Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan by Steve Wiley

★★★★

Growing up and getting trapped in adult life is something that most people eventually face, but while reading The Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan, a charming and magical book by Steve Wiley, it is almost possible to forget about the inexorable progress of time. With a main character who is teetering on the edge of forgetting about magic forever, this novel is a touching and thought-provoking ride through nostalgia, memory and the promises of youth. Wiley’s sharp, tongue-in-cheek style of writing makes the pages fly and the Chicago skyline makes a stunning backdrop for this mystical romp.

Richard […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-01-21T07:03:19+02:00December 19th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy|

Review: The Policewoman by Justin W.M. Roberts

★★★★

Most novels set in the future have some element of distance to them, where the technological advancement or dystopian elements are so far removed from the present that the book becomes escapist in nature. However, there are also those books, like The Policewoman by Justin Roberts, that paint a portrait of the world that may lie in our not-so-distant future. The dramatic, over-the-top elements of this novel are certainly evidence of the author trying to make an impact, but there is still a grisly realism to the tale that will leave readers haunted and jumpy long after they finish […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-01-13T09:00:48+02:00December 15th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller|

Review: A MouseKeeper Christmas: The Beginning by Jenny Deason Copeland

★★★★

A MouseKeeper Christmas: The Beginning by Jenny Deason Copeland is a highly original Christmas story about Sara, who solves a very big problem for Santa and the North Pole. Mice are running rampant in Santa’s workshop, slowing down production, so Santa and the elves hold a contest for children to find a solution. Sara has the best idea: every child on the “Nice” list will adopt a mouse during the Christmas season so Santa can get his work done. Sara’s plan goes off without a hitch, and the “Nice” list even grows, as all the children want to take […]

Lysa Grant2019-01-23T12:26:19+02:00December 15th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Children's Books|

Review: Born in Raindrops by Danny Callahan

★★★★

When writing a novel, there is a clear beginning, middle and end, and most authors have a vision of what that overall arc will be. However, poetry is an entirely different world, and curating a powerful collection with an underlying message or mood can be an incredible challenge. Within the pages of Born in Raindrops, Danny Callahan reveals his variable mind, diverse poetic styles and sensitivity to the plight of human nature.

The poems in this collection range hugely in their subject matter, touching on everything from sexual assault on college campuses and nostalgic reflections on past love […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-01-12T11:07:40+02:00December 13th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry|

Review: Kingdom’s End by Charles D. Blanchard

★★★★

Anthropomorphizing animals in literature is a long and proud tradition, ranging from Watership Down and Animal Farm to the Redwall novels of Brian Jacques, and many others. That being said, it is also very difficult to create an engaging novel based purely on the perspective of animals, and most attempts at this are relegated to the realm of children’s books. In Kingdom’s End, however, the second novel from Charles Blanchard, readers are given an intimate look at the complex social hierarchy, unique philosophy and variable personalities within a veritable kingdom of rats.

Using a population of animals that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-01-16T06:03:45+02:00December 9th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Literary Fiction, Satire|

Review: No More Magic Wands by George Finney

★★★★

For most professionals not directly involved in the realm of cybersecurity, reading a book on the topic might sound like a cruel and unusual form of punishment. However, the reality is that everyone who regularly uses technology, social media, wireless internet and other staples of modern life should have some modicum of understanding of the issue. In No More Magic Wands, author and cybersecurity expert, George Finney, takes an extremely unique approach to educating the masses on this critical topic, but it may just be strange enough to work.

Through an extended allegory, Finney shares his more than […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T15:25:55+02:00December 9th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Business, Non-Fiction|

Review: What The River Knows by Andrea Freeman

★★★★½

What The River Knows by Andrea Freeman is a meditative and relaxing book of poems subtitled, Conversations with the Natural World.

Not often do we stop to think about our natural surroundings in our busy, often urban, lives. In this collection, Freeman ponders the future of the natural world as a force that will not wait for humanity to wake up and take note. She is inspired by both sounds and visions around her, as well as the feelings those invoke, and has here taken time to explore what the Earth has to offer when one takes a moment […]

Naka Jackson2017-01-11T06:02:26+02:00December 7th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry|

Review: Puppy Drama by Andra Gillum, Illustrated by Andy Case

★★★★★

In Doggy Drama, the earlier book in this series, it followed a dog named Riley, who has to deal with the pitfalls of a new baby in the house. It’s an endearing, and instructive look at how to adapt to a new member of the family. Now the tables have turned in Puppy Drama and Riley’s the older sibling, while a new puppy, Lucy, is introduced, who has to contend with Riley’s antics.

Just as in Doggy Drama, we get a not-so-subtle message about adapting to a growing family in amusing and effective ways. Here Lucy is […]

Lysa Grant2017-01-11T06:08:13+02:00December 7th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Books, Pets|