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 Mindful Path by Michael Jones, Ph.D.

The Mindful Path by Michael Jones, Ph.D

An essential and evidence-based bridge between body, mind, and spirit, The Mindful Path: Combining Psychotherapy and Buddhist Practices by Michael Jones Ph.D. presents the surprising overlap between the tenets of Buddhism and the foundations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Using the language of both belief systems, Jones expertly shows how they can be used in conjunction for meaningful relief from anxiety, sadness, anger, depression, and stress, through two introductory sections and eight comparative chapters, along with personal anecdotes and layman-level breakdowns. A comprehensive guide for life and a modern fusion of seemingly disparate philosophies, this is an accessible and revelatory […]

2023-06-22T15:00:42+02:00June 21st, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Searching for Charles by Stephen Watts

Searching for Charles by Stephen Watts

Taking readers on a historic journey across the Atlantic and into the burgeoning American continent, Searching for Charles: The Untold Legacy of an Immigrant’s American Adventure by Stephen Watts is a stunning portrait of the past.

In 1835, Charles Watts left the oppressive gloom of Dickensian London in search of a better life in the nascent nation of the United States. What followed were years of curious exploration, keen observation, and diligent letter-writing that captured the energy, emotions, and events of that formative period in American history.

This book serves a number of purposes, and will appeal to a variety […]

2023-08-23T12:11:00+02:00June 20th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |

The Cache by Lauren Anne Davis

The Cache by Lauren Anne Davis

A small-town story of thievery, loyalty, love, and legacy, The Cache by Lauren Anne Davis is a character-driven dive into the epic dramas of everyday life. Navigating new adult responsibilities and unprecedented threats against his family, King is an intriguing lead in this fast-moving read, and things only get more interesting after Meagan walks into his pawn shop, guns blazing, seeking her missing jewels. As this book’s bizarre cast entangles together, their lives and personal histories come into detailed focus, new romances are unexpectedly sparked, and old feuds are finally put to rest. Though the premise is strong, and the […]

2023-06-14T15:33:21+02:00June 13th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Curse by Robert Thornton

The Curse by Robert Thornton

Ancient villains, powerful artifacts, and a serial killer on the loose is just the beginning of The Curse by Robert Thornton, the latest in his compelling Hope Allerd mystery series. After being asked to consult on a controversial patient who had recently discovered an Egyptian tomb, the good doctor is drawn into a high-stakes plot of time-traveling professors, reincarnated mummies, and potential pandemics from the distant past. Deliciously mixing an infectious disease thriller with a sci-fi dip into magic, this novel smoothly swings from investigative procedural to a tomb-hunting adventure, for a genre-hopping thrill. Leaving each chapter hanging with palpable […]

2023-06-14T11:58:40+02:00June 13th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Camaro Murders by Ian Lewis

The Camaro Murders by Ian Lewis

A quick, gritty, and intimate thriller, The Camaro Murders by Ian Lewis is a haunting small-town novel that pushes the barriers of narrative form. When a specter from the past returns to the scene of an old crime, the lives of Sheriff Hildersham, August Burrough, Culver Crisp, and the enigmatic Driver will once again be tangled in death and deceit. The hard-boiled prose and nuanced character details make this a standout read, while the supernatural elements are crafted with dark subtlety. Touching on complex themes of abuse, long-buried trauma, justice, and revenge, while experimenting with traditional expectations of the genre, […]

2023-06-13T12:12:09+02:00June 13th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Kingdom Society: Broken Reality by Nathan Helm

Kingdom Society: Broken Reality by Nathan Helm

Author Nathan Helm delivers a strong second chapter of his Kingdom Society series with Broken Reality, an endlessly creative fantasy with some hard-edged twists.

The idea of a “chosen one” who must come to terms with his destiny is a rather common premise in sci-fi and fantasy sagas, but Helm manages to put a unique spin on the character development and journey – in part through the use of so many different environments and settings. Alyeth’s growing powers are impressive, and he will need those “God mode” abilities, considering that sinister forces of the universe are conspiring to eradicate […]

2023-06-13T13:39:43+02:00June 12th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: May We Learn From the Earth by Robert J. Tiess

May We Learn From the Earth by Robert Tiess

With this stunning observational record of the natural world, poet Robert J. Tiess has curated a brilliant collection in May We Learn From the Earth: Nature Poems and Reflections on the Environment.

A self-described ecopoet with a remarkable eye for the secret beauty and subtle wonders of nature, this is both an homage to the Earth and a desperate plea for a shift in collective consciousness. From academic and allusion-laced verses to thoughtful personal poems that reflect the writer’s own experience, this broad-ranging book feels both contemporary and timeless.

“Ecclesiastes of the Earth” is one of the strongest poems […]

2023-06-12T13:09:13+02:00June 11th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Intelligent Digital Ecosystems by Janak Alford

Intelligent Digital Ecosystems by Janak Alford Brilliantly dissecting the mind-opening potential and dire existential threat that technology simultaneously represents, Janak Alford delivers a critical and thought-provoking thesis on the future with his book Intelligent Digital Ecosystems: How Rethinking Technology Will Expand Your Mind and Change Your World.

Recognizing our increasing and ironic social isolation via digital tools and devices, while acknowledging what a unifying and monumental force those same tools could represent if used wisely, this book seeks to define and defend a vision of what could be for the human race. By asking questions regarding our species’ codependency with technology, Alford artfully unpacks the […]

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