blessed.”
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and Poet Tom Pearson take readers on a coming-of-age journey using classic mythological tales and poetry to paint a picture of love and loss in the book “Still, the Sky”.
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The Synopsis
Still, the Sky is a speculative mythology rendered through poetry and art that combines the tales of Icarus and the Minotaur and creates for them a shared coming-of-age through a correspondence of written fragments, artifacts, ecofacts, and ephemera. This metaphoric framework conjures a labyrinth of fragmented memories, confessions, and tributes, all mixing in fever dreams and reflections on innocence and experience, flight and failure, love and loss.
The Review
I absolutely loved this collection of poetry. The immersive style of writing the author displayed brought the iconic and classic Greek myths and legends that people have come to know and love to live in a visceral way. The blend of poetry with mythology, as well as installation artwork and artifacts, made the collection feel vibrant and captivating. The themes the author explores through these myths were quite profound, from the pursuit of glory and the realization of failure to the profound sense of love and loss.
To me, the author’s ability to not only take these iconic myths and transport the reader into them through poetry but to give a more in-depth analysis and approach to these iconic figures was so mesmerizing and heartfelt. The depth of character development and heart that these poems brought to life was so invigorating, and the imagery used in the author’s writing and the art itself really captured the magic and power that ancient mythology tends to hold.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, emotional, and thoughtful, author Tom Pearson’s “Still, The Sky” was a marvelous and moving work of art that fans of poetry and mythology will not be able to put down. The natural fusion of imagery and poetry in this book brought the heart and passion that these classic mythological characters needed. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Tom Pearson is an artist and poet who works in dance, theater, film, visual art, and multi-media. He is known for his original works for theater, including the long-running, off-Broadway immersive hits THEN SHE FELL and THE GRAND PARADISE and as a founder and co-artistic director of the New York City-based Third Rail Projects and Global Performance Studio.
He is the author of two books, THE SANDPIPER’S SPELL and STILL, THE SKY. More information available at his website and on social media at: tompearsonnyc.com and @tompearsonnyc.
