THE COLOR OF THE ELEPHANT
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, THE COLOR OF THE ELEPHANT is an engaging, polished memoir that documents Christine Herbert’s adventures in Zambia with candid, often unflattering self-awareness and no shortage of self-effacing humor.
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INKED CAFFEINE
Genre: LGBTQ+
IR Verdict: With an adorable slow-burn romance sprinkled with bursts of exciting action, Monique Duclos’s INKED CAFFEINE introduces lovable characters for a genre-blended series.
BIT FLIP
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Mike Trigg’s novel BIT FLIP is exceptionally well-written, with a satisfying balance of action, intrigue, back story, characterization, and description. He weaves together several compelling story elements, some of them technical in nature, with ease and the manner in which he wraps up the narrative is both concise and provocative.
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UNDER THE GREAT ELM
Genres: Memoir
IR Verdict: Appropriately subtitled “A Life of Luck and Wonder”, Rich Flanders’ memoir, UNDER THE GREAT ELM, chronicles his days of world travel, spiritual searching, and romantic serendipity with an infectious sense of amazement and curiosity.
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DARK BLUE WAVES
Genres: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: In DARK BLUE WAVES author Kimberly Sullivan has crafted a detailed and immersive time-traveling romance populated with colorful characters and plot twists that would make Jane Austen proud.
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RUNNING BULL
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Blair Bronwyn’s chronicle of a young man’s passage out of rural Texas to a world that offers salvation—albeit with a hefty price—is rendered with sympathetic but clear-eyed realism, meticulously researched, with nuanced characterizations that steer clear of lazy stereotypes.
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ACCIDENTALLY WELL
Genre: Self-Help
IR Verdict: As with most self-help memoirs, ACCIDENTALLY WELL attempts to blend a personal journey with a smattering of practical ‘tips and tricks,’ and thanks to John Webster’s skill as a storyteller, in this case the book is an unqualified success.
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A TEACHER’S TALE: A Memoir
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: In A TEACHER’S TALE: A Memoir, Joe Gilliland unfurls an odyssey of human experience. From the climax of adolescence fitted into his army days, to the pursuit of a lifelong education on the streets of New York and overseas, the author threads every recollection with a physical sensitivity that surpasses both time and adversity.
THE ALL-WEATHER RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO
Genre: Finances
IR Verdict: THE ALL-WEATHER RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO offers a straightforward and lucid guide to financial planning that the most apprehensive novice will find understandable. While more experienced readers may find it somewhat basic, this book is an excellent starting point for anyone seeking a user-friendly and comprehensive handbook on retirement investment.
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POLICING BODIES
Genre: Sexuality
IR Verdict: Although the scope of her study is limited to South Africa, I. India Thusi’s observations and conclusions are relevant to urban spaces around the world. Thorough in its examination and even-handed in its findings, POLICING BODIES offers a meticulously crafted analysis of the complex realities of sex work, arguing convincingly for its decriminalization and greater scrutiny and reform of its policing.
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EMOTIONAL MAGNETISM
Genre: Self-Help
IR Verdict: Fresh, thought-provoking, and engaging, EMOTIONAL MAGNETISM by Sandy Gerber is an excellent self-help book that encourages readers to accept themselves and use that acceptance to connect with others.
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MAYA AND MARCUS GO TO THE BANK
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: A singsong rhythm and appealing, realistic illustrations make Kennedy Thibou, Jr.’s picture book MAYA AND MARCUS GO TO THE BANK an absorbing and educational story.
A LOST PENNY
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: Author Rhonda Eason pulls readers into the world of the Elodie and her family from the early pages of A LOST PENNY, a coming-of-age story about a Black girl, her ambitions, overcoming trauma, and finding one’s true path.
THE SATISFIED INTROVERT
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Many readers will glimpse themselves in Benjamin Plumb’s THE SATISFIED INTROVERT and may identify with his ‘recipe’ for disguising his introversion. And while it took him over six decades to accept and enjoy his authentic self, readers have the opportunity to learn the hard lessons vicariously from his experiences – and enjoy the impact.
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RACCOON LOVE
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: An engaging storyteller, Stephen Akey brings sardonic, self-effacing wit and disarming honesty—without vanity or rancor—to this beautifully rendered, compulsively readable elegy for lost love. Despite its mournful tone, RACCOON LOVE studiously avoids melodrama or maudlin self-pity even in its darkest moments, the author reflecting upon his experiences with grace, humility, and unwavering idealism.
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THE SOUTHERN CHARACTER
Genre: History
IR Verdict: For readers unfamiliar with evolutionary psychology, THE SOUTHERN CHARACTER is a good introduction, while those familiar with the paradigm may gain new insights from the country case studies. The translation is well done, preserving the clear and uncomplicated prose style.
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ALIMONY’S TREASURE
Genre: Action/Adventure
IR Verdict: Author Michael Hinkle takes an historically common plot—searching for buried treasure—and with an inventive mixture of captivating characters, suspense, humor, the FBI, and zoo animals, creates a truly original and intriguing story line in ALIMONY’S TREASURE.
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PRYOR & CUMMINGS: The GAIA Incident
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: An energetic, intelligent mystery with some clever twists and a cast of brilliant, highly-skilled characters, Rod Pennington’s PRYOR & CUMMINGS: The GAIA Incident will keep readers engaged from beginning to end.
THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE GUIDE TO PRUDENCE
Genre: Finances
IR Verdict: THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE GUIDE TO PRUDENCE is not an all-in-one investment handbook, nor does it attempt to be. However, as a manual for plan administration and management, the book is an invaluable resource for any organization seeking to establish an effective investment program.
SAILING IN THE SKY
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: A shining example of representation in literature, Starr Green’s SAILING IN THE SKY pairs an autistic teen protagonist with a whimsical plot that makes for a stunning urban-fantasy debut.
A LITTLE RAIN
Genre: LGBTQ/Fiction
IR Verdict: A psychological thriller with flashbacks that propel the story forward to the present, Bill VanPatten’s A LITTLE RAIN delves deep into what makes its characters tick.
FINDING THE SOURCE
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: FINDING THE SOURCE is a well-written travelogue with a narrative driven by a personal quest for both physical and spiritual healing. A talented visual artist, Dave Kobrenski shows he is also able to paint an intriguing and illuminating portrait of a place using only well-crafted words.
REAL PRISON REAL FREEDOM
Genre: Inspirational/Spiritual
IR Verdict: With its gruesome depictions of violence and bleak portrait of prison life, REAL PRISON REAL FREEDOM can be a grueling reading experience. Ultimately, however, it is an inspirational story of hope that affirms the possibility of transformative change, told with compassion and clear-eyed candor.