Hollow by Carole Rae

In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month....I will share this very personal poem I wrote in September in honor of my very own miscarriage.  It was the hardest few weeks of my life. I lost my baby when I was 5 weeks and 6 days along. I had only known I was pregnant for a couple of weeks but I loved that little poppyseed so much.

Between losing my baby and my dad all within a few weeks, it's been a very hard month. But sometimes just writing can ease the hurt a bit. 

Hollow

By: Carole Rae

Broken and my heart swollen
You were torn from me
and I feel so hollowed
Out.
Drip, drip, the tears fall down my swollen
face.
If only I could have followed
you to the great unknown.
You were stolen
from my womb.
Your story is done, but mine is left at a semicolon
Unfinished and broken for now.
I may be hollow
But someday I might be whole again.
My world is winter-fallowed
and my heart is gone.
I am in a summer-fallow
With my dreams and hopes.
A new dream will follow
and bring me to life again
But for now, let me be hollow.
Let the tears drip down
My face that is so swollen.
Let me curse this foul place.
Let me hurt and stay on a semicolon
Just for a minute; just for a moment.

Audiobook Review: Love's a Witch by Tricia O'Malley

Author: Tricia O'Malley
Narrator: Imogen Church & John Hartley

Title: Love's a Witch

Series: The Scottish Charms #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy
Format: Audiobook

Published: August 26, 2025
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: 

She’s hexed. He’s vexed. And for Scotland’s most magical small-town, their feud might just spell disaster.

Sloane MacGregor swore she’d never return to Briarhaven, but with her twenty-fifth birthday looming—the day witches come into their magic—her grandmother summons her and her sisters back for one tiny task: break the centuries-old curse haunting their bloodline.

Knox Douglas, Briarhaven’s grumpy mayor, has worked tirelessly to make his town a haven for magical folk. The last thing he needs is a cursed MacGregor wreaking havoc. It doesn’t matter he once crushed on her. For the sake of Briarhaven, Sloane has to go.

But magic has other plans—and in Briarhaven, love really is a witch.

Review:

I've enjoyed past books by the author and this randomly appeared so why not!! Scotland...magic....oh my. 

Here we follow Sloane and Knox. Sloane is from the family MacGregor and they have been cursed for centuries. They can't stay in a town for too long before disaster strikes and bad things happen. Sloane is about to turn 25 and finally step into her magic and her grandmother had a vision that her and her sisters will be the ones to finally break this curse. She is back in Briarhaven and it's been years and now Knox is the mayor. He has worked tirelessly to take this tiny town and make something of it. It's a haven for magical folk and a "tourist" spot. The last thing he needs is any of the MacGregors coming back. They have to go. 

I'm tired and feeling worn. I'll divide and conquer this review: 

The Good

- Loved this whole concept. It was really fresh and cool. I feel bad for the family, but the curse is interesting!

- I loved all the little magical creatures. Too cute! I want to see more!

- Loooooved the town. 

- I loved Knox and Sloane together even though they are both so, so, so stubborn

- MORE PLEASE

The Bad and the Ugly

- Nothing really. If I'm hard pressed to say anything...I would've liked to see more "dates" between Sloane and Knox. I would've loved to see them talk more and see the chemistry. 

Conclusion

Soooo enjoyable. Loved it. I already have book 2 in my library ;)

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #40

Best of September

Later September! Hellooooo October.

Here are our faves for last month.

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Itch! by Gemma Amor

"Going with Itch for best book because it was weird and creepy."

Carole -  An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten

"So fun!!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole -  The Odyssey (2026)

"Fabulous and just so good."

Blodeuedd - The Last House (2026)

"I watched The Last house and was first meh, but then I could not stop watching 😉"

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Party Down (s1) & Bones (s1)

"I watched s1 of Party Down, and Bones s1. Going for oldies." 

Carole - Monk (s1 - 3)

"Started rewatching this in August and have been slowly making our way through it. It's still holds up!"

Best Cover of the Month:

Book Review: Crouchback by Sarah Woodbury

Author: Sarah Woodbury

Title: Crouchback

Series: The Welsh Guard Mysteries #1

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Format: Ebook

Pages: 331

Published: November 14, 2019

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

April 1284. As a newly widowed lady-in-waiting to the very pregnant Queen Eleanor of England, Catrin never expected to return to Wales again. She was definitely unprepared to be confronted with murder when she got there--or to find herself face-to-face with Rhys, the childhood friend she lost twenty years before. Rhys had never intended to return home either, but a lifetime of war has deposited him right back where he started--impoverished and owing service to Catrin's older brother.

With Wales having fallen irrevocably to England, and fearful of trusting anyone within the English court of King Edward, Catrin and Rhys join forces against the treachery and intrigue rife within the half-built Caernarfon Castle. And when the murderer strikes again, the task before them becomes increasingly clear: catch the killer, certainly, but also protect their people from a future that is becoming more dangerous and uncertain with every day that passes.

Review:

This has been collecting virtual dust on my Kindle shelf for a while. I think this was a freebie I got ages ago....I honestly can't remember. 

But here we follow Catrin and Rhys as they join forces against murder, treachery, and intrigue. The two had been friends years and years ago, but they haven't seen each other in ages. Now that Catrin is back in Wales with the Queen. She will find herself face-to-face with her old childhood friend and a murder that could ruin everything. 

This was an intriguing read. I loved the freshness of the plot and the setting. It was nice! 

The mystery was good. I had zero idea what was going to happen. 

I liked Catrin and Rhys. There is a smidge of romance, but it wasn't at all a main plot point, which I'm glad for. 

Some areas were heavy-handed with info...which I understand...but it did slow the story down a bit.

Other than that, I really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I finally dusted this off to read it! I am curious about book 2...maybe someday ;) 

4 stars from me.