New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

The Covens of Elmeeria by Miguel Lopez de Leon

The Covens of Elmeeria by Miguel Lopez de Leon Elmeeria is a place of magic and wonder, and for now it’s in a delicate balance. The garden kingdom enjoys a prosperous existence, yet must guard itself against threats from beyond the great wall and from those that may infiltrate them at any moment: witches.

At least, that’s what the royal family have always said. In truth, both the Queen and Princess Nia are what they so publicly despise. When the walls are breached and a terrible army threatens to take over the fair kingdom, it falls to Princess Nia to seek help in even the darkest corners of the […]

James Grimsby2017-03-13T07:18:20+02:00March 13th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Return to Mateguas Island by Linda Watkins

Return to Mateguas Island by Linda Watkins In Mateguas Island, the first novel in this series, Bill Anderson mysteriously drowns (or did he?) after moving his family to the idyllic locale, but Mateguas Island turns out to be rife with magic and the specter of ancient rituals. His body was never recovered, so ten years later, his twin daughters, Terri and Sophie, are determined to find out what happened to their father. Karen, their mother, is unsurprisingly reluctant, given she’s moved on and remarried, but she accompanies them back to the island, where the mystery deepens, as does the danger.

The Mateguas Island novels are tailor […]

James Grimsby2019-01-22T10:00:27+02:00March 9th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Paranormal Book Reviews|

Beato Goes to Israel by Sucheta Rawal

Beato Goes to Israel by Sucheta Rawal Beato Goes to Israel by Sucheta Rawal is the second in the series of “Beat Goes to” books – the other books taking him to Greenland and Indonesia – featuring a globetrotting cat and his adventures. Here Beato travels throughout Israel with a girl named Helena who teaches Beato about the country’s history, culture, religion, food, and more.

Beato is a charming character, who’s endlessly optimistic and positive about everything he sees – even the size of tomatoes! He’s open to every experience, and loves to learn. Rawal smartly couches the more-factual detail about the country into an entertaining story, […]

Lysa Grant2017-03-03T08:02:03+02:00March 3rd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

In the Fullness of Time by Katherine P. Stillerman

In the Fullness of Time by Katherine P. Stillerman In the Fullness of Time by Katherine P. Stillerman is an inspiring work of historical fiction, and the sequel to Stillerman’s eloquent first novel, Hattie’s Place. In the first novel, Hattie tries to make her way through early 1900s South Carolina, dealing with sexism, and especially children’s rights, or lack thereof in the early century. In this novel, the concentration is again on rights: specifically, the suffrage movement, and the right to vote.

It may seem strange to call a work of historical fiction “prescient,” but the novel has larger implications given the current historical moment. Given the defeat […]

Lysa Grant2017-03-03T01:47:51+02:00March 3rd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Crossed Lines by J.T. Marsh

Crossed Lines by J.T. Marsh Crossed Lines by J.T. Marsh is a bold romance about a familiar, and controversial, relationship – the male high school student and his older female teacher. Seventeen-year-old Keith has a relationship with a Spanish teacher twice his age. When they meet up again ten years later, their present entanglements make their relationship all the more difficult, and soon realize their love and obsession comes with a dangerous price.

Written more to the literary side of romance, there is ample space given to character development and internal dialogue, which is one of the book’s major selling points. The novel is as […]

Naka Jackson2017-03-02T03:54:34+02:00February 28th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

First Person: Supernatural Interviews by Okisha Jackson

First Person: Supernatural Interviews by Okisha Jackson First Person: Supernatural Interviews by Okisha Jackson is a collection of religious poetry focused on a number of different themes, such as “Vanity,” “Love,” “Insecurity,” “Pride,” and others. Poems are told in the first person from the perspective of the theme, or the author, and followed by corresponding scripture. It’s a unique work that touches on religious themes in a modern-day context.

While this is a deeply religious collection, the strength of the poetry is its universality. There is, of course, mention of God and faith within the text, but when she talks of something like vanity, it is applicable […]

Naka Jackson2017-02-23T09:10:21+02:00February 23rd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Religious Book Reviews|

Magical Eyes: Dawn of the Sand by Jessica D’Agostini

Magical Eyes: Dawn of the Sand Princess Martina lives in the kingdom of Brightalia where magic is forbidden, yet she’s gifted with magical abilities. Her secret might be safe, except her brother has it out for her. When tragedy befalls the royal palace, the princess might need to reconcile with her brother in order to save the kingdom, only he has sinister intentions of his own. Teaming up with a newfound friend, a peasant boy named Enzo, they set out to save the kingdom before it falls to ruin.

Magical Eyes unfolds like a movie, with each moment vividly depicted, so it comes alive in a […]

Lysa Grant2019-01-22T11:01:05+02:00February 22nd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|

Dad@Home: Fully Domesticated by Gregory J. Tysowski

Dad@Home: Fully Domesticated by Gregory J. Tysowski is a kind of “Mr. Mom” for the current generation, a time when stay-at-home fathers are becoming more and more common. Tysowski’s wife was working as a high-powered, and well-paid, lawyer, so it was decided when their first child was born that Tysowski would stay at home. The purpose of Dad@Home is not only to share his own experience, but to also show how stay-at-home fatherhood is completely normal. It’s difficult, to be sure, but so is parenting for anyone.