Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 20

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and W3 No. 116 #poetry #tankaTuesday #W3

Tanka Tuesday

This is last week’s shadorma that I didn’t manage to post in time for the challenge last week. We had a very cold spell for a few days.

Dracula’s companion (shadorma)

Cold, so cold

Bitter wind bites deep

Needle like

Incisors

Dracula’s invisible

Icy companion

This week has been much nicer weather and our peach tree is coming into blossom. I didn’t use Colleen’s prompts because they don’t suit our climate here in southern Africa.

Micro poem

Greyish bare branches

Waiting for spring’s abundance

Nodes signal new life

Picture caption: Peach tree nodes at the beginning of this past weekPicture caption: Peach tree today – first blossoms are out. Hooray!Red Shades (shadorma)

Friendly sun

Splashes and splodges

Golden light

Highlighting

Variety of red shades

In nature’s palette

Picture caption: I loved how the sun picked up the red shades in the leaves of this bush.

You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/07/16/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-43-7-16-24-part-ii-growing-heat-%e5%b0%8f%e6%9a%ef%bcshousho%ef%bc/

W3 #116

David Ben Alexander’s prompt guidelines:

Write a poem about something that amuses you!

You can join in this challenge here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/07/17/w3-prompt-116-weave-written-weekly/

I wrote this poem a while back and it was included in my now unpublished poetry book, Open a New Door. It still makes me smile.

My Man Babies

I have three man babies

All of whom I adore

‘Though each day without fail

I retrieve their undies from the floor

***

I wish I too could see

The tiny legs on their dishes

To watch them walk to the kitchen

Is one of my dearest wishes

***

The button on the dishwasher

That automatically unpacks and restacks

I wish I too could find it

So I could sit down and relax

***

The books, they think, jump up

Stacking themselves in a neat row

The day I see that happen

In Johannesburg it will snow

***

Although they never see

The most obvious of needs

They’ll help out in force

If you plant a strategic seed

Robbie’s Inspiration – Teagan’s Christmas in July Challenge and a review #bookreview #readingcommunity

This week for Teagan’s Christmas in July Challenge, I am sharing a short poem from my book, Behind Closed Doors. I am also sharing my review of The Delta Pearl: A Steampunk Riverboat by Teagan Riordain Geneviene. You can read Teagan’s latest Christmas in July post here: https://teagansbooks.com/2024/07/20/lemony-christmas-in-july-short-story/

You can join in the challenge here: https://teagansbooks.com/christmas-in-july/

Picture caption: My homemade Christmas chocolate wreath. Look carefully and you will see the 40 chocolates among the green tinsel. I made these wreathes as gifts a few years ago.

This is a poem I wrote during a dry spell one year. It rained heavily on Christmas Day.

The Best Gift of All

I woke up on Christmas morning

And what miracle did I hear?

The splatter of heavy rainfall

It’s sound so distinctive and clear

***

Santa, I’m glad you got my wish list

And thought my request worthwhile

The downpour has revived the earth

The flowers are sparkling in style

***

Water, in Africa, a most precious gift

I wonder, were the clouds in your sack?

Your gift to South Africa and its people

Will help alleviate a serious lack

Picture caption: Blackberry chocolate meringue roulade I made for dessert one Christmas Day.My review of The Delta Pearl: A Steampunk Riverboat by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

The Delta Pearl is a fantasy adventure about a mythical steamboat that travels the waterways of North America for all eternity. The boat is staffed by an intriguing crew of people who are all named for gemstones and who have all been ‘marked’ by the Delta Pearl.

The main character is a young woman of sixteen years old called Emeraude, who came aboard the boat as a small girl after the Delta Pearl saved her from drowning in the river. Emeraude, or Emmie as she’s called by the cook, is loved by the entire crew and treated like a daughter by the captain and the dealer. The book starts with Emeraude being entrusted with the important job of greeting the new guests coming aboard the riverboat. This is very unusual as the captain always greets the new passengers so Emeraude is immediately alerted to possible danger.

The passengers are an interesting group with a wealthy couple, Mr and Mrs Needleman, coming aboard with a very expensive piece of jewelry in their possession. The super bright inventor, Victor T. Elam, is also introduced as an eccentric and mystical character. All of the passengers have a story and this leads to lots of intrigue culminating in the theft of Mrs Needleman’s Pharaoh Diamond.

Ms Geneviene’s female characters are all excellent. They are all strong and admirable women, who stand up to the men and social restrictions in their lives. A few of them are positively heroic which is lovely, especially as the book is set during a time when societal conventions and expectations were very limiting for females.

There is everything you could wish for in a story in this first, fast paced, part of this two book story. There are clockwork creatures, both evil and good characters, sneaky passengers, and a young terror who causes all sorts of problems for the crew and other passengers.

If you enjoy highly imaginative stories packed with excitement and adventure, this is the series for you.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D4NPS5LP

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book Blog Tour: My Backyard Friends, written by Kaye Lynne Booth and illustrated by Robbie Cheadle #childrensfiction

Today, I am delighted to share the inspiration for Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans by Kaye Lynne Booth, as well as a mini interview with another character from the book, Becky Beaver.

The inspiration for Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans was inspired a turtle that crossed through my driveway one day, a man named Tim I knew, who reminded me of a shy little turtle, and by A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.

I spotted the turtle one day when I was returning home from picking up my son from school and it was lumbering across the driveway, heading for the creek on the other side. I stopped the car and got out with my son to get a better look at the little guy. I told my son to keep an eye on him, jumped back in the car and drove to the house to get my camera. When I returned, no more than three minutes later, my son was standing in the driveway and the turtle was nowhere to be seen. I asked him where the turtle was, and he told me it had gone into the tall grass by the creek. I said, “Why didn’t you stop it?” and he replied, “It could have been a snapping turtle, and besides, that guy was fast, Mom!” I thought this was funny, because speed is not an attribute I associate with turtles.

My friend Tim was slow and easy going in his actions, and kind of laid back in attitude, which are attributes I would associate with a turtle, which is probably why he reminded me of one. He had a large belly, and I was teasing him one time that he could be a turtle, but he would have to wear his shell backwards.

Add to that, the Winnie the Pooh story where Winnie ate too much honey and got stuck in the hole to his den, and the story of Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans began to take shape in my mind. The result was a young turtle named Timothy who has a sweet tooth and eats too many jellybeans which causes him some problems that his friends try to help him out with some curious methods of assistance. Each of his friends has their own solution to his difficulties, including Becky Beaver, Katy Cat, and Nancy Nuthatch.

Mini interview with Becky BeaverYou were clever to think of using your tail to turn Timothy over? What other things do you use your tail for?

I use my tail to propel myself through the water. It makes me go faster than I would be able to just using my paws. It also helps me balance on land so I can climb all over my dams without falling. But the most important use for my tail is to store fat that keeps me nourished during the cold months when food is scarce.

What sort of home do you live in? Can you describe it for me, please.

I love in a lodge built of sticks and mud. I can only get in and out under the water, but from land it looks like a big dome made of sticks and mud. Inside there is an eating chamber and a nesting chamber. It takes a lot of work to build one and even more to keep it in good repair, which is one reason why I’m always in a hurry. Gotta go now. There’s work to be done.

Fun facts about beaversBeavers float small trees and branches through canals to the stream where they are building their lodge. The lodge can have several underwater entrances to keep out predators, with a large dry room inside that is used as a nursery and haven. The living area is well insulated by the lodge and surrounding water, so the temperature is considerably warmer inside the lodges than outside. (Chattahoochee Nature Center. “9 Interesting Facts About Beavers”: https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/animal-facts/beaver/Beavers use their tails to slap the water, making a loud noise which serves as a warning signal for approaching danger.Beavers live in family groups, called colonies, containing up to eight related beavers. They are monogamous and the young stay with their parents for up to two years, helping with the raising of younger siblings.Beavers trim their large front incisors, which are always growing, by gnawing on tree bark. Their teeth contain iron, making them strong and giving the beaver its dark rusty-brown color. Their teeth are capable of gnawing down and felling large trees to build dams. Their lips close over their teeth so they can chew under water.Their lungs are large. and beavers can stay submerged up to 6-8 minutes.Lodges for their colonies are built with underwater entrances and a living area that is on dry land.Beavers build canals to move both food and building materials for their dams and lodges.Beavers can swim up to 5 mph.Beavers are beneficial to the environment. They create fertile soil and trap greenhouse gases with the flood plains their dams create, and create new wildlife habitat. They are called a keystone species by ecologists.Pre-order My Backyard Friends

The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.

Pre-Order Your Copy Now.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8):  https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

About Kaye Lynne Booth

Kaye Lynne Booth is a freelance writer, editor, multi-genre author and independent publisher. She holds dual MFA in Creative Writing – Genre Fiction and Screenwriting, and an M.A. in Publishing. To earn her publishing degree, she worked under the mentoring of International Bestselling author, Kevin J. Anderson on the Gilded Glass: Twisted Myths & Shattered Fairy Tales editorial team from Western State Colorado University and WordFire Press and she compiled and edited Weird Tales: The Best of the Early Years 1926-27, under Jonathan Maberry.

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Treasuring Poetry, meet Gwen M. Plano and a review #readingcommunity #poetry

Thank you to talented author and poet, Gwen M. Plano, for this lovely interview about poetry. I have also reviewed her latest book, The Soul Whisperer’s Decision. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Treasuring Poetry – Meet talented author and poet, Gwen M. Plano, and a review #poetry #bookreview #readingcommunity

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book reviews: Goodbye Old Paint by C.S. Boyack, A Beggar’s Bargain by Jan Sikes, and Live and Let by Judith Barrow #readingcommunity

I am a little behind with sharing reviews of books I’ve read. I am catching up with three that I have read and reviewed recently. I have another three reviews to write with two other books nearly finished. Thank you, Alexa, for being such a good reader.

Goodbye Old Paint by C.S. BoyackPicture caption: Book cover for Goodbye Old Paint featuring a Jeep

Goodbye Old Paint is another fabulous romp through the fantasy world of Lizzie and the Hat. Following a devastating flood that damaged many of the businesses in town, Lizzie is very hard up for money. There is just no work around. Lizzie has living expenses to pay and a student loan hanging in the background. The situation is quite desperate so when a couple of government agents appear, who know her recent history as a monster hunter and promise the forgiveness of her debt if she helps them, Lizzie has no option but to take the bait.

Enter the gremlins. I love gremlins. Somehow these horrid little creatures with their big teeth and ability to eat anything have always been my favourite fantasy creature so I was delighted to see them make an appearance. They didn’t let me down, they were just as destructive and horrible as I remembered from the movie entitled Gremlins.

Several characters from the previous six books make an appearance in this one and I was delighted to see Dash and a few witches pop up in helpful rolls. Poor Lizzie, as always, must face some uncomfortable obstacles on her adventure, but she has great friends and the Hat by her side.

The Hat is a glorious feat of imagination and I love that it can transform into a ‘fool’s cap’ and use the points to work a mobile phone. This always delights me.

Purchase Goodbye Old Paint from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJ7B84TW

A Beggar’s Bargain by Jan SikesPicture caption: Book cover for A Beggar’s Bargain featuring a barn, dog, and 1940’s car

This is a delightful romance with an interesting historical setting. Layken Martin has just returned home following his discharge from the army. He is penniless and during his time abroad, both his parents have passed away, leaving the family farm neglected and in debt to the local banker. Layken desperately wants to save the farm from repossession, but the banker is a selfish and hard man. Layken’s situation seems unsolveable when the banker suddenly offers him a bargain. If Layken marries his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, he will give Layken extra time to repay the morgage and will also give him a small sum of money to carry on with. Seeing no other option, Layken accepts the bargain.

Layken intends to treat Sara Beth like a sister for the period of the morgage reprieve and once he’s back on his feet, they can go their separate ways. But while men make plans, life happens, and Sara Beth turns out to be made of strong stuff. She is determined to play her part in saving the farm and quickly proves her worth. Naturally, the two start to develop feelings for each other but the bargain stands as a huge obstacle between them.

The couple’s path crosses with those of a few other people who all become a part of the desperate bid to save the farm. Various traumas occur which all the involved people have to overcome while learning about the importance of good neighbours, kindness, and sticking together during difficult times.

Layken and Sara Beth were both delightful characters and the kind of hardworking and kind people I would love to know. There are a few periods where belief must be suspended for short periods following a serious injury, but this did not detract from the story for me, even though I know a great deal about illness and recovery.

A lovely, feel-good story that will leave you believing in the goodness of humanity. Who wouldn’t want to read a book that?

Purchase A Beggar’s Bargain by Jan Sikes from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Beggars-Bargain-Jan-Sikes-ebook/dp/B0CVK8442G

Live and Let by Judith BarrowPicture caption: Book cover of Live and Let featuring an ocean scene

I really enjoyed this short book about the author’s experiences running an air B&B, in those days it would have been called a holiday let. The author, her husband and their three small children go on a short holiday to Pembrokeshire, Wales. They fall in love with the area and put in an offer for a ‘doer upper’ which they came across by chance while out for a walk. The stars align and their offer is accepted resulting in the family relocating to this beautiful place.

The husband starts his own business, but additional income is required so the couple decide to convert a part of the large house into a flat to rent out to holiday makers. This is the start of several hilarious anecdotes about the behaviours of various tenants including a couple who practice yoga daily in the front garden in the nude.

I enjoyed learning a bit about the author’s life as a young, newly married woman and the events leading up the purchase of the house in Pembrokeshire as well as the funny stories about the tenants.

A most entertaining short read.

Purchase Live and Let by Judith Barrow from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Live-Let-Judith-Barrow-ebook/dp/B0D2P5TRCL

Robbie’s Inspiration: Teagan’s Christmas in July Celebration: Sneak peak into Something Fancy, my baking book WIP #Christmas in July #baking #SomethingFancy

Picture caption: Teagan’s Christmas in July badge featuring Santa on the Beach

Today’s post is for Teagan’s Christmas in July Celebration. You can find Teagan’s latest post here: https://teagansbooks.com/2024/07/13/christmas-in-july-fun-songs/

You can find the challenge outline here: https://teagansbooks.com/christmas-in-july/

I am working on a baking book. It is not a cookery book, but rather a book full of ideas for decorating cakes for various special occasions and including my recipes for the foundation cakes for the cake artworks. I am also including some of my baked goods treats recipes. The book will include my tips on cake decorating such as how to cut and shape cake, create marble icing effects, and line cake pans.

This is a sneak peak into Something Fancy and comprises of my Christmas cake recipe and a few pictures of decorated Christmas cakes I’ve made.

Recipe (makes 1 x 26 cm round cake) for Christmas cakeIngredients for Christmas cake

250 grams currants

240 grams sultana

200 grams mixed berries

240 grams raisins

120 grams mixed peel

180 grams chopped cherries

300 grams plain white cake flour

pinch salt

2.5 ml mixed spice

2.5 ml cinnamon

300 grams softened butter

300 grams sticky brown sugar

30 ml lemon zest

6 eggs, lightly beaten

45 ml brandy

Method for Christmas cake

Preheat the oven to 140 degrees Celsius. Double line the cake tin with thick baking paper.

Beat the sugar and butter in an electric mixer. Add the lemon zest. Add the eggs, beating in one at a time.

In a separate bowl mix the dried fruit, spices, salt cherries and flour. Add the egg mixture and mix well. Lastly, pour in the brandy and combine.

Scoop the mixture into the baking tin and level with the back of a spoon. Wrap a layer of tin foil around the base of the baking tin and place in the oven. Bake for +- 3 hours.

Picture credit: Skiing snowman Christmas Cake

Picture Caption: Christmas ‘Three Generations’ cakes

Michael and I have a Sir Chocolate Highdays and Holidays children’s baking book about Christmas.

Picture caption: Sir Chocolate and the Missing Christmas Harp story and activity book available from Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Missing-Christmas-holidays-books-ebook/dp/B0BNHX8XGC

Robbie’s Inspiration -Reblog, Growing Bookworms: Illustrating children’s book #growingbookworms

A quick update about my aunt. Unfortunately, she’s had a relapse and I was in the ER for another 7 hours last night getting her tested and readmitted. She was tired but okay when I visited at 3pm today. I am a bit behind with comments as a result, but I’ll catch up again.

This month’s Growing Bookworms post is about illustrating children’s books and Kaye Lynne Booth’s new children’s series, My Backyard Friends. Thanks for hosting, Kaye.

Growing Bookworms – illustrating children’s books #childrensfiction #growingbookworms #readingcommunity

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday #poetry #TankaTuesday

My first poem is for Tanka Tuesday which you can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/07/02/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-41-7-2-24-part-iii-the-summer-solstice-june-21-july-6-geshi-%e5%a4%8f%e8%b3/

My second poem is another anecdote from the ER.

Old Man Winter (Tanka)

Old Man Winter works

Cleans out accumulation

Of old, dead leaves

Leftover decorations

From autumn’s colourful ball

Picture caption: my peach tree has lost every leafAnecdotes from the ER – The Dancer

The door to the emergency room waiting area opens and three men shuffle in. They are an eye catching trio. Two greying men in knitted cardigans and comfortable shoes supporting the elbows of a younger man. The youngster’s hair is fashionable shaved up the sides with a poofy afro on top. Thick socks cover his feet which stick out of open-toed slip on shoes. All of their backs are very straight and their feet are splayed like ducks.

Later, I see the youngster and one of the older men again. The youngster is in the cubicle next to my aunt. His friend clucks around him like a mother hen. My aunt is on a drip, her eyes are closed, her face waxen. The youngster’s dark face is shiny with health but his eyes are glazed, a bit vacant.

What’s wrong with him? I wonder

Later, Mother Hen asks me if I have a charger for a mobile phone. I lend him my battery and he strikes up a conversation. They are dancers. Rather, he is a retired dancer and teacher and the young man was one of his pupils.

“He’s a very talented dancer,” the older man whispers. “He was selected for further development by a dance school in New York. He was lonely and during December he got into meth. We didn’t have the money to bring him back.” The faded blue eyes look at me, pleading for my understanding.

The doctor strides over, eyes bright behind Harry Potter glasses. He motions to Mother Hen and they disappear behind the drawn curtain.

I am not listening but I hear the words lumber puncture and possible stroke. More mumbling and I hear “financial”.

The doctor pops back into view and strides away.

Mother Hen peeps out and whispers to me: “I’m taking him to the Helen Joseph. He needs to be admitted and I can’t afford private care.”

I smile. “It’ll be okay. You’re very good to look after him.”

Drug taking

Masks anxieties

Sooths life’s pain

Smooths life’s path

Everything a fantasy

Except they can kill

Picture caption: another part of the garden. It still looks like autumn.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Teagan’s Christmas in July celebration: A letter to Santa and Christmas decorations

Thank you to the dynamic and talented Teagan Riordain Geneviene for this fabulous idea. This is my contribution to her Christmas in July celebration which you can join in here: https://teagansbooks.com/2024/07/06/christmas-in-july-kickoff-hullaba-christmas/

For this first post, we are requested to include a decoration. Here are my fondant Miss Christmas Cracker and Mr Christmas Pudding.

Letter to Father Christmas, North Pole  – December 1942

Written on behalf of Elsie Hancy by her sister, Jean Hancy

15 December 1942

Dear Father Christmas,

I hope you don’t mind that my sister, Jean, is helping me to write this letter. I only started school in September and I haven’t learned all my letters yet.

It is school holidays now and my sisters and I are having a nice time at home. After we have finished writing our letters to you, my older sisters are going to make a paper chain to decorate the front room. Mother has given them some old paper which they will cut into strips and glue together to make the loops for the chain. I am going to watch as Mother says I am too young to cut with scissors.

Mother said that we should all ask for peace for Christmas this year. She is tired of the war and wants it to end soon so there will be more food for everyone and we can have a bigger coal fire to keep us all warm. She says there are severe food shortages in the cities and that we are lucky we live on a farm and have lots of milk to drink. We also have more meat than the people in the cities as Father is able to shoot rabbits when they come onto our farm. I do enjoy rabbit stew, it is one of my favourite meals.

Father says that the Allies are doing well in North Africa and this has given all the soldiers new hope. Father doesn’t talk about the war much but I know he is also hoping it will end soon. I am lucky to have Father at home with us. The fathers of most of my school friends have been called up to fight for Britain in the war. Father is a farmer and it is his job to stay on his land and help to produce food to feed the nation.

I don’t know what it means to have peace. Britain has always been at war since I can remember. Mother says that when the war ends, I will be able to have butter and jam on my bread every day and my brothers and sisters won’t have to go to bed hungry at night. That sounds very nice so I am asking you to please bring us peace.

If it isn’t too much trouble, it would be nice if you could also bring me a doll. She doesn’t have to be new, I don’t mind if someone has loved the doll before me, but I would really like to have one.

Thank you for reading my letter. Please travel safely when you come to England and be careful of the Nazi bomber planes. If you need to you can shelter in our bomb shelter in the garden. I know Father won’t mind.

Your friend

Elsie

Replica of a bomb shelter at the Duxford Imperial War Museum

While the Bombs Fell ebook: https://www.lulu.com/shop/elsie-hancy-eaton-and-robbie-cheadle/while-the-bombs-fell/ebook/product-17en5p2k.html?q=robbie+cheadle&page=1&pageSize=4

While the Bombs Fell paperback: https://www.amazon.com/While-Bombs-Fell-Robbie-Cheadle/dp/1912416433

Robbie’s Inspiration – Poetry Book Review: Shh, Purely Poetry by M.J. Mallon #poetrycommuntiy #book review

What Amazon says

A compilation of sensual, love and relationship poems. Quirky, unusual and evocative.

Shh, Purely Poetry is a collection of poetic pieces about love, sensuality and relationships with sections entitled: love as fuel, (food and coffee love,) the summer and winter of love, strangers in love, quirky aspects and nature as sensuality.

Inspired in part by daily prompt poems written for the 365poetrypromptchallenge, observations of places, people and my travels.

Early Reviews
A beautiful collection of sensual poetry based on love and relationships of all kinds. As many of these pieces come from word prompts, it’s interesting to see these different voices/narratives come to life. There are some observers, some voyeurs, some sapphic, some with varying innuendos, some in mourning for lost love and some enthralled in a new beginning. I enjoyed the use of rhyming schemes in poems such as ‘Gotta stick together ladies’, the alliteration in ‘Blooms of Blossoming Bliss’ and repetition in ‘War Talk’. The imagery throughout is wonderfully conveyed and makes each poem vividly its own tale. A unique and thoughtful collection that easily connects to a reader, and I would thoroughly recommend! (I also enjoyed the ‘Blackpool Funny Girls Drag Show’ as I attended the afterparty of The Book Party and the conga was brilliant!!!) Review Quote Amy B Garratt.

A loving collection of poetry that delicately weaves in relationships at many stages. Many are sensual, full of texture and images, and some offer unique takes on human interaction. Here are a few beautiful passages: “The Sweetness/The longing/Each kiss deeper/different and the same/Like I belonged to more than him/Like I belonged to the poetry.”؅—Dining on Poetry, “…beautiful calligraphy to highlight/tiny ink splodges to add character/tear drops to remind me of sad days.”—Love Hidden In the Margin, and “She is fair and I am dark/Slight and I am robust/We fill our together/completing our silhouettes.”—Silhouettes. “Shh, Purely Poetry” is meant to be savored more than once by lovers of sensuous and thoughtful poems. Review Quote D. L. Finn

A beautiful and loving collection of poetry that discusses love and relationships of all kinds. It’s fun, sensual, full of imagery and very unique. This collection of poems contains many pieces that are derived from word prompts, so it was really interesting to explore all the different narratives that were weaved throughout. I believe this is a collection of poetry that is super sweet and meant to be savoured (see what i did there? )
My personal favourite from this collection was “The Universe is Ours” Review Quote Book Sirens

M J’s compelling poems celebrate the colour of sensuality, the power of love, the sweetness of desire, and the four seasons of romantic relationships.
Vivid imagery and evocative language capture the essence of sensuality, while awakening the senses and igniting the imagination – the partner’s body is often explored like a treasure map, with descriptions of carnal beauty and the pleasure of touch, celebrating the irresistible pulchritude of the human body and the joy of physical connection:

“I can still feel her lips on mine
Salty like the caramel snack
That she turned down for peanuts.
My hands caress her breasts
They sit up pert. Asking – no begging to be touched.”
~ fragment from ‘Valentine’s In Chocolates’ Review Quote Book Sirens

My review

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

This is a delightful and entertaining collection of poems that all revolve around romance and love. The poems range from those expressing the most tender of emotions to those that are what my mother would term ‘saucy’. All of them will grab hold of your heart and give it a squeeze. All are relatable.

A few extracts of the poems that stand out in my mind from this collection and demonstrate the range of the poems:

“You wore a tangerine dress the day I met you
On the beach we sat on the sand
Your citrine necklace completed you
You positively shone like the sun”
From Tangerine Dress

“We met again, a second chance to see that …
twinkle beyond his eyes.
He had a wicked sense of humour.
Stripping down to his boxer shorts.
He catwalked for me, strutting his think.
We ended up in a tangle of limbs.
Me untangling his boxer shorts!
From my Boxer Boy

This poem really moved me a lot:
“Listen, please! In silence, his desperation drips.

Like a leaky faucet needing repairs.

And yet. There is something about him.
A strangely erotic quality.
That draws my eyes towards him.
But – he has one tiny, immense flaw.”

This is a wonderful collection that will take you down your own romantic memory lane with its magnificent highs and terrific lows.

Purchase Shh, Purely Poetry by M.J. Mallon from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D12C3329

And, from Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shh-Purely-Poetry-Sensual-Relationship-ebook/dp/B0D12C3329