Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Candlelight by D.L. Tolin

A spellbinding homage to myth and mysticism, Candlelight by D.L. Tolin spins the tale of a captivating clash between our world and the ancient domains of folklore.

In the history-heavy town of Beaumont, Texas, something wicked is lingering just out of sight in the shadowed woods, waiting for its moment to emerge. What seems to be a contagion of dangerous delusion and a spike in mental instability is paired with a rash of disappearances – three children have seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving authorities like Detective Fusillier mystified and cautious parents panicked.

At the center of this dark mystery […]

Review: Enter Stage Left by Lisa Slabach

A smoldering story of second chances with romance waiting in the wings, Enter Stage Left by Lisa Slabach offers up an entertaining, realistic, and steamy first installment in her Chicago Theater Romance series.

When rising star Elle Serra finally gets a shot to direct at the Chicago Repertory Theatre, it’s a dream come true, and not an opportunity she intends to squander. Her big break consists of workshopping a play written by Bret Stark – a hunky hookup from her past, which ended on a decidedly sour note. It doesn’t take long for old embers between them to relight, forcing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-11-04T16:22:08+02:00November 4th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

Review: Real Estate Without the Hype by Luke Larson

Comprehensive, creative, and accessible for both newbies and veterans, Real Estate Without the Hype: A Practical Guide for New Agents by Luke Larson is a clear-cut introduction to a complex industry.

Drawing on more than two decades of lived experience navigating the dynamic world of real estate as both a broker and an industry educator, this text offers a fresh and unvarnished perspective on an industry that can be equal parts challenging and rewarding. Consisting of three main sections – Launching Your Career, Foundations for Success, and Planning for the Future – the text unpacks the potential massive opportunities and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-11-03T17:37:41+02:00November 3rd, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Business Book Reviews|

Review: Thinking of the Future by Katharina Holst

Expansive, enrapturing, and wildly inventive, Thinking of the Future by Katharina Holst is a masterful work of sci-fi/fantasy, which presents three interconnected realms, divided by sunlight, the vastness of space, and the darkness of fear.

Seeking to prove himself and find purpose as a third son to King Askadon of the Sunlands, Prince Mevi makes the unusual request to join a dangerous hunting party traversing the Darklands. Hiding his identity as a member of the royal family, he embarks on the mission, but shortly after Mevi’s departure, his brother and heir to the throne is assassinated, and the Order of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-11-02T13:25:12+02:00November 2nd, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Movement You Need by Thomas Drago

A theatrical but grounded story of midlife love, loss, and our long journey of purpose, The Movement You Need by Thomas Drago is raw and comforting at once.

An aging director has poured his post-divorce and post-pandemic life into a resilient regional theatre program, while reopening his heart to Talia, the captivating and irreplaceable stage manager. New opportunities threaten to pull her away from his struggling stage, forcing him to emotionally reckon with old wounds, new fears, and the looming unknown future.

David continues to deal with problems pressing in from every side – poor ticket sales, fire code violations, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-10-26T14:34:54+02:00October 26th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Legacy of the Bluffs by Loretta Marion

A meddling nanny, beachside murder, and another Mitchell family mystery make Legacy of the Bluffs by Loretta Marion a rollercoaster installment in the Haunted Bluffs series.

A year into juggling new motherhood, marriage to an FBI agent, and management of The Bluffs, a historic mansion in Cape Cod, Cassie Mitchell is settling into her roles with grace, bolstered by the ethereal support of her ancestors, whose spirits inhabit the halls of her spacious home. Unexpectedly, her husband hires an au pair named Abby Grant to relieve some of the pressure, but Cassie is immediately unsettled by the young woman, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-10-26T12:03:36+02:00October 24th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Cozy Mystery Book Reviews, Mystery Book Reviews|

Review: Bold Dark Worlds by JM Erickson

A sprawling sci-fi saga challenging our present reality with a stark vision of the future, Bold Dark Worlds by JM Erickson is an incisive and timely epic.

Composed of four previously released books – Endless Fall of Night, Heavy Weight of Darkness, Deadly Going Dark, and Hunting Armed Men – this omnibus is set a century in the future, in the caste-divided Third Republic, a not-so-distant reimagining of America. The first installment focuses on Cassandra Kurtz, a member of the elite patrician class who is persecuted and imprisoned for resisting the “natural” order of things. When her […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-11-05T16:46:44+02:00October 21st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Tale Of The Boy Who Could Stop Time by Lance Lee

A contemporary fable about the silent burdens we bear, our desire to be known, and the powers we each possess, The Tale Of The Boy Who Could Stop Time by Lance Lee is a touching tale from a gifted storyteller.

10-year-old Peter has a gentle heart and a magical way with words, but those skills do more harm than good when dealing with bullies at school. When a strangely knowledgeable neighbor named Merlin of Crouch End presents him with an odd trinket – a stone with a lightning bolt down the middle – Peter is shocked to discover that it […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-11-04T16:21:38+02:00October 21st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|