John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Bankruptcy Didn’t Break Me by Kassondra R. Lewis

Author Kassondra R. Lewis delivers a compassionate and expert guide for anyone facing the emotional and financial chaos of bankruptcy or foreclosure in Bankruptcy Didn’t Break Me. As both a mortgage underwriter and someone who personally faced the dark days of the mortgage crisis more than a decade ago, she is a font of relevant experience and genuine desire to help others.

For those facing bankruptcy or fighting to pull themselves back from the brink of financial ruin, this is an encouraging and uplifting roadmap for future stability. Unlike many other financial self-help books, Lewis strikes a good balance […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-17T03:40:39+02:00April 17th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Finance Book Reviews|

Review: Memloots: The Exposition by Francis O’ Joseph

Author Francis O’ Joseph immerses readers in a sci-fi world that looks oddly similar to our own in Memloots: The Exposition. Tapping into philosophy, religion, agricultural practice, economic theor,y and sociology, while still maintaining an air of whimsical adventure, this is a YA novel brimming with creativity and potential.

Philo Heartfield is like so many other young people on the planet Petrichor: studying hard and aspiring to earn a spot at a prestigious university. He dreams of traveling to Maraville, the home world of the intelloyds, outer-space philanthropists who have transformed his home into a thriving, livable planet.

Ringed by […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-06-02T07:30:23+02:00April 14th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

The Scarlett Mark by Abby Lane

Author Abby Lane unleashes a heroine-focused fantasy saga that boldly stands above a crowded genre with The Scarlett Mark. This fairy-tale fusion of wild magic, evil witches, banished princesses, and unlikely heroism is dripping with rich descriptions and fascinating narrative depth. The three-dimensional characters breathe and grieve and thrive on these carefully crafted pages, and Queen Cynara is a tour de force creation, a deliciously penned villain. Borrowing inspiration from modern and classic authors of the genre, yet creating a magnificent new world all her own, The Scarlett Mark is an impressive start to an immersive and lavishly written […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-14T09:11:54+02:00April 13th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Garden of Locusts by J.T. Ruby

A vicious murderer, two twin boys, and a determined sheriff swirl at the center of Garden of Locusts, a gripping new novel from author J.T. Ruby. In the pressure cooker of small-town Alabama in the 1970s, this family drama is a sweeping Southern epic that embraces everything from young love and parental loss to fraternal conflict and institutionalized racism.

Ben and Owen Hood are twin brothers trying to find their own ways in the world, deeply connected but also vastly different. Simon Singleton is a detective now sheriff from across the pond whose nose for serial killers and penchant for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-14T10:25:15+02:00April 13th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The 21st Century Voter Guide to Candidate Assessment by Howard J. Gunn

Timely and insightful, author Howard Gunn explicates America’s political, financial, and ideological climate in The 21^st Century Voter Guide to Candidate Assessment. Rough around the edges but supported with passion, data, and public records, this is a dense and damning read in opposition to the current political and economic system.

Over the past 50 years, the author explains, the American system has become one of manipulation and self-service to the wealthy, protected by the entrenched forces of political clout and influence. Pushing against the ideological trends of the Baby Boomers and Generation X, this book seeks to pull […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-05-29T05:54:15+02:00April 8th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Politics Book Reviews|

A Conversation with a Radical by Shathani Manako

A Conversation with a Radical by Shathani Manako is a uniquely insightful read following a couple’s philosophical journey through love, loyalty, patriotism, and societal upheaval. What begins as a heady philosophical text becomes an unexpected thriller, as the novella’s powerful ideas converge towards a final battle against the powers that be. With this fast-paced novella, Manako has woven an allegorical tale of ideological revolution and personal liberation that can be enjoyed in an afternoon, but will be remembered for far longer.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-08T08:38:53+02:00April 7th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Three in the Key by KC Avalon

An exciting new relationship struggles under the weight of burgeoning sports stardom and long distance in Three in the Key by KC Avalon. This sports romance is a quick and easy read, though it does boast some complex relationship dynamics between Sydney and Jaxon, as well as unexpected twists. However, the dialogue often comes off as unnatural and overly convenient. Variations in the narrative point of view are also inconsistent and opportunities for more lyrical language or rich descriptions are missed. That said, as a harmless bit of steamy fiction, this tale will be sure to please readers eager for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-09T11:02:09+02:00April 7th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Embers: Of A Shrinking Life by Robert Belenky

Embers: Of a Shrinking Life by Robert Belenky is a well-penned memoir with flashes of humor and the mature voice of a seasoned academic, one who has seen the world and gleaned some wisdom from the decades. From joyful anecdotes of his time in the military to frustrating run-ins with authority as an advocate for at-risk youth, this book is as unpredictable as Belenky’s life. Some sections could be tightened up, but overall this is a charming, thought-provoking, and refreshingly honest memoir, told with a passionate voice that is no way on the wane, as the title might suggest.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-06T09:35:33+02:00April 6th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|