New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

Yesteryear’s Wish by Zixiao Yu

Yesteryear's Wish by Zixiao Yu A years-long tale of connection, loss, and the emotional minefields of youth, Yesteryear’s Wish by Zixiao Yu is a striking portrait of unfulfilled love and the uncertainties of life.

When the narrator’s stable home is disrupted by the arrival of his cousin, Yunyun, their childish clashes soon shift to an inseparable bond, but age and distance quickly pull them apart. New chapters of life bring new responsibilities, pressures, and infatuations, but the lingering past is rarely far from their minds.

Broken into three sections of connection, displacement, and reflection, this is a story of young hope written with the wisdom […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-09T17:27:32+02:00December 9th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Tokyo Tempos by Michael Pronko

Tokyo Tempos by Michael Pronko An outpouring of well-penned admiration for the enigmatic architecture, music, philosophy, and denizens of Japan’s capital, Tokyo Tempos by Michael Pronko is an artful love letter to an inimitable city. His obvious reverence for Japan is clear, and he writes with a blend of humility and pride that only comes from deeply loving your chosen home.

Largely composed of articles and essays the author published while working as a writer and teacher in Tokyo, this collection of vignettes and brief stories is driven by the author’s perpetual curiosity and hunger for new experiences. Pronko, an American who has lived in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-02T14:32:37+02:00December 2nd, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Travel Book Reviews|

The Cleopatra Aspect Series Box Set by AJ Channing

The Cleopatra Aspect Series by AJ Channing A steamy trilogy of love triangles and dangerous ambitions, The Cleopatra Aspect Series Box Set by AJ Channing is a thrilling collection for fans of bad-boy romance.

Freshly graduated Tia Sanchez embarks on a luxurious vacation to Dubai with her friend Julia, but their experiences abroad couldn’t be more different, as they both learn about the hidden desires of powerful men. In the second installment, Tia strikes a beneficial bargain with a tall, dark, and wealthy hunk on the Amalfi Coast, but their sham marriage soon begins to feel like a prison, especially after she falls for her charming and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-18T17:47:37+02:00November 18th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

Women of Wolfram Camp by Jenny Kroonstuiver

Women of Wolfram Camp by Jenny Kroonstuiver A wartime drama featuring a stunning quintet of protagonists, Women of Wolfram Camp by Jenny Kroonstuiver is a remarkable tale of fortitude and community solidarity in wartime.

Freshly widowed Felicity, seeking stability in a world suddenly turned upside down, answers a wanted ad for a waitress at Wolfram Camp, a mining camp on the northeast coast of Queensland. Matilda, liberated from the oppression of her husband who’s away in the conflagration of World War I, becomes an even more respected figure as the owner of a bustling guest house. Bringing what is today a ghost town back to gritty and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-08T18:17:16+02:00November 8th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction|

The Clock in My Head Never Stops by Daniel Rush

A raw account of a teenage boy battling the relentless weight of anxiety, The Clock in My Head Never Stops by Daniel Rush is a relatable and detailed portrait of silent struggle.

Readers follow Billy’s steps through a typical day of high school, where he overthinks every step of the way, from nerve-wracking moments of class participation and awkward upperclassmen crushes to the self-doubt of team sports and emotional disconnection from seemingly oblivious parents. His unwanted and obsessive focus on time, expectations, potential disappointments, failures, or embarrassment goes beyond the typical worries of most teenagers, crossing into the realm of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-05T13:13:18+02:00November 5th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

Tales for Tra-La-La Day by Steve Michael Reedy, Illustrated by Tom Fee

Tales for Tra-La-La Day by Steve Michael Reedy A fanciful collection of short stories centered around an imaginative fictional holiday, Tales for Tra-La-La Day by Steve Michael Reedy is a magical anthology of festive fables.

From stories about the origins of a sacred song to dire parables about overconsumption and greed, each story adds a new and intriguing facet to this tall tale of a town, bursting with the energy of a beloved fairy tale realm in the making. “The Iceling Queen” is one of the most touching pieces in the collection, providing a compelling backstory for the creative holiday, but each story has the gleam of brilliance […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-04T16:24:14+02:00November 4th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Alpha Beta Gamma by Malabika Ray

Alpha Beta Gamma by Malabika Ray A bookish physicist taps into her sleuthing skills in Alpha Beta Gamma by Malabika Ray, the engaging first book in The Diary of a Sloppy Sleuth series.

When Sri’s respected colleague mysteriously dies in his university lab, this curious and independent scientist lends her impressive brain and true-crime obsession to the hunt for justice. Half a world away but tangled in the mess of this case, the murder of a young Iranian protester has sparked an unlikely plot for revenge that could plunge the country into chaos. As Sri digs into the professor’s death, and butts heads with an arrogant […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-28T17:04:39+02:00October 28th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Cake, Lemonade and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight

Cake, Lemonade and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight A quick and charming children’s book about being yourself, Cake, Lemonade and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight offers a bright burst of wisdom for young readers.

It’s London’s birthday, and while all of her friends have come up with great ideas for costumes to wear to the party, London doesn’t feel particularly inspired. Debating whether to imitate her friends or choose a costume that will please her mother, London is worried that she’ll be embarrassed at her own celebration. London’s mom encourages her to dream up a costume that feels true to her identity, and not necessarily what other people may […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-18T15:18:01+02:00October 18th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|