Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Danger Lies Within by K.M. Krenik

K.M. Krenik delivers a thrilling and timely warning with Danger Lies Within, a wildly imaginative first piece of the Ranfurly Mysteries series.

A vigilante billionaire in a covert group of rebels is hunting those who prey on young women and children, but moonlighting as a crimefighter would be much easier with reliable childcare. Courtney is a widowed mother of two, who lost her politically outspoken husband to the violent “Peace Alliance” regime, and needs a new job now that her own kids have left the nest. As the live-in tutor for Lord Robert’s children, Courtney is quickly drawn into […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-01T17:11:49+02:00July 1st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Operation Storm’s Eye by E.S. Benton

An elite group of soldiers is on the hunt for a secret cabal of inhumane terrorists in Operation Storm’s Eye by E.S. Benton, a relentless rush of espionage and adrenaline.

In this first book of the Silent Codename series, Alpha Squad is deep on the hunt for a mysterious global organization responsible for savage attacks against aid efforts in the wake of natural disasters. Bizarrely, the villains appear almost immediately, as though they know exactly when and where each cyclone, tsunami, or flood is going to strike.

To counter this sinister manipulation of trauma and chaos, Alpha One and his […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-30T18:46:40+02:00July 1st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Military Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Debauchery by Andy Bramley

Creative, clever, and chock full of dark comedy, Debauchery: Part 1 by Andy Bramley is a witty and wise read from an unconventional storyteller.

A bizarre series of events brings together a disparate group of seven acquaintances, fans, friends, and strangers with big personalities and a hefty handful of bad habits. As their unlikely worlds spiral closer and casually collide, it becomes clear that their chance encounters are anything but coincidence.

Embodying the seven deadly sins – pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth – these seven souls have unknowingly become the target of The Community, a radically conservative […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-30T13:48:52+02:00June 25th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Satire Book Reviews|

Review: Brisk Verse by Garrison Keillor

The legendary storyteller of Lake Wobegon, Garrison Keillor, shows his inimitable skills once again with Brisk Verse, an acerbic and entertaining collection of inspired poetry. Simultaneously playful and profound, these clever, hopeful, and wide-ranging poems are imbued with perfect comedic timing and smirking irreverence.

As Keillor explains in the book’s foreword, he’s in the “age of gratitude,” meaning that he doesn’t have time to complain or spend his attention dwelling on the evils and pains of the world. For that reason, this collection isn’t driven by heartbreak, grief, existential crises, or loss, apart from the occasional brutal aside: Life […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-29T12:43:00+02:00June 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: The Incompetent Hero by Douglas L. Thomas

A parallel worlds fantasy that skillfully blends genres, The Incompetent Hero: Volume 1 by Douglas L. Thomas is a bold opening salvo for a high-octane series.

Summoned along with six other honored heroes to the Kingdom of Aschheim, Echo 1 – a living weapon of war – wakes to find himself with a jewel-encrusted shield stubbornly attached to his arm, and an epic destiny to fulfill. In the face of obliteration by a legion of demons, the First Princess of Aschheim has called on heroes of legend to lead their desperate cause, with the promise of fame and fortune should […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-06-18T12:38:17+02:00June 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Black Wall of Silence Part II by George H. Butcher III

The second installment of an eye-opening “Nonfiction Horror Story,” The Black Wall of Silence Part II: The Judiciary’s Immorality, Cruelty, and Arrogance About Corruption by George H. Butcher III is another relentless dive into the implicit corruption of America’s federal judiciary, including the very highest levels.

This damning indictment gives evidence for a purported secret judicial code of conduct that is used to protect corrupt judges, and the prime beneficiary of this shadowy umbrella of protection is not just the corruption, but the reputation and outsized control of the broader judiciary itself. Butcher explores in detail how federal district court […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-26T15:12:47+02:00June 17th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Politics Book Reviews|

Review: Beyond the Vows by Alvin Dorsey Jr.

Beyond the Vows: Navigating the Depths of Marriage and Divorce by Alvin Dorsey Jr. is an all-embracing guide on marriage and divorce that sheds incisive light on the most private aspects of relationships as they start, develop, and – in some unfortunate cases – come to an end.

Exploring the nuanced emotions that arise in marital relationships, Dorsey offers sympathetic and practical guidance to people of any age, at any stage in their relationship. As Dorsey outlines, marriage is so much more than exchanging vows – there are facets of settling legal paperwork, opening a joint bank account, and other […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-06-17T13:10:36+02:00June 14th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Relationships Book Reviews|

Review: Ugly by Kelly Vincent

A raw and poignant exploration of a teenager’s quest for identity, Ugly by Kelly Vincent is a potent study of the harsh realities of high school social hierarchies and personal uncertainties.

At the heart of this contemporary YA novel is Nicole Summers, a fifteen-year-old from a small Oklahoma town who becomes the embodiment of anyone who has ever felt misunderstood or misplaced. Nicole, or Nic as she prefers, is not your typical high school protagonist – overweight and often cruelly labeled as an “ugly lesbian” despite her interest in boys, Nic’s challenges are compounded by her best and only friend […]

Jeyran Main2024-07-26T11:58:49+02:00June 13th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI+ Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|