Dreams of the Heart

Vol. I

Poetry - Inspirational
107 Pages
Reviewed on 04/20/2017
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Joie Schmidt is the author of “Dreams of the Heart” vol. I & II book compilations of poems about love, life, loss and inspiration and “Keep Joy in a Pocket & Love in a Heart Locket”. Humanitarian efforts are very dear to her heart and she often volunteers and donates to a variety of organizations like “Save the Children”, “The Red Cross”, and efforts to help the homeless among others. She is also a writer for “Kids on the Porch” (KOTP) a TV show created to help prevent bullying among children and teenagers. Currently, she is contemplating a new direction for a book series. Please feel free to visit www.JoieSchmidt.com and www.facebook.com/p.s.JoieSchmidt.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Ashley Tetzlaff for Readers' Favorite

Robert Frost had Mountain Interval, Shakespeare had The Sonnets, Emily Dickinson had her Collection, and Joie Schmidt has her Dreams of the Heart, Volume One. Many of the poems tout similar vocabulary and style as the old masters, as seen in this excerpt, “You are the purple hues/In my sunsets, the warm and heavy/Sighs, that make knees/Shiver; that pushes two weary/Footfalls past noon/That conjures courage/To make love once again swoon….” Although some of the poems are more modern (referencing pavement and cellphones), many of the verses are ethereal and focus on the well-known subjects of love gained and love lost, as well as God, angels, friends, and nature.

When I picked up Joie Schmidt’s Dreams of the Heart, Vol. 1, I wasn’t expecting much. As an admirer of the masters, and someone who has knocked about with poetry writing myself, I knew creating quality poetry is much harder than most people imagine. And I have read my fair amount of whiny prose claiming to be poetry. Needless to say, I was surprised and enamored by the feeling, style, and class brought to bear by Ms. Schmidt. I couldn’t stand to lay the book down. I even read some of it aloud and treasured not only the bliss in my heart but also upon my lips. I could see a girl in Jane Austen’s world poring over such a volume. In my mind, many of the poems contained in Dreams of the Heart, Vol. 1, are worthy to sit beside those of Frost and Dickinson. I sincerely hope Joie’s talent is recognized for what it is: fit for the ages.

Gisela Dixon

Dreams of the Heart: Vol. I by Joie Schmidt is a collection of poems on topics ranging from love, joy, sadness, and life itself. Dreams of the Heart is a poetry collection that is a bit of an eclectic mix. That being said, love is the overarching emotion that is conveyed throughout the poems, be it the love of nature, person, or God. There is also a strong theme of romantic love and heartbreak throughout this collection and some of my favorite poems revolve around this theme of love, such as A Perfect Dream and If, I Tell You I Love You. The poems range from short ones to long and can be read in any order, independently of the others.

Dreams of the Heart is a good, solid collection of poems especially for people who enjoy this genre of love, heartbreak, and romance. The vivid imagery evoked by some of these poems is beautiful and I could almost feel myself being transported to that time and place as I read the poems. The writing is fluid and lyrical. All in all, this is a great little collection of quality poetry that I would recommend to fans of this genre.

Faridah Nassozi

Dreams of the Heart by Joie Schmidt is a collection of beautiful poems about what really makes life an adventure and a journey worth traveling. The poems touch on love, loss, trust, hope, inspiration and all the things that complete the journey. Whether you are yearning for love, pining over the good times gone by, or just want to find true meaning in life, these poems will speak to your soul.

Joie Schmidt wrote an amazing collection of poems that will draw you in so you can find love in you and around you. There is love in memories, love in the present, and a beautiful belief for love in your future. The poems speak of love in all its glorious forms. They will inspire you to hope and to believe in love for self, love for others, love for the simple things in life, love from others, and love from up above. Through beautifully crafted words, Joie Schmidt captures the true essence of life with all its ups and downs, and how it all comes together to give our life journey true meaning and shape the path we all have to travel. The poems left me with an optimistic belief that love, gratitude and hope are always within and around us, irrespective of our circumstances, and Joie Schmidt's poems bring this out beautifully. Dreams of the Heart by Joie Schmidt will charm you into reflecting on the true meaning of love and you will see beauty and depth in the simple things. There is a beautiful serenity to the poems that left me with a happy heart.

Arya Fomonyuy

A great collection of poetry of the heart, Dreams of the Heart by Joie Schmidt will be a great read for fans of poetry. This collection features a wide collection of poems dealing with different themes. Readers will find poems of love. There are also poems that inspire and motivate. There are also poems that celebrate humanity's most intimate values, like love, spirituality, hope, the importance of community, perseverance, and many others.

I enjoyed the fact that the poet writes with confidence, employing a rhythm that is quick and measured. The poems are deep, and at times some of them read like beautiful reflections on human reality. One of my best reads was the poem that reads like a prayer of trust, “The Promise.” I was particularly gripped by the following lines that reminded me of the mystery of love, the power of letting someone else lead the way:

“Take my hand
I need you to take the lead
I need you to help me
Feel perfectly free
I close my eyes and trust in you
I take one step closer
To a divine promise
The perfect dream
Of two”

Dreams of the Heart features many such poems and readers will easily connect with the emotions and the sentiments communicated in this gorgeous collection. Joie Schmidt’s poetry invites readers to celebrate life. It invites them to dance to its different rhythms and to bathe in its numerous seasons. Most of these poems will encourage readers to look positively at life and to embrace their humanity joyfully.

Romuald Dzemo

Dreams of the Heart by Joie Schmidt is a sweet and inspirational collection of poems that celebrate the human spirit, capturing some of the beautiful moments and sensations that recall readers to the greatness, beauty, and vulnerable fragility of their humanity. This collection covers a variety of universal themes, including love, spiritual connection, loss, and beauty.

The poems are very absorbing, insightful, and rhythmic, and readers will love the messages that are communicated through them. Broken into short stanzas comprising of short and evocative lines, some of the poems will resurrect the finest emotions in readers and inspire them to appreciate the color and the beauty of life. For instance, the first poem, “Blessing” is a clarion call for readers to stand out.

“Dance in humility’s rain
Embrace all that is good
Inhale Spring’s dew kissed air
Risk where others have simple stood.”

The writing is flooded with strong imagery and the language is deceptively simple, but laced with symbolism. The lines of Joie Schmidt’s poetry sing with hope, designed to elevate the mind and spur readers to look beyond the mundane, to find strength in community, and to live in hope.

“Shall we not rise together as one?
To face another tomorrow
With sturdy chins and mindsets
Toward the brightest sun”

This is a gorgeous offering for those who love poetry that is beautifully written. Dreams of the Heart is thought-provoking, heart-warming, and utterly inspiring. There are very beautiful poems in this collection and I was pulled in by the meditative ones.