Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Secret Code of the Gospel by Albert Seidel

A logic-based assessment of the earthly history of Jesus and the cornerstone events of the Bible, The Secret Code of the Gospel: The Earthly Story by Albert Seidel offers a refreshingly pragmatic perspective on faith-based mysteries.

Examining the Gospels as religious reflections on historical events, Seidel attempts to parse fact from fiction and clear up some of the core questions surrounding Christianity’s origins, primarily the life and death of Jesus Christ, beginning with whether he truly existed. The preface clearly states the author’s approach to interpreting the Gospels: Jesus was an actual historical figure, and the Gospels are religious interpretations […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-05-15T07:29:50+02:00April 26th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religion Book Reviews|

Review: Vendetta: Legend of The Iron Warrior Vol. 3 by T.V. Holiday

The third installment of a savagely unique series, Vendetta by T.V. Holiday holds nothing back as the Iron Warrior is drawn back from sabbatical for his greatest challenge yet.

When the titular hero receives a call that his crew needs help, he returns to the Seventh City for another clash of biblical proportions, heeding the call of his own loyalty to justice and peace. His time away was supposed to give him space to work on his faith and rid himself of any remaining demons; he has worked through the darkness and fear that once dominated his heart, and strengthened […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-05-07T17:43:14+02:00April 21st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: To Reclaim a Life by Nelson Erlick

A gritty and unflinching musing on living, dying, and the purgatory that can exist between the two, To Reclaim a Life by Nelson Erlick is a penetrating look at the human psyche.

Following the slow decline of his relationship with Rebecca Wilson, the last love of his life, Richard King faces the tragedy of watching her commit “suicide by cancer.” On her deathbed, she makes him promise to avoid any erratic behavior for two years, a thinly veiled request that he not take his own life, no matter the darkness of the days ahead. He honors her plea, while constantly […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-30T09:48:55+02:00April 14th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Mark of Cain by Z. Bennett Lorimer

The spectacular conclusion to a standout saga, The Mark of Cain (Tales of Ciel Book 3) by Z. Bennett Lorimer caps off a dramatic clash of duty and desire, which tears friends, lovers, and family apart in a battle for the future of Ciel’s skies.

Effie has been branded on the Anvil of Caste and elevated to the role of Patrician in the Aquilon Court. The loved ones left behind are now her subjects, further stretching the loyalties of her heart between the Crystal Throne, the citizens she is duty-bound to protect, and her own secret desires. A charming and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-29T11:28:11+02:00April 8th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Character Route Tree by Marc R. Schneider

A self-help guide focused on the development of moral integrity and internal strength, The Character Route Tree: A Memoir, a Method, a Mastery of Obsessive Character Development by Marc R. Schneider is an innovative manual for growth, resilience, and situational success.

Penned by an author with a lifetime of experience in navigating the challenges of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, this book is more than a strict resource for others with this diagnosis; it contains his remarkable personal story and the highlights of his life’s work, distilled into a usable reference for people of all walks of life, not only those with […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-02T13:32:22+02:00April 1st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Poison Pill by Anthony Lee

A probing examination into the darker sides of health, Poison Pill by Anthony Lee is a fearless medical thriller told from inside the belly of the beast.

In a span of two days, Dr. Mark Lin is presented with a pair of enigmatic patients – Hector, a person far too young for kidney failure who potentially faces a lifetime of dialysis, and Robbie, a severely obese man with rapidly worsening COPD and no clear cause. In the first case, Dr. Lin suspects the root cause to be an energy and weight-loss supplement called Motileaf, while in the second, he worries […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-01T10:31:52+02:00March 31st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Abbot Lane by Jim Layeux

A slow-burning drama that crackles with contemporary fears and timeless heroics, Abbot Lane by Jim Layeux is a forceful spy-vs-spy thriller.

An existential threat to America has been identified, and “a highly placed official within US intelligence is hellbent on destruction.” In order to prevent a global holy war, reluctant college student Jesse Carlton is recruited by an aging intelligence agent, Lee Tondar, who moonlights as a history professor at the secretive Grissim Institute.

Plunged overnight into the bewildering world of international espionage, Jesse is tasked with quietly investigating the flow and unprecedented censorship of intelligence reports to Tondar’s particular […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-31T14:13:58+02:00March 30th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Spy Thriller Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory

Exploring everything from childhood development patterns to humanity’s meaning and purpose in the universe, Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory offers a curious and compelling new lens for life.

The book begins with an accessible introduction to popular science, the nature of our universe, the unique history of our planet, and humanity’s immeasurable impact on it, coupled with lesser-known concepts – e.g., holarchies of evolution and developmental thought. These “holonic structures” refer to the ubiquitous interconnections between the whole and part that shape every aspect of life, from “atoms—>molecules—>cells—>organs” at the physical level to “core being—>inner […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-28T13:22:10+02:00March 27th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|