October 2025 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity #vampires #dragons #DragonGuild #BDB @PTLPerrin @JRWard @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

Genre: Vampire Romances

Pages: 432

Book Blurb:

The aristocracy is making a run for the throne in this latest thrilling, star-crossed paranormal romance entry in J.R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

When Lyric goes out for the night, she’s not ready for a brush with death—and she’s really not ready for the male who comes out of nowhere and saves her. Her family, especially her father, Qhuinn, are so relieved she’s okay, but all she can think about is her mysterious savior.

Without telling anybody, she seeks out Devlin, and they are immediately drawn to one another. Her near-death experience has given her a fresh appreciation for life and the desire to live it to its fullest, but she has no idea that he’s hiding a secret—or that he could be the key to ending the war between the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the lessers forever.

My Book Review:

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

Genre: Vampire Romances

Pages: 461

Book Blurb:

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward brings the heat in the depths of winter with another sizzling Black Dagger Brotherhood holiday book!

For his entire life, and especially during his century in the prison camp, Apex never believed the bonded-male vampire myths. But when he crossed paths with a sexy wolven, the assassin was done being a lone wolf himself. Tragically, fate had other plans for them, and in the decades since, the world has held little interest—and even less warmth—for him.

He has never forgotten the male, however...

Even after all this time, Callum remains haunted by the horrible abduction that destroyed him down to his marrow those many years ago. Living as a loner, drifting from place to place, the wolven has finally returned to upstate New York—and he is not expecting to see the vampire who has always been on his mind.

As a plot to overthrow the King threatens the Brothers down in Caldwell, Apex and Callum find themselves face to face—and caught up in a deadly, treasonous plot. Can two lonely, lost souls find a way back to each other...or will destiny once again condemn their hearts to cold isolation?

My Book Review:

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!

Aerie (Dragon Guild Book 2)

by PTL Perrin

Genre: Teen & Young Adult Magical Realism

Pages: 332

Book Blurb:

Trained for battle, bonded to her dragon, and with a growing interest in Elio, the leader of Dragon Guild, Gabri could lose it all.

A young warrior in the Dragon Guild, Gabri and her beloved dragon, Makani, fly patrol through the inner world of Sanctum with Elio and his golden dragon, Kealohi. While investigating an abandoned enemy outpost, Gabri is captured and isolated from Makani and everyone she loves. Imprisoned and implanted with a mind control device, can Gabri break free, unite with Makani, and reclaim her lost memories?

Together with Elio and his dragon, Gabri and Makani embark on a quest to reclaim their world from a sinister enemy. As they face formidable foes and uncover hidden truths, their bonds of friendship and courage will be tested like never before. Will they succeed in their mission?

With themes of courage, friendship, and the power of love, Aerie invites readers into an enchanting adventure filled with danger, hope, and the unbreakable bonds between humans and dragons.

My Review:

This book was a fantastic sequel to Sanctum. Gabri continues to create a new home in Aerie, and her bond grows even stronger with those she loves. Shadow, Ozul, and Kierra continue with their evil plans. And Donny and family refuse to give up on reconnecting with Gabri no matter what it takes. 

When Gabri gets kidnapped by Ozul, the strength of her bond with Makani, Ting, and Elio proves its power. Once Donny and family finally find Gabri, Donny realizes much has changed for Gabri, including his feelings. The introduction of Gabri's first love causes much angst for Elio. Who will Gabri choose and how will that affect all their lives? You've got to read it to find out!

This book has everything - adventure, magic, fantasy, danger, love, and dragons! I highly recommend this series and can't wait to rejoin this amazing world in book 3. :-)

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