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.

Invariant by A.G. Sullivan

Invariant by A.G. SullivanA psychological drama with an ominous edge, Invariant by A.G. Sullivan is a cleverly penned plunge into the possibilities of foresight and fate.

Six years after being summoned to a stranger’s deathbed to receive a mysterious message, David Bishop and his partner Hannah find themselves on a bizarre scavenger hunt that threatens to redirect their lives at every turn. Creepy coincidences and scattered clues are forming a prophetic pattern, which leads the pair on a sinister trail of breadcrumbs towards an unknown but predetermined future. When tragedy strikes, the enigmatic mission turns into a life-altering obsession, even though finding the […]

2025-07-02T15:02:01+02:00July 2nd, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Review: The Blue Roses by Kent Yorkson

The Blue Roses by Kent Yorkson

A profound tale of friendship, romance, and the beautiful collisions of human existence, The Blue Roses by Kent Yorkson is a quietly provocative work of literary fiction.

Set against the timeless backdrop of New York City’s dramatic glamor, the story centers on Mark, a gifted painter, and a seemingly perfect couple, Hans and Yukari – a prominent diplomat and a prodigious musician, respectively. As their friendship grows and their lives entangle, the powerful nature of their bond becomes a meditation on intimacy, partnership, and emotional liberation. Exploring the perennially fascinating subject of alternative relationships, Yorkson’s novel takes an honest and […]

Review: The Celestial Gate Murders by Thomas Chung

The Celestial Gate Murders by Thomas Chung

A multilayered mystery exploring everything from techno-fascist evil to faith-based charlatans, The Celestial Gate Murders by Thomas Chung is a dramatic international thriller.

When 20-year-old Eunyoung mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind only a note explaining her desire to “experience a new world,” it sends her parish and chorus of friends into a quiet panic. However, she isn’t the only parishioner to go missing – a catechumen and a new friend of hers named Kim Yongbin has also gone off-grid, and some have speculated that their sudden disappearance could be linked to the The Celestial Gate – a secretive cult known for […]

2025-08-04T10:47:19+02:00July 1st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Ready for Reality by Angela Troppa, LCSW

Ready for Reality by Angela Troppa, LCSWOutlining a comprehensive foundation for a healthy and self-sufficient life, Ready for Reality: Teaching Kids the Skills They Need to Thrive in the Real World by Angela Troppa, LCSW is an innovative guide for adults as they prepare children for the future.

Following a straightforward structure of seven broad units of knowledge (Household, Safety, Social Skills, etc.), with each divided into related topics, the content can be quickly navigated based on the child’s age, as well as the skills they need to sharpen. From step-by-step explanations of domestic tasks around the home and crucial safety lessons to proper mealtime etiquette […]

2025-07-01T17:52:23+02:00June 30th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

A Year With Charlie Fine by Christopher Mahon

A Year With Charlie Fine by Christopher MahonFollowing the everyday wanders and wonders of an insightful and endearing public high school teacher, A Year With Charlie Fine by Christopher Mahon is a standout collection of observational wisdom and colloquial humor from the double-edged paradise of Los Angeles.

Whether musing on the foundations of friendship in our modern marketplace of life, the unifying power of music, the surprising nature of spiritual journeys, or the artistic soul of America, the tone is earnest and curious, making Charlie a charming focal point. “The Way The River Runs,” in which Charlie is transported to the artistic wilderness of an actual painting, […]

2025-06-30T19:19:39+02:00June 27th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Ford’s Terror by Richard A. Wiggins

Ford's Terror by Richard A Wiggins

A rugged plunge into the icy waters of American history, Ford’s Terror by Richard A. Wiggins is a meticulous military novel that leans into energizing themes of exploration, fortitude, and personal growth. Lured by the intoxicating allure of Alaska at the dawn of the 20th century, naval draftsman and Master at Arms Harry Ford embarks on an epic mission to chart America’s newest and most untamed wilderness. Joining the motley crew of the U.S.S. Patterson, Harry must not only navigate his eclectic companions, but also the perils of traversing a strange new world with dangers at every turn. Though the […]

2025-06-25T15:55:45+02:00June 25th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Sword of Vengeance by Chris Adams

Sword of Vengeance by Chris Adams

Magic portals, demonic spawn, and a classic crew of noble heroes make Sword of Vengeance by Chris Adams an immersive clash of good and evil. As the realm’s newest Guardian Knight, Gerald Cael is tasked with protecting the vulnerable from the same hellish horrors that scarred him as a child. Relying on his blade, pendant, and steadfast heart, this destiny-driven warrior rises to face an immortal turncoat that threatens the very fabric of the future. The novel may hit on some familiar sword-and-sorcery themes, but Adams weaves together an original epic with a complex hero at the helm, illustrating how […]

2025-06-25T14:32:59+02:00June 25th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The 7th Disciple: Time Witness by WS Chang & E Chang

The 7th Disciple by WS Chang & E Chang

Inspiring, profound, and remarkable in its creativity, The 7th Disciple: Time Witness by WS Chang and E Chang is a sci-fi thriller with a deeply philosophical heart. Elliot’s college career is disrupted when he begins falling back through time, stumbling into his long-awaited destiny as a cosmic disciple, following in the footsteps of Einstein, Newton, and countless other visionaries before him. Side-stepping the expected tropes of time travel fiction and the paradoxical dangers of altering the present, the story instead focuses on the importance of self-knowledge in understanding our world. Exploring heady ideas of time, history, and the power of […]

2025-06-24T09:17:57+02:00June 24th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|
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