New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert by T.K. O’Neill

Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert by T.K. O'Neill

Painting a gritty and visceral picture of life on the road, specifically the rugged west, author T.K. O’Neill crafts a haunted hero in his latest novel, Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert.

Frank is itching for a new chapter in Denver, but there aren’t enough mountains in Colorado to keep old habits and bad luck from catching up. Navigating a seedy minefield of manipulation, desperation, desire, and even hope, this wandering rogue of a protagonist finds himself in strange company, compelled to stay just a bit longer in decadence and pleasure, and delaying his California dreams one day at […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-22T16:01:19+02:00November 19th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

On the Waterfront by Mike McCoy

On the Waterfront by Mike McCoy A classic coming-of-age story, On the Waterfront by Mike McCoy recounts a pivotal summer in the life of a boy struggling to discover who he is in the world.

It’s 1972 and 13-year-old Danny Novak is hired by the Oregon Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America to spend the summer working at Camp Baker. The youngest staff member, Danny, quickly realizes that the troubled home life he’s escaping may have been easier than trying to fit in and be accepted by his older teenage workmates, as he must contend with the brooding, intimidating Mark, a 16-year-old senior staff […]

SPR2022-11-17T14:55:53+02:00November 16th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|

The Black Swan Killer by Daniel McKay

The Black Swan Killer by Daniel McKay A refreshingly unique and cerebral take on the eccentric detective archetype, The Black Swan Killer by Daniel McKay is a fast-paced crime novel with an unforgettable protagonist.

When it comes to solving heady and head-scratching cases, John Consequent is the philosophical key for any bizarre lock, and the police have once again come knocking at his door. Putting his circuitous wit and wisdom to the test, this brainy sleuth must outmaneuver a wickedly sharp intellect whose existentialism has turned to murderous nihilism.

Celebrating the beauty of that which cannot be tested empirically, this is a clever thriller, and surprisingly light, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-10T17:14:25+02:00November 10th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Detective Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

A Darling Obsession by S.R. Murray

A Darling Obsession by S. R. Murray Pulling back the shadowy corners of history and exposing unsettled spirits, A Darling Obsession by S.R. Murray is a psychological, character-driven thriller with a sharp, dark edge.

When a young boy disappears from the small town of Sandy Beach, everyone fears the worst, but there may be older and more dangerous forces at work than a mere kidnapping. Months later, Detective Bobby Justice is still on the case, and follows a lead to the Sand Beach Hotel, a haunting testament to a horrific beachside crime. The mysterious Marina Kerrigan, looming like a ghost over her hotel, is just one of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-09T16:28:58+02:00November 8th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Infinite Sea of Stars by Shannon Crossman

Infinite Sea of Stars by Shannon Crossman Guiding readers through negative emotions towards a higher resonance with the universe, Infinite Sea of Stars by Shannon Crossman is an inspiring, spiritually charged collection of poetry.

Divided into three thematic sections – “You,” “Me,” and “Us” – these lyrical verses are journeys into the arms of the divine, along with all the comfort and deliverance one might find along the way. The language is carefully chosen and laden with wisdom, asking readers to challenge themselves and their own ideas of satisfaction, becoming something of a work of self-help. Exploring the relationships we have with ourselves, our loved ones, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-07T13:40:36+02:00November 6th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Sit Down and Have a Beer Again by Greg Wyss

Sit Down and Have a Beer Again by Greg Wyss Author and poet Greg Wyss has gathered a career’s worth of musings, stories, and verse in his eclectic collection, Sit Down and Have A Beer Again.

Reminiscent of the pacing and subject matter of Charles Bukowski, at times, the poetry is gritty and raw, yet still polished. Reflecting on everything from laziness and responsibility to loyalty in relationships and the grind of work, these are everyman poems, shining an honest light on the exasperating business of being alive. “The Poem I Never Wrote” is a standout, capturing that unique tone of visceral human experience. Tired and begrudging as the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-31T14:54:06+02:00October 21st, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

Aren and Élise by Ettenig Sayam

The moving and drama-filled novel Aren and Élise by Ettenig Sayam brings two very different people into a post-midlife romance that finds each of them navigating very unfamiliar territory.

When 50-year-old Haitian foreign language teacher Élise falls during a hike in Vermont, she is rescued by Aren, a vibrant 63-year-old engineer of Armenian descent who seems to have found the woman he didn’t know he was looking for. Sharing little in common beyond a history of political violence, the confident and charming Aren woos the shy and reluctant Élise with persistence, romance, and erotic sexual adventure, until the couple encounters […]

SPR2022-10-21T16:12:01+02:00October 21st, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

Imperious Realm by Athene Z. Adam

Imperious Realm by Athene Z. Adam A mysterious virus is eliminating the adult population and creating Antisenents, children who don’t age and are confined to their childhood bodies in Imperious Realm by Athene Z. Adam, a highly inventive work of topical science fiction.

On the planet Eiyesa, the population can’t reproduce and could disappear while political rivalries threaten both the society’s stability and the young hero Sergen’s efforts against all the adversaries and obstacles that confront him. An innovative tale that interweaves multiple issues – politics, the environment, and discrimination alongside family bonds and struggles – the novel balances well the hero’s quest with timely themes.[…]

SPR2023-10-16T12:10:30+02:00October 19th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|