The latest indie book reviews from Self-Publishing Review
Review: The Dead Bank Diary by Anna Schlegel ★★★★
Review: In the Shadow of St. Anthony by Andrew Hernon ★★★★
In the Shadow of St. Anthony: Being a somewhat detailed account of the coming of age of Tommy Santalesa, the neighborhood wiseass is a hybrid coming-of-age novel about being in a rock band in New York City – and a chilling horror novel.
The novel follows Tommy Santalesa, the untalented bassist of the band Fly Trap, who are on the brink of possible stardom. When Frank – his talented bandmate – is found with mysterious marks on his neck, Tommy must face this supernatural force and save his friend. The book is an impressive blend of horror, character development, period […]
Review: Welcome, Reluctant Stranger! by E. Journey ★★★★★
Welcome, Reluctant Stranger! (Between Two Worlds Book 3), by E. Journey, is a touching story about a woman who must confront her family’s past.
Leilani Torres, a psychologist, helps people heal. But can she heal herself?
When she was only nine, Leilani, her mother, and two siblings flee their Pacific country, Costa Mora. Her father was supposed to follow them to the United States, but he never arrived and was never heard from again.
Justin Halverson is a brokenhearted computer nerd. After his girlfriend of seven years ends their relationship, he turns to booze to drown his sorrows. But he […]
Review: Cry of the Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen ★★★★
Anya has always been unusual – an outcast ostracized from the people of her village and raised by her isolated grandfather, Eikki. Burdened with strange visions, Anya’s favorite pastime is drowning her unwanted sight in a bottle of vodka. Her downward spiral into drink and apathy soon come to a jarring halt, however, when Tuoni, the incarnate aspect of death, pays her a visit shortly after Eikki’s murder. Her life is abruptly […]
Review: Giuliana’s Way by Albert M. Parillo ★★★★
In 1941, when Giuliana Landini was only eleven, she emigrated from Italy to the United States to live with her aunt and uncle in New Haven, Connecticut. Her grandmother and teacher in Italy thought the child was too bright to settle for a normal life in Amalfi and wanted her to have the opportunity to advance her education and opportunities.
Italy left a permanent mark on Giuliana, especially when it comes to cooking. At a young age it’s […]
Review: The Modern Mughal Mentality by Dr. Afshan Naheed Hashmi ★★★★
We are told in the preface that the Indian word jugaad means many things and can be interpreted in many different ways, however Hashmi defines jugaad as “obtaining your objectives by maximizing resources through thinking outside the box.” Not exactly a mind-blowing business concept. While each example in the book illustrates one aspect of jugaad, there is nothing new or […]
Review: Queensboro by Thomas Drago
★★★★½ 
Content warning for child abduction and abuse of a sexual nature, as well as the use of racist and offensive language.
When model fourth grade student Ashley Smith breaks her zero-absence record at Crow Creek Elementary, everyone is immediately on edge. When Sheriff Brad Gleason calls a search, something far worse than anyone could have imagined is found, and once more the town of Crow Creek must handle loss at the hands of the simply unexplainable.
Meanwhile, an ex-employee of Carolina EnTech turns up worse than dead in a local diner, spurring the only witness curious enough to drive […]
Review: Travel Your Way by Robert W. Bauer
Travel Your Way, by Robert Bauer, strips away the glamor and glitz of travel brochures and gets down to the nitty-gritty of what it takes to plan a wonderful and memorable trip.
In today’s Internet world, travel opportunities seem endless. But how does one sift through all the online travel companies, service providers, travel agents, and tour operators to find the most reliable and best deals? Vacations can be expensive and not everyone is an experienced traveler. Not knowing the options and process can discourage many from going on a trip they’ve always dreamed about. Bauer’s book outlines the […]