SURRENDER MY HEART by L.G. O’Connor
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: L.G. O’Connor’s clever use of structure and pacing creates a gripping story that follows a colorful cast of well-developed characters, including Kitty and her on-again-off-again love interest, John Henshaw. Through high school breakups, decade long absences, and bittersweet reunions, their relationship ultimately culminates in a rich and dramatic ending that leaves readers craving more.
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LUNACY & DEATH by Tom Dombrock
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: LUNACY & DEATH is full of straightforward common sense, wry humor, intelligence and wisdom, and is worth a read for anyone who might be confronted, some day, with their own unexpected human vulnerability.
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RECONCILIATION: HEAVEN AND EARTH by Diane de Simone
Genre: Paranormal
IR Verdict: Inventive and well-written, RECONCILIATION: HEAVEN AND EARTH is a fascinating story about theoretical physics, ET phenomena, and New Age beliefs relative to both of the aforementioned.
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MIGUEL TRAVELER # 1: THE MAN FROM TEXAS by Daniel McFatter
Genre: Science Fiction
IR Verdict: Daniel McFatter’s MIGUEL TRAVELER # 1: THE MAN FROM TEXAS is an ambitious, albeit imperfect, adventure story about the good and evil in a ruined future.
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THE BUILDING by Richard Snodgrass
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: The construction industry seldom is the topic of serious literature, but in THE BUILDING it rises to great heights, a distinctly American tragedy destined to endure on college reading lists.
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THE BIOGRAPHIES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE: Volume 1: 1989–2000 by Nicole Dieker
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: By focusing on the mirroring physical and emotional growth of a mother and daughter, author Nicole Dieker places the experience of two middle-class women center stage and invites the reader to reflect on subjects ranging from coming of age and domestic concerns to the larger themes of education and opportunity.
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THE GIRL ON CAMERA by Morgan Dun-Campbell
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: THE GIRL ON CAMERA feels like a chilling reality-horror novel on the surface, but like its characters, it has layers beneath that surface that make it more than it appears to be.
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THE FIVE WISHES OF MR. MURRAY McBRIDE by Joe Siple
Genre: New Adult
IR Verdict: THE FIVE WISHES OF MR. MURRAY McBRIDE is an emotional story that will leave readers meditating on the life-saving magic of kindness.
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THE TRAIL RULES by Melanie Hooyenga
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: In a must-read book a target audience of teenage girls will coast through, the hilarious yet drama-fueled book THE TRAIL RULES follows one girl’s adventure into self-discovery and security, leading to a goose bump-inducing conclusion that will inspire young adults to take worthy risks in their own lives that could reap a handsome reward.
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CONTINENTAL DRIFT by G. Burton
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: CONTINENTAL DRIFT wishes to be a Great American novel. In Burton’s own foreword, he declares this book a literary swing for the fences, an attempt at a Great Statement on life’s lessons. Burton misses the home run, but does hit a triple. That’s a pretty good effort, and one most readers will appreciate.
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UNTIL FOREVER by Luisa Cloutier
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: UNTIL FOREVER, Luisa Cloutier’s tribute to her husband Brandon, is a beautifully written and engaging “coming of age” journey, and the author’s distinct personality and perspective are evident throughout, creating a warm and moving memoir.
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MANAGING BUBBIE by Russel Lazega
Genre: Biography
IR Verdict: Funny, tragic, and touching, MANAGING BUBBIE is a stirring memoir of an extraordinary woman and her legacy.
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THE PRESERVATIONISTS by Jason Daniels
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: In its exuberance, THE PRESERVATIONISTS feels like a bit of Kerouac, but with a lot more detail and localized conservatism. As part of this process, the author paints an illustrative and moving portrait of millennial vexation and teenage angst.
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BLINDING FEAR by Bruce Roland
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: BLINDING FEAR is a thrilling ensemble tale of an existential threat to humanity, but the author focuses instead on the different ways people react to something they can’t change or even fight.
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THE BISHOP BURNED THE LADY by Bill Percy
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: THE BISHOP BURNED THE LADY is a well written and entertaining book, and one which readers who like the quirks of aging gracefully tucked into their detective narratives will especially enjoy.
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