John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

About John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Providing exceptional writing, editing and publishing services to hundreds of international clients, ranging from nutritional copywriting and long-form ghostwriting to substantive editing, assessment/analysis of academic texts and structural/content editing for bestselling novels.

Review: Trouble Isla by Lynda L. Lock

Trouble Isla by Lynda L. Lock

Author Lynda L. Lock dives deeper into the murderous side of paradise in Trouble Isla, the second installment of her Isla Mujeres Mystery series. Following the treasure-laden introduction to this female-driven series, Lock’s sophomore offering is packed with new mysteries to unravel, new dangers to dodge, and new hangovers to survive.

The serial killer from Book 1 may be in custody, but it doesn’t mean that the lives of Jessica, Yasmin, or Carlos are getting back to normal. When Carlos disappears without warning and threatening notes begin to arrive, the pace kicks into high gear for an adrenaline-fueled romp […]

2021-04-01T04:19:37+02:00February 21st, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: Tales from Ara 1: Into the Unknown by Gleem

Tales from Ara 1: Into the Unknown by Gleem

Tales from Ara 1: Into the Unknown is a wild and tempting fantasy romp through a new world, penned by the unique writing team known as Gleem.

A young erotic fantasy writer named Harlette seems to be losing her creative spark when she is transported through a mirror into another dimension – the unbelievable realm of Ara. Once she realizes her new environment isn’t a dream, the high-spirited protagonist with a penchant for puppy love is thrown into the midst of chaotic power struggles in an elven kingdom.

However, Harlette and her trusty, occasionally chatty cat Bernard didn’t land […]

2022-04-11T09:33:52+02:00February 20th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |

Athens Ophelia! by Zachary Aneiress

Athens Ophelia! by Zachary Aneiress

Zachary Aneiress expands the wild and unpredictable adventures of a new-age deity with Athens Ophelia! In this second installment of the Athens Ophelia series, readers are plunged deeper into the supernatural, with demons on the hunt and hissing Collectors at every turn, but they’re also shown the deeply human side of this hero – insecurities, mistakes, and self-doubt. The writing style can only be described as free-form, where traditional grammar and sentence structure are occasionally abandoned. This can lend a sense of authenticity, but there are also many obvious errors that need to be addressed. The descriptive language also needs […]

2021-02-18T07:12:28+02:00February 17th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Revolution: The New World by Shemar Frazier

Revolution: The New World by Shemar Frazier

Shemar Frazier delivers a grim but entertaining vision of our future in Revolution: The New World. Humanity, friendship, and trust are the last bastions of hope for a doomed and undead world where survival is threatened on all sides. Boasting an eclectic cast of young heroes, as well as a sprawling sci-fi premise with zombies, spaceships, and plot twists galore, this is pulp fiction at its finest. The writing is undeniably rough around the edges, and the time-jumping plot can be jarring, so there is a serious need for a thorough edit. However, the story also has plenty of […]

2021-02-16T05:31:05+02:00February 16th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend by Jacob Paul Patchen

Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend by Jacob Paul Patchen Jacob Paul Patchen transports readers to a smoky and unexpected American battlefield in Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend, a bold YA American dystopia.

After the attack came the invasion, when the men, women and teens were scooped up by black-fatigued men and shipped off to prison camps. The children left behind, however, have found a way to survive, and a leader to follow. Young James is not only an excellent storyteller, but also a fierce warrior, a natural survivor, and a pretty good leader, especially because he never expected to be at war as a 12-year-old in […]

A Collection of Four by Frank C. Senia

A Collection of Four by Frank C. Senia Frank C. Senia presents a quartet of thought-provoking novellas in Collection of Four, a well-balanced and memorable collection. From the insightful observations of a career barman to an old man discovering the existential crisis of age, this collection takes readers on a powerful exploration of life, love, meaning, and mortality.

“The Visions of Antonio” is a kaleidoscopic ride through the alcohol-soaked and story-filled mind of a bartender, one who has lost more than his fair share in life, but is too often stuck on the listening side of the bar. This romantic and heart-wrenching novella ends with a twist […]

2021-07-06T02:52:47+02:00February 14th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Black Rifle by Alex Davidson

A rookie ATF agent and a ruthless mercenary who was “born without brakes” team up to unravel a deep and deadly mystery in Black Rifle by Alex Davidson. This jaw-dropping novel could only be set in America, and takes steady aim at the national obsession with firearms, as well as the battle over gun rights. Through a twisted, transcontinental plot and a mismatched pair of protagonists carrying their own concealed secrets, this novel is riveting and unrelenting. With rapid-fire dialogue, larger-than-life characters, and a sinister but believable conspiracy, Black Rifle hits the mark as a high-powered thriller with some trenchant […]

2021-02-15T06:49:33+02:00February 13th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Headless 1776 by Tom Schneider

Headless 1776 by Tom Schneider A haunting origin story, Headless 1776 by Tom Schneider is a wildly imaginative YA novel for those who love a good mix of fact and fiction.

A young boy named Elijah loses his last real connection to family on the way to a new life during the early years of the Revolutionary War. What he encounters in his new home leads to a riveting and unexpectedly good ghost story. This occasionally gory and fast-paced piece of historical fiction is engaging from the first page, as readers are introduced to a savage mercenary who has since become a headless legend, thanks […]

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