John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Better Man Plans by Bobby Cudd

The Better Man Plans by Bobby Cudd

Author Bobby Cudd delivers a comprehensive, accessible, and entertaining guide for those looking to improve how they show up for their relationships in The Better Man Plans: What men should know and do to cultivate more harmony and love with the women and children in their lives.

From examining traditional relationship conflicts and the internal failings of masculinity, to prescribing innovative activities and new approaches for connection, communication, and ambition, this book takes varied angles on the same fundamental issues. Perhaps most notably, the author touches on aspects of relationship that are often overlooked: romantic apathy, invisibly existing in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-13T10:13:25+02:00December 6th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Relationships Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

The Mob Zone by Joseph DeMatteo

The Mob Zone by Joseph DeMatteo A wise-guy wonderland of seedy deals, savage violence, and loyalty to the family, The Mob Zone by Joseph DeMatteo is a bold and entertaining collection of stories from the world of organized crime.

The three stories are unique in their own way, but fall in line with classic gangster narratives: untouchable tough guys with sharp comebacks and quick trigger fingers. These surprisingly complex, small-cast tales are driven by intense, multilayered dialogue – or other forms of communication, as in the case of the two mute assassins from “Driving in Silence,” one of the standouts in the collection. Perfectly polished for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-08T07:13:50+02:00December 5th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Crime Fiction Book Reviews, Noir Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

The Pebble Champion by A.D. Pritchard

A young man tries to find peace while navigating the troubled waters of trauma and self-discovery in The Pebble Champion by A.D. Pritchard. Stories about life-changing events are often compelling and relatable, as trauma and loss are universal for readers, and this coming-of-age story is no different. Laced with vivid snatches of flashback and memory, this emotionally charged novel is raw and vulnerable, but also told with the confidence of a skilled storyteller. There are occasional sections of dialogue that feel overly wordy, or inauthentic to how young people speak, but this is a small criticism within a largely impressive […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-03T09:14:37+02:00December 2nd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

One Night in Beartown by Nick Jones, Illustrated by Si Clark

A young girl’s charming obsession for bears of all kinds takes center stage in One Night in Beartown by Nick Jones. Inspired by a real-life town of painted bears, Congleton, this is a beautiful children’s story of friendship and resilience, and being honest about what you love, without fear of being teased or judged. Packed with vivid illustrations, an engaging story, and strong thematic messages that should resonate for young children, this is a unique addition to any bookshelf, and one that can be returned to time and again. There are a few hiccups in the language that feel a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-03T06:38:42+02:00December 2nd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

It Happened in Silence by Karla M. Jay

It Happened in Silence by Karla M. Jay Embedded firmly in the past, but echoing eerily in our present, It Happened in Silence by Karla M. Jay is a novel ripped from the American shadows, a visceral peek at the darkness.

Willow Stewart is a mesmerizing and relentless main character, though her relationship with her brother, Briar, is the unbreakable engine that drives this slow-brewing story. This interwoven tale of family, resilience, betrayal, and the moral evolution of a nation is powerful and stirring, but also subtle and humble in its storytelling. The novel is a striking meditation on America of the past and present, particularly when it […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-04T05:50:25+02:00December 2nd, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Luck by Chris Coppel

Luck by Chris Coppel

Luck, lies, and the weakness of human nature collide in Luck by Chris Coppel, an entertaining and savage satire that circles the strange birth and even stranger life of Daniel Trapp. Boasting a power that most would consider a blessing, good fortune seems to follow the main character like a shadow, but there are darker forces at work, and prices that must be paid.

As the title suggests, luck is a persistent theme from start to finish, frequently driving the plot twists and inexplicable events of the story. Daniel Trapp’s seemingly miraculous gift is another character in itself, an aura […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-11T06:54:30+02:00December 2nd, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Satire Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Just Where They Wanted to Be by Ellen Sollinger Walker

A vivid and heartfelt tale of family history, unexpected adventure, and abiding love, Just Where They Wanted to Be: The Story of My Amazing Parents (2nd Edition) by Ellen Sollinger Walker is a powerful and memorable recounting of her parents’ life. A beautiful blend of memoir and travelogue, the author not only takes readers around the world through her parents’ recollections, but is herself a part of this epic story. From Papua New Guinea and Yemen to the Bahamas and the Galapagos Islands, this globe-trotting read is a love story about the wild parts of the world, in addition to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-02T03:41:02+02:00December 2nd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Predator Moons by J.H. Ramsay

Predator Moons by J.H. Ramsay

Two unpredictable destinies collide in a far-flung corner of the universe in Predator Moons, a futuristic feast for the senses by J.H. Ramsay. Part dystopian fantasy and part space opera, this is an expansive and compelling story set in an endlessly layered realm of creativity and visionary imagination.

Traveling to the outer limits of the galaxy on two very different missions, the protagonists of this epic astral adventure don’t seem to have much in common, but that isn’t altogether true. Both are unable to resist change and progress; Isaiah is once again trying to escape a lifetime of slaughter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-01T07:10:34+02:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Space Opera Book Reviews|