Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Chasing Paper Cranes by Courtney Peppernell

★★★★½ Chasing Paper Cranes by Courtney Peppernell

Chasing Paper Cranes, by Courtney Peppernell, is an inspirational coming of age novel that teaches an important message: when the world crumbles at your feet, the people who help you rebuild are your true friends.

Layla’s father left when she was a young child, but he left behind a book of Japanese legends. Layla always felt drawn to one legend that says if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, your wish will be granted.

Layla meets Sam online and a relationship flourishes. They plan to meet in London and she brings 1,000 paper cranes to give to Sam.

However, […]

T B Markinson2019-01-22T04:37:15+02:00October 27th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Bootlegger’s Legacy by Ted Clifton ★★★★

The Bootlegger’s Legacy by Ted Clifton takes the reader on a wild ride through Oklahoma’s bootlegging history.

When Patrick Allen, an old-time bootlegger, dies and leaves his son Mike a cryptic letter hinting at millions in hidden cash, Mike and his friend Joe follow the clues. They end up traveling through three states and half a century of history.

The mystery starts with a key, embossed with the letters CB, and a puzzling reference to Deep Deuce, a neighborhood once filled with hot jazz and gangs of bootleggers. But what’s really at stake? Money? Memories? And can Mike handle learning […]

T B Markinson2020-12-23T05:53:10+02:00October 27th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Crime Fiction Book Reviews, Mystery Book Reviews|

Review: Everybody Cheats by Nina Mancuso

From “Othello” to Jackie Collins literature both great and not-so-great has always offered insights into the ups and downs and ins and outs of romantic relationships. This is not exactly a new fascination. But in the wake of the Ashley Madison hack, the popular conversation has turned to the subject in a more prosaic way, focusing as much on why we do what we do when relationships don’t suit our needs as how to find the perfect relationship — presumably the one that will keep us at home and in love rather than off giving personal data to dodgy web […]

Cate Baum2019-02-11T09:42:38+02:00October 23rd, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Non-Fiction Book Reviews, Relationships Book Reviews|

Review: Detour Paris by Jack Dancer ★★★★★

Detour Paris, by Jack Dancer, is a laugh-out-loud romance with a dollop of intrigue.

When Tucker Blue meets Monica Reyes there’s a spark. Tucker has recently reentered the dating world and he’s discovering that the life of a mid-life bachelor is equally exciting and complicated. He’s about to fly to Barcelona with Ebba, his flight attendant girlfriend. However, a last minute passenger kicks Tucker off the plane and now he and Monica are stranded together in the US.

Tucker concocts a crazy idea of catching a flight to London and then taking trains to Barcelona. Even though his girlfriend […]

T B Markinson2016-01-12T10:20:28+02:00October 21st, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

Review: Xodus by K. J. McPike ★★★★★

Xodus, by K. J. McPike, is an action-packed young adult urban fantasy.

Lali Yavari can’t believe something she just witnessed. Was it a dream even though it seemed so real? It had to be a dream, she rationalizes. But when she continues to witness strange events and seeing people disappear, she can no longer deny something strange is going on and it’s not a dream.

When Kai Awana enrols in her school, Lali learns that she can astral project, an ability she inherited from her mother. Lali’s mother mysteriously left her family weeks before. Kai needs Lali’s help to […]

T B Markinson2015-11-13T06:35:50+02:00October 15th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Mountain Mantras by Kathryn Kemp Guylay ★★★★★

Mountain Mantras: Wellness and Life Lessons from the Slopes, by Kathryn Kemp Guylay, is an inspirational and laugh-out-loud funny guidebook to overcoming life’s challenges.

The author utilizes personal stories to keep readers focused on two topics close to her heart: wellness and life lessons. She shares stories from her humbling adventures learning to ski as an adult. The book outlines her six-step framework to overcome obstacles. These strategies are meant to enable people to fully engage in their own life, while improving health and vitality.

It should be noted, that you don’t have to be a skier or in […]

T B Markinson2020-02-21T07:37:36+02:00October 14th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Non-Fiction Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Studying Evolved by John Duckworth ★★★★★

Studying Evolved by John Duckworth John Duckworth brings his authorship to a new guide for studying, with a vengeance. Duckworth targets typical errors and easy “hacks” in studying methods not employed by the majority of exam-takers in an easy-to-digest guide for anyone else in the world who finds themselves using textbooks for self-percussive therapy over actual study in Studying Evolved: One peculiar British gentleman’s guide to accelerated learning as an adult student – the straight A habits, study skills and memory hacks you need to master any subject.

The first point to make about the book is perhaps unexpected: it’s hilarious. I don’t use […]

James Grimsby2019-01-22T15:22:38+02:00October 14th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Education, Non-Fiction Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Good Reasons to Kill by Chris Rhyss Edwards

★★★★½ Good Reasons to Kill

Good Reasons to Kill is a fascinating and important work that looks at sanctioned murder across the world. Murder is considered immoral, yet there are many instances where it is considered justified: war, the death penalty, honor killings, and many more. A thorough examination of the subject, the book covers dozens of different instances of murder worldwide and how they are justified by different cultures. Depending on one’s perspective, ending someone’s life can either land you on death row or be lauded a hero. As such, Good Reasons to Kill asks many troubling, but vital, questions about the morality […]

Henry Baum2016-03-04T03:56:50+02:00October 12th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|