Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Spare Me the Drama by Karen Tomsovic ★★★★

Spare Me the Drama: A City Lights Romance Book 1, by Karen Tomsovic, is a heart-warming story about second chances.

Martin Leon has a lot on his plate. His wife died from a tragic accident and now he’s supporting eight kids. He’s the head writer of a daytime soap opera. His responsibilities at home and at work are equally demanding. He realizes he nearly forgot to invite Roxanne to a birthday party for one of the kids.

Roxanne Hunter, a former actress on the soap opera, is now a successful business woman. However, she’s been unfortunate in love and […]

Review: Busker’s Holiday by Adam Gussow ★★★★★

Busker’s Holiday by Adam Gussow is a fictionalized account of busking in the streets of Europe over one summer. Filled with a great passion for the Blues, and lyrical evocations of European life, it reads like a Beat Generation novel for a new generation. If you have a love of music, a love of travel, and a love of eccentricity, Busker’s Holiday is an exhilarating read.

Given that Gussow is an acclaimed harmonica player himself, with a popular how-to YouTube channel and a non-fiction book about busking in Harlem, there is little doubt that this book is a veiled memoir, […]

Henry Baum2019-01-22T15:39:31+02:00December 29th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Sharky Marky and the Scavenger Hunt by Lance Olsen ★★★★

Sharky Marky and the Scavenger Hunt (An Alphabetic Adventure) finds Sharky Marky in a car race as he races to find different items in a scavenger hunt, each corresponding to a letter in the alphabet. Written in rhyming verse, it’s a sweet, good-natured children’s book with colorful and detailed illustrations.

Like Sharky Marky and the Big Race, Scavenger Hunt begins with a stoplight countdown. Sharky Marky then races to the finish line to find each item in the alphabet. First, Sharky sees some algae (“Marky scoops up some Algae, his first on the list. As he speeds by Eddy […]

Henry Baum2016-01-12T10:22:04+02:00December 29th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Review: Sharky Marky and the Big Race by Lance Olsen

★★★★½

Sharky Marky and the Big Race is a fun children’s book for ages 3-5 about a racecar-driving shark as he races against a collection of sea creatures. The book teaches counting, as the child is entertainingly instructed to count down from ten for every car Sharky Marky passes. Along the way, a couple participants attempt to derail Sharky Marky by puncturing his tires and spraying ink in his face, but Sharky Marky is triumphant in the end.

The narrative is very reminiscent of Pixar – sort of “Finding Nemo” meets “Cars.” That’s not a criticism, because who doesn’t love […]

Henry Baum2016-03-04T03:53:50+02:00December 29th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Review: Detour Amour (Detour Paris Series Book 3) by Jack Dancer ★★★★★

Detour Amour, by Jack Dancer, is the stunning conclusion to the Detour Paris series.

Tucker Blue is not playing Mr. Nice Guy anymore. The woman he loves is still being held captive and his enemies have pushed him too far. Tucker wants to destroy them, but he’s an advertising guy, not Rambo.

Tucker turns to unconventional means to out his nemesis in an attempt to rescue his princess. Will his plan work? And at what cost?

The main ingredients of the series thus far has been humorous unpredictability and crazy escapades. This series is creative, entertaining, and cringe-worthy. After […]

T B Markinson2016-01-13T11:17:47+02:00December 27th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Art on the Human Heart by Paul C. Ho, M.D. ★★★★

Art on the Human Heart by Paul C. Ho is the story of a cardiologist who has a heart attack, which makes him re-evaluate his life. It also makes him re-evaluate the medical profession, as he attempts to understand what affects the human heart well beyond medical science. Going through his life as a young immigrant, a failed relationship, a stint being a doctor in the Alaskan wilderness, his personal mysticism, and more, the doctor comes to a greater understanding of the human heart than he had before his illness.

The blurb for this novel, and the title, suggest that […]

Henry Baum2017-03-24T06:29:40+02:00December 24th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Medical Book Reviews, Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: Tim Curious by Roddy Thorleifson ★★★★★

Tim Curious: A Murder Mystery of the American Revolution, by Roddy Thorleifson, is a wonderful young adult historical fiction novel that’ll charm readers of all ages.

Young Tim Euston wanted to fight with George Washington, but he was considered too short and sent away. Can he support Washington’s troops another way? One incident rapidly changes Tim’s life. One night in January, a man attacks Tim’s fourteen-year-old sister. Tim rushes to her aid, but he’s arrested for robbery. The only adult who could testify on Tim’s behalf is found dead. A man is found guilty of the murder, but […]

T B Markinson2016-01-13T10:02:17+02:00December 18th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Detour Allure (Detour Paris Series Book 2) by Jack Dancer ★★★★★

Detour Allure: Detour Paris Series Book 2, by Jack Dancer, is an action-packed adventure with numerous twists and turns that’ll make the reader’s head spin.

Book two picks up right where book one left readers hanging.

Monica and Tucker are coming to terms with their situation. To complicate matters, their budding relationship is being pulled in many different directions by their friends, enemies, and some unknown sources.

Insecurities arise. Two of their companions are missing. Tucker doesn’t know who to trust or what’s going on. Then something awful happens. Can Tucker pull himself together to save the day?

This […]