New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

Thriving After Sexual Abuse by Denise Bossarte

Author Denise Bossarte offers sage advice and encouragement to those who, like herself, were sexually abused in childhood by a family member, in Thriving After Sexual Abuse: Break Your Bondage to the Past and Live a Life You Love.

Part One, “Getting Help,” recounts Bossarte’s extensive exploration of individual and group therapies, giving a comprehensive overview of what to expect. “Embracing Joy” recalls her emotional and physical outlets: exercise, yoga, creative writing, and photography. “Figuring It Out and Moving On” explores the thorny issues of how and with whom she chose to share her traumatic experiences, and strategies for […]

SPR2021-05-13T08:59:46+02:00May 13th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Health Book Reviews|

Covid Chronicles: How Essential Workers Cope by Dr. Therese Zink

An unfiltered glimpse into the minds, struggles, failures, and joys of frontline workers who have faced Covid-19 across the world, Covid Chronicles by Dr. Therese Zink is a compassionate and eye-opening collection of real-life stories about the current moment.

From a methodical exploration of PPE and the physical discomforts of a hospital battlefield, to the desperation of group home caretakers and the systemic racism that reared its head so often during this pandemic, these stories are remarkably engaging. Based on a series of interviews, there are lighthearted moments of resilience between overworked doctors, as well as painful introductions to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-05-07T04:05:15+02:00May 7th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Health Book Reviews|

My Key Fits Every Door by Dennis Louis Dyer

A sharp-tongued private eye is pulled into a spiral of chateau intrigue, hired muscle, and dangerous dames in My Key Fits Every Door by Dennis Louis Dyer, a classic, twist-filled PI thriller.

In this noir drama set in the 1940s, Taylor is the gruff and grumbling protagonist with a knack for getting in over his head, and falling into bed with mysterious women. The plot moves almost as fast as the whip-smart conversations and one-liners, while the hotel setting, where much of the action takes place, comes to life through subtle descriptions and immersive narration.

While there is something nostalgic […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-05-05T08:47:59+02:00May 4th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Detective Fiction Book Reviews, Noir Book Reviews|

Legacy of Flame by Rebecca Bapaye

Rebecca Bapaye has beautifully envisioned a world drenched in magic, dark history, and epic quests with Legacy of Flame, her impressively detailed debut fantasy novel.

In this exciting and expansive new fantasy realm, romance, violence, betrayal, and power collide in a fast-moving, character-driven story, which boasts a creative magical scope that will enthrall old-school fantasy lovers. Elia is a richly imagined protagonist, an ice queen who is anything but a damsel in distress, and is given as much character depth as Syllian, her fire priest antagonist.

While readers will recognize certain themes and tropes from high fantasy, there are […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-05-20T04:12:31+02:00April 30th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Surviving Chaos by Harold Phifer

A memoir of anecdotes and long-spun yarns of life from author Harold Phifer, Surviving Chaos: How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar lives up to its title, overflowing with nearly unbelievable stories of struggle, strife, and survival.

From the war-torn streets of Afghanistan during the largest explosion to ever rock that country, to the cruel power struggles of the author’s matriarchal family, this confessional memoir peels back the ugly curtain of experience to distill wisdom and insight for readers willing to take such a recollective dive. The context of the story – riffing and unloading demons to a stranger […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-30T05:32:49+02:00April 30th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Remembrance of Beauty by Andrew Chiniche

Andrew Chiniche weaves a fictional poetic narrative about love, lust, and loss in Remembrance of Beauty, an experimental story steeped in psychological weight and erotic mystery.

This genre-defying collection of poetry lures readers deep into the story with its poignant subject matter, nebulous language, and philosophical wanderings, though it can be hard to track a discernible plot. The storyline is occasionally a thread connecting this poet’s disparate musings – mysterious houses with too much history, grief-filled men losing the women in their lives, eternal portraits, and symbol-laden figures all create a powerful atmosphere, but not necessarily a complete narrative. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-23T08:49:48+02:00April 23rd, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Eyes Last Seen Dying by Colin Adams

A vibrant and fully imagined new fantasy world springs to life in Eyes Last Seen Dying by Colin Adams, a visionary and violent fantasy adventure.

Subtly weaving YA themes into this detailed and masterfully designed world, Adams heads this fantasy action adventure with a powerfully relatable young protagonist. Lena is fast and fiercely independent, but far from invincible, even if the worst enemies emerge from her own mind. Forced to grow up at an impossible pace after accidentally nudging the world towards chaos and ruin, she must sharpen her skills to protect against mounting enemies on all sides.

Steeped in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-22T08:16:28+02:00April 21st, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

The Buzz Boys by Edward Izzi

A tenderly penned reflection on the broad spectrums of boys and men, The Buzz Boys by Edward Izzi explores quiet and forbidden trauma, and the unexpected bonds so many people form to survive.

In this generation-spanning exploration of hurt and healing, readers are carried along on a coming-of-age narrative of five devoted young men that stretches across decades. Though the author clearly states this to be a work of fiction, there are a multitude of intimate moments between characters, and expressions of raw emotion, that will feel profoundly visceral. Delving into triggering subjects like abandonment, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-21T05:32:40+02:00April 21st, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|