SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Songs of Seraphina by Jude Houghton
Autonomy by Jude Houghton
It’s the year 2035, a decade after a series of cataclysmic environmental events led to the breakdown of society and its resurrection by a global corporate/political force called “The Autonomy.” The Autonomy’s elite upper class rule with an iron fist, keeping the masses starving and working 14 hour factory shifts until their bodies become deformed. Everyone is forced to wear government-issued “iNet” glasses which supply mind-numbing entertainment and access to “The Faith,” the government-sponsored religion, while having their locations and activities monitored.
Deep in the sewers of the world’s wealthiest city, a rebellion is brewing. One girl with special abilities […]
Still Dreaming: Poetry and Short Stories by Ellie Rose McKee
In her latest collection, Still Dreaming, Ellie Rose McKee weaves together poetry and prose to consider themes of loss and longing, dreams, and family secrets. One story concerns a coffeehouse with a mysterious regular customer, while two different stories deal with young women in distress, one on the verge of losing her sight, another considering ending her life after suffering a traumatic event.
McKee’s poems are sparse but endearing. In one, the author wishes she could flip a switch to gain sudden inner peace, “Insomnia? No problem! Flick a switch and that’ll solve ’em.” Her language is direct and […]
Soldier of Fortune (Book 1 of the Fortune Chronicles) by Kathleen McClure
Fishing In Valhalla by Rodney Lynch
The novel is a fun and quick read that will have you smiling frequently, […]
When Are You Leaving by Melissa Powell Gay
When Are You Leaving by Melissa Powell Gay is a twisted mystery of hometown and heartbreak.
Reeling from missing out on the job of a lifetime, Iris Lee takes an unexpected step in her career – going back home. With a father who can’t remember her birthday and a mother struggling to remember her own name, Iris had been well on her way to leaving the past behind her, but she is unexpectedly pulled back into the swirling, nostalgic mess of Mt. Pleasant, Virginia. With the sharp mind of a corporate shark and the tireless drive of a street-wise sleuth, […]
Items May Have Shifted by NJS Kaye
In Items May Have Shifted: How to Travel With Your Baby or Toddler, journalist NJS Kaye presents a “guerrilla guide” to traveling with young children based on copious experience and scholarly research.
Having taken her twin boys on 21 flights before their first birthday, Kaye provides the ins and outs of getting through security, boarding a plan quickly and efficiently, and changing a baby in an airplane restroom. She also covers tips for long car or bus trips, train travel, and even cruise ships. Each chapter ends with a short summary of “Souvenirs” with parental proverbs ranging from the […]
Doggy Drama by Andra Gillum, Illustrated by Andy Case
In first-person narration, Riley recalls happy times as the focal point for all of his “parents’” attention, followed by the chaotic aftermath of family additions: first one child, then another, then a new puppy. While each addition is disruptive, Riley learns to take it all in stride and celebrate the positive. The babies drop scraps of food from their high chairs and the new puppy is a great […]