John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Anatheum by D.M. Ross

A few words can say a great deal, as D.M. Ross masterfully proves in his thoughtful collection of wise mantras, Anatheum, a unique work of self-help aimed at a young adult audience. Though it can be read in a single sitting, this is the type of pocket-sized book that will be continually reopened for a dose of guidance.

A meditative, thought-provoking read, some of these insights have been heard and spoken aloud many times before, while others are unique turns of phrase – simple, yet strikingly profound. “There are no answers, only decisions to be made” and “Thoughts come […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-28T03:59:11+02:00January 26th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Whispers from the Universe by Georgina Morello

A deep dive into the seminal experiences that shaped her life, Whispers from the Universe by Georgina Morello is an inspiring collection of personal essays marking touchstones of her spiritual journey. Fearlessly leading readers through emotional volatility, depression, trauma, and her spiritual awakening, the author details the unusual path of growth and learning the universe unfurled before her. The prose is rich with meaning, but accessible, and while an editor could help with organization, Morello’s writing is informative and engaging throughout. Whether she is communing with her inner voice, dissecting the painful past, or opening herself to new experiences, this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-26T08:47:02+02:00January 26th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Dragon’s Threat by Peter King

A spiraling thriller that pulls readers back through war-torn centuries of global struggle, The Dragon’s Threat by Peter King is a stunning adventure through the halls of power. A bookish specialist is brought in to resolve a hot-button land dispute in the South China Sea, but soon finds himself in a dangerous cocktail of rewritten history, international power grabs, kidnapping attempts, deadly negotiations, and the double-edged sword of any contentious border. Dripping with well-researched detail, entrancing narration, and a tangled knot of hardly trustworthy characters, this whip-smart read is deliciously complex, and a true pleasure to read.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-26T07:04:56+02:00January 26th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Boulder Girl: Bad Moon Rising by Cynthia L. Clark

Obsession dies hard and grief heals slow in Boulder Girl: Bad Moon Rising by Cynthia L. Clark, a gripping sequel in the Boulder Girl series. Random chance and bad luck puts Leon Alvarez back on the streets, and back on the hunt for Lana Ross – the object of his maniacal infatuation. Once again, Clark explores the twisted depths of delusion, and the endless resilience of her lead character, even as she tries to protect the innocent legacy of the man she loved and lost. Though the high-stakes plot is fast-paced and easy to read, the narration can be heavy-handed, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-25T08:51:53+02:00January 25th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Nomad by Debra J. Tillar

An interstellar odyssey across time and space, The Nomad by Debra J. Tillar is a bold and adventurous vision of humanity’s future history, tapping into elements of sci-fi, philosophy, and pop culture.

Centuries after First Contact with the Wharth, humanity has been given the technological keys to the cosmos, trading isolation in the universe with unprecedented access to roam among the stars. Zara is a cosmic wanderer, and a veteran of exploring new corners of the galaxy, but a violent run-in with an otherworldly beast leaves her grounded and drugged in a hybrid-filled pleasure prison, with no idea when or […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-21T08:07:12+02:00January 21st, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Matters of Life… by Norman Weeks

A thought-provoking collection of well-crafted essays exploring the dynamic and intimate philosophy of existence, Matters of Life… by Norman Weeks is a wise and gentle manifesto.

Broken into three distinct sections – “Life Thought About,” “Laughed At,” and “Suffered” – the prose feels all encompassing, from our biological origins and anthropological myths to our emotional maturation as individuals and a species. Weeks examines humanity as a naturalist, a philosopher, an investigator, and even a harsh critic, depending on the subject and tack of each essay, covering issues such as powerful personal experiences that shape our paths, unpredictable bumps in the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-18T05:14:19+02:00January 20th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Essay Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Hourglass by Daniel James

A genre-busting thriller from author Daniel James, Hourglass is an occult masterwork of tension and grit, layered with shadowy government agencies, demonic villains, baggage-laden ghosts, and an unlikely pair of comic book heroes.

Clyde Williams is holding it together as best he can, despite struggling to finish his comic book, wrestling with the recent murder of his roommate Kev, and then navigating Kev’s ghostly return to the apartment from beyond the grave. However, when an Hourglass agent shows up at his door, inviting them both to join a nebulous government cell dealing with “post-life entities,” it’s clear that life is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-20T07:14:31+02:00January 19th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Paranormal Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Self Help Sucks by Tony Blankenship

Tony Blankenship takes aim at traditional and inherently limited forms of self-improvement in Self Help Sucks: The Anti Self-Help Guide to Inner Peace and Contentment. Drawing from personal experience, spiritual traditions, and well-established multi-step programs, the author leads readers through an effective interrogation of their own beliefs, in order to help demonstrate what they actually need to get better.

While there is a massive catalogue of self-help books on the market, the premise of this book is not that the advice in those other books is wrong – instead, it is that the “self” part of the equation needs […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-02-24T11:00:28+02:00January 18th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|