Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Dragon Blood (Shadow War Saga) by Elana A. Mugdan

All journeys take unpredictable turns, as is the case for Keriya Soulstar, the intrepid protagonist of Dragon Blood, the third book in the Shadow War Saga by author Elana A. Mugdan.

When Keriya wakes up on the other side of the world, far from Allentria and her loyal companions, she must face a new and terrifying reality. Her part in the ancient war back home is over, for a time, but she remains determined to return and finish what she had started.

Armed only with her magic sword— – had saved her from the evil shadow of Necrovar – […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-04T10:54:15+02:00December 10th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Nightmare City by P.S. Newman

The line between dreams and reality is shattered in Nightmare City by author P.S. Newman, the first book in her new Nightmare City series.

Los Angeles has collapsed into a dystopian roller-coaster, one in which the stuff of nightmares crosses over into the real world. To prevent complete destruction, the world has changed, and hunters patrol this new landscape, eliminating the horrors from the depths of dreams. Eden Maybrey is one of these shade hunters, someone who walks the night with sword in hand, cleaving horrific visions from reality.

This is a world where every shade is tracked back to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-01-31T09:01:59+02:00December 2nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Shadow Tag, Perdition Games by L.E. Fraser

The Perdition Games series by L.E. Fraser continues with Shadow Tag, a brutal and unpredictable thriller that will keep readers looking over their shoulder, and questioning the sage advice of their medical professionals. The tangled threads of this plot are brilliantly woven into a web of corruption, cruelty, revenge and perseverance.

Tasked with investigating a sinister crime under the guise of an internship at a psychiatric hospital, Samantha McNamara is dragged back into a dark, cult-filled corner of her own past. Reece Hash, Sam’s fiancee, is simultaneously investigating a string of cases that may have been perpetrated by a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-01-28T10:50:21+02:00November 20th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness by Keri Mangis

Author Keri Mangis has created an intriguing memoir interweaving the facts of her earthly life with visits to various spiritual realms with beings that offer not only guidance, but preparation and prediction in Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness: A Memoir of New Beginnings.

Mangis first describes the events of her current incarnation. She was born into a generally normal family, her parents loving but distant. In school she learned to deal with fears and insecurities while showing a great love of books and proving herself to be a prize-winning competitive runner.

With vague plans for college near home, […]

SPR2020-01-28T08:10:05+02:00November 18th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews, Spirituality Book Reviews|

Audiobook Review: The Leaves of Fate by George Robert Minkoff

Author George Robert Minkoff has solidified his place as a brilliant author of historical fiction with The Leaves of Fate, the third and final installment of the In the Land of Whispers series, which details the trials and tribulations of the Jamestown colony, as well as its heroic leader. This epic end to Captain John Smith’s legendary journey is unraveled in unpredictable detail and explores a critical period in history from a unique and captivating perspective.

Following on from the fever dreams and expansive storytelling of Book 2, The Leaves of Fate brings readers back across the mighty ocean, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-01-03T08:25:46+02:00November 13th, 2019|Categories: Audiobook Reviews, Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Point to Counterpoint by Mel D. Gill

With thoughtful grace and the sage wisdom of a life well-lived, Point to Counterpoint: Poetic Reflections on Life, Love and Passion by poet Mel D. Gill is a remarkable collection of poems spanning a dizzying array of subjects. With a unique structure and intentional interaction with the reader, this book boasts an original presentation from a clearly practiced poet.

Divided into eleven themed chapters, this is not merely a collection of poetry, but also contains small, powerful essays and musings, often supported and bolstered by the wise words of others. In so many collections, poets simply present their work, leaving […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-13T11:08:35+02:00November 11th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: In Spite of Us by Deb & Sandy Palmer

In Spite of Us by Deb and Sandy Palmer truly exemplifies its subtitle, “A Love Story about Second Chances,” offering a moving story of love, faith, and renewal in the face of addiction.

Deb is a divorced mother of two and part-time student who shares custody of her kids with her ex-husband. When not in mother-mode preparing lunches for her kids, she’s recovering from her last bender. An affair with her boss only fills a void but when she’s in a room lit with vodka and delusion, Deb believes theirs to be a grand love affair.

Coming from a Scotch-Irish […]

Marta Cheng2020-01-03T07:58:56+02:00November 6th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Addiction Book Reviews, Memoir Book Reviews, Religion Book Reviews|

Review: All Roads Lead to Lawrence by Craig Leener

Readers are welcomed back into the strange world of Zeke and the Seventh Dimension in the wild and wise All Roads Lead to Lawrence by Craig Leener.

A sequel to the acclaimed This Was Never About Basketball, our protagonist is a bit older and wiser, but his heart still beats with every bounce of the basketball. Now the point guard for his college team, he may think he’s done with his extra-dimensional adventures, but his journey is only beginning.

Upon the death of his brother, Zeke’s reality begins coming apart at the seams, and it doesn’t help that not […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-12-20T08:11:58+02:00November 4th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|