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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.

Surfing with Snakes & Dragons by Roger J. Couture

Surfing with Snakes and Dragons by Roger CoutureIn the land of eternal sunshine, life may seem smooth and simple, but there is conflict brewing beneath the waves. In Surfing with Snakes & Dragons: And Other Tales of Suburbia, author Roger J. Couture spins eight enrapturing tales of a freewheeling life that are imbued with energy, danger, and the confusing growing pains of youth.

At first glance, the stories are a procession of surfing, machismo, sex, booze, and rock ‘n roll, but there is more going on behind the façade of coolness. Passages of self-reflection and internal monologues convey the tumultuous spirits of these young characters, as […]

2017-08-23T07:14:18+02:00August 23rd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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Children of the Empire by Lara Nance

Children of the Empire by Lara Nance

In Children of the Empire by Lara Nance, a brilliant new science fiction universe is introduced that’s packed with intrigue, betrayal, deception, and redemption.

The plot structure of the novel is reminiscent of many fantasy sagas, where multiple destinations and increasingly difficult challenges lie in the path of the bold adventurers’ end goal. In the case of this novel, the key figures of Min and Ruffian are familiar, but they’re perfectly crafted and supported by a growing cast of detailed and original figures.

Aside from the clever premise of this novel, the writing is engaging and fast-paced. However, the dialogue […]

2017-08-24T05:22:50+02:00August 22nd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |
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Review: Jake & the Dragons of Asheville by Brian Kacica

★★★½ Jake and the Dragons of Asheville

Writing a unique YA novel in this saturated genre can be a challenge, as dozens of new authors seemingly pop up every week. The key to finding a niche in the ever-crowded YA genre is a clever take on a popular theme, combined with interesting characters and an engaging plot. In Jake & the Dragons of Asheville, author Brian Kacica delivers a fun and memorable novel that both young readers and adults will enjoy.

As with many YA adventure stories, there is an unprepared hero, Jake Winston, who is living a relatively normal early teenage life in North […]

2017-09-15T12:53:24+02:00August 16th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |
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Review: Steel, Blood & Fire (Immortal Treachery Book 1) by Allan Batchelder

★★★★ Steel, Blood and Fire (Immortal Treachery Book 1)

There are many fantasy authors who rely too heavily on the work of others, or the favorite tropes of the genre, when creating their own worlds. Fortunately, there are authors like Allan Batchelder who derive inspiration from fantasy masters and then construct wholly new and endlessly engaging realms for readers to enjoy.  Steel, Blood & Fire, Book 1 of the Immortal Treachery series, is a grim, edge-of-your-seat pleasure to read.

Batchelder doesn’t concern himself with too much exposition, but instead jumps right into the action, transporting readers into a dark, brutal world and introducing them to one of […]

2017-09-18T07:20:14+02:00August 14th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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Review: If Nobody Listens by Rikard Sommer

If Nobody Listens

Scandinavian writers have recently captivated the attention of the literary world, beginning with Stieg Larsson’s breakout trilogy, and Rikard Sommer’s debut novel certainly follows in those illustrious footsteps. If Nobody Listens is a novel that defies classification to a certain degree – one part social commentary, one part an emotional tale of personal growth, and a final dash of thrills and danger for good measure. The subject of medical research and the struggles of global pharma companies may not sound like compelling reading, but in this case, you would be mistaken.

With a patient, methodical approach to exposition and storytelling, […]

2019-02-11T08:53:04+02:00August 8th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |
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Review: Brainwalker by Robyn Mundell & Stephan Lacast

★★★★ Brainwalker

“Getting inside someone’s head” tends to be a figurative idea, or turn of phrase, but in Brainwalker, the boundlessly creative new novel from Robyn Mundell and Stephan Lacast, the concept is taken quite literally. This fast-paced novel takes readers deep into the actual human brain – and beyond.

Bernard is a typical YA literature protagonist – an unusual teen with some personality quirks who is suddenly thrown into an extraordinary situation. For Bernard, that situation arises when his curiosity gets the best of him in his father’s lab, who happens to be a particle physicist. After fiddling like […]

2017-08-08T04:25:50+02:00August 6th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |
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Review: The Breaking (The End Time Saga Book 2) by Daniel Greene

★★★★½ The Breaking by Daniel Greene

In a world of mindless zombies, eccentric hillbillies, deadly skill sets, and endless loyalty to the people you’ve survived beside, Daniel Greene has carved out an exciting apocalyptic series that stands head and shoulders above other offerings in the zombie genre.

In The Breaking, the sequel to End Time, readers are dropped back into the world of Steele, Mauser, and Gwen, as well as a United States that has fallen under the weight of a zombie onslaught. Multiple narrative perspectives provide readers with a three-dimensional picture of this harsh new world, which constantly borders on insanity. Death […]

2019-01-21T09:37:34+02:00August 4th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |
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Son of Syria by Ben Schafer

Review: Son of Syria by Ben Schafer

With the premise of a super-secret spy infiltrating dangerous lands to carry out impossible missions, Son of Syria by Ben Schafer is instantly appealing, but the power of the narrative and the timely, heart-wrenching story is what makes this book unforgettable.

Kyle Hoyek is an action hero in every sense of the word, but returning to his homeland – the site of his deepest sadness – threatens to chip away his armor that has been tested in battle and bloodshed. Readers are not only thrown into an edge-of-your-seat thriller with brilliantly depicted action scenes, but also moments of reflection, sorrow, […]

2017-08-04T05:22:22+02:00August 4th, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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