John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

As Time Goes By by W. Royce Adams

Author W. Royce Adams delivers a unique and intimately drawn reflection on a fictional life well-lived in As Time Goes By.

Recounting his “whale story without the whale,” the protagonist named Old, with wisdom to match his name, invites readers into his philosophy-forward memoir, laced with humor and potential answers to some of the biggest questions we face. From early childhood head injuries and illicit afternoons in barrooms with his grandfather to early missteps in romance, cliff jumping, and the looming clouds of war, it doesn’t take long for readers to forget that they aren’t reading an autobiography, propelled […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-13T11:30:25+02:00April 12th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Song of Lilith by Andrew Chiniche

Fiercely retelling the oldest chapter of Christian mythology, Andrew Chiniche has created an evocative and poetic epic with his newest work, Song of Lilith.

Representing the sinful, lustful, self-aware, rebellious, and untamed nature of humankind, specifically womankind, Lilith and her ilk have long been cloaked in biblical shadows and mystical rumors. Beginning with her deflowering by Adam in the Garden of Eden, finding refuge in the arms of Samael the archangel, and her legendary manipulation of Eve’s appetite, this is a biblical story few have ever heard. However, Chiniche’s portrait goes much further, with Lilith existing in different forms […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-12T11:23:44+02:00April 11th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

The Rebirth by V.P. Evans

A relentless, character-driven thriller set on the unforgiving streets of Chicago, The Rebirth by V.P. Evans is an unpredictable spree of vengeance, brotherhood, and justice. Ten years after being forced to bury a foul secret about a sprawling global organization, Jason Roneros knows his time is running out, but he won’t go down without exposing their scandalous evil once and for all. Haunted by a decade of demons and grief, Mark Gilliam is forced to revisit his painful past and join Jason in a frantic race for retribution, even as the monsters close in to silence them both for good. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-11T12:04:30+02:00April 11th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Her Own Revolution by Debra Borchert

An empowering and dramatic story of romance in deeply troubled times, Her Own Revolution by Debra Borchert is an authentic period novel with a fearless female lead. From the novel’s bold opening line to the heartwarming final proposal, this book is carefully crafted by a master of relationships and emotional tension, for a tightly written, heart-pounding twister of a tale.

Genevieve is a precocious and daring young protagonist who refuses to bow to the gender norms of the time, hiding her gender in order to seek out her education. Terrified at being found out, she has a single person to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-19T10:20:46+02:00April 10th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Artefactum by J.E. Tobal

Tapping into the endless possibility of multiverse theory, author J.E. Tobal mixes up a gritty sci-fi masterpiece of lost love, desperation, and cross-dimensional adventure in his new novel, Artefactum.

A grief-driven antihero with a dimension-leaping talisman and a drinking problem is about as unlikely a protagonist as one could imagine, but Sam is irresistible, oddly charming, and admirable in both his principles and passions. Seeing a character depicted in true love, and then facing devastating loss, is instantly bonding for the reader to follow this character wherever he goes, even beyond the bounds of reality itself. This quixotic quest […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-11T13:04:19+02:00April 7th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Once Upon a Wonderland by DJ Stoneham

A swirling return to the dark whimsy of a familiar setting, Once Upon a Wonderland by DJ Stoneham details Alice’s fourth adventure to the time-spinning world of Cheshire cats and mad queens, and is as inventive and immersive as all of her previous trips.

As ever, the lessons learned on the other side of the looking glass have impacted her normal life. Her lost love, Jack Door, the black-feathered boy from her third trip, has never had an equal among Alice’s real-world suitors, so she longs to return. A tense family trip to the seaside yanks this older and wiser […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-07T11:56:02+02:00April 6th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen by Cameron A. Straughan

Taking readers beyond the pale of comedy, decency, and reality itself, author Cameron A. Straughan delivers a gobsmacking adventure of weird whimsy with The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen. Following the banal yet brain-boggling events of one man’s larger-than-life existence, this collection of loosely-linked vignettes bends the limits of normality in an outlandish spree of storytelling.

The bizarre nature of the world that Straughan has created transcends the lines of farce in some ways, but there is always some strange sliver of reality that draws readers back. The idea of colleagues growing accustomed to Anthony forgetting to wear pants, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-06T16:38:10+02:00April 6th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Humor|

Review: Jetsam by Tracy Grogan

Death-defying drama and an intimate character portrait make Jetsam by Tracy Grogan an addictive thrill for fans of the Divemaster Ricky series.

Leaving behind trauma and a shocking loss in North Africa, Ricky is eager to start a new job thousands of miles away, and turn a page in her unpredictable life. A three-month break on a luxury yacht seems like a dream job – an impressive salary and a string of cushy dives should be the perfect salve for her aching soul, but peace is not on the ship’s manifest.

As the scope and true expectations of her employment […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-05-12T13:51:31+02:00April 5th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|