REFLECTIONS ON MOUNTAINEERING
Genre: Poetry
IR Verdict: REFLECTIONS ON MOUNTAINEERING (A Journey Through Life as Experienced in the Mountains) is enjoyable and thought-provoking for both devotees of mountaineering and casual readers who admire and respect the beauty and power of Nature.
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THE OMEGA PORTAL
Genre: Spiritual
IR Verdict: A sometimes wry and witty, sometimes controversial, and often riveting read, THE OMEGA PORTAL by Anonymous provides an expansive amount of potential answers to ponder for those seeking clarity around age-old spiritual questions.
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A DAY AT THE POOL
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: Dog lovers will adore A DAY AT THE POOL, the true tale of Bella, a Labrador/pit bull mix who was adopted by Andrea D. Malone and the author’s account of their visiting a swimming pool make for laughs and endearing moments that will make young readers appreciate the simple joys of owning a pet.
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SEA AND SWORD
Genre: Middle Grade
IR Verdict: Jim Genzano’s SEA AND SWORD is a fast-paced, swashbuckling kickoff to a middle grade fantasy series with a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers excited for more.
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THE BOOK OF NODD
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: An engaging dark fantasy set in a rich, lively, and vivid dream-world, THE BOOK OF NODD: The Dreamwalker will captivate fans of the imaginative and the sublime.
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ONCE YOU KNOW
Genre: Women’s Fiction
IR Verdict: Madeleine Van Hecke’s remarkable novel ONCE YOU KNOW asks many insightful questions, continually adding new sober layers to an astonishingly complex and relevant subject.
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THE POPE’S BUTCHER
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Immersing the reader in the bloody but fascinating world of medieval witch trials, Joseph Gioconda’s debut is a thrilling take on a little-known historical episode.
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PRESENCE, THE PLAY
Genre: Spiritual
IR Verdict: Though familiar on many levels, PRESENCE, THE PLAY will likely please fantasy readers who thrill to well-written stories of human resilience in the face of spiritual challenges.
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IMPATIENT PATIENCE
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: With IMPATIENT PATIENCE, author Michael A Brown and illustrator Lovyaa Garg have added another entry to their What I Tell Myself books–in this case a beautifully drawn, thoughtfully written tale about a little girl named Patience who is anything but, and the invaluable lesson she learns–in what is shaping up to be an enduring contemporary Children’s Literature series.
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L’ORIGINE
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: For fans of historical fiction focused on the world’s great artworks, L’ORIGINE delivers a story spiced with famous names, mystery, and sex. Author and visual artist Lilianne Milgrom carries readers along on this painting’s colorful journey, with a deliciously gleeful mix of fact and fiction that is very satisfying.
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COLDWATER REVENGE
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: James A. Ross’ COLDWATER REVENGE is a fantastic and thrilling noir story full of twists and turns which simultaneously offers a surprisingly vivid depiction of a struggling rural community beset by secrets and crimes.
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NEVER GROW UP
Genre: Action/Adventure
IR Verdict: With beloved characters such as Tink appearing in the form of a wheelchair-bound homicidal maniac, Neil Ruttenberg’s riveting crime novel, NEVER GROW UP, features a disturbed and disturbing serial-killer in a version of ‘Peter Pan’ that is quite relevant to what’s actually befalling way too many young people in society today.
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STRONGHOLD
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: Although the prose can lack focus and the ideological thrust fails under scrutiny, STRONGHOLD will still entertain and intrigue readers hungry for Game of Thrones-style political play in an epic science-fantasy world.
THE TRAVELS OF IBN THOMAS
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: An epic account of the travels of a young eleventh-century physician, THE TRAVELS OF IBN THOMAS sets the reader directly into a rich and historically-accurate world, full of adventure, vivid characters, and genuine life.
THE STORY OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE
Genre: Middle Grade
IR Verdict: A refreshed text and detailed pencil illustrations bring new life to the rollicking adventures and resourceful talking animals of THE STORY OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE, a classic novel for intermediate readers.
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CO SPECS, RECIPES & HISTORIES OF CLASSIC COCKTAILS
Genre: Food/Cooking
IR Verdict: More than just the run-of-the-mill bartender’s guide, CO-SPECS, RECIPES & HISTORIES OF CLASSIC COCKTAILS is handsomely hardbound and designed with a distinct Art Deco sensibility and serves as an A to Z compendium of recipes, notable homages, trivia and other minutia about each storied beverage, and serves as a stylishly packaged gift book for the cocktail aficionado and the teetotaler alike.
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WHEN FORCE MEETS FATE
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: A sobering account of one man’s decade-long struggle with a mysterious, debilitating illness, Jamison Hill’s WHEN FORCE MEETS FATE: A Mission to Solve an Invisible Illness is a story of perseverance—one that is likely to remain with readers long after the final page.
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OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Genre: Parenting
IR Verdict: OUTSIDE LOOKING IN is a beautiful and detailed chronicle of author Vivian M. Lumbard and her husband John’s journey with their daughter’s high-functioning autism — embracing the compassion, patience, and persistence required to raise children — whether they carry a “special needs” label or not.
A MODERN GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED
Genre: Psychology
IR Verdict: Who would have thought that “resignation” as a frame of mind around the annoying behaviors of loved ones would come with the benefit of inner peace? Don’t bother trying to change your partner plus other equally helpful advice is offered by Leon I. Sones M.D. in the wonderfully pithy, mental health resource A MODERN GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED.
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AN IMPOSSIBLE WIFE
Genres: Memoir
IR Verdict: AN IMPOSSIBLE WIFE is a moving story of love, heartbreak, and the impacts of mental illness on every member of the family.
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THE SECOND CHILD
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: THE SECOND CHILD is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story of the ways in which mental illness and illness can shape a family through generations. Author Regina Toffolo skillfully carries readers along–not as spectators but as companions–educating through her personal experiences of past trauma and hope for the future.
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HEADLONG: Growing Up Recklessly
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: At first glance, HEADLONG is simply a testosterone-fueled recount of a mischievous boyhood that segues into a similarly reckless young adulthood. But more than that, James D. Schultz memoir will strike a chord with anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world.
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