John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

What’s That Coming Over the Hill by Raido Teagan

Raido Teagan unfurls a dark, emotionally raw story of personal struggle, brutal suffering, resilience, depression, unrequited love and mental collapse in What’s That Coming Over the Hill.

Part fictional memoir, part surreal nightmare, with perspective jumps and a flexible take on reality, this novel demands a strong heart from readers. Navigating the tortured recollections of the protagonist, from a childhood of isolation and abuse to the painful mysteries of sex and the opposite sex, and the uncontrollable urge for violence, this is a chilling tale of a young man on the brink. Revenge, savior complexes, twisted relationships, and self-deception […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-29T07:41:49+02:00September 29th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Stepping Out the Other Side by Peter Bell

Part memoir, part self-help guide, and part philosophical treatise, Stepping Out the Other Side: Finding Purpose Through Adversity by Peter Bell is the engrossing story of the author’s journey through mental illness, which could have stalled or shattered his life, but instead drove him to new levels of purpose and fulfillment.

The journal style of writing at the start of the book is a visceral dive into the emotions and processes of mental illness and professional counseling, while the recovery and resurgence segments of the book are written in a more traditional narrative. The storytelling is unique in its raw, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-28T08:55:43+02:00September 28th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Psychology Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Demons of Divine Wrath by Edward Izzi

Edward Izzi delivers a sharp, smart, and wickedly unpredictable novel in Demons of Divine Wrath, his latest literary shot across the Roman Catholic bow.

Mobsters with money on the mind and a pope who will stop at nothing to restore his reputation – and the coffers of the church – make this a globe-spanning thrill ride of violence and shadowy conspiracies. Add to that a dauntless, wise-cracking reporter, and a slick art dealer named Wolfgang with Nazi ties, and you have a complex tangle of money, power, history, and deception that will thrill loyal readers of a wide range […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-28T08:04:44+02:00September 28th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Only Our Destiny by A.G. Russo

Steeped in authenticity, rich descriptive language, and immersive storytelling, Only Our Destiny by A.G. Russo is a transatlantic tale of persistence, family, and the dreams of freedom that fuel our lives. Diving deep into the Italian experience – both the 20th century struggles in the homeland and the very different type of survival in America – this book is a visceral love note to the past, but also a sharp reminder of the systemic prejudice and predatory leaders that remain empowered today. The writing flows from succinct historical exposition to emotional, tender passages, giving readers an intimate and believable peek […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-28T05:23:39+02:00September 28th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

A Rose from the Executioner by Edward Izzi

Vigilante serial killers, dark sacred secrets, and painfully true history collide in A Rose from the Executioner, the gritty new novel from author Edward Izzi. A devious idea to collect life insurance policies by killing off pedophile priests appears to become a horrific reality in Chicago, throwing a Catholic cop onto a tangled trail of mobsters, monsignors, and rose-signed murder scenes.

Despite being a work of fiction, the story is laid on a very real foundation, which ups the narrative stakes from the very beginning. Interspersing the detective’s first-person investigation with expositional chapters and victim/criminal backstories results in a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-28T07:49:42+02:00September 27th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Your Business Venture by Linsey Mills

Linsey Mills, serial entrepreneur and author, distills his experience and observations from a career of small business mastery in Your Business Venture: The Prep. The Pitch. The Funding.

Patiently walking through every step of a business venture in development, this is a broadly accessible and educational book – valuable for amateurs and business veterans alike. The chapters are comprehensive and seemingly exhaustive, yet anything but dull or overly technical. Challenging readers and potential entrepreneurs with pertinent questions, and providing actionable goals and tools for success, this book offers detailed information throughout, not just anecdotal success stories and vague inspirational language.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-25T05:01:09+02:00September 25th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Business Book Reviews|

The Game With No Name (Jitters Book 2) by L.G. Cunningham

L.G. Cunningham has cooked up a wild and thrilling board game adventure in The Game With No Name, the second installment of his Jitters series. The brother and sister duo make for an entertaining core of this story, which moves along at a quick and satisfying clip. The daunting tasks and mounting fears that face these young heroes in a quest to save their family are meaningful on multiple levels; much of this story is layered and allegorical in its messaging, touching on ideas of social anxiety, learning to fit in, growing up, and overcoming challenges. While the language […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-23T09:14:13+02:00September 23rd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Twilight: Awaking the Stars by Gary W. Burns

Poet Gary W. Burns offers up a cosmic delight of unique poetry with Twilight: Awaking the Stars – Poems of the Night’s Light, a graceful collection of dreamy verses and existential pondering. The free-flowing nature of this straightforward poetry occasionally stumbles on seemingly forced rhymes, but these issues are few and far between. As a complete collection, these humble, delicate, and soothing verses are immediately accessible, yet stimulate deep thought and reflection. Burns chooses every word with care, and cultivates a mood of peace and introspection that few poets successfully achieve.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-23T03:13:18+02:00September 23rd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|