New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

Cute Poodles, Sweet Old Ladies and Hugs: Veterinary Tales by Dr. P.J. Miller

For anyone who’s ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors in a veterinary clinic, Cute Poodles, Sweet Old Ladies and Hugs provides an entertaining glimpse into the world of pet care.

P.J. Miller, a real-life vet. is a transplanted New Yorker who set up his practice in Florida, supported by a sassy and very competent support staff. Miller provides a wide spectrum of patient and owner anecdotes that are oftentimes hilarious (Mrs. Sweet and Cuddles) and sometimes poignant (Katie and Willy). The book is a tongue-in-cheek misnomer, as Miller’s practice seems to consist of less-than-grateful owners and those who […]

Marta Cheng2018-05-09T10:17:42+02:00August 11th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Non-Fiction Book Reviews, Pets Book Reviews|

Doubloon Cove: The Secret of the Ancient Visitors by Kelly Novak

Doubloon Cove: The Secret of the Ancient Visitors, an enjoyable middle grade novel by Kelly Novak, harkens back to classic sleuths like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and the Three Investigators.

Twelve-year-old Jeffrey Ferguson and his best friend Steven are sleeping out in Jeffrey’s fort when they’re spooked by noises, forcing them inside the house. Once inside, Jeffrey’s little sister, Cindy, reveals that random “babysitters” came shortly after their parents’ departure for a meeting and were now trying to rob their safe. They thwart the burglary, although the burglars escape. Jeffrey finds the burglars’ backpack, which he’d hidden from […]

Marta Cheng2017-08-14T08:36:53+02:00August 10th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|

Megan’s Munchkins (Megan’s World Book 1) by Pamela Foland

What young teenage girl doesn’t have a secret or two? Megan’s Munchkins, a work of middle grade fiction by Pamela Foland, shows us that secrets come in all shapes and sizes.

Thirteen-year-old Megan Thompson has been begging for a pet forever but her parents have always refused because owing one is a huge responsibility. Shortly before spring break, Megan stumbles upon a box containing four-day-old kittens in some bushes. She sneaks them home and hides them in her closet, determined to raise them by herself. Megan also begins taking on additional chores at home, resulting in her parents announcing […]

Marta Cheng2017-08-14T05:05:41+02:00August 10th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|

Son of Syria by Ben Schafer

With the premise of a super-secret spy infiltrating dangerous lands to carry out impossible missions, Son of Syria by Ben Schafer is instantly appealing, but the power of the narrative and the timely, heart-wrenching story is what makes this book unforgettable.

Kyle Hoyek is an action hero in every sense of the word, but returning to his homeland – the site of his deepest sadness – threatens to chip away his armor that has been tested in battle and bloodshed. Readers are not only thrown into an edge-of-your-seat thriller with brilliantly depicted action scenes, but also moments of reflection, sorrow, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-08-04T05:22:22+02:00August 4th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Phobos Rising (Ephialtes Trilogy Book 2) by Gavin E. Parker

Two centuries in the future, following Earth’s first attack on its Martian colony, both planets are struggling to maintain peace and find a way forward in the vast space between them. This is the foundation on which Phobos Rising is built, the second installation of the Ephialtes trilogy by Gavin E. Parker, and a worthy successor to the first book in the series, as well as the companion book of short stories.

Five years have passed since the first aggression, and that same growth is apparent in the writing style. There is more patience with the storytelling, and readers get […]

James Grimsby2017-08-03T07:52:12+02:00August 3rd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Frozen Statues, Perdition Games by L.E. Fraser

Psychological thrillers are supposed to be compelling but the really good ones, like Frozen Statues, Perdition Games by L.E. Fraser, will really throw the reader for a loop.

University freshman have begun disappearing without a trace and soon one of them turns up dead, a frozen statue with his eyes gouged out and replaced with black stones. When the frozen body of a second student is found shortly after, the media is quick to anoint the crimes as the work of the Frozen Statue Killer. The murders soon become personal for Toronto P.I. Samantha (Sam) McNamara, and partner Reece Hash, […]

Marta Cheng2019-11-20T11:23:41+02:00July 31st, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Being the Best You! by Fayth Thomas

Being the Best You! by Fayth Thomas Being the Best You! by Fayth Thomas is a charming and informative children’s book about caring for people and finding out what you want to be when you grow up. Darwin is given an assignment at school to see what job he might want to do when he’s an adult. At first he’s not really sure, but then he realizes he likes caring for his grandmother who has diabetes and decides he wants to be a doctor, which has all his fellow students cheering.

At once a book about how to care for a person with an illness and a […]

SPR2017-08-01T08:49:14+02:00July 31st, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

The Dragon King (The Alaris Chronicles Book 3) by Mike Shelton

The Dragon King by Mike Shelton is the exciting conclusion to The Alaris Chronicles series, a strong fantasy series with a heavy emphasis on dragons and sorcery. In this third installment, the evil Wizard Kanzar may have been vanquished, but Bakari, now the Dragon King, Battlemaster Alli, and High Wizard Roland must confront a new source of dark magic so that good can finally triumph over evil, if the evil doesn’t take them over first.