Native American Herbalism
by History Brought Alive
Health, Wellness & Natural Healing with Earth's Medicine
In the last century, mortality rates have dropped in the developed world. However, as death rates fall, there appears to be a drop in well-being.
Health, Wellness & Natural Healing with Earth's Medicine
In the last century, mortality rates have dropped in the developed world. However, as death rates fall, there appears to be a drop in well-being.
Conventional medications usually consist of synthetic medicines which can cause various side effects and are often expensive. Herbal medications cost less and are much more gentle on the body. Not only this, but they conform with cultural practices and traditions that stretch back for thousands of years.
Robin's Review:
"Native American Herbalism" promises to enhance your health and wellbeing through the age-old healing practices and natural remedies of Indigenous communities. Unfortunately, History Brought Alive's attempt at bringing this knowledge to life falls flat. The content lacks depth and fails to deliver on its tantalizing premise. Nonetheless, the potential of learning about herbalism from ancestral traditions is certainly appealing.
I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
The Posh Prepper: An Apocalyptic Survival Thriller Paperback
by Todd KnightAn apocalyptic virus. A crisis consultant. A 24-hour head start.
In 2035, in a hopelessly broken world, Nick Ritter is The Posh Prepper, a gifted crisis consultant who sells disaster-survival plans to rich and powerful clients.
Haunted by corrupt clients and a tragic past, Nick lives a reclusive life in overcrowded Boston, counting the days until he can retire to his survival ranch in New Zealand.
But when he gets an insider tip that a deadly virus is tearing through Boston, Nick has 24 hours to escape the city and flee to New Zealand. He has the perfect survival plan, but there’s just one problem…it doesn’t account for company.
As he scrambles toward safety, Nick picks up a ragtag group of followers:
Abby Blackwell, a pregnant teen runaway, is hiding a dark secret. If she can outrun her troubled past, she can start a new life. But trusting anyone could put everyone in danger.
Brian Donahue, a washed-up Navy SEAL, is scraping by as an escape pilot. Torn between family and duty, he’ll risk everything to complete this final mission.
Dana Foster, an overworked ER doctor, is haunted by human suffering. As the outbreak spreads, she faces an impossible choice: who should they save?
Now Nick must call on his disaster-planning skills to survive, facing off against a collapsing society to protect his newfound family and save mankind from extinction.
The Posh Prepper is a dark, tense, slow-burn apocalyptic thriller with an unforgettable cast of complex characters. Perfect for fans of The Stand, The Road, Swan Song, A.G. Riddle, and Kyla Stone.
*This book includes strong language, graphic violence, and mature themes. *
Robin's Review: If you're looking for a new and fresh take on the post-apocalyptic genre, this book is it! The storyline was well written and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that readers can easily connect to - my favorite being Mikey-the perfect combination of humor and courage to see him through any trial he encountered. It's an easy, fast-paced, exciting journey filled with entertainment and informative advice for prepping before and after any global incident. In addition to making this book highly entertaining, the author also provides readers with invaluable tips and information in preparation for potential cataclysmic events, with sound advice mixed within its thrilling pages. This debut novel by this promising new author is downright amazing and did not disappoint! I am already hungry for more. An incredibly impressive start with lots of promise - I look forward to seeing what's next in store!
Extra Bits:
Box breathing: four counts in, four counts full, four counts out, four counts empty. Repeat.
“There are three stages to disaster reaction: denial, deliberation, and decision.
“I provide my clients with seamless escape plans, 24/7/365. No matter where they are, no matter what happens, I get them where they need to be—quickly, safely, comfortably, with everything they need to survive and thrive. To do that requires exhaustive threat analysis, a complex network of private contracts, extensive travel documentation, and hundreds of hours of scenario planning. I work alone, but I coordinate with dozens of partners to design an airtight survival package.” “I’m the planner who sees everything before it happens.”
“You want a bare bones escape or the luxury package?” “What do you mean?” “Bare bones is a 700-square-foot bunker in South Dakota. Luxury is a ten-acre ranch in Portugal with a swimming pool and helipad.”
“Arrive. Get there safely.” “Survive. Outlast the threat.” “Thrive. Live in the new world.” “
“I don’t. That’s the nature of prepping—you have to be early. To survive, you have to act before the threat is here, before it’s obvious to everyone. The only way to be one hundred percent certain is to wait and see what happens.”
“In a disaster, every person is added risk.”
“Arrive is about getting to your destination safely. Survive is about outlasting the crisis. And Thrive is about building a life in the new world. Our goal for the next forty-eight hours is to Arrive in New Zealand.” He turned to the window and began adding bubbles with little symbols. “There are eight categories we need to prep for: Transportation. Food and water. Shelter. Health and medical. Safety and defense. Currency and assets. Communication and continuity. Leisure and entertainment. We need to plan for two scenarios. Plan A is to wait here for forty-eight hours, then head to New Zealand. It’s a good plan, and it should work. But if something goes wrong with Plan A, and we can’t make it to New Zealand, we’ll be stuck here without food or supplies. So we need a Plan B, which is to stay here and outlast the virus. Anything can happen, it could be weeks, months, even years. So we hope for Plan A, and prepare for Plan B.”
His Bug Out Bag
“Umm five, no six, flashlights. Four sleeping bags. Four mylar blankets. Forty N95 masks. Two hundred surgical gloves. Two binoculars. Four butane torch lighters. Six packs of waterproof matches. Two flints. Six road flares. Two hatchets. Five permanent markers. Two gas masks. Two multitools. Six fishhooks with line. Two rolls of duct tape. Two first-aid kits. Two envelopes of cash.” “Should be ten thousand dollars in each.” Nick scribbled. “Two small bars of gold. Two dozen meal-ready-to-eat rations. Four water-filtration straws. A hundred water-purification tablets. Two camping stoves with six gas canisters. Two bottles of lighter fluid. Two hand-crank radios. Four walkie talkies. Two prepaid cell phones.” “Anddd…” Brian scraped the bottom of his bag. “A pink seahorse whistle.”
I will end here otherwise I will be quoting the whole book. This is truly my favorite read in 2023. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
This is a science fiction/horror/thriller/suspense/apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic genre book so of course it is not real, but I added some warnings just in case and so did the author.
Trigger Warning: Violence, Kidnapping, Death, Racial slur, Swearing, Mental Health and Illness, and Adult Themes
This debut novel by a promising new author is downright amazing! It promises to be the start of an exciting series, and readers can hardly wait for what's next. The promise in this first book has us on pins and needles - don't miss out; read it today!
In this exciting debut novel, the author presents a unique and engaging story that will leave readers eager for more. Already praised by critics as being brilliantly crafted with an engrossing plot line, it is sure to be just the start of a must-read series from this new talent in literature!
An absolute must read for fans of the post-apocalyptic genre or prepping. It’s commendable that this is the authors first book.
The plot zips along at a thrilling pace and the characters pop off of every page. My personal favorite was But beyond just being entertaining, readers will pick up sound advice how prepping before (and during) a global incident as well as absorbing factual information about what happens when society breaks down in its absence.
is highly imaginative and a thrilling read! The story line was captivating, with well-developed characters that readers can easily connect to - my favorite being Mikey. It's an easy, fast paced journey filled not only with entertainment but also informative advice for prepping before and after any end time event.
An absolute must read for fans of the post apocalyptic setting and it’s commendable this authors first book has been such a great success at tackling topics like these head on!
This extraordinary take on the Post Apocalyptic genre is a must-read adventure! It weaves together an imaginative, suspenseful plot with fantastic characters - Mikey being one of my favorites. In addition to making this book highly entertaining, the author also provides readers invaluable tips and information in preparation for potential end-time cataclysmic events. With sound advice mixed within its thrilling pages,
This is an interesting take on the Post Apocalyptic genre, it is highly imaginative, and, quite frankly, an all-around great read. The plot was well-written and exciting. The characters were well-written and relatable. My favorite was Mikey. It was an easy to read fast paced thrill ride of a read. It has excellent sound information on many various topics and what to do. The concerns and concepts on how to survive an end-time cataclysmic event both with prepping survival tips and informative concepts with the breakdown of society. It’s not just an entertaining book but also a how-to on prepping before and after an event, and it being the author's first, is quite outstanding.
Interesting take on the post Apocalyptic genre highly imaginative and highly quite frankly an all great read. Excellent and sound information on many various topics and concerns concepts to an end extending event both with h prepping survival the breakdown of society It’s just a very entertaining book all around and it being the authors first is quite outstanding. I look forward to more from this author and I am told this will be come a series and I will anxiously await the next book.
emergency conditioning’ or ‘battle proofing.’
box breathing: four counts in, four counts full, four counts out, four counts empty. Repeat.
makeshift sleeve mask.
“The first thing you do is call your operator. Always.
three stages to disaster reaction: denial, deliberation, and decision.
“Forty-seven minutes…that’s the average head start my clients have before everyone else figures out what’s happening.
“Second thing to remember, you have one job: Save yourself. Every member of your family has that same job. Don’t worry about anyone else, they’ll just slow you down. In a crisis, seventy percent of people freeze, twenty percent harm themselves or others, and ten percent save themselves. I’ve trained you to be in that ten percent.” “What do you mean they freeze? No one would just stand still in a burning building, right?” “Wrong.” Nick shook his head. “You have to understand, in a disaster, people don’t optimize for survival. They optimize for psychological comfort. They stand around and chat with each other. They groupthink up plans that don’t make sense. They irrationally follow social norms. They’re slow and they’re dangerous. The truth is most people would rather die with their group than survive alone. In a crisis, don’t be a hero. Save yourself. Everyone else is added risk.” “Umm, because the world is fucked and I don’t wanna die?” “Right. All my clients say the same thing. The world’s falling apart. Everything’s corrupt. People are fatally flawed, easily manipulated, selfish, lazy, dogmatic, barbaric…beyond hope.” “And?” “And if you want to survive, you have to go alone.”
“What would it take for you to be on call to me, 24/7/365? You don’t have to do a thing. Just coach me through whatever comes up, like my own personal 911.” “I’m sorry, Marty, but I don’t do live support.”
He’s the best in the business. Your one-stop-shop for high-end apocalypse insurance.”
provide my clients with seamless escape plans, 24/7/365. No matter where they are, no matter what happens, I get them where they need to be—quickly, safely, comfortably, with everything
design an airtight survival package.
“I’m the planner who sees everything before it happens.”
bare-bones escape or the luxury package?” “What do you mean?” “Bare bones is a 700-square-foot bunker in South Dakota. Luxury is a ten-acre ranch in Portugal with a swimming pool and helipad.”
of disaster response at the top of each, narrating as he worked. “Arrive. Get there safely.” “Survive. Outlast the threat.” “Thrive. Live in the new world.” In each window, he drew eight big bubbles and sketched a symbol in the center of each. Airplane. “Transportation.” Fork. “Food and water.” House. “Shelter.” Cross. “Health and medical.” Shield. “Safety and defense.” Dollar sign. “Currency and assets.” Phone. “Communication and continuity.” Book. “Leisure and entertainment.” His approach was simple: Prep for each of the eight categories in each of the three stages of disaster response. After all, Transportation prep for the
“I don’t. That’s the nature of prepping—you have to be early. To survive, you have to act before the threat is here, before it’s obvious to everyone. The only way to be one hundred percent certain is to wait and see what happens. I’m not taking that chance. I’m getting out,
In a disaster, every person is added risk
“This is what I do. If you break my rules, I will leave you behind. If you slow me down, if you put me in danger, I will leave you behind.”
“Primary mission?”
was common in a crisis—70 percent of people become overwhelmed by the combination of too many options, too many variables, very little time, and the high cost of a wrong decision. It was called “choice overload,” and the solution was to narrow the options and give the frozen person a simple justification for taking one particular path—then apply pressure to commit or be left behind.
Survivor guilt
solution was to release the person from their guilt by convincing them that saving themselves would also save others. The truth didn’t matter—what mattered was that you provided an altruistic justification for a self-preserving action, relieving their guilt and validating their decision to save themselves.
We don’t have time to sit around, and think, and debate, and make mistakes. We need to plan and execute with cold, hard precision.”
“Institutions that want to control the narrative.”
if we lose power, we lose water—that’s a big problem. If that happens, we need direct access to lake water.”
Arrive, Survive, Thrive. Arrive is about getting to your destination safely. Survive is about outlasting the crisis. And Thrive is about building a life in the new world.
“We need to plan for two scenarios. Plan A But if something goes wrong with Plan A, so we need a Plan B.
Go Bag
“Umm five, no six, flashlights. Four sleeping bags. Four mylar blankets. Forty N95 masks. Two hundred surgical gloves. Two binoculars. Four butane torch lighters. Six packs of waterproof matches. Two flints. Six road flares. Two hatchets. Five permanent markers. Two gas masks. Two multitools. Six fishhooks with line. Two rolls of duct tape. Two first-aid kits. Two envelopes of cash.” “Should be ten thousand dollars in each.” Nick scribbled. “Two small bars of gold. Two dozen meal-ready-to-eat rations. Four water-filtration straws. A hundred water-purification tablets. Two camping stoves with six gas canisters. Two bottles of lighter fluid. Two hand-crank radios. Four walkie talkies. Two prepaid cell phones.” “Anddd…” Brian scraped the bottom of his bag. “A pink seahorse whistle.”
“But better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.”
The Horror Collection:
The Lost Edition Kindle Edition
by Kevin J. Kennedy, Richard Chizmar, Edward Lee, Tim Curran, & 16 more
Book 14 of 14:The Horror Collection
Book 14 in The Horror Collection series brings you the best in new horror from, Russell James, Mark Towse, Tim Curran, Daemon Manx, Lex H. Jones , J.A. Sullivan, Konn Lavery, C.M. Forest, J.R. McConvey, Judith Sonnet, Mark Allan Gunnells, Edward Lee, John Pelan, Steve Stred, Richard Chizmar, Calvin Demmer, Candace Nola, Brian G. Berry & Matthew V. Brockmeyer.
Edited by Ann Keeran & Kevin J. Kennedy
Robin's Review:Looking for a thrilling read? Look no further than ‘The Horror Collection: The Lost Edition.’ Featuring a curated selection of 18 stories from talented indie horror authors, this book is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. What sets this collection apart is the wide range of plots and writing styles – there's something for everyone here. And don't worry about clunky language or awkward pacing, the writing is smooth and exciting throughout. I found myself completely engrossed in these stories and had a blast reading them. If you're a fan of horror or just looking for an awesome and fun read, I highly recommend giving this collection a try.
Monochrome Noir: Book III: A Fatal Flood: Book 3 of 4
by Jack Wells
A down-on-his-luck private investigator who loves whiskey as much as he loves solving cases.
An outcast medical technician with a heavy heart and an unnatural ability. A brutal killer with a mysterious agenda.
Welcome to Monochrome Noir, a detective story set in an alternate version of 1986 Los Angeles. It is a grayscale world, where items of color are the rarest of commodities, owned by few and coveted by many.
As the stakes grow ever higher, P.I. Henry Hardcastle is in a race against time to solve the Colorist’s case, even as fresh developments threaten to derail his investigation. Charlie Grant uses her unique ability to revisit the previous crime scenes, uncovering new clues, while also putting herself in grave danger. The mysterious killer finds his next victim, the last one standing between him and his vendetta of vengeance.
Robin's Review:Step into the dark and eerie world of Monochrome Noir: Book III- A Fatal Flood, a gripping read by Jack Wells. From the first page, I was sucked into the story, ready to embark on another twisted journey with the familiar characters from the previous books.
The prose in this book is nothing short of masterful- every word chosen with precision to create a vivid picture in your mind. Wells proves that sometimes, less is more when it comes to descriptions, but he manages to keep you on edge with the carefully crafted narrative style.
If you're a fan of mystery, suspense, and all things noir, then this book is a must-read. And even if you haven't read the previous books in the Monochrome series, you'll still be able to fully appreciate the intriguing plot and complex characters that make A Fatal Flood a true page-turner.
Monochrome Noir: A Gathering Storm
by Jack Wells
A down-on-his-luck private investigator who loves whiskey as much as he loves solving cases. An outcast medical technician with a heavy heart and an unnatural ability.
A brutal killer with a mysterious agenda.Welcome to Monochrome Noir, a detective story set in an alternate version of 1986 Los Angeles. It is a grayscale world, where items of color are the rarest of commodities, owned by few and coveted by many.
Robin's Review: Monochrome Noir: A Gathering Storm is an exciting and entertaining story built around a monochrome world. The world-building is richly descriptive without color but is fantastically written. The characters were complex and written with such creative care that I couldn’t help but relate to them. This is a must-read for just about any genre reader.
Next in Series
Monochrome Noir: A Rising Tide
Book 2 of 2: Monochrome Noir
A Creation of Yesterday
D.L Fletcher
Sometimes what was written yesterday can't be changed...With every breath they took, and every decision they made, something was being created for them tomorrow.
With the help Alice sought in protecting her granddaughter Cami years ago, she thought she knew what tomorrow would look like. For Rick, he and his boys thought they were doing a good job protecting Cami.What none of them knew, was the real impact of their decisions until today arrived and tomorrow had passed...This is A Creation of Yesterday...Creation Series Book 1 - A Creation of Tomorrow Book 2 - A Creation of Yesterday
Robin's Review: “A Creation of Yesterday” continues with where “A Creation of Tomorrow” leaves off, Cami’s story and her life since the last book. I will not give away any spoilers because you have to read it with fresh first-time eyes. I will say this is not my normal go to genre of book. It crosses into romance, and of late I’ve grown a little tired of romance. This book has truly shaken me from romance fatigue.
A Creation of Yesterday, is a multi-layered read by crossing different genres and doing it flawlessly. I will say that this is my favorite book of the year. It has complex characters, the plot is definitely unusual, and had a few surprises that I didn’t see coming. I have fallen in love with all of the characters and hope that D.L. Fletcher writes more about them.
This is one of those books that will keep you up all night reading and then cry because you finished it and boy did I cry. I really enjoy this author’s writing style which is a no-frills way with storytelling and is character driven.
I highly recommend this author and all her books and can’t wait for more from her.
Triggers: Child Abuse, Rape, Assault, Murder
It was my honor and pleasure to receive a free copy of this book but that does not in any way affect my opinions in this review of this entertaining story.
#crimefiction #romance #crimethrillers #thriller #suspense
A Creation of Tomorrow
D.L Fletcher
Alice's daughter Patsy now missing, her granddaughter Cami was without a mother and the one person that protected her from her father's anger. Having no doubt Cami's father Tom was responsible for the bruises, Alice turned to the police again and again, but just like when Patsy went missing, they repeatedly turned their backs on her.
Alice was desperate to find help. With nowhere left to turn, she turned to the most dangerous men she'd ever laid eyes on. Rumor had it that they were drug traffickers. The leader was thought to be the devil himself, and his men his demon disciples, but what choice did Alice have? She needed someone that could protect Cami.
They didn't wear patches on their leather, and they weren't called by any name, but they were brothers. For Rick, running a drug ring was challenge enough. Having each other's back was all that mattered until Alice approached him.
Drawn in the moment he looked at Cami's picture Rick ordered Jonathan and Swan to tail the little girl and find out what they could about her situation. It didn't take long to discover that she needed their help.
What none of them knew was the impact their decisions would have on tomorrow.
This is A Creation of Tomorrow...
Robin's Review: Alice Hendricks is trying to protect her granddaughter, Cami from her abusive father, Tom Watson. Enlisting the help of drug trafficker, Rick Stackston and his “boys.”
I couldn’t help but fall in love with the character Cami and I totally felt her pain, confusion, and anxiety.
This is a well written and engaging story with thoroughly fleshed out characters and some twisty turns. There is just enough cuteness and wit to make you keep turning the pages, blended well with drama, and stirred with a lot of action. I am so invested in these characters, I am heartbroken this journey has ended, but has it?
I never had such a wide variety of emotions while reading, I laughed, I cried, I cheered, and I mourned. This story was such an enjoyable experience, I highly recommend this book and this author. I am a fan for life.
My Favorite Line: “He thought about the little girl in the hospital all broken and confused. He thought about how life was before her, and what she brought to them when she walked into their lives. He thought of all the boys, and how they were always content after seeing her, and about how she gave them purpose in a world where they really didn't have one.”
Triggers: Child Abuse, Death and Violence
Next in Series:
A Creation of Yesterday (Creation series Book 2)
It was my honor and pleasure to receive a free copy of this book but that does not in any way affect my opinions in this review of this entertaining story.
Thriller
Suspense
Romance
Organized Crime
Vehemence: Tree of Treason
by William Thomas Brumley
Tella is one of the most elite agents at the Vehemence Organization. She has been on countless missions, all of them nothing less than a success. Suddenly, she is framed for the murder of a top Russian asset she was protecting. Tella is now on the run after an attempt on her life by her own agency. However, she is not alone, and she is not the only agent caught in the crosshairs of the Vehemence Agency. Her friend and mentor Albin is by her side. To make matters worse, they are also being tracked by rival Faction Lex Talionis. Tella will soon find out that things are not what they seem.
A quick and easy read with espionage and action built in. It had moments of dread and suspense that kept you turning the page.
Crime
Action
Adventure
Thriller
Mystery
Espionage
Primed for Vengeance
By Gill D Anderson
Butch is a young man who plans to seek revenge towards those responsible for his suffering and he intends to punish them in the worst possible way. Butch harbors intense feelings of anger and self-loathing and blames his upbringing for this. Butch is ready to attack and is primed for vengeance. Will he ever find a way to reconcile his past to make peace with the present?
Sarah is a bright young woman whose sole mission in life is to spread kindness and help others. Sarah puts her heart and soul into her role managing young people living in state care. Her intentions are good, however out of the blue, her life starts to unravel in the most horrific way. Sarah finds herself in the middle of a terrible dilemma whereby the choices she makes have a much bigger impact on those she cares about than she could ever have imagined.
Jock is a youth worker who brings the light into the darkest days of the young people he works with. He is a happy go lucky guy who finds himself in an unexpected precarious position. Jock steps up to tackle the most challenging situation he has ever faced and does not waver. But will he succeed in his attempt to talk a troubled youth out of committing yet another heinous crime?
Detective Dylan Mathews is highly disturbed by the poems being received by a young woman named Kate Jones. As they become increasingly sinister in nature, he, and his teamwork around the clock to catch the writer whom police have nicknamed ‘The Riddler’.
Dylan reports to Senior Sergeant Robert Gardner who is impossible to please. The personality clash between the two men only hinders the progress of the investigation. What is behind Gardner’s hatred of Dylan? Will police be able to catch ‘The Riddler’ before it’s too late?
A real page turner that I could not put down. This book has a bunch of genres that it can fall into but add great to the list.
Thriller
Crime
Suspense
Mystery
Action
Horror
Mirror Man
by Jacques Von Kat
Twenty-one-year-old, John-Michael is often misunderstood and considered odd or weird.
He feels like he’s missing something in life but he’s not sure what that is. But when he is looking into mirrors he sees everything and more…that most people don’t.
Then one day he sees a strange man in a blue suit that appears in town. A man who doesn’t belong there, and who has a suspicious curiosity for the antique shop where John-Michael works and its owner.
And then his employer is found dead, and he becomes the number one suspect.
John Michael finds himself trying to solve the mystery himself maybe by being overly observant he can find clues others miss. But if he does will anyone really believe him or will the man in the blue suit catch up to him?
I really liked the character John-Michael. He was sweet and entertaining. The plot was good and flowed easily. But the ending was a twist.
Mystery
Action
Fantasy
Crime
Autism
