The much-loved patio welcomes with its rustic warmth and strands of string lights, the bar stools invite us to get comfortable for a visual feast of rolling hills and redwoods.
His hand finds mine; his words express that I’m most important, in three months, glasses will clink to celebrate 37 years – the 26-year-old girl who met a 27-year-old guy. My words echo his, but of course, our daughter and son are the center of our life…
And the weather? Short sleeve temperature, sublime, serene. October brings a summer night’s dream. Silence flows in with its special kind of conversation.
Fleeting minutes like these aren’t taken for granted because it’s not every day our perfect dance partner comes our way, and although we grow older and flaws become bolder, our melody continues to play.
Light neighborhood chatter drifts through the trees with an occasional hummingbird on its tail and a slight breeze. The moon elegantly hangs in her dazzling formal attire, vying for our attention, and she succeeds because we are devoted fans. Her glow mesmerizes – our focus on her alone. What a beautiful moment to call our own.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful week! 🧡🍁
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
I’ve received so many amazing reviews for my book, that it’s time to pay it forward. So, this is the first batch of reviews with five more coming later this month. And another shout out to everyone who has offered support in some manner during my King Copper journey. I love you all! 💖
Back to these fabulous books…once you begin reading, you won’t want to put any of these down, even if life tries to intercept, and you know it will! 🙂 Simply click on the author names if you’d like to visit their websites!
Honeysuckle Heat by Michele Lee Sefton is a beautifully crafted love story full of passion. We meet crime writer, Matthew Oliver, and Jacqueline Fortin, a successful Los Angeles Anchorwoman. They have a long history together but parted ways. Suddenly, she’s back in his life, and their chemistry is what anyone would long for. Let me share an example of Sefton’s tantalizing prose:
‘He understood why a fallen leaf would want to lodge itself in her wavy strands. He kissed her on the spot where the leaf had been then let the errant flora fall on the kitchen tile – a concern for another time. His lips confirmed what his eyes suspected. Parched from months of emptiness, they were quenched by a softness that brushed against his soul, like a golden sunrise whispering its way above a lone hill. A soft beginning that turned his doting love for her into a warm and fiery glow.’
Will their intense physical attraction and love for each other be enough this time? Are their goals for the future aligned? I will let you find out for yourself. As the season changes and temperatures begin to cool, cuddle up with this captivating novella when an evening is winding down and your thoughts have taken a back seat. Let Sefton’s poetic prose transport you to another world built with many enticing layers. Highly recommended.
I am familiar with D.L. Finn’s beautiful poetry. So, when I heard she had released a third book in the “Just Her Poetry” series, I bought a copy right away. The dog-eared paperback lies on my desk as I type this review. Finn’s collection spans from earlier published poems to newly released. I followed her journey from the beginning, which is a tribute to nature through a selection of syllabic poetry and lovely photos paired with them. We share the same love of nature and family, along with gratitude playing a significant role in life. Through Finn’s emotional journey, I smiled and also became teary-eyed. Every emotion you can imagine is highlighted throughout this evocative collection. She creates such vivid scenes that I felt as though I had stepped into a specific moment, feeling the sentiments with every bit of energy. There are too many favorites to mention, so here are a few:
“The Forest”
the forest’s sweet song/caresses my weary soul/with healing beauty
“Summer” (first two verses)
When I think of childhood summers, It’s swimming, playing, fishing, and vacations Long nights, as I imagined my next adventure Finally, the crickets’ song lulled me into happy dreams.
My old house was heavy with heat Making me wish I could lift the roof to cool Square metal fans hummed in every room, Everyone, except my grandparents, wore shorts and tank tops.
“Suicide Song” caught me off guard. I learned a little bit more about D.L. Finn. My heart ached, but the poem also speaks about second chances. A poignant and powerful piece of writing. I highly recommend this poetic compilation for everyone who appreciates poetry that touches on real life.
A Noble Bargain is the second book I have read by Jan Sikes. She has a natural skill of pulling readers into her stories, making them feel like part of the character line up. I enjoyed A Beggar’s Bargain so much that I could not pass up the second book. In no time, I fell in love with Oliver Quinn and Rose Blaine. The year is 1948 in a rural Arkansas town. Times are simpler, but hard work is part of the landscape.
Oliver comes from a loving family who does not think twice about helping others in need. He is the kind of son every parent dreams of. His father passed away and he misses him dearly, but he adores his mother who has a heart of gold. Oliver also holds in his heart an American dream, and he will persevere to make it come true. His family is one I would love to meet. Rose and her two brothers live in a completely opposite world riddled with domestic abuse. After the tragic loss of their mother, the siblings have suffered under the violent fist of their alcoholic father. I had no trouble disliking their father, to put it mildly. Sadly, an escape had never presented itself, but Rose is determined to find a way.
One night, Oliver and Rose meet by chance, which is the beginning of their story. I enjoyed rooting for this kind young man to change Rose’s life for the better. I wanted Rose and her brothers to find a way out of the terror they had been living in. But to avoid spoiler alerts, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a compelling story that spotlights the good in people and the benefit of resilience.
Cade’s Quest begins the first in a series about The McIntyre’s and truly conveys the special connection of family. Readers are transported to the old west in the late 1800s. Four years prior, Cade and his siblings underwent a horrific event when their parents were murdered. And yet, even this amount of time could not erase the horror Cade experienced of “staring into their mother’s face frozen in death and seeing a fly on her cheek.” I felt his agony through the riveting words on the page. Reading about the tragedy was heartbreaking, but what tore at my heart even more were the town “do-gooders” deciding where each child would go. Imagine what it would feel like being young and ripped away from your sisters and brothers after losing your parents in a horrifying crime. Making sense of the heinous act alone for a young child would seem impossible. Imagine how alone and frightened you would feel. Now as an adult, Cade’s mind is set. He needs to find his siblings, but he doesn’t know the first place to look.
I love Cade’s demeanor: courageous, kind, and dedicated to those he loves. As he initiates his quest, several obstacles get in his way – one is being accused of a crime he didn’t commit, which forces him to run. Rumors about his brother, Jess, have him wondering what is true or simply gossip. Along his journey, he meets a young Comanche woman, Rain, who cares for her orphaned nephew. She is also on the run from evil. They become each other’s ally, but will their friendship develop into something more beautiful? You will need to dive into Broday’s exciting storytelling to find out! I highly recommend Cade’s Quest for those who enjoy a gripping western drama.
I’m also adding a lovely book that would be perfect for your coffee table. My copy should arrive tomorrow!
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Thanks for stopping by, andI hope you‘re leaving with a book or two or four! 😁 Wishing you a beautiful week! 🩷
Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
I’m excited to share that my poem “Fade the Shadow” is featured on Gobblers by Masticadores! I want to offer a huge thank you, as always, to Editor, Manuela Timofte, for featuring my writing.I am grateful to have my work showcased among so many talented authors. 🙏
Fade the Shadow
The world is beautiful, proof dances all around… leaves fluttering in a breeze, butterflies floating by with grace, but the world is more beautiful with him. Even if the sky unfolds, and a storm rages, his presence adds a glow to fade the shadows and quiet the fear. If the universe has stolen my spirit and descent is imminent…
To read the full poem, please visit Gobblers by Masticadores by clicking on the link below. If you’re unfamiliar with this site, take some time to peruse. You’ll discover beautiful and profound pieces of writing from some of your friends and authors you’d like to know.
The world is beautiful, proof dances all around… leaves fluttering in a breeze, butterflies floating by with grace, but the world is more beautiful with him. Even if the sky unfolds, and a storm rages, his presence adds a glow to fade the shadows and quiet the fear. If the universe has stolen my spirit and descent is imminent, his arms catch me before the landing. He comprises the tones in my tapestry, rebirth in my rain, fire in my winter. He is everything around in between within the world I reside.
I can reach her. She waits for me, gently hanging in the sky as black as the ink bleeding from my pen. But not so high that I can’t stretch and acquire, placing her in the palm of my hand. Now that I am in possession, I offer him the moon because he’s given me his heart from the very first date. We sat across from each other – only a white silky tablecloth separated us. December brought a magical evening. The moon had a hunch the night would become the foundation, so she illuminated for us, a couple whose lives were about to change in a magnificent way. But we knew, didn’t we? Young, yet old enough to know.
And I’ll leave the stars as they are, because even in the dark sky, he brings light to everything I learn, everything I know, and everything I touch. What is love without sappy sentiments? Language flows from my heart for only him to hear. A love back then before our eyes met that I wasn’t sure possible, and yet here we are, decades later, still feeling the fire. I can’t imagine the planets aligning without his soul. I can’t envision a forest without him as my redwood. I can’t picture sunshine without his laugh. I can’t imagine the calming of rain without him beside me. He says I’m the best thing that ever happened, but the same words tumble from my lips for him.
Into the future moving forward hand in hand love deepens with age
This haibun was inspired by our fast-approaching engagement anniversary. It’s been a while since I’ve written romance, so I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for gracing me with your presence in my corner of blogland, and have a wonderful day! 💖
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, but click on the image to purchase your copy through Amazon.💜
Today sparks many thoughts, mostly happy and loving, but for me, there is more to this day than chocolate and roses. So, I’m combining two posts from the past, and if you remember these, I hope they resonate again…❤️
Valentine’s Day is an exciting day for couples to celebrate their love for each other. I also show my love not only for my husband, but for my family and friends who hold a special place in my heart. But we need to keep in mind that today isn’t joyful for everyone. Some people grieve the passing of their spouse or partner. Some hearts hurt from a breakup. Some people have chosen to be single, so today may not hold a huge significance for them. Some live on the streets. Some live with daunting diagnoses. So, let’s be mindful of the different scenarios that play out. If today is a joyful day for your heart, I implore you to take a moment to think of those who struggle in some manner…
Unseen Hearts
Candy hearts say Be Mine Red roses represent forever Fancy dinners for two in love A lifetime of together…
Ahh, the joy… but my thoughts drift to the old man on Anderson Drive who wears his gray hair long, surrounded by treasures divine, and sits outside his raggedy, faded blue tent that balances on damaged poles, an office of esteem used to house the chair that wobbles beneath his body of bones
and I wonder about the young woman on Lincoln Avenue who burrows into a weathered, pea-green bag on the old bus stop bench – the scratched enclosure keeps her dry when raindrops fall on cue, buses pass by, heading to their next hub by the curb lies an old shoe
and the poor mutt curled up beside his master, ribs defined – who doesn’t know why he only gets crumbs to lick up from the unwashed hand, but no leash keeps him bound – he knows not of despair, but loyalty he comprehends
So, I browse over the valleys of my pondering and wonder, do your thoughts also drift to defeated souls where hopelessness betrays faith, where life has taken a toll? Where is their place on this Valentine’s Day?
And now for a mixture of love poems from the past…
In Technicolor
A distant memory in technicolor… I want to rip the page from my mind’s photo album because my heart was foolish to fall for that man, our skies different our dreams astray, but the heart’s pulse beats to a tune of its own choosing, logic holds no leverage. Though this man wasn’t a cockroach, I never wished to stomp on him. And so, I’m grateful, for without that page I wouldn’t have stumbled upon the path that lead me to my love at last.
If the Universe Would Share
I whisper to him, “Do you see that blue luminous star? I choose it for you.”
If the universe would share, I’d pull the gleaming beauty from the constellations and place it in the palm of his hands.
We would sit upon a slow-moving cloud and dangle our legs into freedom.
I’d touch my lips to his, tenderly, then hunger would reel through our veins, tumbling us into a pleasant intoxication,
watching moonbeams pierce our private night sky.
Belonging
Do you trust me? Will you take my hand and let me lead the way to a place transcending boundaries of our reality? Let us get lost in tranquility – dancing to the majesty of the surroundings, feeling rhythm vibrate through our bones. For as long as our hearts desire, this is our destination. Time is but a memory. Its existence leaves no trace on the path where we tread. There is only you, me, and the intensity of our belonging to each other.
Valentine’s Day makes me think about people who are less fortunate. This day that is meant for romance and candy hearts sends my mind to the same place it travels to on Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, this poem is the result…
Candy hearts say Be Mine Red roses represent forever Fancy dinners for two in love A lifetime of together…
Ahh, the joy… but my thoughts drift to the old man on Anderson Drive who wears his gray hair long, surrounded by treasures divine, and sits outside his raggedy, faded blue tent that balances on damaged poles, an office of esteem used to house the chair that wobbles beneath his body of bones
and I wonder about the young woman on Lincoln Avenue who burrows into a weathered, pea-green bag on the old bus stop bench – the scratched enclosure keeps her dry when raindrops fall on cue, buses pass by, heading to their next hub by the curb lies an old shoe
and the poor mutt curled up beside his master, ribs defined – who doesn’t know why he only gets crumbs to lick up from the unwashed hand, but no leash keeps him bound – he knows not of despair, but loyalty he comprehends
So, I browse over the valleys of my pondering and wonder, do your thoughts also drift to defeated souls where hopelessness betrays faith, where life has taken a toll? Where is their place on this Valentine’s Day?
A collection of poems about nature, love, and the mysteries of life. Click on the image to purchase your copy. Thank you! 💚
I wish Love would abound for Everyoneduring this Valentine’s Week. You see, as the years pass by, I view this special day not only for romantic love, but for feeling thankful for all the people in my life who love me and whom I love with all my heart.
The constellations the moon the sun the whispers in the trees the breeze around our faces the waves kissing the shore They all knew before we did…
When we first met, the future gave no intimation as to what it held for us, but what evolved was a love without a finish line, deepening as we basked in each moment spent together.
Thirty-five years ago, I gave my heart to him – He gave his heart to me, trusting, knowing something exceptional was happening.
Whatever path we chose in the past, whatever path we choose in the present, we walk hand in hand facing the unknown, facing the adventures.
His life is built around mine. My life is built around his.
I wrote about how we met here. But how we’ve stayed together is an entirely different chapter in our book. Of course, love is the key component, but the other significant elements that follow love are friendship, unselfishness, wanting each other to be happy, communication, and listening. And though we’ve had disagreements, we’ve never had turbulent fights, nor have we stooped to name-calling. My mother-in-law gave us a card that had sage advice for newly married couples. One piece of advice was never to go to bed angry. We never have. So, we feel proud to reach 35 years, but we also feel fortunate to have found each other to share our lives with, and we hope to celebrate many more anniversaries to come. ❤️
He and I became us.
Thank you for joining in the celebration of our35th wedding anniversary! Have a wonderful week ahead! ❤️
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 