NAVIGATORS QUEST FOR A KINGDOM IN POLYNESIA
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: As both a debut release and an enduring tribute to the enduring spirit of the Polynesian mariners, Fata Ariu Levi’s NAVIGATORS QUEST FOR A KINGDOM IN POLYNESIA is an absolute success.
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NAVIGATORS FORGING A MATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN POLYNESIA
Genre: History
IR Verdict: Elder Orator Chief Fata Ariu Levi’s NAVIGATORS FORGING A MATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN POLYNESIA is a refreshingly careful, profoundly integrative history. For anyone interested in reading great history and for anyone specifically interested in Samoa, this book is a treasure.
SURF THE MILKY WAY
Genre: Science Fiction
IR Verdict: E. R. Harris presents a gang of well-rounded, emotionally complex characters–driven by moral conflicts–in the humorous science fiction novel SURF THE MILKY WAY.
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HOW THE Ə GOT PRODUCTED
Genres: Humor
IR Verdict: Skillfully walking the razor-thin line between biting satire and Beltway pontification, N K von S fully embraces the unconventional with HOW THE Ə GOT PRODUCTED: A Love Story.
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MAXIMISE YOUR CHILD’S PERFORMANCE
Genres: Parenting
IR Verdict: Jennie Segar’s 154-page MAXIMISE YOUR CHILD’S PERFORMANCE is chock-full of practical advice on child-rearing and her approach will help most parents build good relationships with their children – a worthwhile goal in itself.
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BLACK, WHITE, AND GRAY ALL OVER
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: BLACK, WHITE, AND GRAY ALL OVER is a memorandum of the valor and devotion of the law enforcers who lay their lives in the line of duty. Wrapped in stunning prose, Frederick Douglass Reynolds’ memoir operates as a heart-stopping ride-along, taking the reader from the footpaths trodden by his enslaved forefathers to the race-defying altitudes of true humanity.
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DARK SECRET: The Complete Story
Genre: True Crime
IR Verdict: Nyssa Rebecca Corbin’s DARK SECRET: The Complete Story is a grisly but uneven tale of abuse-turned-murder that will satisfy any and all true crime aficionados.
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A COLLISION IN QUEBEC
Genre: LGBTQ
IR Verdict: Fans of LGBTQ fiction will likely relish every last moment of Michael Hartwig’s A COLLISION IN QUEBEC, but the story’s themes of cultural identity and self-discovery will resonate with readers from all walks of life.
THE BEAN SIDHE
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Ernest L Canning has crafted a fast-paced, thrilling, and riotous examination of the many ways in which human will is trumped by chance and circumstance. Jovially and cleverly written, THE BEAN SIDHE is a breath of fresh air.
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THE RESURRECTIONIST
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Paul T. Scheuring’s THE RESURRECTIONIST is an eloquent and evocative literary thriller with elements of the gothic.
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ALL WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: History buffs may enjoy the extensive detail from cover to cover, but for everyone else, Jeffrey Lousteau’s ALL WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN ultimately succeeds on the strength of its central characters and their enduring love.
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WHERE IS SER (The Brave Lion)
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: In WHERE IS SER (The Brave Lion), author River Rainbow O’Mahoney Hagg delivers a haunting, spell-binding account of his experiences as a documentary filmmaker and U.S. Navy veteran who joins up with the Kurdish militia as a combat medic during the bloody Iraqi-Syrian civil war.
THE MASSIVE PLANET
Genre: Science Fiction
IR Verdict: THE MASSIVE PLANET: The Adventures of Deep Contact (Book 1) is a fast-paced and entertaining novel of interplanetary exploration that is knowingly reminiscent of classic TV science fiction.
THE FAITHFUL DOG: A Civil War Novel
Genre: Middle Grade
IR Verdict: Captivating sensory imagery elevates Terry Lee Caruthers’ well-researched historical story, THE FAITHFUL DOG, featuring a lovable canine protagonist, whose minimal anthropomorphization endears and intrigues and will appeal to children and adult readers alike.
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TRUE CRIME STORIES YOU WON’T BELIEVE
Genre: True Crime
IR Verdict: An engrossing read from cover to cover, Romeo Vitelli’s TRUE CRIME STORIES YOU WON’T BELIEVE is an eclectic collection of obscure true-crime cases delivered by a gifted storyteller.
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TOMORROW’S END
Genre: Science Fiction
IR Verdict: G. R. Morris’ TOMORROW’S END: The Path of a Savior can be summed up in a single word: epic. Be it the intergalactic settings, concurrent timelines, or the heady, thought-provoking themes, Morris’ debut reads like a love letter to the science fiction genre.
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EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO YOU
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO YOU succeeds beautifully at telling an intimate and deeply felt story of a troubled connection between two young women, set against a larger narrative of ideological conflict. Earnest but never heavy-handed, compassionate but unsentimental, the novel is an immersive and compulsively readable journey that will leave readers profoundly moved.
ENEMY’S KEEPER: Forbidden Ties
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: ENEMY’S KEEPER: Forbidden Ties (book one in the Enemy’s Keeper series), shares detailed information about a tumultuous medieval period from a peasant girl’s perspective. Author Kyrie Wang presents historical YA fiction interwoven with nonstop action, nuanced characters, and hints of romance in this riveting series starter.
GIRLS’ GUIDE TO AGING WITH GRIT AND GUSTO
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Linda Benjamin’s GIRL’S GUIDE TO AGING WITH GRIT AND GUSTO is a lively, humorous account of the author’s own experiences of making a new start (or, more accurately, starts) for herself as a divorcee in her golden years, and is full of frequently, wise advice and healthy encouragement.
I’LL GO THE LENGTH OF MESELF
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: I’LL GO THE LENGTH OF MESELF is not only a touching tribute to Skipper Guy Earle, author Philip Earle’s father and greatest hero, but also a warm, nostalgic look back at an entire culture and its character and values.
LULU AND THE MISSING TOOTH FAIRY
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: A fun, fresh take on a time-honored tradition that just so happens to offer a compassionate built-in excuse for forgetful parents everywhere, S.E. Richey’s LULU AND THE MISSING TOOTH FAIRY succeeds on all fronts.
THE RED LOLLIPOP
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: In THE RED LOLLIPOP, Tamar Lee conveys a heartrending account of her childhood existence that includes nightmarish details of what she endured at the hands of her alcoholic, mean-spirited mother. Her insightful introspection and self-reflection make this memoir a compelling read.
JUNKER BLUES
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Chris Kelsey’s JUNKER BLUES, the fourth book featuring small town police chief Emmett Hardy, is essential reading and a first class mystery novel.
RODE
Genre: LGBTQ
IR Verdict: RODE is, by turns, an affecting and frustrating novel, one that feels truthful while withholding from readers—or, for that matter, its protagonist—simple answers or conventional resolutions to the struggle for a coherent sense of self. It’s a difficult trick to pull off, but J. Adams brings to the novel a confident and engaging voice that makes RODE a compelling journey.
MY TURN
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: For reader’s who enjoy the romantic comedy genre and its “second chance at love” theme, Allison Jones’ MY TURN will provide a fun roller coaster ride revved with some unexpected twists, and a few predictable turns.
ADAPT
Genre: Business
IR Verdict: Diane Primo’s ADAPT: Scaling Purpose in a Divisive World, is most compelling when delving into the practical details and specific strategies for constructing and articulating a purpose identity. Readers new to the concept may find themselves perplexed by what the author means by a “purpose-driven” paradigm, but overall the book succeeds as an accessible and convincing look at this new intersection of commerce and culture and its implications for businesses in the coming decade.