New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

Awkward Stumbles and Fuzzy Memories by Kathy Ivchenko

Awkward Stumbles and Fuzzy Memories by Kathy Ivchenko A detailed recollection of the author’s formative journey in the Peace Corps, Awkward Stumbles and Fuzzy Memories: Memoir of a Peace Corps Volunteer by Kathy Ivchenko is a heartfelt and vividly told memoir of self-discovery.

Beginning with her uncertain arrival in Ukraine and months of training on the other side of the world, this intense exploration of cultural immersion will be eye-opening to readers who have never upended their lives for an international adventure. Her work as a teacher trainer is fascinating and complex, including the challenge of having students only a few years younger than herself. Between language gaps, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-04-25T06:26:59+02:00April 24th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Murder Is Revealing by Michelle Corbier

Murder Is Revealing by Michelle Corbier An amateur sleuth uses her knowledge of crime novels to solve her friend’s murder in Michelle Corbier’s Murder Is Revealing, an engrossing mystery about shady business deals and dishonest scams.

Widower Dr. Myaisha Douglas started seeking solace in writing after her husband’s death; she’s a prominent member of the Greensboro Women of Color Writing Group, as well as a local physician. When a college friend, successful realtor Candace Knight, becomes financially involved in the group and announces that she’s published a novel completely out of the blue, Myaisha is pretty suspicious. However, events are about to take an even […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-04-22T08:12:35+02:00April 22nd, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Mystery Book Reviews|

The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence

The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence Whimsical, relatable, and more than a little surreal, The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence is an off-kilter but witty novella that examines the petty troubles of married life, and the dark fantasies that inevitably arise.

When the laughably lost Charles and his nitpicking wife are told about a state-of-the-art GPS system to help them get around on their anniversary trip, little do they know just how cutting edge their new purchase will be. Not only does it have slick countermeasures, adults-only tricks, and clever features that would make James Bond jealous, it also has a mind of its own, a distinct […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-04-21T08:02:09+02:00April 20th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Humor, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

You’re Just Angie! by Pierre Lawrence

You’re Just Angie! by Pierre Lawrence A short story about a young teenager befriending a girl with Down syndrome, Pierre Lawrence’s You’re Just Angie! captures the honest self-discovery and learning curves of childhood.

Alyssa has just moved to a different New Jersey neighborhood when she meets Angie and decides to learn more about genetic disorders. While researching at the library, Alyssa uncovers important information about the history of Down syndrome, and concludes that Angie shouldn’t be defined by her condition alone. During the course of the story, Alyssa also explores her new surroundings, meeting an older woman who feeds pigeons, and other people in the local […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-04-19T08:19:03+02:00April 18th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|

The Pystead Group by James Pryor

The Pystead Group by James Pryor A twisting, near-future novel about freedom, destruction, and the existential struggle for survival, The Pystead Group by James Pryor is both a chilling and thought-provoking dystopian read.

Philip’s life takes a drastic turn when he accepts a job offer to join the Pystead Group, cloistered on the secretive isle of Nevis. Resembling a contemporary cross between a cult, a corporation, a country, and a next-gen army, this shadowy colossus promises a brighter future, and the resources to build one, but there are plenty who seek to tear down this elite colony – both from within and without.

Bearing watermarks of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-24T09:15:35+02:00March 23rd, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|

Secondhand Emotions by Will Entrekin

Secondhand Emotions by Will Entrekin A romantic sojourn of an eager-to-please lover finding his way in the world, Secondhand Emotions by Will Entrekin is a steamy but unusual tale of sex and psychology.

Donovan Malone pulls readers through the personal experience of desire, depression, and “extreme empathy” of his collegiate years, but his hormonal throes of passion are anything but average. After discovering that he can sense the feelings and thoughts of his sexual partners, Donovan is driven to explore where this invasive power comes from, and how it can be controlled before it ruins his honest chance at happiness forever.

While many erotic-leaning reads […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-23T07:18:48+02:00March 23rd, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

Matters of Death by Norman Weeks

With the grace, curiosity, and relentless eye for detail displayed in the first half of this series, author Norman Weeks explores the shadow side of life in his latest book, Matters of Death.

Sifting through the sands of history and culture to explore the taboos and traditions surrounding death and the hereafter, these interconnected essays form a narrative arc of his own discovery. From the moralism of Judaic death rituals and the Christian theology of predestination to the ethics of Dr. Death, these essays are a kaleidoscopic review of death as a philosophy, practice, and aspiration of humanity.

The […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-21T09:19:46+02:00March 18th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Essay Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Inherit by Cole Poindexter

Inherit by Cole Poindexter A young woman learns that she’s inherited her great aunt’s grand estate after a personal tragedy in Cole Poindexter’s Inherit, a gripping debut thriller about vindictive family members fighting over money and property.

After her mother’s death, the last thing Parker Derrick expects to receive is a letter from her Aunt Amelia Abbott, naming Parker as sole heir of a home in Arkansas. When Parker visits the estate, the remaining staff are exceptionally kind, but then events take a turn for the worse. Another relative, smarmy lawyer Luther Abbott, arrives with his family and attempts to take the house. Cruelties […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-05-05T06:07:36+02:00March 16th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|