Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’d like to share my early review for Marjorie Mallon’s new release – Do What You Love. This short book is a beautiful book written as reflective gratitude about Marje’s life, including other fictional lyrical prose, poetry, and flash fiction.

About Marjorie:
M J Mallon was born in Lion city Singapore, a passionate Scorpio with the Chinese Zodiac sign of a lucky rabbit. She spent her early childhood in Hong Kong. During her teen years, she returned to her father’s childhood home, Edinburgh where she spent many happy years, entertained and enthralled by her parents’ vivid stories of living and working abroad. Perhaps it was during these formative years that her love of storytelling began bolstered by these vivid raconteurs. She counts herself lucky to have travelled to many far-flung destinations and this early wanderlust has fuelled her present desire to emigrate abroad. Until that wondrous moment, it’s rumoured that she lives sometimes in the UK, and often times in Portugal.. Her two enchanting daughters have flown the nest but often return with a cheery smile to greet her. Her motto is to always do what you love, stay true to your heart’s desires, and inspire others to do so too.
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Blurb:
Do What You Love is a personal poetry collection celebrating how the fates may have a part in all that we do.
With special poems and short reflective moments inspired by family, flowers and nature, love, scrumptious morsels, places I’ve visited, lived and intend to live in, the friendships and hopes I have for the future.
The overarching theme is to live a life well lived… And to do what you love.
float along with me
create clouds of sweetest joy
to do what you love
hold fate’s hand as we venture
near and far on life’s journey
Inspirations For Do What You Love Fragility of Your Flame Poems, Photography & Flash Fiction
For me midlife and beyond is a time of change. My daughters are grown up, living happy, fulfilling, and independent lives. So, now it is time for hubby and I to go on an adventure, to travel, to do all the things we love, to make new friends, and to embrace the old ones too. Before we are too old to do so! Life is short! Hence the poem Fragility of Your Flame.

hibiscus flower
fragility of your flame
memories not lost
recalled by rain drops falling
caressing tender petals
© M J Mallon
From Marje:
And we have many plans, we intend to… spend time with family (we travel to and fro from UK to Portugal regularly,) and embrace creativity, whether that happens to be writing, poetry, music, art, dance, drama, or photography…
So, I chat with the fates, in Do What You Love, I share my memories, and a variety of experiences with my photos, and poetry from many years ago until the present day. Even though, it is a personal collection, I hope that it will strike a chord with many, be relatable, bring back memories, hopes and dreams. Perhaps you have felt emotional turmoil as a child leaves home and travelled far away? Perhaps you have been to the Edinburgh International Festival and seen some amazing sights. Maybe the trees whisper their magic to you? And maybe, you have a desire to live abroad, to travel? But you fear you might miss your old friends in the UK?
I hope that this little book will inspire others to embrace life, to do what you love, to take fates hand and go on an adventure, to travel and to explore.
When we travel we open up possibilities, we gain a greater understanding of cultures and other peoples’ lives and this is so beneficial for everyone, but especially for writers. With brexit and covid this freedom to explore without restrictions, to live without fear was taken away from us… So, we try to overcome obstacles, we aim to achieve freedom of movement. It won’t be easy but we’ll get there. Hubby and I are Europeans at heart and want dual nationality!
It isn’t easy to embrace change… especially if you are an introvert! Lol. But… whatever makes you happy, whatever you love to do, wherever you love to be, hold those precious experiences close to your heart.
Keep on writing, creating, living, and go on a marvellous adventure! Make your family and your friends proud.
My 5 Star Review:
MJ Mallon has written a heartfelt book with memories, prose, and poetry, incorporated with stories of life, love, family, and nature. In some of her stories, she is in conversation with the fates: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, the three Moirai representing the cycle of life – birth, life and death, past, present and future. We will read shared conversations about meeting her husband, her homeland of Scotland, stories about children that grow up and leave the nest, and nostalgic stories of growing up with her parents. There are many beautiful images MJ intersperes amid her stories.
Stories from the heart is what I would classify this book – poignant moments that left indelible imprints on the author and will touch the reader, a reminiscing through life and new adventures. This book is a wonderful slice of life celebrated and spoken by the author through beautiful written words.
Favorite Quote: Long lasting marriages must be friends…”
Buy Links Do What You Love:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BKLC9DYY/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography/dp/1999822463
I am thrilled to say that two of my poetry collections, (Mr. Sagittarius and Lockdown Innit,) have been requested by prestigious libraries in the UK: The British Library, The Bodleian Library Oxford University, the Cambridge University Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales and Trinity College Dublin for Legal Deposit.
The cover of the paperback and kindle have been designed by Colleen Chesebro who has a new service for authors which I can highly recommend. Colleen also designed the interior and cover of The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet.
https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/my-services
Add the book to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63114445-do-what-you-love
Visit Marjorie’s Amazon Book Page to check out all her books: https://www.amazon.com/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


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©DGKaye2022
HI Debby, what a lovely treat to see this review of Marje’s lovely book.
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Thanks so much Robbie. ❤
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Thanks for introducing us to this author, Debby.
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My pleasure Anneli. 🙂 x
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Thank you, and dear Debby for the introduction! 🙂
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Thanks for your lovely review, Debby. It sounds like an enjoyable collection of positive poetry and reflections on life. ‘Do what you love’ is great advice, I think. It’s also important to love what you do. 💖
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Thanks Norah. And I totally agree with you. ❤
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Yes both are so important. I’ve been most fortunate and aware of how lucky I am in that regard. So, this is a little piece of me soul searching!
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How wonderful. 🙂
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Congrats to Marjorie on her new launch. Yes, mid-life is time to seize the day when the kids have grown up and left home. x
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A lovely book by Marjorie and a super launch post and review Debby.. ♥
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Thanks so much Sal. I know you also enjoyed Marje’s book. ❤
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♥
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Thank you so much Sally. So appreciate your kind reviews and support. x
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Congratulations to Marjorie. Her new book sounds inspiring and beautiful, and I love Colleen’s cover as well. This is a meeting of souls, for sure. Thanks for your recommendation, Debby, and for your review, and good luck to the author.
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Thanks so much Olga for your well wishes. Apt description – a meeting of souls. ❤
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Many thanks Olga, it’s been a lovely meeting of souls. Colleen got the cover just right and in fact my daughter commented today just how gorgeous the cover is. 🙂
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Thank you so much Debby for your lovely review and blog post. I appreciate it so much. So glad you enjoyed. xxx
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My pleasure to feature you and your beautiful book Marje. ❤ xx
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Thank you Debby ❤ xx
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I’ve shared my review on GR and will put up on Amazon after preorder ❤
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Many thanks Debby. Xxx
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❤
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A lovely review of Marje’s book, Debby. The book sounds almost like a journal to me, filled with Marje’s poetry and reflections on her life, personal and yet relatable. Congrats to Marje on the wonderful review. I wish her great success. 🙂
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Thanks so much Diana. Yes, the book is like a journal converted into poetry and lyrical prose. ❤
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❤
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Yes, it’s much more personal than anything I’ve shared before. Thank you Diana for your kind support and encouragement. 🙂 x
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❤ ❤
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A wonderful review of Marje’s book. Thanks.
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Thanks Darlene ❤
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Thank you Darlene. A bit different but I hope in a good way! 🙂
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What a lovely review, Debby. Bravo to you and Marje. 💜
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Thank you Colleen. ❤
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❤️
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Yes lovely review, smiling! Chuffed to bits. 🙂
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💜👏🏻
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Huge congratulations, Marje! I’m off to take a look at your new book now. Fantastic review! Thanks for sharing, Debby. Hugs 💕🙂
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Thanks so much Harmony. Marje will be thrilled. ❤
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Thank you so much Harmony. I appreciate that! Hope it may be just your sort of wee book!
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Good review, Debby, and I like how you describe it–“Stories from the heart”
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Thanks Jacqui. Lots of heart in Marje’s stories. 🙂
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Thanks Debby. Xxx
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❤
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Yes! I love how Debby highlighted that, Jacqui!
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Wonderful revie. Looks like a beautiful book of poetry and uplifting too
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Thank you Ka ❤
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Thank you. Very kind of you. That’s definitely my intention. 🙂
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Congratulations to Marje on this fabulous review! This sounds like an uplifting read. Thanks for sharing, Debby.
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Thank you Jan. I hope you get a chance to enjoy. 🙂 x
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Thank you so much Jan. Yes, an uplifting and relatable read… So kind of Debby to share the news and her review!
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Congratulations to Marje on the excellent review, as well as having two books acquired by libraries!!
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Thanks so much Liz. ❤
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You’re welcome, Debby.
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Yes, lovely review and I am thrilled about the library requests, Liz. 🙂
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How lovely to see Marje and her new book here – what a wonderful review. Congratulations to her. I’ll be away for the next couple of weeks, so will be very quiet online. Hugs, Toni x
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Thanks for the good cheer Toni. And I do hope your time away will be for something enjoyable. Hugs xx
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Hopefully it will be lovely. Thanks Debby ❤️❤️❤️
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Enjoy!!! ❤ xxx
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Hi Toni, thank you for your kind congratulations. Have a lovely break hope you are going somewhere nice. Hugs, Marje x
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“whatever makes you happy, whatever you love to do, wherever you love to be, hold those precious experiences close to your heart.”
So, so true and yet I find myself thrust between doing what I love (which often is lying around and reading) and things which need to be done but I don’t really like doing (marketing my books, for example).
Marje’s philosophy is an inspiring one and as you wrote, Debby, “a wonderful slice of life celebrated…” Which reminds me that I need to celebrate a bit more!
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Yay for you Carol. Some days all I want to do is read the day away. I’ll look forward to my winter escape to catch up with some of the many books that await me. Thanks for leaving your good cheer. ❤
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I know the feeling Carol! Sadly to do what we love we have to spend some time doing the things we don’t! Lol. It’s a balancing act. One I struggle with sometimes too. Have a lovely day and thank you for your kind comment. 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your lovely review of Marie’s latest launch Deb. I’m catching up after a long break. I am hopping off to take a look at the book. Wishing Marje all the best with her new and exciting ventures.
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Hi Balroop. Welcome back! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your good cheer. ❤
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Thank you so much Balroop. Hope it might grab your interest! Happy reading and writing. X
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Great review, Debby. I found my next read 🙂 xo
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Happy to introduce you Denise. Enjoy. 🙂 xx
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I can’t think of a wiser motto for living life fruitfully than Do What You Love. With the blending of various genres and photos, it strikes me that this book would be a great gift idea, possibly for Christmas or birthday.
On a side note, I remember the imagery of the Three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos from a mythology class from long ago. Thanks for this wonderful review, Debby! 😀
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Thanks so much Marian. And yes, this book would make a lovely gift. Hugs 🙂 x
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What a wonderful review and that quote contains so much wisdom in only a few words. Thanks for the introduction to Marje’s new book and congratulations to Marje on the release!
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Thanks so much Amy. ❤
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Oh MJ, what a marvelous review! Congratulations! And to Debby, your words on MJ’s book are so thoughtful. Love to you both xo
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Thanks so kindly Christy. ❤ xx
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Thank you so much Christy. Love to you too. x
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Congratulations to Marje! What a lovely review you’ve given this one, Deb and it sounds well deserved. ‘Uplifting’ is just what we need now.
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Thanks so much Lis. And you said it my friend. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you Lisa, yes so true. Just what we need after everything of late. Cheers, Marje
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What a lovely book and review. Many congratulations, Marje and thank you, Debby. Doing what we love is so needed right now, and nurturing our loving connections. Much ❤ always xXx ❤
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That is absolute truth Jane. Hugs back ❤ xxx
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Thank you Jane for your lovely comment. Love and light, Marje ❤ x
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Congratulations, Marje on the fantastic review! Too many of us just settle. Thanks for hosting, Debby.
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Thanks so much Mark. 🙂
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You’re most welcome, Debby.
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This is an excellent review. Congratulations on your poetry and what an interesting life!
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Thanks Ka. Glad you enjoyed 🙂
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This is such a great review! What a wonderfully interesting life as inspiration!
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Thanks so much Ka. Oh yes, Marje is full of inspiration. ❤
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