Whispering Tree: A Paranormal Suspense Thriller
by Shirley Bear Fedorak
Ghostly whispers from The Tree. Unexplained mishaps. Can an empath solve the mystery of her hauntings and save her family from a psychopath bent on revenge?
Empath Ariana Nightley is living her dream on a Canadian prairie farm. She is a bestselling author, she’s marrying the man she loves, and the dangerous sociopath who stalked her is gone. Then the women of The Tree start whispering again. They warn her of danger. Michael is back.
Ariana’s only solace comes when she discovers her beloved grandmother’s spirit has joined the women in The Tree. Gran soothes her with memories of her long life.
Michael’s sinister threats increase, and she seeks answers from the women of The Tree until a disturbing discovery shatters her faith in them. When Michael takes deadly revenge on someone she loves, Ariana hatches a risky plan that will save her family or destroy them all.
Whispering Trees is book 2 in the Whispers trilogy, a genre blend of paranormal suspense, crime thriller, and romance.
Robin's Review: Initially, I had some doubts about Whispering Tree as I'm not typically a fan of suspenseful romance novels. However, what intrigued me was the protagonist being an empath. To my delight, I found myself thoroughly invested in her story and now consider myself a fan of Shirley Bear Fedorak.
Regarding the review, the writing was seamless and flowed effortlessly. The story was well-crafted and easy to follow, with a perfect balance of suspense without being overly graphic. The author wisely avoided excessive world-building or deep character introduction details, as this is the second book in the series.
The plot was refreshing and engaging, catching me off guard. Even though it's the second book, the characters were fully fleshed out and relatable, making me root for more than one of them. The family tree chart and the cast of characters' explanations at the beginning of the book proved to be quite helpful, as I referenced it multiple times throughout the story.
This book provided the exact change of pace I needed, and I've become quite fond of the characters and their tales. I plan to read and review Book 1 as well. Overall, I highly recommend this author and her series.
My Favorite Lines:
“Drat you man, there had better be a real house come spring, or I’ll let the icicles at your privates.”
“He ran his hands through his thin brown hair. “Can you forgive an old-fashioned numbskull of a guy? I’m still learning how to be a good husband, and I admit I’m lost more often than I know what I’m doing.”
“My darling little girl scrunched up her nose and sent me an annoyed mind-nudge.”
“Olivia led me through dozens of soul-sucking cubicles and into a stark conference room.”
“A psychopathic ghost threatened my family and haunted my dreams.”
“Gran’s magic closet.”
“Ryan shook his head. “You two set the women’s movement back a spell. Did it ever occur to you to step back?”
“We are the women of The House,” Sarah said. “We live in The Tree now.”
“We must pay for our sins,” Sarah said. “The walls keep us prisoner.”
“I will love you forever and a day my handsome prince,”
There are a few trigger warnings.
Violence and Death
Mental Health
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.
Robin's Review of Wolves Running
by Deborah Jarvis
The secret is out about the shapeshifters of the world...
...and as they face the wildly disparate reactions from all parts of the globe, the local groups of shapeshifters are trying to adapt to being in the public eye. For some, like Sasha Wellington, the revelation of her status as a wolf shapeshifter is not something she can reveal just yet in her role as a biology teacher at a Boulder, Colorado high school. As a matter of fact, that is probably the last thing she should consider.
Robin's Review: The news that shapeshifters exist has shocked the world and thrown society into chaos. Local groups of shapeshifters are scrambling to deal with the fallout. For some shapeshifters, like Sasha Wellington, coming out is not an option. This presents a unique challenge for her and the shapeshifter community.
What transpires is a story that explores the good and bad in people. It is entertaining and exciting even when it shows humanity and its flaws. I enjoyed reading this well-written story and look forward to more from this author.
Robin's Review of Einstein in the Atticby Dana Dargos
Set against the backdrop of the war between science and God, reason and faith, Einstein in the Attic is the story of one scientist’s search for truth and meaning when faced with the ultimate question: Is there a God?
Fleeing war-torn Lebanon, Adam Reemi’s faith is shaken by the hardships he has endured, but when he and a colleague successfully construct a nano hadron collider, and using sound waves, Adam finds unheard-of power at his fingertips. To help him answer the greatest question mankind has ever posed, he zaps the best philosophical minds of all time–namely Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Soren Kierkegaard, and Baruch Spinoza–from the past and into his attic. Not all goes according to plan, however, and Adam finds himself in a race against time to formulate an answer to the question of intelligent design… or risk losing everything.
Robin's Review: Einstein in the Attic by Dana Dargos is a curious blend of science fiction and philosophy that take readers on a thought-provoking journey with Professor Adam Reemi as he seeks answers to his personal and professional upheavals. He finds solace by bringing famous physicists back to life in his attic like Einstein, Curie and Edison who help him explore grand questions of science, philosophy and religion. This gripping story offers up plenty of entertaining adventure while exploring deeper truth underlying it all - a must read for those seeking out something truly enriching!
I was given a free e-copy of this book, but that has not influenced my opinion in this review. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others.
Robin's Review of The Strange Courtship of Kathleen O'Dwyer
by Robert Temple
What would drive a woman in 1828 to head west across the Great Plains into the Rocky Mountains...
...risking death among hostile Native Americans, brutish mountain men, and wild animals? Why, the same reason as a man, of course--freedom. Like fur trappers of the early western frontier, Kathleen is a misfit. Growing up in the Irish slums of Boston and watching her mother die giving birth to a dozen children, Kathleen has decided to escape into a career as a schoolteacher, free of men; but when she sets out along the Santa Fe Trail for distant Nuevo Mexico, she finds that dry powder and steady aim are as important as reading, writing, and arithmetic"—
Robin's Review: Kathleen O'Dwyer, a schoolteacher by trade, left her home to go on an incredible adventure with nothing but the supplies in her wagon and faith as a guide. Along this journey she meets James Colter who joins Kathleen’s convoy – together they traverse sun-drenched deserts, navigate treacherous mountain passes and discover new cultures meeting fascinating people of all backgrounds. Their road will lead them across miles until eventually arriving at their destiny: Mexico!
This story had it all-thrilling action, stirring romance and engaging characters. It was an entertaining journey that kept me captivated until the very end!
I was given a free e-copy of this book, but that has not influenced my opinions in this review.
WICKED GAMES: Wicked Series
Book One
by Nancy Brown
Wicked: Evil, Naughty. Games: To play or manipulate based on skill, strength or luck.
One Woman. Two men. A race against the clock.
The Players:
Avery Carmichael is a brilliant criminal attorney. She is also the daughter of Jonathan Carmichael, the future governor of New York. She hates games and she doesn’t have time for romance. She is running scared from the only man in her life. She calls him Tic Toc and he wants her dead. Her only objective is to survive.
Liam Sanders is tall, dark and deadly handsome. He’s also the twin brother of Luke Sanders and the newest member of Cross Security. He has a job to do. He doesn’t have time for distractions. But just one look at Avery Carmichael and his game plan changes. He wants her and he’ll do whatever it takes make her his.
Robin's Review: Ms. Brown's writing was nothing short of excellent, making this book a suspenseful page-turner. Though entertaining, the character of Tik Toc, in particular, provided an unsettling backdrop for the story. It is with great pleasure that I recommend Ms. Brown and all her books to any reader looking for an engaging and captivating read.
Coming Soon:
Wicked Desires: Wicked Series Book Two
Wicked Lies: Wicked Series Book Three
Wicked Obsessions: Wicked Series Book Four
#romance #action #adventure
Hanging Corpses by Jay Bower Hanging Corpses by Jay Bower From demons to cannibals… Fifteen horrific tales explore vast landscapes of terror whether it’s the woods at the end of the street or the icy reaches of space. Nothing is off limits. Fear creeps through the tales and threatens to make the nightmares a reality. … Continue reading “Robin’s Review of Hanging Corpses”
Hanging Corpses
by Jay Bower
From demons to cannibals…
Fifteen horrific tales explore vast landscapes of terror whether it’s the woods at the end of the street or the icy reaches of space. Nothing is off limits.
Fear creeps through the tales and threatens to make the nightmares a reality.
Delve into Hanging Corpses and prepare to commune with the dead. They await your company.
Hanging Corpses
Tiny Piece of Soul
Remnants of the War
Flesh Hook
Damian
The Awful Gift
New World Hunger
From the Depths, Risen
Unstoppable Heart
Colony of the Damned
Roosevelt is for Lovers
Duardo (Roosevelt is for Lovers, Part 2)
Autumnal Thrill
Accepting
The Voice of America
Robin's Review: All of these stories are freaking amazing in a horrific kind of way. My favorite, of course, must be New World Hunger because, ah, zombies! These short stories are well written and easy to read if you don’t mind some gore. They are written so creatively that you feel part of the story. I don’t know if that is a good thing or bad. Just kidding. It’s good. Well Done, Jay Bower. I am a fan for life.
