“Rogue is focused, deliberate, and seasoned in her latest release that is a mix of poetry and prose...a wordsmith. Her command of the poetic language is unparalleled and sets her apart from other contemporary poets.” —Alicia Cook, Bestselling author of Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately “It’s going to hit you below the belt. You’re going to reach for the closest stand-in lover you can find & you’re going to make a home in their body & you’re going to pretend your childhood memories are hung in his chest & you skinned your knee tripping over the curve of his arm & you have always been here.” In Exits, Desires, & Slow Fires Goodreads Choice Nominated poet J.R. Rogue shines bright. With heartbreaking language, the bestselling author revisits unreturned love like only she can. Unforgiving pain, wanting, longing, fierce betrayal, and sweet lies feel like a second skin in this collection about love and loss.

It's going to hit you below the belt. You're going to reach for the closest stand-in lover you can find & you're going to make a home in their body & you're going to pretend your childhood memories are hung in his chest & you skinned your knee tripping over the curve of his arm & you have always been here.

It's going to hit you below the belt. You're going to reach for the closest stand-in lover you can find & you're going to make a home in their body & you're going to pretend your childhood memories are hung in his chest & you skinned your knee tripping over the curve of his arm & you have always been here.

"this skin is my own— arms to circle my tired center, wrapping warm this heart that longs to be free of self-made chains" In her Letters for the Universe, Goodreads Choice Nominated poet J.R. Rogue shares intimate poems written lovingly for her readers. Take a journey through the eyes of author and reader as Rogue shares a glimpse into the private task of writing poetry dedicated to readers worldwide. Poems for the Dawn: Vol 1 is book 5 in the Letters to the Universe series. Each poem in this collection is a custom piece written for a J.R. Rogue reader.

Severin It feels like I’ve been in love with Bryan Winthrop my entire life. Before he kissed me in front of the entire school. As he danced with her the night of our senior prom. After his younger brother, Ben, made me smile through my tears. “It’ll never work with him. He will never leave her…” It’s been more than ten years since I let myself fall for the boy whose heart wasn’t mine. And the Prom King’s lips are finally mine to kiss. “When I came back here I wasn’t expecting to see you, and when I did, I felt this tumble…” But he’s still keeping me in the shadows. As his younger brother breaks me open in the day. Ben You shouldn’t covet whom your brother desires. Our pastor father would say he taught me better than that. But I knew over ten years ago my brother didn’t deserve her. And nothing’s changed since she came back into both our lives. “You think what you felt for my brother back then was love, but what I felt can’t be the same?” I’m still the one who makes her laugh— the one who challenges her. And he’s still the one treating her like a dirty little secret. “You really are a watercolor, Severin Thompson. I can read you…” You shouldn’t covet whom your brother desires. This summer, I’ll remind him of that.

J.R. Rogue has self-published five novels and ten poetry collections. Several of her poetry collections have become bestsellers, including Tell Me Where It Hurts, La Douleur Exquise, and Exits, Desires, & Slow Fires, two of which were also Goodreads Choice Nominees for poetry. In her latest book of poems, I’m Not Your Paper Princess, the author focuses on love, heartache, and continuously discovering old truths in new ways.

Jo I’m not bad; they just write me that way. That’s what I tell myself—the lie I peddle in interviews. If they want a bad girl, I can be their bad girl. Their villain. “Everyone loves a scandal. And you’re the queen of scandals..” Years ago, I broke the heart of the biggest pop star in the world. And then I became the Sexiest Man Alive’s biggest regret. I am not that venomous girl anymore. But I know a life-changing role when I see one. “At his name, my heart stills. The man I hate and want. The bane of my existence…” Being Tristan Kane’s on-screen love interest will be good for my career. And bad for my heart. For him? I aim to devastate both. Tristan The world thinks it’s easy being the son of Hollywood royalty. But they don’t know the burdens I wear. Or the regrets in my chest—that all say her name. “We will be nothing more than co-stars. Not friends. Not anything more...” Loving Josephine Ouellette goes against my late father’s wishes. Fits into my meddling manager’s plans. And pisses my sister off. “...forget the world, they can’t have this moment. This is our story, and no one gets a say in it.” But I’m tired of living in his shadow. Living for their games. I fell in love with a villain. And no one loves harder than the scorned.