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.

Review: Black, White, and Gray All Over by Frederick Douglass Reynolds

Black, White and Gray All Over by Frederick Reynolds

A riveting and eye-opening read for every American, Black, White, and Gray All Over by Frederick Douglass Reynolds is a powerful story of family, struggle, redemption, and resilience as a black police officer on the mean streets of Compton.

Recounting his life in emotional detail in the opening chapters, the author’s roots are revealed, as are the early struggles that led him towards a career in law enforcement. The majority of the book then details his decades on the force, delving into the nitty-gritty history of Compton street gangs and power structures, as well as the near-constant war being waged […]

2022-04-27T04:41:58+02:00January 26th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Anatheum by D.M. Ross

Anatheum by D.M. Ross A few words can say a great deal, as D.M. Ross masterfully proves in his thoughtful collection of wise mantras, Anatheum, a unique work of self-help aimed at a young adult audience. Though it can be read in a single sitting, this is the type of pocket-sized book that will be continually reopened for a dose of guidance.

A meditative, thought-provoking read, some of these insights have been heard and spoken aloud many times before, while others are unique turns of phrase – simple, yet strikingly profound. “There are no answers, only decisions to be made” and “Thoughts come […]

2022-01-28T03:59:11+02:00January 26th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Whispers from the Universe by Georgina Morello

Whispers from the Universe by Georgina Morello

A deep dive into the seminal experiences that shaped her life, Whispers from the Universe by Georgina Morello is an inspiring collection of personal essays marking touchstones of her spiritual journey. Fearlessly leading readers through emotional volatility, depression, trauma, and her spiritual awakening, the author details the unusual path of growth and learning the universe unfurled before her. The prose is rich with meaning, but accessible, and while an editor could help with organization, Morello’s writing is informative and engaging throughout. Whether she is communing with her inner voice, dissecting the painful past, or opening herself to new experiences, this […]

2022-01-26T08:47:02+02:00January 26th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Dragon’s Threat by Peter King

The Dragon's Threat by Peter King

A spiraling thriller that pulls readers back through war-torn centuries of global struggle, The Dragon’s Threat by Peter King is a stunning adventure through the halls of power. A bookish specialist is brought in to resolve a hot-button land dispute in the South China Sea, but soon finds himself in a dangerous cocktail of rewritten history, international power grabs, kidnapping attempts, deadly negotiations, and the double-edged sword of any contentious border. Dripping with well-researched detail, entrancing narration, and a tangled knot of hardly trustworthy characters, this whip-smart read is deliciously complex, and a true pleasure to read.

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2022-01-26T07:04:56+02:00January 26th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Boulder Girl: Bad Moon Rising by Cynthia L. Clark

Boulder Girl: Bad Moon Rising by Cynthia L. Clark

Obsession dies hard and grief heals slow in Boulder Girl: Bad Moon Rising by Cynthia L. Clark, a gripping sequel in the Boulder Girl series. Random chance and bad luck puts Leon Alvarez back on the streets, and back on the hunt for Lana Ross – the object of his maniacal infatuation. Once again, Clark explores the twisted depths of delusion, and the endless resilience of her lead character, even as she tries to protect the innocent legacy of the man she loved and lost. Though the high-stakes plot is fast-paced and easy to read, the narration can be heavy-handed, […]

2022-01-25T08:51:53+02:00January 25th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Nomad by Debra J. Tillar

The Nomad by Debra J Tillar An interstellar odyssey across time and space, The Nomad by Debra J. Tillar is a bold and adventurous vision of humanity’s future history, tapping into elements of sci-fi, philosophy, and pop culture.

Centuries after First Contact with the Wharth, humanity has been given the technological keys to the cosmos, trading isolation in the universe with unprecedented access to roam among the stars. Zara is a cosmic wanderer, and a veteran of exploring new corners of the galaxy, but a violent run-in with an otherworldly beast leaves her grounded and drugged in a hybrid-filled pleasure prison, with no idea when or […]

2022-01-21T08:07:12+02:00January 21st, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Matters of Life… by Norman Weeks

Matters of Life... by Norman Weeks A thought-provoking collection of well-crafted essays exploring the dynamic and intimate philosophy of existence, Matters of Life… by Norman Weeks is a wise and gentle manifesto.

Broken into three distinct sections – “Life Thought About,” “Laughed At,” and “Suffered” – the prose feels all encompassing, from our biological origins and anthropological myths to our emotional maturation as individuals and a species. Weeks examines humanity as a naturalist, a philosopher, an investigator, and even a harsh critic, depending on the subject and tack of each essay, covering issues such as powerful personal experiences that shape our paths, unpredictable bumps in the […]

2022-03-18T05:14:19+02:00January 20th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Review: Hourglass by Daniel James

Hourglass by Daniel James

A genre-busting thriller from author Daniel James, Hourglass is an occult masterwork of tension and grit, layered with shadowy government agencies, demonic villains, baggage-laden ghosts, and an unlikely pair of comic book heroes.

Clyde Williams is holding it together as best he can, despite struggling to finish his comic book, wrestling with the recent murder of his roommate Kev, and then navigating Kev’s ghostly return to the apartment from beyond the grave. However, when an Hourglass agent shows up at his door, inviting them both to join a nebulous government cell dealing with “post-life entities,” it’s clear that life is […]

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