SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
As the ferret moves through its small universe – his owner Joanne’s apartment – he figuratively and literally bumps into obstacles and quandaries that domesticated animals typically don’t ponder. From tumbling through a laundry shoot, losing his home, and witnessing […]
Author Benjamin Laskin delivers his third dose of ludicrous laughter with Murphy’s Luck 3: Curse vs Jinx, which drops Murphy Drummer and his laundry list of hobbies and skills to his most exotic destination yet: the jungles of South America.
After learning that his in-laws have fallen victim to a bumbling cartel, Murphy must overcome his fear of leaving the house – and the fear of his own jinx – to save the day. With an endearing cast of bizarre characters, including his charming daughter Phaedra, who shares Murphy’s impossible luck, this book positively hums with life and anticipation […]
In Apex, the third thriller in the gripping Crucible series from Ryan W. Aslesen, Max Ahlgren is once again recruited for a high-stakes mission that will take him closer to answers about his family, but also straight into the heart of the jungles of South America, where his hunt for a missing boy quickly becomes a hunt of a very different kind – with him as the prey.
Similar to the previous Ahlgren novels set in Alaska and North Korea, this exotic adventure offers intrigue and a deeply spiraling web of lies with our never-say-die protagonist leading every bullet-riddled […]
Huff is a spirited and engaging writer – he knows every corner of his story, which keeps […]
Little Cobb, along with his parents, Nobbin and Bobbin, live inside a wonderful, big moonberry tree. In the fall, they pick all the moonberries off the tree, from which they make jars of moonberry jam as well as moonberry bread, giving them plenty of food to eat. They’re all very happy – until the tree is struck by lightning and they must look for a new home…
Sabin gives young readers a folksy tale that […]
On the Occasion of a Wedding is a love-infused collection of poetry written by Ollie Bowen for two of her friends, as the title implies, on the occasion of their wedding. Broken up into four parts, this is an exquisite exploration of love and pain, fear for the future, and recycling of the past.
A heartfelt and subtly tender collection, there is a sense of intimacy behind every word. “Quanta Qualia” is a particularly haunting meditation on reality after love that must be read twice, while “Tears of the Poet” expresses the act of love between artists in a way […]
High Flying, the bold novel by acclaimed author Kaylin McFarren, elevates the time travel genre to new heights – literally. It boasts an instantly engaging protagonist in the persona of Skylar Haines, a volatile powerhouse of a character with an adrenaline addiction and a dark, troubled past.
While flying a plane in one of her daredevil acts, Skylar Haines barely manages to make a safe landing during a terrifying storm, but soon realizes she has somehow slipped back in time. Faced with the prospect of being able to change her family’s past, Skylar must reckon with the timeless conundrum […]
A grim, compelling tale of survival, Strange Days by Sharon Mikeworth takes a fresh angle on apocalyptic fiction.
When a mysterious illness springs up and tears across America, young Skye Cassidy’s life begins to crumble around her. Her parents fall victim to the disease, as do her various other short-lived allies and friends – Charlene, Liz and Chris – leaving her truly alone, teetering on the edge of suicidal thoughts and deep existential depression. However, her determination to live is rekindled, even if her sanity hangs by a thread.
This is a book highlighting the loneliness of the human experience, […]