SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Ernie Eubanks is fed up with everything – he still lives with his mother, he lost his job as a salesman after thirty years, and every person he meets seems hellbent on irritating him. There aren’t enough cups of coffee or cheeseburgers in the world to chuck at all his problems, but he is about to learn that his bad behavior does have repercussions, and some […]
Author Sherman P. Bastarache presents a masterful new thesis on sexuality, eroticism, human anatomy, and emotional exploration in An Erotic Phenotype.
With each chapter probing deeper into the body, mind, and societal structures that define sexuality and pleasure, the average reader will be wide-eyed by how much they learn about their own erotic potential. Even for those who consider themselves well-versed in the intimate aspects of their reproductive systems, this book will surely shed fresh light, given its comprehensive overview. From quantum physics and multiple orgasms to “Gray’s Anatomy” and bisexuality, this far-ranging read is enlightening in numerous ways.[…]
From the first explosive, mind-rattling pages, this novel hits like a tailor-made drug, with well-timed jump cuts of narration and insightful drop-ins to critical moments and revelations. Anton, Ona, Aunt Vee, and Oz make an interesting core of this darkly entrancing story, their fates seemingly entwined, despite their haphazard involvement in one another’s lives. Ona’s relationship with the regulars of her NA meetings adds another layer […]
Detailing the struggles of the Hornbeck family as they navigate treacherous years of poverty and desperation, JC and Martha are the family’s resilient backbone, while Monroe and Wyatt are the wily young ones learning the meaning of survival. From Arkansas, Louisiana, and Denver to Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the interwoven stories of these characters are snapshots of wandering lifestyles and the sheer willpower to keep going. Peppered […]
Part memoir and part sleep guide, Altschuler welcomes readers into the sleepless recesses of his own experience with insomnia as a result of cancer, while also providing a wealth of resources and mental frameworks to address and overcome common sleep issues, whatever the cause. Despite the unique aspect of a memoir, Altschuler’s approaches to addressing his own insomnia could be applied to anyone’s experience, and many elements of the book are […]
The fearless crew is tackling another covert mission near the Bahamas, in the aftermath of a violent storm, fresh off another heroic rescue. This time around, there is a new CO at the helm, and Captain Reardon’s introduction is a character shift that shakes up the bonds between crew members to keep the interpersonal dynamic fresh. Whether they are protecting the integrity of NASA rocket launches, intercepting high-payload drug drops, or acting as getaway […]
Schmid’s writing style takes on the intricate, belabored pace beloved of many epic fantasy fans, similar to The Buried Giant or almost any Donaldson tome, with the […]
Unpacking an abusive childhood as he strives for acceptance and perfection, Hanwei’s long journey away from innocence is remarkable in its stark detail. Juxtaposing the aspirational Chinese mindset of his youth with the free-thinking exploration of ideas in the west, this story is woven together on multiple levels, with themes of sexuality, cultural pressure, academia, and personal exodus, for a poignant meditation on freedom.
Examining whether we can ever truly be free of our past, Huang […]