Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons

A comprehensive analysis of democracy and its ideals since inception doesn’t immediately sound like a riveting read, but The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons is like no other history, work of anthropology, or political science book you’ve read before. With an informal voice and the ability to never take the subject too seriously, Lyons presents an impressive and insightful look at the trials and tribulations of human societies as we’ve attempted to find purpose and make peace.

The scale and scope of this book are initially daunting, but Lyons lays out an intuitive framework and explains the angle […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-03T12:48:42+02:00June 2nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Social Science|

Review: The Detour by Travis Pearson

In The Detour, a new novel by rising author Travis Pearson, readers are led down the dark roads of America into a nearly forgotten town, where evil is not only pervasive, but also boasts a badge.

The story starts innocently enough, as recently unemployed Dan Icor decides to take a trip across the country to clear his mind and figure out his next steps. However, it’s not long before the novel takes a savage turn, as Dan must defend an innocent Native American family from a brutal gang of local thugs at a gas station. In the process, Dan […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-02T07:24:22+02:00June 1st, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Crime Fiction, Travis Pearson|

Review: Lacks Self-Control by Roy Sekoff

In Lacks Self-Control: True Stories I Waited Until My Parents Died to Tell, author Roy Sekoff plumbs his past for anecdotal stories that will leave readers chuckling, cringing, and occasionally crying with laughter. As the founding editor of Huffington Post, Sekoff’s perspective on political issues is well known, but this new collection of stories points his scathing wit squarely on himself.

With acerbic self-awareness, Sekoff opens up about his tumultuous childhood, largely due to his own chaotic behavior and questionable views on authority. He continues the confessional on into his young adulthood, with occasional flash-forwards to even more recent […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-01T09:23:52+02:00May 28th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir|

Review: The Coordinate by Marc Jacobs

The idea that there are hidden secrets about humanity’s past will continually fascinate readers, and it is done to great effect in The Coordinate. In this YA thriller by Marc Jacobs, two high school students are thrown into the adventure of a lifetime when a school project turns out to be the first step in a mysterious journey into the past.

When Logan is paired up with Emma James for a school project researching an archaeological site in Honduras, he is far more excited by the prospect of getting closer to his long-time crush than he is about solving […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-28T04:02:11+02:00May 26th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Action and Adventure, Young Adult|

Review: Last Night in Granada by Chris Pellizzari

Our physical place in the world defines so much of our mindset, and the longing to be elsewhere can be toxic, addictive and impossible to ignore. The main character in Chris Pellizzari’s new novel, Last Night in Granada, understands this desire for a far-flung home, a refuge of love and peace away from the mad bustle of cold water flats and the harsh streets of Chicago.

In this surreal exploration of one man’s desperation and adoration for his old life in Spain, despite his exile, the author delves into the obsession of possible salvation, and escape. Along the way, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-21T11:15:55+02:00May 23rd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction|

Review: The King of No by Loyall Wilson

In a perfect world, we could trust those to whom we open our lives, but when it comes to money, it truly can be the root of all evil. In The King of No: A Financial Firefighter by Loyall Wilson, the author takes us through a series of personal anecdotes from his time as a Chief Compliance Officer of a large investment firm. Wilson’s position meant that he was on the front lines of defending against fraud and financial crimes, and was able to form relationships with people whose lives and trust were damaged – or nearly destroyed – by […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-20T07:39:19+02:00May 22nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Business, Finance, Memoir|

Review: Can’t Forget the Motor City… by Joseph Nicks

The tradition of travel writing in America is a long and proud one, but travel poetry doesn’t have the same mainstream following. However, in Can’t Forget the Motor City…, a new collection of poems from Joseph Nicks, the genre gains a strong voice that anyone who has longed for the open road will appreciate.

These poems span four decades of a life spent wandering and wondering, always looking for something new and invigorating. From musings on repetitive youth in the Great Lakes to the sluggish, sunny pace of California, these poems exude a hunger for elsewhere, with the poet […]

SPR2020-08-24T09:10:53+02:00May 20th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry, Travel|

Review: Shattered Shield by Camden Mays

A story that could have been ripped from the headlines – or a heavily redacted report – Shattered Shield by Camden Mays is a riveting spy thriller that draws readers in with an intoxicating flood of action and suspense.

Cole Cameron is a leading character that you might recognize – a worn out government agent who is beginning to question his path in life, and may be dipping his fingers outside of the boundaries of the law. However, when real danger rears its head, he dives back into his duty, and his patriotic, heroic side wins out over the bitterness […]