Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

Life Interrupted by D.L. Heather is a beautiful collection of powerful and moving poems dealing with illness, pain and healing. After suffering with agonizing pain for 25 years, author D.L. Heather finally discovered that she had adenomyosis and stage 4 endometriosis. For years she had been prescribed painkillers and told that there was nothing wrong and that the pain was all in the mind. This book sheds light on the need for people in the medical profession to recognize the experiences of women who are dismissed or incorrectly diagnosed. D.L. Heather shares her innermost thoughts and feelings as she is shoved from one ignorant medical “expert” to another without diagnosis while she searches for answers and solutions to end her agony. If only they would listen to what she says.

Life Interrupted by D.L. Heather is an incredible story told through poetry and beautifully created illustrations. For years, the author felt obliged to hide her acute pain, the type of pain that words cannot describe but D.L. Heather has captured her feelings and emotions perfectly. “The beast within her never giving up flaring through her broken body ripping apart her insides.” Every type of pain treatment that exists has been tried, tested, and found to be inadequate. We can only hope that a solution has been found to ease her pain and suffering permanently. This book is a must-read for everyone, especially those in the medical profession who only know what they learned at medical school. This book should be added to the curriculum. All round, a fantastic book, well written and illustrated.

Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite

Karen Stuth writes about a wide variety of topics in a positive way. Her poems invite reflection on personal issues based on her experiences. She talks about appreciating the small but precious moments that life gives us. There are simple details in our days that we often devalue by having them at hand. That is why A Speckled Stone focuses on reminding us of the good and bad that we experience in our daily lives. Poetry also motivates us to live new experiences. Karen delves into feelings and emotions, looking for an interpretation of concepts such as kindness. A Speckled Stone is perfect for spending time thinking about ourselves and meditating on life's situations.

I liked the simplicity with which Karen Stuth talks about various topics. She uses clear language, and her perspective is easy to assimilate. That's why this poetry is suitable for enjoying a moment with ourselves. A Speckled Stone encourages personal development through empathy and emotional language. Empathy is not only about understanding feelings; rather, it is also about accepting others' differences. Learning to accept ourselves is very important, and Karen talks about this. Forgiveness is necessary for us to agree to our memories of the past. Not all our memories are pleasant, but with forgiveness and acceptance, we can overcome the recurring ideas that keep us stuck in the past. A Speckled Stone will inspire many people to become their best selves.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

I Look To The Mourning Sky: A Book of Poems and Writing Prompts for the Grieving Heart, by Liz Newman, could be the balm the mourning soul needs. Loss can come without warning, or it can come with the knowledge that it is going to happen, but either way, grief is a life-changing experience that we've all had before. Some grieve with more difficulty than others and seek ways to cope better. This volume of poems can help heal wounds and make some sense of loss and the grieving process. Sometimes when you're in the thick of it, you think you're by yourself, but these poems show the connection all mourners share.

Newman's poignant, emotional poems can touch the sadness that the grieving person is going through. But not only that, she invites readers to share their own bereavement by writing about them, aided by writing prompts that she provides at the end. One example of a prompt is called "Heart Check", which asks readers to examine their hearts and emotions on a given day and make note of them to increase awareness and get in touch with your feelings. Expressing grief via the written word can be tremendously helpful and healthy. Poetry can be cathartic, a shared experience, a way to process emotions that you yourself can't even put into words. Grieving has to occur at your own pace, and this book of poetry helps you do that.

To say that Newman's poetry also serves as a self-help tool would not be a stretch. But there is a balance in the poems--some are sad, while others are comforting and encouraging. There are a lot of poetry books you can pass on to others as gifts, but this one can actually help someone else if you do. Readers will be moved by selections such as the beautiful "I've Held Love Tightly", and encouraged by the poignant "An Old Bible". Wherever you are on your grief journey, take I Look To The Mourning Sky: A Book of Poems and Writing Prompts for the Grieving Heart by Liz Newman.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Healing Yesterday's Tears by Kyli Santiago is an inspiring poetry book about overcoming emotional baggage and discovering self-love. Using her own life as her muse, Kyli Santiago pens beautifully crafted poems that draw inspiration from some of the darkest moments in her life. Kyli had a rough childhood and suffered from bouts of chronic depression all her life. But she always strove toward the light and used her poetry as a part of the healing process. There is some heavy subject matter used in the narrative, such as depression, suicide, rape, emotional abuse, etc. However, Kyli also infuses themes of hope, love, inner strength, and healing into her poems that leave you with a sense of optimism about the future.

Thematically rich and narratively poignant, Healing Yesterday's Tears is a must-read for poetry lovers as well as for readers who have struggled with mental health issues or suffered through abusive relationships. Kyli Santiago bares her soul in a mesmerizing collection of poems that make you ponder long after you've finished reading them. Kyli uses poetry as a form of therapy -- a sort of meditation -- releasing all of her pent-up anger and pain through these poetic verses. Being in abusive relationships destroys one's self-esteem. Through these poems, Kyli aims to help people discover self-love and encourages them to practice self-preservation. If you're looking for some moving introspective poetry to delve into, I highly recommend Healing Yesterday's Tears.

Reviewed by Astrid Iustulin for Readers' Favorite

No literary genre can reach the heart of a reader with the same intensity as poetry, and if the poet is as inspired as Dan Burns, the result is outstanding. Already an established writer, Burns presents A Necessary Explosion, his first poetic collection, which originated from his need to write down the thoughts that crowd his mind. Gathering poems written over a span of 15 years, A Necessary Explosion is a must-read for anyone who looks for long and short poems that deal with a variety of themes such as love, music, and life. The result is one of the finest collections that lovers of poetry can find.

A Necessary Explosion is one of those poetic collections that speaks directly to the reader's heart. I felt as if the poet was talking to me as I read many of the poems. At times, I even thought that I, too, had thoughts similar to those expressed by Burns through his words. I liked how he managed to create impressive poems from common episodes of everyday life, thus transfiguring the reality we all know. I also enjoyed the longer poems, especially for their stories and the themes they develop. As a first poem collection, A Necessary Explosion made a more than positive impression on me, and I admit I had a very good time reading it. I hope I will read more of Burns' poems in the future, and in the meanwhile, I recommend this collection to every lover of poetry.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Waiting on the Monsoons for His Desert Soul by Redwulf Dancingbare is a compilation of the author's original poetry that revolves around a variety of moments captured in time, making them timeless through verses that often read like a song. The themes vary in length, tone, tenor, and subject, from the persistent haunting of a man by his memories of the Vietnam War in Grace, to The Baker in which patrons of a pâtisserie are compared to the goods they tend to purchase, and Do You Sing In Your Cage where prisoners in multiple forms have their confinements woven into stanzas. All told, the collection has over eighty independent poems that embody the spirit of its author in so many ways.

There is a beautiful way that Redwulf Dancingbare is able to create imagery in the poetic anthology Waiting on the Monsoons for His Desert Soul. As the pieces do generally have a rhythmic quality to them, there is something of a melody that regularly occurs that breathes life into the people featured and the analogies used. My personal favorite is Earth Day, a poem that has a modern Native American who takes stock of the damage done to the land of his ancestors as he glides down a polluted river that many generations back was in clean, respectful, and full harmony with the soul of his people, who treated this life source with integrity. This book is, plain and simply, a fantastic read that is immersive and profoundly human. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Amy Louise Hill for Readers' Favorite

Forever My Always: For The Soon To Be World Explorer (Life's Biggest Moments) by Eevi Jones is a beautiful and inspirational poetry book based on the love of her children. This book guides and encourages the reader with thoughtful poetry. It makes it known that no matter who you turn out to be, or where life takes you, a parent will always be there to support and love you. Give this book to someone who is about to make a big change in their life, and let them know just how much they mean to you.

Eevi Jones has written a heart-warming poetry book that, if given to a child, will help them understand just how much you love them. Eevi has done an amazing job with the use of rhymes she has chosen, and it certainly makes you feel all cozy and safe. I can imagine reading this book to my future children and having them know that I will always be there for them. This book is universal in the way that it can be given to anyone you care deeply about. The illustrations have been professionally created and aid in the warm feeling you get when reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Forever My Always, and I recommend it to everyone. So if you have someone who could do with being reminded of your love for them, or you are simply looking for a meaningful gift, then get them a copy of this adorable poetry book, and enjoy the smile it will put on their face.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Bubbly By The Sea by B. K. Sweeting is an aesthetic collection of short poems with diverse themes. It will take readers on an exciting journey that will pull them into the poems to feel, see, and learn. The collection has been divided into two sections, Head and Heart, and will mesmerize readers with the messages of hope, self-encouragement, and love. The poet's wordplay and eye in capturing emotions and surroundings, and expressions using metaphorical interpretations, create a variety of moods and give lucidity to the images she weaves into her poetry.

B. K. Sweeting's love for the sea is tangible in this collection and she conveys good messages through the two themes of Head and Heart. Though the themes dealt with in the poems are complex, the poet's exquisite wordplay makes them magical. Along with the illustrations, this collection is any poetry lover's delight. I also love the way in which she combines nature and human emotions together in most of the poems, and having illustrations make it all enchanting and dreamy. Bubbly By The Sea is one of the best poetry collections I have read in recent times. The language used, the images she has tried to create using her words, and the minimalist approach have all contributed to her fabulous work. I loved the collection and I am in love with the poet's style!

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Brendan S. Bigney, known as the Nuclear Cowboy from his days in the Marines, is no stranger to war and its aftermath. His book, War, What Comes After, is a reflection of his experiences and that of the many individuals he interviewed, who have witnessed and lived through the darkness of war. The outcome is a revealing, thought-provoking collection of poems that explores varying themes exposing the realities of war and what veterans face: brotherhood, freedom, heroism, sexual assault, pettiness, stigmatization, and much more. The poems all have deep messages embedded in them. Smalltalk is about finding it hard to partake in conversations that seem to be focused on unnecessary things. Hands explores the good and bad that men do, including building and destroying. And How Deep questions the depths one has to reach to truly know someone.

When strong emotions and memories are expressed through art, you get a multilayered, soul-baring richness. Each poem in War, What Comes After has its unique appeal and a revelation deep enough to fill up a whole book. Some poems are specific and narrative in nature while others are abstract and suggestive. The eleven sections in the book result in a neat reading experience and make it easy to navigate through. I loved every poem but was mostly touched by Where Brotherhood is Forged: a relation of brotherhood and war; I had a mix of emotions and a revelation about how beauty can be found in the ugliest situations. War, What Comes After is recommended to anyone who appreciates outstanding creativity and art in its purest, sharpest form.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

The Wings of Adversity: Poetry That Teaches and Inspires You to Soar Above Challenges and Persevere at All Times by Vanessa Caraveo is a powerful, award-winning volume of poetry that shows how adversity can be turned into inspiration and victory. This collection covers a variety of adversities, from mental illness to disability, and each poem illustrates an aspect of adversity that most of us can relate to. Even if you haven't experienced all of the issues in the poems, you may have experienced many of them, or know someone who has. We all come up against some manner of adversity in our lives. Some overpowering force us to the point of paralysis, while others serve only to strengthen.

I like how these poems show that adversity can be a force for good in someone's life. As challenges arise, we can choose to use them to make us better. Even though the themes of the poems are sometimes heavy, and some will bring tears to your eyes - like the eloquent but poignant descriptions of someone born with curved legs - they are designed to give hope in the face of difficult times. A message of positivity runs throughout the poems and emphasizes finding the good instead of the bad. Celebrities like Jay-Z, Stephen King, and Bill Gates are used as examples, but there are non-celebrity examples too. It may be challenging for some to rise above life's problems, but these poems encourage a mindset of putting things in perspective and not letting issues get the better of us. You'll be impressed at the wide-ranging issues Caraveo has assembled here, and the uplifting poems that are included, like the one titled "When Comedy Saves", which expresses how Jim Carrey rose from poverty; "The Function of Good Words", which shows the importance of speaking positive things; and "The Power of Resilience", which demonstrates strength in rebounding. As you can see by just these few titles, this isn't a negative volume of poetry.

Vanessa Caraveo writes descriptions that are physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual, sometimes with the simplest of words and ideas that are highly relatable in the natural world. Some take on more abstract, complex ideas that are harder to define but still resonate within you. The Wings of Adversity by Vanessa Caraveo could be a balm for troubled souls. You will want to keep this volume of poetry on hand if you need encouragement or want to give it to someone else who may be in need.