John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Giving Back: Memories, Reflections, and Lessons Learned by Edward A. Joseph

Wisely worded recollections from slightly simpler times, author Edward A. Joseph bares his soul in Giving Back: Memories, Reflections, and Lessons Learned, a heartwarming, powerful, and easy-to-read collection.

With an impressive career as a published storyteller, these personal and previously published stories are healthy, honest, and unafraid to probe the deeper meaning behind the simple joys and moments of life. From cinematic childhood misadventures as a caddy to his brief but hilariously recounted time as a car salesman, Joseph peels back his losses, victories, and discoveries with a smirk and a shrug.

Summoning full-bodied characters, eras, and visceral moments, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-13T08:05:25+02:00October 13th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Behind the Veil by E.J. Dawson

A haunting Gothic drama triggering humanity’s deepest and oldest fears, Behind the Veil by E.J. Dawson is a powerful reflection on mortality and the lengths some will go to find closure or their own separate peace. A suspenseful but patient ride from start to finish, Dawson has created an empathic and endlessly engaging protagonist in Letitia – tortured, but hardened and indomitable. The mystery of the kidnapped children unfurls in fits and starts, at its own pace, but the plot is well supported by a poignantly penned cast of characters that readers can envision and invest in. Emulating a 1920s […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-12T07:31:16+02:00October 12th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Night Sky by C.A. Cordova

A delightful and heartwarming adventure into a bitter winter world of precious narwhals, evil antagonists, missing grandfathers, and sacred duties, The Night Sky by C.A. Cordova is an innovative work of YA visionary fiction.

In a dystopian future, one young girl embarks on a journey to discover her birthright as she searches for someone she loves after he mysteriously disappeared in a vicious blizzard. However, she won’t be alone in her search – not after learning that her grandmother was once a legendary protector of the narwhals, just like her missing grandfather. As Nadia’s heroic young eyes are opened to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-11T05:56:54+02:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

How To Make Money In Stocks by Fred A. Green

Specialized financial education for a new generation of creative investors, How to Make Money in Stocks by Fred A. Green is a cutting-edge guide based on real-world experience. From the most basic rules of stock market maneuvering to calculated tactics for advanced investors, this book has something for any level of interest. Green writes with an engaging and conversational tone, as he almost wills his audience to take his advice, but the supporting knowledge should be taken very seriously. There are some sales-y aspects throughout the writing, and some cliche verbiage that makes the book seem less credible, but Green’s […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-11T05:46:01+02:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: What’s Wrong With a Pet Dinosaur? by Tony Philips

A whimsical, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud collection of poetry and drawings, What’s Wrong With a Pet Dinosaur? by Tony Philips is a carefree but carefully crafted bundle of fun. Bouncing between surreal slices of fiction and narrative poems about more relatable experiences, the poet takes readers through a wild maze of imagination and the wonders of growing up.

The titular poem is a short and silly one, encapsulating the wry, tongue-in-cheek humor that many of these quippy poems lean into. “What Comes After Z” is longer, and written with more humor, along with some sage wisdom from the mouth of babes. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-11-24T11:02:15+02:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Book Reviews, Poetry Book Reviews|

Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris

A compassionate companion read for those struggling through the pain and trauma of divorce, Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris is a brutally honest and vulnerable memoir – as well as an invaluable guide. Walking readers through some of the most common crises of separation and divorce – self-doubt, fear, anger, desperation, and mental overload – the book offers commiseration and confession, not a lecture. While many other instructional books on overcoming trauma are dry or formulaic, Harris’ voice is funny, self-aware, original, and transparent; no emotion is left unexplored, nor are personal failings. Despite the casual tone, the editing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-07T07:20:48+02:00October 7th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Handing Down Hope by Nate Slaymaker

A refreshing and generation-spanning guide towards healthier communication and a brighter future, Handing Down Hope by Nate Slaymaker is a relatable map for the mighty task of parenting, coaching, or managing teenagers.

Through his own experiences with foster children, generations of students, and other assorted teenagers coming in and out of his life – some with significant challenges and unfair amounts of baggage – Slaymaker has constructed a succinct catalogue of lessons learned. The chapter framing is intriguing, laying out both the common errors and more effective strategies as binaries – rather than acting purely as a “how-to” book, it […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-07T06:53:17+02:00October 7th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Education, Parenting Book Reviews|

Review: Of Starlight and Plague by Beth Hersant

A catastrophic spiral of human folly and unflinching perseverance, Of Starlight and Plague by Beth Hersant is a stunning cautionary tale, and an engrossing dystopian thriller. Whether you’re a lover of zombie fiction or a sucker for stories about genetic engineering, this novel is a slow-burning but riveting ride.

After an impossible-to-predict tragedy robs him of his daughter, shortly after losing his wife, Dr. Aaron Pickman turns a corner in his life. Fueled by grief, he dedicates his life to finding a cure for rabies, the rare culprit in his daughter’s case, while also possibly revolutionizing drug-delivery techniques to the […]