Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Consequence of Murder by Michael J. Young M.D.

Is there such a thing as the perfect medical murder? Consequence of Murder, a gripping medical thriller by Michael J. Young M.D., explores the chilling possibility.

Dr. Jay Yamp, Head of the Department of Urology at University Hospital Medical Center in Chicago and his friend and research partner, Professor Max Conit, have created a hydrogel that promises exciting new advancements in kidney stone removal surgery. Dr. Yamp, along with his chief resident, Dr. Sandra Holleb, give the hydrogel its first run during a routine kidney stone surgery and everything goes off without a hitch. The hydrogel shows huge promise […]

Marta Cheng2020-02-21T06:27:05+02:00June 12th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Medical Book Reviews|

Review: Golden Keys to Open Doors by Harry Meier

In the realm of modern spirituality, there are many authors who propose to have the answers, or to know the correct path for spiritual well-being, spawning an entire spirituality industry – valued in the hundreds of billions—for people to lean into in order to clear their mind and cleanse their spirits. In Golden Keys to Open Doors: About Spiritual Cotton Candy, author Harry Meier exposes some of his biggest criticisms with the modern realm of spirituality, and provides his own alternative path.

Meier takes a unique approach to his subject, because where so many other spiritual gurus and guides […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-15T10:25:28+02:00June 8th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews, Spirituality Book Reviews|

Review: A Glossary of Life by Manny Garcia

Language is arguably the most important advancement of our species, the tool that helps us define and explain our experience and existence. While all words are useful, some are timelessly tied up in mystery, wisdom, philosophy and emotion. Author Manny Garcia has collected and defined some of these universally significant ideas in his new book A Glossary of Life: Deeper Meaning Behind Our Most Common Words, which is almost certainly unlike any text you’ve ever read.

If you’re expecting a narrative story, this isn’t the book for you. As the title implies, it truly is a glossary – one […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T07:51:32+02:00June 6th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons

A comprehensive analysis of democracy and its ideals since inception doesn’t immediately sound like a riveting read, but The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons is like no other history, work of anthropology, or political science book you’ve read before. With an informal voice and the ability to never take the subject too seriously, Lyons presents an impressive and insightful look at the trials and tribulations of human societies as we’ve attempted to find purpose and make peace.

The scale and scope of this book are initially daunting, but Lyons lays out an intuitive framework and explains the angle […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-03T12:48:42+02:00June 2nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: The Detour by Travis Pearson

In The Detour, a new novel by rising author Travis Pearson, readers are led down the dark roads of America into a nearly forgotten town, where evil is not only pervasive, but also boasts a badge.

The story starts innocently enough, as recently unemployed Dan Icor decides to take a trip across the country to clear his mind and figure out his next steps. However, it’s not long before the novel takes a savage turn, as Dan must defend an innocent Native American family from a brutal gang of local thugs at a gas station. In the process, Dan […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-02T07:24:22+02:00June 1st, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Crime Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Lacks Self-Control by Roy Sekoff

In Lacks Self-Control: True Stories I Waited Until My Parents Died to Tell, author Roy Sekoff plumbs his past for anecdotal stories that will leave readers chuckling, cringing, and occasionally crying with laughter. As the founding editor of Huffington Post, Sekoff’s perspective on political issues is well known, but this new collection of stories points his scathing wit squarely on himself.

With acerbic self-awareness, Sekoff opens up about his tumultuous childhood, largely due to his own chaotic behavior and questionable views on authority. He continues the confessional on into his young adulthood, with occasional flash-forwards to even more recent […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-01T09:23:52+02:00May 28th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: The Coordinate by Marc Jacobs

The idea that there are hidden secrets about humanity’s past will continually fascinate readers, and it is done to great effect in The Coordinate. In this YA thriller by Marc Jacobs, two high school students are thrown into the adventure of a lifetime when a school project turns out to be the first step in a mysterious journey into the past.

When Logan is paired up with Emma James for a school project researching an archaeological site in Honduras, he is far more excited by the prospect of getting closer to his long-time crush than he is about solving […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-28T04:02:11+02:00May 26th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Last Night in Granada by Chris Pellizzari

Our physical place in the world defines so much of our mindset, and the longing to be elsewhere can be toxic, addictive and impossible to ignore. The main character in Chris Pellizzari’s new novel, Last Night in Granada, understands this desire for a far-flung home, a refuge of love and peace away from the mad bustle of cold water flats and the harsh streets of Chicago.

In this surreal exploration of one man’s desperation and adoration for his old life in Spain, despite his exile, the author delves into the obsession of possible salvation, and escape. Along the way, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-21T11:15:55+02:00May 23rd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|