Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Evolution of Nora O’Brien Pacheco by Kevin O’Flaherty

The Evolution of Nora O'Brien Pacheco by Kevin O'Flaherty

An international coming-of-age novel, The Evolution of Nora O’Brien Pacheco by Kevin O’Flaherty tells the story of a brilliant and ambitious Basque girl whose life is upended by a startling revelation. Straightforwardly written, but still profound in its emotional scope, the novel can inspire young readers to achieve what they want in life, while also delving into important topics such as education, family, friendship, and grief.

Nora is a seventeen-year-old girl from Bilbao who, as the title suggests, is going through a time of great change not only in the plans she has for her own future, but also in […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-10-02T09:26:49+02:00September 6th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Louis Pasteur Condemns Big Pharma by Stephen Heartland

Louis Pasteur Condemns Big Pharma by Stephen Heartland

A timely take on the current state of vaccination science and policy in America, Louis Pasteur Condemns Big Pharma: Vaccines, Drugs, and Healthcare in the United States by Stephen Heartland is an informative and potentially controversial guide for protecting your autonomy and health.

As the author reminds us in the opening pages, when it comes to pro-vaccine and anti-vax ideologies, people know where they stand, and the lines are pretty much set. Refreshingly, this book doesn’t attempt a complete takedown of Big Pharma, but is instead a well-structured presentation of arguments and potential solutions.

Beginning with an expositional chapter on […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-09-27T12:22:07+02:00September 3rd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Medical Book Reviews|

Review: Operation Nightfall: The Web of Spies by Karl Wegener

Operation Nightfall: The Web of Spies by Karl Wegener

Spiraling ever deeper into the historical tension, strategic alliances, and brinksmanship of Cold War politics, Operation Nightfall: The Web of Spies by Karl Wegener is a classic spy-vs-spy thrill.

A child of the Warsaw insurgency against the Nazis, Ada Bialik is a fearless and determined sleeper agent with a vengeful mission to complete, and she hopes her new position as a teacher in occupied Poland will be the last step in a painfully long journey. However, the sentiments of Ada’s new neighbors are mixed, to say the least, regarding the Soviet rule and communist policies now “stabilizing” their lives. Remnants […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-08-30T16:45:31+02:00August 30th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Spy Thriller Book Reviews|

2102: Pretense, the Play by William E. Jefferson

2102: Pretense, the Play by William Jefferson

A lyrical and multilayered exploration of humanhood, intelligence, art, and the future of all three, 2102: Pretense, the Play by William E. Jefferson challenges form, function, and the rules of reality.

On a distant stage where technology and theatrical performance are inseparable, a scribe must attempt to capture what wisdom can be found in the tragedy of that time, and bring it back for those who might prevent it. Within that paradoxical premise, Quill is a writer caught in this “maddening drama,” but fortunately he has the sage company of a feathered friend, Loreto, to accompany him on his mission […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-09-16T18:01:29+02:00August 26th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Gemini Project by Ian Moran

The Gemini Project by Ian Moran

Author Ian Moran paints a terrifying picture of moral collapse in the guise of progress in The Gemini Project, a timely dive into the worst fears of humanity’s fate.

In a climate-ravaged future, society has solved the problem of ecological destruction and greed through a severe yet subtle program of population control. For students at The Corpo Academy for Development, this means being separated from their fathers for the first eighteen years of life, avoiding any education that might inspire critical thought, and dedicating themselves to physical development in preparation for their post-graduation purpose.

Jan Ericson is not your […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-09-10T10:19:24+02:00August 20th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Velvet Hammer by Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. and Amy Mitchell

The Velvet Hammer by Judge Belvin Perry Jr.

Bridging the traditional boundaries of personal and professional life, Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. offers an eye-opening peek into the American justice system with The Velvet Hammer, a powerful memoir laced with revelatory insight about some of the most memorable, challenging, and heinous cases of his career, including the Casey Anthony case, which brought him intense scrutiny and notoriety.

Born in 1949 and coming of age in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, Perry developed a deep understanding of systemic fractures in America, but also recognized the life-changing leaps toward racial equality that were gained during his generation. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-08-19T12:59:45+02:00August 19th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: Coincidence, You Say? by Patrick Hogan

Coincidence, You Say? by Patrick Hogan

The story of a determined and principled protector who consistently chose the hard road in his dynamic life, Coincidence, You Say? by Patrick Hogan is a heartfelt memoir and a revelatory snapshot of a different time.

A mischievous child growing up in a picturesque middle-class American life, Hogan offers brief vignettes and glimpses into his youth, as well as his first encounters with coincidences. In numerous instances -often when injury or even death was imminent – he explains a strange experience of time dilation, as though the world would cinematically slow down, leaving him time to react and leave miraculously […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-09-09T11:27:01+02:00August 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: Where’s Our Purple Heart by Logan Fret

Where's Our Purple Heart by James Linge

Peeling back the complex layers of grief, family, trauma, and secrets, Where’s Our Purple Heart by Logan Fret is a raw examination of the feelings we fear and the memories we bury.

After his gun-loving, hard-drinking, war hero father dies unexpectedly, Todd must navigate a surge of emotions, especially the feelings of relief and a distinct lack of sadness. He struggles to mourn an abusive father who had leveled a murderous threat against him, which forced Todd to hide his queer identity for years and prevented any resolution or authenticity in their relationship. Now, with the main obstacle to his […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-08-16T19:46:48+02:00August 16th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, LGBTQI+ Book Reviews|