I have loved every book I have read from this author. I appreciated this lovely change. Her heartfelt poems are encouraging and emotional. Wonderful and helpful to someone needing a lift for their trials.

This book is written by one of my favorite authors @writerjulianne! She shares her trials in life and how she found comfort by expressing her feelings through poetry. This is an easy, fast read filled with emotions everyone can relate to. It is very inspiring and gives hope to readers that are going through struggles! If you need an uplifting read, this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This short compilation of poetry was a nice and uplifting read. The author is vulnerable and shares some of her struggles and meandering thoughts and insights. Overall, I enjoyed it.

This has a lot of poetry in it. I am not a poetry fan, but love Julianne's writing, so I thought I would give it a try anyway. I really struggled with it. I'm sure it's fantastic-- I'm just not very cultured. ;)

I really enjoyed the poems in this book. They were great. I had so many feels as I read them. Some gave hope some while other were more sorrowful. There was so much emotion in this book. It was a very sweet book!

This is a beautiful and meaningful collection of poems. I am a huge fan of all of the author's work and this book of poems lets her readers in to see her in a vulnerable new way. I am in awe of her bravery and strength. I really appreciate her uplifting way of helping the reader remember God's love in our lives.

Anyone looking for hope in dark times would find solace in Julianne Donaldson’s Come, Sweet Day. Ms. Donaldson reveals the pain and seeking she experienced through her divorce, single parenting, and cancer. These specific challenges are not addressed explicitly but they form the foundation on which her universal yearning and hope are based.

Come, Sweet Day is a beautiful collection of poems and essays that are coupled with vibrant, varied, and serene images.

This quick read is based on many Scriptures that give the reader hope, encouragement, and food for reflection. I can easily see the pages getting earmarked for repeated readings of pertinent passages, depending on the reader’s changing circumstances.

Come, Sweet Day cuts to the heart of what it means to seek God in the midst of challenges.

How this book affected me:
I’m not in a particular struggle in life at the moment but have experienced many, as most people have. I could easily imagine the comfort that would come from reading Come, Sweet Day. Even if you hadn’t experienced the exact challenges that Ms. Donaldson has, her raw yearning and pure and hopeful faith would be inspiring for any Christian.

Who would enjoy this book:
This book is designed to be for those “holding on to hope in dark times.” As such, the ideal reader is facing a challenge and looking for hope, strength, and faith that God is near and the sun will shine again. The beautiful images and hardcover make it a thoughtful gift for a friend or loved one who’s in the midst of a challenge.

Edenbrooke is my favorite book and this was a no-brainer as a must-read. This is a compilation of Donaldson's thoughts of her personal journeythrough trauma, depression and struggles . This is a mix of poetry and prose, some sad and some hopeful mixed together. It is beautifully written, but the mingling of the sad and hope mixed together is what our hard times look like, not just all bad and all good.
This was inspiring to read and the main lesson I take away from this book is God, His Light, Hope, and Peace can all be found in our darkest of times.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC. The thoughts and opinions of this review are my own.

“This is the only thing I have written today:
That relationships are more important
Than money or success
And that writing can wait
But living cannot”

Julianne Donaldson is a favorite fiction author of mine. I loved reading her heartfelt poetry. While fiction is always enjoyable, there is something about the vulnerability of sharing one’s reality that never fails to draw me in.

This quote in particular stuck out to me while reading this book. This month has been hectic for me, and I have read much less than I usually do. However, upon further consideration I realized I have done much more living this month than I normally do.

I loved the perspective and insight this book gave me and I would highly recommend it.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would love anything that Julianne Donaldson writes. This is the kind of book that I could pick up when I was going through a trial and read any page and come away lifted. Her personal experiences and stories were some of my favorites. I think this is one of those books that you come back to over and over again and something new will resonate. I appreciate her vulnerability in sharing such raw feelings so we all can benefit from the insight and growth. Truly special.

If friends divide the sorrow and multiply the joy—I feel like Julianne Donaldson’s friend! In this glimpse into Julianne’s experiences I can learn to find hope and joy in the midst of the hardest trials. It is a poignant, emotionally evocative, short and sweet memoir that shows light in the darkest times. Beautifully written verses and essays demonstrate God’s goodness and grace.

This is a perfect example of something small that packs a big punch. The book is short and if you chose to read through the entire thing, you could easily do so within an hour, probably with time to spare. But I also think it would be a great book to sit and savor. Allow the flavors to mull around in your mind a bit. Soak in the wisdoms and thoughts. Take in the comforting words, feel them embrace you and hold you in your own trials and hurts. Maybe write down the things that come to your mind as you read a poem or essay. It’s a lovely book that I know I will turn back to over and over.

I rarely read such a touching book which resonated with me so much.

Julianne Donaldson is by far one of my favourite authors ever. Through her books, she introduced me to one of my favourite genre: sweet regency romances. I read her three first books and was then ready to read anything she would write. Someone who wrote so beautifully, with such feeling, could only be a beautiful person. But you know, an author always stays this kind of ghostly presence behind the book — invisibly seeping through all of it.

Even though I was disappointed when I learnt Julianne Donaldson had stopped writing for a while, and even cancelled a book project, I understood. And I don't regret not reading her never-finished book. Because what she has written here is so much stronger. Of course, I wish all that happened to her hadn't hurt her. But now she is that person I have so much compassion for, especially as I read "Come, Sweet Day" at a point in my life when things weren't great either. So it made me appreciate her new way of seeing things and being hopeful even more.

I loved the message of this book as much as I liked the way it is written. I can really "feel" the words, their rhythm, their beauty. Stories and poems in alternance.
I am not a religious person so the christian references didn't mean much to me, and I would have preferred a bit less of them, but I still liked the message behind them.

Her writings reminded me of words I wrote and spoke for a project once. "We must accept that things cannot always go well, that we cannot always do good. That we may do the right things and yet, obtain the wrong results. . . [But] our lives are made to enjoy the good that exists all around us"

*I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest opinion*

Beautiful. This book brought tears to my eyes and hope for my hungry soul.

I could have highlighted this one in its entirety for the way that it spoke to me. The way that Donaldson writes of her heartaches and trials but then sees the light of hope, the light of Gods hand in her life.

Donaldson’s, Blackmoore is my all time favorite book. I guess some authors just have a way of slipping into our hearts. She writes of the struggles she has had and is still working to overcome over the last few years. These have inspired beautiful, heartfelt poems of peace and longing and all have been inspired by a beloved and enduring Savior.

I’ve always loved the notion of finding God in the dark, knowing that the light is just above the horizon. These poems and words definitely define this sentiment.

I needed this book today. Thank you Julianne for letting us into your head and your heart. We all need a running partner in this marathon of life cheering us on, you did that and I was grateful for this book today.

Ever since I have read Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson, I have desperately anticipated the release of her next book, continually checking to see if one had been released without me knowing about it.

What I did not anticipate was a memoir of sorts of love, loss, resilience, but most of all hope!

This book spoke to me in so many ways and I highlighted a ridiculous amount as I read it. Without sounding trite, I cried and I laughed, ultimately my soul was blessed and hope that I didn’t realize was missing was restored.

“But in a gift of grace to myself, I am now telling myself that just because it’s hard doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me. Just because our progress is slow doesn’t mean we’re not trying.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC!

There are some very beautiful words contained in this book. Some that contained the ache of sorrow. Some that talk of just being. And many that were full of Hope and what is to come.

I really enjoyed the progression of the poems and words from the beginning to the end. I'll admit that I even had moments that the ache and also the beauty of the words brought tears to my eyes.

Some of these poems are very raw in the emotions that they convey. I think sometimes when we are really struggling that we hold that in and don't share our aches. Granted some aches, it just isn't easy to share. But being able to write or talk with a dear friend or family member through those emotions and struggles can help. It doesn't bring instant healing or solace. And sometimes the struggles last far longer than what we could have thought or imagined. But knowing that someone is truly there who knows the pain and ache and hope (even if that hope is buried deep in the moment), someone who has suffered and felt those same pains, can offer solace and peace to our battered and trying souls. Overall, it is a sweet book that shows we all have our own struggles and aches and sorrows. But we are not truly alone in them. Not that I want others to be suffering and feeling pain, but it helps me to know that I can be more aware of those around me. That I can offer grace and kindness as I want and need that grace and kindness in my life as well. I hope that we all can see the hope that will come, one sweet day.


I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Julianne Donaldson is an author I have loved for years, really since a local book club suggested one of her regency romance novels. Later she came to visit our book club and so after meeting her as a person and not just a blurb on the back of a book I came to appreciate her and her stories even more.

Come, Sweet Day was many of those stories and experiences that helped bring her to where she is today in words. She eloquently discusses where she found hope through her words in a way that I could relate to and touched the soul. I highly recommend to anyone who needs a little light in a world seemingly full of dark.

It’s not often that I pick up a book of poetry. In fact, I don’t think I really ever have. But I’ve seen people all over talking about this new one by Julianne Donaldson. And I wanted to read it to check it out.

I loved this book! I loved the way the author shared things about her life lately that would have been hard to share. As well as the poetry that she’d written. This book is so comforting. We are all going to have hard times. And reading through the author’s experiences, as well as her poetry will be helpful. It’s like someone reached out to give the reader a hug.

This book is beautiful too! I love the happy cover. But inside is filled with beautiful images to go along with the poetry. It’s so well done. I loved everything about it.

Hope is something we can all use more of. This would be a great gift for someone going through a hard time. Or just your mom for Mother’s Day.

I was sent an e-copy of Come, Sweet Day as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I read this book just after Easter. It reiterated all that Easter is about. Renewal, refresh and rebirth. That we all go through rough times. These poems and essays, put things in a better perspective and through the love of God, we can persevere all things. Knowing that this author went through challenging trials, and has the strength and courage to move forward, makes these words even more powerful. I pray for all of us, to take our challenges, and find ways to turn them into uplifting events. To better others and come unto Christ.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“For those who are wondering if they’re alone in feeling weighed down by life, you’re not.” Julianne Donaldson understands what it is like to go through difficult things and to be stretched, but not give up. She assures the reader that she isn’t standing on the other side of trials cheering us on, she’s still struggling along with us.

I first learned about Julianne Donaldson when I read Edenbrooke. It quickly became one of my favorites so of course I wanted to read her new book Come, Sweet Day – Holding on to Hope in Dark Times. This is a completely different kind of book, but just as well written. The author is a woman of faith who shares powerful and encouraging thoughts. Every page has a beautiful picture overlaid with words written in verse. Even the end pages are welcoming and happy with scattered green leaves across the two-page spread.

She says, “It feels like we’re all riding the same trail together and so we must be able to do the same things on that trail. But everyone has a different bike, and some people’s bikes have flat tires and are in high gear…Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me…Someday we will be able to put air in our tires and adjust our gears and the ride will be easier.” p24

I loved everything about this book. Even though I already had a digital copy from the publisher, I bought two physical copies as soon as it was released, one for me and one for a friend. This is the kind of book I wanted to hold in my hands and look at on paper. I think it also makes a nice gift as we are all going through hard things.

It is hard to put into words the effect this little book has had on me. It is beautiful, thought provoking, and comforting. The thoughts and feelings linger long after the last page. Her sorrow and struggles come through clearly but so does the hope and light. I feel like this is a book anyone going through hard things can relate to and feel understood, comforted and uplifted. It deserves more than 5 stars.

Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC to use for my review.