John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

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 Reviewer2025-07-14T16:18:06+02:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: 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|

Review: Zephyr’s Flight by Ray Strong

An enchanting tale of epic ambition and destinies that change the world, Zephyr’s Flight: The Dragons’ War by Ray Strong is a female-driven YA adventure and a compelling first chapter in a promising saga.

Astria, a young girl with an uncanny affinity for dragons, dreams to ride them someday and become one of the legendary protectors of her people, just like her missing father. Since he disappeared in service as a Dragon Rider, the chance to train and prove herself has been nearly impossible, but sometimes the wandering dragons of the realm can choose their own partner.

When Astria encounters […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-07-09T16:26:48+02:00May 27th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews|

A Cup of Zen by Kai Tsukimi

A thought-provoking collection of short stories that also act as enlightening self-help, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace by Kai Tsukimi offers up gleaming pearls of self-knowledge and powerful parables in the Zen tradition. From silent monks and pathless wanderers to unfinished artists and clarity hunters, these simple yet penetrating tales express the essence of Zen – acceptance, contentment, stillness, and the unavoidable paradox of seeking. Tsukimi’s profound drafts of wisdom work best when read slowly, allowing their meaning to be integrated into one’s mindset and movements through the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-05-27T15:09:23+02:00May 27th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: The Weight of Loyalty by Mike H. Mizrahi

Transportive historical fiction that offers clear and timely wisdom about the present, The Weight of Loyalty by Mike H. Mizrahi is an epic World War II tale of survival, trust, and the resilience of humanity in the face of destruction.

Oliver Graham is a hard-drinking and troubled sailor aboard a British submarine that strikes a mine and sinks to the bottom of the Ionian Sea, leaving him as the sole survivor. Defying death time and time again, Oliver is rescued by a dolphin and brought to the shores of Kefalonia, a Greek island currently under the control of Mussolini and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-07-02T14:47:35+02:00May 27th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, World War II Book Reviews|