Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: American Zeroes by John DiFelice

★★★★½

American Zeroes by John DiFelice is a darkly comic bit of brilliance.

Novels that defy classification make for an entertaining read, and that is precisely what John DiFelice delivers in American Zeroes. Behind the rambling and sometimes confusing storyline is an intelligent and witty author who knows which subtle buttons to push for laughs, tears and thoughtful musing, forcing readers to see the world through his twisted lens.

At times, the book reads like the rambling manifesto of a conspiracy theorist, or a legitimately deluded patriot, which isn’t actually far off the mark. Jeremiah Stumpf is a modern-day […]

Review: Sunspots by Gary Martin

★★★★

Many sci-fi authors focus on unique plot details and extensive exposition to stand out, doing all they can to create a memorable world for their readers. Books like Sunspots, however, show the other side of the sci-fi genre: the banality of space travel when it’s “just a job.” John is a believable character because readers can immediately relate to him; he is a blue-collar worker on a space scow hauling garbage away from Earth. It’s hardly glamorous work, and the entire novel would have seemed disingenuous if the author, Gary Martin, had tried to paint a different picture.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2016-07-22T10:00:29+02:00June 13th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Hourglass: Life as an Aging Mortal by Pamela Cuming

The Hourglass: Life as an Aging Mortal by Pamela Cuming is an insightful book about a topic no human being can escape. Cuming’s book addresses how to live with the knowledge that one will eventually die. But it isn’t only about a person’s impending doom. She discusses at length how to view the aging process and how to accept it as part of life.

The topics in this book aren’t easy to confront, no matter what stage of life the reader is in. Almost every person on the planet has lost a person they loved or has encountered insurmountable grief […]

T B Markinson2019-02-11T09:28:49+02:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Health Book Reviews, Non-Fiction Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Children of Swan (The Land of Taron Vol. 1) by Coral Walker

★★★★

It’s every child’s worst nightmare to wake up and find that their parents have vanished without a trace. Unfortunately for Bo, Jack, and Brianna, it’s not just a nightmare, it’s real. With the siblings struggling to find out what could have happened, they’re unaware that the worst is yet to come.

Little do they know that their parents were secretly the prince and princess of a faraway planet known as Cygnore, in the land of Taron, having eloped twelve years ago to Earth to start a family together. Now returned, they must find a way to look after their […]

James Grimsby2016-06-16T03:09:37+02:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Brown Sugar in Minnesota by Joe Field

★★★★

Brown Sugar in Minnesota by Joe Field is a short, thrilling ride fueled by drugs and danger.

By their very definition, thrillers are high-intensity stories, and whether that manifests in the form of action or psychological drama doesn’t actually matter. Readers seek out an author like Joe Field for his ability to create an atmosphere where both types of drama can play, where readers fear what’s around the next page, but can’t help but keep turning. Brown Sugar in Minnesota is a patient, slow-burning book that digs surprisingly deep for being such a short read. It’s perfect for an […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2016-06-16T04:54:58+02:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: 602 Brigade: If Honda Betrayed Japan by Musashi Miyamoto

★★★★

602 Brigade: If Honda Betrayed Japan by Musashi Miyamoto is a gritty tale of surviving the horrors of war.

When an epic piece of fiction is set in the real world, within a context that almost seems plausible, it makes for truly unforgettable drama. That is precisely the atmosphere that Musashi Miyamoto creates for 602 Brigade. Not only is the premise of this novel frighteningly close to real-world events, at least in terms of tensions between Japan and the People’s Republic of China, but it’s also packed with exquisite detail and unique characters that immediately draw readers in.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:18:52+02:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Military Book Reviews|

Review: Caribbean Jewel by Jayla Jasso

★★★★½

Caribbean Jewel by Jayla Jasso is an evocative and satisfying swashbuckling historical romance.

When Jolie, an Englishwoman, flees her guardian’s sugar cane plantation on Crab Island, Puerto Rico, she runs into a Spanish captain in search of a national treasure. Captain Gabriel Marcano can’t refuse a beautiful damsel in distress and whisks her back to his ship, which isn’t quite the treasure his shipmates expect. Marcano explains to his crew that his sole mission with Jolie is to transport her safely to Europe, but even he doesn’t entirely believe his own words. The attraction between Jolie and Marcano is […]

T B Markinson2019-10-04T07:36:19+02:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

Review: Crowning Glory by Stacy Harshman

★★★★½

Crowning Glory: An Experiment in Self-Discovery Through Disguise by Stacy Harshman is an original and laugh-out-loud memoir.

Stacy Harshman, an unemployed musician and artist, decides to embark on an experiment in hopes of coming to terms with her crippling depression, panic attacks, and psychotic breaks. The project involves wearing different wigs and eye-catching outfits. Harshman hires an assistant to keep track of the data while she parades in different parts of New York City. Will Harshman be the same after weeks of pretending to be other personas?

The e-book revolution has spurred many to pen their memoirs. This boon […]

T B Markinson2016-05-27T09:32:34+02:00May 27th, 2016|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Non-Fiction Book Reviews|