Hi Everyone,

In the midst of working on my own writing projects, I’m enjoying some great reading and finally finished reviews. I hope my thoughts prompt you to visit Amazon. 🙂 And please know that the length of my reviews may vary from one to the other, but each of these books earned 5-stars!

Where Stories Meet curated by Marsha Ingrao is a beautiful anthology compiled of stories and poems from Story Chat Digest. The book is divided into sections that begin with an entertaining conversation which makes you feel like pulling up a chair and joining in. The topics vary from lighthearted and humorous to more reflective. What makes this anthology even more special are the writing tips we can learn from, along with questions following the stories. There is something for every reader to ponder over or resonate with. And I shouldn’t dog ear books, but I do, so when I love a collection of stories and/or poems, most or even all the pages will have a corner folded over. Such is the case in this wonderful book.

I also don’t like to cherry pick favorites in anthologies where several authors have come together to create a wonderful piece of work. So, I love the entire book, but one poem that stood out was “What Would You Do Different” by Yvette Prior.

“What would you do different – if you knew – Death was so close for you?”

This question and topic stayed with me, maybe because the years are piling up. Don’t these words make you stop in your tracks too for a little contemplation?

Marsha’s hard work is a labor of love! Another special aspect of this book is that you can read it in one day, if life allows. Or you can enjoy one story or poem at a time, as if savoring a sinfully delicious piece of homemade carrot cake topped with cream cheese frosting. Delight at your own pace. I highly recommend this wonderful anthology and congratulate Marsha and the other talented authors who contributed.

Jan Sikes has done it again in Fringes, Heartstrings, and Lyrics, a collection of short stories and poems that will prompt you to reflect upon your own life. I always enjoy Jan’s storytelling, and this wonderful gathering of fiction and poetry became another dog-eared book. I had many favorites, but I’ll highlight a few.

“A Foreign World” was the opening story that paused my heartbeat. In my opinion, the world and our country are changing faster than most of us can keep up. Some change is good, but some change is distressing, and this story spotlights the distressing element. When I finished, I sat in silence for a few minutes before continuing on to the next. “A Promise Broken – A Promise Kept” touches on love and sacrifice. “Magic” is simply magic, what a beautiful story, and who doesn’t need a little magic in their life? The poems that stand out are “Butterfly” for its inspiration. “I Am Near” brought tears as I thought of loved ones in my family who have moved on to another life. And “I’ve Got You” would resonate with any loving parent.

In addition to Jan’s fiction, she included poems of her late husband’s, Rick Sikes, and her fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Sydney. “The Blind Man in the Night” by Rick Sikes offers a profound message for all. “Society” by Sydney gave me chills. I wouldn’t have guessed she was only fourteen years old. Like I mentioned though, this book is dog-eared to the hilt, so you’ll need to grab your own copy to read the other gems inside, and I highly recommend that you do. There is a message to takeaway for everyone from this lovely collection.

I love a good thriller as long as it’s not too graphic. One that keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering “who dun it?” It’s the narrative, the fluidity of connecting the events, the likable and believable characters, and solving the puzzle at the end. Perfect by P.J. Gudka falls into this riveting category – a captivating, emotional, psychological thriller. On her blog, Pooja writes about real life in poetry and prose, the frustrations and the celebrations. But Perfect is her first novel, and when I heard it was coming out, I couldn’t wait to read it.

This story is about secrets. What family doesn’t hold secrets? And some secrets will shock the socks off of you! I could almost hear suspenseful music play in the Prologue alone, and the story hadn’t even begun. I was hooked…

Lily is gasping for air; her lungs are burning. What happens next? One can assume, but I couldn’t wait to find out! The intensity and storytelling kept me so engaged that I didn’t want to stop reading until I made it to the last page! But I had to put it down. Life is like that. Family, dinner, work, sleep…and still, I read this story in two days and loved it!

Imagine a family who looks perfect on the outside. And yet, regardless of the image seen by others, no one is perfect. We never know what goes on behind closed doors. Everyone has flaws, although some flaws are more dangerous. You’ll find yourself wondering about your own family. How well do you know your loved ones? “What does perfect mean to you?” A perfect partner, children, career? Money, money, and more money? Well, perfect just doesn’t exist. Our ‘perfect’ is what makes us happy, but it is different from everyone else’s description.

If you’re a fan of thrillers like I am, you’ll want to add this book to your library. If you shy away from suspense, be brave and let the pages entertain you (keep the lights on if you need). Pooja had me changing suspects right to the end. I thought I had it all figured out, but no. I was in for a big surprise. Talk about plot twists! Brilliant! Highly recommended for those who love rollercoaster reads!

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A little update from me, I just submitted a poetry manuscript, so we’ll see what happens. I also entered two more contests, one short story and one poetry. A conundrum is that most presses want original work, unpublished (not even on blogs). So, this is why I’m not sharing new poetry right now. But I’ll continue to share my writing, just maybe some oldies.

Like I mentioned in my interview with Gabriela, I’m using the quote from Albert Einstein: “You never fail unless you stop trying.”
So, this is the year for trying new things.

I hope you enjoyed my reviews and won’t leave here empty-handed! 📚
I also encourage you to visit these fabulous author’s blogs:
Marsha Ingrao, Jan Sikes, and P.J. Gudka.
Have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by! ❤️

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com

Lauren Scott is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry, a memoir in verse and prose, and her first children’s book. She has been a guest on several podcasts, and her writing is featured at Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations. At Spillwords Press, she was awarded Publication of the Year (Poetic 2026), Author of the Month (May 2023) and Publication of the Month (June 2025, October 2024). Her work was named Honorable Mention in The Smalls Too 2026 Poetry Contest from the California Writer’s Club. Lauren’s work is published in several anthologies. She is currently working on her second children’s book and a collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, and marveling at the mysteries of life.