John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Defense of the Commonwealth by John J. Spearman

The Defense of the Commonwealth by John J. Spearman

Diving back in time and space within a realm he knows so well, author John J. Spearman launches a new series with his latest thrilling work of science fiction, The Defense of the Commonwealth.

Hundreds of years in the future, humans have spread into the stars, with wealthy nation-states settling and colonizing habitable planets, though the deep-seated conflicts of modern humanity have regrettably persisted. Alliance strongholds are being overrun in what seems like a coordinated attack against cosmic colonists from the United States, which could endanger the settlements of other nations.

The Inter-Planetary Commonwealth, with as much clout as […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-12-09T14:08:26+02:00October 17th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Redding Up by Richard Snodgrass

Redding Up by Richard Snodgrass

Richard Snodgrass seamlessly plunges readers back in time with his latest collection, Redding Up, unveiling more incredible stories from the fictional mill town of Furnass.

Rich characterizations and powerful (yet broken) figures populate these stories, particularly in “Remaindered,” one of the strongest in the collection. In this hard-edged snapshot of life, a local woman named Carla Brossick confronts a disgraced ex-minister about a horrific sin of his past, even as she tries to overcome her own demons, and keep her aging head above water.

“Her Father’s Daughter” starts readers off with a story of homecoming, of a prodigal daughter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-12-05T20:33:31+02:00October 11th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

Fable’s End by Seth Halleway

An action-packed fling into a brilliant new sci-fi realm, Fable’s End: A Shentonia Story is a multilayered fantasy thriller that hits close to our ideologically divided home. A legacy of conflict and cosmic oppression is finally coming to an end in Shentonia, leaving a chaotic landscape of violent warlords, deadly feuds, and vast political divides. Despite the deeply detailed world, language, history, and cultures, the battle for the soul of this fictional alien world might feel familiar to readers. A richly crafted novel blurring the lines of multiple genres, this allegorical plunge into socioeconomic, political, and existential conflict makes for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-04T17:24:28+02:00October 4th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: The Garden Before Eden by Les J. Whitmore

The Garden Before Eden by Les J. Whitmore

A touching tale of true love, despite all odds, The Garden Before Eden by Les J. Whitmore is a clever new take on destiny and the unexpected fates that control it.

Keller is an unassuming IT specialist with little chance of landing a date with Ashley the super-agent, but his authenticity, wit, and oddball charm catch her eye. He is completely different than Jack, the brash man she represents, who seems determined to sweep her off her feet with all the grace of a charging linebacker. Meanwhile, in a heavenly waiting room called the Garden, Ashley’s future children are waiting […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-10T11:16:05+02:00October 4th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: A Rebel’s Path (The Enchanted Isles Book 3) by I.L. Cruz

A Rebel's Path (The Enchanted Isles Book 3) by I.L. Cruz

Author I.L. Cruz summons another tense chapter of the Enchanted Isles YA series with A Rebel’s Path, her third electrifying installment. Between paternal revelations, impending royal nuptials, a resurgence of magic, and an urban legend come to life, the life of Inez Garza and the realm of Canto is as strange and exciting as ever.

Inez’s predestined fate of bringing magic back to the Enchanted Isles is a tall order, particularly since she has no idea how to achieve that seemingly impossible goal. Her powers have proven to be impressive, but difficult to predict and keep hidden, training in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-03T17:33:55+02:00October 3rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Kentucky Bicentennial by Dale E. Voelker

The Kentucky Bicentennial by Dale Voelker

A visual tour of Kentucky during its 200th birthday year, The Kentucky Bicentennial by Dale E. Voelker is a celebration of a state, its people, and the enduring spirit that populates every corner of the Bluegrass State. These pages hold images from events both big and small that occurred in 1992 across the state, finally brought to life thirty years later in this commemorative book.

The photos from “Hillbilly Days” are particularly evocative of the rustic, patriotic, and whimsical nature of the state, while the shots of the Kentucky Derby that year are both dynamic and intimate. The “Summer Festival […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-09T13:15:57+02:00October 2nd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History Book Reviews, Photography Book Reviews|

Review: Reclaiming the Sacred by Jeff Golden

Reclaiming the Sacred by Jeff Golden

With the masterful pen of a mystic scholar, Jeff Golden delivers a profound assessment of the modern world and a bold schematic for salvation in Reclaiming the Sacred: Healing Our Relationships with Ourselves and the World.

To explain the discipline of a book like this, it is perhaps easiest to use the author’s own words – “The science of happiness, abundance, and belonging.” Explaining the instability and corruptibility of today’s world, as well as the path that led us here, Golden attempts to redirect the course of society through positive adaptation and intentional shifts in our belief structures, artfully […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-31T18:37:08+02:00September 29th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Birdie Pesky Was Here by Andrew Augustine Connor

Birdie Pesky Was Here by Andrew Augustine Connor

A spiraling account of a fictional historical heist, Birdie Pesky Was Here: The Story of the Big Bad Buxom Blonde Boston Bank Boost by Andrew Augustine Connor is a rowdy and unpredictable thriller that teeters on the edge of believable from start to finish, making it easy to forget that this novel is a wildly creative piece of imagination.

Cash and Cary make for an unforgettable duo of safe crackers as they scheme their way around their debt to a dangerous don, with a dazzling balance of laissez-faire larceny and daring deeds. They are a delightfully odd couple, and genuinely […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-10T17:29:21+02:00September 28th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|