John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Matriarch Messiah by Maxine Trencavel

Destinies are questioned and family secrets are finally revealed in The Matriarch Messiah by Maxime Trencavel, a spectacular second installment of the Mystery of the Matriarchs saga.

Still stunned by the knowledge that they are the rebirthed souls of an ancient matriarch and her husband, unlikely hero Peter Gollinger, and his battle-tested partner Zara Khatum, have welcomed a new member into their relationship – the voice of God in Zara’s head. Driven by an ancient force to find the mysterious cavern of blue light, Zara is compelled to fulfill the mission of her lineage, but her success depends on Peter’s […]

The Fret Master by James Dobie

An almost-famous guitarist cuts a devilish deal that lands him at the center of a supernatural standoff in The Fret Master by James Dobie, an intense fourth chapter in the Wallowa Lake Thrillers series. Nearing rock bottom as a burnt-out musician, Mason Rivers is desperate enough to sell his actual soul for the perfect hands of a rock god. However, when the price of fame climbs too high, he flees cross country with his begrudging partner-in-damnation, April Flowers. A gritty Faustian reboot coupled with an existential battle of good and evil in Wallowa Lake, this is a dark but still […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-28T17:07:47+02:00March 28th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Darina by Magda Nasadowska

Turning traditional fairy tales on their patriarchal heads, Darina: A Self-Rescuing Princess by Magda Nasadowska is an essential reminder of the importance of self-reliance.

Princess Darina is frequently faced with challenges to her safety, her city, and the people of her kingdom, and there always seems to be a suitor eager to solve her problem in exchange for her hand in marriage. However, Darina is not only beautiful, but also intelligent and well-trained in a range of skills, which she confidently demonstrates to each prospective husband, showing that she is a capable, clever, and compassionate leader.

Ultimately finding joy in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-28T11:50:21+02:00March 28th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Review: You Don’t Know Sh*t About Leadership by G. Damon Wells

An impressive exploration of decision-making by both organizations and individuals, You Don’t Know Sh*t About Leadership: How Smart Leaders Leverage Biology, Behavior, and Complexity to Build Exceptional Organizations by G. Damon Wells is an unapologetic guide to self-knowledge and long-term effectiveness in whatever life direction you choose.

In a world where thought leaders have become more public-facing and accessible, it has become clear that being in charge doesn’t necessarily mean being the right person for the job. This book attempts to identify and bridge the disconnect between traditional leadership methods and contemporary efficacy in positions of authority. Wells explains the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-27T11:30:07+02:00March 26th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Leadership Book Reviews|

Review: Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner

Setting the record straight on the life and legacy of Jesus Christ through the words of his truest companion, Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner is a revelatory work of fiction.

After two thousand years of watching Christianity morph into a carnival mirror version of itself, Yeshua tasks his most faithful follower with revealing the truth to the world. With that mission in mind, Mary of Magdala details her life-changing journey at Yeshua’s side, clarifying murky points of history around the disciples’ true colors, the ulterior motives behind the severely edited Gospels, and the eradication of the feminine legacy at the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-26T13:04:53+02:00March 25th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Brood 17: The Grooming of Misty Dawn by SE Reynolds

A haunting spree of psychological horror, Brood 17: The Grooming of Misty Dawn by SE Reynolds is a visceral and graphic plunge into psychosexual trauma.

Misty Dawn McCafferty is being held in a mental institution after ritually sacrificing her boyfriend, claiming that an insidious infection was to blame for her burst of brutal violence. Although Misty was discovered by the police in a pool of her partner’s blood after a halfway successful murder-suicide, she insists that her cicada-derived infection is what drove her to homicide. Ivan, a forensic psychologist working on the case, has two weeks to decide between insanity […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-25T14:47:17+02:00March 25th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews|

Blue Miracle by Blair Harton

Untimely romance, summer grief, and sweet second chances combine in Blue Miracle by Blair Harton, a tender and dramatic work of romance. Natalie and Grayson meet in their youth in a beachside town, but bad luck and worse weather pull them apart. A decade later, small-town serendipity brings them back into each other’s orbit, but distance, time, and the scars of heartbreak are hard to overcome, no matter how strong the connection. A time-leaping tale told from intimate dual perspectives, this tangled love story is driven by its emotional depth and attention to character, feeling as much like a contemporary […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-25T11:14:55+02:00March 25th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Cataclysm: Legend of the Iron Warrior Vol. 2 by T.V. Holiday

A shattered antihero must return to the spiritual battlefield and defeat a devilish plan to dominate humanity in T.V. Holiday’s Cataclysm: Legend of the Iron Warrior by T.V. Holiday, the second book in this inventive series.

With Carnage Coast on the brink of its downfall and the Iron Warrior a grief-stricken shell of his former self, Lucifer enlists the help of Monsoon and the Crimson Queen to secure victory over the limbo city once and for all. Their ensuing tidal wave of violence and corpses threatens to wash away whatever faith in God remains, unless his divinely chosen champion can […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-24T16:56:02+02:00March 24th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|