Category: Poetry

Top Ten Tuesday: Books with “Springy” Covers

BonnieReadsAndWrites24 Comments

Thank you to That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting Top Ten Tuesday.

Hi everyone! I’m back from vacation and HOPEFULLY back to posting normally since my retirement. You would think I’d have more time than ever, but retirement has brought its own challenges to my schedule. I’ll provide more of an update after Top Ten Tuesday. The topic is: Top Ten book covers that remind me of Spring. See below.

I love the Spring flowers on the cover. I discovered Heather Webber WAY late in the game. She’s already written over 25 books, but when I read this one, and learned she writes small-town mysteries with a touch of magical realism, I was hooked! Now I seek out her books whenever I can. My review is here.

A really sweet “best friends” romance with a lovely Spring cover. My review is here.

The “Your Words” Poetry Collection by Louise Belanger includes beautiful photos of flowers along with wonderful inspirational poems and story poems that will draw you closer to God. The covers are so captivating! My most recent review is here.

This is historical fiction set in Switzerland during the time of discovery that adding iodine to salt will cure hypothyroidism. My review of the book is here.

A novel about starting over, and about women helping each other through tough times. My review is here.

This is an inspirational “married strangers” romance set in Appalachia in 1910. I love the Spring flowers and birds on the cover. Here is my review on The Historical Novel Society website.

The dress and flowers give this a “springy” feel to me. It’s a fascinating novel about a time when wealthy American families basically traded their daughters for titles and raised social standing. See my review here on The Historical Novel Society website.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of my favorite authors of Christian Historical Fiction. This novel is about a Mennonite Women’s organization in 1890s Kansas. The flowers on the cover give it a Spring feel. My review is here.

This Spring cover speaks for itself. It is set in 1930s Appalachia when many families had to relocate for the creation of the Smoky Mountain National Park. My review is here.

This could be a Spring night, and I love the Starling. This is another fantastic small-town book with a touch of magic by Heather Webber. It is set in Starlight, Alabama. My review is here.

UPDATE

I was on vacation in Florida last week visiting my friend Lyric, so I didn’t post at all. I am back in the swing, hopefully. The thing about retirement is I get up whenever I want, putter around, and I often look at the clock, surprised it’s almost dinnertime and wondering where the time has gone! I am working on that! I have missed blogging!

The week prior to my vacation we had a wildfire in the area (Alarka in Bryson City) that consumed around 2000 acres! It was between four and seven miles from my house, but thankfully our brave firefighters got it contained. We had planes coming in from as far away as Montana to help fight the blaze, and God helped too, with a huge rainstorm right before I left. I believe one house was lost, but it could have been a lot worse. No lives were lost. I am thankful.

Have a wonderful week!

Indie Weekend: Review of Your Words Your Love by Louise Bélanger #NewRelease

BonnieReadsAndWrites15 Comments

I’m extending Indie Weekend into Monday in order to share a wonderful new release for you! Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors promote their books. You can help too by sharing this post with all of your social media followers. Also, if you read this book, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and everywhere else you review books. Let’s all work together to promote Indie authors and help them succeed. Below is a review of the fourth book in Louise Bélanger’s wonderful Your Words Christian poetry collection, Your Words Your Love.

This is a wonderful collection of Christian poems that really speak to the heart. It is easy to see that these poems are written with love, and God’s love is made evident in every one. Each poem could also be described as a short story. One of my favorites, LOVE, tells a very personal story from the author’s life.  Absolutely gorgeous photos, all taken by the author, accompany each poem.

Another poem, A CALL TO WAR, is about spiritual warfare and praying to the Father for others.  The phrase “put on your armor,” evokes Ephesians 6:10-18 about putting on the armor of God, which includes righteousness, truth, readiness, and faith.

Nature is prevalent in this collection, and not just in the beautiful photos.  An animal is used in another one of my favorites, PORCUPINES. God’s love of all of his creation really shines through. This collection with introduce God to those who haven’t met Him, and if you already know Him, it will bring you closer to Him than ever before.

Written with love and brimming with hope, this collection will bring comfort, joy, and inspiration to the reader.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louise Bélanger is an artist and a gifted storyteller, both with words and photography.

Her inspirational poetry will transport you in her world where there is hope and trust in a loving God. Her faith is strong, and it will strengthen yours.

Her nature photographs will remind you of the beauty of God’s creation. From delicate flowers to breathtaking scenery.

Visit her website at https://www.louisebelangerauthor.com/ You can also find her on Facebook.

PURCHASE LINK

Click the image below to see Your Words Your Love on Amazon

Click the image below to see the entire Your Words collection on Amazon.

BEFORE YOU GO

Remember, if you choose to read Your Words Your Love, please leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other sites that allow book reviews. If you are hesitant to write reviews, remember that they do not have to be long or fancy. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will help the author so much. Thank you in advance.

Sneak Peek: Excerpt from Your Words,Your Love by Louise Bélanger

BonnieReadsAndWrites6 Comments

Author Louise Bélanger has generously provided a sample of her upcoming poetry book for you to enjoy. See a beautiful poem and photo below, as well as a link to preorder. I am tempted to review it right now because it’s so wonderful, but I will wait until book release day.

First glance

We don’t know
How many they were
Or the name of each one

Were they young or older?
Were they born in this region?

Did they know Mary?
Or the One who spoke with authority?

When they heard the commands
Did they think the orders were absurd?

Did they obey while fearing the consequences
Of what they were doing?

Pouring…

Presenting…

Water

None of that
Is told

Because…

None of that
Matters…really

Only their obedience does

It also provided them

First glance

As they did
What they were told
The transformation occurred

As they obeyed
They were the first ones
To witness…

The change in the color

The exquisiteness of the bouquet
As they poured
The perfect nectar

The no longer water
But excellency
In the cup of the master of ceremonies

The absolute finest wine

In abundance

I grant you
What choice
Did the servants
At the wedding at Cana have
Besides to obey

But they did
And the miracle
Took place

We
On the other hand
Have a choice

But He
Hasn’t changed

We can choose
To obey or not
All-loving God
Who still consents
Who still performs
Miracles
With
And through
The obedience
Of His servants

We can choose
To be instrumental

To magnificent goodness
Absolute finest
Poured out on this world
In abundance

And like the servants
At the wedding at Cana

Have the privilege of

First Glance

*Photo and poem by Louise Bélanger.

*Preorder by clicking on the image below. The ebook is only $2.99 right now until December 31st.

Cover Reveal: Your Words, Your Love by Louise Bélanger

BonnieReadsAndWrites10 Comments

The fourth book in Louise Belanger’s Your Words Christian poetry collection will be released on December 9th. I’m happy to share with you the beautiful cover of Your Words Your Love below, as well as a link to preorder. I will provide a review on December 9th. Each poem is accompanied by beautiful photographs, and as you can see by the cover, you are in for a treat.

Click on this absolutely gorgeous cover for a link to preorder this inspiring and beautiful book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louise Bélanger is an artist and a gifted storyteller, both with words and photography.

Her inspirational poetry will transport you in her world where there is hope and trust in a loving God. Her faith is strong, and it will strengthen yours.

Her nature photographs will remind you of the beauty of God’s creation. From delicate flowers to breathtaking scenery.

Visit her website at https://www.louisebelangerauthor.com/ You can also find her on Facebook.

Click the image below to see the entire Your Words collection on Amazon.

It’s Release Day for SIMPLE PLEASURES by Liz Gauffreau

BonnieReadsAndWrites19 Comments

Happy Release Day to Liz Gauffreau for her wonderful poetry book, SIMPLE PLEASURES. Please see below a book description, author bio, and purchase links.

AUTHOR’S BOOK DESCRIPTION

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where I ought to be . . . .
~ Shaker song attributed to Joseph Brackett

The simple pleasures of our favorite places in nature are gifts of the spirit to be shared with others. In this collection of 53 haiku, each paired with a nature photograph, poet Liz Gauffreau invites readers to come with her to some of her favorite places in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Some places are long-time favorites going back years; others have become favorites by virtue of inspiring poetry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. Her work has been widely published in literary magazines, as well as several themed anthologies. Her short story “Henrietta’s Saving Grace” was awarded the 2022 Ben Nyberg  prize for fiction by Choeofpleirn Press.

She has published a novel, Telling Sonny, and a collection of photopoetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance. She is currently working on a novel, The Weight of Snow and Regret, based on the closing of the last poor farm in Vermont in 1968.

Liz’s professional background is in nontraditional higher education, including academic advising, classroom and online teaching, curriculum development, and program administration. She received the Granite State College Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire with her husband. Find her online at Liz Gauffreau.com.

PURCHASE LINKS

For the Amazon Link, click on the Image above

BookFunnel PDF Purchase Link

*My review will be posted soon!

Your Words, Your Heart by Louise Belanger

BonnieReadsAndWrites18 Comments

Above is my favorite line from one of the poems in this book. The image is one I found, inspired by the poem. It’s not in the book. But Louise’s books are filled with her own gorgeous photography. For example:

Here’s my review of Your Words, Your Heart.

You can buy the ebook for only 1.99. Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read it for free. ***Just found out the print copy with beautiful photos is on sale by Amazon for 4.73! It is normally $11.93. This would make a great Christmas gift!

Also, Abundance Book Nook in Cambridge, Ontario, is selling Louise’s photographs in beautiful frames. They also carry her books. You don’t have to be in Canada to order. They have online ordering.

Free Christian Poetry Ebooks!! #Freebooks #Poetry

BonnieReadsAndWrites17 Comments

Louise Belanger’s wonderful Christian poetry ebooks are free for a limited time! Your Words, Your Heart is free today and tomorrow only. Your Words, Your World is free until August 31st.

Click on the cover of each to get these wonderful books for free!

After you read these wonderful books, be sure and leave a review. Reviews are so important to authors.

Another Beautiful Poetry Book on Sale! #Poetry #Sales #IndieBooks

BonnieReadsAndWrites17 Comments

Great news! Another book in Louise Belanger’s Christian Poetry collection is on sale!

Your Words, Your Heart is Louise’s third book in the collection, and it’s on sale for 99 cents.

Below is a repost of my 5-star review of Your Words, Your Heart

This is the third book in Louise Bélanger’s wonderful Christian poetry collection. When released, it was the number one new release in both the “Christian Poetry” and “Religious and Inspirational Poetry” categories on Amazon. The poems are accompanied by stunningly beautiful photographs. The author’s strong and simple faith shines through on every page. Louise’s words show us that faith in God does not have to be complicated and will bring you great peace.

The poem Wings is one of my favorites, as it conjures up images of millions of prayers flying around the world, on their way up to God.

I also love Who Wins, which starts out:

“There is a glass
inside of us
Where trust and doubt compete.

As glass will not expand
They fight for space.”

It is about what we allow into our soul and who and what we trust.

My favorite poem may be Petals like Hearts. It starts out:

“Petals, like hearts
are subject to frost.”

That may be my favorite line in the book because it’s so true.

The poem most evident of the author’s strong faith is With You, which makes me feel peaceful whenever I read it.

The photographs of this book were taken by the author in her home city of Montreal and they are absolutely spectacular. The cover photo blows me away. It is just so mesmerizing. There are so many great photos in this book.

This book will leave you filled with hope and beauty, and that’s a great way to start, continue, or end any day.

BUY ON AMAZON

MORE GOOD NEWS

Your Words, Your World is still on sale for 99 cents!

See my post here for my review and buy links.

LINK TO THE WHOLE COLLECTION

Click on the image below to see the whole Your Words Collection.

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World Poetry Day: And here is a deal for you!

BonnieReadsAndWrites18 Comments

This is a beautiful book of Christian poetry and photography. The ebook is on sale beginning today for 99 cents. The Author, Louise Bélanger, was awarded a 2022 Gold Medal from Reader’s Favorite for this uplifting and captivating book.

Here is a repost of my 5-star review:

Your Words, Your World is a beautiful collection of poetry, photographs, and story poems about God and the world He created, and the second book of poems by Louise Bélanger. It helps the reader look at the world in a new way.

Among my favorite poems is Ordinary, about how God can take something ordinary, like a star or a body of water, and make it do extraordinary things. I also loved Dust, which reminds us that God created us all from something we don’t really like–dust. A War Erupted paints a beautiful and tumultuous picture of a thunderstorm. The Contest is a thought-provoking story poem about a conversation between flowers. Zoom to Heaven is probably my favorite of all, as it talks about what it would be like to have a Zoom conversation with a loved one in Heaven.

Your Words, Your World takes a unique look at God and the world He created, and it makes me appreciate Him and this world all the more.

The photographs of nature throughout the book are gorgeous and mesmerizing, and they make perfect companions to the poems.

AVAILABLE AT:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo | Bol De | Smashwords

Top Ten Indie Books of 2022 #Indiebooks #TopTenIndieBooksof2022

BonnieReadsAndWrites18 Comments

Here are my top ten Indie books of 2022 in no particular order. These books are either published by the author(s) or by smaller, independent presses. I reviewed all of these books on Indie Weekend or its previous incarnation, Self-Published Saturday, so I’ve included a link to my review, which provides buy links at the bottom. Please check them out by clicking on the covers.

Christmas in ’45

Cathedral of Silver

Amanda in France

Framed

Deuce

The Girl Who Feared Trains

Your Words, Your Heart

The Necromancer’s Daughter

The Secret Benefits of Invisibility

Distant Flickers

In the comments below, tell me about some Indie books you loved this year that I should check out!