Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: City on a Hill (Vol 1: The City) by Ted Neill

City on a Hill by Ted Neill is an epic tale of belief, chaos and conflict.

While many post-apocalyptic, dystopian novels center on the ravages of atomic fallout, the wasteland lifestyle of survivors, unholy abominations or alien overlords, there are few books in the genre that have placed religion as the focal point. City on a Hill is the bold and provocative tale of Lysander and Fortinbras, the Twin Cities, the last two havens in a world destroyed by violence and religious conflict. Following the Cataclysm, the new leaders of the world, the Head Ministry, have outlawed religion in all […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T06:59:54+02:00July 12th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Leadership Wisdom by Bob Vanourek

★★★★★

Leadership Wisdom: Lessons from Poetry, Prose, and Curious Verse by Bob Vanourek is an enlightening collection of sage and timely advice.

Books about leadership and self-improvement seem to be a dime a dozen, which makes it difficult to know who to heed and where the best advice actually comes from. Sidestepping that common failing, Bob Vanourek’s new book, Leadership Wisdom, instead relies on great minds and wise figures from human history to support his unique perspective.

While it can be easy to dismiss the occasionally condescending lessons from modern leaders and success stories, it is far harder to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2016-07-12T09:29:58+02:00July 12th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Leadership Book Reviews, Non-Fiction Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: New Age Lamians (The Lamian Trilogy Book 1) by Didi Oviatt

★★★★ New Age Lamians by Didi Oviatt

New Age Lamians (The Lamian Trilogy Book 1) by Didi Oviatt is a unique and addictive YA adventure.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a new angle on the post-apocalyptic genre, as the recent popularity of this topic has led to hundreds of new books trying to capture the horrors of a dystopian future. The YA genre has been less inundated with these types of stories, however, and Didi Oviatt’s new novel, New Age Lamians, stands out as a truly creative and engaging story. The premise of the novel is bleak – a planet that has been […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2016-07-12T11:09:47+02:00July 12th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Martyr’s Blade (The Chronicles of the Martyr Book 1) by Joel Manners

★★★★★

Magic, mayhem and memorable characters abound in The Martyr’s Blade (The Chronicles of the Martyr Book 1) by Joel Manners.

The sword and sorcery genre has had a major resurgence in recent years, thanks to a particular hit HBO show and a fresh generation of eager readers, but Joel Manners is clearly not a novice to the realms of fantasy. For a debut novel, The Martyr’s Blade welcomes readers into an incredibly dense and meticulously crafted world that becomes more enrapturing with every chapter.

At the outset, Manners works hard to establish reader rapport with a range of intense […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2016-07-12T09:14:58+02:00July 12th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Let There Be Linda by Rich Leder

★★★★½ Let There Be Linda by Rich Leder

Let There Be Linda by Rich Leder begins with a poodle being thrown out of a window on an L.A. freeway. Brothers Mike and Dan Miller, one an almost-respectable accountant and one a completely crooked talent agent get embroiled in a caper with many angles: a missing $75,000, a brutal loan shark swarf and his much bigger sidekick, a coke-addled dentist, and other denizens of the sweat-infused San Fernando Valley. Add to that a girl who can raise the dead and you have a novel that’s part crime fiction, part satire, and the strangest supernatural story you’ve ever read. […]

Henry Baum2020-12-23T05:49:41+02:00July 5th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Crime Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Yours in a Hurry by Ann Otto

★★★★ Yours in a Hurry by Ann Otto

Yours in a Hurry by Ann Otto is a fascinating work of historical fiction that takes place in the early 1900s, when aviation was in its infancy.

In 1901, the lives of the Hartle children are changed forever when both parents die suddenly. In 1908, the three oldest – Anna, Addison, and Purl – have reached adulthood and inherited a considerable sum of money. All of them decide to leave their small Ohio village. Anna moves to Los Angeles, Addison chases his dreams to own and fly a plane, and Purl joins the army. Their lives are greatly influenced […]

T B Markinson2016-08-01T04:56:24+02:00June 27th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Harmony to Heartburn (Fortytude Book 3) by Shelly Hickman

★★★★½

Harmony to Heartburn by Shelly Hickman is the heartwarming third book in the Fortytude series.

Since her marriage to Kiran a few years ago, Anna’s life has been smooth sailing. Unfortunately, family issues have been brewing under the surface. Her parent’s marriage is in serious trouble and they decide to take a break from the relationship. Luke, Anna’s ex-husband and father to her children, is going through a rough patch with his partner, and they’ve been keeping a secret from Anna. Will Anna’s family troubles threaten her own marriage?

While this book is the third in the series, it […]

T B Markinson2016-07-26T05:05:06+02:00June 24th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Connected by Kat Stiles

★★★★

Connected by Kat Stiles is an entertaining paranormal escape for young adult readers.

Emily is a high school student who doesn’t feel like she fits in. To make matters worse, Em discovers she has a special power. Fortunately, she isn’t alone and her best friend Roz has her own gift. Tommy, the boy Em likes, seems to be different as well. When people in their town start to die, Em, Roz, and Tommy join forces to find a murderer.

The theme in Connected is intriguing and inspirational for younger readers in a world that is becoming increasingly more disconnected. […]