Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli

An unpredictable ride of murder, intrigue, revenge, and old loves long thought buried, That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli is a one-of-a-kind thriller for romance and action fans alike.

After his sister, Tess, disappears, Dr. Evan Kaufman’s volatile emotions explode, putting his career and future at risk. Following a loose trail of breadcrumbs that only deepen the mystery of her abduction, it becomes clear that something even more sinister than a serial killer has put his sister and best friend in danger. He hires a young private eye to help in the search, not expecting to instead find […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-21T05:20:05+02:00August 3rd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: A Mirror Above the Abyss by Oleg Lurye

A brilliant blend of fuzzy historical fact and conspiratorial fiction, A Mirror Above the Abyss by Oleg Lurye is a dark and thrilling dive into the shadows of the past that is nearly impossible to put down. Set in the nearly present day, under the wild rule of the Trump administration, this political, journalistic, and historical thriller doesn’t hold back in its raw intensity.

When an ambitious Washington Post journalist with a notorious nose for a story is offered the biggest scoop in a generation, it is hard for Max Malin not to start seeking a place for his Pulitzer. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-17T08:40:01+02:00August 3rd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Reluctant Betrayals by Claude Renaud

A stunning blend of fiction and memoir, Reluctant Betrayals by Claude Renaud is a riveting plunge into the past, exposing the dangerous instability of a nation on the brink.

Working on a contract with the Ministry Information in Cambodia, young Philippe Roche lands in Phnom Penh to start his career at the bottom rung of a local magazine. The wild allures of Southeast Asia pull him in almost immediately, sending him spiraling into an exotic trap of temptation, power, control, and lust.

After being swept into the world of expats living in this powder keg of a city, including the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-17T03:01:15+02:00August 2nd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The Machinery of Gravity by David Franklin

Challenging some of the greatest minds and accepted concepts in modern physics, The Machinery of Gravity: Generalized Equivalence by David Franklin is a thought-provoking proposal of a paradigm shift in modern physics.

While this may sound like a daunting work to digest, the author does an exceptionally good job of keeping this high-level material accessible for a broad range of readers. With a disarmingly upfront style of narration, this book lays out our present understanding of physics, alongside streams of fascinating questions that seem to poke holes, or at least find loose threads, in our current conceptions of science.

At […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-03T02:26:56+02:00August 2nd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Book Reviews|

Review: Welcome to Our Real Matrix by Tom Arant

A proposed restructuring to how we think about and experience our perception of reality, Welcome to Our Real Matrix: One With No Escape by Tom Arant presents a powerful argument that will leave some readers questioning everything, in this eyebrow-raising, thought-provoking probe of reality.

The author makes it very clear upfront that the intended audience of this book is everyone, so he defines each technical term he uses and breaks down scientific concepts to their most simplistic foundation. The dissection of teleology, and its habit of invading discussions of the scientifically provable world, is a highlight at the front of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-02T04:05:13+02:00August 1st, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Orpheus Rising by Lance Lee

A masterful retelling of a lesser-known myth, Orpheus Rising by Lance Lee places a striking modern lens on the timeless struggles of self-control, sacrifice, grief, and acceptance.

John is a stymied writer who shares a small house with his son, Sam, along with sharing a deep and pervasive emptiness – his wife, Sam’s mother, Madelyn, was taken too soon. However, when a mysterious self-writing book arrives at their door, one that allows them to dictate their dreams, or even bring them to life, the story opens up into a uniquely imaginative world.

After entering the realm of Sam’s imagination, they […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-17T04:03:37+02:00July 30th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Johnny Boy by John Califano

A compelling work of fiction bearing the authentic voice of a memoir, Johnny Boy by John Califano is a visceral slice of life from a skilled, but subtle pen.

Raised in a claustrophobic home in Brooklyn, young John Caruso must navigate the sullen anger of his father, the quiet struggles of his mother, and the occasional invisibility of being the youngest in the house. His older brother and sister, Frank and Connie, are his protectors and guides, helping him see past the narrow-mindedness and violent tendencies of his father, and explore his own potential as he grows up fast.

Over […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-16T09:44:12+02:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|

Review: Enigma Rose by S.E. Reynolds

Romance, tragedy, and redemption are served up alongside small-town charm in Enigma Rose by S.E. Reynolds. A slow-burning romantic thriller, this is not a standard heartbreak-to-healing love story, and leads readers through an emotional maze before reaching its dramatic end.

Tragedy strikes the mayor of Fairview, sending his seemingly perfect life into a spiral of sorrow and solitary fatherhood. His late wife, Melissa, had been his unwavering rock for years, the woman who had pulled him out of young heartbreak and whose trust fund allowed him to leap from police officer to political powerhouse.

Melissa taught him how to be […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-01-17T13:47:36+02:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|