Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Dreaming in Chinese by William Tsung

Dreaming in Chinese by William Tsung

Raw and unflinching, Dreaming in Chinese: Memoirs from a Taiwanese Prison by William Tsung is an unforgettable tale of injustice and perseverance.

When Tsung landed back in Taiwan for a short trip from Los Angeles, he had no idea that his freedom was about to be taken from him. After being caught with marijuana-infused snacks that he relied on for anxiety, he was dropped into the faceless machine of Taiwan’s overcrowded prison system. Tsung was quick to adapt to life behind bars, and found use as a translator, but this behind-the-scenes peek reveals just how dehumanizing, dangerous, and depressing prison […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-28T10:52:26+02:00February 16th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Prison Book Reviews|

Review: Enigma Rose: First Love by S.E. Reynolds

Enigma Rose: First Love by S.E. Reynolds

Ghosts from the past collide with present desires of the flesh in Enigma Rose: First Love by S.E. Reynolds, a steamy and unpredictable slice of romance, bursting with passion.

Rose Umbra is building a new life, and finding new lovers, attempting to leave tragedies and secrets behind as the new owner of a small bookshop in the Virginia countryside. However, her murderous and manipulative ex-lover, Joshua Steadman, has begun gathering power in a nearby town, and it doesn’t take long for him to drop by and stir the pot.

As the new mayor of Chester, Virginia, Josh has regained a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-22T17:52:11+02:00February 10th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

Review: The Push Back by Lawrence Clayton

The Push Back by Lawrence Clayton

Boldly addressing hot-button issues that have long divided America, The Push Back by Lawrence Clayton offers a clarion call for the rejection of recent shifts in political, social, biological, and ethical thought. A starkly partisan collection of contemporary essays, this grouping of unabashed op-eds tackles everything from critical race theory and liberal media bias to white fragility, affirmative action, and cancel culture.

While claiming the title of academic and historian might suggest an impartiality in the reporting of facts, the author’s biases are immediate, relentless, and fully embraced. Not only does this text attempt to rewrite, whitewash, reframe, or eradicate […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-20T17:18:55+02:00February 7th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Essay Book Reviews, Politics Book Reviews|

Review: This May Be Difficult to Read by Claire N. Rubman, PhD

This May Be Difficult to Read by Claire N. Rubman

Author Claire N. Rubman, PhD presents a revolutionary new take on a fundamental facet of childhood development in This May Be Difficult to Read: But You Really Should (for your child’s sake). The shocking fact that 42 million Americans are functionally illiterate in 2023 means that this book is more critical than ever, especially for those with the responsibility to teach.

As Rubman quickly explains, learning to read and learning to comprehend are two very different things, though they are often grouped together. She astutely separates these ideas, highlighting the reasons behind the growing rift between them, and offers […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-02-07T14:36:41+02:00February 7th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Education|

Review: Celey (Heritage Series Volume II) by Susan Diane Black Blackmon

Celey (Heritage Series Volume II) by Susan Diane Black Blackmon

Celey by Susan Diane Black Blackmon is the second book in the Heritage Series, a collection of historical novels based on real-life characters and events. Standing between fact and fiction, Celey is a heartwarming novel about hardship, family, and the hopes and dreams of a town in 19th-century Arkansas, for an engrossing and evocative work of historical fiction.

Waldron is a place on a difficult journey from wilderness to civilization, and Celey, a young woman of sixteen, experiences what it means to live in an unsafe environment, where women cannot go around town unaccompanied and bullies seem to go […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-03-21T11:26:27+02:00February 6th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Jitters by Chris Harmon

Jitters by Chris Harmon

Sampling from the truly strange world of Chris Harmon’s imagination, Jitters is an aptly named spook-fest of tales from a promising young writer.

A scary series of gritty snapshots and long-form stories, this is a collection that feels like it could be read around a campfire. From zombies in the basement and ravenous tigers to dangerously depressed wizards and cannibalistic substitute teachers, these fast-moving stories take childhood fears and blow them into extraordinary and entertaining proportions.

The frustrations, irritations, stressors, and paranoid delusions of teenagers are on proud display, along with a dastardly catalog of axe murderers, aliens, terrifying ice […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-17T16:17:04+02:00February 2nd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews|

Review: Energy Wars by Lionel Lazarus

Energy Wars by Lionel Lazarus

Intergalactic power struggles and a universe driven by the hunt for precious fuel, Lionel Lazarus dazzles readers with Energy Wars, the second and third parts of his Energy Exchange series.

Immensely powerful and ageless, but still able to be surprised, The Eight is returning to his home galaxy onboard the Hela, but finds that an unthinkable coup has occurred. His beloved companion, the supreme leader of the Overlords, is gone, and now The Sixth threatens the historic peace the Overlords had worked to achieve.

Having learned from past battles, The Eight knows to rely on brains, rather than brawn, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-01-23T17:51:04+02:00January 19th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Secrets of the Tree House by Leinad Platz

Secrets of the Tree House by Leinad Platz

Secrets of the Tree House by Leinad Platz is an absorbing thriller where a small Wisconsin community is brought to face deep and disturbing truths. An entertaining, fast-paced mystery with dark undertones and streaks of spirituality, the novel is both chilling and emotionally gripping.

The story walks the line between adult fiction and YA, masterfully weaving Dustin’s teen perspective with the hard facts of crime investigation, but also with the presence of older characters who help Dustin find his way through a series of traumatic events. In this sense, the book is also a coming-of-age novel, subtly describing the shift […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-03-17T10:50:31+02:00January 17th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|