SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Daffodil Hill and the Purpose of the Lavender Fields by Danette Key
Quaint, small-town charm belies an inexplicable presence in Daffodil Hill and the Purpose of the Lavender Fields, a highly imaginative novel by Danette Key.
Daffodil Hill is a pleasant, laid-back little village in upstate New York with a population of just a thousand citizens. Not much happens in this sleepy little village so when sacred gardens become vandalized and strange footprints are found in the forest, cries of disbelief soon turn to demands for justice. Little do Daffodil Hill’s citizens know but their small village is under siege by a perpetrator the likes of which no one has ever […]
I Am Not Nothin’: The Serpent Handler’s Daughter by Tommy G. Robertson takes readers back to a time and place where things might seem simpler on the surface, but in reality they are not. Centered in a coal mining “company” town, the cast of characters are dealing with a type of indentured servitude to the owner of the coal and coke company while they are just trying to get by in life.
B.A.L.D.: Lillie’s First Day of School by Tijuana Collier and Khaila Ramey-Collier, is a charming storybook with an all-important message about confidence and individuality.
The Spy Who Hated Me! by Shaun Chapman is a rip-roaring race through a shadowy noir world of dames and danger, with a healthy dose of technological surrealism that gives this world a slightly unpredictable edge.
In 2000, following a divorce and depression, Fiona Maria Simon heard an inner voice: “Sell your granola.” She decided to take the chance and created Fiona’s Natural Foods, which went on to great success, as movingly told in Gambling on Granola: Unexpected Gifts on the Path of Entrepreneurship.
In Shed Your Chaos, author Glenn C. Stewart observes that many people are deficient in basic life skills, and believes that helping others as a Christian means imparting skills to reorganize – whether they are in a chaos of disorderliness or a pattern of high structure arrayed around the wrong priorities. This book aims to declutter people’s lives through a Christian perspective.
Punching Babies (a how-to guide) by Adron J. Smitley is a writer’s reference book that breaks down story structure creation in easy to understand parts and brings clarity to the story structuring process. With a no-nonsense way of explaining some complex concepts, Smitley walks the reader through the essential components of a literary work with real-world explanations and examples.
Caleb signs up for a university study because, frankly, he has nothing better to do. He’s lost his girlfriend, lost his drive, and getting free room and board on top of a weekly stipend doesn’t sound too bad. When things start getting weird at orientation, he rolls with it. As their leaders take the volunteers into an isolated mountain retreat, he accepts his lot. He doesn’t even kick up too much of a fuss when he and his friends discover their “Spartan” accommodations aren’t even built yet. Divided into teams, however, the study’s participants slowly begin to turn on each […]