Between the Lines There Lies a Story of Me: The Lost and Found Hope Volume One by R.S. Rain is a gorgeous collection of poems that are personal and intimate in character, and the author unveils deep layers of the human soul in these lines. The poet shares her experiences that include a painful past that can be a “lightning bolt that fries” the self-consciousness if much attention is given to it. Readers will read episodes of love, of a controlling freak in a relationship, the pain of betrayal, thoughts on inner freedom, insecurities and online bullying, breaking the vicious cycle of pain, experiencing the sense of loss (especially in “Buried Mother”), addiction, and a lot more. The poems are written in a style that is simple; they are an introspective journey through which the poet re-examines her emotions and her life experiences, but it is filled with hope, a surprising passage that readers will want to embrace.

There are very great poems here and I enjoyed the realism that is written into this poetry. The poet captures common behaviors that readers will quickly identify with, like using a photo editor to get more likes online and flattering girls and playing on their self-esteem just to have a piece of them. One of my favorites of these poems is “Does It Hurt to Be Pretty,” in which the author shares thoughts about her life and her story growing up in Guyana, and how what others think of us can have a strong impact on how we see ourselves. This is a collection filled with insights, lessons, and strong messages to young readers, especially young girls. The imagery in Between the Lines There Lies a Story of Me is strong, the diction rich, and unique music flows through each line. These are quick and easy-to-read poems filled with inspiration and entertainment.

Between the Lines There Lies a Story of Me: (The Lost and Found Hope) (Volume One) by R.S. Rain is a collection of poetry blended with memoir, inspiration, and self-help. Rain covers a lot of subjects in her autobiographical poetry, divulging her life story--pain, disappointments, secrets, and all--and this isn't easy for some people to do. But sometimes it is absolutely necessary, for sanity's sake, and it appears that this poet is willing to risk whatever consequence there may be to get her story out in poem form. But her motives are altruistic as well as therapeutic. She wants her poems to connect to the reader so that they can be an inspiration. Most people who have suffered trauma can't always find the words to express out loud, but they can in writing, and this may be the case with Rain.

The poems cover topics like depression, abuse, domestic violence, rape, and worse. Yes, all of this can happen to one person, and it can take just one person to change the life of another, as the author hopes to do here. Rain's writing is raw, her poems can come across in uncomfortable ways, but this is to be expected when you're delving into the realism of life. On the other hand, there is a silver lining in the clouds, as Rain shows how she has not just endured but persevered and thrived. She has battle scars, but they won't hold her down, for she comes to realize her value. Some say there is value in suffering--that you can't appreciate the highs of life without the lows. And this volume of poetry is an example of that. Some of her poems are more lyrical and dreamy, while others are more detailed and practical. There are many deep poems here, like the one where she talks about hiding her true self and pretending to be something that is more acceptable to others. Between the Lines There Lies a Story of Me: (The Lost and Found Hope) (Volume One) by R.S. Rain is for those lost souls adrift at sea, looking for a way back to shore.

Between the Lines There Lies a Story of Me: The Lost and Found Hope Volume One by R.S. Rain is a collection of poems that tell an inspirational story. The collection consists of 12 parts that cover 82 poems to tell the life story of the author, one poem at a time. The author shares emotions, desperation, times when they just wanted to stop and times when they were ready to give up everything. However, the author also shares when enough is enough and rises above everything bad in life. These poems tell everything from the darkest moments of the author's life to the times when they feel the best. The poem Caged will make you cry; Living a Lie will make you feel a connection with the author; Sometimes We Just Have to Believe will give you hope and Conquer will make you feel empowered. There are life lessons in this collection and little verses that allow you to feel positivity seep back into your life.

Between the Lines There Lies a Story of Me is a perfect example of human life. Any person reading these poems will find that the story behind it applies to them as well. They can find strength from the positive attitude reflected through the poems and feel like they are not alone in their sadness. R.S. Rain is a fighter and you can tell that by reading these poems. I am amazed at the author’s ability to calmly share the hardest times of their life and let readers in. The rhythm of these poems is almost lyrical. I set a tone in my mind and read all the poems to the same tone. All of these poems have a connection that you can feel as you read on. My most favorite poems out of this collection are A Child’s Perspective, The Mermaid with a Butterfly Wing, Sacrifice, and The Mermaid with the Rainbow Tail. They are powerful in their simplicity and almost a little overwhelming, but they are beautiful. This collection is inspirational and empowering.