RIGHT ACROSS THE BAY
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: RIGHT ACROSS THE BAY is an enthralling thriller with more than its fair share of twists and turns. Quinn Avery displays a knack for hooking in her readers right from the opening paragraph, blending moments of ripe romantic intrigue with high-tension thrills.
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LITTLE SHIPS, A Novel
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: In LITTLE SHIPS, A Novel, author Sandra Scofield’s unembellished words and quixotic characters build a heart-breaking, beautifully crafted story of a deeply flawed extended family.
THE TIGER AND THE CRANE
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: Despite its perspective jumps, Trevor B. Spisto’s THE TIGER AND THE CRANE is a charming story for young readers with well-rounded characters and endearing humor.
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TALES OF THE PATRIARCHS
Genres: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: With TALES OF THE PATRIARCHS, Jim Shankman weaves a complex tapestry of ambition and romance set in the silent film era, offering an admittedly challenging read but one where patience is ultimately rewarded.
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A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS
Genres: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: A heartwarming and frequently heartbreaking tale of a young man’s life, Mark A. Gibson’s A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS carries a message of hope and persistence in the face of great tragedy.
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WIN THE TALENT GAME
Genre: Business
IR Verdict: Richard Brock’s WIN THE TALENT GAME: A Guide to Lateral Hiring for Law Firms and Lawyers is a highly readable book that provides interesting insights into the world of law and successful lawyers. Useful not only for corporate law firms but for attorneys at every level.
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A MEMORY OF FICTIONS (OR) JUST TIDDY-BOOM
Genre: LGBTQ+
IR Verdict: A MEMORY OF FICTIONS (OR) JUST TIDDY-BOOM is a bold novel. Author Leonce Gaiter is willing to take chances with the structure of the book, leading to a refreshingly free-flowing narrative that shines new light on the African-American experience. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes brutal, the prose is always thoroughly engrossing.
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ROSES IN DECEMBER
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Like its predecessor, Mark A. Gibson’s ROSES IN DECEMBER is a book that does not shy away from brutality, tragedy, and heartbreak. However, it does have a satisfying ending with an ultimately hopeful and heartwarming message.
THE BLUE GIRL, CANDY LEE CAINE
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: Mickey J. “Mike” Martin’s THE BLUE GIRL, CANDY LEE CAINE is a poignant yet heartbreaking romance story that explores mental health, trauma, identity, abuse, and other heavy topics.
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NURTURE
Genre: Parenting
IR Verdict: Insightful, well-researched, and deeply empathetic, Heidi Schauster’s NURTURE:How to Raise Kids Who Love Food, Their Bodies, and Themselves is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to develop a healthy relationship with food and body image in their children.
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THE BUTCHER ON COLFAX
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: A rollicking and incisive novel that follows in the tradition of Upton Sinclair and E.L. Doctorow, J.T. Tierney’s THE BUTCHER ON COLFAX offers a ripping good yarn, an astute work of social history, and a penetrating exploration of American folklore.
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A CUP OF TEA ON THE COMMODE
Genre: Aging/Death & Dying
IR Verdict: Chronicling a son’s devotion to his mother in her final years, Mark Steven Porro’s A CUP OF TEA ON THE COMMODE is a heartwarming, humorous, and poignant memoir that offers a touching and relatable account of caregiving that will resonate with readers on a deep emotional level.
STOLEN CORN
Genre: Religion
IR Verdict: In STOLEN CORN, Barry L. Ross delivers a concise yet insightful collection of biblical passages, personal anecdotes, and modern-day parallels that encourage readers to reflect on their spiritual and ethical perspectives in light of God’s word.
DEATHLESS CREATURES
Genre: Paranormal
IR Verdict: With its brisk storytelling and compelling protagonists, Katie Wilson’s DEATHLESS CREATURES makes for an engaging, imaginative take on vampire mythology complete with an intriguing overarching mystery.
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THE STREET BETWEEN THE PINES
Genre: Horror
IR Verdict: A genre-busting piece of New England horror that will keep readers guessing until the end, J.J. Alo’s THE STREET BETWEEN THE PINES is also a contemplation on family, PTSD, and finding redemption in an unforgiving world.
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PHOENIX SAGA
Genre: Science Fiction
IR Verdict: PHOENIX SAGA: PEACE ON EARTH PROTOCOL by poet amalL era JesuƨɘႱ hO (aka Joshua James Eller) is an inventive and experimental work that skirts the edge of sci-fi while bringing in elements of philosophy and spirituality. As confusing and confounding as its predecessor, this will delight readers prepared to succumb to a maze of sparkling prose without feeling the need to extract any clear meaning or narrative closure.
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COLD WAR: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Helena P. Schrader’s compelling, meticulously researched novel, COLD WAR: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, tells a compelling story of both mega-sized action-adventures and intimate, heartbreaking moments.
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WHILE I BREATHE
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Susan M. Reynolds’s WHILE I BREATHE is heart-breaking in its account of her deep, enduring love and the hardships encountered during her son’s brief life.
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IT’S NOT THE SAME FOR US
Genre: Women’s Fiction
IR Verdict: IT’S NOT THE SAME FOR US by Dawn Adams Cole builds interest and reveals a soul-searching theme that many readers can relate to.
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NUMBER 12 RUE SAINTE-CATHERINE
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: NUMBER 12 RUE SAINTE-CATHERINE, by Roberta Hartling Gates, is an impressive debut examining the life and times of a notorious Gestapo chief from his troubled childhood in Germany to his eventual arrest and trial decades later. Historical fiction at its finest.
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CITY OF RAIN
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: William Lejeune’s creativity shines in his fantasy debut novel, CITY OF RAIN, where mages, wizards, and magic entwine with politics, conspiracies, and secrets to deliver a captivating story of power and destruction. A thrilling start to a world filled with more adventures.
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