Nonfiction Short Reviews Cookbook, Natural Living, Study Guide, and Home Repair

30 Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Women Over 40 by Aiken Gobble

For Amazon Book Readers 

Women over 40 have specific dietary needs so a book like the Mediterranean Diet Cookbook is ideal for such women to plan and prepare such meals to help with those needs. 

Specific recipes and meals include Avocado and Smoked Salmon Pita Pockets for Breakfast that help energize, Zesty Lemon and Hummus Collared Green Wraps for Lunches that give weight loss, Savory Tomato and White Bean Stew with Olive Oil Drizzle for Dinners that burn fat and help heart health, and Pomegranate and Ginger Spritzer for Desserts and Drinks. 

This cookbook will help women over 40 live healthy happy lives.

 

Ancestral Natural Remedies by Quince Villin

For Amazon Book Readers 

Ancestral Natural Remedies is a guide to prepare and take natural remedies and medicines for healing various illnesses and injuries.

The book includes advice for Gut Health and Digestion, Stress and Anxiety, Immunity, Antioxidant, Circulatory, Building Strong Bones, for Sleep Aids, Energy Boosting, Skin and Beauty Aids, Herbal Recipes and Formulas, Women's Health, Men's Health, and Children's Health.

This book is helpful for living a natural and holistic healthy life.

ATI TEAS Study Guides by Nova Nexus Academy

 

For BBR Group 

The ATI TEAS Study Guides are a helpful tool for future healthcare professionals who will soon be taking the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Exams. It comes with test taking strategies, practice exams, and advice on how to prepare and minimize stress.

There are various suggestions on ways to study like forming small groups, taking copious notes, using flash cards, and other means to simplify the sometimes exhausting process. It also offers advice on how to improve physical and mental stamina like eating protein, getting plenty of hydration, practicing mindfulness and meditation and taking study breaks.

The practice exams will help test takers visualize the real exam and study the kind of questions that will be asked.

The ATI TEAS Study Guides will be useful to help those who will be in the healthcare profession pass a test that is a stepping stone in their careers.

HVAC For Beginners by Andrew McCreadie

For BBR Group 

The HVAC systems are essential for heating and cooling the household. This book gives the inside information on the systems and how they work.

The book goes into detail about how they are designed and installed, particularly the equipment and conduits. The maintenance and management of the systems include troubleshooting various problems and implementing and optimizing improvements to the systems. The comfort and air quality control chapter has sections on managing and improving the indoor air quality. There are also tips to maintain energy efficiency and long term care. 

This book will help anyone who needs advice on installing and maintaining their HVAC.

The Long-Term Wilderness Survival Bible by Chris Tenibor 

For BBR Group 

It's always good to be prepared and whether you are a survivalist planning for dark days ahead, interested in going off the grid, or just want to vacation in nature to get away from it all, this book is a handy guide to learn about wilderness survival.

This book demonstrates how to construct shelters like huts and lean-tos. It includes how to collect and purify water and how to procure food such as identifying edible plants and how to hunt, fish, and catch prey. Readers can also learn how to light and manage fire and navigate through the wilderness. 

Advanced skills include woodworking, using bows and arrows, and making containers and utensils. It's important to take care of oneself in the wilderness as well as anywhere else so the book includes how to prepare and use first aid and practice psychology and resilience like regulating emotions and calming phobias and anxiety.

Dr. Barbara O'Neill’s Ancient Book of Revived Herbal Remedies 4 Books in 1: 600+ Holistic Cures, Teas, Balms, Essential Oils, and Natural Antibiotics for Complete Modern Healing Inspired by Her Teachings by Margaret Willowbrook; 2025 Emeril Lagasse French Doors Air Fryer Cookbook: 2000 Days Easy, Tasty & Quick Dual Zone Air Fryer Oven Recipes Book for Beginners to Fry, Grill etc. | Stress-Free 30-Day Meal Plan by Baiyurbora Duspiveriy; Hygee Corners Cozy Coloring Book for Adults and Teens Featuring Cute and Simple Designs of Relaxing Nooks and Comfy Spaces for Stress Relief by Lulu Coloring;

 Dr. Barbara O'Neill’s Ancient Book of Revived Herbal Remedies 4 Books in 1: 600+ Holistic Cures, Teas, Balms, Essential Oils, and Natural Antibiotics for Complete Modern Healing Inspired by Her Teachings by Margaret Willowbrook; 2025 Emeril Lagasse French Doors Air Fryer Cookbook: 2000 Days Easy, Tasty & Quick Dual Zone Air Fryer Oven Recipes Book for Beginners to Fry, Grill etc. | Stress-Free 30-Day Meal Plan by Baiyurbora Duspiveriy; Hygee Corners Cozy Coloring Book for Adults and Teens Featuring Cute and Simple Designs of Relaxing Nooks and Comfy Spaces for Stress Relief by Lulu Coloring; 

Dr. Barbara O'Neill’s Ancient Book of Revived Herbal Remedies 4 Books in 1: 600+ Holistic Cures, Teas, Balms, Essential Oils, and Natural Antibiotics for Complete Modern Healing Inspired by Her Teachings by Margaret Willowbrook

Dr. Barbara O'Neill's Ancient Book of Revived Herbal Remedies: 4 Books in 1: 600+ Holistic Cures, Teas, Balms, Essential Oils, and Natural Antibiotics for Complete Modern Healing Inspired by Her Teachings is a comprehensive in depth book that explores the various herbal remedies with each of the four books discussing a specific usage for herbal medicine.

Book 1 covers holistic cures and natural antibiotics to help the body's defenses against common infections and imbalances. The top antibiotics include Manuka Honey and top antifungal and antiviral herbs include Echinacea. 

The book covers various specific ailments and the herbs that can be used to treat them like Eucalyptus for respiratory illness, Ginger for bloating, Aloe Vera for skin problems, Willow Bark for pain relief, Spicy Chai blend for anti-inflammatory, Red Root for liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system, Andrographis for strengthening immunity, Cat's Claw and Hibiscus for an immune boosting tonic, Chaste Tree for regulating hormones, Sage for menopause, Maca Root for fertility and to enhance libido, Lavender for anxiety, Magnolia Bark for sleep aids, Tulsi for mental clarity. 

Book 2 discusses herbal teas and non-alcoholic tinctures to promote vitality and well-being. Teas can be used at different times of the day for different reasons. They include Peppermint for an energy boost in the morning, Spearmint for rejuvenation and balance in the afternoon, and Skullcap for calm and relaxation in the evening. Valerian or Ashwagandha can be used for non-alcoholic tinctures with glycerin or vinegar as a solvent.

The teas and tinctures for specific healing properties include Ginseng for revitalizing energy, Eleuthero to combat fatigue and enhance stamina, St. John’s Wort to uplift moods and motivation, California Poppy to relieve stress and maintain calm, Rosemary for focus and memory, Nettle and Dandelion for immunity boosting, Peppermint for digestive support, Burdock Root for detox and gentle cleansing, Dong Quai for hormonal balance, Yarrow for menstrual health, Fenugreek for pre-and post-natal support, Chamomile for children's health, Hawthorn Berry for elderly health, and Cinnamon for family wellness.

Book 3 introduces essential oils and balms, exploring their applications in both physical care and emotional support. One of the most important oils used for this kit is Lavender because it promotes relaxation, improves sleep, and soothes minor irritation and burns.

Specific balms and oils used for injuries and illnesses include Calendula to heal skin, Arnica for muscle and joint pain reliever, Beeswax for antiseptic and soothing salve, Ylang Ylang for calming sleep and soothing anxiety, Citrus oils for mental clarity and focus, Frankincense for meditation and emotional balance, Tea Tree Oils to stimulate immunity, Thyme for respiratory health, Lemon Oil for cold and flu season, Rosemary for hair health, Tea Tree for glowing skin, Coconut Oil and Beeswax for crafting facial oils and cleansing balms, Boswellia for acne, scars, and blemish free skin, Vinegar for house cleaning products, and Lemon Oil for providing fresh scents for the home.

Book 4 presents preventive health practices and daily routines, empowering Readers with strategies for consistent, long-term wellness. It suggests things like integrating herbal remedies at different times of the day and being consistent with the type and amount of herbs that are used.

This portion also suggests building a first aid kit of healing balms and oils for emergencies and taking teas and supplements for long term care. It also features a chapter about using natural herbs and oils for house cleaning products.

One of the important suggestions is to create a 7 Day Herbal Cleanse with Day 1 consisting of Preparation and Intent Settings, Days 2-4 Detox Phase, Days 5 and 6 Herbal Support and Reflection, Day 7 Gradual Reintroduction.

Using these old remedies will help relieve the stress of modern life and will encourage Readers to be healthy and calm and to live longer lives.

2025 Emeril Lagasse French Doors Air Fryer Cookbook: 2000 Days Easy, Tasty & Quick Dual Zone Air Fryer Oven Recipes Book for Beginners to Fry, Grill etc. | Stress-Free 30-Day Meal Plan by Baiyurbora Duspiveriy

The Emeril Lagasse French Doors Air Fryer Cookbook by Baiyurbora Duspiveriy makes the most of a kitchen appliance to create delicious healthy meals.

The introduction discusses the benefits of the French Doors Air Fryer. The double door design is safe, convenient, easy to access, and visibility to watch the food as it is cooked. It also includes various functions for air frying, rotisserie, baking, dehydrating, broiling, and roasting. 

Cooking with air fryers requires less oil and fat so is healthier, uses less energy so is sustainable, and the temperature and time setting adjustments allows for more precision and control during the cooking process.

The recipes include “Cinnamon Yogurt Pancake Bites” for Breakfast, “Mocha Cocoa Muffins” for Breads and Grains, “Spicy Cayenne Chicken Legs” for Poultry, “Cuban Pork and Cheese Sandwich” for Beef, Pork, and Lamb, “Herb Butter Jumbo Shrimp” for Fish and Seafood, “Spicy Paprika Tortilla Chips” for Snacks and Appetizers, “Herb-Seasoned Air Fryer Italian Peppers” for Vegetables and Sides, “Red Wine Marinated Air Fryer Tofu” for Vegetarian Mains, and “Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast Baguette” for Desserts.

The Lagasse French Doors Air Fryer Cookbook is a great book that advises its Readers to prepare and eat delicious meals on a convenient, sustainable, and easy to use appliance. 

Hygee Corners Cozy Coloring Book for Adults and Teens Featuring Cute and Simple Designs of Relaxing Nooks and Comfy Spaces for Stress Relief by Lulu Coloring 

The Hygee Corners Cozy Coloring Book for Adults and Teens is a fun way to cultivate a hobby of coloring.

The book is filled with cute and simple designs of various rooms like living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and studies/offices. The pictures are created with bold lines and exaggerated shapes to encourage simple color and design.

This is particularly a good activity book for those who are just beginning to color as a hobby because of its easy design. Those who like more elaborate and challenging pictures will also have fun as well. 

Razor Country by Nicholas Wagner; The Headmasters by Mark Morton; Blackstone Griddle Cookbook/Traeger Grill & Smoker Cookbook: Mouthwatering, Delicious, Healthy and Affordable Recipes with Images and Expert Tips for Griddling, Grilling, and Smoking Success by Dr. Jina;

 Razor Country by Nicholas Wagner; The Headmasters by Mark Morton; Blackstone Griddle Cookbook/Traeger Grill & Smoker Cookbook: Mouthwatering, Delicious, Healthy and Affordable Recipes with Images and Expert Tips for Griddling, Grilling, and Smoking Success by Dr. Jina

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Razor Country by Nicholas Wagner

Spoilers: Razor Country anthology is a tribute to the hard boiled detective genre of the 1920’s-50’s where protagonists walk a thin line between cop and criminal and violence runs rampant. The book could end with the mystery being solved and the detective triumphing over their enemies, but it could just as easily end with death and loss. 

Colm Steiner is a private investigator and sometimes assassin who travels from one country to another within the British Empire during the mid-19-teens to the 20’s. He is hired by various clients to find someone or something and is promised money and expenses for payment. He does some interrogation and investigation techniques which often involve him roughing up a few witnesses, bribing a few others, and/or sneaking into forbidden areas to find results. Most of the time he finds what he is looking for. While there are a few complete successes, most of them end with him taking a vow of silence finding his target is in a better place than where they previously were or ends in violence with Steiner or others shedding blood and killing clients, targets, witnesses, and those in their way.

Razor Country never forgets what it is or where its roots lie. It could easily have fit in during the time period that it portrays. Steiner may have been written a whole century behind but he definitely fits in with characters like Dashiell Hammet’s Sam Spade, Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe, or Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer. Like them, Steiner recognizes the dark graphic bloody world around him and acts just as, sometimes darker, more graphic, and bloodier than they are. 

I would love to say that because it is set in different countries along the former British Empire, it would be an engaging travelog but it not surprisingly isn't. Nicholas Wagner wanted to show the worst in each country and he did not skimp on the dark details of corruption, slavery, racism, domestic and child abuse, and every other evil imagined in each country. It's like a World Tour sponsored by Hell. 

Because the book is arranged in short story format, it doesn’t lend itself to much character development. Some plot points carry over between chapters such as ending on a cliffhanger and one chapter's previous antagonists come back for revenge in other chapters. Steiner gains and loses a few friends and lovers along the way either through death or separation. Even a segue where Steiner takes a break from his investigator career to fight during WWI leaves him battle scarred and more taciturn than before.

Mostly Steiner stays the same dour sardonic character throughout the book. In this context, Steiner is an archetype that fits perfectly within his genre. Within the framework of the noir genre, it works. Someone with such wanderlust and cynicism who has seen much suffering and has his own brand of injustice is bound to be maladjusted. 

The stories kind of blend in together for this reason. They are so intrinsic within the noir hard-boiled detective genre that you don't expect characters to fall outside of it. You don't expect things to change much for them because when they do, some things are bound to happen that stifles it. Steiner is the type to never marry or settle down because he can't imagine a world that would let him. He would always be looking for another case to solve and enemy to beat.

There is no world in which Colm Steiner can exist except the dark corrupt world in which he investigates, fights against, and is still a part of.

The Headmasters by Mark Morton

(Note this is just a brief summary and review. The entire review is on LitPick’s site. A link is provided above).

Spoilers: The Headmasters is a provocative and intelligent Science Fiction novel that challenges its readers to think about oppression and domination, what it means to truly resist, and what motivates one to fight against a tyrannical system even when the citizens don't know that they are being tyrannized.

Maple is a member of Blue Ring, a community in what was once Canada after an unexplained global event that left those in Blue Ring among the many survivors. Those in the Blue Ring survived by coupling themselves with those called the Headmasters. They are parasitic aliens fused onto the bodies of humans controlling their thoughts and actions. 

 Maple begins to share memories and consciousness with the former host body, a woman named Zara, whom Maple had a previous connection with. Some of her memories include life before the Headmaster’s arrival along with knowledge and information that had been repressed and banned. The more that Maple learns from Zara, the more that she questions the world around her. 

The description of humans and Headmasters grafted together is deliberately painful and traumatic. The physical and psychological torture of one living being joined with and controlling the other is present. Maple describes it as a continuous feeling that something is watching and monitoring them. If they act contrary to the Headmaster’s commands, they receive electric shocks. However, there are times, such as when the Headmasters shut off during a procedure called the “slackening,” and places where the Headmaster’s hold is weakened, like the Deep (in reality what remains of a Deepak Chopra Center), so they are vulnerable. 

What is particularly interesting and upsetting about this parasitic life is that the human characters make little move to protest or take advantage of the Headmaster’s vulnerabilities. True, the shocks are torturous, but there is another subtle reason about why they don’t rebel. They lost the desire to do so. They willingly surrender to a life of apathy and ignorance to creatures that exploit them. There are vague glimpses of rebellion and they aren’t revealed until almost halfway through the book. 

Maple herself does not desire to rebel until halfway through the book. In fact her character meanders a bit, providing exposition to the reader until she takes action against her oppressors. When she takes a proactive stance first within the community and then when she is in exile and encounters survivors, does Maple come into her own as a fully fleshed protagonist and heroine. 

What helps ignite Maple’s characterization is the awareness of a passage of time within the narrative. Most of the dystopian events often occur over the course of a few months or a year or two from inciting incidents to the denouement. 

What makes the Headmasters different from them is approximately seven years go by from when Maple is joined to her Headmaster to the end. This gives Maple an evolution that comes with age and experience but also emphasizes how slow moving changing from small acts of rebellion to a full scale revolution can be.

 Maple has to go through that long growth and development before she is able to have the confidence and strength to learn how to manually shut off her Headmaster permanently, walk away from Blue Ring, and lead the community and outsiders in a new world that will emerge and not make the mistakes of the old world that became subservient. 

This is a two part cookbook with double the amount of delicious recipes.

The recipes vary not only as breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals but elaborate on what one could cook on a grill, smoker, or griddle. Such recipes as “Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches,” “BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger,” “Grilled Veggie Stir Fry,” “Traeger Grilled French Toast,” “Cherrywood Smoked Salmon BLT,” and “Smoked Garlic and Rosemary Lamb Shanks” are rather interesting ideas to spice up any meal.

Since cooking with outdoor equipment can be unpredictable, the book offers tips on maintaining such equipment and keeping safe while cooking. This book also offers tips on how to infuse flavors like selecting marinating sauce, seasonings, and wood pellets. There are also tips on gentle and low and slow grilling to achieve the perfect sear and infuse rich smoky flavors.

This is a good book for the eager outdoor chef. 

Lit List: Traeger Grill and Smoker Cookbook: Healthy, Delicious, and Affordable Grill & Smoker Recipes with Your Traeger Become a Grill Master by Dr. Barbauld Barker; Workbook Fast Like a Girl: An Essential Guide to Dr. Mindy Pelz’s Book by Genie Reads; Blackstone Outdoor Gas Griddle Cookbook For Beginners 2023 600+ Healthy & Affordable Grill Recipes with Expert Tips for Beginners and Advanced Users by Michelle Brown

 Lit List: Traeger Grill and Smoker Cookbook: Healthy, Delicious, and Affordable Grill & Smoker Recipes with Your Traeger Become a Grill Master by Dr Barbauld Barker; Workbook Fast Like a Girl: An Essential Guide to Dr. Mindy Pelz’s Book by Genie Reads

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Traeger Grill and Smoker Cookbook: Healthy, Delicious, and Affordable Grill & Smoker Recipes with Your Traeger Become a Grill Master by Dr Barbauld Barker

If you are the type who is counting the days until spring when you can take out the grill and cook a meaty masterpiece over an outdoor contained open fire, then this book is for you.

This book contains mouth watering recipes for those who love their beef, game, and pork. There are varieties of ways that such meats can be prepared from ribs, to tenderloins, to briskets, to legs. What is particularly fascinating about this book are the various burgers and sandwiches that are offered. It brightens the options that are usually recognized in a typical barbecue.

The book is neatly divided into basic chapters for appetizers and snacks, beef, pork, lamb and game, burgers, and desserts. It also identities the foods that are considered the healthiest and most beneficial.

The Traeger Grill and Smoker Cookbook is one that will make any outdoor picnic and barbecue a wonderful experience. It will make such an outing memorable.

Workbook Fast Like a Girl: An Essential Guide to Dr. Mindy Pelz’s Book by Genie Reads

This workbook serves as a companion to Dr. Mindy Pelz's Fast Like a Girl. It is an interactive experience that draws the Reader in to work with Pelz's text and create a fully planned diet.

The book refers to concepts like the benefits of fasting, such as metabolic switching alternating between burning glucose and ketones for fuel. It also emphasizes how fasting is particularly important for women's bodies. It helps with certain concerns such as maintaining balance between the hormones that rise and fall each month.

The book also suggests various ways to make the fasting process easier and more effective such as talking to doctors and medical professionals and doing an intermittent fasting process of a few hours instead of rushing into a 24-48 hour fast. It also offers suggestions on how to break the fast to be careful and safe in the period between fasting and eating. This process ensures that Readers don't fall into dangerous traps like developing eating disorders. These suggestions allow the individual to control the fasting process to be healthy rather than do something dangerous and jeopardize their health further.

Each chapter contains several exercises that allow Readers to implement various strategies. The activities include “Lessons,” a summary of important topics each chapter addresses, “Issues Surrounding the Subject Matter,” questions on each Reader's personal journey, “Goals” to strive for and achieve, “Action Steps,” specifically for each process, and a *Checklist “ of which goals were met and need to be improved.

The activities allow for deep thought and concentration before the activity begins, recording the specific steps while doing the activity, and reflection while monitoring the results.

This workbook is an interactive experience which encourages deep thought and physical activity during fasting.

Blackstone Outdoor Gas Griddle Cookbook For Beginners 2023 600+ Healthy & Affordable Grill Recipes with Expert Tips for Beginners and Advanced Users by Michelle Brown 

There are many who love an outdoor cookout that will love this book.

This book contains delicious recipes many of which will come as a surprise even to griddle enthusiasts..Who knew that you could cook Toasty Bread or Tortilla Pizza over an outdoor cooking device? 

The various burgers, poultry, turkey, pork, beef, lamb, fish, and seafood recipes make the basic outdoor meals more unique and individualized.

The book also offers tips and advice on how Readers can keep their griddle safe. It emphasizes giving the device proper care and maintenance so it will be in frequent use.

The Backdoor Outdoor Gas Griddle Cookbook is one that will make any outdoor gathering a unique and memorable experience.

Lit List Short Review Beyond The Sushi Chef The Ultimate Bible For Mastering Nigri Sushi From The Creators of Sushi University; Suspended Animation by Carly Rheilan; The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Cookbook For Beginners: 600 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes with 21-Day Meal Plan to Reduce Inflammation by Fernando K. Rankin; After The Apocalypse: The Kim and Kaya Chronicles by Scott W. Kimak

 Lit List Short Reviews

Beyond The Sushi Chef: The Ultimate Bible For Mastering Nigri Sushi From The Creators of Sushi University.jp

Everything you ever wanted to know about sushi can be found in the book Beyond The Sushi Chef: The Ultimate Bible For Mastering Nigri Sushi.

This book is perfect for those who love Japanese cooking or even for those who are curious about it, but never actually tried sushi before or have been to such a restaurant.

The book is filled with descriptions of various sushi, what they go best with, when the best season is for them, the history, and their overall price. A description of the Atlantic Salmon reveals it to be distributed mostly on the North Atlantic, but can be found in Norway, Chile, England, and Australia. Farmed salmon are chilled by locals and never frozen. They were the first fish farmed in seawater in Europe. They are characterized by their texture, fat content, and color. They are considered the most expensive type of farmed salmon. 

Even though it's not a cookbook, there are some interesting ways of preparing the salmon. A Tossaki hand roll is often considered the first piece of a sushi course. It goes well with sushi vinegar using red vinegar. Since it's the head, it moves a lot so should be prepared using the back of the knife.

For those who have never visited an authentic sushi restaurant and would like to visit one, the book provides tips on etiquette when visiting such an establishment. Among them are "Stay in your allotted seat at the counter. Long established restaurants may have their own rules such as the regular customers will need to sit in front of the sushi chef. In these types of places, if you want to enjoy conversation then you should sit at the table." This section reveals the universal truth that good manners are always essential.

Beyond The Sushi Chef gives the Reader exactly everything they need to know to turn a potentially fishy situation into a fine dining experience.

Suspended Animation by Carly Rheilan

The short story, Suspended Animation by Carly Rheilan, does one thing best. It captures a moment of suspense and terror and does it brilliantly.

An unnamed character is locked in a strange situation where they are imprisoned in some aerial suspension. They only have a Spider for company (who may be an actual spider or someone that they call Spider). Finding the inspiration from Spider the Narrator makes their move.

There is a tone of disorientation in this book as the Narrator doesn't know where they are or how long they have been there. Neither do we. We don't know this character's name, back story, or why they are in this predicament. I'm a big fan of getting important information like that. It helps us get to know this character and understand their predicament. But it also adds to the confusion. If we the Observers don't know what's going on, there is no way that the Protagonist does.

The tension mounts as the Narrator struggles to get out of this situation. The phrases like "Any minute it will be my turn. It's time. I can't go on taking this. Seriously." It's almost like Anxiety Poetry as the words go up and down like this Character does. It's a verbal description of what is going on with the Narrator both physically and mentally.

This story captures this moment of suspension wonderfully. Sometimes you want more but sometimes a moment is all you need.

The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Diet Cookbooks for Beginners: 600 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes with 21-Day Meal Plan to Reduce Inflammation by Fernando K. Rankin

Fernando K. Rankin's recipe book, The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Diet Cookbooks for Beginners, isn't just a recipe book for Readers to eat food to prevent chronic inflammation. It's also filled with suggestions on how to take a more holistic approach to living a healthier life that reduces inflammation. 

The introduction talks about how serious Chronic Inflammation is by describing symptoms such as insulin resistance, memory loss, joint pain, and weight gain. It also describes severe long term effects and health risks like cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, and digestive ailments. 

Besides a proper diet (which will be discussed soon), the book offers suggestions to improve one's lifestyle including exercise, sleep, and to avoid addictive habits.

As for the diet, Rankin offers suggestions like whole grains, healthy plant based facts, and my favorite line fruits and vegetables that "make your plate look like a rainbow." Some sensitivities include Gluten, nightshades like tomatoes and eggplants, and carbohydrates. 

The book also includes a helpful chart of a 21 Days Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Plan. The chart coincides with the recipes found within the book. Day 1 suggests Simple Steel-Cut Oats for Breakfast, Quinca Florentine for Lunch, Savory Beef Meatloaf for Dinner, and Cranberry Compote for a Snack. The chart concludes with meals for Day 21 including Sweet Potato-Ground Turkey Hash for Breakfast, Pressure Cooked Ratatouille for Lunch, Cherry Tomato and Basil Chicken Casserole for Dinner, and Pecan and Date Snack Bars for Snack. It would be nice for the chart to show the direct links to the recipes for the Kindle version but it provides a nice visual aid and schedule for those who have specific goals in mind when it comes to health.

The recipes are simple and healthy and can be used to remove ailments from the body. Food like Elegant White Fish Soup and Pork Chops with Cooked Apple Salsa show the different ways that the food can be prepared. The book shows that good health is an ongoing continuous process but can result in a happier outlook on face.

After The Apocalypse The Kim and Kaya Chronicles by Scott W. Kimak

After The Apocalypse The Kim and Kaya Chronicles by Scott W. Kimak is the moving story of a girl, her parents, and her dog at the end of the world.

In a post Apocalyptic world, 18 year old Kim lives in a militaristic underground society with her parents, Major and Captain Wessek and her German Shepherd, Kaya. When her parents question the health of their Colonel, they are thrown into the brig and tried for treason for their efforts. This suggests to Kim and her family that the Colonel definitely has something to hide.

Because of its brief length (64 pages), we aren't given much information about the world in which Kim lives. We don't know what triggered the apocalypse whether it was war or environmental related. There are some revelations towards the end that reveal that something more sinister and conspiratorial is going on. The Apocalypse takes a back seat and as someone who has read more than enough post Apocalyptic Dystopian Science Fiction last year, that's all the better.

What stands out are the relations between Kim, her parents, and Kaya. Kim's parents are strong people clearly in positions of power in their society. They train their daughter in a military fashion so she knows how to fight and defend herself. However, their love for her is apparent. When she talks to Nick, a boy who also lives underground, her parents have the typical worried parents reaction as though she were just a typical teenage girl with a crush on a boy at school. They also encourage her to think for herself. When they are arrested, she questions the authorities and stands up for them as they did for her. It's clear that the Wesseks raised their daughter right.

The other touching relationship is between Kim and Kaya. As we have seen in other Science Fiction works, dogs do not fare well in post Apocalyptic Dystopian settings (I Am Legend is a notable example). However, Kimak is determined to keep Kim and Kaya together which is a boon for animal lovers. The young woman and her dog are a great team as they protect each other from danger and Kim cares for the dog as though Kaya were a younger sibling. They share a bond that transcends human-animal and makes them partners and friends.

Though not long, After The Apocalypse shows that even at the end of the world love and compassion can still be found. 

Lit List Short Reviews; Guide to Software Projects For Business People by Jonathan P. Crosby; The Ultimate Instant Crock Pot Cookbook for Beginners by Philip D. Roman

 

Lit List Short Reviews; Guide to Software Projects For Business People by Jonathan P. Crosby; The Ultimate Instant Crock Pot Cookbook for Beginners by Philip D. Roman

Guide to Software Projects For Business People by Jonathan P. Crosby

Jonathan Crosby wrote a great book that advises business people on how to plan, put together, and promote software projects.

Crosby takes his Readers step by step through the various procedures making each step important. For example, he expands on conceptual planning and maintenance work before release. These preplanning steps save the User from excess time and money to fix costly mistakes after the fact. 

Crosby uses metaphor and examples to illustrate many of his points. He tells the story of innovators like Henry Beck who created the definitive design of the London Underground to show that anyone can come up with important ideas, not just the select few with the so-called "right training and experience."

Crosby also uses personal experience to demonstrate many of his points. To show the importance of providing developers with an adequate quiet space for work. Crosby ended up responding to help desk calls while writing software tools. It's not a surprise that Crosby described his manager as "a great guy but not much of a developer. As a manager, (Crosby's boss) was used to switching tasks and was unaware of the programmer's need to concentrate for long periods without interruptions."

Guide to Software Projects For Business People is perfect for the Reader who is struggling with the complexities of software production. Crosby does a good job at taking Readers down that long path with small steps and examples. He makes that path understandable and ultimately successful.

The Ultimate Instant Crock Pot Cookbook for Beginners by Philip D. Roman

Philip D. Roman's The Ultimate Instant Crock Pot Cookbook for Beginners is a good book for busy people that want to eat healthy and are on a budget.

The book begins with the advantages of Instant Pot cooking like saving shelf space with few cooking appliances and time to make a whole meal. Roman also includes tips on maintenance and safety with cooking with the Instant Pot. Tips like don't fill all the way to the max fill line and understanding all safety features are important to remember.

Of course the bulk of the book is filled with mouth watering recipes like Honey Chicken Wings, Cuban Style Pulled Pork, and Blueberry Cinnamon Coffee Cake meant to tempt any Reader. Many choices like Banana Pudding Cake and Cranberry Applesauce are meant to encourage healthy as well as delicious eating.

The Ultimate Instant Crock Pot Cookbook for Beginners is a good book to save money and time and to fill the body with good food.