Tag: review

Book Review: Shh Purely Poetry #bookreview #poetry #indievisible #indievisibleevents #indiebookbanter

Delighted with this lovely review for my latest poetry collection via my participation in the Indie Visible Spring Spectacular.

Indie Book Banter’s Review:

Firstly thank you to the author for allowing us to sample the delights of poetry for FREE during the Indie Author Spring Spectacular.

I am currently dipping in and out of this beautiful collection in between tasting the words of so many other new to me indies.

The following teaser is from my favourite poem so far.

Love Hidden InThe Margins

if i were a poem

i’d grace a beautiful notebook

its cover bright sunflowers

inside a ray of sunshine.

beautiful calligraphy to highlight

tiny ink splodges to add character

tear drops to remind me of sad days

poems of sunshine and sadness

grief and joy.

life and loves.

A collection I would recommend 🌹📖

Blurb

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.

Shh Purely Poetry: (sensual, relationship, love poetry) available internationally via Amazon.

Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D12C3329/

Waterstones:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shh-purely-poetry/m-j-mallon/9781999822484

Blackwells:

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Shh-Purely-Poetry-by-M-J-Mallon/9781999822484

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shh-purely-poetry-m-j-mallon/1145808320

It’s receiving lots of reviews on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211642171-shh-purely-poetry

And my other poetry/prose collections

Do What You Love : (author type poetic memoir)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY

https://www.amazon.com/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet (poetry, forest, Witchy vibe)

Amazon Kindle buying Link: https://books2read.com/u/mv1OeV

Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose (with photography) (flash fiction about twin siblings and sister, poetry about life)

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

If you are interested in Indie Marketing events do check out Hayley Anderton at Indie Visible I can recommend. Hayley’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indie_visible_services/

I will be participating in the next sale in the summer so keep a look out for that.

https://indievisibleevents

Book Review: The Mess of Us #ya #book #review @chanatkins

The Mess of US in currently on preorder and releases February 14th, Buy Link below.

Book overview

“Dear World, so, obviously we made a mess of it. Inevitably. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing to you again, would I?”What do you do when the man who beat your boyfriend into a coma is about to be released from prison? What do you do when that man is your boyfriend’s older brother who wants to make amends?Now a couple, Lou and Joe are struggling to get over the traumatic events of two years ago. When Joe’s brother Leon is released from prison, they must decide if either of them are able to forgive and forget what he did.Meanwhile, an unexpected pregnancy throws their lives into chaos and when tragedy reawakens Lou’s self-destructive tendencies, she faces losing everything they have built. Can she fight her body image demons once again? Can either of them trust Leon? As Joe and Lou try to decide whether bad people can truly change, they are about to have one mess of a summer.

My Review

The Mess Of Us

I had the pleasure of reading this brilliant tale twice as an early reader. This is the sequel to The Mess of Me which I loved too.

This is a moving young adult story written in a diary style to their baby whilst eighteen-year-old  Lou is pregnant with Joe’s baby.

Lou hates putting on weight. She discovers she is pregnant and the family rally around to support the young couple. I loved the emotionally moving scenes with Lou supporting Joe when he is reunited with his vicious brother. And how Joe came to terms with grief and how Lou grew up in the process. She began to understand the reasons why Joe’s druggie brother believed in the way he did. And, surprisingly, he entrusts her with a secret she must keep.

The friends grow up, life changes.

Lou and Joe are both so likeable you just want to give them both a warm hug. Especially Joe! He’s a rare kind of boy.

Lou’s friend Marianne is the opposite. She is about as toxic as you can get! But she has a vulnerability too which was always there.

There is a softening, compassionate edge to this story which doesn’t excuse villians but reveals they can be damaged too.

Highly recommended for YA readers and anyone who loves stories about growing up.

My rating 4 🌟

Chantelle Atkins was born and raised in Dorset, England and still resides there now with her husband, four children, and multiple pets.

She is addicted to reading, writing, and music and writes for both the young adult and adult genres.

Her fiction is described as gritty, edgy and compelling. Her debut Young Adult novel The Mess Of Me deals with eating disorders, self-harm, fractured families and first love.

Her second novel, The Boy With The Thorn In His Side follows the musical journey of a young boy attempting to escape his brutal home life and has now been developed into a 5 book series.

She is also the author of This Is Nowhere and award-winning dystopian, The Tree Of Rebels, plus a collection of short stories related to her novels called Bird People and Other Stories.

The award-winning Elliot Pie’s Guide To Human Nature was released in October 2018.

A Song For Bill Robinson was the first in YA trilogy titled Holds End, followed by Emily’s Baby and The Search For Summer. Recently, she has co-authored the Fortune’s Well YA trilogy with Sim Alec Sansford. The Day The Earth Turned YA series is her latest release before this.

Shh Purely Poetry @bakeandwrite@rosieamber1 #review #RBRT #Poetry #love #relationships

Thank you so much to Robbie Cheadle for this wonderful review of Shh Purely Poetry for Rosie’s Book Review Team.

Review Excerpt:

Follow the link below to read the full review on Robbie’s blog:

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

Book Review Cocktails, Wedding Bells and Summer Madness @sparklyauthor#bookreview

Cocktails, Wedding Bells and Summer Madness

Julia Sutton

BLURB

Straight-laced Rose loves books, swimming and the folk choir. So when her gregarious best friend arrives home from a ten year around-the-world trip, her safe, comfortable existence is thrown into disarray.

Rose is persuaded to take on the role of Matron of Honour, but not for a traditional church the ceremony is to take to take place on a Mediterranean beach. She is promised sun, sea, sand and a rousing good time.

But how will she cope with her fear of flying, mosquitoes, men, and everything else that takes her out of her comfort zone? Will she survive a ten day holiday with an over-excited bride to be, a bossy bridesmaid and a moody, enigmatic best man?

Take a dip in the ocean and relax in the sun with Julia Sutton’s ‘Cocktails, Wedding Bells and Summer Madness’ – a dazzling summer romance that combines love, laughter and friendship.

Book Review

Listened to on audible.

What a lovely heartwarming romance with family, sunshine abroad, holiday elements. I loved the character of Rose whose life seems somewhat dull and passing her by until her old best friend from school, Shelley comes back to the UK with three hunky Australian brothers: Harry, (Shelley’s fiance) Finn, and the quieter more mysterious Tom.

It’s light-hearted and funny in parts.

I loved the character of Rose’s outspoken granny and how Rose faces her fears to becomes a changed, more confident woman.Rose’s relationship with Tom deepens whilst they are all away in Majorca but she’s warned off him.

What secrets is he hiding? And who is he really? Will their romance blossom, or fizz out. And what about her old flame Jeremy?

Highly recommended for romance/women’s fiction readers.

My rating 5 stars

Smorgasbord Posts from my Archives – Previous Reviews from 2022 – The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet by M.J. Mallon | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine @sgc58 #thankyou #review #poetry #nature #forests

Thank you so much to Sally Cronin for dipping into her archives and resharing her previous review of my poetry collection: The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet. How kind. I really appreciate 🙂

From Sally’s blog:

My review for the collection This is a poetry and flash fiction collection seeped in nature and illustrates the love the author has for the environment, particular the forests. The first pages share the delightful love story of the Hedge Witch and the Musical Poet, bringing two solitary characters together in the sanctuary of a magical forest far from the human world. This story is followed by poems and flash fiction, some of which are poignant such as the tribute to a ginger cat in Chester, Don & I, and bewilderment voiced in The Network of Trees as they stand in danger from the human need for progress. There is also the sad reflection that much of the beauty and adventures to be found in the forests are being missed as children find themselves engrossed in the online world instead. The author makes sure to include the fun they could be enjoying instead. The Teddy in the Woods probably should come with a tissue alert. There are some reminders of poems from another collection which I also enjoyed Mr. Sagittarius Poetry; one of my favourites being Rainbow – Parasol of Light. In the second section of the collection there is a series of poems inspired by other writers.

Source: Smorgasbord Posts from my Archives – Previous Reviews from 2022 – The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet by M.J. Mallon | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

5+ stars for Golden Healer: The Curse of Time by M.J. Mallon #ya #fantasy #audiobook #bookreview

Many thanks to N.N. Light, Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer and Verified Influencer for this wonderful review of the audiobook of Golden Healer. @NNP_W_Light #audiobook #review #NextChapterPub @NextChapterPb

Title: Golden Healer: The Curse of Time, Book 2 Author: M. J. Mallon Narrator: Kerri Hiebert Genre: Coming of Age, YA Fantasy, YA
Book Blurb:
I didn’t think my life could get any weirder, until the dreaded rollercoaster….
Amelina Scott’s destiny is to be a Krystallos: a magician of light, chosen to learn the ways of crystal magic on her 16th birthday. Located on a river pathway in a mysterious part of Cambridge, the Crystal Cottage is guarded by mythical beings.
Unfortunately, there are those who seek to harm this haven of light. Learning of Ryder, a Shadow Sorcerer with hypnotic powers, Amelina discovers that her own magic is now threatened, and that the Curse of Time might be unleashed again.
As secrets abound and the creatures of the Chronophage come alive, can Amelina become the true magician she needs to be?
A unique, imaginative mystery full of magic-wielding and dark elements, Golden Healer is a riveting adventure for anyone interested in fantasy, mythology or the world of the paranormal.
NOTE: this book contains mention of self-harm, mental health issues, and alludes to the potential dangers of sexual attraction, which may trigger younger/sensitive listeners.


N. N. Light’s Review:
Story Impressions –The author is a magician with words. She crafts scenes of sublime fantasy that are clear and easily pictured in the mind of the reader. The gift of description is also present. The scenes are very easy to understand, and the reader is swept into the story.
Narrator’s overall voice – Kerri Hiebert’s voice has a personality all her own which she applies to the various character voices. It has a smoothness and lilt I thoroughly enjoyed.
Does the narrator fit the characters? Yes, Kerri Hiebert fits the characters. I’m astonished at how well she evokes the different characters.
Narrator’s reading style –Kerri Hiebert has an relaxed reading style but with enough dramatic flair to keep the listener entranced.
Narrator’s impact on reading experience –Kerri Hiebert has an intrinsic ability to draw a listener/reader in without any effort. The scenes are so well narrated, I had to stop what I was doing to focus on the story.
Narrator’s pacing –Kerri Hiebert’s pacing is flawless, blending fantasy, mythology, coming of age themes with ease.
Audiobook flow – Kerri Hiebert lets the audiobook develop naturally through the use of dialogue, action, and world-building.
What makes this audiobook unique –Kerri Hiebert and M.J. Mallon partner up to bring readers/listeners an engrossing YA fantasy adventure. The plot is full of intrigue which adds to the enjoyment while listening. Kerri’s narration brings Golden Healer to life.
Would I recommend this audiobook – YES! One-click this audiobook right now.

Since Golden Healer got five stars or better in their review, I received N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Five Star Award Seal. And Bloodstone also received the seal as it was also rated 5+ stars. https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2023/07/23/audiobook-reviews-bloodstone-audiobook-review-ya-fantasy/

N.N. Light’s Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now: Audible US https://www.audible.com/pd/Golden-Healer-Audiobook/B0BX7FJYJK
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Healer-Curse-Time-Book/dp/B0BX7DWK37
Audible CA https://www.audible.ca/pd/Golden-Healer-Audiobook/B0BX7FMSN1
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60216858-golden-healer
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/golden-healer-the-curse-of-time-book-2-by-m-j-mallon

N.N. Light’s Review: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/golden-healer-abr

Audiobook Reviews: Bloodstone #audiobook #review #ya #fantasy @NNP_W_Light #NNLBH

  • Overall    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story    5 out of 5 stars

Add to Goodreads – currently 103 ratings, 88 reviews.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58417468-bloodstone

Buy Link:

Multiple Platform Buy Link – in kindle, paperback, hardback: https://books2read.com/u/bOyrgW

Audiobook UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/author/M-J-Mallon/B074CGNK4L

US: https://www.audible.com/author/M-J-Mallon/B074CGNK4L

One of the best YA fantasies I’ve heard!

Story Impressions –

Amelina interacts with magical people, beings, and objects while learning the truth of her family. What happens next will astound you, the reader. Are you ready for an adventure? Bloodstone is an imaginative coming of age fantasy adventure I enjoyed from start to finish. Taking bits from fantasy authors of the past, M.J. Mallon adds her own blend of magical realism and emotional coming of age to make Bloodstone a gem. The plot moves at a good pace with each chapter starting with a puzzle. What a creative way to keep the reader invested.

Narrator’s overall voice –

Kerri Hiebert’s voice has an individuality all her own but when she employs the various character voices, it takes on each character with ease. I thoroughly adored her voice.

Does the narrator fit the characters?

Yes, Kerri Hiebert fits the characters with a youthful tone. I’m astonished at how well she evokes Amelina. It’s not an easy thing to do. Great job.

Narrator’s reading style –

Kerri Hiebert has an informal reading style but with enough twists and turns to keep the listener mesmerized.

Narrator’s impact on reading experience –

Kerri Hiebert has an inherent ability to draw a listener/reader in without any effort. She takes what is one of the most riveting fantasy stories I’ve ever read and creates a masterpiece. The scenes are so well narrated, I had to stop what I was doing to concentrate on the story.

Narrator’s pacing –

Kerri Hiebert’s pacing is impeccable, blending fantasy, mythology, coming of age themes, and more with no difficulty.

Audiobook flow –

Kerri Hiebert lets the audiobook unfold naturally with plenty of dialogue, action, and intrigue.

What makes this audiobook unique –

Kerri Hiebert and M.J. Mallon partner up to bring readers/listeners one of the best YA fantasy audiobooks I’ve heard in a long time. The plot is full of intrigue which adds to the enjoyment while listening. Kerri’s narration brings Bloodstone to life, like a streaming show. Brilliant from start to finish.

Would I recommend this audiobook –

YES! Don’t delay. One-click this audiobook right now.

N.N. Light’s Rating: 5+ stars

Publisher’s Summary

Fifteen-year-old Amelina Scott lives in Cambridge with her dysfunctional family, a mysterious black cat, and an unusual girl who is imprisoned within the mirrors located in her house.When an unexpected message arrives inviting her to visit the Crystal Cottage, she sets off on a forbidden path where she encounters Ryder, a charismatic, perplexing stranger.With the help of a magical paint set and some crystal wizard stones, can Amelina discover the truth about her family?A unique, imaginative mystery full of magic-wielding and dark elements, Bloodstone is a riveting adventure for anyone interested in fantasy, mythology, or the world of the paranormal.©2021 M.J. Mallon (P)2022 M.J. Mallon

Read the review on N. N. Light’s blog:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/bloodstone-abr

Message from N. N. Light:

Since you got five stars or better in our review, you receive our N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Five Star Award Seal. I’ve attached it below. Feel free to use it in all your marketing or even on your cover, if you wish.

This also applied to book 2 Golden Healer which also received the award too.

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/golden-healer-abr

Robbie’s Inspiration – Poetry book tour: Do What You Love by M.J. Mallon #review #poetry #bookreview #readingcommunity

Thank you so much to Robbie for this blog tour post and review of my latest poetry, flash fiction collection Do What You Love.

Robbie is a huge supporter of the indie community, a wonderful author and poet who reviews extensively. I appreciate her valued opinion so much.

Do read at source and connect with Robbie: https://wp.me/p7Uxin-57v

Robbie’s Review

This is a beautiful and personal account through poetry, prose and photographs, of the emotional highs and lows of the poet’s life. The poet is accompanied on her walk down memory lane by the three sisters of fate, the Morai: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos with whom she engages in conversation about the particular moments in time highlighted by the poems.

While the poems are personal, their themes are universal which makes them relatable to the reader and facilitates emotional engagement with the particular set of circumstances detailed in the various syllabic poems. The poems are accompanied by beautiful photographs, many of which are nature orientated. I particularly liked the Botanical Gardens Cambridge UK.

One of my favourite poems in the collection is My Daughters. Perhaps this one appeals so much to me because my own sons are standing on the cusp of adulthood and will soon be flying the nest. This is a short extract:

“Now the drama’s nearly over. I tremble.
Expecting the next crisis to come
rippling around the lake.
The waters swaying. It’s stiller now.
They’re wiser.”

This is a book that is best savoured slowly over a glass of wine. 

Colleen’s Coffee Klatch: MJ Mallon, “Do What You Love,” #NewRelease – Colleen M. Chesebro

Thank you so much to Colleen for this lovely Coffee Klatch post and review celebrating the launch of my new poetry, short fiction release Do What You Love.

Colleen’s Review Recommendation:

Do What You Love is a fantastical journey between the author and the three sisters of fate told in poetry and prose. Many of the reminiscences are autobiographical, sharing memories and photographs accompanied by poetry and short prose pieces.

In this gentle journey from her past, present, and future, Mallon weaves together the poetic threads of her life influenced by the three sisters of fate: Atropos, Clotho, and Lachesis. She shares with them many conversations about meeting her husband, what it was like living in Scotland, and later her life in Cambridge, featuring stories about her children and her own sentimental stories of growing up.

It’s Mallon’s nature photos and poetry that always send me to far-off lands filled with the beauty of Autumn. Watch for one of my favorites, the flash fiction piece called, “A New Harvest.”

A lovely read that leaves you reminiscing about your own past, present, and future.

Source: Colleen’s Coffee Klatch: MJ Mallon, “Do What You Love,” #NewRelease – Colleen M. Chesebro

Discussing Do What You Love with MJ Mallon | Linda’s Book Bag

Thank you so much to Linda Hill for this wonderful chat and review about my new book: Do What You Love. Do pop over to her blog to share in with some dim sum, cake and chit chat!

Source: Discussing Do What You Love with MJ Mallon | Linda’s Book Bag

Linda’s review:

A small and perfectly formed collection about finding your way in life.

Do What You Love is simply lovely. Marjorie Mallon bases her collection on an iterative image of and conversation with the Fates as well as the concept of doing what a person loves and she affords the reader a personal insight into her life and family as she does so. I really recommend reading her author introduction in advance of the rest of the book because it sets the scene so beautifully.

Given that this is a very personal book, I was concerned that it would be too specific to the author. Not a bit of it.  There’s a wide range in Do What You Love that encompasses poetry, prose and photography so that there really is something for every reader. I particularly enjoyed the variety of writing style. The first entry, Fragility Of Your Flame, feels very traditional in style, reminiscent of traditional fables and this is continued throughout the collection, giving balance to the shorter entries as the author imagines conversations with the Fates that enable her to reflect on her life and family.

There’s such a range of emotion in Do What You Love. Parents will experience the pain of letting go of their children even whilst they might be immensely proud of them. Marjorie Mallon illustrates love, joy, sadness, pride, the impact of nature on an individual and so much more. Her sense of place and history comes through with just a tweak of her pen and she so celebrates a childlike sense of awe and joy that she helps readers connect (or indeed reconnect) with their own happiness. I especially enjoyed the entries about trees because the author reignited my love of nature.

Do What You Love is a highly personal collection to Marjorie Mallon, but at the same time as giving readers a glimpse into who she is and where she has come from, she gently guides readers to contemplate their own lives, to live more positively and to appreciate each moment. This is such a wonderful message. and a much needed one in today’s world.