SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Tales for Tra-La-La Day by Steve Michael Reedy, Illustrated by Tom Fee
A fanciful collection of short stories centered around an imaginative fictional holiday, Tales for Tra-La-La Day by Steve Michael Reedy is a magical anthology of festive fables.
From stories about the origins of a sacred song to dire parables about overconsumption and greed, each story adds a new and intriguing facet to this tall tale of a town, bursting with the energy of a beloved fairy tale realm in the making. “The Iceling Queen” is one of the most touching pieces in the collection, providing a compelling backstory for the creative holiday, but each story has the gleam of brilliance […]
A bookish physicist taps into her sleuthing skills in Alpha Beta Gamma by Malabika Ray, the engaging first book in The Diary of a Sloppy Sleuth series.
A quick and charming children’s book about being yourself, Cake, Lemonade and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight offers a bright burst of wisdom for young readers.
An intensely personal drama, Fury in Her Eyes by Phillip Vega is a thrilling and unpredictable portrait of connection, resentment, and romance that refuses to die.
When Olivia Ames, the brilliant daughter of a domineering CEO, goes missing, Katherine Carson and her crack team of private eyes reluctantly join the hunt in The Scheme by Amethyst Drake, a gritty and gripping first installment of the Carson Crime Files series.
The fifth book in the precisely crafted and well-researched Barton Family Series, A Piece of My Heart by Katherine P. Stillerman is a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of women during World War II.
A fast-paced plunge into contemporary spycraft with some classic Cold War twists, Moscow Nights Return by Beth H. Macy is a gripping international thriller.
A violent clash of duty, truth, morality, and vengeance, Heavy Weight of Darkness by JM Erickson is a soul-searching second piece to an exceptional sci-fi series.