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.

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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week: A Chronicle of Endylmyr by: Charles Hall

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to get exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’t know about it? Paired with other book marketing efforts, 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 let the community know about a great book. So, without further adieu, here’s this week’s book review:

A Chronicle of Endylmyr book cover

A Chronicle of Endylmyr: The Witches of Endylmyr

Charles Hall

Outskirts Press (2010)

ISBN 9781432750282

Reviewed by: Tracey Rock for Reader Views (2/11)

A Chronicle of Endylmyr: The Witches of Endylmyr tells the story of The Eastern Khan who sets out to possess all known magical relics so that he may control the entire world. He already has obtained some of these artifacts, but knows that he must possess them all for the magic to work completely. So, he sends his most powerful legions to various communities, including Endylmyr to find them – killing anyone or anything that gets in their way. Those under attack soon form an alliance as they begin to realize that they do, in fact, have some of the artifacts that possess magic. Former mercenary Gylfalin, along with his cousin Pendaran – who has a magical falcon for a companion, form the allies of various parts of the world to battle against Khan. They know that hope for victory lies with magic that no one really knows how to use. As Khan’s legions move closer in on them, Angmere, a wizard historian, finds a clue in an ancient tome that foretells the tale of three witches that could be the key to their victory and defeat of Khan. One of the scholar’s daughters, Gwynyr, unites with two other women in their group, Hellwydd and Hilst, to form the trio described by Angmere’s scribe as the Endylmyr witches, in a last attempt to save their people.

A Chronicle of Endylmyr: The Witches of Endylmyr is a very interesting story and has a great premise. I felt the book was a bit long and it started to lose my interest in places – mostly because the book starts out strong and then in the middle it is a bit drawn out, but then it picks up towards the end. For those who enjoy fantasy novels, this one will be a good. The characters are well formed and there is plenty of action. The magical aspect of the storyline is intriguing and not over the top. Before you know it, you will feel transformed to Endylmyr and a part of the story.

Book Reviews, Self-Publishing, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-publishing Book Review of the Week: “Deadly Portfolio”

Deadly Portfolio: A Killing In Hedge Funds

John J. Hohn (2010) ISBN 9781432758752

Investing has always proven to be risky, but there are safer, less volatile bets than others. Hopefully trust in a financial advisor adds security to choices made, but how well do you really know him??? Who can you trust?

In the affluent lakeside community of Heron Lake, NC, the Fourth of July is a time for golfing, sailing, barbecuing and social climbing. Every year at this time financial advisors Matthew Wirth and Morrie Clay host a summer bash, entertaining wealthy friends and clients with the idea of cementing business deals and establishing social position. For Matthew Wirth this year marks hopes for a comfortable retirement, having worked hard to establish old-age security. Morrie Clay, quite a bit younger and more ambitious is eager to take over the client list and firmly establish his own name in financial and social circles. A bit over eager, he crosses ethical lines when he invests a client’s money in a hedge fund to make a quick profit. Without client consent he finds himself in career ending position when the fund tanks.

Rene McAllister, wife of multi-millionaire Alan “Mac” McAllister, is the client at the center of this misappropriation of funds. The morning after the party her dead body washes on shore. This begins to look more like a murder than a suicide to Detective James Raker. When young neighbor Jamie Sherman, a suspected drug dealer is also found dead, there is perhaps reason to believe the deaths are related. Adding to the mix is Mac’s discovery of mishandling of his wife’s funds. Morrie’s career is threatened as is his family’s comfortable lifestyle. Matthew’s reputation and retirement are also in jeopardy. In the midst of the investigation, law enforcement agencies seem to clash in cross purpose as Detective Raker doggedly follows his gut in pursuit of the killer.

“Deadly Portfolio” is a well written, intriguing mystery guaranteed to entertain. It provides study of the impact of acquisition of wealth of those who compromise their values only to discover that greed causes corruption and downfall.

Self-published Book Review of the Week by Enid Grabiner for RebeccasReads.com

 

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Self-published Book Review of the Week: “DUH”


DUH !: “The good Lord set definite limits on man’s wisdom, but set no limits on his stupidity and that’s just not fair” Konrad Adenauer
Douglas R. Manley
ISBN 9781432746360

It took a bit of time for the humor of the book took hold. The author drags on about how he entered the Auto Dealing Industry and rambles about his qualifications to such a degree that I felt as though I was reading an excessively long resume. At one point he actually includes the report he had written up for the small “mom and pop” dealership he was working at. This took several pages and while informative to the issues surrounding the dealership, and to a small degree perhaps even integral to the continuation of the story, was dull and boring and felt more like page filling than actual, necessary text.

There were amusing stories and a few characters that anyone reading the story can easily identify with but this is not the book to pick up for a laugh or even for entertainment unless you work in this field. That said, I do believe that anyone in the auto dealing business will likely find this a very enjoyable book packed full of knowledge acquired from years of working in the industry. The anecdotes the author tells will strike a cord with those that have dealt with the absurd demands placed on the author; as well as the ridiculous expectations that cannot be met due to the general hand tying that he dealt with in his career.

Self-published Book review of the Week

Reviewed by Melissa Koltes for RebeccasReads (12/10)

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Self-Published Book Review of the Week: “The Dynamics to Speak with Care”

The Dynamics to Speak with Care
The Dynamics to Speak with Care
Eladio Pasqual
9781432751777, $10.95

Not everyone is always calm, rational, and understanding, and for good reason some times. “The Dynamics to Speak with Care: Attending Support and Understanding, the Magnetic Words to Assist Others” is a guide for understanding people who are under stress and anxiety and how to understand how to talk to someone before even opening your mouth. A careful tone is a key to helping people and helping reduce their anxiety. “The Dynamics to Speak with Care” is a useful read for anyone who wants to more carefully deal with people.

About Eladio Pasqual Ph.D.

Dr. Eladio Pasqual is the editor of Faith against Arms, a political evolution of the events since 9/11. Dr. Pasqual has a long history of caring for people, including working with crisis-intervention programs related to earthquakes, mudslides and fires. Dr. Pasqual lives in Fremont, Calif.

Self-published Book Review of the Week
John Taylor
Reviewer

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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-published Book Review of the Week: “The Trouble with Tom…”

The Trouble with Tom

The Trouble With Tom: In which five gallant old men flout the law
ISBN: 9781432751241
Reviewed by Rita Grasshoff for Rebecca’s Reads (11/10)

A rogue gang of wild turkeys invade the quiet retirement community of Whisper Wood. They run rampant through the streets and yards, destroying property and plants and dirtying up sidewalks. Over time, they become brave enough to even chase some of the residents! The various citizens of Whisper Wood react differently to the intruders. Some identify with and feed them, inadvertently encouraging their bad behavior. Other folks are annoyed and resent their presence from the beginning. Ultimately, most of the turkeys leave the area, but bad boy Tom remains. Terrible Tom, as he is christened by the community members, is personified as full of himself and enjoying his perceived position of untouchable superiority in the community, not unlike that of an exasperating teenager.

Soon, Whisper Wood residents are at their wits’ end with Tom’s antics. Their feelings of helplessness are well-developed by the author. A town meeting is called, but the results are not satisfactory to anyone. They learn that turkeys in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada are protected by the government from harm or removal. A Predation Request is submitted to the government, but bureaucratic red tape prevails and little action results. The new Whisper Wood administrator, Richard Donaldson, is hard-pressed to find a way to end Tom’s stay and save the residents from the misery Tom causes.

“Five gallant old men” decide to take matters into their own hands. Surprisingly, even though they are working toward a common cause, they are largely unaware that they are all involved in the fight. Their characters are nicely developed by the author, who turns them into amusing older men that many readers will recognize in their own lives. For example, one is overly talkative, stopping anyone whom he hopes will listen to him and forcing those unfortunate souls to find an excuse to leave his company.

The story line covers it all, with citizens dealing with bureaucracy and becoming creative in finding a solution. Their frustrations with the bureaucracy force them to be secretive, even with each other, in the course of subverting the law.

Readers of all ages should enjoy the reactions and relationships of this community of spritely senior citizens in this easy-to-ready novella.

Self-published book review of the week.

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