Latest Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Failure to Thrive by Katharine M. Sweet

A tender and emotionally charged second-chance romance, Failure to Thrive by Katharine M. Sweet is a cozy reminder that a new life of love can be found in unlikely places.

Following his release from prison after accidentally assaulting a cop, Russ wants nothing more than to keep his head down and get back on track, beginning with his job in the hospital cafeteria. When his first day is delayed by the sight of Aster Reign and her son Liam in obvious distress, his instinct to help them entangles him in their lives. It isn’t long before his generous nature leads […]

Review: I, No Other by Yarrow Paisley

A disturbing but entrancing collection of stories, I, No Other by Yarrow Paisley is a post-modern plunge into the psychological fringes of human nature.

The narrative voices in this collection represent a shocking breadth of humanity, and the dark extremes of the psyche – a compendium of obtrusive thoughts made flesh, of dark fantasies and nightmarish realities that most readers would prefer to deny. A leering predator with the silver tongue of a scholar, an obsessed madman mentally escaping the bars that hold him; a man slowly builds himself into a pipe, only to experience a Kafka-esque transformation as he […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-02-03T19:55:13+02:00February 3rd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|

Review: The Third Act by Kathleen Brehony

A smart and touching tale of taking second chances and finding your people, The Third Act by Kathleen Brehony explores the rich possibilities of great love during a painful season of loss.

Shannon O’Connell is an accomplished and gracefully aging author, but a string of personal heartbreaks has left her in serious need of support. When a long battle with breast cancer claims one of her dearest friends, Linda, the tragedy brings together their decades-old group of girlfriends for a celebration of life at the O’Connell family’s seaside cottage resort.

Elizabeth Matthews may be an award-winning filmmaker, but her ageless […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-01-31T15:21:38+02:00January 31st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI+ Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

Review: Dissonance Volume IV: Relentless by Aaron Ryan

The sixth installment of Aaron Ryan’s epic survival saga, Dissonance Volume IV: Relentless brings readers into a new wave of global conflict against a voracious alien enemy.

After nearly 20 years of struggle against the extraterrestrial Gorgons, humanity has finally reclaimed its home, scouring the planet to eradicate every last paralyzing invader and beginning the long process to rebuild. The diabolical threat from the previous American president – a series of potentially world-ending nuclear strikes – has been eliminated, and she has been replaced by the rebel leader turned global hero, Vance Cardona.

Backed up by battle-tested allies like Miguel […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-10T12:16:16+02:00December 9th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Diane: True Survivor by Ward V.B. Lassoe

A visceral and intensely personal memoir about trauma, resilience, forgiveness, and grace, Diane: True Survivor as told to Ward V.B. Lassoe is a portrait of heartbreaking fortitude.

Drawing readers through the tangled movements of Diane’s repeatedly fractured life, this is a vivid account of one woman’s determination to transcend the past, even with all the odds set against her. A detailed and thoroughly unflinching story, this dictated memoir looks at the situations forced upon her, poor choices she made and regretted, and moments of moral clarity that likely saved her life and any hope for a future.

Beginning with a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-09T15:47:48+02:00December 9th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: The Discovery of Magic by L. J. Evias

An archery champion and her unlikely fellowship are transported to a mystical realm in dire need of saving in The Discovery of Magic by L. J. Evias, the creative first novel in the Intrigue of Magic series.

Facing the prospect of moving away and leaving behind all she loves, Alice Harper is determined to win an archery scholarship and find a tangible reason to stay. However, when she and her pals stumble through a mysterious cave portal to another world, the extracurricular stakes get significantly higher. Separated upon their arrival, these five young travelers must navigate a highly divided world […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-05T12:47:30+02:00December 5th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|