John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Dancing in Freedom by Angie Hanlon-Toth

An inspiring memoir about transmuting existential obstacles into developmental stepping stones, Dancing in Freedom: From Bondage to Jubilee by Angie Hanlon-Toth is an enlightening mixture of autobiography and self-help. Encouraging readers to accept their imperfections as opportunities to walk more humbly on the path of faith, this vulnerable personal account is a testament to the power of spirituality to be a motivator and guide for every facet of life. From myriad strategies for boosting self-awareness to novel practices for healthy emotional processing, this unique work of self-help is honest about people’s inevitable weaknesses, but profoundly optimistic that anyone can transcend […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-05T11:24:48+02:00June 5th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: The Remembering by Peter Kennedy

A timely reflection on the profound and sometimes painful process of becoming who you need to be, The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self by Peter Kennedy is a reminder that personal transformation is unavoidable – and endless.

Kennedy’s story begins with an intense account of his participation in a sacred ritual – a temazcal ceremony in a traditional sweat lodge in Brazil. After being spiritually stripped bare, and concentrating on how to achieve emotional freedom, his existence feels irreparably changed, “as if a veil had been lifted.” Through the lens of his sacred experience in the jungle, he is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-05T08:29:57+02:00June 5th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: The Mini-Quest Mindset by Esmond Lee

A common-sense companion for the overwhelming modern world, The Mini-Quest Mindset: Master Your Focus, Manage Priorities, and Achieve More by Esmond Lee is an innovative guide for taking back control over your priorities, attention, and productivity.

Burnout is a growing and worrying trend – the point when a person reaches a point of physical, mental, emotional, or occupational exhaustion, compromising their ability to perform tasks or live their life in a healthy and sustainable way. There are certain seasons in any life when responsibilities and pressures relentlessly pile up, and the subsequent to-do lists can feel overwhelming, or even paralyzing. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-04T16:22:41+02:00June 4th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Business Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Vallen by Kenton J. Moore

A coming-of-age steampunk adventure with classic fantasy foundations, Vallen (Cloudbreakers Book 1) by Kenton J. Moore is a richly imagined story of loyalty, memory, and the dreams that define us.

Cole Vallen is a simple country farmer who feels destined for something more, namely the sky-high ambition to become a noble Cloudbreaker – a revered warrior of the realm. However, when that dream is deferred by an unexpected peace, a night of bitterly drunken revelry sends his life spiraling in an entirely different direction. Awakening to find himself as the sole survivor of a mysterious explosion, with angry fingers pointing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-03T12:26:12+02:00June 2nd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

The Devil in Fine Print by Jhani Mills

A gripping sci-fi thriller that pushes the line between engrossing fiction and unforgiving reality, The Devil in Fine Print (The Cipher Conspiracy Book One) by Jhani Mills is an epic tale of power, brotherhood, and the knife-edge fate of humanity. The modern remains of an ancient civilization emerge from the shadows to make a world-changing power grab, but Elias and Drake Maddox, brilliant once-in-a-generation twins, rise to stand in their way – albeit for very different reasons. A deeply satisfying gem of near-future science fiction with electrifying protagonists, this novel pulses with tension and timely existential stakes that feel closer […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-04T13:17:37+02:00June 2nd, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: La Fête de la Vie by Jacqueline Miller Bachar

A well-curated collection of powerful stories and poetry that celebrate life without ignoring its painful realities, La Fête de la Vie: Stories & Poems by Jacqueline Miller Bachar is a literary testament to human resilience.

The characters that populate these fraught and unpredictable tales often wear strong emotions on their sleeve, unable to contain hard truths that they have been hiding from or holding inside. As the Foreword explains, much of this collection was written while the author was supporting her husband as he battled and overcame cancer; themes of grief, mortality, regret, self-reflection, and a weighing of life’s scales […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-05-29T12:01:16+02:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

The Spirit of Achievement by Jacqueline Miller Bachar

A collection of essays and writing from a social historian and keen-eyed community observer, The Spirit of Achievement: Articles, Essays, Speeches by Jacqueline Miller Bachar is a neatly curated portfolio from a prolific time in the author’s career.

Beginning with insightful profiles on outstanding female achievers from Palos Verdes, California, and the surrounding area, these articles highlight stars in the fields of education, politics, religion, the arts, charity, community beautification, and more. Bachar has a delicate and intimate style to her storytelling, while the writing is also professional and journalistic, bringing these local figures and their achievements to tangible life.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-05-28T15:31:02+02:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Essay Book Reviews|

Life on the Ohio Frontier by Jacqueline Miller Bachar

A first-person account of faith, resilience, and solitude, Life on the Ohio Frontier: A Collection of Letters from Mary Lott to Deacon John Phillips 1826-1846 by Jacqueline Miller Bachar is an eye-opening historical account, and personal labor of love.

Through twenty years of heartfelt and meticulously penned letters from sister to brother, readers are offered a visceral glimpse into the challenges of survival in 19th-century America. Prefaced with a brief family history and an explanation of the project by the author, who is a direct descendant of Mary and John, this epistolic story details Mary’s everyday struggles and discoveries on […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-05-28T15:26:47+02:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: History Book Reviews|