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.

The Places Left Unfilled by M.C. Cauley

The Places Left Unfilled by M.C. Cauley

A gripping and emotionally naked memoir, The Places Left Unfilled by M.C. Cauley is bold and unafraid to lay bare the wounds of trauma. Exploring her adolescence, in which she was repeatedly abandoned and abused, the author gives a stirring account of her life, dissecting her own fearful heart on the page. Even as readers watch innocence slip away, it is replaced by an unexpected suit of armor – a decidedly inspiring transformation. Pushing the boundaries of societal approval, taboo themes, and the shape of morality itself, this story exposes the ways our bodies and minds react to emotional turmoil, […]

2020-09-11T02:26:33+02:00September 11th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Surviving Crazy by Frank Crimi

Surviving Crazy by Frank Crimi

A bizarre cast of characters with a healthy dose of paranoia are forced to face an apparent apocalypse together in Surviving Crazy by Frank Crimi. With a long, character-building fuse and a whip-smart pen behind the imagery-rich writing, this novel hums with tension and possibility from the start. From doomsday preppers, moody fry cooks, and might-be Russian assassins, to mysterious damsels and an old ballplayer looking for one last shot at glory or purpose, Crimi does a remarkable job of weaving backstory into every strange scene. With secondary plot lines adding to the suspense, but never giving away the twist, […]

2020-09-11T04:48:36+02:00September 10th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Real Enough by Jeffrey W. Tenney

Real Enough by Jeffrey W. Tenney

Author Jeffrey W. Tenney plunges readers into an unforgiving wilderness in Real Enough, a reality TV-inspired novel with more than enough alliances, betrayals, and frayed tempers to go around. The multi-perspective narrative follows the life-and-death decisions of twenty island-bound competitors, which inevitably provides a visceral peek into the darkness and desperation of human nature. Tenney writes with an almost journalistic distance, at times, so emotional descriptions and internal nuance is limited, but he still captures the tension and drama that readers may expect from a literary version of “Survivor.” Despite the occasional repetition between the narrative points of view, […]

2020-09-10T04:48:13+02:00September 10th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Empty Space by Linda Watkins

The Empty Space by Linda Watkins

A dark and edgy Gothic thriller that skips the cliches and hits all the right dark notes, The Empty Space is a stellar addition to author Linda Watkins’ Kate Pomeroy series. Deftly building suspense with unexpected cutaways and reflections, this plot is far from typical, blending sinister moods and deadly relationships within a linguistic dance – one that is a sincere pleasure to read. Though the dialogue is occasionally brief, giving only a slice of a scene within a swirl of narration, Watkins has a confident voice that can grip a reader’s attention, both heart and mind. With a heroine […]

2020-09-09T09:20:39+02:00September 9th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Traveler by George Morningstar

The Traveler by George Morningstar

Author George Morningstar puts a new spin on a classic sci-fi fantasy in The Traveler, sending readers on a nostalgic trip to San Francisco in the late 1960s. Though the novel starts a bit slow, the pace kicks up with mind-bending dives into quantum mechanics, brushes with cultural legends, and emotionally complex moments of connection and loss. Some of the narration and exposition feels redundant or unnecessary, but the storytelling is strong throughout. From ecstatic experiences to challenging moments of self-reflection and discovery, this novel has far more depth than your average time travel yarn, for a surprisingly rich […]

2020-09-09T07:38:09+02:00September 9th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Wayfinder: The Path from Pain to Purpose by Emma Bennett

Wayfinder: The Path from Pain to Purpose by Emma Bennett

Emma Bennett offers valuable insight and access to information about self-enlightenment and spiritual growth in her new book Wayfinder: The Path from Pain to Purpose.

Crossing boundaries into numerous genres, from memoir and philosophy to new-age spirituality and self-help, this book is compelling, challenging, and painful, at times, particularly for those who have experienced trauma of their own. Fortunately, Bennett is a sensitive, thoughtful, and confident writer, with a clear desire to help others change their lives, or at least their mindset.

Unpacking the apparent conflict between “sacred” and “logical,” and combining spiritual ideas with science and reason, this […]

2021-10-12T02:34:29+02:00September 9th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |

The Rebirth of Henry Whittle by Gertrude T. Kitty

The Rebirth of Henry Whittle by Gertrude T. KittyA story of deception, betrayal, and the desperate leaps of faith we go to for some sense of home, The Rebirth of Henry Whittle is a nail-biting novel from author Gertrude T. Kitty.

Navigating her lifelong trauma of isolation and abandonment, Phoenix Whittle takes a chance on stability by reconnecting with a mysterious uncle. Little does she know that her real uncle is long gone, replaced by a clever con, but that doesn’t mean their bond is any less interesting to watch as it develops.

Boasting a complex blend of heavy themes, ranging from mental health and bullying to dark […]

A Tissue of Lies by CD Wilsher

A Tissue of Lies by CD WilsherA tragic ghost from the past upends the life of a veteran lawyer in A Tissue of Lies by CD Wilsher.

Frank Connor is a lawyer who has spent his career defending murderers, but when he finds himself on the wrong side of an ex-client’s death vengeful spree, it feels like the small mistakes of his past are closing in. Connor begins digging into the old case, trying to protect or defend himself, but only ends up finding more questions and dead ends, as well as the whiff of a cover-up. When the freshly released and heavily financed Tyrell Sikes […]

2020-09-08T06:48:07+02:00September 7th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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