New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

The Hub of Hell by Beverly Porter

Tales of murder, scandal and injustice from the rugged end of the 19^th century in America hold a perennial appeal, and The Hub of Hell from author Beverly Porter has all of these aspects in spades. The book is a shocking glimpse into law enforcement of the past, and an impressively complete account of the strange autumn and winter of 1887.

Inspired by a single newspaper article, this true story is a well-researched reconstruction of the dramatic events and players surrounding a trio of imprisoned brothers in Minneapolis more than 130 years ago. Pete, Tim and Henry Barrett sit […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-08-22T06:04:25+02:00August 21st, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: History Book Reviews|

The Healer’s Daughters by Jay Amberg

The Healer’s Daughters is a complex and gripping new novel by author Jay Amberg, bridging mysticism and truth, as well as time and space. Tying together ancient cultural beliefs, insightful flashbacks, mystical practices, and enough treasure hunting to satisfy a Clive Cussler fan, this tangled tale is difficult to put down both for its originality and skillful storytelling.

From the ancient trials of Galen, the second century’s most famous physician, to the terrors of the modern day in Turkey, this book is sweeping and ambitious, but also carefully penned, culturally sensitive, and finely polished. After a terror attack rips through […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-21T03:49:28+02:00August 20th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, International Thriller Book Reviews|

This Ain’t My Life by Bilal Alaji

The American immigrant experience, particularly for those of Muslim descent, has become a front-page topic in recent years, giving This Ain’t My Life by author Bilal Alaji a true sense of import, for a timely and poignant read.

Recounting his life from childhood to the present, this is a brutally honest and precisely recorded story, one that feels very naturally told, but also framed within larger social issues and beliefs the author wants to highlight. The author’s youthful success and whimsy were dampened by brutal familial expectations, run-ins with the law, and self-professed mistakes in judgment. Despite repeated stumbles and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-08-20T14:27:36+02:00August 20th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Strange Quantum Souls by Chris Carvell

Scholars and thinkers have been seeking the substance of the soul since time immemorial, but author Chris Carvell proposes something entirely unique in his new book Strange Quantum Souls. Blending high-level mathematics with cognitive philosophy and quantum theory, this book is a wild and challenging dive into the realm of quantum consciousness.

Carvell’s argument combines ideas of micro-black holes and a Super-Ether that feed our brains information to form our thoughts and consciousness on an instantaneous level. If that single sentence is a struggle to unpack, you’ll have a truly tangled (and thought-provoking) time comprehending the rest of this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-12-17T07:57:50+02:00July 31st, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Philosophy Book Reviews, Science Book Reviews|

Land of Kings (The Britannia Chronicles Book 2) by Virginia Weldon

The mythology and mystery of ancient Britannia are brought vividly to life in Land of Kings, the second installment of Virginia Weldon’s Britannia Chronicles.

A decade after Regan, Valerius, Cara, and Alana’s lives first collide, peace feels like a distant dream and there are still many battles on the horizon. Regan, having honed his impressive battle skills in the gladiator pits, returns to Britannia with his freedom intact, fire in his belly and a singular goal of reuniting with the woman he loves. Meanwhile, the rebel forces of the island nation are amassing under Queen Boudicca, and Alana and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-22T10:49:51+02:00July 22nd, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fantasy Book Reviews, Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Nondisclosure by Geoffrey M. Cooper

Medical research leads to deadly consequences in Geoffrey M. Cooper’s exciting new medical thriller, Nondisclosure.

Professor Brad Parker, a department chair at one of Boston’s top universities, is about to meet with the dean for their annual budget meeting when a member of his department arrives, informing Brad that one of their graduate students was sexually assaulted the night before and that he believes a colleague has done it.

When Brad informs the dean, she assigns Karen Richmond, a top-notch investigator with the university police force, to conduct the investigation and orders Brad to assist Karen. As Brad and […]

Marta Cheng2020-02-21T06:27:00+02:00July 15th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Medical Book Reviews|

McDowell by William H. Coles

Dr. Hiram McDowell is irascible, he’s arrogant, and he’s tough to love, except as a character, in William H. Coles’ riveting character portrait, McDowell.

A quintessential character who you love to hate, McDowell is indifferent to his wife (his third), his children, and his neighbors. He’s earned his pride as head of surgery in Denver, leading a foundation for the underprivileged in Nepal, and becoming a nominee for the U.S. President’s cabinet. However, with an almost superheroic degree of self-absorption, the novel challenges the reader to stick with a character who has so little to offer as a person.[…]

SPR2019-07-10T11:53:11+02:00July 10th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Earth Log by Blaine C. Readler

There are plenty of things we take for granted as humans, but few things seem as easy to overlook as our self-awareness. In Earth Log, a new novel by Blaine C. Readler, that same great power is bestowed upon a ferret, who “wakes up” one day overwhelmed with curiosity, questions, and a new appreciation for the complexity of life.

As the ferret moves through its small universe – his owner Joanne’s apartment – he figuratively and literally bumps into obstacles and quandaries that domesticated animals typically don’t ponder. From tumbling through a laundry shoot, losing his home, and witnessing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-07T12:13:20+02:00June 7th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|