John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell

A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell

A small-town Texas mystery with a dizzying array of twists, A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell is a cleverly crafted thriller that will keep you guessing.

Returning home to East Texas to be near her parents and leaving her job as a celebrity chef behind, Laura Harris is struggling to find her new niche. After visiting her mentor and dear friend, Hattie Stenburg, a fearless WWII ferry pilot and community legend, Laura is shocked to return only hours later to find her friend brutally murdered. Determined to dig into the crime and uncover the truth, the tables turn […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-05T08:58:33+02:00October 24th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Mystery Book Reviews|

A City of Ashes by Nick Snape

The second chapter of Nick Snape’s shadowy saga, A City of Ashes continues the epic clash of science, scripture, and the dark-fantasy monsters of a shattered realm. The Seven Houses are still reeling from revelations of divine deception for the past millennia, but remain desperate to retain control of their people, as the Fleshmaster and his spirit-sucking legions advance ever closer. Laoch, bent but unbroken beneath the weight of the god’s weapons, must find a way to empower a new draconian ally for an inevitable showdown with the world-ending Constructors. Bursting with immersive sci-fi detail and imaginative fantasy twists, this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-24T16:04:55+02:00October 24th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Santa and the Mariachis by D.R. Capp

A festive and creative story for the holidays, Santa and the Mariachis by D.R. Capp is a whimsical caper of crystal balls, out-of-place elves, and the unifying power of music. Up in the Far North, Santa’s “Music Meister” is feeling the pressure to deliver a thrilling new program for the big Christmas concert. Down in San Antonio, the Annual Mariachi Festival has attracted talent from all over the world, including Chuy, Paco, and the rest of Los Mariachis del Norte. Their creative debut of a Mexican Christmas Carol intrigues the big-bellied boss of the North Pole, leading the band […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-24T17:14:12+02:00October 24th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: I Paid to Play the Game by Russell Rosen

I Paid to Play the Game by Russell Rosen

Tracing the unexpected journey of an aspiring baseball star, I Paid to Play the Game by Russell Rosen is a touchingly honest memoir, reflecting on growing up, following your dreams, and embracing even the hardest truths.

As a child, the author loved every facet of America’s pastime, following the local teams’ exploits in the newspaper and eagerly awaiting the next time his family would catch a game. Playing on an organized team wasn’t an option until his late teens – well past the typical age for a serious pursuit at going pro.

Even so, Rosen dedicated himself to the dream, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-04T18:34:17+02:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

Cake, Lemonade and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight

Cake, Lemonade and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight A quick and charming children’s book about being yourself, Cake, Lemonade and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight offers a bright burst of wisdom for young readers.

It’s London’s birthday, and while all of her friends have come up with great ideas for costumes to wear to the party, London doesn’t feel particularly inspired. Debating whether to imitate her friends or choose a costume that will please her mother, London is worried that she’ll be embarrassed at her own celebration. London’s mom encourages her to dream up a costume that feels true to her identity, and not necessarily what other people may […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-18T15:18:01+02:00October 18th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Review: The Keepers of the Light by Trevor A. Dutcher

The Keepers of the Light by Trevor Dutcher

A coming-of-age adventure shining a light on the goodness and grace that makes the world go round, The Keepers of the Light by Trevor A. Dutcher is a riveting new YA read, and an entertaining first book in the Logan LeVec series.

Logan LeVec is navigating all the perils of sixth-grade life, from persistent bullies and paralyzing crushes on his neighbor to clumsy lunchroom disasters and embarrassing oral reports, but his seemingly normal life is about to change in ways he never expected. Though Logan’s parents would never believe or approve, the wild stories that his grandfather has been telling […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-15T13:39:42+02:00October 15th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Black Wall Of Silence Part IV by George H. Butcher III

The Black Wall Of Silence Part IV by George H. Butcher III

The final chapter of a jaw-dropping exposé about the federal judiciary’s past and present conduct, The Black Wall Of Silence Part IV by George H. Butcher III hammers home a final nail in the coffin of judicial impartiality.

Just a few decades ago, the premise of this four-book series may have seemed like a long-form conspiracy theory, and many of these allegations would have remained unknowable and unprovable in a time before the Internet and collective calls for greater transparency in the judiciary. Today, many will have noticed shifts in America’s federal judiciary and the monumental shifts in apolitical tradition, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-04T18:07:33+02:00October 14th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Politics Book Reviews|

Review: Toys in Babylon by Patrick Finegan

Toys in Babylon by Patrick Finegan

Whip-smart satire and a cutting-edge premise make Toys in Babylon: A Language App Parody and Whodunit by Patrick Finegan a tongue-in-cheek romp for savvy language lovers everywhere.

The animated avatars of a popular language-learning app begin to panic when their mascot, Coki Bear, turns up missing, leaving the town of Cokville leaderless. Between filming reality television and responding to the prompts and stories that fuel their online world, these colorful characters hunt for their missing friend, but they’re not the only ones who’ve noticed her absence.

The programmers at the Cok Dilli company are stupefied when their irritatingly attentive brand-name […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-14T08:40:45+02:00October 12th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Satire Book Reviews|