Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Friends of Allan Renner by Dave J. Andrae

The Friends of Allan Renner by Dave J. Andrae

Readers are welcomed into the most intimate moments of a truly strange existence in The Friends of Allan Renner by Dave J. Andrae, a masterful piece of narrative fiction. Divided into seven very different but interconnected stories, this collection exposes the fascinating inner life of Renner through vignettes of his bizarre relationships. At times a heady blend of philosophy and cultural allusions, this is a dense semi-sci-fi read that cleverly roasts human nature, while also celebrating its temerity and curiosity.

Renner initially reads as an average protagonist, but an ironically extraordinary one, with a whip-smart memory, a deft tongue, and […]

Review: The Pebble Champion by Alan David Pritchard

The Pebble Champion by Alan David Pritchard

Author Alan David Pritchard delves deep into trauma and loss, as well as identity and self-discovery in his new novel, The Pebble Champion, a stirring tale of sadness and self-discovery.

After the tragic loss of his mother, 15-year-old Chris Elliot finds his world turned upside-down, and his sense of home torn asunder. This novel traces his path forward, and details the nuances of teenage life and development with remarkably clear and agonizing accuracy. Not only is the story touching, but also widely relatable; though no reader will have experienced exactly the same struggles, the humanity on display as Chris […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-02-26T13:57:33+02:00December 18th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Unleash Your Inner Goddess by Christine Rizzo

Unleash Your Inner Goddess by Christine Rizzo

A life coach who has walked the walk, Christine Rizzo speaks strongly and sincerely to women about discovering, developing, and manifesting their best qualities in Unleash Your Inner Goddess: Start Living the Life You Deserve.

After an introductory affirmative “Let’s do this!” Rizzo states that in order to achieve our goals, we have to know what they are. Each of us holds largely unexamined beliefs inculcated into our thinking by repetition on the part of people we trusted, but beliefs are really just “sentences” – remnants of childhood lodged in the subconscious mind, which can control our lives. We […]

SPR2021-01-19T04:21:27+02:00December 14th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Abandoned Not Broken by Rob Johnson

Abandoned Not Broken by Rob Johnson

An adopted child finds inspiration and determination from family, friends and mentors and grows into manhood successful, well-liked and respected, in the moving memoir, Abandoned Not Broken: The Passion and Perspective to Discover Your Purpose.

Robert Dunckley was the third child of a single mother. His father disappeared not long after the seemingly happy partnership with his mother, and a caring great-grandmother stepped in with financial support. With her oversight, the little boy was taken in by his loving babysitter, Pat Johnson, who soon adopted him, giving him her surname and two older siblings.

Through trying circumstances, young Robert […]

SPR2021-01-13T10:24:38+02:00December 7th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Religious Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: The Better Man Plans by Bobby Cudd

The Better Man Plans by Bobby Cudd

Author Bobby Cudd delivers a comprehensive, accessible, and entertaining guide for those looking to improve how they show up for their relationships in The Better Man Plans: What men should know and do to cultivate more harmony and love with the women and children in their lives.

From examining traditional relationship conflicts and the internal failings of masculinity, to prescribing innovative activities and new approaches for connection, communication, and ambition, this book takes varied angles on the same fundamental issues. Perhaps most notably, the author touches on aspects of relationship that are often overlooked: romantic apathy, invisibly existing in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-13T10:13:25+02:00December 6th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Relationships Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Luck by Chris Coppel

Luck by Chris Coppel

Luck, lies, and the weakness of human nature collide in Luck by Chris Coppel, an entertaining and savage satire that circles the strange birth and even stranger life of Daniel Trapp. Boasting a power that most would consider a blessing, good fortune seems to follow the main character like a shadow, but there are darker forces at work, and prices that must be paid.

As the title suggests, luck is a persistent theme from start to finish, frequently driving the plot twists and inexplicable events of the story. Daniel Trapp’s seemingly miraculous gift is another character in itself, an aura […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-11T06:54:30+02:00December 2nd, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Satire Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times by Lois Ann Nicolai

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times by Lois Ann Nicolai

In the vibrant chronicle, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: A Memoir of One Citizen Activist, author and activist Lois Ann Nicolai demonstrates how an apparently “ordinary” person can have a profound impact on the world at any age.

Nicolai was raised on a farm in rural America, imbuing her with a sense that all of us have a mission to perform. She married and had six children, feeling that raising them well was her personal purpose, but at age forty-six, she suddenly and unexpectedly became a widow. Dealing with grief and the need to forge a new life for herself, […]

SPR2022-03-04T02:18:13+02:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: Predator Moons by J.H. Ramsay

Predator Moons by J.H. Ramsay

Two unpredictable destinies collide in a far-flung corner of the universe in Predator Moons, a futuristic feast for the senses by J.H. Ramsay. Part dystopian fantasy and part space opera, this is an expansive and compelling story set in an endlessly layered realm of creativity and visionary imagination.

Traveling to the outer limits of the galaxy on two very different missions, the protagonists of this epic astral adventure don’t seem to have much in common, but that isn’t altogether true. Both are unable to resist change and progress; Isaiah is once again trying to escape a lifetime of slaughter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-01T07:10:34+02:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Space Opera Book Reviews|