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.

From the Ashes by A.B. Lucian

From the Ashes by A.B. Lucian

In the legendary tradition of “Star Wars” and other underdog epics, From the Ashes by A.B. Lucian is a fast-paced thriller on a universal scale, pitting the cruel might of an empire against the fragile, rebellious hope of enslaved masses. Written in accessible language for younger readers, the plot is somewhat predictable, but the narration overflows with description that brings the Arkanian Empire to life. Steeped in the complexity of family bonds, boasting eccentric supporting characters and a message of hope against insurmountable odds, From the Ashes is an expansive, ambitious, and memorable YA adventure.

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2020-01-03T07:53:12+02:00January 3rd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Who’s at the Door? by JC Bratton

Who's At the Door? by JC Bratton

JC Bratton delivers a spine-tingling supernatural thriller with desperate ghosts, old secrets, and unrequited love in Who’s at the Door? A mysterious connection between the housebound protagonist and a young missing girl sets a haunting tone that will keep readers devouring pages from start to finish. This novella is packed with twists throughout and the rapid, heart-pounding chapters fly fast as this dark mystery grows. Some scenes do feel unnecessarily rushed, but for a spooky afternoon escape, Who’s at the Door? is an ideal choice.

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2020-01-02T10:41:03+02:00January 2nd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Sky Parlor by Stephen C. Perkins

Sky Parlor by Stephen C. Perkins

Blending epic mythology and historical fiction with clever philosophy and sci-fi thrills, Stephen C. Perkins delivers a stunning new read in Sky Parlor. The ancient struggle between Artemis and Apollonia rages on within these pages, bouncing from the dramatic assassination of Abraham Lincoln to the grim bureaucratic reality of the 24th century. Perkins weaves an incredibly dense and detailed future-scape, bolstered by an unpredictable plot that is both oddly relatable and wildly creative. Questions of spirituality, mankind’s destiny, the illusion of freedom, and the overreach of science make this wickedly clever mystery a vivid and thought-provoking pleasure to read.[…]

2020-01-02T09:34:54+02:00December 30th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

From Now to The End of Time by Brian T. Sluga

From Now to The End of Time by Brian T. Sluga

A kaleidoscopic existence blooms to life on the pages of poet Brian Sluga’s new collection From Now to the End of Time. Self-described as stories, these widely varied poems create an eclectic dreamscape, blending recollections of youth with glimpses of romance and mythology, half-remembered nights out and elusive descriptions of emotion.

Moments of ecstasy are woven through self-reflection and painful losses, offering an unfiltered view of life through an honest, straightforward lens. “Virtue in My Heart” begins How do I always pour my heart out / then it gets trampled / a lingering feeling / on my journey. This sort […]

2019-12-20T07:45:07+02:00December 20th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Abducted: A Kate Pomeroy Mystery by Linda Watkins

Abducted: A Kate Pomeroy Mystery by Linda Watkins

Linda Watkins delves even deeper into the darkness with Abducted, the third installment of the Kate Pomeroy Mystery Series. The previous books are standouts in the modern mystery genre, and this psychological race against time may prove to be Watkins best yet. This lengthy read may be a touch long-winded at times, but it is also rife with pulse-pounding tension, so these pulp fiction pages fly by. The tone of the writing is consistently gritty and evocative, and Kate Pomeroy once again proves herself to be a worthy heroine at the heart of this exciting series.

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2019-12-20T06:35:43+02:00December 20th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Transference by B.T. Keaton

Transference by B.K. Keaton

Overflowing with futuristic drama and suspenseful action, Transference by B.T. Keaton is a debut gem in the sci-fi genre.

Set in some nebulous near-future, a powerful theocratic order on Earth – the Church – gains possession of an alien technology that gives them untold control over the hearts and minds of those on the planet. Not all is as it seems, and those who know the truth of the Church are seen as a threat to the new world order.

Thaniel Kilraven is one such man, putting him firmly at the heart of this dangerous dystopian tale. Years earlier, Kilraven […]

2020-01-24T17:33:25+02:00December 19th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Water is Wider by Marie Green McKeon

Water is Wider by Marie Green McKeonTwo seemingly unconnected lives swirl around each other in Marie Green McKeon’s emotive second novel, Water is Wider.

Phoebe is an impulsive 11-year-old determined to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance, and sets off on a dangerous journey to Connecticut to find the truth. Sidney is a middle-aged proofreader mourning the loss of her mother and the emotional challenges of life after death. Already wrestling with grief, the slow demise of the publishing house that employs her may be too much to bear, leading Sidney to seek unlikely and potentially dangerous company.

These two stories initially lie very […]

2019-12-20T07:19:08+02:00December 19th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

The Heartless Divine by Varsha Ravi

The Heartless Divine by Varsha Ravi

Author Varsha Ravi weaves a magnificent tale of secrets, gods, love, and fallen kingdoms in her enthralling debut novel, The Heartless Divine.

When an immortal with amnesia named Kiran nearly bleeds out in the doorway to Suri’s apartment, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever, nor that the young man could hold the key to all her tragic pasts.

Leaping between Suri’s modern-day existence and her life centuries ago as an assassin princess, this novel is a time- and mind-bending plunge into mythology, family, the power of memory, and the tangled web of destiny […]

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