John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Purposeful Evolution by Ron Deming

The age-old conflict between undirected randomness and intelligent design gets a new referee with the thought-provoking Purposeful Evolution by Ron Deming.

Deming argues that many examples of rapid, seemingly reactive adaptations in species must be the result of some interaction or assessment of the environment, rather than the gradualism of natural selection, which can often take thousands of generations and hundreds of thousands of years. This “purposeful evolution” theory attempts to break down the binary of Darwinian evolution vs. creationism, instead considering the relationship and reactivity of organism to environment over a much smaller time scale.

Backed up with dozens […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-22T08:56:14+02:00November 22nd, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Book Reviews|

Review: Shadow Tag, Perdition Games by L.E. Fraser

Shadow Tag by L.E. Fraser

The Perdition Games series by L.E. Fraser continues with Shadow Tag, a brutal and unpredictable thriller that will keep readers looking over their shoulder, and questioning the sage advice of their medical professionals. The tangled threads of this plot are brilliantly woven into a web of corruption, cruelty, revenge and perseverance.

Tasked with investigating a sinister crime under the guise of an internship at a psychiatric hospital, Samantha McNamara is dragged back into a dark, cult-filled corner of her own past. Reece Hash, Sam’s fiancee, is simultaneously investigating a string of cases that may have been perpetrated by a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-01-28T10:50:21+02:00November 20th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Hidden Talents by Maryanne DiMarzo, Amy Acker and Rodica Ceslov

Hidden Talents: Practical Tools and Inspirational Stories to Unleash Higher Levels of Leadership Performance With decades of leadership experience between them, authors Maryanne DiMarzo, Amy Acker and Rodica Ceslov deliver a full-on master class in Hidden Talents: Practical Tools and Inspirational Stories to Unleash Higher Levels of Leadership Performance, exposing the fundamentals of leadership and stripping away the business jargon for a clear and engaging read.

The world is changing rapidly, as is business and industry, and in order for leaders to remain on the cutting edge and avoid becoming obsolete, professional evolution is necessary. The authors also understand that some skills are timeless, and must be adapted, rather than forgotten. Their book […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-20T11:07:05+02:00November 20th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Business Book Reviews, Leadership Book Reviews|

Something in the Water: Book One: Drowning by Dean Comyn

Steeped in sinister plots, apocalyptic threats, and political subterfuge, Drowning is the riveting first book in Dean Comyn’s Something in the Water series. When a priceless new technology and its creator go missing, a new British task force snaps into action to prevent what could be a devastating catastrophe. This thriller is timely and hard-hitting, combining well-researched procedural police elements with high-stakes anti-terror action. Dripping with attitude and brimming with tension, Comyn’s debut novel sets a promising stage for the series to come.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-19T08:05:35+02:00November 19th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

All the Days After by Carrie Thorne

Set in the idyllic Cascade foothills of the Pacific Northwest, All the Days After by Carrie Thorne is a sexy and thrilling kick off to her new modern romance series. Old heartbreaking habits are hard to shake for Asher, a directionless Navy Seal who just found his way home, and while his kid sister may prefer that he avoid her best friend Sophie, sparks are undeniable. With thoughtful narration and deep character development that is essential for a romance to sizzle, this believable love story is an unexpectedly strong read that also feels like a guilty pleasure.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-18T09:54:28+02:00November 18th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Urgent State by Larry Pratt

It often feels like the end of the world is fast approaching, and Urgent State: One Route to Saving our Species by author Larry Pratt is a pragmatic piece of fiction that may help readers understand our imminent global crises a bit better.

In this third book of the Urgent series, an effort to save mankind from itself is launched – a small coterie of thinkers and philanthropists hole up in secret to fund critical research and push science forward in the hopes of rescuing the planet from annihilation. However, to overcome the fundamental crises of corruption, greed, narrow-mindedness, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-15T09:27:45+02:00November 15th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

The Melancholy History of Mayfly by Mutch Katsonga

The Melancholy History of Mayfly by Mutch Katsonga is a dark meditation on life, justice, family and purpose, narrated by a man who has been sentenced to death, and given only a leather-bound book and a quill to share his final thoughts and confessions. As this articulate prisoner unravels his story, readers are forced to examine their own morality before casting any judgment on the narrator, making for an at-times harrowing but trenchant read. This unpredictable literary novel succeeds both as a work of social philosophy and a vividly conveyed work of contemporary fiction.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-18T08:39:29+02:00November 13th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Graveyard Shift in the Dead Letter Office by A.J. Henry

Swirling subplots, stark writing and sexual tension are in high supply throughout Graveyard Shift at the Dead Letter Office by A.J. Henry. A myriad of richly formed characters and engaging story lines collide in this patiently written thriller. From bizarre religious sects, drug busts, and mysterious poisons to international conspiracies and an old flame that just won’t quit, this book packs a well-penned punch, as author Henry is equally comfortable writing about both sides of the law.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-13T10:09:38+02:00November 13th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|