John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: A True Map of the City by J Guenther

A True Map of the City by Jeff Guenther

Horus Blassingame travels from Albion to Deresthia for a business conference that will change his identity forever in A True Map of the City by J Guenther. The fictional setting of this twisted novel creates tangible discomfort on every page, and the tragic spiral of Horus from suspicious stranger to local legend makes for a quick and bizarre read.

As Horus attempts to navigate his surroundings in a foreign land, he encounters a colorful stream of characters, but it is difficult to determine help from harm in such a backwards place. Only a handful of people speak Anglic (English), and […]

Review: The Rez: An American Love Story by G. Michael Madison

The Rez: An American Love Story by G. Michael Madison

Author G. Michael Madison offers an authentically deep plunge into reservation life in the 1960s and 1970s with his powerful novel The Rez: An American Love Story. The first in a trilogy of books, this is a profound examination of an oft-overlooked culture during a historically tumultuous time.

The most notable thing about this novel is the patience and care that has gone into its construction. It sets an immediate tone of intimacy in the storytelling, followed by a gradual introduction to the fraternal pair at the heart of this story: Jonny and Caj. The former – younger, introverted, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-29T06:16:21+02:00March 25th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

The Long Way Home by D.L. Norris

The Long Way Home by D.L. Norris Author D.L. Norris invites readers to slow down and enjoy the view, and perhaps spin a story or two, in The Long Way Home, an insightful and memorable novel about family, grief, and growing up.

Maggie Davis stands like a proud pillar at the heart of this tale, a recently widowed mother running a bed and breakfast in an out-of-the-way corner of Nebraska. Guests come and go, with their stories and burdens, grateful for a home-cooked meal and conversation, but small-town life for Maggie is far from simple. In addition to her own battle with loss and loneliness, she […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-12-14T12:42:12+02:00March 20th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Resurrection Lily by Amy Byer Shainman

Resurrection Lily by Amy Shainman

The complex and painful decisions surrounding breast cancer are explored in intimate detail in Resurrection Lily: The BRCA Gene, Hereditary Cancer & Lifesaving Whispers from the Grandmother I Never Knew, a raw and impactful memoir by Amy Byer Shainman.

Cancer can often seem like a constant threat, but there are some people at dramatically increased risks, especially women with a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA 2 gene. After discovering that she possesses a gene mutation that greatly increases her changes of developing breast cancer, Shainman comes to terms with this looming threat and embarks on an inspiring journey […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-19T09:55:05+02:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Health Book Reviews, Memoir Book Reviews|

JQR by Joey Rodriguez

Joey Rodriguez unravels an emotional, quirky ,and cleverly penned tale in JQR, a post-apocalyptic road novel with a bionic twist. Jojo and Pickles make a very strange pair, but this android and his dog must navigate a world ravaged by human folly in an attempt to find whatever meaning is left. The relationship between these two is crafted with grace and an original voice – one that balances dense, engaging writing with dark humor and charm. Both an off-kilter adventure and an existential exploration of what it means to love, dream, and be human, this novel is visceral and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-19T11:04:58+02:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Goat Song by Thomas Drago

Goat Song by Thomas Drago

Author Thomas Drago shines a sickly spotlight on the hellish secrets below Crow Creek, North Carolina in his fast-paced thriller, Goat Song. Blending small-town suspicions, the odd world of local theatre, personal demons, and black magic rituals, this quick read is unpredictable and unnerving as the plot spirals into darkness.

Gabriela Rossi is doing her best to make a home in Crow Creek after moving from Italy, but the residents don’t seem keen on outsiders, and her promotion at The Orpheum Theatre leaves her feeling resented and unwelcome. When someone is murdered at the theatre three days before a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-21T07:00:05+02:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Paranormal Book Reviews|

Newgate’s Knocker by Greg W. Peterson

A veteran FBI agent races against time to prevent a terrible tragedy in the skies, desperately trying to separate friend from foe in the fast-paced Newgate’s Knocker. Author Greg W. Peterson has crafted a high-flying read, delivering a crash-course in fiction writing that weaves a tangled nest of storylines into a riveting and unpredictable adventure. While there are a few loose ends and plot holes in the story, the pace rarely lets up. Mixing classic elements of suspense with modern existential threats, organized crime, and a cast of dynamic characters, Peterson offers a riveting, high-stakes thriller in this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-12T11:08:29+02:00March 12th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: A Noble’s Path (The Enchanted Isles Book 2) by I.L. Cruz

A Noble's Path by I.L. Cruz

Inez Garza, sporting a new magical streak of purple hair, is back at the heart of rebellion and action in A Noble’s Path, the second book of the Enchanted Isles series from author I.L. Cruz. Following on from the tumultuous events of A Smuggler’s Path, this new installment dives right into the action, supported by remarkably thorough exposition from the first book.

Magic is still forbidden in Canto, but the hidden market is alive and well, and Inez continues to tread the finest line between royal blood and illicit smuggling. Navigating the complex underbelly of illegal magic and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-07-05T10:22:19+02:00March 12th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|