Colors of the Heart


Poetry - General
115 Pages
Reviewed on 11/27/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Colors of the Heart by Vicky-Lyn Ashby is a beautiful collection of poetry peppered with lovely black and white photography. Each of the eloquently written poems is inspired by the emotions a person feels in the different relationships they encounter in their lives. The times when your heart skipped a beat when you started a new relationship, the heartbreaking feeling of love ending or not returned. There are also poems about the undying love of a mother and the strength gained from a strong friendship, people who inspire you to be the best person you can be. Take your heart on an emotive ride of sentiment and self-awareness and immerse yourself in the joys and sorrows of human relationships. There is a poem for every experience of love and friendship to be enjoyed.

Colors of the Heart by Vicky-Lyn Ashby is certainly a collection of poetry you will want to read if you appreciate human nature and the rollercoaster of emotions we have during different times of our lives. The complete contrast between heart-stopping love for someone and the anguish and helplessness when a relationship ends and you are left questioning the reasons why. I loved the flow of the poems, which differ in length, but each has its own strong message that will provoke contemplation. There are so many poems that made me smile and question my behavior and self-awareness during different times in my life. I think we can all relate to the feelings of inadequacy and mistrust in people.

The author of this collection certainly has a fantastic grasp of the English language because she reaches deep within the reader's heart with her poetry. I had many favorite poems but, if I had to choose one, it would have to be Before My Eyes: 'A treasured friend you’ve been to me. You picked me up and set me free. You give me direction when I need to know. When you take my hand, there’s no place I can’t go.' I also loved the line in Light The World, when it reminds us all to take time to make someone happy and feel inspired: 'Be a candle in the darkness.'

K.C. Finn

Colors of the Heart is a collection of poetry written by author Vicky-Lyn Ashby and marks her third collection of poetic works in a lifetime of writing and experiencing the world. The collection consists of 90-100 short works of verse, many of which are accompanied by black and white photographs, and the works are arranged in alphabetical order. Themes amongst the collection vary with each page, some focusing on sentimental, romantic and nostalgic topics whilst others are more painful, reflective and sorrowful in nature. The overall atmosphere of the work, however, presents as hopeful, personal and romantic in its emotions.

Colors of the Heart is beautifully presented as a poetic reading experience, with ornate title details on every poem, clear and well-spaced verses and occasional photographs which set the mood for the works appropriately. For my part, I’d have liked to see the work organized by theme rather than alphabetically, because some of the verses are very emotive and powerful, but are then followed by totally opposite emotional states on the next page. That said, Vicky-Lyn Ashby puts strong ideas into focus with a down to earth writing style that speaks directly to her readers, which makes it all the more powerful when she chooses to be open and raw in her emotions. Particular favorites for me included the sentimental On Wings of Love and the powerful imagery of The Dance. Overall, I think any poetry fan will get a lot out of reading Colors of the Heart: a collection that can be returned to again and again.

Mamta Madhavan

Colors of the Heart by Vicky-Lyn Ashby is a collection of poems that tackles diverse emotions like love, joy, sadness, abandonment, sorrow, fear, and others. The poems will encourage readers to take a journey into their own hearts and rediscover themselves. The poems, presented in alphabetical order, are peppered with black and white photographs, making the collection appealing to readers. The poet's love for art and colors is evident through her aesthetic way of expression, making readers also delve deep into themselves to discover the colors hidden within.

The poet is unapologetic when it comes to sharing her innermost thoughts and fears with readers, and whether it is about her broken heart, abandonment, or being crazy in love, the poet is unabashed. Be it her angst, sorrow, fear, or any other emotion, readers will be able to connect with her voice with the help of her words. It is difficult to pinpoint one poem because whether it is about everlasting love or endless love or fantasy or other emotions, the author's zest for life is tangible through her words. There is an element of hope and positivity that lingers in her poems, giving them a good vibe. The poems will encourage many readers to try their hand at writing poetry and expressing their innermost thoughts, feelings, and emotions without feeling ashamed. It is a good collection for all poetry lovers because it will help readers identify the colors of their heart.

Ray Simmons

I’m not the greatest poetry reader in the world but I am moved by poems sometimes and seek out good poems and good poets whenever I get the chance. I am delighted to have discovered Colors of the Heart and the poetry of Vicky-Lynn Ashby. Vicky-Lynn Ashby does some things with the English language that I find moving, powerful, and very effective in evoking stirring emotions. There is no doubt in my mind that she is a voice that will be noted in the annals of American literature. Rich in detail and delicate in delivery, the bottom line is that these poems will move you and you will count time invested in Colors of the Heart as well spent. I loved these poems and I want to read more from Vicky-Lynn Ashby. I think that most of you will feel the same.

All of these poems are good. All of them evoke strong emotions, but some of them stand out to me and I will try to explain why they speak to me so much. It’s hard to pick a clear favorite when so many are so good, but I have to say that, for me, Anytime You Need a Friend is a standout poem. This is a totally personal choice based on the importance of friendship in my own life. For some people, family is the center of their connection with their community and their country. I totally get this, but for me, friendship is my lodestone, hence my love for this particular poem. But it is by no means the only standout poem in this collection. Vicky-Lynn Ashby’s voice also soars in Candle in the Rain, Dream About You, and Alone in the Dark. But read this collection for yourself and pick your own favorites.

Gisela Dixon

Colors of the Heart by Vicky-Lyn Ashby is a poetry collection written from the heart on life and love. In Colors of the Heart, the poems are arranged in an alphabetical order. There is quite a large number of poems in this book, each titled and sorted from A to Z. The poems range over a wide variety of topics, but the general theme of a lot of the poems in the book is about love, whether that is romantic love, passionate love, or even platonic love. This topic is expressed in various ways and generally most of the poems talk about love, romance, friendship, nature, and just life in general. The emotional tone is mostly positive and upbeat throughout the poems.

I found Colors of the Heart by Vicky-Lyn Ashby to be a good read and the poet obviously has a gift of putting words together in such a way that they not only rhyme well but really bring the subject together cohesively. Some of my favorites are the ones that are emotional in nature and that vividly portray certain feelings. Although the book contains a number of poems, it is a quick read as each poem is generally a page or two long or less. A few of the ones I liked include Colors of Love, My Hand, My Heart, My Love, You Are Not Alone, Truly Amazing, Dreaming, Life’s Most Precious Gift, Catch Me, Rainbow in the Sky, among others. This book is a nice read for fans of poetry.