Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times by Lois Ann Nicolai

In the vibrant chronicle, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: A Memoir of One Citizen Activist, author and activist Lois Ann Nicolai demonstrates how an apparently “ordinary” person can have a profound impact on the world at any age.

Nicolai was raised on a farm in rural America, imbuing her with a sense that all of us have a mission to perform. She married and had six children, feeling that raising them well was her personal purpose, but at age forty-six, she suddenly and unexpectedly became a widow. Dealing with grief and the need to forge a new life for herself, […]

SPR2022-03-04T02:18:13+02:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Lois Ann Nicolai, Memoir|

Review: Predator Moons by J.H. Ramsay

Two unpredictable destinies collide in a far-flung corner of the universe in Predator Moons, a futuristic feast for the senses by J.H. Ramsay. Part dystopian fantasy and part space opera, this is an expansive and compelling story set in an endlessly layered realm of creativity and visionary imagination.

Traveling to the outer limits of the galaxy on two very different missions, the protagonists of this epic astral adventure don’t seem to have much in common, but that isn’t altogether true. Both are unable to resist change and progress; Isaiah is once again trying to escape a lifetime of slaughter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-01T07:10:34+02:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction, Space Opera|

Review: In the Shadow of Gold by Michael Kenneth Smith

Tracing a legendary Confederacy treasure through the twists of time, In the Shadow of Gold is a sparkling piece of historical fiction by author Michael Kenneth Smith. As the president of the Confederacy races away from imminent capture, the treasury of the retreating Southern army takes another set of dubious tracks. A subject that has been hotly debated for decades by treasure hunters and historians alike, this is the dramatic reimagining of what happened to that long-lost trove of Confederate gold.

A tangled string of intertwined plots brings a group of fascinating characters into focus, helping to full realize the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-09-21T11:31:00+02:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction, Michael Kenneth Smith|

Review: The Knucklehead and Other Stories by Lance Ealey

Author Lance Ealey paints sincere portraits and tackles quiet struggles in The Knucklehead and Other Stories, an entertaining collection of memorable tales told with heart and humble grace. Deep lessons learned from unexpected places make these visceral vignettes worth a patient, savoring read.

The characters that populate these five short stories are snapshots of an America long past – grouchy and wolfish junkyard dealers, patient bartenders with open ears, mischievous young boys looking for adventure, and a general sense of down-home small-town safety, where outsiders are viewed with healthy suspicion. The wonder and curiosity of youth is something Ealey […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-23T04:53:13+02:00November 23rd, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Short Stories|

Review: The Metric Clock by Phillip B. Chute

An expansive glimpse into the past reveals the perils, joys and eternal marks of childhood in The Metric Clock: The Adventures of Charles, Transforming a Precocious Boy into a Young Man by Phillip B. Chute. A classic coming-of-age story boasting plenty of original twists and evocative moments, this novel builds slowly, but delivers a powerful message with grace and subtlety.

An unexpected trip to Canada pulls young Charles into his own independence, as well as a deeper appreciation of family, legacy, and the distant figure he calls father. Wrestling with his own sense of self and manhood, while simultaneously discovering […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-22T08:17:23+02:00November 17th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Coming Of Age, Phillip B. Chute|

Review: BooAlert Vol. 1: Trail of Tears by Moe Mae

A real estate appraiser and a “sensitive” finds herself deeply entangled in a tragic mystery stretching more than a century into the past in Boo Alert: Vol. 1 Trail of Tears by Moe Mae. In her quest to understand why these troubled specters are seeking her out, and what secrets of the past they hold, she draws the attention of an ancient evil that may spell her ultimate downfall.

Lauren’s unique abilities are front and center in the plot, from the very first chapter, but it is quickly apparent that something is changing within her. She has begun seeing the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-18T07:41:09+02:00November 16th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction, Paranormal|

Review: Uri Full of Light by Holly Sortland

Capturing the root, growth and revelations of romance during a tumultuous time in history, Uri Full of Light by author Holly Sortland is a vivid cultural snapshot and a delicate exploration of personal evolution.

Readers are immediately introduced to Hannah and Uri, the former a bold young woman with a penchant for white lies and profanity, and the latter being one of the few Jewish boys in his school – well-trained in letting conflict roll off his shoulders, to a point. This first impression is an important foundation, setting the tone for much of the authenticity that bubbles over throughout […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-11-16T05:57:14+02:00November 15th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction|

Review: The Savior: Sienna by Michael Mussachia

Michael Mussachia adds another layer to his complex Savior universe with his sixth book, Sienna, a deep and extensive character study of a second mutant child born in the near-future, and potentially the perfect partner for the planet’s savior.

This well-penned novel traces the origins, development and adventures of a young mutant girl, Sienna, who is growing up in tandem with this series’ legendary Russian mutant boy, Mikhail Ivanov. Between her premature birth, unnaturally rapid growth, and extreme intelligence, it is clear from the start that this beautiful child with the golden glowing eyes is going to be something special […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-15T10:42:26+02:00November 12th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction|