John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Review: If I Came Back from Hell by Bernie Donnelly

The books of Bernie Donnelly are always thoughtful, and often include spiritual elements that leave readers with hard questions at the end of the story. In If I Came Back from Hell, the author takes another leap forward into the realm of philosophical narrative with a powerful tale that will give you shivers. Looking back on your life is something we often associated with the moments before death, when it flashes by in a mere second, but this story leans to the opposite extreme, making for an unforgettable novel.

Frank McGovern has not lived a traditionally “good” life, being […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-05-28T10:12:04+02:00June 22nd, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Reagan Country (A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel) by Ray Keating

If political intrigue and expansive narrative threads fit neatly in your wheelhouse, then the writing of Ray Keating never fails to disappoint. In his new novel, Reagan Country, Pastor Stephen Grant returns in another exceptional story in which he finds himself in yet another international mystery, one that stretches to the highest seats of America’s capitol, as well as the shadowy halls of the Kremlin.

Underpinning this entire novel is a strong political bent, so those readers who remember (and potentially adore) the Reagan years in American history will appreciate the heavy leaning in favor of that president’s policies […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T04:33:04+02:00June 20th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Christian Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Beyond Vengeance by Larry Igbon

For anyone who can’t get enough British thrillers, Beyond Vengeance by Larry Igbon is an absolute must-read. As only a true master of action can deliver, this book careens from one wild scene to the next, from brutal murder scenes and vicious gangsters to the relentless hounding of the London coppers. With mystery and suspense tied up beautifully within this fascinating knot of a plot, Igbon has solidified his place among top writers of the genre.

A powerful crime family in England is all but wiped out, and yet someone is coming to exact justice and make those responsible pay […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-07-06T05:50:51+02:00June 18th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Luni327: The Journey Begins by Dan Eaton

Life on Earth is inevitably going to change in the coming decades, and in Dan Eaton’s Luni327: The Journey Begins, one of the more popular ideas of a lunar colony takes center stage in this suspense-filled YA novel.

Couched within the perspective of a 13-year-old boy, the story comes with a natural innocence to it, but Bryce also grows immensely over the course of the novel, and the adventures he experiences on his journey effortlessly drive this exciting tale. Additionally, the novel’s futuristic vision of the moon doesn’t stretch too far into the realm of science fiction, considering that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-06-18T05:42:30+02:00June 17th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Escape the Future by T. Schneider

The powerful effects that dystopian realities can have on young people is a common element in post-apocalyptic fiction. In Escape the Future, the gritty new novel from Tom Schneider, this youthful perspective is highlighted, and in the horrors of a world where all the lights have gone out, three young protagonists must find a way to survive and protect those they love most.

In this raw depiction of the future, Schneider masterfully depicts Eva, Layla and Henry, three distinct and uniquely motivated young characters that infuse this story with authenticity. The family dynamic makes this story as powerful as […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-10T06:01:16+02:00June 13th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews, Post-Apocalyptic Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Widow Walk (The Widow Walk Saga Book 1) by Gar LaSalle

Peeking into the past can provide valuable insight about the present, even if the two time periods and places seem like very different worlds. In Widow Walk by Gar LaSalle, readers are transported into the lives of bold settlers in the Pacific Northwest, determined survivors in the wilderness, who must face seemingly endless trials in their bid to make that land a home.

The brilliant component of this novel is that it doesn’t come across as distant historical fiction for the sake of escapism or novelty – it is packed with timeless life experiences, existential crises, and subjects of sovereignty […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-25T12:59:07+02:00June 5th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Girl from the Moon (The Elemental Tides Book 1) by Maria Beta

When modern authors peer into the future, it often seems that humanity’s destiny is bleak. The Girl from the Moon, the new novel by Maria Beta, is no exception to this trend. After the ozone layer collapses and global society begins to crumble under the weight of human neglect, science must step in to save the species. Constructing a massive artificial shield to block the earth and mimic an atmosphere is a bandage for a bullet wound, however, and life is far from serene.

Cate and Victoria Weelah, the daughters of the scientist who originally created Earth’s protective layer […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-06-08T10:08:31+02:00June 4th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Children of the Gods by Konrad Koenigsmann

A clever and creative origin story, Children of the Gods by Konrad Koenigsmann presents another potential explanation for humanity’s origins in an expansive and erudite work of fiction.

After popping from a timeless void, a greater being bred his assistants, gods in all but name, who in turn designed humanity as one of many experiments. However, when those humans manage to escape into reality, they must wrestle with the philosophical weight of existence, as well as the knowledge that they were never meant to be real.

Koenigsmann takes a new angle on ancient mythology, with unruly children eventually betraying their […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-07-13T06:15:14+02:00June 1st, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|