Religious Fiction Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner

Setting the record straight on the life and legacy of Jesus Christ through the words of his truest companion, Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner is a revelatory work of fiction.

Mary of Magdala details her life-changing journey at Yeshua’s side, clarifying murky points of history around the disciples’ true colors, the ulterior motives behind the severely edited Gospels, and the eradication of the feminine legacy at the heart of Jesus’ teachings. With a sharp tongue and a relentless penchant for truth-telling, Mary of Magdala shines a spotlight on the shadows and secrets of the New Testament, while also humanizing the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-01-17T19:47:22+02:00January 17th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Good Pastures by Sylvia Anne Pollard

Steeped in contemplation and the solace that only time can bring, Good Pastures: A Place to Feel Ones Deepest Heartaches by Sylvia Anne Pollard is a moving testament to the human spirit and the healing power of the divine. As a devoted mother and a powerful warrior of faith, this resilient poet has alchemized pain into stark and empowering verse.

The loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy for parents, and the weight of Pollard’s loss is heavy on these pages. The poet’s stated purpose is to transmute the grief over Payton’s death into words of comfort and encouragement […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-15T11:36:23+02:00July 14th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson

Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson

A narrative clash of mysticism, science, geopolitics, and biblical lore, Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson is a unique piece of historical fiction, exploring the religious sects, governments, and individuals who likely played a part in the star-driven journey to the birthplace of Jesus.

Rassan is a young military officer and friend to Prince Phraates, heir to the Parthian Empire. When a rogue magi embarks on a secret pilgrimage to Jerusalem, through Parthian lands, Rassan is sent to meet him on the road, only to find that his caravan has been attacked by bandits. The magi’s final wish sends Rassan […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-25T11:22:59+02:00October 24th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Under the Golden Dome by Ray Keating

Perennially skilled in his storytelling, author Ray Keating once again threads the needle between philosophy, adventure, religion, and mystery in his latest Pastor Stephen Grant novel, Under the Golden Dome.

Twenty-five years after witnessing the violent clash of religion and politics firsthand, Pastor Grant must once again unravel the deadly relationships of power – both divine and diplomatic. As is often the case, the theological and the political become tightly knotted in this fast-moving novel, specifically socialist philosophy and Christian dogma. The book also neatly explores the shadowy history of CIA interests, theological autocracies of the past and present, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-27T11:00:54+02:00April 26th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Shirley’s Compilation of Short Stories by Shirley McLain

Shirley’s Compilation of Short Stories by Shirley McLain is an engaging book of short fiction in which the inner lives of characters intertwine with the bigger picture of history, resulting in a thrilling roller coaster of emotion.

McLain offers the reader a wide range of stories, touching on genres that vary from noir to romantic fiction. The thread running through them is in their evocative atmosphere – the perpetual feeling of something hidden below the surface: a detail overlooked for too long, a well-kept secret, or an emotion that cannot be ignored.

From the tragic secrets behind the wealth of […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-04-05T08:16:45+02:00February 28th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

Review: Persecution by Ray Keating

Once again peeling back the shadowy layers of international espionage, author Ray Keating drops another explosive installment of his Pastor Grant series with Persecution.

When videos surface of Christians being executed in Iran, the American government and its intelligence agencies refuse to sit idly by, but geopolitical sensitivity is required, which means covert operations – and a blessing from the pope himself. With his sixth sense for danger and his penchant for finding himself in the midst of it, Pastor Grant and the secretive heroes of CDM are a natural choice for handling a deadly and top-secret mission. Quietly […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-01-11T10:42:43+02:00December 3rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: International Thriller Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

His Name is Grace by H.G. Davis

A Christian-themed murder mystery, His Name is Grace by H.G. Davis is an absorbing tale of betrayal, deception, revenge, and redemption.

Still grieving the violent murder of their four-year-old daughter, Allison, seventeen years before, Lorraine and John Steads are now reeling from more unthinkable grief: their son Erik is in jail accused of killing his brother, Mat, while they were on their annual elk hunting trip. Erik swears it was an accident and that he only fired once, but when police find two bullet holes in Mat, his death comes under investigation.

As the search for the truth ensues, additional […]

SPR2022-10-18T12:39:44+02:00October 18th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The Garden Before Eden by Les J. Whitmore

A touching tale of true love, despite all odds, The Garden Before Eden by Les J. Whitmore is a clever new take on destiny and the unexpected fates that control it.

Keller is an unassuming IT specialist with little chance of landing a date with Ashley the super-agent, but his authenticity, wit, and oddball charm catch her eye. He is completely different than Jack, the brash man she represents, who seems determined to sweep her off her feet with all the grace of a charging linebacker. Meanwhile, in a heavenly waiting room called the Garden, Ashley’s future children are waiting […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-10T11:16:05+02:00October 4th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews|