Stuck in Space - #FFFC #dVerse #haibun #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Today, I'm combining two prompts which, on the surface, don't really go together, but in my head, it makes perfect sense. Lol!

The first prompt comes from Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #362. Melissa provides the image below, and I see a girl who gets all glam on the outside while drowning her sorrows in mind-altering numbness.

The second prompt comes from dVerse's Haibun Monday 3-2-26: A "Life on Mars" Tribute. Frank Tassone invites us to write a haibun focused on the theme of Tracy K. Smith's "Life on Mars." He shares two quotes that focus on mourning a parent. I resonated with the second quote, but zoomed out of the loss of a parent and focused on a different kind of loss.

(image courtesy of Taina Bernard)

Stuck in Space

Your energy called to me before I even saw you, awakening dormant cells in my heart who sought you out like a nomad glimpsing an oasis. Your magnetism drew me in so powerfully and consumed so much of me that I knew not where you ended and I began. A whirlwind of love and passion spinning me round and round euphorically until you suddenly left without a word, leaving me to drift in the darkest vacuum in space, confused and alone. My heart still searches for you like a lost ship seeking its lighthouse, but my head knows your shores are too rocky and seeks a safer harbor. 

uninhabited

spinning alone in space

seeking companion

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

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #362

dVerse's Haibun Monday 3-2-26: A "Life on Mars" Tribute

February Japanese Micro Seasons Challenge - #TankaTuesday #haiku #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

 

Hello, beautiful readers! Colleen Chesebro at #TankaTuesday shared the February 2026 Micro-Seasons Challenge earlier this month. I have shared my haikus using the micro-season phrases as well as a few of the others I've written this month.

February 4-8

icicles on trees

winter's trophy starts to crack

east wind melts the ice

~~~

February 9-13

ten bush warblers

start singing in the mountains

peaceful orchestra

~~~

February 14-18

opaque lake turns clear

bright fish emerge from the ice

a welcomed rainbow

~~~

February 19-23

rain moistens the soil

seedlings begin to waken

winter's goodbye kiss

~~~

February 24-28

seasonal dance starts

mists start to linger on lakes

fox comes out of den

Here are a few of the other haikus I wrote this month:

frozen drops of rain

crystallized leaves on palm trees

unexpected sights

~~~

cotton candy sky

from pastels to vibrant hues

night's golden glory

~~~

lighthouse in the dark

sanctuary among thieves

home away from home

~~~

palm trees sway in breeze

small ripples caress calm lake

sweet serenity

~~~

feet pitter patter

vibrant green grass tickles him

joyous burst of glee

~~~

buzzing bumblebee

flits from flower to flower

sweet, delightful job

~~~

chilled flowing waters

trapped just beneath the surface

awaits to break free

~~~

farmland grapes talk

releasing secrets from past

drunken truths revealed

~~~

a bird caws in tree

sun slowly rises in east

cat stretches front legs

Would you like to follow the Japanese micro-seasons? Join us here.

Love Gone Wrong - #W3 #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Happy March! My birthday is just days away, and I am looking forward to another wonderful year around the sun. As normally happens around my birthday, I become reflective and look back at moments from my past to celebrate how far I've come. I love where I am in my life and look forward to many happy new experiences.

For this week's Wea've Written Weekly (W3) challenge, Christine invites us to write a poem with 26 words, each word using a different letter of the alphabet. Surprisingly, it wasn't too hard.

(image courtesy of @TheDigitalArtist on Pixabay)

a zealous tryst

heart quivered from caresses

didn't believe in love

until joy permeated everywhere

romance grew voraciously

you were my Xanadu

now...only know sorrow

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

In Between Eclipses - #XplorationChallenge #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrychallenges @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I had a wonderful visit with my parents last night. My mom is still having difficulty breathing. She's meeting with a new pulmonologist this upcoming week, so hopefully we can get some answers.

Today, I've decided to participate in Reena's Xploration Challenge #419. Reena invites us to use the theme "In Between Eclipses" in our poem. I chose to write a tanka using the phrase.

(image courtesy of Ελυαν_Νικόλαος on Pixabay)

before darkest hour

moments in between eclipses

let your light shine bright

illuminate others' hearts

show them darkness does not last

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

February 2026 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity #paranormal #vampires #witches @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! It's been a crazy month, but I've managed to read two books. One of them was okay, but I only share the books I would recommend to others in this section. So, I'm just sharing one book with you today, and it was a great one!

Forged in Blood

by Sadie Kincaid

Genre: Polyamory Romance, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 370

Book Blurb:

A dark paranormal/ fantasy romance from bestselling author, Sadie Kincaid.

Every few millennia, a child is born.
Some say they’re marked with a curse.
Others claim they possess the power of the ages.

Meet Ophelia Hart. Lover of classic literature and unicorns. An orphan with nobody in her corner—no family, no friends. But it’s her loneliness that fuels her life’s ambition to become a social worker and help the forgotten children just like her. For a foster kid with only slightly above-average grades, it feels like a pipe dream.

Except it seems that someone is looking out for Ophelia after all. When an unexpected opportunity to attend Montridge University arises, she thinks her life is finally taking a turn for the better.

Too bad she comes to the attention of the three ruthless, arrogant commanders of the Ruby Dragon Society. Three of the most feared and powerful vampires on campus.

But Ophelia doesn’t believe in vampires. Or in witches, or magic, or ancient prophecies.

Until she has no choice. Little does she know, she’s about to have her whole world turned upside down. Because there is something about Ophelia Hart. Something that captures not only the attention of the Ruby Dragon commanders, but also their powerful, enigmatic sire—Professor Alexandros Drakos.

With no idea of the power running through her veins, Ophelia must learn to trust the very men whom all others fear. And she needs to do it fast, for there are darker forces at work than those at Montridge University. Forces that were long ago Forged in Blood.

My Review:

I picked up this book after reading a review of it by one of my favorite authors, so I knew it had to be good. And boy was it! I loved the storyline from the very beginning. That first chapter drew me in immediately - so much pain and heartache. Then, time passes and we are introduced to new characters. Ophelia is attending a college of the paranormal entity and has no idea until she runs into vampires who decide they want her as their pet. She becomes their obsession, their desire, and their lifeline.

I loved all the main characters! This book is a polyamory story, so if you are not into that, you may not enjoy this story, but if you are into it, the scenes are fantastic! I read Ophelia with such an innocent voice that I had to keep reminding myself that she was an adult during these scenes. I hated how Axl and Xavier treated her, but I understood why. Malakai was my favorite because he always seems kind to her (well, almost always). When we finally learn why they can't stay away from Ophelia, everything becomes even more intense. 

And then there's Alexandros! It's funny because I pictured him like an old professor although he's never described that way, so certain scenes were weird to me. (Then again, he's a vampire who has lived thousands of years, so there's that. Lol!) The ending and the epilogue had my heart racing, and I cannot WAIT to read the next book.

Have you read any great books lately? I would love to hear from you. :-)

Soar to New Heights - #FFFC #TankaTuesday #dVerse #rensaku #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! We are back to having a cold front in my area, but this one will luckily be short-lived. I'll be back at the beach this weekend, so I will endure the next couple of days with layered clothes. For those of you battling this snow storm, stay safe and warm.

Today, I've decided to combine three poetry challenges. This first is from Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #361 where Melissa invites us to write a poem or flash fiction for the beautiful image below. The second is dVerse's Q242: Hunger Makes the Best of Poetry. Lisa invites us to write a quadrille about a form of hunger. A quadrille is a poem of exactly 44 words.

Lastly, I've added the #TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 53. Melissa invites us to write a rensaku. A rensaku is a series of haiku or tanka poems that have a unifying theme. While Melissa asked for at least three stanzas, I limited mine to two in order to combine the three prompts.

(image courtesy of Cole Keister)

avid wanderer

a deep hunger for travel

I'll use any mode

from planes to trains to road trips

from ships to hot air balloons

travel among skies

drift lazily across fields

see life at its best

nature splatters its artwork

to decorate tulip field

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

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #361

dVerse's Q242: Hunger Makes the Best of Poetry

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 53

Sweet Self-Love - #W3 #sonnet #selflove #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! It is a beautiful day in sunny South Florida, which makes my soul soar! Before I head to the beach, I decided to participate in this week's We'ave Written Weekly (W3) prompt.

Elizabeth invites us to write a love sonnet to ourselves. A sonnet has 14 lines written in iambic pentameter (ten syllables divided into five pairs with the first syllable being soft and the second being strong). I used the following rhyming scheme: ABBAABBA CDECDE.

(image courtesy of @congerdesign on Pixabay)

Sweet Self-Love

my life was not always an easy road

it was littered with uphill climbs, potholes

a constant struggle to play many roles

suppressing my feelings, quietly stowed

supporting others was family code

making my friends happy fulfilled my goals

but doing so gave away all controls

until I discovered myself and glowed

fortified with a new understanding

seeing the beauty that resides in me

refusing to give away my powers

my strong resilience keeps me still standing

releasing conformity to be free

I rise in greatness, receive my flowers

Would you like to join us in this prompt? Click here.

The Hunt for True Love - #TankaTuesday #dVerse #hexastitch #prosery #poem #poetry #poetrychallenge @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Last night, my power went out for about half an hour. I cannot remember the last time we had a power outage not related to a hurricane, so it felt quite odd. I immediately grabbed my kindle to read for a bit. It helped the time pass quickly enough. Luckily, it came back on before I had to shower and go to bed. I was not looking forward to a cold shower. Lol!

Today, I am combining two poetry challenges. The first challenge is #TankaTuesday's Poetry Challenge where Colleen invites us to write a hexastich. This form of poetry has six lines with a 8-6-10-6-8-2 syllabic pattern with a rhyme scheme of axbaxb.

The second challenge is dVerse's Prosery: Toni Morrison. Mish invites us to write a prosery using the following quote from Toni Morrison: "Lips forget what they have kissed." A prosery is a piece of prose of 144 words.

As I did with my previous poetry challenge, I'm stretching the rules just a bit. I've combined the prose with the hexastitch, like a modified haibun.

(courtesy of @Bingodesigns on Pixabay)

The Hunt for True Love

I've kissed a lot of frogs in my lifetime. Recently, a friend and I went down memory lane, and I realized my memory has blurred the details of my past. Were they insignificant or did they cause such heartbreak that it is best I don't remember? Whatever the reason, I trust that my brain is taking care of me in a way the heart cannot. The heart wants to feel and clings to hope like static on freshly dried clothes. It focuses on pretty petals, ignoring the poison within until it's too late. So, I will keep searching for my imperfect prince. Hopefully, his kiss will be worth remembering.

my lips forget what they have kissed

soul needs such protection

when the heart wants love to fit like a glove

but love's a 'hit or miss'

until I kiss the perfect lips...

real love

Would you like to join in on one of these challenges? Click the links below:

#TankaTuesday's Poetry Challenge

dVerse's Prosery: Toni Morrison

False Murals - #FFFC #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Today is a holiday for me, so I'm enjoying a relaxing day at home and catching up on my 'to do' list. For this week's Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #360, Melissa provided us the image below. There was such a contrast in the background and foreground, and I felt such melancholy. So, I wrote a tanka for it.

(image courtesy of @Takashi Sakamoto)

wishful images

happy murals decorate

rundown town's falsehoods

why dream of a better life?

time will fade away the lies

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

The Immortal Changing Seasons - #XplorationChallenge #W3 #haiga #poetry #poem #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I hope you are all well. I was finally able to make it to the beach yesterday. It was a bit chilly when the sun hid behind the clouds, but it felt so great to be there again.

Today, I'm combining two prompts. Reena's Xploration Challenge #417 asks us to write a poem about immortality. W3 Prompt #198: Wea've Written Weekly asks us to write a haiga, which is a hiaku or senryu with a visual art form. Svenja encourages us to "reflect the long-awaited shift from winter to spring." I stretched the idea a bit, I know, but the seasons are immortal. They happen every year without fail (so far), and some of us enjoy one season while despising another. So, this is what I created:

(image courtesy of @ciaorioris on Pixabay)

Would you like to write a poem to one of these themes? Click the links below:

Reena's Xploration Challenge #417

W3 Prompt #198: Wea've Written Weekly

Sweet Endearment - #FFFC #TankaTuesday #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #love @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! The weather is finally behaving appropriately in my area. It's still chilly in the mornings (50s), but it jumps up to the 70s by mid-day, so I'll take it. 

As this is Kindness Week and the week of love, I've decided to combine two prompts focused on love. The first is Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge which provides the image below. The second is #TankaTuesday's challenge where Willow invites us to write a poem using a synonym of love or passion. I've bolded and italicized my synonym.

(image courtesy of Birgith Roosipuu)

coffee made for me

sweet receipts of endearment

his little love notes

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

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge

#TankaTuesday

One with Nature - #W3 #erasurepoem #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I hope you are all well. I spent the weekend surrounded by different friend groups, celebrating life and companionship. And then I enjoyed a great Super Bowl game and halftime show. It was wonderful watching the Hispanic culture, my heritage, be celebrated in such a beautiful way. 

My mother is receiving excellent home health care. A nurse visits twice a day, and she has access to an online medical team at all hours. There is very little improvement, but healing takes time.

Today, I chose to participate in Wea've Written Weekly's prompt. Shaun invites us to write an erasure poem. I chose to use my favorite poem, Two Roads in a Yellow Wood by Robert Frost to create my poem. I have always loved this poem, and I'm happy with the new meaning I've created with my erasure poem.

Here is the original poem:

(image taken from Poetry Foundation)

Here is my erasure:

And finally, here is my new poem, a haiku:

in a yellow wood

one traveler leads with a sigh

a wood and I - one

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

Octopus Love - #dVerse #FFFC #simile #poem #tanka #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! We are still dealing with abnormally cold weather in Miami. It should be warming up soon but not soon enough for me. I need my beach weather back! Lol!

Today, I've combined two different prompts. The first is dVerse's Poetics: The Smile in the Simile where we are asked to include a simile in our poem. The second is Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #358, which provided the image below. I chose to write a tanka.

(image courtesy of Sigmund)

tentacle suctions

like a clingy boyfriend's arms

an iron-clad grip

holds on tight to what it wants

interests wane; he lets go

Would you like to participate in either of these challenges? Click the links below:

dVerse's Poetics: The Smile in the Simile

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #358

Cleansing the Heart, the Home - #TankaTuesday #tanka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Thank you for all the prayers and healing energy for my mom. She is not out of the woods yet, but she is on the mend. It is freezing cold in Miami. It was in the 30s for the past two nights. Yesterday was the worst of it. I woke up to ice on my windshield. In Miami! This is crazy! Today's temps are going from the 30s to the 60s in one day. Normally, the 60s are cold to me, but I am looking forward to it. Perspective. Lol!

I am hosting again at #TankaTuesday, and this week I proposed that we write a poem focused on cleansing. Usually, I start every new year by saging my home. The intent was there, but for one reason or another, I didn't get around to it until this past weekend. Maybe the universe knew I still had a few things to deal with in January before ridding my home of all that negative energy. 

(image courtesy of Microsoft Bing)

wisps of burning sage

all dark energy removed

purification

fresh, new beginnings welcomed

peace and harmony commence

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

January Japanese Micro Seasons Challenge - #TankaTuesday #haiku #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Colleen Chesebro at #TankaTuesday created a January 2026 challenge to encourage us to follow the Japanese micro seasons. She is also writing a haiku a day, so I decided to join her in the practice. I won't share every haiku I've written, but I will share a few in addition to the ones written for the micro seasons. Let's start with the micro seasons:

January 1-4

wheat sprouts under snow

determined to live despite

harsh circumstances

~~~~

January 5-9

in milder climates

tasty parsley flourishes

to decorate dish

~~~~

January 1-14

nebulous waters

spring's thaw weakens hardened ice

life returns again

~~~~

January 15-19

pheasants start to call

a warning that hunters come

run instead of fly

~~~~

January 20-24

butterburs bud soon

medicinal but toxic

wisely use caution

~~~~

January 25-29

ice thickens on streams

a protective barrier

for life underneath

~~~~

January 30 - February 3

hens start laying eggs

warmth of inside pens protect

precious future lives

~~~~

Here are a few of my other haikus:

a winter sunset

pastel art strokes across sky

Gaia's fave hobby

~~~~

a walk by the lake

nature in all its beauty

peaceful mindfulness

~~~~

cerulean sea

lures me in with calm waters

deceptive siren

~~~~

blue jay hops about

hidden worm stays very still

lives to see new day

~~~~

wading in water

flamingo sees reflection

among soft ripples

~~~~

marching army ants

create new trails ev'ry day

true dedication

~~~~

waves crash against rocks

steadfast barrier holds firm

angry symphony

~~~~

frigid winter laughs

my teeth chatter, bones shiver

Florida girl needs heat

I hope you enjoyed some of my January poetry. Join us in February for a month of poetry. :-)

A Betrayed Heart - #W3 #tetractys #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! It is fr-fr-fr-freezing in South Florida right now! I am not built for 30-degree weather. It's a hibernating day for me. Lol! I've never turned on the heater in my a/c, so I don't even know if it works, but I may just have to try it out today.

For this week's Wea've Written Weekly (W3) prompt, Svenja invites us to write a double tetractys, which is a 10-line poem with a syllabic pattern of 1-2-3-4-10-10-4-3-2-1. The theme is a little spicy or naughty, so I did a 'little' of both.

(image created from Microsoft Bing)

A Betrayed Heart

one

small touch

caresses

my tender heart

teasing me with false, lofty promises

but his lies unravel quickly enough

and I am left

healing my

broken

heart

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

Overcoming Grief - #TankaTuesday #grief #choka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! It's been a bit of a rough week for me. My mother now has pneumonia, and I've been dealing horrible headaches. So, writing poetry was put on a shelf this week (except for my daily haikus, and even those have suffered...lol!). I hosted at #TankaTuesday this week, so I am going to attempt to create a poem this week.

My prompt focused on mental wellness or the lack thereof since this month is National Mental Wellness Month. I decided to write a choka, which is a nine-line poem with a syllabic pattern of 5-7-7-5-7-5-7-7-7.

(image courtesy of @JosepMonter on Pixabay)

Overcoming Grief

a broken heart mourns

haunting questions of what if

feelings of unworthiness

depression sets in ~

I let go of what once was

embrace harmony

allow past to rest in peace

rebuild confidence in self

enter my future with hope

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

January 2026 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity #JRWard @karljmorgan.bsky.social @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I hope you've had a wonderful January. I've started it off with some great books. Last year, I read 33 books, and I'm hoping for a repeat this year. 

The Black Dagger Brotherhood 20th Anniversary Insider's Guide

by J.R. Ward

Genre: Vampire Romances

Pages: 531

Book Blurb:

Vampire warriors in black leather and tattoos.
Passionate love stories that pierce the heart.
Dark nights filled with drama, chaos, and epic battles in the shadows of Caldwell, NY…
And then there are the unicorn pajamas. And the Tootsie Pops.

Welcome back to the world of the iconic, #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. With millions of devoted readers across the globe, these unforgettable books have redefined paranormal romance. Now, to celebrate two decades of the Brothers, author J.R. Ward opens the door to their world once more.

Inside this all-new 20th Anniversary Insider’s Guide, Ward reflects on the journey—sharing behind-the-scenes moments, heartfelt memories, candid writing advice, and insight into the challenges and triumphs of her long and legendary career. She also brings back the original Brothers in a mix of classic content and never-before-seen material, including:

• A brand-new novella, Happy Anniversary– Revisit Wrath and Beth as they reclaim the time lost between them. Tender, erotic, and emotional, this story returns to the couple who started it all—and proves that happily ever after doesn’t always come easy.
• Brotherhood updates, as J.R. interviews the Brothers to reveal where they are now.
• Fan-favorite features like Ask a Brother, Vishous’s Agony Aunt Column, Kitchen Corner with Fritz, and Bella’s Books.
• Playlists, monthly horoscopes, and more.

This keepsake collection is more than just an insider’s look—it’s a love letter to the fans, the world, and the unforgettable characters that have made the Black Dagger Brotherhood a genre-defining phenomenon. Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or are just now feeling the pull… this book is for you.

My Review:

I remember reading the first edition of this book many years ago and loved it. This edition did not disappoint. This book is broken into different sections to cover all aspects of BDB. For those who weren't part of her newsletter, there were sections of V and Mary's advice column, which I have always loved. Their banter is awesome, and I love seeing the world happening outside of the books.

There were sections that I browsed through, like Lassiter's horoscopes and Fritz's recipes. I read my horoscopes, but didn't really read the rest, and I'm not much of a cook, so I skipped through those. I'm sure for people who enjoy cooking, that section will be valuable. I loved Ward's book review section. I've added several to my TBR list. As a writer, I also enjoyed her writing advice. 

I especially loved the beginning and ending. I love how humble JR Ward is. I met her in person at Cinci '25, and she's the real deal. She's humble and kind, and she hasn't let all her success get to her head. There are many reasons why she has an incredible fandom, and her gratitude for her fans is definitely one of them. 

The other main reason is the BDB world she has created, and the story at the end of the book was amazing! Ward doesn't skip the hard times; she thrives in them. Beth was put through hell when Wrath was missing, and with his return, that pain becomes more complicated. Seeing his leelan's pain, Wrath makes the only decision he can - he gives up the throne. The flashbacks of events that happened over the 30 years were both heartbreaking and touching. The scenes of Beth in the attic reminded us of their great love. And the ending had all the feels I'm used to experiences from these books. If you enjoy the BDB world, then highly I recommend this book. You won't want to miss the story at the end.

Land of Lost Souls

by Karl J. Morgan

Genre: Religious Mysteries

Pages: 227

Book Blurb:

This book considers the plight of Lost Souls. These people lost their way in their lives, and when death finally arrives, they are easy prey for the demons of Hell. They may fear their condemnation or think themselves unworthy of Heaven. The demons make matters worse by denying those souls the opportunity for salvation. They force their souls to live desperate lives in what they believe is our world. They can be murdered for no reason, but as spirit, they never truly die. The demons can inflict agony on them throughout time to satisfy Lucifer.

This story is also about a group of people who come together in a group session, led by a renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Joshua Adams. Each person in the group has unique abilities to sense the lost souls and even to communicate with the angels of God. Ultimately, their task is to rescue as many lost souls as possible, thereby weakening the power of the Evil One.

The Land of Lost Souls is a spiritual fantasy. The author does not imply this is how Heaven and Hell work. As the author of several faith-based fantasies, this book is a look into how our lives and souls are led to our ultimate choices. None of us will know the true answer until we pass to spirit. Pray we all choose rightly.

My Review:

This was a great story combining religion and fiction. Simon has a unique gift of seeing lost souls. His family thinks he has psychological problems, so they take him to another psychologist. This one just happens to have a group with skills similar to Simon's. With his new friends, Simon sets out on a mission to keep the Evil One from destroying the balance between good and evil. Simon faces many obstacles, but his faith helps him to defeat them all.

This is a wonderful story that encourages people to stay steadfast in their faith no matter the struggles. There were a few typos but nothing that ever tore me away from the story. It is great for children and teenagers; it is written so they can read it independently. As an adult who enjoys young adult stories, I found this one worth the read. :-)

The Wedding from Hell

by J.R.Ward

Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction

Pages: 118 pages

Book Blurb:

#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward’s The Wedding From Hell is an exclusive three-part prequel to her standalone suspense novel Consumed. Taking us back to where it all started, arson investigator Anne Ashburn and ‘bad boy’ firefighter Danny Maguire finally explore their connection.

The Wedding from Hell, Part 1: The Rehearsal Dinner: It’s a classic recipe for disaster: Take one bridesmaid who thinks pink is the root of all evil, mix with a best man who’s hotter than a four-alarm fire, add in their explosive sexual attraction, a nightmare bridezilla, two cat fights, and an emergency call, and you have the wedding from hell.

The Wedding from Hell, Part 2: The Reception: As the wedding from hell continues, Anne and Danny find themselves walking the delicate balance between professional distance and explosive attraction. Will the desire they feel last through the night and change their lives? Or are they doomed to part after one night of passion?

The Wedding from Hell, Part 3: Exclusive excerpt of Consumed.

My Review:

This was like a prequel to the full novel. Although very different from her vampire series, I really enjoyed it. The sexual tension between Danny and Anne was fantastic. I love that Anne is a strong female who controls the situation. I am eager to see what happens next in Consumed.

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