New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

Once Upon a Wonderland by DJ Stoneham

A swirling return to the dark whimsy of a familiar setting, Once Upon a Wonderland by DJ Stoneham details Alice’s fourth adventure to the time-spinning world of Cheshire cats and mad queens, and is as inventive and immersive as all of her previous trips.

As ever, the lessons learned on the other side of the looking glass have impacted her normal life. Her lost love, Jack Door, the black-feathered boy from her third trip, has never had an equal among Alice’s real-world suitors, so she longs to return. A tense family trip to the seaside yanks this older and wiser […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-07T11:56:02+02:00April 6th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

The Kitchen and the Studio by Mallory M. and John A. O’Connor

The Kitchen and the Studio by Mallory M. and John A. O’Connor The Kitchen and the Studio: A Memoir of Food and Art by Mallory M. and John A. O’Connor is a unique take on the memoir – a life told not just through words, but also through paintings, photos, and recipes, for an enchanting combination of media. The O’Connors share their original journey across the years and places of their lives, punctuated by artwork by themselves or their friends, and by recipes taken from a moment or incident at a specific point in their enduring story.

Mallory “Mal” O’Connor narrates the book, covering her early life on a California ranch in […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-04-05T16:20:08+02:00April 4th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Art Book Reviews, Cookery Book Reviews, Memoir Book Reviews|

Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers & John Roosen

Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen Two amateur sleuths unravel a viciously clever scheme to destabilize Australia and rob it blind in Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen, the second installment of their fast-paced Yoga Mat Mysteries series.

When Elaina’s father drops off the map following a cryptic phone call, she turns to her freshly returned lover, Ric, for his specialized help. Their hunt soon reveals that her father’s disappearance is linked to an imminent cyber-attack that could ravage global markets. Elaina’s courtroom-sharpened wits and enlightened yogi mind combine well with Ric’s pragmatic perfectionism and spycraft-level problem-solving, making their interactions authentic and charming, while […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-08T18:24:55+02:00March 20th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Mystery Book Reviews|

Hold Circulation by Syntell Smith

Hold Circulation by Syntell Smith A character-driven drama that spotlights the beauty of banality, and the shushed secrets that form the foundation of life, Hold Circulation by Syntell Smith is the third installment of his compelling Call Numbers series.

A story of redemption and personal revelation, bouncing around the stacks of a surprisingly drama-filled library, this novel peers into the pages of a dozen or so interconnected lives, revealing Janelle Smith’s plunge into parenthood, Gerry’s questionably criminal life choices, Angie’s late-night DJ dabbling, Heywood’s spiritual crises, and much more. Stretching far beyond the shelves of the 58th Street Branch, these are richly tangled tales from […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-16T14:31:18+02:00March 16th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

As Day Alights by Emma Mnaya-Buzy

As Day Alights by Emma Mnaya-Buzy Sagely addressing spiritual, societal, personal, and hopeful themes, Emma Mnaya-Buzy delivers a multifaceted and empowering work in her sophomore collection of poetry, As Day Alights.

Peppered with profoundly unique and powerful poems, such as the ominous and surreal “Quivering Light,” and the mystical “Kumbikumbi,” this collection defies classification and comparison. Mnaya-Buzy is boldly unafraid of slant rhymes, and cleverly blends rhyme patterns to create an unpredictable yet elegant rhythm in many of these pieces.

“Let Verse Pretend” is a particularly striking piece, with each stanza deserving deeper inspection, though the final hits hardest. There is no telling where […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-08T12:19:00+02:00March 7th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Elephant Crusher by S.E. Bourne

Elephant Crusher by S.E. Bourne Telling a strongly autobiographical story through a collection of short stories and other prose, Elephant Crusher by S.E. Bourne is a brilliant piece of diaristic writing. From Sophia’s childhood spent swimming in the polluted river by her house, to her travels as a middle-aged woman, the collection is a clear, honest, and original work of autofiction with a delightfully dark sense of humor.

Sophia always felt aloof, including with her family; distant and troubled, her parents and relatives rarely made her feel cared for, both economically and emotionally. The deep traumas that scarred Sophia’s life, however, didn’t stop her – […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-03-03T18:41:48+02:00March 3rd, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|

Jane Austen Time Traveler by Rachel Dacus

Jane Austen Time Traveler by Rachel Dacus Capturing the elegant yet tongue-in-cheek storytelling of the titular author herself, Jane Austen Time Traveler by Rachel Dacus is an enormously entertaining installment of the century-hopping Timegathering Series.

The manipulative and artist-eliminating Optimalists are at it again, this time attempting to rip out a key root of the feminist movement by erasing a legendary female writer from the canon. Thankfully, George St. James – gifted protector of the past – steps in to ensure that the world knows Jane Austen’s name, catapulting the aspiring writer two centuries into the future. A young Jane comes face to face with her […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-02-03T22:02:25+02:00February 3rd, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Historical Fantasy Book Reviews, Time Travel Book Reviews|

Saturday by Cindy DeFuria

Saturday by Cindy DeFuria is a gripping YA novel following a teenager’s journey through bullying. Showing the darker side of ambition, DeFuria plunges the reader into a competitive New York school for young talents where friendships are hard to come by, and some might even turn dangerous.

It’s on a Saturday that Jessica’s mom breaks the news that they’re moving to New York in a few weeks. Despite her sadness about leaving California behind, Jessica is excited: what better place to shine as an actress and singer? Famous for producing several stars, her new school is full of driven, highly […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-01-27T12:29:58+02:00January 26th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|