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New Releases

SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books

Can’t Think Straight by Isabel Scheck

Can't Think Straight by Isabel ScheckA gentle, melancholic collection of poetry about longing and love, Isabel Scheck’s Can’t Think Straight makes a profound and heartfelt emotional impact through simplicity and symbolism.

This short, easily readable book contains 35 poems, all focused on similar themes of wishing for companionship. The female-coded narrator expresses her desire for a girlfriend and imagines what they could do together: activities like going to the fair, having a picnic, making art, watching movies, baking cupcakes, stargazing, and attending Pride.

Scheck’s tight focus on simple activities – as opposed to over-the-top romantic gestures – effectively highlights the intensity of longing for basic […]

2021-11-03T07:26:24+02:00November 3rd, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |
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Hunted (The Abarath Trilogy Book 1) by Damian Dawes

Hunted (The Abarath Trilogy Book 1) by Damian Dawes A deep-sea thriller with a paranormal twist, Hunted by Damian Dawes is the first throat-clenching book of The Abarath Trilogy.

Kat Robbins may not be afraid of anything, not even a great white looking for a scuba diver dinner, but that doesn’t make her isolated life on an Arctic icebreaker any less monotonous. The bleak endless ocean means plenty of time to ruminate on the shadows of her past, until a mysterious wreck draws the crew into dark and uncertain waters. Stranded in an icy expanse and stalked by an ancient, life-sucking evil, the crew of Soviet misfits, suspicious […]

2021-11-02T03:30:09+02:00November 1st, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |
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The Terminal Code by J.W. Galliger

The Terminal Code by J.W. Galliger A refreshing and raw splash of dystopic creativity, The Terminal Code by J.W. Galliger is a futuristic crime thriller that will leave you hungry for more, though not necessarily eager for the decades to come.

A murder inside an immersive virtual reality world called SCAPE leaves investigators terrified and mystified by the implications. Identifying a deadly flaw in an escapist platform that serves billions brings up an impossible question: what are the true boundaries of reality? If our mind believes something deeply enough, can it be manifested with deadly consequences? Bringing the story home for today’s readers, the novel questions […]

2021-11-02T02:45:23+02:00October 30th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |
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Final Chance by Van Fleisher

Final Chance by Van FleisherA third disturbing reflection on the American mindset, Final Chance by Van Fleisher is a prophetic piece of fiction, and the climactic conclusion to the author’s dystopian near-future trilogy.

Bouncing between our real-world present and an uncertain imagined fate, Fleisher takes readers through a sci-fi envisioning of pandemic-peppered decades ahead, and the desperate decisions the world must make to ensure humanity’s survival. Society has never stood on a more fragile precipice, and while the Domed Generation of the 2050s is growing used to life inside, protected from the “alien” atmosphere, the increased susceptibility to respiratory disease makes remaining populations dangerously […]

2021-10-29T07:45:09+02:00October 29th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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Northwoods Pulp Reloaded by T.K. O’Neill

Northwoods Pulp Reloaded by T.K. O'Neill Capturing the raw energy, resilience, and murky lawlessness of a bitter wilderness, Northwoods Pulp Reloaded by T.K. O’Neill is a stirring and wild collection.

Three intensely told stories capped off with a visceral crime novella, this is a seemingly easy escapist read, but the writing is smart and deeper than expected, from high-stakes morality parables to and illicit adventures that quickly get out of hand. O’Neill focuses a bit more on fast-talking dialogue and action sequences than he does on character development, but the world-building is immersive, with colloquial bits of nuance and detail that make the rugged scenes come […]

2022-11-22T11:10:04+02:00October 28th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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Desert Fire by John Spencer Perry

Desert Fire by John Spencer Perry Picking up a mysterious woman and her pup sends freshly lost Jeff Kain on the adventure of a lifetime in Desert Fire by John Spencer Perry. A ruggedly written homage to the West, this character-driven novel weaves through history, from outlaw legends to murderous mafiosos, with Perry’s star-crossed protagonists sitting firmly in the center.

Elyse and Jeff are the electric core of this wondrous story, which doesn’t shy away from the complications and pain that powerful connections can bring about. Delving into transient and adventure-seeking lifestyles and belief systems, the pair must navigate the unforgiving wilds of California, along with […]

2021-10-25T07:10:53+02:00October 24th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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Who Cares? by Dr. Melita J. Murray-Carney

Who Cares? by Dr. Melita J. Murray-CarneyA helpful guide of spiritual writing prompts, Dr. Melita J. Murray-Carney’s Who Cares? is a relatable devotional journal that strikes a realistic balance between optimism and practicality.

Dr. Murray-Carney, a licensed clinical psychologist, grounds her work in both individual experience and scientific consensus, discussing her own success with journaling while examining the research about the therapeutic benefits of writing. The book is divided into well-organized themed sections called “seasons” that address subjects like personal growth, success, and change, covering the gamut of self-help issues. Readers are prompted to respond to specific questions of reflection, statements of positive affirmation, or direct […]

2021-10-14T06:12:33+02:00October 14th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |
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Giving Back: Memories, Reflections, and Lessons Learned by Edward A. Joseph

Giving Back by Edward A. Joseph Wisely worded recollections from slightly simpler times, author Edward A. Joseph bares his soul in Giving Back: Memories, Reflections, and Lessons Learned, a heartwarming, powerful, and easy-to-read collection.

With an impressive career as a published storyteller, these personal and previously published stories are healthy, honest, and unafraid to probe the deeper meaning behind the simple joys and moments of life. From cinematic childhood misadventures as a caddy to his brief but hilariously recounted time as a car salesman, Joseph peels back his losses, victories, and discoveries with a smirk and a shrug.

Summoning full-bodied characters, eras, and visceral moments, […]

2021-10-13T08:05:25+02:00October 13th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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