New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

Forecast by Aaron Ryan

A supernatural historical thriller that challenges the ideas of destiny and free will, Forecast by Aaron Ryan is an intriguing work of alternate history about one of the darkest days in modern America.

When Roland Bishop begins seeing flashes of the future after a freak accident, this New Jersey weatherman is pulled into a life of vigilante rescues for strangers and loved ones alike. However, after a disturbing vision of a hijacking and a massive terrorist attack in New York City, he must find a way to prevent his grim 9/11 prophecy from becoming reality. With the help of his […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-01-02T16:59:18+02:00December 31st, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Terrorist Thriller Book Reviews|

Professor Nincompoop by Jimmy Vee, Illustrated by Ben Askew

A children’s book that encourages young readers to think critically, Professor Nincompoop by Jimmy Vee is a wildly entertaining read with a poignant yet subtle message.

Professor Nincompoop is a scientist whose dream is to be included in the Professors Hall of Fame. Talking to two young acquaintances who love to learn new things, the professor claims to have found the most mysterious animal on Earth, traveling far and wide to find clues to its location from talkative cheetahs and baboons. When he takes out a tiny box, however, Nick and Tessa are perplexed – how could such a strange […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-12-20T18:35:23+02:00December 20th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Our Serum Run Story by Marla B. Brodsky, Illustrated by Lara Renner & Tabetha Kopta

An inspiring children’s story of big dreams, big dogs, and amazing resilience, Our Serum Run Story: By the T’s, U’s, V’s & Me! by Marla B. Brodsky tells a thrilling tale of the author’s journey to an epic race in Alaska with her sled team of Huskies.

Told from the perspective of her dauntless dogs, who love nothing more than snow, running, and snuggling with their Mama, the story bounces between charming anecdotes of canine freedom and gritty days of hard work on the trail. After months of training in harsh winter conditions, the sled team drives cross-country to Nenana, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-17T14:01:27+02:00December 13th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Children's Book Reviews, Pets Book Reviews|

Yesteryear’s Wish by Zixiao Yu

A years-long tale of connection, loss, and the emotional minefields of youth, Yesteryear’s Wish by Zixiao Yu is a striking portrait of unfulfilled love and the uncertainties of life.

When the narrator’s stable home is disrupted by the arrival of his cousin, Yunyun, their childish clashes soon shift to an inseparable bond, but age and distance quickly pull them apart. New chapters of life bring new responsibilities, pressures, and infatuations, but the lingering past is rarely far from their minds.

Broken into three sections of connection, displacement, and reflection, this is a story of young hope written with the wisdom […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-09T17:27:32+02:00December 9th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Tokyo Tempos by Michael Pronko

An outpouring of well-penned admiration for the enigmatic architecture, music, philosophy, and denizens of Japan’s capital, Tokyo Tempos by Michael Pronko is an artful love letter to an inimitable city. His obvious reverence for Japan is clear, and he writes with a blend of humility and pride that only comes from deeply loving your chosen home.

Largely composed of articles and essays the author published while working as a writer and teacher in Tokyo, this collection of vignettes and brief stories is driven by the author’s perpetual curiosity and hunger for new experiences. Pronko, an American who has lived in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-12-02T14:32:37+02:00December 2nd, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Travel Book Reviews|

The Cleopatra Aspect Series Box Set by AJ Channing

A steamy trilogy of love triangles and dangerous ambitions, The Cleopatra Aspect Series Box Set by AJ Channing is a thrilling collection for fans of bad-boy romance.

Freshly graduated Tia Sanchez embarks on a luxurious vacation to Dubai with her friend Julia, but their experiences abroad couldn’t be more different, as they both learn about the hidden desires of powerful men. In the second installment, Tia strikes a beneficial bargain with a tall, dark, and wealthy hunk on the Amalfi Coast, but their sham marriage soon begins to feel like a prison, especially after she falls for her charming and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-18T17:47:37+02:00November 18th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

Women of Wolfram Camp by Jenny Kroonstuiver

A wartime drama featuring a stunning quintet of protagonists, Women of Wolfram Camp by Jenny Kroonstuiver is a remarkable tale of fortitude and community solidarity in wartime.

Freshly widowed Felicity, seeking stability in a world suddenly turned upside down, answers a wanted ad for a waitress at Wolfram Camp, a mining camp on the northeast coast of Queensland. Matilda, liberated from the oppression of her husband who’s away in the conflagration of World War I, becomes an even more respected figure as the owner of a bustling guest house. Bringing what is today a ghost town back to gritty and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-08T18:17:16+02:00November 8th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction|

The Clock in My Head Never Stops by Daniel Rush

A raw account of a teenage boy battling the relentless weight of anxiety, The Clock in My Head Never Stops by Daniel Rush is a relatable and detailed portrait of silent struggle.

Readers follow Billy’s steps through a typical day of high school, where he overthinks every step of the way, from nerve-wracking moments of class participation and awkward upperclassmen crushes to the self-doubt of team sports and emotional disconnection from seemingly oblivious parents. His unwanted and obsessive focus on time, expectations, potential disappointments, failures, or embarrassment goes beyond the typical worries of most teenagers, crossing into the realm of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-05T13:13:18+02:00November 5th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|