PASSAGE ON A BRIDGE
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: PASSAGE ON A BRIDGE is a fictionalized memoir of the Depression years, a history of the men who traveled America by freight train, and a story that shines as an authentic telling of what that desperate journey was like for so many.
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BUTTERFLY AWAKENS
Genre: Inspirational/Spiritual
IR Verdict: From the depths of despair to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, BUTTERFLY AWAKENS is the rare example of an engaging memoir that provides a genuinely enduring message.
HOW GOD THINKS
Genre: Religion
IR Verdict: David Vancelette’s HOW GOD THINKS is a fascinating and original attempt to do what no theologian has ever accomplished: to get inside the mind of God.
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TARGET: The Girl
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Dorian Box does an exceptional job of telling an entrancing story filled with conflict and action, while also shining a light on some of our society’s most pressing social issues in TARGET: The Girl, book three in the Emily Calby series.
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DESCENT OF RAVENS
Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQ+
IR Verdict: AC Andrews’ DESCENT OF RAVENS (BEL’S WAR #1) is a near-perfect fantasy featuring superb world-building and excellent storytelling that will be compelling for any audience that enjoys epic fantasy.
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THE MYSTERY OF RASCAL PRATT
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: In THE MYSTERY OF RASCAL PRATT, OR, THE PRETTY RED, William Robert Scott outfits a young adult adventure story with a complexity of both mind and circumstance via exceptional writing and characterization.
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VAMPIRE ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: VAMPIRE ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND is charming, compelling, and satisfying – everything a reader wants in a light romance or a two-century-old mystery.
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THE SEQUENCE
Genre: Science Fiction
IR Verdict: THE SEQUENCE is a potent, powerful, and thought-provoking adventure through a bleak yet fascinating future that features several vivid characters and prompts compelling questions about what it means to be human.
FLOWERS GROW ON BROKEN WALLS
Genre: Poetry (Fiction)
IR Verdict: From the evocative title to the meticulously crafted presentation, FLOWERS GROW ON BROKEN WALLS bears all the hallmarks of a labor of love that will likely resonate with anyone who’s experienced the dull ache of heartbreak.
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FACE THE NIGHT
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: FACE THE NIGHT is an unexpected pleasure, recalling the down-to-earth storytelling craft of Jack Ketchum and the earnest sympathy that Dean Koontz inspires for his characters. A compelling blend of small-town mystery and supernatural horror, the novel succeeds brilliantly on both fronts.
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ALL THAT WILL REMAIN
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: Author Richard Snodgrass’s masterful prose immerses the reader in a story that is layered and nuanced, with well-researched glimpses of history and mores of a bygone time. Lyrical and dreamlike, ALL THAT WILL REMAIN explores human character and how it’s shaped by position, wealth and, most importantly, family.
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RISKY RESTORATION
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: Love grows where it’s least expected — and lust blossoms instantly — in E.F. Dodd’s RISKY RESTORATION, a fun and frisky romance novel about broken hearts healing and new love taking root.
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF FEAR
Genre: Travel
IR Verdict: Somewhere between timeless adventure (Kerouac’s “On The Road”) and tortured sojourn (Neal Peart’s “Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road”), there exists THE TOPOGRAPHY OF FEAR, a humor-laced tale that blurs the line between travel-adventure and soul-searching memoir.
CROP BURNER
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: CROP BURNER is a fantastic coming-of-age story layered under a brilliant mythology and a lush magic system that shows the complicated duality between good and evil.
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OLDEARTH MELCHIOR ENCOUNTER
Genre: Science Fiction
IR Verdict: OLDEARTH MELCHIOR ENCOUNTER’s unique science fiction twist ties together the dramatic historical events the strong characters experience, which address themes of family and justice.
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SERMONS WITH INSIGHT
Genre: Religion
IR Verdict: In a still, small voice that nevertheless could calm storms, Roland Zimany delivers sermon after sermon to make readers think, feel, and love in SERMONS WITH INSIGHT.
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BEAUTIFUL ASHES
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Shelly Edwards Jorgensen expertly weaves together details of her troubled childhood that culminates with the horrific death of her mother. The candor and graciousness in which she tells her story in BEAUTIFUL ASHES make this memoir a fascinating and compassionate read.
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THE UNQUIET GENIUS
Genre: Action/Adventure
IR Verdict: Glenn Dyer ‘s THE UNQUIET GENIUS has it all–action, suspense, and the endlessly fascinating World War II era and makes a worthy addition to the author’s gripping espionage series.
INTELLIGENT HUDDLES
Genres: Business
IR Verdict: INTELLIGENT HUDDLES makes a bold and unconventional case for the lowly (and oft-maligned) daily huddle, combined with principles of neuroscience, as a transformative business tool. Supported by credible science and bolstered by clear, persuasive writing and a solidly-constructed argument, this is a business management book that brings modern and practical insights to the conference room table.
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GOOD MORNING, BLAKE
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: A clear, thoughtful memoir with an upbeat tone, GOOD MORNING, BLAKE is both a delightful read and a valuable perspective on growing up autistic in a neurotypical world.
TAINT: A Novel
Janet Kelley
Genres: LGBTQ, YA
IR Verdict: Through visceral language, humor, and relatable streams of consciousness, author Janet Kelley honestly explores teen relationships, sexual assault and sexual curiosity, and all the pitfalls of being on the cusp of adulthood in TAINT.
ANDY GETS ANGRY
Mike J Masse
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: Although conceived as an introduction to mindfulness techniques for a specific issue, ANDY GETS ANGRY is a beautifully designed picture book which would be of value to any young child.
GET BAIL, LEAVE JAIL
S.J. Plotkin
Genre: How-To
IR Verdict: S.J. Plotkin’s GET BAIL, LEAVE JAIL is an authoritative, soup-to-nuts discussion of the American bail system.
THE CYPRESS CLUB
Jeff Wiemiller
Genre: LGBTQ+
IR Verdict: Expressions of character through dialogue and behavior, both subtle and overt, work to build a well-rounded, realistic cast in Jeff Wiemiller’s heartrending novel THE CYPRESS CLUB.
STAY WITH ME, WISCONSIN
JoAnneh Nagler
Genre: Women’s Fiction
IR Verdict: STAY WITH ME, WISCONSIN by JoAnneh Nagler is a remarkable collection of tales – compassionate, uplifting, and deeply humane.