John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci

Steeped in wartime drama and driven by storybook romance, The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci is a riveting work of historical fiction. Peeling back the lore of the French resistance during World War II, this novel is both a gripping spy thriller and a deeply personal adventure of a dauntless rebel in uncharted territory. With a mesmerizing ability to transport readers into barrooms and battlefields as readily as quaint French towns and dense forest landscapes, Gauci weaves a rich, well-constructed tapestry of language, suspense, and history in this enthralling, page-turning read.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-22T07:49:16+02:00January 21st, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Baby Moses by John Cowlin

Greed, bigotry, history, and revenge collide in Baby Moses, a gritty and soulful southern drama by John Cowlin.

When a young black man comes back home after a hard seven years, trouble has no problem finding him, as his path is crossed by two thieves on a slippery slope of violence and burglary. Defending the only mother he’s ever known, the dignity of his community, and his fundamental rights as a man, Moses quietly and confidently steps into the fray, but his sharp mind and quick tongue may be too untamed to keep him safe.

This powerful story is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-21T04:29:46+02:00January 21st, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: 36 Moons by Chris Guest

The magic of young love can have deadly consequences in 36 Moons, a new work of historical fiction by Chris Guest. Set near the turn of the 17^th century in the countryside of Salem, Massachusetts, this tangled tale of love, innocence, and puritanical suspicion is a shadowy escape.

Fabian is just coming into manhood, and while his family has certain expectations for his romantic future, fate has other plans for the handsome farm boy. When a beautiful young stranger named Emma Radcliffe appears on his land, he is captivated in an instant, sending Fabian down an eye-opening, life-changing, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-23T09:31:43+02:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Rites & Wrongs by Holly Harrison

A dark and ominous thriller, Rites and Wrongs by Holly Harrison is a deep dive into history, faith, and their occasionally violent intersection. With descriptive writing that brings southwestern landscapes and mysterious traditions to life, this book is research-rich, penned with confidence, and armed with a consistent narrative voice. Though the pace slows in some passages and chapters, this is a deeply engrossing read overall, backed up by exceptional storytelling chops, a strong ear for dialogue, and engagingly flawed characters that are hard to forget.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-20T08:40:40+02:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: This Was Always About Basketball by Craig Leener

Author Craig Leener hits nothing but net in the third and final installment of his Zeke Archer Trilogy with This Was Always About Basketball. Perfectly balancing young adult drama with time-traveling fantasy, this novel is a thrilling, heartwrenching, and mind-bending read.

Diving back into the strange science of the 7th Dimension, and with help from his unusual and darkly humorous sidekick Lawrence, Zeke Archer once again finds himself facing impossible odds. After his archenemy Brock Decker finds a way to travel back in time and change the history of basketball, Zeke must tap into sacred geometry and the secrets […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-23T06:39:06+02:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Sports Book Reviews, Time Travel Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Try Moving Yourself! by John Elie

Professional mover and project manager John Elie adds “author” to his resume with Try Moving Yourself! The Complete Self-Moving Guide for a Full Household Move, a thorough, essential, and easy-to-read moving guide.

This detailed manual is ideal for any family tackling the stress of a full-scale move and trying to save money. As Elie lays out, there are countless details to consider when executing a move – planning, pricing, packing, loading – and this book ensures that nothing goes unnoticed. Every move is different, presenting its own unique challenges, so for those who are new to full-home relocations, this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-19T07:40:24+02:00January 18th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Home & Garden Book Reviews|

Review: Vatican Shadows by Ray Keating

Ray Keating and the holy warrior of endless talents are back with Vatican Shadows, the 13th installment of the author’s Pastor Stephen Grant novels. Back in disguise and reunited with some of his oldest comrades, Grant is set to stop a murderous band of zealots in The Eternal City.

There is dissension in the holiest ranks on Earth, and as the Pope moves towards a more modern and conciliatory church, there are some who would do anything to stop such perceived heresy – even if it means committing a few cardinal sins along the way. Pastor Grant returns to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-09T07:33:50+02:00January 17th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The Giants’ Dance by J.W. Webb

J.W. Webb invites readers back to the magical world of Ansu in The Giants’ Dance, the savagely good second installment of the Berserker Trilogy. Carrying on from the cliff-hanging conclusion of Book 1, this novel finds the heroes scattered but resilient, determined to face the mounting evil together, in this classic action-packed fantasy.

Jaren and Finvar make for an unlikely but entertaining team, as usual, as they journey to rescue Savarna in chivalric fashion. With the mythical axe Griner firmly in hand, Jaren heroically leads the pair against demons, stone giants, ghosts, and all other manner of ice realm obstacles […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-03T09:02:06+02:00January 16th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|