Sports Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Play Like He Would by Heath Hamrick

Tragedy and triumph collide beneath the Friday night lights in Play Like He Would by Heath Hamrick, a gritty true story of perseverance, honor, and the lasting impact of loss.

After a tough string of losing seasons and discouraging setbacks, “Slugger” Hamrick eagerly takes over as the head coach of the Bremond Tigers – a small and scrappy football team from East Texas. The town still remembers what vicarious victory and gridiron glory feel like, fueling dreams of young players and the excited hopes of a community. After a modest start at Bremond, Hamrick needs to deliver a playoff run […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-08-21T11:03:01+02:00August 20th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

Review: The St. Paul Phantom by Gerard Gibbons

An epic American odyssey, The St. Paul Phantom: The Gibbons Brothers’ Fight for Glory, Volume I by Gerard Gibbons is an exhilarating look back at the guts, glory, and fiery spirit of the early 20th century through the lives of two brothers and boxers.

Recounting the story of his larger-than-life grandfather, Tommy Gibbons, and his brother Mike, the author gives readers ringside seats to their meteoric rise and unforgettable careers as heavyweight boxers and living legends. The two brothers with seemingly impossible dreams climbed out of obscurity in St. Paul, Minnesota to become titans of the ring in their corner […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-07-22T09:24:46+02:00May 14th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Biography Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

Cycling 70 Years by Gordon Neale

Spinning through the years of a remarkable life on the move, Cycling 70 Years: Once World Champion by Gordon Neale is an inspiring and original memoir from a humble champion of the sport.

Recounting his eclectic and adventurous decades as a long-distance cyclist, from amateur competitions in France, Spain, and England to securing a World Championship in Russia, along with a diverse career off the bike, this is an intimate tale of resilience, discipline, and a healthy dose of reckless abandon. Whether competing, training, coaching, traveling, recovering, or relaxing in style, the author’s free-spirited optimism and perennial stubbornness lead to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-01-13T14:56:05+02:00January 13th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

Review: I Paid to Play the Game by Russell Rosen

Tracing the unexpected journey of an aspiring baseball star, I Paid to Play the Game by Russell Rosen is a touchingly honest memoir, reflecting on growing up, following your dreams, and embracing even the hardest truths.

As a child, the author loved every facet of America’s pastime, following the local teams’ exploits in the newspaper and eagerly awaiting the next time his family would catch a game. Playing on an organized team wasn’t an option until his late teens – well past the typical age for a serious pursuit at going pro.

Even so, Rosen dedicated himself to the dream, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-04T18:34:17+02:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

Review: The Buddha and the Bee by Cory Mortensen

Inviting readers on a wild ride from Minnesota to California, The Buddha and the Bee: Biking through America’s Forgotten Roadways on an Accidental Journey of Discovery by Cory Mortensen is an atypical adventure for wanderers and workplace dreamers alike. Part road guide and part diary, biking lovers can follow the well-laid route on these pages, learn to sidestep critical unpleasant lessons, and gain the confidence to take their own big swings of adventure without fear.

Pedaling through the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the unforgiving Southwest desert, and the Sierra Nevadas, this is far from a casual trek, particularly given […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-03-19T14:27:08+02:00March 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews, Travel Book Reviews|

Review: This Was Always About Basketball by Craig Leener

Author Craig Leener hits nothing but net in the third and final installment of his Zeke Archer Trilogy with This Was Always About Basketball. Perfectly balancing young adult drama with time-traveling fantasy, this novel is a thrilling, heartwrenching, and mind-bending read.

Diving back into the strange science of the 7th Dimension, and with help from his unusual and darkly humorous sidekick Lawrence, Zeke Archer once again finds himself facing impossible odds. After his archenemy Brock Decker finds a way to travel back in time and change the history of basketball, Zeke must tap into sacred geometry and the secrets […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-23T06:39:06+02:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Sports Book Reviews, Time Travel Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Crimson Arrows by Eyad H. Yehyawi

For someone who has never hunted an animal in their life, the prospect of a collection centered around bowhunting may not hold much immediate appeal, but Crimson Arrows: A Bowhunting Odyssey by Eyad H. Yehyawi is much more than it may initially seem. This book is a heartfelt exploration of youth and growth through the lens of a hunter finding his feet in that sport – and in his entire life.

The first thing one notices about Yehyawi’s writing is the sincerity; each story hums with personal touches and genuine emotion. He is able to dig through his memories, some […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-05-17T02:28:25+02:00May 16th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

Review: City of Angels by K. Patrick

★★★★

City of Angels by K. Patrick commands a reader’s immediate attention with a riveting story about the triumph of the human spirit.

Almost eighteen years old, Michael Connolly is a product of the Los Angeles child services system after the untimely death of his beloved father and sister had sent his mother on a downward spiral into depression and suicide seven years earlier. Unlike many young men in his situation, Mike has risen above his tragic circumstances and has carried on his father’s legacy as a boxer. Thanks to the devoted ministrations of Jerry, his coach, Mike has earned […]

Marta Cheng2017-11-02T12:04:30+02:00November 1st, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|