Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Moscow Venture by A. K. Celer ★★★★

Moscow Venture, by A. K. Celer, is a good old-fashioned spy thriller.

When John Baran learns that his friend and coworker has died under mysterious circumstances he’s determined to unearth the truth. This means he has to travel to Moscow where David Chernov was struck with the bizarre ailment.

In the summer of 1991, hardliners in Russia don’t want to see the breakup of the Soviet Union and will go to great lengths to stop Gorbachev from signing the new union treaty, even if that means overthrowing the communist leader. While Baran is in Moscow managing his company’s cellular […]

T B Markinson2017-03-24T10:49:24+02:00April 28th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: In the Blood of the Greeks by Mary D. Brooks ★★★★★

In The Blood Of The Greeks In the Blood of the Greeks, Intertwined Souls Series Book 1, by Mary D. Brooks, is an amazing story set against the horrors of World War II.

In Larissa, Greece, the town’s occupants are living in fear. World War II is raging in Europe, but in their small town, they are living under Nazi tyranny. Zoe Lambros, a young Greek woman, has suffered much due to the war. Her hardened heart desires one thing: revenge. Eva Muller, the daughter of a German Major in command of the occupying force, is living with her own fear. When the two […]

T B Markinson2019-01-22T15:49:16+02:00April 28th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, LGBTQI+ Book Reviews|

Review: Pianist in a Bordello by Mike C. Erickson ★★★★

Pianist in a Bordello Pianist in a Bordello by Mike C. Erickson is a political satire about a congressional candidate who, ten points down in the polls, decides to tell the truth about his life in an incendiary memoir. After the introduction where his handlers are imploring him to not release this autobiography, the bulk of the book is the autobiography itself, where we learn that the congressman-to-be was raised by a hippie father on a commune, and gets involved with all types of women, nearly gets arrested for spilling state secrets, and basically doesn’t behave very well for someone hoping to enter politics.[…]

Henry Baum2019-01-22T15:49:25+02:00April 21st, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Satire Book Reviews|

Review: Nick’s Very First Day of Baseball by Kevin Christofora ★★★★

Nick’s Very First Day of Baseball, a Hometown All Stars book, is a charming book for ages 3-7 about a baseball-obsessed boy’s first day at baseball practice. Leading up to the big day, Nick learns the basic about baseball, and sees baseballs wherever he goes. At practice he gets a jersey, picks a number, and learns some basic calisthenics. In this way Nick’s Very First Day of Baseball is a very thorough look at practicing a sport. It’s an important lesson in fitness as well as a book about baseball.

The illustrations are warm and spirited, and highly optimistic, […]

Henry Baum2017-03-24T10:52:14+02:00April 21st, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Review: Atoms and Other Small Pieces by L. N. Nino ★★★★★

Atoms and Other Small Pieces is a short collection of fiction by author L. N. Nino, with the general theme of small details and the transition into horrible, deeply humanistic developments.

The first story, eponymous “Atoms,” compares and contrasts typical storytelling with the emotional existence of a non-sentient protagonist – a chemical compound – with the circumstances of a human tragedy; the second, “Debris,” centers on the story of a loveless mother-child relationship; the third, “Pennies,” ascribes itself an extended letter from a self-described philosopher of modern masculine virtue and creative genius who has fallen into difficult and unfair circumstances; […]

James Grimsby2017-03-24T10:53:02+02:00April 20th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|

Review: The Charismatics by Ashley R. Carlson ★★★★★

The Charismatics (Book 1), by Ashley R. Carlson, is a pleasant surprise that will transform readers into instant fans.

Duchess Ambrose Killaher was only seventeen when she was exiled to Shinery, a city of snow and darkness. Ambrose’s arranged marriage turns out to be a disaster and she soon learns her husband despises her. The only person she can trust is her invisible friend named Roan.

Shinery is holding its yearly celebration to celebrate Legalia’s rule, while the poor starve in the streets below. Ambrose can’t keep turning a blind eye to all around her and when she accidentally witnesses […]

T B Markinson2017-03-24T10:53:43+02:00April 20th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews, Steampunk Book Reviews|

Review: On Becoming Extraordinary by Pieter Klaas Jagersma ★★★★

On Becoming Extraordinary On Becoming Extraordinary: Star Professional Service Firms is a business book by Pieter Klaas Jagersma. When I first glanced at the title of this book, I thought I was about to read a book that would tell me how to stop procrastinating, maintain a healthy weight, keep my office well-organized and my house clean—that last one would be extraordinary indeed. I was delighted to discover that this book is nothing of the kind.

As I would have seen (thought not been much enlightened) if I had read the subtitle, On Becoming Extraordinary is about Professional Service Firms (PSFs), particularly how […]

Avery Hurt2017-03-24T10:54:23+02:00April 16th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Business Book Reviews, Non-Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Activate Leadership by Jon Mertz ★★★★

Activate Leadership: Aspen Truths To Inspire Millennial Leaders by Jon Mertz sets out the confident and unusual philosophy that, due to the digital landscape, young leaders in business, known here as “Millennials” are connected like aspens on a ski slope, forever rooted together and never alone due to the Internet.

The book is more of an almost spiritual philosophy based on a demographic that the author is looking at from afar, comparing them in turn to the way an aspen tree grows and connects, and the take-homes from that. So while this is a look at an idea that occurred […]

Cate Baum2017-03-24T10:54:50+02:00April 15th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Business Book Reviews|