John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Review: The Court of Crusty Killings: A Captain Space Hardcore Adventure by Michael Ronson

★★★★

In the realm of the surreal, silly, and downright hilarious, The Court of Crusty Killings by Michael Ronson is an unexpected delight, packed with more tongue-in-cheek humor than one book should ever hold.

Captain Space Hardcore is a character torn from sci-fi pulp thrillers of an older age, but the sharp wit and unique personality of this unforgettable leading man makes him eternally contemporary. His manservant and sidekick, Ebeneezer Funkworthy is an equally entertaining complement to the heroic central figure, and their adventures are truly the stuff of a bizarre imagination.

The premise of Captain Space Hardcore – the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-11-29T07:49:02+02:00October 12th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Humor, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Srepska by Lucas Sterling

★★★★

In a world ravaged by international turmoil and uncertainty for the future, author Lucas Sterling presents Srepska, an intense and politically charged novel that is both timely and terrifying.

Fredric is a German intelligence agent that becomes embroiled in the search for Srepska, a mysterious organization that is a cross between organized crime and a global cabal. Somehow this group is instigating chaos around the world, and taking advantage of the turmoil they create. Their name alone strikes fear in the hearts of those in power, but Fredric isn’t one to be cowed away from his duty. However, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-11-16T04:50:14+02:00October 11th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Airliner Down by John Etzil

Blending high-stakes action with realistic, engaging characters, author John Etzil delivers a gripping thriller in Airliner Down. Kevin McSorley, the charming off-duty pilot at the core of this story, is the one man who can save a jet with hundreds of people on board from crashing in the middle of the ocean. With such an adrenaline-filled premise, and a shocking first chapter, readers know they are in for a page-turning treat, and Etzil makes good on that promise throughout.

In the tradition of blockbuster action movies, the writing in Airliner Down often falls by the wayside in exchange for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-05-02T06:34:32+02:00October 10th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Kilian: A Broken Prophecies Story by S.A. McClure

The classic fantasy story of “unwitting hero discovers his much larger destiny” gets a new twist in Kilian: A Broken Prophecies Story by S.A. McClure.

Like so many heroes before him, Kilian Clearwater is a humble and unassuming hero that is forced into a world of magic, intrigue and danger that he never imagined before the opening pages of the novel. While McClure does fall back on some stereotypical elements of this genre niche, there is a simple grace to the writing, and a unique new world for readers to explore.

Unlike overly wordy and description-heavy fantasy novels, the author […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-10-09T10:25:27+02:00October 9th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Humans: From Nothing to Now by Brett Ashcroft Harrison

For readers hungering for a mind-expanding dip into new philosophical explorations, Humans: From Nothing to Now by Brett Ashcroft Harrison is an ideal read.

Delving into some of the most complex and stymying questions known to us, this book is not for the faint of heart, but it is also written in terms that anyone can understand. Rather than taking a scientific or religious approach, Harrison tries to explain profound truths through a new avenue – the perspective of human achievement and discovery.

From quantum mechanics and primal brain development to humanity’s penchant for artistic expression and the spark of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-09-29T06:10:36+02:00September 28th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Social Science Book Reviews|

Known Shippable, Will Not Fix by Roy W. Russell

The banal life of a Quality Tester takes a surreal turn in Known Shippable, Will Not Fix, a remarkably strange and entertaining novel by Roy W. Russell.

When everything you once thought of as reality is stripped away and shown to be nothing more than a bug-filled simulation, it can certainly make for a weird day. Casey, the intrepid QA tester at the core of this fast-paced tale, is as strange as the story itself, and more than neurotic enough to carry the story and keep readers interested. The stakes inevitably get higher, and Casey is forced to become […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-09-29T06:03:35+02:00September 28th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Pursuit of the Guardian (Children of the Republic Book 2) by Jason T. Hutt

★★★★½

Great space adventures aren’t easy to find, but in Pursuit of the Guardian, the second installment of the Children of the Republic series, author Jason Hutt hits all the right buttons for sci-fi fans. Combining the broad creativity of “Star Wars” and the rough-around-the-edges universe of “Firefly,” this novel is an action-packed and immensely satisfying read.

Reading the first novel is crucial to appreciating the various characters populating these pages, particularly the dynamic of Senator Maria Cahill, who is blinded by grief and the desire to crush Max Cabot, the restless hero of this tale. Max Cabot may […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-10-23T10:43:18+02:00September 25th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Lionhearts: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating

In Lionhearts by Ray Keating, the seventh installment in the Pastor Stepehn Grant series, readers see their pious hero, Pastor Grant, defending his country, faith and the bedrock of morality in a new setting – his home soil. When radical terrorists begin attacking Christians around the country, this man of God with a loaded Glock puts his own life on the line to fight back against the encroaching forces of evil.

With tense, sharp writing and a rapid pace to much of this novel, Keating doesn’t leave much room to breathe. Blending philosophy and theology with heroics, this particular Pastor […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T04:33:42+02:00September 20th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Christian Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|