Author: Temidayo

Do feel free to follow me at poetryandproze.com and goodreads.com/poetryandproze :)

May 19 – 25, 2025 | Little Sparks #102

TemidayoLeave a comment

I met a friend I hadn’t seen in ten years, someone I’ve known for half my life, and it was such a joy! I’m grateful that we can still call each other friends, reminiscing about the past and be comfortable despite the long distance. It served as a reminder of how valuable friendships are.

Here’s my reading highlight:

House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City [Dramatized Adaptation] #3, Part 1) by Sarah J. Maas
4 stars

The dramatized adaptation is so much fun! It’s like watching a movie in your mind!

Without spoiling the book, it highlighted Bryce’s resilience and reminded readers why they shouldn’t underestimate any of the female characters; it tested friendships and mates.

The background/history of the Asteris felt a bit long-winded, but the numerous plot twists saved the book.

May 12 – 18, 2025 | Little Sparks #101

TemidayoLeave a comment

Greetings,

I’ve been awake for the better part of this weekend, reflecting on life, my values, and the future.

Here’s my reading highlight:

The Choice (The Dragon Heart Legacy #3) by Nora Roberts
4 stars

I’ve finished the series! I still firmly believe that book #2 could have ended the series. The contents of book #3 could have been incorporated into book #2 to create a longer book and form a duology.

Fortunately, this final book didn’t spoil the series. It was a heartwarming adventure – the joy of truly finding and believing in oneself, and meeting people who love and support you along the way, with a sad yet hopeful ending that’s the nature of life.

May 5  –  11, 2025 | Little Sparks #100

TemidayoLeave a comment

Hello,

This is the 100th edition of Little Sparks! How time flies!

I had a lot of fun this weekend celebrating a friend’s birthday, watching Sinners, and baking focaccia bread (the best I’ve made yet). Sinners was such a great movie, from how seamlessly it incorporated the genres of horror and historical fiction to the brilliance of the actors and the cinematography. I was surprised by how sad it made me.

Here’s my reading highlight:

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga #4) by Stephenie Meyer
4 stars

I won’t share too much to avoid spoilers.  

I found Renesmee so adorable! It was a great book, taking us from fear to hope to peace. It was a beautiful ending to the whole series.

Apr 28  –  May 4, 2025 | Little Sparks #99

TemidayoLeave a comment

Greetings,

This weekend was quite restorative—I spent most of the time connecting with friends, many of whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, catching up on what’s new while trying new food together.

Here’s my reading highlight:

The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security by Scott Galloway
4 stars

It was a great, quick, and easy-to-understand introduction to the financial sector. Similarly, it’s a strong reminder that time is our most valuable currency regarding economic well-being.

Apr 21  –  27, 2025 | Little Sparks #98

TemidayoLeave a comment

Hi there,

Another weekend that’s come and gone too soon.

Here’s my reading highlight:

The Awakening (The Dragon Heart Legacy #1) by Nora Roberts
4 stars

Yes, another fantasy series, hahaha.

This was my first time reading a Nora Roberts book, and I was pleased with the plot, character development, and writing. The characters were diverse, and the magical world was rich—shapeshifters, fey, and witches—yet all in harmony.

Apr 14  –  20, 2025 | Little Sparks #97

TemidayoLeave a comment

Hi,

This weekend was filled with colour, featuring various colourful tulips in a large field and fresh air under bright blue skies.

Here’s my reading highlight:

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga #3) by Stephenie Meyer
4 stars

When I decided to read the first book in the Twilight series a few weeks ago, I thought, ‘Goodness gracious, the movie doesn’t do the book justice at all.’ I would have been annoyed if I had read the book before watching the film. The characters are all so much better, more robust, and realistic despite being paranormal creatures.

With the second book, I appreciated seeing and understanding Bella’s inner workings. However, I wished there was more clarity on how she rationally processed her desire to be turned, especially when it meant she’d have to lose many of the things she loved—home-cooked food and the Sun.

This third book had all the right ingredients – we learned the backstories of the other Cullen siblings, heard oral history from Jacob’s elders, gained clarity on Bella’s eagerness to be transformed and watched several friendships blossom.  

Apr 7  –  13, 2025 | Little Sparks #96

TemidayoLeave a comment

Hi there,

I had a really lovely weekend. I went bowling for the first time in many years (and won one round), had Chinese (all-you-can-eat) BBQ, and took a pilates class. I wish it were longer.

Here’s my reading highlight:

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
5 stars

Elsa is someone we all have known or had been at some point in our lives or aspire to be as resilient as. It was heartbreaking, though unsurprising, how she felt her absence of love was her fault.

I was rooting for her throughout –  from the moment she bravely chose to wear that red dress to her joy in feeling love (even though it was unreliable) and her decisive choice to leave Texas. The Dust Bowl Era was indeed one of the darkest periods of the Great Depression.

Hannah did a brilliant job detailing the grief, despair, grit, hope, and, most importantly, humanity of people during the Dust Bowl era.

Mar 31  –  Apr 6, 2025 | Little Sparks #95

TemidayoLeave a comment

Hello,

I went to a pilates class for the first time in a while, and it was great. I’ve missed it, especially the routine, and it was very fulfilling to have completed the class.

Here’s my reading highlight:

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
4 stars

The slow beginning made it difficult to get into the book. However, it paid off. The mystery was engrossing, and the characters were endearing. Some elements of the plot also pulled at my heartstrings.


I didn’t appreciate the conflict between Iseul and Prince Daehyun (towards the end of the book) and what it meant for their relationship.  It felt a bit cliché.

Mar 24  –  Mar 30, 2025 | Little Sparks #94

TemidayoLeave a comment

Greetings,

I couldn’t be more grateful for weekends!

Here’s my reading highlight:

An Honest Woman: A Memoir of Love and Sex Work by Charlotte Shane
4 stars

This book provides a detailed description of what it means to be a heterosexual woman who is a sex worker in a patriarchal and misogynistic society.

The exploration of love, monogamy, and infidelity from the perspective of someone who is often seen as the ‘other woman’ is refreshing.

Mar 17  –  Mar 23, 2025 | Little Sparks #93

TemidayoLeave a comment

Hi there,

I’ve been away for a month! I travelled to Europe for the first time – the Netherlands and Portugal. It was a rewarding experience, learning about other cultures and building self-assurance and confidence (which I have been the result of most of my travel, the wonder of coming back after a break).

Here’s my reading highlight:

The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone #1) by Abby Jimenez
4 stars

Jimenez does a great job of depicting robust female characters in love stories that aren’t cliche and who have a lot of agency in their lives, which is why I’m beginning to grow fond of her books—the reason behind my rating for this book.