MADE IN L.A.: STORIES ROOTED IN THE CITY OF ANGELS by Cody Sisco, Dario Ciriello, Allison Rose, Gabi Lorino, Amy Sterling Casil, Jude-Marie Green, Andre Hardy, Bonnie Randall
Genre: Anthology
IR Verdict: MADE IN L.A.: STORIES ROOTED IN THE CITY OF ANGELS is a gift to short story lovers. The themes of the stories are universal, yet, when set in Los Angeles, each is infused with a pathos that can only come in a city that encourages dreams only to break them. Many are excellent, and all are worth reading.
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THE WASTE-WISE GARDENER by Jean B. MacLeod
Genre: Home & Garden
IR Verdict: THE WASTE-WISE GARDENER is a clear and useful resource for the gardener who wants ideas on how to make the most of what they have.
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THE THIRD LAW by Lawrence Ricketts
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: THE THIRD LAW takes the reader down a thrilling path through the shadows of the drug world. Don’t pass up the chance to pick up this enthralling and engaging story.
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THE FAT LADY’S LOW, SAD SONG by Brian Kaufman
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: Passion for baseball and a memorable team of characters, including a hero unaware of his greatest strengths, make THE FAT LADY’S LOW, SAD SONG a winner.
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THE LONG ROAD by Daniel B. Oliver
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: While writing to obliterate stigma tied to mental illness, protagonist Hank Galloway, an aspiring engineer and paranoid schizophrenic, sees his way clear to redemption when he applies his perfectly imperfect mind to something tangible in an awww-inspiring conclusion.
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THREAD FOR PEARLS: A Story of Resilient Hope by Lauren Speeth
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: As a coming-of-age book, THREAD FOR PEARLS does not blaze any new ground, but while the tale feels a little familiar, it’s still a great story with a main character readers will feel close to.
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WILL by Paul Steinmann
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Based on facts involving slaves, plantation owners, slave hunters, and abolitionists of the mid-1800s, this compelling story follows the years-long adventure of an escaped slave named Will and his two friends.
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BEHIND THE FORGOTTEN FRONT by Barbara Hawkins
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: BEHIND THE FORGOTTEN FRONT offers a gritty account of the experience of a soldier in Burma during World War II. Despite minor errors, it’s well-written and vividly describes the heat, exhaustion, blisters, fatigue, and fear that are part of a soldier’s daily experience.
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CATWALK FAIL by Jason Godfrey
Genre: Women’s Fiction
IR Verdict: A potent blend of self-awareness and self-indulgence make CATWALK FAIL a star among model comedies.
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