John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Wild Running by Rebecca Wallick

A personal and original reflection on nature, resilience, and the indescribable bonds we form with our canine companions, Wild Running: Lessons from Dogs, Wolves, and the Natural World by Rebecca Wallick is a stunning memoir. Spinning evocative stories from deep in the Idaho forest, whether it’s trail-running beside her beloved Malamutes, facing down wolves, or defending the existential rights of long-misunderstood animals, Wallick delivers a compelling argument for sustainability, cohabitation, and healing. Peppered with jaw-dropping descriptions of ultra-running and insightful examinations of family, purpose, and the pain of limitation, this is a vulnerably expressed and deeply inspiring read.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-26T15:57:10+02:00April 26th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Gracious Nature by Robert J. Tiess

A tender and timely reflection on our beloved planet, Gracious Nature: Poems on Earth and Life by Robert J. Tiess is a poetic love song to the land we so often overlook.

With an unwavering reverence for life that loyal readers will recognize, this latest collection winds from playful and self-reflective to dramatic and dire, acknowledging the awesome power and unexpected fragility of nature. Some of the pieces offer a compelling rhythm and energy, creating a sense of urgency and the raw tension of the natural world, particularly in “The Music of the Wolves” and “Overcoming.” Later sections of the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-22T13:01:07+02:00April 24th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Her Own War by Debra Borchert

The divisive tragedy of war pulls a fearless fighter from the vineyard to the front lines in Her Own War by Debra Borchert, a gripping and lyrical work of historical fiction.

A French pastoral romance and a wartime thriller, this novel begins with slow world-building and character development, giving readers a probing look into Genevieve’s community and the indomitable strength of her spirit. As the Republicans of Napoleonic France concentrate their power and turn their eyes to wider conquest, Genevieve’s tight-knit wine-growing community in the Loire Valley grows frustrated with endless wars and the burden of unfair taxation.

When a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-13T11:35:34+02:00April 19th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Great Being by Bill Harvey

An eon-spanning epically creative work of visionary alternate history, The Great Being by Bill Harvey is a sprawling parable about the powerful forces behind our interconnected existence.

After the Nothingness came into awareness of itself 14 billion years ago, it began to create energetic bodies and fantastical creatures, which spread out across the vast cosmos, but that didn’t mean they were easy to control. That’s where the Agents of Cosmic Intelligence come into play, helping to influence the course of time and the fate of entire worlds created by the great deity.

Melchizedek and Layla are sent to Prehistoric Earth […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-19T17:36:44+02:00April 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Awesome Battles for Kids: The Ancient Wars by Ryan Rhoderick

Bringing storybook history into sharp and fascinating focus, Awesome Battles for Kids: The Ancient Wars by Ryan Rhoderick is a thrilling peek into epic conflicts of the ancient past. From chariot clashes in Egypt and city-state strife in Greece to the brilliance of Alexander the Great and the legendary defeat of Xerxes, this book is a perfect blend of backstory, strategy, and classic heroics, offering a thorough introduction for kids. While some of the writing may be too advanced for younger readers, the pages are packed with compelling imagery, military analyses, and historical context, making it an engaging and eye-opening […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-18T11:42:04+02:00April 18th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Diary of the Broken by Malachi Lambert

In the dark and lonely spiral of grief following the death of his beloved wife, Aaron returns to old comforting demons, even as his friends and children try to pull him back from the brink of crushing sorrow in Diary of the Broken by Malachi Lambert, a raw and relentless tale of loss.

From the bottom of the bottle to the tops of hiking trails, Aaron gradually finds a new lease on happiness with a community who cares, but the journey to get there is marked by tears, blood, self-reflection, and more than a few hangovers. Through Aaron’s dark internal […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-10T15:40:05+02:00April 10th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Body Wisdom by Cathy Williams

A uniquely crafted self-help memoir, Body Wisdom: A Guide To Connecting With Your Intuitive Self by Cathy Williams invites readers to tap into the interconnection of mind and body, learn to trust their instincts, and develop better forms of self-love and protection. Featuring a visually stimulating format of illustrations, poetry, and essential featured text, this is an interactive read that engages and challenges the reader well beyond standard works of text-based self-help. With a comforting and conversational writing style, anecdotal storytelling that is both relatable and impactful, and vital existential questions proposed throughout the book, Williams’ work resonates long after […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-09T18:37:04+02:00April 9th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Bureau of Undead Investigators by Connor Mackay

The City of Angels is in dire need of saving from an undead apocalypse in The Bureau of Undead Investigation by Connor Mackay, a whip-smart buddy cop zombie thriller.

In a future where Big Pharma has cracked the code to resurrection, the undead walk among the living – for a time, and for a price. However, not everyone who receives the “Blessing” chooses to use their extra time on the right side of the law, which is where the Bureau of Undead Investigation comes in. Abby and Lukas approach the job differently – one by the book, the other by […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-08T18:33:25+02:00April 8th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Zombie Fiction Book Reviews|