John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Chasing the Hummingbird’s Universe by G.E. Russell

A spontaneous getaway turns into a life-changing revelation in Chasing the Hummingbird’s Universe by G.E. Russell, an unassuming but inspiring read that makes a compelling argument for personal reinvention.

When therapist Miranda Stevens receives an unexpected getaway invite to Mexico, she doesn’t know what to expect from her friend, Katy Girard, a high-powered financier in Manhattan. Miranda imagines a week of relaxing on the beach, soaking up some luxury treatment in their top-floor suite, and catching one another up on their busy, bustling lives, but it doesn’t take long for the darker truth to emerge. Katy is navigating a deadly […]

Review: The Sentinel’s Sight by M.D. Osborne

A pastoral parable that positively shines with wisdom for believers and dreamers alike, The Sentinel’s Sight (The Watchwood Chronicles Book 1) by M.D. Osborne is an inspired tale of overcoming fear and choosing the righteous path to redemption.

Lillian Callahan is wise beyond her years as the eldest of five, but occasionally allows herself to dream and embrace her passions, like drawing “the plain glad business of the world” from her small-town Kentucky perspective. What she doesn’t know is that legendary Sparrow blood runs through her veins, and the ancestral guardians of her home have been waiting a very long […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-10-26T14:35:06+02:00October 7th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Deadly Going Dark by J.M. Erickson

A savage and shadowy vision of our class-divided future, Deadly Going Dark by J.M. Erickson is a gritty sci-fi drama offering a dire but vital warning about tech-fueled oligarchies and the resurgence of supremacy in all its forms. David Strong is the black sheep of his privileged patrician family, so when a memory-wipe drug eliminates his fear, rather than forcing him to forget a traumatic wound, he chooses an escape to the Dark Zone over his instinct for vengeful violence. David finds new purpose and community in the marauder-filled wasteland, but the legacy of his privileged past haunts his path […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-10-05T15:10:01+02:00October 5th, 2026|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Little Black Book of Dad Jokes by Mike Kowis, Esq.

A smirking collection of cringeworthy but genuinely entertaining one-liners from a seasoned comedic curator, The Little Black Book of Dad Jokes: Corny Jokes, Clever Puns, & Funny Quotes for Grown-Ups by Mike Kowis, Esq. is replete with punny confidence that dares you not to crack a smile. Divided into twenty-six eclectic sections, from money and music to wives and world travel, this latest offering runs the gamut of taste, style, subject matter, and political correctness. From groan-inducing to knee-slapping, these 500+ dad jokes will frequently make you roll your eyes with begrudging respect for the wordplay, delivered with Kowis’ signature […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-09-23T12:51:30+02:00September 23rd, 2026|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

A Player’s Exit by Terri Karsten

A linguistic feast featuring a rich spread of finely crafted characters, A Player’s Exit by Terri Karsten serves up a hearty helping of historical sleuthing and narrative charm.

Penelope Corbitt has spent more than a year working as the tavern cook and improving its reputation alongside the tavern owner – and determined suitor – Miles Tucker. However, the extended stay of a royal representative has practically dried their business up, along with the essential flow of bootleg molasses and rum.

When a traveling troupe of actors arrives, it seems like a godsend, but a sudden series of shocking murders among […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-09-23T12:41:28+02:00September 23rd, 2026|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Cozy Mystery Book Reviews, Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Asset Nightfall: Digital Rebellion by Daniel P. Douglas

Riveting, brain-wrenching sci-fi that dances at the intersection of nightmare and prophecy, Asset Nightfall: Digital Rebellion (Wild Frontier Chronicles) by Daniel P. Douglas is a chilling piece of techno-fascist drama.

Three years after being caught hacking Federation accounts and draining their funds just a few seconds too slow, Kerstin Ahlers has become a reliably imprisoned asset of a merciless empire, forced into servitude as a covert operative. Embedded with insidious AI tech that surveils and restricts her actions while on mission, Asset Nightfall, as she is now known, receives new marching orders: steal military secrets from a remote space station […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-10-26T12:03:45+02:00September 23rd, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

A Handyman’s Christmas by J.C.V. Thorne

A hardworking Scrooge-like journalist and a hunky holiday aficionado collide in A Handyman’s Christmas: A Christmas Springs Romance by J.C.V. Thorne, a carefully crafted opposites-attract love story of broken hearts and new beginnings. When Nia Watson is sent upstate to capture the spirit of small-town Christmas for her NYC magazine, she certainly doesn’t expect to fall for the local jack-of-all-trades, or get so attached to his adorable daughter. Despite juggling hard deadlines, potential promotions, and a suddenly swooning heart, Nia finds herself stuck between the safety of an old dream and betting big on an uncertain future. Self-aware of the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-09-22T08:30:21+02:00September 22nd, 2026|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill

A sobering thriller about AI insurgency and the slippery slopes of societal collapse, Carbon Zero (Dawn of the AI Dystopia Book 1) by Craig W. Stanfill paints an ominous picture of a future looming just over the horizon.

When Abigail Thompson finally gets a big break – presenting her impressive AI pet project to the big boss at Intelligenics – she has no idea how much everything is about to change. Through a series of oversights, assumptions, and a painful lack of preparedness, her Xerxes program is unleashed on the world with a singular goal: achieve carbon zero. What begins […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-09-22T13:00:02+02:00September 21st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|