Self publishing advice from writing to marketing and everything in-between.
Category: Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week
We post a weekly book review of a self-published book (submitted by the author). To submit your review, please send it to selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com with a .jpg image of your cover. Self Publishing Advice will post your review and cover image on our blog.
Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:
Ancient Guardians: The Hawaiian Legend of Sharktooth and Hawkeye
The Secrets of an Ancient Legend Come Alive! Adventurous, imaginative, and brave, Kawehi has enjoyed her life on the island of Kaua‘i, and she especially loves the time she spends with Kahoku, her older brother. But when a shocking event unexpectedly turns her world upside down, Kawehi will find herself facing unimaginable truths about her family and the people around her, as she is catapulted headlong into a world of mystery and myth. Although Kawehi’s gentleness and innocence are powerful talismans against the evil she will confront, the strength of her character, and the amazing gifts she never knew she had will allow her to rise to heights of achievement that her family could never have dreamed of. Beautifully written, rich with the culture, surroundings, and native legends of Hawai‘i, Ancient Guardians: The Hawaiian Legend of Sharktooth and Hawkeye introduces a unique heroine and her family, whose adventures you will be excited to follow in this inventive and compelling new series.
* courtesy of Amazon.com
Featured Review: “Ancient Guardians” By Kanani Hurley
In “Ancient Guardians” by Kanani Hurley, we meet Kawehi, a young girl growing up on the idyllic island of Kaua’i. Kawehi’s life is suddenly thrown off kilter when a serious tragedy occurs that affects her whole family. As the family struggles to process what happened, they discover there is more to the situation than meets the eye. The entire family draws closer together to try to stop potential future events. As the family gathers, Kawehi learns much about the history of her people, and realizes that she will have to fight evil to save the future of her family.
As the adventure progresses, Kawehi discovers that she and her family members all have very special gifts. They must use these talents to defeat the people who are trying to destroy them. The author takes us back in time so that we can see how the drama began. Going forward in time, there are still people from the past that must be dealt with. For Kawehi, this experience helps her grow up very quickly and she soon finds herself becoming the heroine of the story.
I really enjoyed reading “Ancient Guardians.” Even though the heroine is young, the book is written at a level that both teens and adults will be able to enjoy. The subject matter is age appropriate for preteens and teens. This would be the perfect story to have on a summer reading list. The unique setting of being on a Hawaiian Island while trying to solve the mystery of an ancient legend makes the book magical. It quickly captivated me. I loved that the family members had such a tight connection with each other. This helped strengthen their gifts. It is also refreshing to find family members that like each other in a novel for youth.
“Ancient Guardians” by Kanani Hurley is highly recommended reading. This would make a great gift for a young avid reader.
A great read that takes you on a journey between modern Hawaii today and the folklore of ancient Hawaii. A tale about a typical modern Hawaiian family except that they have a special spiritual connection to the past. I enjoyed traveling seamlessly between both worlds. With inspiration coming from a real life tragedy, I couldn’t help but become emotionally involved in the life and death and rebirth of Kahoku. It was moving, it was interesting and it was fun. Also, I’ve noticed that there are many Hawaiian fiction books for younger kids but not so many for intermediate school or above. I will be sharing my book with my teenagers next. Thank you.
This tale draws you in as soon as you begin reading. The storyline is captivating and I felt as though I was in a movie theater watching all of it unfold. I felt a connection with the characters and became “emotionally invested” throughout the story. As an avid reader, I gauge the quality of a story on its ability to evoke an emotional response. Ancient Guardians: The Hawaiian Legend of Sharktooth and Hawkeye did just that!
A vivid and poignant story that sends you on a thrilling adventure as you navigate the world of the mano and pueo; you feel as if you are there with Kawehi – watching through her eyes as this mystical world unfolds before her, feeling her love, fear, pain, and strength. This is an amusing, mesmerizing, and sweet story that you will not regret reading.
Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:
A package vanishes. A ship sets sail. A manhunt begins. The year is 1007 EE, and four great powers–Cadona, Domataland, Sohn-Sur, and Visstel–are battling for world dominance. Leeha Ritsagin is one of the seventeen billion humans caught up in the battle of the giants. She enjoys old movies, works hard, longs for a boyfriend, fears elevators, cares about the world, and is a wanted criminal. Her story begins on a drive across town, and while she worries about getting lost, the danger she faces doesn’t wait for her in the slums of Cadona City. Rather, it comes inside a simple paper bag that appears in the backseat of her old car. Powerful members of the Back-to-Basics Club launch a manhunt to catch the thief who stole their package at a time when Club leaders are primed to take control of the Cadonan government, start a war against fabricated enemies, and deploy the world’s most powerful weapon: Toxic Sphere.
In response to growing international peril, the rising nation of Domataland dispatches its Goodwill Ship to aid a threatened ally. When news of the package’s disappearance reaches the desk of Domataland’s president, he instructs his intelligence chief to find the thief, hoping to use the mysterious package against his Cadonan adversaries. With Leeha’s life in danger, investigative journalist Bob Fullerby begins his own search to find the young woman before her hunters do. C. N. Sky’s debut novel is an ambitious saga with engaging characters, pulse-quickening action, and well-crafted suspense-a definite must-read by an up-and-coming new voice in fiction.
* courtesy of Amazon.com
Featured Review: Dystopia, religion, politics, and a girl.
This book was quite a surprise! It kind of echoes the scenario of the lord of the rings, wherein a simplistic person is whipped out of their comfortable shell, into a world being manipulated by a handful of different powers. It weaves two themes throughout the book: the workings of a few elite; and the struggle of one “small” person. It’s generally done quite well, and the author is a master at whipping you through mystery and action scenes. The visions of various lands and people are left imprinted very strongly in your mind. One thing that didn’t suit my taste, though, was the presentation of the “elite, royalty” types of characters. They were quite a jarring, deliberate, slow-down from the main character’s journey. If you like classic sci-fi, you’ll love this book! If it had Heinlein or Philip K. Dick’s name on the cover, I’d have been fooled! Looking forward to seeing more like this, if anyone has more recommendations to share?
A friend asked me to give this book a read. Usually I ignore such requests but, for some reason the story sounded interesting. Something really resonated with me for some reason.
Long story short: I devoured it in short order.
The story is not from Earth but it so eerily reflects elements from the societies of our planet. People do bad things for selfish reasons, hurting many others in the process. This book presents a similar but different narrative though there always seems to be hope. For every bad thing that happens there is someone ready to stand up and at least try to do right. Even as the tension grows.
There must be a whole series of books because this first volume seems to set up soooo many more twists and turns than one more book could deliver.
Honestly, I kept thinking that this could be a story for a TV series or movie. There are just so many visually dramatic opportunities.
Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:
This is a children’s book about Albert the Camel and his owner Mr. Geoff. Albert and Mr. Geoff try to find work, but Albert always has problems. This book is published by Outskirts Press. The author taught school for 28 years and had strange pets.
* courtesy of Amazon.com
Featured Review:
This sweet picture book has been overlooked by many and shouldn’t be; the author, Dr. Peggy Turnage, passed away in 2015 and was unable to promote her work to the degree that many others are able. This said, the book itself features gorgeous illustrations by Sally Taylor, full of life and color, vim and vigor, and earnest sweetness. The story follows, as is perhaps expected from the title, Big Albert the (somewhat grumpy old) camel as he journeys through life and learns just what it means to live in this world … and with others!
One of the most attractive elements of this book to us, personally, has been the balance of text to page. Many children’s picture books cram the page so full of text that younger children (under the age of 3, specifically) really struggle to pay attention. Turnage and Taylor manage the text gracefully, here, with justthe right combination of image and text–and that text is big and bold and easy to read, perfect for demonstrating finger-reading (when you begin to indicate to children how to read a page by following the words with your finger, which is usually paired with first teaching children their letters and numbers). Really, we couldn’t have invented a more perfect book to cozy up with this winter.
– the editors of Self Publishing Advisor
A clever and interesting children’s book. It should encourage little ones to read.
Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:
When Love Never Ends is the love story of Sam and Sara, once separated, then reunited, then lost to each other again … unless Sam can find a way to change their destiny. As with many young couples, Sam and Sara meet at a dance, start dating, and soon fall in love. Sam is a college man; Sara only a junior in high school-but for Sam, the age difference doesn’t matter. Sara is the girl of his dreams. He wants to be with her, and she with him, and they look forward to a future together. Plans for that happy future, however, are squashed when Sara’s bigoted father, Ralph Henderson, finds out about Sam’s mixed Japanese-Caucasian heritage. Henderson refuses to allow his daughter to date a “breed,” and devises a cruel scheme to separate them for good. Years later, Sara seeks legal help, and the lawyer she contacts is Sam, now a partner in a prestigious law firm. Though she’s in a difficult personal situation, Sara’s feelings for Sam are easily rekindled, as are his feelings for her. Just when it looks like they will be able to have a future together after all, catastrophe occurs.
After months of crippling grief and depression, Sam develops an interest in his friend’s pet project dealing with time travel. Though Sam once scoffed at the idea, the improbable now seems his only hope: to travel back in time and change the order of events-to change their destiny. When Love Never Ends is a rich saga of a love that endures beyond all bounds. J. Alec Keaton’s evocative images, true-to-life characters, and clever plot twists are exactly on point. He deftly maneuvers the complex concept of time travel in a manner that is both satisfying and convincing. As his main character comes to realize, “Time goes on forever, and life is just a fleeting moment.”
* courtesy of Amazon.com
Featured Review: A Book & A Dish
AVOCADO BREAD
(A J. Alec Keaton Favorite)
3 eggs 1 cup Imperial margarine (microwave to soften) ½ cup of nuts (optional) 1 cup diced avocado 2 cups flour 1 ½ cups of sugar ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ¼ cup allspice
Soften margarine and mix with sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, beat well. Add dry ingredients, nuts and avocado. Spray 3 loaf pans with PAM and pour mixture evenly. Bake at 350 in oven for 45 minutes. (the time may vary slightly depending on the exact temperature of your oven)
Double recipe to make 5 loaves.
Review
Sam never uttered the words “I love you” to any woman with whom he had a sexual relationship. He had said those three words only to Sara, who was the love of his life. Threatened and intimidated by her father, Sam had walked away from her a long time ago. That happened in 1966 and now, thirteen years later, he was still in love with her. Sam tried not to think of her, but in the deepest reaches of his heart, he could never forget her. A man never forgets his first love. Sam’s ultimate desire was to correct the one mistake he’d made long ago. His friend, Dr. Jeremiah Ebenezer Pike, always talked about the possibility of time travel. If it was possible to travel back in time, then I’d correct the mistake I made in leaving Sara, Sam thought.
It was only since the loss of his wife four years ago that Ebb had been obsessed with the concept of time travel. On a Wednesday, Sam met Ebb for dinner. “Ebb, tell me more about your project of time travel.”
Sara’s father was a bit of a bigot. When he found out that Sam was part Japanese he forbid Sam to see Sara. With there being a 5 year age difference he threatened Sam with statutory rape, along with threats regarding Sam’s parents as well as Sara herself if he didn’t break it off with her immediately without allowing her to know that her father had intervened. Sam had always wanted to be an attorney and this dream would be destroyed if he went to jail. He also worried about what would happen to his parents if his dad lost his job and how Sara would thrive with her father controlling her every move. He had no choice but to break it off, hurting both of them more than either could imagine.
Sam saw his dream and became a graduate of Harvard University. He met Elliot Benson who was the controlling partner in an exclusive law firm that represented some of the more wealthy clients in Seattle. Benson took an immediate liking to Sam and offered him a position within the firm. Sam was impressed but had committed to work for Senator Kennedy in Washington for four or five years. After completing this he would return to Seattle and if Benson still wanted him he was his.
After returning to Seattle, Sam’s life was still incomplete. The missing element was Sara so when she walked into his office one day asking if he would represent her in her divorce against an abusive husband, Sam felt the missing pieces of his life coming back together. Until……
This book is so beautifully filled with love and commitment. It also holds hate and disappointments. But then it holds the possibility of everything being corrected and happiness falling upon everyone within Sam and Sara’s lives. This was a truly enjoyable book with a surprise around every corner.
– Review byMartha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds
“When Love Never Ends” is a wonderful portrayal of young first love. In the summer of 1965, Sara Henderson, a junior in high school, attends a college dance with her best friend Becky.and her sister Rose. At the dance, she meets her “Prince Charming”, Sam Stephens, a senior and a quarterback.at the college. For Sara, Sam is all that a girl could ever want in a man, handsome, tall, charismatic, and intelligent. Sam and Sara date throughout the summer and fall madly in love.
Sara’s father, Ralph Henderson, upon meeting Sam immediately dislikes Sam, because he looked a half breed. He had his buddy, Detective Frank Sorenson to investigate Sam. Ralph and Frank are members of the Mountaineer Club, consisting of men with similar racist & bigoted views. Upon learning that Sam is half Japanese and half Caucasian, they derive a scheme so Sam would never see his daughter Sara again.
Years later, Sam graduates from Harvard Law School and becomes successful lawyer/partner with the top law firm in Seattle but he never stopped loving Sara, One day, she walks into his office seeking his council and the love that they had for each other is rekindled, but tragedy does not elude them.
The author, J.Alec Keaton, superbly writes about young love and what their life could have been if we could travel back in time and change the course of action in our lives. He reminds us that wrong decisions we make today can adversely affect our future. It is book of fantasy of “What ifs”.
“When Love Never Ends” is a very touching love story which combines some sad, hurtful events with racial overtones that tug your heart. Keaton portrays the intense power of first (and forbidden) young love with skill and sensitivity, but also with some intense and tantalizing erotica that makes the pages turn fast and furious.
A story of love and caring. Sam is able to travel back in time with the help of his friend Ebb and right the wrongs of the past so that he might live a happier life. He also changes the past for Ebb so that they both share happiness in their future.
Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:
This is the story of a Kiwi elf named Yvette (her friends call her Yve) who lives on Rakiura/Stewart Island–the third largest island in New Zealand. And this little elf has a very big dream…
The great wish of her heart, of her mind, of her soul
Was to join St. Nick’s team at the frosty North Pole.
But how does an elfish lass follow her dream?
With a smoldering passion, and a will full of steam.
New Zealand is a long, long way from Santa and the North Pole, but Yve is determined to join St. Nick and his eight reindeer…and this Christmas Eve, her wish just might come true!
* courtesy of Amazon.com
Featured Reviews: “ : A Cosmic Christmas Adventure!”
Christmas Yve is very eloquently written and has so much depth that you will enjoy listening to it again and again and hear something new each time. It is a true work of art that is not only excellent for children but also for the spiritual seeker looking to understand the deeper meaning of Christmas. Stephen paints pictures with his words and you feel part of the story. The message I got was: not to be afraid and to trust with all of your heart. If you do- one day you’ll have the opportunity to Jump into the love you yearn to feel. If you do Jump you will experience a whole new life that you could only dream was possible before. It will be your new reality. Savor this work of art! You’ll love it!
“Christmas Yve” is a magical journey that expands your imagination to the yonder years of your childhood. Yve reminds us of the innocence that each child experiences during Christmas, as well as taking the leap of faith; “the impossible jump to growing up”.
A tale of Christmas so sweet and enchanting, you’ll be hooked from the start—such passion and rhyming! Reminiscent of writings so clever, but whose? Not Tennyson, Not Kipling, Not Emerson, but SEUSS! So heed this advice–(you’ll be happy you did!)–snuggle up on the couch and enjoy it with your kid!
What a heartwarming Christmas tale! The New Zealand setting sets it apart from most Christmas stories. I especially loved the charming Kiwi accent of the narrator and the life lessons intertwined throughout the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to sharing it with my family this upcoming Christmas season.
“For Yve’s way of thinking, Santa Claus was a saint, more than a white beard, red suit – oh, so quaint- but a servant to Him without equal, bar none, the Christ in Christmas: the “only Begotten Son.”” I love this line in the book. I want my children to know that Christmas is not just about Santa, it is also about Him. This is a must read for my family during the holiday season.
Self Publishing Advisor 