FIRE AND ICE
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: B.T. Polcari’s ‘s cozy mystery, FIRE AND ICE, includes all the elements required to engage readers into solving the puzzle—a compelling hook, interesting characters, a well-structured plot, and a few red herrings.
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PUBLIC OPINION
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Strong dramatic content thickens Nathan Pettijohn’s PUBLIC OPINION, a character-driven plot involving a complicated man with exceptional cyberspace skills and a dodgy moral compass.
TALI NOHKATI, Part II
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: A captivating adventure tale rendered with the dreamlike delicacy of a prose poem, TALI NOHKATI, A Piece of Earth Under the Stars: Tome II, is a hypnotic work of modern mythmaking that captures the ageless spirituality of the natural world.
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MAKE AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AGAIN
Genre: Humor
IR Verdict: Political satire at its finest, Bo Bancroft’s MAKE AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AGAIN is a bold debut that delivers a sweeping indictment of American politics that everyone can laugh at.
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THE GOLD DARK SUMMER
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: Susan Papas’ debut novel, THE GOLD DARK SUMMER, is a coming-of-age story that demonstrates the author’s keen sense of poetry, emotion, and empathy.
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2165 HILLSIDE
Genre:
IR Verdict: Author Tobias Maxwell demonstrates a profound understanding of human emotions, motivations, and psychology as he tells a moralistic tale stemming from the depths of the dark side of humanity in 2165 HILLSIDE.
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STILL, THE SKY
Genre: Poetry
IR Verdict: Cleverly combining a coming-of-age motif with tales from Greek Mythology, Tom Pearson’s STILL, THE SKY is as much a deliberate statement as it is a placeholder for further examination.
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GREY FEATHERS
Genre: History
IR Verdict: In a controlled tone, and with an excellent eye for historical detail, Daniel DeWald tells the story of the Vietnam War as only an insider can in GREY FEATHERS (Led by Love of Country).
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BOKEN’S CRAZY CAMPING CAPER
Genre: Action/Adventure
IR Verdict: BOKEN’S CRAZY CAMPING CAPER is a fun, well-written chapter book with the right amount of action, memorable characters, lively illustrations and educational information to please both kids and their parents.
SHADOWS IN THE FOREST
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Author Jennifer J. Morgan’s SHADOWS IN THE FOREST weaves together a series of intriguing events that develop into a compelling and well-written cozy mystery.
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THE OPOSSUM AND THE CATS
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: Marilyn B. Wassmann’s THE OPOSSUM AND THE CATS contains notes of friendship, joy, and heroism which together comprise a thrilling tale of valor and compassion.
THE MOONBALLERS
Genre: LGBTQ+
IR Verdict: A charming, unapologetically campy, funny, and surprisingly touching look at the lives, struggles, and joys of a group of gay (and one straight!) tennis players, THE MOONBALLERS engages both heart and humor in equal measure.
PRACTICAL CLINICAL SUPERVISION FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS
Genre: Psychology
IR Verdict: Augustine Meier’s PRACTICAL CLINICAL SUPERVISION FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS is a well-researched, well-argued study of a subject that will only grow in importance.
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FLY AGARIC
Genres: Health/Medicine/Nutrition, Inspirational/Spiritual
IR Verdict: For those interested in mycology, pharmacology, and the role of psychoactive substances in world mythology and religion, Author/editor Kevin Feeney’s excellent, integrative volume, FLY AGARIC, honors and expands this unusual and fascinating field of study.
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WALKS BY BIG ALEX’S POND
Genre: Biography
IR Verdict: Exploring the cyclical nature of life through a pair of life stories set a century apart, Henry Van Berkel’s WALKS BY BIG ALEX’S POND is an effortless read that examines some difficult topics.
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THE RAPE OF PERSEPHONE
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: In THE RAPE OF PERSEPHONE, Monica Brillhart erects an ancient Greek world that both bristles and seduces, much like the gods that roam its terrain. But it’s the marriage of purity and depravity, infused with violent sensuality, that leaves the reader ensnared.
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THE PRICE OF SILENCE
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: A taut, psychological thriller masquerading as a chick-lit page-turner, Ulla Håkanson’s THE PRICE OF SILENCE is an impressive debut that works on every level.
THE SEED OF CORRUPTION
Genre: Popular Fiction
IR Verdict: A.I. Fabler’s THE SEED OF CORRUPTION is a heady stew of influences, from the travel literature of John Le Carré and Graham Greene to the dark journeys of Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness. Fabler’s beautifully evocative, clever writing, however, transcends pastiche to emerge as a hauntingly original work.
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CHANGING HORSES
Genres: Self Help
IR Verdict: Part inspirational memoir, part equine celebration, Esta G. Bernstein’s CHANGING HORSES is a moving autobiography exploring the reciprocal nature of caring for animals.
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WHO THE MONSTERS ARE
Genre: Paranormal
IR Verdict: Part monster-hunting urban fantasy, part read-it-in-a-tub-by-candlelight shagfest, Nadine Little’s WHO THE MONSTERS ARE has something to satisfy fans of multiple genres.
ROWING HOME
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Roman Castilleja does an excellent job in laying out the truths that have been revealed to him and this beautifully designed book provides a wonderful opportunity for the reader to join him on a journey of self-discovery.
EARNING IT
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: E.F. Dodd’s’s EARNING IT is as hot and steamy as the Caribbean Island on which most of it takes place, with a hefty dose of fantasy wish-fulfillment lightened by a bright, mischievous sense of humor.