John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Call Numbers by Syntell Smith

Keeping things quiet in a library is understood, but in Call Numbers by author Syntell Smith, the swirling secrets and constant drama are impossible to shoo away with a whisper, for a drama-filled romp through the stacks.

When Robin Walker arrives at the 58^th Street Branch of the New York Public Library, he has no idea what kind of storm he’s strolling towards. Between power struggles at the top and a white noise of gossip to cabal-toppling coups and sassy clerks ready to throw the first punch, this is a much wilder story than a loyal library-goer may expect.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-08T04:56:27+02:00October 3rd, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Harlem Bible: In The Beginning by Grant Harper Reid

Author Grant Harper Reid delivers a spellbinding homage to childhood, self-discovery and New York with Harlem Bible: In The Beginning. This immersive memoir navigates the author’s unpredictable life and immediate circles of personal connection, as well as the vibrantly evolving landscape of Harlem through the middle of the 20th century. Distilling the grace of jazz and hard edges of life, while effortlessly transporting readers to a different time, Reid peels back his layers of memory with artful and brutally honest precision.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-07T05:05:22+02:00October 3rd, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Untamed Barbarian (Visigoth Barbarians #2) by Jayla Jasso

Untamed Barbarian (Visigoth Barbarians #2) by Jayla Jasso

In Untamed Barbarian, the second in the Visigoth Barbarians series from author Jayla Jasso, a time-traveling hunk from the 5^th century lands smack dab in the middle of a 21^st century murder investigation in southern California for a hot and gripping urban fantasy.

Andaric, the brutally handsome and physically brutal time-traveler, has come in search of his brother, who was similarly catapulted forward from ancient France, but he gets understandably distracted by the stunning Kaiya Martinez. She may be tasked with determining his mental state – and judging whether he is the serial killer the town has […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-31T08:15:21+02:00October 3rd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

The Talisman by R.L. Kasprzycki

The Talisman by R.L. Kasprzycki Set against the stunning backdrop of British Columbia, The Talisman is an unforgettable novel by R.L. Kasprzycki that explores the rich history and traditions of Native Americans in that region of North America. Centered around the Eagleton family and a priceless talisman from their mysterious cultural past, this is a story of familial belief, cultural evolution, respect for nature, love, loss, guilt and finding peace within a changing world.

When Marie seeks to sell a precious heirloom to help her son with his future, against her husband’s wishes, she could never have predicted the chaotic series of events that would […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-02T06:21:37+02:00October 1st, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Eternal Shadow (Fall of Gods Book 1) by Trevor B. Williams

Eternal Shadow by Trevor B. Williams

Across the vast landscape of alien invasion stories on screen or the page, most writers take a geocentric approach, where Earth is the target and the immediate stage for the extraterrestrial conflict. In Eternal Shadow, the stunning and far-reaching space thriller by author Trevor B. Williams, the sense of impending doom is only heightened as an alien force begins destroying the outer planets of our solar system, creeping inexorably towards our pale blue dot.

When SETI researcher Jennifer Epstein is woken up by a phone call from her high-strung colleague Sam, she could never have prepared herself for the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-02T06:39:40+02:00October 1st, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Journey of Christopher by Michael J. DiSalvo

The Journey of Christopher by Michael J. DiSalvo

The Journey of Christopher, a new novel by author Michael J. DiSalvo, presents a refreshing new parable of wavering faith and personal challenges that has the potential to engage a new generation of believers.

The character at the center of this story is Christopher, a young man experiencing his first real crisis of faith as a loyal Christian. Following a series of unexpected, but emotionally challenging events, he is suddenly wracked by doubt in the meaning of Christmas, and some of the fundamental tenets of his beliefs. Asking himself the classic questions of why a merciful and loving […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-31T05:10:26+02:00October 1st, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Manna for the Hungry by Linda Perry McCarthy

Manna for the Hungry by Linda Perry McCarthy Poetry has long been linked to spirituality and religion, and Linda Perry McCarthy carries on that proud tradition with Manna for the Hungry, a subtle and powerful collection of her message-laden poetry. Set within the framework of our fast-paced modern lives, in which religious fervor is beginning to wane across the world, McCarthy blends a love of nature and a deep belief in God’s love with a whimsical voice and uniquely memorable verse.

Whether she is exploring the nature of her own dreams or the peaceful switch between seasons, the connections she makes between lived experience and spiritual satisfaction […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-01T08:24:26+02:00September 30th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: The Winter Sisters by Tim Westover

The Winter Sisters by Tim Westover

Most people know the fundamental bones of America’s past, but with thousands of hidden corners scattered across that massive nation, there are countless secret histories tucked away in unexpected places. In The Winter Sisters by Tim Westover, the strict edge of semi-modern medicine is met by the fierce roots of traditional healing in the hills of northern Georgia, a place of mysticism, old beliefs and stubborn minds.

This entrancing slice of early, and eerie, Americana begins as a classic story of two worlds colliding: the past and the future creating a nexus of human drama and progress. Centering on the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-09-30T09:31:01+02:00September 28th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|