Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Velvet Anthology, Edited by Fay Jacobs and Elizabeth Andersen

The Velvet Anthology is a wonderful collection of lesbian fiction and poetry with the central theme of including Velvet Lounger, a British reviewer and promoter of lesbian erotica.

Writers MJ Williamz, Annette Mori, Cheryl Head, Cheyne Curry, Karin Kallmaker, Erica Abbott, Donna K. Ford, Lee Lynch, Stefani Deoul and Ann McMan have given us “Velvet”-themed titles like “Velvet’s Touch,” “Velvet’s Guardian Angel,” “Naming Velvet,” “Rocky Horror Velvet,” “Black Velvet and That Little Boi Smile,” and other irresistible titles like “Seize Her Salad, “Fever” and “They Met at a Tea Dance in Texarkana.”

The stories are as creative as their titles. […]

Marta Cheng2018-09-13T12:27:35+02:00August 12th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI, Poetry, Short Stories|

Review: Three Days in Autumn by Robert Bartlett

Three dramatic days condense the well-lived life of Cole Murphy, a custom motorcycle builder who reveals his character through a prism of random events that underscore his integrity and goodness in the evocative Three Days in Autumn by Robert Bartlett.

On a ride from Charlotte, North Carolina, to prepare his mountain home for a family visit, an accident blocks Cole’s bike and he’s thrown into a ravine. What comes next is a series of events that tests the big man’s strength as his family and law enforcement search clue by clue to find him.

With a cast of characters that […]

Greg Rideout2018-10-27T12:57:14+02:00August 7th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Robert Bartlett, Thriller|

Review: The Legacy of King Jasteroth Vol. 1 by S.L. Wyllie

The Legacy of King Jasteroth by S.L. Wyllie is a wonderfully realized work of fantasy filled with magic, suspense, and romance. More geared toward a younger audience, readers will immediately fall in love with Princess Ariella and her tutor Austin – a half-elvish warrior – as they join them in their journey to harness Ariella’s powers, which are stronger than anyone realizes.

The daughter of the King of The Golden Peaks, Ariella is portrayed as the typical princess who is to be seen and not heard. As her mother is struck with an unknown illness that rapidly incapacitates her, Ariella […]

SPR2019-10-10T10:32:29+02:00August 6th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, S.L. Wyllie, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: Astronomy and Natural History Connections: From Darwin to Einstein by Barry Boyce

Astronomy and Natural History Connections: From Darwin to Einstein by Barry Boyce constitutes a highly readable tour of the natural world from the earth to the heavens and beyond, led by a seasoned guide.

Barry Boyce developed his fascination for his vastly variegated subject matter when he first visited the Galápagos Islands and fell in love with the place. He is a natural teacher – his technique for imparting information combines a wide range of knowledge, a good ear for jargon and buzzwords, and a sharp wit.

The book opens as he is about to do something he has done […]

SPR2018-09-05T11:56:48+02:00August 5th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science|

Review: Reaper Town (Rented Souls Book 2) by Eirik M. Dahll-Larssøn

When the fabric of reality breaks down, there’s no telling what terrors might begin to creep out from the shadows. With that sinister mood in mind, author Eirik M. Dahll-Larssøn welcomes readers back to the madness of Swayze and Dwarf in this second installment of the Rented Souls series.

In this strange slice of paranormal brilliance, two unlikely heroes rise to meet the tide of evil, and they do it with a tongue firmly set in their cheek. Carrying on from the dark tones of the first book in this series, these two unlikely comrades are once more battling back […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T05:41:33+02:00August 2nd, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Eirik M. Dahll-Larssøn, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction|

Review: Five Souls in a Dream by Elias Aractingi

An old man has a dream, meeting beautiful souls who impart lessons about life in Five Souls in a Dream, an original work of fantasy by author Elias Aractingi, with illustrations by Christiane Walegren.

Sam describes himself as a simple guy who has been mysteriously endowed with the mental capacity to convey this lengthy mystical dream. Each dream segment begins as he is lost on a deserted pathway. In the first segment he is a young boy greeted by the gliding figure of Mentora, who kindly guides him and educates him, nourishing him physically and mentally. One day he […]

SPR2019-01-22T10:35:53+02:00August 1st, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Elias Aractingi, Visionary Fiction|

Review: The Cartel Crusher (Last Enemy Series Book 2) by Dan E. Hendrickson

Betrayal, revenge and personal sacrifice are the driving forces behind The Cartel Crusher, the second installment in the Last Enemy thriller series by Dan E. Hendrickson.

Teenager Marnia Gonzalez’s pampered princess lifestyle comes to an end during a two-day cruise to the Cayman Islands in celebration of her birthday. As the eldest daughter of the residing Mexican president, Marnia is saved from being raped by a ruthless killer who, along with several cohorts, have taken over their ship. Commander Jacob Edward of the U.S. Coast Guard single-handedly kills the monster – but only after he’s raped several of Marnia’s […]

Marta Cheng2019-01-22T10:36:59+02:00August 1st, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Dan E. Hendrickson, The Last Enemy Series, Thriller|

Review: Some Rise (Furnass Towers Trilogy Book 2) by Richard Snodgrass

In the second installment of the Furnass Towers trilogy, Some Rise, Richard Snodgrass has again woven a complex family drama into a gripping work of literary fiction.

The novel focuses on the Sutcliff family: brothers Harry Todd and Dickie and their Mother Kittie. The fuse is lit when Harry Todd, after being away, comes back to town like the prodigal son to see Dickie and his mother. Although Harry’s return raises questions, they accept him at first – Dickie, however, keeps an ear to the ground, for what he knows about Harry’s past shades the present. Then, like a […]

SPR2018-09-27T09:35:41+02:00August 1st, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Furnass Towers Trilogy, Literary Fiction, Richard Snodgrass|