Book reviews help sell books—that’s the long and short of it. So after you’ve read a book, be sure and go to Amazon/Goodreads and give a book review. Authors will love you for that.
I review every book I read just because of that!
Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry by Hana Mazare on booksprout.com
Was It a Dream? Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry is a heartfelt collection that invites readers to pause, reflect, and connect with the universal experiences of being human. The author captures life’s highs and lows with honesty and depth, weaving words that feel both personal and relatable. Each poem offers a window into emotions we all encounter – love, loss, hope, resilience – yet the language is clear and accessible, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the imagery. What stands out most is the way the poems encourage self-reflection, gently reminding us that life is both fragile and beautiful, and that even in our struggles, there is meaning to be found. This is not just a book to read once; it’s one to return to in different seasons of life, each time discovering something new. If you enjoy poetry that speaks from the heart and leaves you with a sense of comfort and inspiration, this collection is worth adding to your shelf.
A Unique Journey Through 40 Years of Poetry by Suserla on booksprout.com
Is It a Dream? is a fascinating collection of modern poems inspired by real-life events over the span of about 40 years. What makes it special is how clearly you can see the author’s growth—not only as a poet but as a person—reflected in the work. Many poems resonated with me on a deep level, even when they described places I’ve never been, capturing the shared essence of travel and human experience. Some poems include background notes explaining how they were written, which I really appreciated and often wished for in others. This combination of personal evolution, vivid settings, and occasional behind-the-scenes glimpses makes the collection unique and deeply engaging.
By BookishBeam on Instagram
“Was It a Dream?” by Larada Horner-Miller is a poignant collection of poetry that offers readers a lyrical exploration of life’s profound challenges and the resilience required to overcome them. This Gold Medalist in the 2024 Global Book Awards delves into deeply personal themes such as grief, love, and self-discovery. Through Horner-Miller’s verses, we traverse the landscapes of lost love, the pain of childlessness, and the bittersweet farewells to loved ones, juxtaposed with the beauty found in nature and global travels.
Horner-Miller’s poetry is both intimate and universal, inviting readers to reflect on their own life experiences and find solace in shared human conditions. Her ability to weave tragedy with triumph and inject whimsy into the darkest moments is what makes this collection truly captivating. The poems are not just read; they are felt, as each line echoes the complexities of human emotions and the continual search for meaning.
For anyone who appreciates poetry that touches on women’s issues, personal growth, and the power of memory, “Was It a Dream?” is a must-read. This book will not only entertain but also inspire readers to embrace their own journey through life with courage and hope. Purchase your copy today and allow Larada Horner-Miller to guide you through a poetic path of transformation and enlightenment.
From From A. Williams
“Through her keen poetic lens, Horner-Miller transforms fragments of memory into a kaleidoscope of shared human experience. “Was It a Dream?” showcases her gift for finding the universal in the deeply personal. Her carefully crafted collection reminds us why poetry remains one of humanity’s most vital forms of expression.
From Sherrie Crandal
She writes from her heart and touches your heart.
From Kristine L.
Eloquent, articulate, and skillfully written, this evocative collection of poetry will resonate long after the final page is turned.
Where grief meets grace: one woman’s poetic journey from darkness to light.
Journey through life’s peaks and valleys in “Was It a Dream?” Award-winning poet Larada Horner-Miller transforms personal struggles into universal truths in this third poetry collection. From loss and heartbreak to wonder and whimsy, these verses explore a woman’s path through grief to hope. Experience profound reflections on family, nature, travel, and the resilient human spirit in this engaging installment of the Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry series.
Was it a Dream? Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry takes you on a journey through the author’s life in free verse. Articulate and eloquent, entries show readers where the author was in the 1980s and 1990s while in her late thirties and early forties. It’s an authentic, inspiring collection in which the author shares “a hodgepodge of life events.” This includes divorce, alcoholism, childlessness, and the loss of her father.
This first book begins with a solitary poem from 1986 and a trip to the Mayan ruins in Coba, Mexico. It wraps up with the author watching children play in laundromat in Spokane, Washington. Along the way the author skillfully captures a wide range of emotions including reverence, joy, expectancy, wonder, sorrow, healing, tradition, loneliness, loss, and hope. The verse is minimal and to the point. But each entry packs a wallop in a few spare sentences.
Word pictures are also painted with great care and skill. You can almost feel the warm summer desert breeze. Hear rattlesnakes buzzing in the cactus. Smell incense and burning cedar. Verses are redolent with emotion, observations, and insights.
Stand-out entries include Dad, Sails Dance, A New Mexico Breeze, Childless, and A Storyteller Forever.
Beautifully written in lyrical free verse, this evocative collection of poetry spans the first fifteen years of the author’s poetry writing and tells you why she writes. It also includes some biographical information and back story so readers have a broader context of the content.
Contemplative, expressive, and reflective, this fine collection of poetry can easily be read in an afternoon. But it’s worth at least a whole day. In fact, if the mere notion of “poetry” makes you break out in hives or want to jump up and run screaming from the room, give Was It a Dream? a chance. It’s different. It’s fresh. It’ll resonate long after the final page is turned.
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers’ Favorite. Received Honorable Mention in General Poetry category
My new book, Was It A Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry won second place in the Next Best Read Poetry Writing Contest! Here’s the review provided from the contest:
In Was It a Dream?, Larada Horner-Miller invites readers into her personal journey with a series of intimate, reflective poems that span decades. This collection blends memoir and poetry in a way that feels deeply sincere, often vulnerable, and always emotionally grounded. From the highs of spiritual pilgrimages to the quiet grief of loss and aging, Horner-Miller captures moments of her life with clarity and warmth.
Her voice is gentle, observational, and unpretentious. She writes in an accessible style that prioritizes honesty over complexity, which gives the poems their particular strength. The result is a reading experience that feels like sitting across from a trusted friend—one who is generous enough to share her inner world and wise enough to help others find meaning in their own.
What elevates the collection is the way it chronicles a woman’s evolution—through marriages, career shifts, spiritual awakenings, and personal trials—always returning to a core of resilience and reflection. The New Mexican landscapes and cultural markers add grounding and texture to her introspection, offering a sense of place that enhances the intimacy.
A heartfelt and honest portrait of a life examined through poetry—gentle, vulnerable, and quietly profound.
Be sure and review my book and any book you read!