Lead Story | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson

Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson

A post-apocalyptic road novel with a strong pair of protagonists in a richly described dystopia, Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson adds a fascinating new layer to his Odemark series.

Two years into his time on new-world Earth, Simon is ready to brave the wasteland, leap into frontier life, and see what beauty the recovering planet still holds. However, when a starship falls out of the sky, just as Simon dreamed that it would, he convinces Anna to join him on a quest to find the craft, and their relationship is entertaining from the start; Anna’s vague annoyance at his naïveté […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-08T17:26:16+02:00August 7th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Post-Apocalyptic Book Reviews|

Review: Karl Myers by Jeff Lee

Karl Myers by Jeff Lee

An instantly immersive story of innocence lost and justice miscarried, Karl Myers by Jeff Lee is a patiently profound piece of 1950s fiction – a visceral, dark, and poignant drama, which offers a snapshot of a sinister time that America has yet to fully escape.

Karl Myers is a melancholic ex-Marine police chief with a stack of regrets, an unwavering hunger for justice, and a raised eyebrow at the backwards beliefs that still flourish in the town he calls home. Jerry Peterman is a scarred veteran with a quick temper and no tolerance for weakness, let alone disobedience, from either […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-18T15:42:58+02:00July 12th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Kingdom Society: Broken Reality by Nathan Helm

Kingdom Society: Broken Reality by Nathan Helm

Author Nathan Helm delivers a strong second chapter of his Kingdom Society series with Broken Reality, an endlessly creative fantasy with some hard-edged twists.

The idea of a “chosen one” who must come to terms with his destiny is a rather common premise in sci-fi and fantasy sagas, but Helm manages to put a unique spin on the character development and journey – in part through the use of so many different environments and settings. Alyeth’s growing powers are impressive, and he will need those “God mode” abilities, considering that sinister forces of the universe are conspiring to eradicate […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-13T13:39:43+02:00June 12th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: May We Learn From the Earth by Robert J. Tiess

May We Learn From the Earth by Robert Tiess

With this stunning observational record of the natural world, poet Robert J. Tiess has curated a brilliant collection in May We Learn From the Earth: Nature Poems and Reflections on the Environment.

A self-described ecopoet with a remarkable eye for the secret beauty and subtle wonders of nature, this is both an homage to the Earth and a desperate plea for a shift in collective consciousness. From academic and allusion-laced verses to thoughtful personal poems that reflect the writer’s own experience, this broad-ranging book feels both contemporary and timeless.

“Ecclesiastes of the Earth” is one of the strongest poems […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-12T13:09:13+02:00June 11th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage

Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage

An intricate portrayal of the way work, life, and love interact with each other, set against the backdrop of industrial upheaval and social unrest, Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage is an impressive slow-burn of a novel. With the style of a literary novel and the intrigue of a thriller, Kage has achieved a remarkable blend of character nuance and suspense.

As the title suggests, the fundamental question at work in this novel is that of trust. Everyone is holding something back from everyone else, from business partners to romantic partners, or even family members, as Kage portrays […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-05-19T09:23:22+02:00May 18th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Prepping for Success by Anmol Singh

Prepping for Success by Anmol Singh

Boldly re-framing and curating ageless wisdom, Prepping for Success: 10 Keys for Making it in Life by Anmol Singh is a creative and concise guide for those seeking an ethical and innovative edge in professional development.

Though the idea of “making it in life” is broadly subjective, this straightforward and easy-to-follow collection of advice will objectively have a positive impact on one’s potential for success and happiness, given the breadth of insight collected here. From self-discipline and the pursuit of joy to honesty, noble values, and purposeful living, the author addresses nuanced and complex ideas with graceful simplicity.

Refreshingly, the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-17T08:21:43+02:00April 16th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Project Manager’s Handbook by Valentyn Bannikov

Project Manager's Handbook by Valentyn Bannikov

A matter-of-fact breakdown of a complex, dynamic, and essential position, Project Manager’s Handbook: Walkthrough for Beginners by Valentyn Bannikov is a comprehensive guide with an original lens.

Beginning with the most basic definition of a project and scaling up the discussion to the innumerable nuances of running an effective project team, this book is intuitively structured and designed for all levels of experience. Even the simplest concepts are illuminated with a fresh rhetorical perspective, from the unique aspects that define a project, versus a basic act of production, to new frameworks for conceptualizing scope, time, and cost for individual situations.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-18T14:48:40+02:00March 30th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Business Book Reviews|

Review: Scar Songs by W. Royce Adams

Scar Songs by W. Royce Adams

Exploring the complex and commonly overlooked emotional experiences of men, Scar Songs by W. Royce Adams is a bold and unabashed collection of stories that looks at fraternal friendship, along with grief, growth, love, and purpose.

These vignettes are candid glimpses into the lives of ordinary people, in large part, but they reveal that even the most forgettable interactions can have long-lasting impacts and echoes. Using an impressive economy of language, Adams captures the psyche and struggles of each story’s protagonist with a compelling rawness.

In “Thief Catcher,” a young man must pit his sense of duty and need for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-29T10:55:32+02:00March 28th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|