Drowned In Milk Tea Chapbook Review

Welcome to my biased review today!!!! And biased because the author, Anne Chivon, is my best friend. But also LET’S WISH MY BUNNY A VERY HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY BECAUSE IT’S RELEASE DAY!!!!!

For today’s post I will be gushing about Drowned In Milk Tea and why you should get it (cause it’s awesome).

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Title: Drowned In Milk Tea
Author: Anne Chivon
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Creative Aces Publishing
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:
After her debut Cottontail Games: monsters and lovers Anne Chivon is back with Drowned In Milk Tea. A chapbook about the good and bad times that take place when one first falls in love, and how she coped with the memories that left both a sweet, and bitter, taste behind.

 

 

 

This chapbook has content warnings of the following: suicide implications, partner abuse, eating disorders/body image issues, drug mention, blood mention. (All content warnings are listed as such in the chapbook).

First thing I want to say is that the paperback is the way to go for this particular book because it has writing prompts every other page which I absolutely loved. We get a prompt, poem, prompt, poem, so on and so forth. Therefore you can write and read at the same time and that concept is spot on.

Drowned In Milk Tea is filled with poems about love, loose, coping with bittersweet memories after a person is no longer in your life, and the aftereffects of that. It has poems about the good times and the bad times. There were some poems where I felt like the author was fighting herself for loving this person. Drowned In Milk Tea has poems covered in beautiful imagery and metaphors. The poems carry impact and reach to the heart. Anne Chivon does not hold back and keeps it real.

Like I’ve said before, I don’t rate poetry books based on connection. However, I did connect with these poems in a whole other level. I also want to add that the prompts and poetry made me reflect more on Anne’s poems. They were thought provoking.

Because this is a chapbook, I’m only going to share two poems from the collection.

together we
burned so hot
it charred your heart
and when we kissed
i choked on the smoke
pouring past your lips

and somehow
every day i think of
your smoldering kiss
and how it left my lips
sensitive to touch

 

i thought the more
i let my bones go free
meant the more i could
shrink away from you
like sugar dissolving
with the stir of a spoon
and finally i could do this
disappearing act
right before your eyes

And that is all for today! Make sure to check out my besties book here and make sure to support indie authors/publishers:

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Twitter: @chicnerdreads

 

Baptized in Moonlight Poetry Book Review

Title: Baptized in Moonlight
Author: Morgan Scott
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Morgan Scott
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Pub. Date: November 24, 2018

Synopsis:
In this collection of poems, Morgan Scott depicts the story of a young girl turned ferocious woman, and ties her growth to the phases of the moon. Written with the intimacy and unflinching honesty of an untamed spirit scorned and reborn, Baptized in Moonlight is a book for anyone who has ever felt as if the odds were stacked against them. Filled with painful acknowledgments of broken relationships – and the hope of a life lived with wild passion – you will dive to the depths and ascend to new peaks as you begin your own journey through the lunar cycle. This collection is part heartbreak story, part coming of age, part love song, and part battle cry. You will find yourself among the pages, and be spurred to get to know yourself on a deeper level.

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Baptized in Moonlight is divided into 4 sections titled Waning, New, Waxing, and Full. Each phase of the moon (section) is tied to the authors growth, her journey, and things she has gone through. This poetry collection has themes of heartbreak, healing, abuse, finding yourself, spirituality, motherhood, self-love, and acceptance.

it is heavy
to carry my sadness
over my shoulder
every place i travel

and yet
she is the only consistent
friend that i have ever known

and there is comfort
in knowing
that she will never
leave me

no matter how hard i try
to release her

I really enjoyed this collection and read it in a few sittings, wanting to take it all in slowly. I loved how the author not only named the sections the phases of the moon but she also gave it definition. The poems in this collection are longer than what I usually see nowadays in poetry collections and I loved that too!! Morgan Scott really conveys her emotions and impact with her words. There are also illustrations sprinkled throughout the book which gave it an extra touch.

love is not slipping
not choking
it is not bending
as far backwards as your body can
until it breaks

love is not toeing the line
between anger and passion
worried that one wrong move
will land you in terror

love is not hiding yourself
trying to contort into his dream girl

love is not dumbing yourself down
to make him appear smarter

love is not not not not not not
the rush of air before his palm
strikes your cheek

so don’t believe him when
he tells you it is
because the picture he has built of love
is one that temporarily plugs his wounds
while ripping yours open

Although I don’t rate poetry books based on connection, I ended up really connecting with the poems and author. Specifically with her poems about god, spirituality, self (surrounding those previous themes mentioned). It felt nice to feel understood in that aspect. I really appreciate the author just being straight forward and not making it pretty. Poetry that is raw like this really gets me in my feels. I found myself dog earring (yes, judge me) a lot of her poems. Overall, I would highly recommend this poetry collection! Also, the author is super freaking sweet and you should check her out. Her links will be at the bottom!

women are born full
full of magic
and tenderness

our hands
and our hearts
have carried the weight of
the entire galaxy
for generations

we could tap into our
mother energy
and heal the world of pain
if only you would
move out of our way

Author Links:
Instagram
Amazon

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That is all for today! Just a reminder to please support Indie Authors and their work! I hope you all have a great day xo

Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @chicnerdreads

love, and you turns 2 and it’s free!

My debut poetry collection turns 2 years old today and it is FREE on Kindle for two days (today and tomorrow)! It is free on all amazon platforms. Share with your friends/family/loved ones/etc.!

one day i met a guy
who stole my heart,
we created a world
for ourselves.
and another day
he broke my heart
and shattered
my soul.

i took the tattered
pieces of this
broken soul and
became anew.

– here lies the hurting, the healing, and the learning

(please be advised this book has mature content)

 

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This morning while I was writing my morning pages, I wrote about how I couldn’t believe it’s been 2 years since this book has released. So much has happened, so much has changed, and I am very grateful of where this journey has taken me. I have seen the fruit of my labor and this journey has opened so many doors. The lives that this book has touched is something I never pictured. Countless times I have thought of removing this book from the shelves and countless times people have come to me privately to talk about how this book has changed their lives. It’s no longer about me, it’s about them and their healing. I want to say thank you. My gratitude is endless.

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Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @chicnerdreads

welcome to ghost town out now!

AHHHH!!!!!!!!!! IT IS HERE!!! MY SECOND POETRY COLLECTION IS OUT TO THE WORLD!!! THE ONE THAT BELONGED TO THIS VERY BLOG TITLED AS “PEOPLE I ONCE KNEW” BACK IN LATE 2016-EARLY 2017.

welcome to ghost town is available to purchase via amazon worldwide and other online retailers. it’s also available via paperback and kindle edition. i am honestly so speechless that i get to type my second announcement like this to the world. this collection has been such an emotional ride. it’s very different from my debut love, and you. i’m just you know, freaking out!!!

the blogging community has really played a key part in me releasing this collection. it’s raw, it’s sad, it’s not hopeful like the first one. welcome to ghost town really broke me because i went deep into traumatic experiences. this one has a trigger warnings list and an authors note. and yeah i’m super nervous and scared about people reading this to be honest. like i don’t know what to expect so i’ll sit here and cry.

talking about crying….THANK YOU FOR THIS!!

please hold…..HOLY SH!T I AM A MESS

 

 

 

 

 

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these are the stories of
people i once knew.
they have come and
gone like ghosts in
the night. you might
not be a part of my
life anymore but
you’re still the ghosts
who haunt me.

– welcome to ghost town

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you can purchase the second poetry collection here:

amazon (also available worldwide)

barnes & noble

other online retailers as well

thanks so much for being there!

welcome to ghost town cover reveal

hey everyone!!! i know it’s been a very long time. i hope you are all doing well. life has been really busy and honestly i haven’t read this year at all (i mean i read one book and i didn’t even love it tbh) but that’s for another post! i’m currently writing this and super emotional because this second poetry collection wouldn’t be here without any of you. this poetry collection started here on this blog in august of 2016 as people i once knew. i remember posting about two poems a month in regards to this blog series. and your feedback and love for each and every poem is something that has really helped me write this book. this collection has been really hard to write and a different process from love, and you. here’s the cover to people i once knew now titled welcome to ghost town.

welcome to ghost town is divided into 25 ghosts (parts) and each has the original poem that was on this blog plus 2-5 more shorter poems after. this is the synopsis:

these are the stories of
people i once knew.
they have come and
gone like ghosts in
the night. you might
not be a part of my
life anymore but
you’re still the ghosts
who haunt me.

– welcome to ghost town

this collection releases october 23rd and you can officially add it on goodreads!

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i would love to know your thoughts on the cover, i miss you all dearly! let’s chat in the comments ❤

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Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @chicnerdreads

love, and you turns one! and other news

i cannot believe it’s already been a year since my debut poetry collection came out and now it’s a year old! ahh!!! thank you all so much for your love and support throughout my journey. it all started here on this blog, posting poetry and getting tons of support. some of the pieces that are in love, and you were first published in this very blog and wow i can’t believe its come a long way. thank you thank you thank you! without you, the book wouldn’t be where it’s at now. i’m still in shock with how many lives this book has touched. i’ve received the loveliest messages of what this poetry collection has done to people’s soul. in the beginning i didn’t understand why i went through what i did but it all makes sense now.

 

 

as a thank you for the love and support alongside the celebration of turning one;

from now till the 8th of april
love, and you is FREE ON KINDLE WORLDWIDE!!!

here are some links, please check your
countries amazon if i have not listed it:
amazon usa | amazon uk | amazon ca

never heard of my book? it’s fine! here’s the synopsis and you can add it to goodreads here

one day i met a guy
who stole my heart,
we created a world
for ourselves.
and another day
he broke my heart
and shattered
my soul.

i took the tattered
pieces of this
broken soul and
became anew.

– here lies the hurting, the healing, and the learning

(please be advised this book has mature content)

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in other news

i know this was a very long time ago, but remember that poetry blog series i had in 2016 titled people i once knew? guess what?! it’s officially going to be a book with a new title ‘welcome to ghost town’ and it will be released in october of this year! add it to goodreads here.

in case you’re wondering, i did change the name because i thought it was more fitting since it’s about the people who have haunted me and left a mark. if you’ve been around since people i once knew days, remember how i used to title them “people i once knew – part 1” “people i once knew – part 10” etc. ? well i left the parts in but now each part has a name with an additional 3-5 poems. i’m more nervous about this collection than anything because it’s different. there’s no healing pieces, there’s no self-discovery, it’s all about most people who have marked me. i hope you like it!

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it’s national poetry month

it’s national poetry month and amber @ YA Indulgences is dedicating her blog this month to poets. each and everyday there is a different feature. today on my one year anniversary, i wrote a guest post titled “benefits of reading poetry”. i would love if you’d check it out and leave some love. amber is also running a giveaway. click on the photo to be directed to her blog.

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that is all for today! i would love to chat in the comments! i know it’s been a while ❤

instagram: @chicnerdreads
twitter: @chicnerdreads

Secrets of the High Priestess by Nicole Tone Poetry Review

Title: Secrets of the High Priestess
Author: Nicole Tone
Publisher: Magnolia Press
Format: e-book
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Pub. Date: Jan. 2nd, 2018

Synopsis:

Secrets of the High Priestess explores trauma, recovery, and the role of women in a world that’s begun to change physically, with melting ice caps and changing sea levels, and socially, as we accept new definitions of truth and gender roles.

 

 

 

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*thank you to the author for reaching out to me*

Poetess, Nicole Tone, reached out to me and asked me for an honest review or to blurb her book. I decided to do both because this book needs to be read. Before going into my review, here is what I wrote as the blurb:

Nicole Tone’s poetry will have icicle’s ripping through reader’s hearts with every single word. Secrets of the High Priestess is a raw collection of cold truths that will leave you wading for more in a sea of self-reflection. Be on the lookout for this poetess, she will not disappoint.

Tone’s poetry really marked me. This poetry collection isn’t the pretty kind. There are poems about eating disorders, gender roles, love poems. Nicole writes about the girl she wants to be and yet shares who she was, these are her secrets. The unfiltered secrets that leave you at grasp. She takes us deep into her thoughts. Secrets of the High Priestess has both short poetry and long poetry.

i really look forward to reading more poems from this poetess. here are some of my favorite poems from this collection:

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a crack in the ground split open

the earth yawning wider

swallowing up every

magic white rabbit

every mad queen

until there’s nothing but a cliff

on the edge of a void

that today we call beautiful

but tomorrow

will be sold to the

highest bidder

— wonderland is a lie

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we train wild animals

break them

bend them to our will

and call them our partners.

how can we be equals with

creatures we demand submission from?

how can i find freedom

on the back of a broken thing?

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i celebrate the anniversaries of the times

i lost pieces of myself,

the way other people celebrate birthdays.

on this day,

i gave you pieces of my heart.

on this day,

i gave you the shattered pieces of my soul.

i celebrate the days i lost the things

i can never get back

if only to remind myself

how

far

i’ve

come.

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and that is all for today’s review! happy release day to nicole tone! a kindly reminder to cross review on goodreads and amazon, it help’s us indie authors get noticed. this poetry collection will also be sold worldwide ❤

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Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @chicnerdreads

Afterlife by Melissa Jennings Mini Poetry Review

Title: Afterlife
Author: Melissa Jennings
Publisher: CreateSpace
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“The sun does not rise when you need it most. You rise instead.”
Afterlife is a collection of poetry about catharsis, self-love, and self-revolution. Afterlife is a journey from the darkness to the light again, and again, and again.

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This poetry book is now officially a part of my favorites collection because OMG!!! you need to read this one and pick it up. Melissa definitely took me through all the feels with this one. If you love dark poetry that is empowering and speaks for itself, you’ll have to pick this one up for sure.

Melissa Jennings talks about mental health, pain, self-love, recovery, and so much more. The author makes mentions of different beautiful metaphors in a dark way that will have you THINK. Although I consider this dark poetry, they definitely uplift the reader to light and accepting the light that we are. Through all these beautiful dark poems, I found strength and power. AMAZING! And I cannot wait to read more by this author!

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some of my favorites:

THE GHOST WE HIDE

Don’t let the ghost stay:

They’ve haunted for long enough.

It’s time to free their souls

From the home inside your head,

So they don’t live long enough

To become skeletons.

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LET THE GODDESSES TAKE ME AWAY

I will end

The way

I began:

A child of chaos.

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DROWNING REFLECTION

I look in
The mirror,
Searching
For answers,

But,

My hands
Are bleeding
From the glass,
As if

Time
was
slipping
out
of
my
grasp

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if you’re interested in checking out this beautiful collection click here:
Amazon USA | Amazon UK

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Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @ChicNerdReads
Goodreads: Gretchen (ChicNerdReads)

Table For One by Laura Ashley Laraque Mini Poetry Review

Title: Table for One
Author: Laura Ashley Laraque
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: CreateSpace
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

This book talks about a female who has experienced what many have, heart break. In the midst of her pain, she takes on a journey to learn to love herself. Also, expressing emotions and looking back on memories that although left scars, have led her to sit at her table alone. Finding yourself is crucial and she explains how she accomplishes this day by day.

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This was an amazing and beautiful debut collection. It was filled with honesty and raw emotion. The author takes the reader through a journey of a toxic relationship, realizations, and self-love. The book is divided into different sections with titles like “Your Appetizer” and “Three-Course Emotions to Healing” just to name a few.

I loved how the author expresses herself through poetry, rhyme, and prose. Giving us different styles but still laying her heart out to us. Laura Ashley definitely takes you on a ride of emotions where she talks about the ups and down of a relationship. She tells us what she went through mentally and emotionally through her writing and the toll that us humans take when being involved deeply with another human.

She even has poems mentioning her religion and believing in God. I liked that because Laura shows us all of her! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who’s experienced lost love and needs to find some strength. Laura will give you that !

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some of my favorites:

Selfish

I always thought being selfish had negativity involved
Until I experienced situations that made my sanity dissolved

Being selfish if appropriate depending on the context
When you realize all your energy and emotions are put to the
test

Instead of investing and attaching yourself to please others
Take your own soul and provide what it needs to recover

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You used me

You confused me

You abused me

Even bruised me

Only to excuse me

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Fatal Attraction

You dig and I crawl.
I love and I fall.

You watch and I stare.
While you bury my heart, it’s unfair.

I gave it all and you received.
You promised me the same but I was deceived.

I thought it was love and it was real.
But you played around like it was no big deal.

I’d cry and I’d hurt,
While you craved and you flirt.

Not for me, not with me,
But with the fish swimming amongst the sea.

It’s okay, you murdered my being with no remorse.
Because, honestly, the heart you buried took a different
course.

No, you won’t mourn who used to love you with all her might.
It’s the new girl who she became and escaped into the
night.

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Table for One is currently on sale for 99¢ via Kindle in USA and the UK!
click here for the direct link

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Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @ChicNerdReads
Goodreads: Gretchen (ChicNerdReads)