Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Childless Ones by Cam Rhys Lay

The Childless Ones by Cam Rhys Lay is a remarkable debut novel that takes the concept of “story within a story” to an impressive level. This is essentially two novels in one, overlapping and interweaving thematically, reflecting and bouncing beautifully between two very different worlds.

In the real world, aspiring author Jack Ampong is dealing with a marriage that is coming unraveled, and a penchant for prostitutes. When an attack on his wife further disrupts his mental clarity and grip on morality, he turns to his writing as a respite. There, readers are introduced to an entirely new universe, a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-25T12:57:34+02:00December 19th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, Literary Fiction|

Review: Butterfly Hill (A Matthys Rossouw Pursuit Book 2) by Brendan Le Grange

Combining global conspiracies, powerful ancient weapons and complex, unknowable motives, Butterfly Hill is a skillfully penned piece of suspense from Brendan Le Grange. Following on from his debut book, Drachen, this second installment can stand alone, although reading the first book will provide quite a bit more character backstory for the key players, including Hiko, Matthys and Gu.

Unlike many other “good cop chases bad guy” stories, the lines of morality are far from clear in this novel, and in fact, it’s difficult not to like the bad guy, despite his psychopathic tendencies. Hiko Shimuzu may be the antagonist, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T10:29:03+02:00December 18th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller|

Review: Practicing Mindful Living by Dr. Debra Webb

In Practicing Mindful Living: A 365-Day Workbook for Mindfulness Practitioners, Dr. Debra Webb offers poetry, meditations and consultation to foster awareness each day of the calendar year.

A blend of self study and sage advice, Webb’s book presents a special, intentional guide to activities and concepts that can aid the thoughtful reader determining the overall tenor of his or her day. The entries begin with a short, directed poem. Here is an example, the entry for February 19th:

Wobbling down the sidewalk,
Ponytail flying behind her
Determined to master
Peddling and steering
Together
Fall after fall
She asks for

[…]

SPR2019-01-22T10:29:31+02:00December 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry, Self-Help|

Review: Israeli Settlements: Land Politics Beyond the Geneva Convention by Martin Blecher

In these times of intense attention focusing on the state of Israel from all portions of the political spectrum, a Swedish political scientist examines what seems to be the most contentious issue: the country’s settlements in Palestinian territory.

In Israeli Settlements: Land Politics Beyond the Geneva Convention, author Martin Blecher calls this issue “an infected question,” while taking on himself the challenge to examine it thoroughly. Most people, influenced by common sources, are convinced that the Palestinian settlements are illegal, but Blecher would rather refer to them as “imprudent,” beginning with the assertion that what are usually considered Palestinian […]

SPR2019-01-21T12:39:51+02:00December 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Non-Fiction, Politics|

Review: Daughter of the Damned by J. Boyett

In Daughter of the Damned, author J. Boyett has created a riveting world of intrigue and magic, where mages and demons and monsters are cleverly embedded in a humanistic and believable plot.

Carol, in search of revenge and answers for a tragedy that once befell her mother, has teamed up with Snake, a brutal and talented bounty hunter. Finding Harold, the man who Carol holds responsible for her pain, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a much greater evil to handle than the dark shadows of Carol’s past. Potential enemies become allies, or at least temporary partners, in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-16T08:18:40+02:00December 16th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, J. Boyett|

Review: Mother Teresa Canonized or Crucified by Gerard

A Catholic Christian writer asserts that the Vatican sought to prevent the canonization of Mother Teresa, the Albanian-born nun who created a community convent in the slums of Calcutta, in Mother Teresa Canonized or Crucified: Liberate Catholic Church from the Corrupted Kingdom of Vatican.

Author Gerard presents his case against the Catholic hierarchy with a combination of cold logic and heated diatribe. He believes the loving service of Mother Teresa should serve as an example for all Christians and that the Church should open the roles of priestess and bishopess, cardinal and even Pope, to women, giving Catholic men […]

SPR2019-01-11T13:38:51+02:00December 15th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religion|

Review: The Bible in a Nutshell by Dele Babalola

A scientist and a Christian, Dele Babalola has composed a book of Biblical analysis directed towards those of his faith and any others who want to share in the blessings of the coming end times in his treatise The Bible in a Nutshell: An Invaluable Aid to Understanding Creation, Life, The Rapture, End Times, Death and The Afterlife.

Beginning at the creation of all life, Babalola points out correctly that science is still baffled over the precise way the universe came into being. He examines the many theories – Big Bang, primordial soup – yet none of these show […]

SPR2019-01-22T10:30:00+02:00December 14th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Dele Babalola, Religion|

Review: Krakenscourge (Voidstalker Book 2) by John Graham

In Krakenscourge, the second installment in author John Graham’s Voidstalker series, readers are brought to an imagined world where humanity has breached the boundaries of the solar system, and found that life is not always interested in playing nice. Digging back into truth of the stranded alien vessel that had been savagely attacked in the previous novel, Gabriel discovers that there was a far more sinister reason behind the brutal assault, and an even greater evil lurking in the background of this expansive and enthralling future.

As in the first book of the series, Gabriel Thorn continues to dominate […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:54:49+02:00December 7th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: John Graham, Science Fiction|