2025 INDIE BOOK REVIEW NOMINEES WEEK 4

Week four is here, and I didn't quite make 20 book review candidates. 19 will have to do.  Next week I will announce the August 2025 book review selection from among these 19 candidates,  as well as those books selected to carry forward to next month's candidate list.

If you missed my previous candidate posts, you can catch them by clicking here:  Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3  For those of you who've stuck with Rule One until I can "prime the pump", thank you. I sincerely hope you browse these 19 books from the past four weeks, find one or two that catches your eye, and buy them. I've already purchased a few myself and look forward to reading them. Please support these promising indie authors.  

INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #016

TITLE: A Last Chapter of the Greatest Generation: The Life and Family of Col. Frederic A. Stone, M.D. 
PUBLISHER: Bookbaby (Small Indie Press)
AUTHOR: Judson I. Stone
GENRE(S): Biography (multiple sub-genres)
PUBLICATION DATE: February 3, 2017
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 3/5 Star Average
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT DISCOVERY: #3,859,203
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
This makes the list for pure content. 
These type of biographies, written by a loved one and published independently, are so often overlooked. It's clear this book has been overlooked, too. The pitch was clear and effective. The sample solid writing and good editing.  This promises to be a captivating retelling of a forgotten hero from America's Greatest Generation, a man who fought for the freedom we all take for granted today.  It's abundantly clear Col Stone's story needed to be told before it was lost to history. THIS is a great example of why indie publishing is so critically important.
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 22 June 2025
​STATUS: Inactive

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INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #017

TITLE: The Price of Power
PUBLISHER: Chainbreaker (Small Indie Press)
AUTHOR: Michael Michel 
GENRE(S): Military Fantasy (Epic Fantasy)
PUBLICATION DATE: April 2, 2025
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 94/4.6 Star Average
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT DISCOVERY: #16,515
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
The well-written pitch hits hard and fast and doesn't tell the reader what the book is about, it soaks the reader in the novel's flavor. Too many indie fantasies appeal to genre, this pitch appeals to story and compels the reader to open the cover. Amazon is absolutely FLOODED with indie fantasy, and drawing the reader's attention is a monumental task. This pitch effectively drew this reader's attention.   The sample carries forth on the pitch's promise and drops the reader in the midst of action without being overly descriptive. This writer seems to know what he is doing. I'm intrigued.
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 22 June 2025
​STATUS: Inactive

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INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #018

​TITLE: Putting Down Roots 
PUBLISHER: Bookbaby (Small Indie Press)
AUTHOR: Joe Powers
GENRE(S): Paranormal
PUBLICATION DATE: June 1, 2025
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: None listed yet
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT DISCOVERY: Not yet listed 
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
I was bitching the other day on X, like grumpy old men tend to do, about my perceived lack of originality in indie publishing. Then, the interwebs (actually, the author's wife) serves this book up to me. The pitch says it's about an evil killer tree. I've never seen a book about a killer, evil tree. Dear X, I apologize. Behold, a fresh idea! The great thing about this well written pitch was it didn't sound campy. It sounded good! It has an appropriately catchy title, too, though it could use a better cover..  The sample displayed effective writing and editing. This one makes the list for original content. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 22 June 2025
​STATUS: Active

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INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #019

​TITLE: Steve's Alien Rescue Club
PUBLISHER: W-III (Small Indie Press)
AUTHOR: D.L. Wilburn Jr. 
GENRE(S): Science Fiction (multiple sub-genres)
PUBLICATION DATE: April 10, 2025
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 5/4.5 Star Average
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT DISCOVERY: #205,751
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
This book drips with "Spielberging"  influence, and the pitch makes no secret of this. Its sells itself as a 80's nostalgia. The pitch is fine, as is the cover. The sample is what drew me in and put it on this week's list. The opening scene was simple and not flashy by any means, yet provided just the right amount of hook and foreshadowing to draw the reader in what promises to be a satisfying read.  Yes, I am a sucker for 80's nostalgia, which gives this book an unfair advantage. Guilty. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 22 June 2025
​STATUS: Inactive

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