John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Always Something Heartfelt by Ashton Harper

A soul-baring collection of melancholy poetry, Always Something Heartfelt by Ashton Harper dives into the poet’s complex journey through desire, romance, and heartbreak.

Harper’s poetry swings from pleading and passionate appeals to broken and bitter reflections, anecdotal memories captured in nostalgic verse, and off-the-cuff pushbacks against unwanted emotions. The poetry matures as the book progresses, expanding into ponderings of negative energy, selfishness, regret, personal responsibility, and mental liberation, but the undercurrent ideas of intimacy and an existential quest for love is consistent. Versatile in tone, form, and energy, Harper is a gritty poet who revels in vulnerable confession.

From a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-03T13:34:16+02:00April 3rd, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Divergent Realms, Edited by Riley Odell

Delivering a mind-bending, sensorial, and wildly enjoyable read, Divergent Realms: Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories About Neurodivergence, compiled by Riley Odell, is a collection of meticulously crafted cutting-edge fiction. From rescue missions outside reality and century-long space journeys to picking cursed flowers in twisted fairy tales, these visionary stories blur the fringes of science and speculative fiction, boasting an award-winning lineup of uniquely gifted writers. Exploring the nuanced complexities of psychology and human physiology through eclectic storytelling and boundless world-building, this is a celebration of the mind, the future, and the magic that remains undiscovered in our own world.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-03T13:26:22+02:00April 3rd, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Chicks and Dice by Normand Pigeon

A decadent plunge into the endless desires and hidden dangers of life in Sin City, Chicks and Dice: A Las Vegas Romance by Normand Pigeon is a glitzy romp through the wilds of sex, power, and Bacchanalian temptation. For a man who makes his living creating the facade of attraction, falling in actual love is bad for business, but the seedy heart of Vegas is known for its surprises. Bouncing madly between luxury casinos, exquisite suites, top-shelf restaurants, and breathless rendezvous, the novel is a titillating exposé of the inner workings of Vegas that is perfect for seasoned gamblers and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-02T16:39:47+02:00April 2nd, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: The Last Refuge by Christina Bacilieri

The Last Refuge by Christina Bacilieri

In a once-magical realm now ruled by an iron fist, one young woman must liberate the forces within to change the world, and save those she loves, in The Last Refuge by Christina Bacilieri. A rebellious YA fantasy thriller with an apocalyptic edge, this first installment of the Stealing Sanctuary series is a stunning foundation for what’s to come.

Over a century ago, magic was outlawed and shuttered away behind the forbidden borders of Etabon by the Founding Ruling Board, who claimed that the elimination of magic would save the planet from constant war and an age of darkness. However, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-07T12:20:38+02:00March 29th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: From Utopia to the American Dream by John Czingula

From Utopia to the American Dream by John Czingula

From homemade bunkers in rural Hungary to the bright lights of Hollywood, author John Czingula takes readers through the historic highs and lows of a unique life in his memoir, From Utopia to the American Dream. Exploring the perils of living in a communist country and celebrating the freedom of opportunity in a new world, this book captures a fascinating and unlikely journey in the post-war era.

The book opens with a dramatically detailed account of wartime occupation, particularly because it’s depicted through the eyes of a young child, although the narrative voice is mature. As the specter of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-03-28T16:07:55+02:00March 28th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: Bargaining Chip by Jim Parker

Bargaining Chip by Jim Parker

Putting a fictional spin on a real-world conflict, Bargaining Chip by Jim Parker is a bold and nuanced reimagining of Putin’s war against Ukraine, resulting in a tense and timely thriller.

In this slightly tweaked reality, the Russian superpower has found the scrappy Ukrainian military to be a surprisingly resilient enemy, and while victories and losses have been traded by both sides, the Ukrainian president knows that NATO and American support may not last forever. In a desperate attempt to turn the tide of war and take the fight to Russia, a daring counteroffensive is planned – one that will […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-03T15:25:00+02:00March 25th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews, War Book Reviews|

Tribal Logic by Stella Atrium

Tribal Logic by Stella Atrium Stella Atrium delivers the resounding final chapter of The Tribal Wars series with Tribal Logic, an electrifying conclusion to her speculative fiction saga.

Jesse Hartley is desperate to return to Dolvia to be with her father for the release of an imprisoned rebel, but a sinister scheme rockets her into even more danger. Relentlessly battling for trade alliances and dignity for tribal life after undergoing her own horrific violations in captivity, Brianna Miller is broken but not beaten. Navigating coups, wormholes, and vicious slavers, Hershel Henry is sent into the belly of the beast, but heroism requires sacrifice.

Deftly exploring […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-03-25T13:38:24+02:00March 25th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: How to Get a Job and Keep a Job by Keith Calhoun-Senghor

How to Get a Job and Keep a Job by Keith Calhoun-Senghor

Dissecting the intricacies of professional success and sharing strategies to rise above organizational chaos, How to Get a Job and Keep a Job: The Fundamentals of Organizational Politics by Keith Calhoun-Senghor is a practical collection of savvy wisdom. With the first few chapters focusing on the skills one needs to get a job, and the second half of the book explaining how to keep it, the book can help you move forward no matter where you’re at in your career.

For those readers unfamiliar with the term, “Organizational Politics” are “the dynamics, processes, and techniques by which power is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-02T15:50:36+02:00March 22nd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Business Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|