October 2025 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I can't believe how busy this month has been. I finally found a way to reintroduce exercise into my life, which means I'm also reading again while I'm on the elliptical. Happy me! Here are the books I was able to finish this month:

Lover Forbidden

by JR Ward

This book was everything I'd hoped it would be. I have been reading this series for about sixteen years, and I have loved every book, but this one just felt filled with so much love in it. The OGs were all back, but seeing them as parents just really made my heart swell with even more adoration for them. And then, the new generation was on fire!

I loved how this book weaved several storylines together. Lyric and Dev's story's slow buildup was just perfect for me. And the epic reveal of who Dev is was fantastic! I knew something was up, but the surprise even got me! I am not into spoilers, so I'm not going to spill it here, but holy Lassiter! That was awesome!

My heart broke for Blay/Quinn's family as the inevitable happened, but it was so beautifully written. LW's development was awesome, though I'm stuck between being angry with him and feeling sorry for him right now. Lol! And Bitty... love her and her strength! 

I was hooked from page one, and I enjoyed every minute of this story. I cannot wait to read the next one! :-)

A Bloom in Winter 
(The Black Dagger Brotherhood World)

by JR Ward

First of all, this book cover is gorgeous! When I read the Lair of the Wolven series, I was left needing to know what happened to Callum and Apex. JR Ward wrote other books, and I thought maybe we would never find out. Luckily, I was wrong, and I am so happy I was. This book was amazing! I read it after reading Lover Forbidden because I just couldn't wait to read LF. Had I read this book first, I would have been introduced to the Whestmorel issue earlier. Still, it didn't really affect my enjoyment of either book.

I loved that Mayhem was back in this book and played such a great role. I found the interactions with Blade quite interesting and am curious if we will see more of him and the wolven in future books. I loved how their paths crossed with the BDB and Mayhem's new role in the society. That alone should mean we see more of him, right?

Sadly, I have read every book in this series, including the side books. I really need JRW to get a new story published and soon!

Have you read any great books this month? Feel free to share them below. :-)

My Calming Blue - #W3 #triolet #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! For this week's Wea've Written Weekly (W3), Sarah Wiley invites us to write a Triolet. This form consists of eight lines with an ABaAabAB pattern. Lines 1, 4, and 7 are the same as are lines 2 and 8. The challenge was to write about an ordinary object. An extra challenge was to write with ten syllables per line, which I did.

I chose to write about my water bottle. As many of you have learned through my posts, I have an anxiety disorder. One of the many ways I've learned to manage it is with magnesium L-threonate. It's a powder I put in my water every day, and it helps me stay calm. Since I drink it slowly throughout the day, my bottle has gone with me on every trip I've taken. Lol! So, here is my poem.

My Calming Blue

my blue water bottle goes where I go

it's my security blanket of calm

its contents allow me to ebb and flow

my blue water bottle goes where I go

powerful against any bout of woe

every sip removes any trace of qualm

my blue water bottle goes where I go

it's my security blanket of calm

Would you like to write a Triolet? Join us here.

Absorb/Repel - #TankaTuesday #haiku #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful poets! I hosted at #TankaTuesday this week, so despite my busy weekend, I'm participating in the prompt. This week, we are writing syllabic poetry using the words absorb or repel. I decided to write a haiku using the word absorb.

(image courtesy of @FeeLoona on Pixabay)

feet dug deep in sand

release what no longer serves

absorb healing vibes

And then I chose to write a tanka for repel.

(image courtesy of @jplenio on Pixabay)

darkness descends fast

time change hinders nature's way

repel winter woes

time to rest, rejuvenate

there's beauty in all seasons

Would you like to write a poem with either of these words? Join us here.

Graceful Aging - #TankaTuesday #sijo #aging #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I've been MIA all week again. I've had a horrible head cold, and it's been hard to think clearly with a stuffy head. I'm still dealing with the cold, but it's on its way out. I've missed some great poetry prompts this week, but I'm doing what I can.

Today, I've attempted to write my first sijo for the #TankaTuesday poetry challenge for this week. Willow invites us to write a sijo about the October Hunter's Moon or the aging of the year. A sijo is usually about nature and contemplation. There are three lines, though it is sometimes written into six lines, which is what I've attempted to do. The first line sets the theme or problem. The second elaborates or develops it. The third line brings the idea to a close or provides a twist. 

Last weekend, before I got sick, my sister, niece, and I went to visit our parents for my mom's birthday. We had a wonderful time. My mom has several autoimmune issues as well as leukemia, but she's a fighter. Every birthday with her is a blessing, and so she was my inspiration for this poem.

Graceful Aging

birthday celebration reminds us

of mom's aging body

brilliant sunsets mask the darkening

finality of night

we shall treasure autumn's fall

into winter together

Would you like to write a sijo poem? Join us here.

Divorce or Reconciliation? - #TankaTuesday #W3 #XplorationChallenge #haibun #prosimentrum #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! It's been a while since I've been able to write poetry. I've missed you all. I've been prioritizing my health and trying to create a new routine for working out and going to sleep earlier than I have been, and it's cut into my poetry time. Eventually, I'll find a happy balance. This will be the only day I can write this week since I'm going to visit my parents and my son. So, I've decided to combine three poetry challenges.

The first is from #TankaTuesday, where Colleen invites us to use uncommon Autumn words from this site. I chose to use the word rudeneja, which means the way the world gently falls into autumn. It's meant to be an adjective, but I used it as a noun.

The second challenge is from Wea've Written Weekly (W3) where Reena invites us to write a poem that has both prose and poetry. She gave us two images to choose from, and the one I've chosen is what inspired my poem. Although I've written a haibun, it also counts as a Prosimentrum since the prose is more dominant (I think).

And the third challenge is Reena's Xploration Challenge #402 where she invites us to write about passages, doorways, thresholds, and transitions. With all that is happening right now, my muse went directly to the poem below.

Divorce or Reconciliation?

The constitution was supposed to be the threshold, the minimum expected of every citizen, especially politicians who swear an oath to uphold all of it. They were expected to perform their duties lawfully and honorably as laid out in our treasured contract. So, why are so many choosing to turn a blind eye to their responsibilities? Are they so short-sighted that they prefer to relish their few moments of power instead of recognizing the dismantling and destruction of the very values that held our democracy together? Our democracy was never meant to be one-sided. It was a promise among many to hold our laws and our decency above all personal gains. It was built on collaboration and compromise. It was solidified and infused with the human spirit, compassion for the least fortunate, and justice for all through our amendments. It was not meant for one party or one person to pervert its words and use it as a weapon against other citizens. It was not meant for one party to create mayhem and use malice against the other party. It was not written to divide and conquer but to unite and uplift. Will it honestly take a nasty divorce for us to realize we lost our most precious treasure forever?

intended chaos

wishing for rudeneja

democratic peace

Are you interested in writing a poem for any of these challenges? Click the links below:

#TankaTuesday

Wea've Written Weekly (W3)

Reena's Xploration Challenge #402

September 2025 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity @JoyceYarrow @YvetteMCalleiro

Hi, beautiful readers! I finally finished the book I had started reading in August. I also had the opportunity to attend a book conference for one of my favorite authors. I do not fangirl, but meeting this author and realizing how down to earth and how kind she was really got me fan-girling. Here is my review for this month. I am almost done with my current read, but I didn't finish it in time. Guess it will wait until next month!

Zahara and the Lost Books of Light

by Joyce Yarrow

Genre: Cultural Heritage Fiction

Pages: 297

Book Blurb:

Best Book in Historical Fiction, PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence, Spring 2024
 
In this fast-paced, suspenseful novel, journalist Alienor Crespo discovers a trove of irreplaceable books rescued from the flames of the Spanish Inquisition. Using her gift of second sight, Alienor exploits her knowledge of the past to confront extremists, who are bent on destroying all evidence of harmony between Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Medieval Spain. The future of the underground library of Zahara is at stake as well as the lives of its protectors. Hailed as a dazzling journey through time, Zahara and the Lost Books of Light will hold you spellbound until the end.

My Review:

It took me a bit to get into the story, but that could have been from things going on in my own life. It also could have been because Alienor hated her gift at the beginning, and I felt bad for her. I personally loved her vijitas - transitions in which she traveled through time and experienced the life of a woman in her lineage from past generations. Each journey not only gave more depth to the plight of the Librarians but also shed light on the historical suffering of the people who fought so bravely to keep the history alive.

I tend to not enjoy historical fiction, so I loved that this brought in the mystical aspect of it all. The characters were well-developed, and the twists in the story were great. All in all, I thought it was a wonderful story and would definitely recommend it.

Have you read any great books this month? I'd love to hear from you. :-)

Gone Too Soon - #silence #death #W3 #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Today, I am deep in my feelings. And Wea've Written Weekly's prompt has pulled me toward a dark place of poetry. My nephew's death weighs heavy on my heart today. So, this is just a warning that this poem may be a trigger for anyone whose lost a family member to gun violence. Jaideep invited us to write a poem using the following parameters.

Gone Too Soon

breath

such a valuable

treasure

reassurance

that life continues

that hope still lives

but one tragic moment

one

shot

rips it all

away

death

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to join us here.

Most Precious Gift - #TankaTuesday #tankaprose #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! This week, I hosted the poetry challenge at #TankaTuesday. My prompt was to write a poem about how impactful one day can be. I've had several "one day" moments that have shaped my life and changed my trajectory throughout the years, and while not all of them were good moments, they all led to where I am now, and for that, I am grateful. I decided to write a tanka prose for this week's poem.

Most Precious Gift

I was told I had a one percent chance of getting pregnant. Refusing to accept those odds, I turned to science for help. Round two of artificial insemination brought me my miracle baby. And while other parts of my life were breaking, holding my precious son in my arms gave me the strength to see my path forward. He became my anchor and my purpose. I was blessed the day he chose me to become his mom, and I cherish him every day.

a new moon gives birth

to slew of unlimited

possibilities

Would you like to write a poem with us this week? Join us here.

One Last Journey - #WDYS #dVerse #Quadrille #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! This past Saturday, my family said our final goodbyes to my nephew who tragically lost his life last month. It was a beautiful ceremony that brought some much needed closure. My parents came down for the ceremony, and I enjoyed spending time with them. They now live two and a half hours away, so I don't get to see them as often.

Today, I've combined two prompts. The first is the image below from Sadje's What Do You See? prompt. The second is from dVerse - Poet's Pub's prompt: Peonies? Lily-of-the-Valley? Pick your Posey! Quadrille prompt. The Quadrille had to include the word petals in it. So, I focused my Quadrille, a poem with exactly 44 words, on the image below.

(image credit; Salva Jamm @ Unsplash)

One Last Journey

He was far from her garden

Of rose petals,

But this was their dream.

Her dream...

Before cancer stole her away.

He held her scrapbook of

Places to explore

As he looked

Across the tranquil lake.

Each checked-off place

brought him closer to her.

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Click the links below:

What Do You See? prompt

dVerse - Poet's Pub's prompt

Book Adventures - #TankaTuesday #FFFC #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #WhiteDew #BilboBaggins #Frodo @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I'm once again combining prompts. The first prompt comes from #TankaTuesday where Colleen Chesebro invites us to use a kigo word from the White Dew season in our poem. I've chosen to use harvest moon, Bilbo Baggins, and Frodo. The second prompt comes from Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge which provides us with the fantastic image below.

My love of fantasy began with The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. My 7th grade English teacher, Mrs. Hoffman, used to read it to us. She even took us to watch the play being performed by a high school cast. So, with this month including both Bilbo and Frodo's birthday, I had to include them. I chose to write a tanka for this challenge.

(image courtesy of Getty Images)

adventures galore

reading under harvest moon

I enter portal

Bilbo Baggins, Frodo join

unforgettable journey

Would you like to write to one of these prompts? Click the links below:

#TankaTuesday

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge

The Breakup - #WDYS #W3 #Quadrille #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I'm back online after taking some time off to focus on my wants and needs. I experienced several revelations, all of which were good. Since returning, I've been focused on my health, both physically and mentally. That's taking some of the time I used for writing, but it's all about balance, and my health needs to be part of the equation. So, today is my first day with time to write poetry, and I've chosen to combine two prompts.

The first is an image from Sadje's What Do You See? prompt, which works perfectly for the Wea've Written Weekly (W3) prompt. In the W3 prompt, Lisa Paul invites us to write a Quadrille, a 44-word poem, about transitions - beginnings and endings. 

(image credit; Egor Myznik @ Unsplash)

The Breakup

it was never going to last

you and I

dreams of a future

seen through a foggy window

never clearly showing a path forward

the exhaustion of trying

seeped into our bones

both realizing

we couldn't fulfill the other's needs

a bittersweet final goodbye

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Join us here:

Sadje's What Do You See? prompt

Wea've Written Weekly (W3) prompt

Lunch Date - #WDYS #TankaTuesday #nonet #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I honestly don't know how I am getting one more poem in before I go offline for the next several days, but I did! I am taking a couple of days off work (which I never do) to focus on some self-care. And part of that is staying offline. So, here is my last poem for this week.

I've combined Sadje's What Do You See? prompt and #TankaTuesday's Poetry Challenge. Sadje provided the photo below, and Willow at #TankaTuesday encouraged us to imagine a color, smell, sound, or image that triggers a memory. I've chosen to write a nonet for this poem.

(image credit; Peter Thomas @ Unsplash)

Lunch Date

salty sea spray permeates the air

lazy waves lap upon the shore

pops of sunset-hued flowers

decorate the terrace

my friend and I laugh

sipping our tea

treasuring

friendly

love

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Click the links below:

Sadje's What Do You See? prompt

#TankaTuesday's Poetry Challenge

Becoming One with Nature - #FFFC #dVerse #Quadrille #haibun #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Last week was so busy that I only had time to write one poem. This week isn't going to provide me much writing time, either. Thankfully, my busyness is connected to enjoyment, which I've been missing out on because of other life circumstances. My renovation still isn't done, but I'm dealing with that situation. For now, I'm focusing on the positives in my life.

Today, I am combining two challenges. The first is dVerse's Poets Pub - Quadrille #231, which De Jackson invites us to use the word much (or a semblance of the word) in our Quadrille. I've chosen to add an 'l' and use mulch instead. I decided to create a haibun for my Quadrille.

The second challenge comes from Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge, where Melissa shares with us the image below and invites us to let it inspire us.

(image courtesy of Getty Images on Unsplash)

Becoming One with Nature

Hiking is one of my favorite pastimes. Listening to nature's symphony, walking among the giants, and breathing in the soil's richness relaxes me, allowing me to shed negative energy and absorb life's precious gift.

nature's mulch fosters

new life deep in the forest

protected Redwoods

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Click the links below:

dVerse's Poets Pub - Quadrille #231

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge

#RRBC Writers' Conference & Book Expo is happening now! Join us! @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I have not been able to enjoy writing poetry as much as I usually do. This week has been really busy. I wanted to share this amazing online conference with all of you. It's call the RRBC Writers' Conference & Book Expo, and it's happening now. Authors have set up virtual booths to showcase their works. Feel free to visit my booth here. You may even win a prize by visiting the booths and leaving a comment!

Visitors will find writer workshops, games, raffles, and scavenger hunts to enjoy. Each visitor who leaves a comment in an author's booth or purchases a raffle ticket has the opportunity to win from $5 to $100 in prizes and gifts. This really is a fantastic event, and I hope you will pass by and enjoy it while you can. Click here to start exploring!

Monday Poetry - #WDYS #haiku #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Happy Labor Day to my fellow Americans. May you be using this day for self-care, whatever that looks like for you. I went to the beach yesterday for the first time in a long while, and I enjoyed every minute of it until the thunderstorm rolled in around 3:30 pm. Still, my soul was rejuvenated and my body enjoyed the two laps I swam to the buoy and back. Today, I'm getting things done around the house, which clears my mind, and writing this poem. :-)

Today's challenge comes from Sadje's What Do You See? prompt. She shared the images below, and I decided to write a poem for each of them. The first is a haiku, and the second is a tanka.

(image credit; Tanya Barrow @ Unsplash)

avid wanderer

open imagination

through planes, trains, and books

(image credit; Aaron Burden @ Unsplash)

not as colorful

unnoticed in vibrant world

I still have value

flashy colors aren't needed

to add beauty to the world

Would you like to write a poem for either of these images? Join us here.

August 2025 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity #dragons #fantasy #magicalrealm @PTLPerrin @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! This month was really busy for me. From starting school to dealing with my horrible contractor to dropping my son off at his university, it's been a month that has not left me a lot of time to read. Still, I read a phenomenal story and am excited to share it with you.

Sanctum: Dragon Guild Book 1

by PTL Perrin

Genre: Teen & Young Adult Magical Realism 

Pages: 294

Book Blurb:

Two worlds separated by time and space, a frantic search, a powerful enemy, and a baby dragon... At sixteen, Gabri’s life is complicated.

When a nightmarish vision rips Gabri O’Connell from her home and family, she wakes up powerless in a freezing tower on a hostile planet.

Saved by a dragon and brought to Sanctum inside the planet, her rescuers don’t want her there.

Will a baby dragon be the key to her survival? Will Gabri ever see her family again?

My Review: 

I first fell in love with this author's writing style in her Tetrasphere series. I absolutely loved this story! I first met the main character, Gabri, as a baby in the first series, where and she her mother helped save Terra, their planet, from exploding. This series begins when Gabri is almost sixteen, making this a completely new story. Some of the characters from the Tetrasphere series are in this story, but the focus is Gabri. She begins having nightmarish visions of a shadow that calls her the world destroyer. At first, she's transported through her dreams to the Shadow's world, but he then kidnaps her, locks her in a tower, and mutes her powers to communicate with her family.

Luckily, Gabri is rescued by others who live on the planet called Sanctum. While her family desperately searches for a way to locate her, Gabri is introduced to a completely new world, one is which she bonds with a dragon and an Aracai. Sanctum's time runs twice as fast as Terra's, and before she knows it, Gabri is bonding with more than just her bondmates. Unfortunately, the Shadow is not done with her, and danger finds her again.

This book is fantastic! The author is a queen of imagery and creating characters that are unique and well-developed. And I absolutely LOVE the dragons! I mean, look at the cover. Isn't the dragon just adorable? I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys colorful worlds, dragons, magical powers, and great storytelling.

Have you read any great books this month? I'd love to hear from you.

Creaky Hinges - #TankaTuesday #dVerse #personification #noise #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I'm combining prompts again. The first is dVerse - Poets Pub's Poetics prompt, where Mish invites us to write a poem about noise. I've bolded and italicized my noise words.

For the #TankaTuesday challenge, Robbie invites us to use personification in our poem. Personification is a literary element that gives humanlike qualities to objects. I've underlined my personification. I decided to write a tanka to combine these prompts.

(image courtesy of Microsoft Copilot)

my angry door screams

tired of being neglected

complains with each move

a soft caress of smooth oil

hinge sighs with satisfaction

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Click the links below:

#TankaTuesday challenge

dVerse - Poets Pub's Poetics prompt

A King's Domain - #WDYS #dVerse #Quadrille #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Today, I will combine two prompts. The first is dVerse-Poets Pub's Quadrille #230. Kim invited us to write a quadrille, a poem of exactly 44 words (not including the title), using the word rumpus.  

The second prompt comes from Sadje's What Do You See? prompt where she shares two images to inspire our writing. I chose the photo below.

(image credit; Eugenia Pankiv @Unsplash)

A King's Domain

heavenly perch

throne of kings

patiently waiting

for the perfect moment

when a traveler

leaves his tithe of leftovers

a worthy offering

he divebombs toward the prize

intruders invade territory

a rumpus ensues

the king gets the glory

and flies away with biggest prize

Would you like to write for either of these prompts? Click the links below:

dVerse-Poets Pub's Quadrille #230

Sadje's What Do You See? prompt

Jive Hive - #FFFC #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Last week, I didn't have enough time to participate in all the poetry challenges and missed out on Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge, so I decided to make hers the first one of this week, especially since this is her 100th challenge post! 

This week's picture depicts a futuristic cyberpunk, but my mind went back to the past. Lol! So, I threw a little of the present into it and wrote a tanka.

(image courtesy of Nick Fancher on Unsplash)

chaos surrounds me

threatens to pull me under

neon-hued glasses

invite me to let it go

and join 'groove to the jive' hive

Would you like to write a poem for this image? Join us here.

Cerulean Dreams - #W3 #haiku #ekphrastic #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

 

Hello, beautiful readers! My kitchen is almost complete! It has been three and a half months of dealing with a horrible contractor. The cabinet guy has been wonderful, though. He was at my house for about eight hours, installing the shelves and doors. He wasn't able to finish and says he will be back on Tuesday. This project is almost over, and I cannot wait to have my house whole again.

Today, before I begin cleaning and pulling items from boxes and putting them on shelves, I decided to partake in the Wea've Written Weekly (W3) prompt. Ange shares two pictures and invites us to write an ekphrastic poem. Part of the instructions is to incorporate the word blue into our poem and to not exceed 15 lines. I chose the image below and wrote a haiku.

cerulean dreams

coasting on soothing, blue waves

worries drift away

Would you like to write an ekphrastic poem? Join us here.