John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Resurrection Lily by Amy Byer Shainman

The complex and painful decisions surrounding breast cancer are explored in intimate detail in Resurrection Lily: The BRCA Gene, Hereditary Cancer & Lifesaving Whispers from the Grandmother I Never Knew, a raw and impactful memoir by Amy Byer Shainman.

Cancer can often seem like a constant threat, but there are some people at dramatically increased risks, especially women with a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA 2 gene. After discovering that she possesses a gene mutation that greatly increases her changes of developing breast cancer, Shainman comes to terms with this looming threat and embarks on an inspiring journey […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-19T09:55:05+02:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Health Book Reviews, Memoir Book Reviews|

JQR by Joey Rodriguez

Joey Rodriguez unravels an emotional, quirky ,and cleverly penned tale in JQR, a post-apocalyptic road novel with a bionic twist. Jojo and Pickles make a very strange pair, but this android and his dog must navigate a world ravaged by human folly in an attempt to find whatever meaning is left. The relationship between these two is crafted with grace and an original voice – one that balances dense, engaging writing with dark humor and charm. Both an off-kilter adventure and an existential exploration of what it means to love, dream, and be human, this novel is visceral and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-19T11:04:58+02:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Goat Song by Thomas Drago

Author Thomas Drago shines a sickly spotlight on the hellish secrets below Crow Creek, North Carolina in his fast-paced thriller, Goat Song. Blending small-town suspicions, the odd world of local theatre, personal demons, and black magic rituals, this quick read is unpredictable and unnerving as the plot spirals into darkness.

Gabriela Rossi is doing her best to make a home in Crow Creek after moving from Italy, but the residents don’t seem keen on outsiders, and her promotion at The Orpheum Theatre leaves her feeling resented and unwelcome. When someone is murdered at the theatre three days before a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-21T07:00:05+02:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Paranormal Book Reviews|

Newgate’s Knocker by Greg W. Peterson

A veteran FBI agent races against time to prevent a terrible tragedy in the skies, desperately trying to separate friend from foe in the fast-paced Newgate’s Knocker. Author Greg W. Peterson has crafted a high-flying read, delivering a crash-course in fiction writing that weaves a tangled nest of storylines into a riveting and unpredictable adventure. While there are a few loose ends and plot holes in the story, the pace rarely lets up. Mixing classic elements of suspense with modern existential threats, organized crime, and a cast of dynamic characters, Peterson offers a riveting, high-stakes thriller in this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-12T11:08:29+02:00March 12th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: A Noble’s Path (The Enchanted Isles Book 2) by I.L. Cruz

Inez Garza, sporting a new magical streak of purple hair, is back at the heart of rebellion and action in A Noble’s Path, the second book of the Enchanted Isles series from author I.L. Cruz. Following on from the tumultuous events of A Smuggler’s Path, this new installment dives right into the action, supported by remarkably thorough exposition from the first book.

Magic is still forbidden in Canto, but the hidden market is alive and well, and Inez continues to tread the finest line between royal blood and illicit smuggling. Navigating the complex underbelly of illegal magic and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-07-05T10:22:19+02:00March 12th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: High-Sensitivity-Based Mindful Awareness or a Schizophrenic Mind?: You are the Jury! by Chandana Watagodakumbura

The complicated journey of life, through the eyes of an academic far from home, spills out onto the pages of High-Sensitivity-Based Mindful Awareness or a Schizophrenic Mind?: You are the Jury! by author Chandana Watagodakumbura. When Chelian gets the opportunity to travel to the western world – the fictional country of Astort – to pursue his Masters degree, he begins an existential journey that will take him countless miles over the course of two decades.

As the central character, Chelian maneuvers through a foreign land as best he can, confident in his own intelligence and creative streak, despite his inability […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-15T07:40:16+02:00March 11th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Seavers Conspiracy by Travis Pearson

A surprisingly spry auditor faces down the corruption and violence of a disintegrating town in The Seavers Conspiracy by author Travis Pearson. Steeped in modern-day, close-to-home themes and stacked with a vivid cast of characters, this is a swirling mystery that moves quick and twists often.

When Becka calls her Uncle Randall for help in her small town of Seavers, she doesn’t know that she is placing him directly in the crosshairs of a vicious and powerful cabal controlling the city government. Randall isn’t just an old man with a good heart – he is also an entertaining protagonist that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-09T09:19:13+02:00March 11th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Champion Your Career by Halimah Bellows, MA, MS

Author Halimah Bellows offers sage wisdom, gentle encouragement, and practical strategies for those seeking a significant change in their career path in Champion Your Career: Winning in the World of Work. This easy-to-read book is filled with tools to help you identify your own strengths and determine your path forward. Peppered with anecdotal wisdom and the author’s delicate honesty, this book is valuable for anyone who is uncertain or unsatisfied about their career or prospects. Asking and answering the right questions in a thorough, academic, and accessible way, Bellows spells out the journey of changing your job (and life) […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-11T11:28:14+02:00March 10th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|