Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Delaware From Railways to Freeways by Dave Tabler

Delaware From Railways to Freeways by Dave Tabler

A photographic and curiosity-inspiring tour through the “First State” during the bustling 19^th century, Delaware From Railways to Freeways: First State, Second Phase by Dave Tabler is the second installment of his eye-opening series about an oft-overlooked state.

Like Tabler’s first book in this deep-dive state trilogy, each turn of the page reveals stunning images and well-penned anecdotes lined with historical intrigue, surprising revelations, and carefully chosen details that many tourist guides would lack. The 19^th century was marked across much of America by massive developments in industry, social progress, and bitter conflicts, and the history of Delaware […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-22T13:54:14+02:00August 21st, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: History Book Reviews, Photography Book Reviews|

Review: The Fantastical and Mysterious Tale of Sweetpea of Monsterville by Corey Wolff

The Fantastical and Mysterious Tale of Sweetpea of Monsterville by Corey Wolff

Rhyming its way through monstrous lands and otherworldly mommy issues, The Fantastical and Mysterious Tale of Sweet Pea of Monsterville by Corey Wolff is a strange and visionary work of fantasy.

Sweet Pea may be a resident of Monsterville – and heir to the throne – but his personality is anything but horrifying, and his mother is far from happy about it. The Queen of the Monsters is one sadistic mother, and has no mercy for humans or sons who are unwilling to scare them. Her cruelty forces Sweet Pea to discover the strength he has always possessed, and stand […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-13T16:50:03+02:00August 17th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Wonders in the Waves by Jennifer Collins

Wonders in the Waves by Jennifer Collins

Heartwrenching, honestly written, and challenging, Wonders in the Waves by Jennifer Collins is a novel about family, love, grief, and courage, and a compelling sequel to Comfort in the Wings. Striking a delicate balance between the intimacy of first-person narration, and the excitement of a rich plot full of relatable characters and twists, this multilayered book is at once intimate and page-turning.

Larissa is a 51-year-old mother that is at risk of getting lost in grief. Her sweet daughter Emma, 21, passed away less than a year prior, leaving a gaping hole in her life, and that of Emma’s […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-08-16T13:07:24+02:00August 15th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Great Flip by Donald J. Fraser

The Great Flip by Donald J. Fraser

Excavating an often overlooked but massively significant change in American political consciousness, The Great Flip by Donald J. Fraser is a brilliant examination of how the United States became so divided. The timeless dialectic of minimal government and individual capability vs. big government and collective responsibility is the foundation of American partisanship, and the crux of this meticulously crafted text.

The modern political landscape has turned into a battleground over the intended ideals of the founders 250 years ago, and this book brings readers back into the conversations, conflicts, and watershed moments that are still being referenced as precedent today. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-06T12:45:50+02:00August 14th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History Book Reviews, Politics Book Reviews|

Review: Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson

Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson

A post-apocalyptic road novel with a strong pair of protagonists in a richly described dystopia, Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson adds a fascinating new layer to his Odemark series.

Two years into his time on new-world Earth, Simon is ready to brave the wasteland, leap into frontier life, and see what beauty the recovering planet still holds. However, when a starship falls out of the sky, just as Simon dreamed that it would, he convinces Anna to join him on a quest to find the craft, and their relationship is entertaining from the start; Anna’s vague annoyance at his naïveté […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-08T17:26:16+02:00August 7th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Post-Apocalyptic Book Reviews|

Review: Legends of Earth by David Gwinn

Legends of Earth by David Gwinn

A science fiction adventure with some downright Shakespearean twists, Legends of Earth by David Gwinn is a breathless mash-up of police procedural and space opera that is a page-turner from the first page.

When a seasoned cop is pulled into a mind-boggling new case – a woman single-handedly cutting the power and knocking over banks in broad daylight – Officer Sharpe has no idea how deep this new rabbit hole will go. He certainly doesn’t expect it to carry him to the other side of the galaxy – to a planet that seems to desperately need his help.

Tass, the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-29T12:01:43+02:00August 3rd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Four Year Hitch by Don Cox

The Four Year Hitch by Don Cox

A heartwarming novel that plays with narrative stereotypes about love and happy endings, The Four Year Hitch by Don Cox is an affecting work of romantic contemporary fiction. Although the main characters are clearly destined to be together, circumstances and individual mistakes keep them apart for a long time, making this tender piece of fiction feel as romantic as rooted in reality.

Joshua and Julie have been best friends since they were seven years old. They know everything about each other, all the little quirks, dreams, and secrets, starting from their big life aspirations all the way down to […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-09-14T16:14:46+02:00August 1st, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Where Martyrs Rise Snowflakes Don’t Fall by Albert M. Jabara

Where Martyrs Rise Snowflakes Don’t Fall by Albert Jabara

A fictional manifesto plumbing the lyrical depths of spirituality, the horrors of history, and the contradictions of human existence, Where Martyrs Rise Snowflakes Don’t Fall by Albert M. Jabara is a confident and belief-challenging read, offering an eye-opening blend of religious theory, philosophical narrative, poetic exploration, and historical analysis.

Yunus Nef’i is the main protagonist of this novel – a philosopher, scholar, poet, journalist, and author – who has spent his life fighting for the oppressed and overlooked, examining the faults of the world with his caustic and fearless pen. Some chapters read as a memoir, digging into Yunus’ experiences […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-06T16:05:17+02:00July 30th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|