Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: 2359 Hours by Jack B.S. North

2359 Hours by Jack B.S. North

Immersing readers in the mind of a conflicted soldier desperately seeking inner peace, 2359 Hours by Jack B.S. North is a timely reflection on war, trauma, and the myriad roads to redemption.

Archie has attempted to overcome his devastating experiences in Afghanistan by moving to Canada, near his wartime comrades, but has found that all the ghosts of his past came along for the journey. Embarking in a new direction after being forged in a crucible of war is never easy, as this gritty and relentless story shows. The twist of this narrative, however, is that the novel takes place […]

Public Opinion by Nathan Pettijohn

Public Opinion by Nathan Pettijohn Part exposé about the seedy underbelly of Hollywood public relations, part history of private investigations and hacking techniques, Nathan Pettijohn’s slick and bawdy novel Public Opinion tells the story of a morally gray protagonist who blackmails the stars.

Melvin Ritkin bills himself as an IT professional who serves the rich and famous of Los Angeles. In reality, he’s a fleecing grifter who uses countless online personas to spread fake news and influence popular perceptions about clients. After starting a tempestuous relationship with an adult film star and agreeing to manipulate the reputation of an abusive director, Melvin will have to […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-06-02T06:49:04+02:00June 1st, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: What Happens on Outlook by D.F. Nightshade

What Happens on Outlook by D.F. Nightshade

Examining human nature under a thrilling magnifying glass, D.F. Nightshade has constructed an incisive and powerful read in What Happens on Outlook. Peering into the lives of seven eccentric characters living on Outlook Street, each with a potential bullseye on their back, this slow-burning thriller is both entertaining and far outside the box.

Birdy is a new-age guru with an inexplicably smelly apartment and a lifestyle deemed too “rainbow” by the uptight members of the Committee. Sakamoto is an honest shopkeeper on Outlook Street with a remarkably even temper, despite being forced out of his space by ugly, unfair, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-06-17T09:00:49+02:00May 25th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The Uncanny Redemption of Philip E. Loeser by Robert T. Krantz

The Uncanny Redemption of Philip E. Loeser by Robert T. Krantz

Honestly told and deep in its wisdom, The Uncanny Redemption of Philip E. Loeser by Robert T. Krantz is a clever slice of character-driven drama.

Phil Loeser has been bouncing from one fight to another since childhood, and while he self-identifies as a good guy who never starts a fight, he certainly knows how to finish them. When his temper and fists get him into deeper trouble than usual, unexpected sources of hope appear before him – genuine chances to turn things around, if he can only manage to keep his head on straight.

First, there is the angelic face […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-27T03:27:54+02:00May 6th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Desperate by Narcisse Lorraine Moungounda Pemba

Desperate by Narcisse Lorraine Moungounda Pemba

A short but evocative novella that explores loss, forgiveness, and righteous revenge, Desperate by Narcisse Lorraine Moungounda Pemba is a stark and stunning read.

After discovering that what she knows of her past is far from the whole truth, Amy embarks on a dangerous plan to right the wrongs of her sinister stepmother, Tammy. On the night of their 18th wedding anniversary, Amy testifies to the years of psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Tammy, escalating the war that has been brewing for years.

Amy finds allies in unlikely places, among those still loyal to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-16T02:43:24+02:00April 18th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: A Little Rain by Bill VanPatten

A Little Rain by Bill VanPatten

A young gay man participates in a court hearing for a mysterious crime in Bill VanPatten’s emotional and reflective novel A Little Rain, an engrossing work about how the impact of generational trauma and the strain of keeping secrets can break a family apart.

When Alex Chance is sixteen years old, he attempts suicide shortly before landing in front of the judge who will determine his fate. By the time he arrives in the courtroom, he’s in a dissociative fugue, clutching a paperback copy of Stephen King’s Misery and barely speaking. So what happened to lead Alex to this fraught […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-05-12T08:21:51+02:00April 8th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, LGBTQI+ Book Reviews|

Review: The Golden Hearts Club by Cinda K. Swalley

The Golden Hearts Club by Cinda K. Swalley

An uplifting novel about two sisters who befriend a family on a California horse ranch, Cinda K. Swalley’s The Golden Hearts Club is a feel-good story about spreading kindness and finding love in the most unlikely of places.

Close-knit siblings Katie and Megan Summers decide to take an epic cross-country road trip following Katie’s college graduation. Katie is a little more nervous and hesitant to take the plunge; she’s a passionate romantic who’s just gone through a terrible breakup with a cheating boyfriend. She’s also struggling to determine the meaning behind the strange prescient dreams she’s been having – are […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-03-30T04:47:34+02:00March 29th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Romance 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|