Lead Story | Self-Publishing Review

Review: SEER: The Ghosts of Gray Fable by Eli Bloom

★★★★½

SEER: The Ghosts of Gray Fable by Eli Bloom is a chilling and thrilling YA novel.

With a bold plot line and an unforgettable protagonist, SEER instantly stands out as a paranormal classic. Author Eli Bloom captures youth, innocence and courage within these pages, while brushing on topical subjects that will strike a chord in readers of any age.

While the premise of the book makes it seem as though this book focuses heavily on the events of the possible school shooting, and everything Gray Fable might do to stop it, the writer is more keenly interested in revealing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T07:21:20+02:00September 1st, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Paranormal Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Simple Simon by William Poe

★★★★★

“Cocaine overtook the lives of many people in the 1980s. That seemed especially true in the Hollywood gay scene, where I was something of a fixture in the bars, especially the seedy ones.”

Simon Powell has lived a life of many regrets – one of religious engagement and chemical addiction; of Hollywood dreams and cold nights on concrete streets, of love and loss, and the harsh bounce back from rock-bottom. Simon is a gay man from Arkansas who’s seen it all, and it’s taken its toll. Recovering from his near-fatal addiction, he worked towards a healthier existence through rehab […]

James Grimsby2019-10-04T06:34:20+02:00August 24th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, LGBTQI+ Book Reviews|

Review: In the Presence of Wolves by Erick Nason

★★★★½

In the Presence of Wolves: The Adventures of Ranger Jacob Clarke by Erick Nason is a rugged and action-packed adventure.

As military history in America goes, the French and Indian War is perhaps the least discussed, but as Erick Nason so expertly depicts in his novel, In the Presence of Wolves, it was truly a fascinating time in American history. Approximately two decades before the Revolutionary War broke out, America had a very different battle to fight – one against the French and their Indian compatriots. This novel is set in the lush upper forests of New York, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2016-09-05T10:05:35+02:00August 23rd, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Constant Guests by Patricia Nedelea

★★★★½

Isa would probably say she’s your average girl. Maybe it’s wishful thinking – with all the turbulence in her home and personal life, it’s easier to drown herself in the party scenes of Paris. Too bad for Isa the unusual circumstances of her birth come crashing into her life as her biological mother – the one she only just found out about, no less – dies in front of her without a word.

Confronted with some uncomfortable truths, the unusual event urges Isa to find more, and into a mystery that her mother was willing to die to solve, […]

Naka Jackson2016-08-17T04:47:29+02:00August 16th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Hotel Westend by Ashley Lynch-Harris

★★★★

The Hotel Westend by Ashley Lynch-Harris is a classic mystery with plenty of twists.

With eccentric characters, an historic hotel with its fair share of secrets, and an innocent ingénue with a good dose of curiosity, The Hotel Westend is a slow-boiling thriller that will have you guessing until the very end. In the beloved style of Agatha Christie and other British suspense classics, this murder mystery pays homage to the genre in an impressive way.

The gradual introduction of the characters – all heading for the same destination for an unknown reason – has the same slow pacing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2016-08-12T11:38:35+02:00August 11th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Cozy Mystery Book Reviews, Mystery Book Reviews|

Review: Ganesha’s Temple (The Temple Wars #1) by Rohit Gaur

★★★★½

Ganesha’s Temple by Rohit Gaur is a masterful and meaningful adventure.

Escapism is one of the basic reasons why people read, so books that transport readers to completely new worlds, or rarely seen corners of this one, are particularly compelling. Ganesha’s Temple by Rohit Gaur is the first installment of a brilliant new series that perfectly blends mysticism and adventure.

Tarun is a young boy in Kashmir, the son of the country’s chief minister, who is thrown into the wilds of nature following a horrific attack on a local festival celebrating Ganesha. The vivid depiction of the attack sends […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-24T19:45:06+02:00July 13th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: City on a Hill (Vol 1: The City) by Ted Neill

City on a Hill by Ted Neill is an epic tale of belief, chaos and conflict.

While many post-apocalyptic, dystopian novels center on the ravages of atomic fallout, the wasteland lifestyle of survivors, unholy abominations or alien overlords, there are few books in the genre that have placed religion as the focal point. City on a Hill is the bold and provocative tale of Lysander and Fortinbras, the Twin Cities, the last two havens in a world destroyed by violence and religious conflict. Following the Cataclysm, the new leaders of the world, the Head Ministry, have outlawed religion in all […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T06:59:54+02:00July 12th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Leadership Wisdom by Bob Vanourek

★★★★★

Leadership Wisdom: Lessons from Poetry, Prose, and Curious Verse by Bob Vanourek is an enlightening collection of sage and timely advice.

Books about leadership and self-improvement seem to be a dime a dozen, which makes it difficult to know who to heed and where the best advice actually comes from. Sidestepping that common failing, Bob Vanourek’s new book, Leadership Wisdom, instead relies on great minds and wise figures from human history to support his unique perspective.

While it can be easy to dismiss the occasionally condescending lessons from modern leaders and success stories, it is far harder to […]