Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Buddha and the Bee by Cory Mortensen

The Buddha and the Bee by Cory Mortensen

Inviting readers on a wild ride from Minnesota to California, The Buddha and the Bee: Biking through America’s Forgotten Roadways on an Accidental Journey of Discovery by Cory Mortensen is an atypical adventure for wanderers and workplace dreamers alike. Part road guide and part diary, biking lovers can follow the well-laid route on these pages, learn to sidestep critical unpleasant lessons, and gain the confidence to take their own big swings of adventure without fear.

Pedaling through the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the unforgiving Southwest desert, and the Sierra Nevadas, this is far from a casual trek, particularly given […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-03-19T14:27:08+02:00March 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews, Travel Book Reviews|

Review: Deferred Redemptions by G.E. Russell

Deferred Redemptions by G.E. Russell

A stark and intimate collection of four stories that explore the bonds of loyalty and the complex relationships humans have with change, Deferred Redemptions by G.E. Russell is an unassuming but powerful work of contemporary writing.

“Somewhere Sister” is the novella of the collection, detailing the lives of Esmeralda and Esperanza, two sisters living in Yuma with their mother and abuela, navigating the shifting sands of the border as they try to find love and keep their families safe. In a land where wives are quickly made into widows, Esperanza captures the heart of a charming Border Patrol agent, even […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-03-18T12:01:17+02:00March 17th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|

Review: Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey

Whirlwinds, Waves and Willow by Flo Dombey

Unexpected romance, deadly betrayals, and the perils of complex families swirl madly together in Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey, the second emotional installment of The Willow Chronicle.

Willow’s life has been turned upside-down by the reappearance of a biological father she thought long dead, making every decision feel unsteady for the headstrong 17-year-old, despite having some of the best sea legs in Port Townsend, WA. The mysterious suicide of her wealthy stepfather adds another devastating blow, further distancing Billie from her mother, whom she blames for the lifetime of secrets that led to this tragic collision of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-29T20:19:17+02:00March 13th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Wrath of the Fallen by Kristopher Jerome

Wrath of the Fallen by Kristopher Jerome

The demonic forces of Darkness clash with radiant warriors of Light in Wrath of the Fallen by Kristopher Jerome, a sprawling and enrapturing new fantasy saga. Epic clashes of magic, impossible romantic longings, larger-than-life heroes, and a world-shattering threat from an Accursed chasm make this novel a thrillingly high-stakes work of fantasy.

After witnessing the death of his brother at the hands of a rampaging demon, Trent dedicates his life to achieving their shared dream – becoming a paladin and battling the legions of evil in service to the Gods of Light. With his newest training class ushered into divine […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-03-05T22:38:27+02:00March 4th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Spire by Shaun Goldsmith

The Spire by Shaun Goldsmith

Stark and suspenseful with a daunting tangle of a plot, The Spire by Shaun Goldsmith is a lavishly unpredictable and compelling whodunit. The story begins with a bang – a quadruple homicide in a lavish penthouse on the 75th floor of one of the most secure and surveilled buildings in Midtown Manhattan. What follows is a spiraling web of conspiracy involving a controversial billionaire, a shameless lawyer, and a legendary criminal.

Lieutenant Mike Vogel is the eccentric lead investigator in these notorious murders – he’s relentless, effective, and stylish enough for a three-piece suit at a crime scene. Within a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-25T14:35:12+02:00March 1st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Lost Grove by Charlotte Zang & Alex Knudsen

Lost Grove: Part One by Charlotte Zang & Alex J. Knudsen

A wickedly twisted thriller with a gritty gothic edge, Lost Grove: Part One by Charlotte Zang and Alex Knudsen is a dark dream for fans of contemporary horror.

The sleepy coastal town of Lost Grove, with more secrets than people, is a classically ominous setting for a supernatural whodunit, including a stubbornly determined prodigal sleuth with a big city reputation, and a bizarre link to the murder victim. The appearance of a pale corpse on Mourner’s Beach sends Sergeant Seth Wolfe down a rabbit hole of memory into unsettling visions and dreams from his youth that began after a near-death […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-09-03T10:38:58+02:00February 28th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Nemesis Earth (Weapons of Choice Book 8) by Nick Snape

Nemesis Earth by Nick Snape

Bringing the genre-pushing Weapons of Choice saga to a fitting and explosive end, Nemesis Earth by Nick Snape is an all-out clash of titans, large and small, which will decide if humanity survives its apocalyptic alien incursion.

As the ravenous and unforgiving Garr continue their conquest, the surviving shreds of human resistance are desperate to turn the tide of a war with only two outcomes – victory or annihilation. Delta Squad launches a last-ditch mission to find a silver bullet, backtracking through planets and systems they had previously visited, fought for, or liberated in a nostalgic search for allies to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-19T17:46:17+02:00February 28th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Insane Angels by Edward Nicholls

Miracles happen in the most unlikely places in Insane Angels by Edward Nicholls, a whip-smart peek into higher powers, both human and divine.

The only thing that can make a hangover worse – or at least weirder – is finding a halo inexplicably hanging above your head, and that is precisely the predicament of the otherwise unremarkable Michael Flagg, setting an original and smirking premise for this tongue-in-cheek novel. Though Michael considers himself a bit of a mad chemist, this seemingly heavenly accessory goes beyond garden-variety bizarre, and it doesn’t take long for the world to notice. Whether he’s being […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-09T16:15:57+02:00February 17th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Satire Book Reviews|