Lead Story

Lead stories from SPR’s ever-growing independent book portal

Review: Illuminarium by Truth Devour ★★★★

Illuminarium by Truth DevourIlluminarium, by Truth Devour, is the creative and thought-provoking first installment in the planned five book Soliloquy’s Labyrinth series.

Harper, a forensic psychologist, discovers a book while hiking in a redwood forest. The book isn’t normal and Harper feels compelled to read it. York, the author of the book, describes the horrors he lived through during his stay in a sanitarium many decades ago. York is struggling between good and evil and Harper is glued to the pages. But is the book only a book or is it more? And why did it present itself to Harper?

This fantasy […]

2016-01-06T05:43:18+02:00January 6th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |

Review: The Midnight Land: Part One: The Flight by E.P. Clark ★★★★

The Midnight Land: Part One: The Flight by E.P. ClarkeWhen Krasnoslava Tsarinovna, younger sister to the Empress of Zem’, wishes to be let free to explore the world, her wish is unexpectedly granted when an Imperial soldier approaches the kingdom for support in exploring the Midnight Land; the land beyond the sun-line. The young royal volunteers for the mission, and unexpectedly, is allowed to join. Soon picking up the somewhat more casual moniker “Slava”, Slava and her companions venture into the unknown in The Midnight Land: Part One: The Flight by E.P. Clark.

The story of the unhappy princess of an exotic land is nothing new to fiction, of […]

2016-01-05T09:10:15+02:00January 5th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Dissident (Forbidden Things #1) by Nikki McCormack ★★★★★

Dissident by Nikki McCormackDissident: Forbidden Things Book One by Nikki McCormack is a rollicking epic fantasy novel.

Indigo has great power, but her country, Caithin, has placed severe limitations on the use of ascard, which can strengthen, heal, and create. It can also destroy. Indigo, an orphan from a disgraced family, is engaged to an abusive and jealous man and is afraid to leave him because of her tenuous situation in society.

Yiloch, the prince of Lyra, wants to overthrow the mad emperor, who is also Yiloch’s father.

When Indigo and Yiloch meet their lives change as well as the fate of […]

2016-01-12T08:44:10+02:00December 30th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Sharky Marky and the Scavenger Hunt by Lance Olsen ★★★★

Sharky Marky and the Scavenger HuntSharky Marky and the Scavenger Hunt (An Alphabetic Adventure) finds Sharky Marky in a car race as he races to find different items in a scavenger hunt, each corresponding to a letter in the alphabet. Written in rhyming verse, it’s a sweet, good-natured children’s book with colorful and detailed illustrations.

Like Sharky Marky and the Big Race, Scavenger Hunt begins with a stoplight countdown. Sharky Marky then races to the finish line to find each item in the alphabet. First, Sharky sees some algae (“Marky scoops up some Algae, his first on the list. As he speeds by Eddy […]

2016-01-12T10:22:04+02:00December 29th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Sharky Marky and the Big Race by Lance Olsen

★★★★½ Sharky Marky and the Big Race by Lance Olsen

Sharky Marky and the Big Race is a fun children’s book for ages 3-5 about a racecar-driving shark as he races against a collection of sea creatures. The book teaches counting, as the child is entertainingly instructed to count down from ten for every car Sharky Marky passes. Along the way, a couple participants attempt to derail Sharky Marky by puncturing his tires and spraying ink in his face, but Sharky Marky is triumphant in the end.

The narrative is very reminiscent of Pixar – sort of “Finding Nemo” meets “Cars.” That’s not a criticism, because who doesn’t love […]

2016-03-04T03:53:50+02:00December 29th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Detour Amour (Detour Paris Series Book 3) by Jack Dancer ★★★★★

detour amourDetour Amour, by Jack Dancer, is the stunning conclusion to the Detour Paris series.

Tucker Blue is not playing Mr. Nice Guy anymore. The woman he loves is still being held captive and his enemies have pushed him too far. Tucker wants to destroy them, but he’s an advertising guy, not Rambo.

Tucker turns to unconventional means to out his nemesis in an attempt to rescue his princess. Will his plan work? And at what cost?

The main ingredients of the series thus far has been humorous unpredictability and crazy escapades. This series is creative, entertaining, and cringe-worthy. After […]

2016-01-13T11:17:47+02:00December 27th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |

Review: Detour Allure (Detour Paris Series Book 2) by Jack Dancer ★★★★★

Detour AllureDetour Allure: Detour Paris Series Book 2, by Jack Dancer, is an action-packed adventure with numerous twists and turns that’ll make the reader’s head spin.

Book two picks up right where book one left readers hanging.

Monica and Tucker are coming to terms with their situation. To complicate matters, their budding relationship is being pulled in many different directions by their friends, enemies, and some unknown sources.

Insecurities arise. Two of their companions are missing. Tucker doesn’t know who to trust or what’s going on. Then something awful happens. Can Tucker pull himself together to save the day?

This […]

Review: Ten Mistakes Made by Most Pulpit Committees by Don K. Clements ★★★★★

Ten Mistakes Made by Most Pulpit Committees by Don K. ClementsAmong the most important decisions that any church body must make, choosing the correct pastor is of the utmost consequence.  Jeremiah 3:15 states:  “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”  In a nutshell, this is the role of the pastor today.  The pastor is the leader of the church, the one who will direct the flock in the way it should go.  He provides encouragement and guidance and is entrusted with the most imperative of duties.  He must study The Word to discern God’s heart and instruct his congregation.  There […]

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