Lead Story | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Toys in Babylon by Patrick Finegan

Toys in Babylon by Patrick Finegan

Whip-smart satire and a cutting-edge premise make Toys in Babylon: A Language App Parody and Whodunit by Patrick Finegan a tongue-in-cheek romp for savvy language lovers everywhere.

The animated avatars of a popular language-learning app begin to panic when their mascot, Coki Bear, turns up missing, leaving the town of Cokville leaderless. Between filming reality television and responding to the prompts and stories that fuel their online world, these colorful characters hunt for their missing friend, but they’re not the only ones who’ve noticed her absence.

The programmers at the Cok Dilli company are stupefied when their irritatingly attentive brand-name […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-14T08:40:45+02:00October 12th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Satire Book Reviews|

Review: The Fate of Our Union by Hildebrand Hermannson

The Fate of Our Union by Hildebrand Hermannson

The balance of harmony in the world is under threat, and a mythological age of unexpected heroes has arrived in The Fate of Our Union by Hildebrand Hermannson.

In this entrancing historical fantasy, the shadow of Rome’s boot is creeping across Europe, but the Germanic tribes and their mystical secrets have kept the invaders at bay. However, in a higher realm, gods play dice with existence, and the future of these diverse Sons of Men rests on the backs of a few unlikely companions.

Sunu the Saxon has recently proven himself and been renamed Red Stallion, Slayer of the Almighty […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-11T11:03:22+02:00October 2nd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Hotel Intrepid: Jack-of-all-Trades by Leo Peterson

Hotel Intrepid: Jack-of-all-Trades by Leo Peterson

A classic rebound romance with unexpected depth, The Hotel Intrepid: Jack-of-all-Trades by Leo Peterson is a contemporary mashup of cultural drama, noble deeds, and visceral desire.

Freshly liberated from a life doing what was expected, and free of her absent husband, Astrid launches herself into a fiery midlife obsession with Ty Machesney – an Italian stallion with an unbelievable backstory that ticks all her boxes. She tries to play it cool and casual, but when a charming, hotel-owning, sidearm-slinging hunk of a widower blows into her life at precisely the right time, it’s hard to refuse the hands of fate. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-09-11T17:03:36+02:00September 11th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Thriller 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|

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: 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|

Review: The Citadel by Frank Dravis

The Citadel by Frank Dravis

Power-hungry corporations, priestly pirates, extraterrestrial warriors, benevolent guardians, and the ghosts of ancient aliens collide in The Citadel by Frank Dravis, the explosive third installment of his Dianis, A World in Turmoil series. A female-led epic that brilliantly blends classic and contemporary sci-fi themes, this adventure of cosmic protectors and priceless planetary bounty is a meticulously written marvel.

Disguised as a simple Dianis trader, Achelous has been captured and is now being shipped to the heart of the Nak Drakas Empire, where he faces a potentially gruesome fate for his supposed crimes, but one of his clever captors suspects that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-24T13:00:29+02:00July 23rd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Good Pastures by Sylvia Anne Pollard

Good Pastures by Sylvia Anne Pollard

Steeped in contemplation and the solace that only time can bring, Good Pastures: A Place to Feel Ones Deepest Heartaches by Sylvia Anne Pollard is a moving testament to the human spirit and the healing power of the divine. As a devoted mother and a powerful warrior of faith, this resilient poet has alchemized pain into stark and empowering verse.

The loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy for parents, and the weight of Pollard’s loss is heavy on these pages. The poet’s stated purpose is to transmute the grief over Payton’s death into words of comfort and encouragement […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-15T11:36:23+02:00July 14th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|