SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
A Lover in the Land of Hell by Jennie Haiman
A Lover in the Land of Hell by Jennie Haiman begins on an appropriate upbeat note – “Welcome, Newborn” – and continues with an exploration of high-minded themes.
Haiman feels different from those around her, and speaks in these poems for the downtrodden: “Perhaps I’m here for a reason–maybe the world needs more like me.” She makes poignant cries for help for fellow beings, including animals, plants, and even the planet itself. She urges us to improve our thinking and “just give.” Two poignant works chronicle the life of a street cat and an old dog consigned to a shelter. […]
Composed with victims of emotional abuse in mind, My Little Heart, Ruthie encourages and inspires with poetry and drawings. Toni Jannotta, actress and dancer, now branches out to write children’s books, in this case using limericks as her poetic medium.
Combining a father’s love for his Autistic son and the dangerous world of human trafficking, True Mercy by Idelle Kursman draws you in immediately, making it hard to stop reading.
Told through the eyes of Kamera, Ansel, and Soul: Get Lost in Heaven…(Don’t) puts a unique twist on the concept of paradise and the human condition. A cross between sci-fi and philosophy, it takes readers on a journey of imagination, self-realization, and questioning, that leaves them wondering if there is more out there than we can see with our eyes.
Half-tipsy confessions of old conquests and relationships aren’t entirely unique, but few authors choose to dedicate an entire book to the recollection of a romantic past. Lost Young Love, however, is a funny and sincere catalogue of the narrator’s cocktail napkin list of lovers, which may or may not be a semi-autobiographical confession from the author, Bruce W. Perry.
John Righten ratchets up the tension quotient tenfold in The Last Rogue, a continuation of his no-holds-barred political thriller series, the Lochran Trilogy.
Just how far will you go to save the one you love? In The Amendment Killer, author Ronald S. Barak asks us this question within a complex and riveting political thriller.
In the land of eternal sunshine, life may seem smooth and simple, but there is conflict brewing beneath the waves. In Surfing with Snakes & Dragons: And Other Tales of Suburbia, author Roger J. Couture spins eight enrapturing tales of a freewheeling life that are imbued with energy, danger, and the confusing growing pains of youth.