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: Dragon Blood (Shadow War Saga) by Elana A. Mugdan

Dragon Blood by Elana A. Mugdan

All journeys take unpredictable turns, as is the case for Keriya Soulstar, the intrepid protagonist of Dragon Blood, the third book in the Shadow War Saga by author Elana A. Mugdan.

When Keriya wakes up on the other side of the world, far from Allentria and her loyal companions, she must face a new and terrifying reality. Her part in the ancient war back home is over, for a time, but she remains determined to return and finish what she had started.

Armed only with her magic sword— –  had saved her from the evil shadow of Necrovar – […]

2020-02-04T10:54:15+02:00December 10th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |

Saving the Dragons by Catriona MacRury

Saving the Dragons by Catriona MacRury

Set in a fantastic version of the 19th century, an unlikely group of young Celtic heroes faces down an impossible challenge in Saving the Dragons by Catriona MacRury. Showing off remarkable world-building skills and a deep well of creativity, MacRury delivers an immersive and engrossing read. While  the plot development is at times overly convenient, the story moves at a satisfying pace, replete with action and adventure throughout this entertaining fantasy.

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2019-12-11T05:45:55+02:00December 10th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Lamellia: The Wizard in the Forest by Gloria D. Gonsalves

Lamellia: The Wizard in the Forest by Gloria D. Gonsalves

A young mushroom heroine is the protagonist of Lamellia: The Wizard in the Forest, a whimsical and meaningful children’s book by Gloria D. Gonsalves. Written in simple language, but heavily laden with symbolism relating to acceptance, race, cultural differences and oppression, this story is surprisingly dense for a children’s book, but the underlying message is continually compelling. Gonsalves has created a unique new world and boldly filled it with timely and relevant wisdom for a younger generation.

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2019-12-11T05:28:58+02:00December 9th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Journey of an Acorn by Corey Wolff

The Journey of the Acorn by Corey Wolff

Author Corey Wolff has delivered a powerful allegory about growth, change, trauma, and independence in The Journey of an Acorn. This simple children’s tale is a quick read, but its message of boldly forging your own way in the world, and helping others along the way, is timeless for readers of any age. Rich with evocative imagery, this is a charming and well-penned fable that can be read again and again.

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2019-12-12T06:59:03+02:00December 9th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Happiness is Fleeting by Andrew E. Crowley

Happiness is Fleeting by Andrew Crowley

The fragile ideal that happiness is the ultimate pursuit of life is forcefully challenged in Happiness is Fleeting: The First Steps To Fulfillment, a quick and motivational read by author Andrew E. Crowley.

There is no denying that our modern society has resulted in widespread addiction to happiness, or at least the idea of it. The things we buy, the way we are told to feel, and our standard metrics for success are largely driven by our hunger for this abstract emotion. As an alternative, Crowley suggests a greater level of personal accountability and focus in order to seize […]

2019-12-09T08:08:42+02:00December 8th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Molls Like It Hot by Darren Dash

Molls Like It Hot by Darren DashMolls Like It Hot from author Darren Dash is a fast-paced and oddly heartfelt thriller, featuring a cabbie with a surprising toolkit, a worldly gangster, a trigger-happy target, and a decidedly dangerous offer.

A young woman lies at the heart of this tangled mess of a story, as one so often does, but Toni is far from a plot device. She’s a hard-drinking badass with a psychopathic soft spot for violence and a dangerous temper. Protecting this gangster’s lover in the seedy streets of South London leads Eyrie Brown into a weekend of gunfights and bloodshed that he’ll never forget […]

My Mommy Does Weird Things by Amelie Julien

My Mommy Does Weird Things by Amelie Julien

Penned from the whimsical perspective of a child, My Mommy Does Weird Things by Amelie Julien is a fun and heartfelt read for both children and parents. Focusing on some of the strange responsibilities of mothers, and how funny some of them must look to children, the book inspires empathy as well as laughs. The full-page illustrations are vibrant and engaging, and the translated text is well done – though “bizarre” may have been a better choice for the title. Most of all, the subject matter is universally relatable, with each page offering amusing insights about parenthood.[…]

2019-12-05T08:58:32+02:00December 4th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Mystery in the Mine: Gold Dust Returns by Thomas Trimble

Mystery in the Mine: Gold Dust Returns by Thomas Trimble

Thomas Trimble spins a tall and entertaining tale with Mystery in the Mine, a quick and spooky read with a keen sense of history. When Michael Bishop inherits an old mine, he doesn’t expect the supernatural assistance that seems to be leading him to untold riches. Though the narrative relies a bit too much on exposition, rather than action and dialogue, this charming ghost story focuses on the value of hard work, hope, and a bit of luck to uncover your own personal riches.

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2019-12-04T08:21:12+02:00December 3rd, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|
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