FIRE AND ICE
B.T. Polcari
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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FLIP YOUR WIG
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Layered with intrigue and a tight-knit web of suspense, Roy Chaney’s FLIP YOUR WIG is a captivating noir character study which extends to its sense of place at the epicenter of the Sixties counterculture and Beatles-worship gone horribly wrong.
WICKED SCHEMES
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Bubbling over with sharp, sarcastic humor and lively, vividly detailed writing, WICKED SCHEMES is another charming entry in the series that will delight both longtime fans and newcomers to the Chautauqua mysteries.
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A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HAPPINESS
Genres: Self-Help
IR Verdict: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HAPPINESS is a useful self-help book which serves up thought-provoking, straightforward advice for people looking for an entry point to learning about shifting their thinking to be more positive.
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THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE
Genres: History
IR Verdict: A work of profound generosity and wisdom that advocates eloquently for the importance of respecting and protecting our environment, THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE is an indispensable gift to present and future generations. Quiet Thunder’s voice shines from every line, with serene authority and a natural storyteller’s gift for channeling vast swaths of history without losing the intimacy of personal testimony.
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EPHEMERAL WINGS
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: Eva Silverfine’s EPHEMERAL WINGS delights as it teaches about ecology and the impetus of following one’s natural instincts through the luminous story of a lovable Mayfly nymph.
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ALICE AND JACK HIKE THE GRAND CANYON
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: In ALICE AND JACK HIKE THE GRAND CANYON, Amy Graves and Pam Schweitzer craft an earnest family adventure, in which the children’s intrepid endeavors are stoked by loving parents. With respect paid to both the wildlife and the predecessors of the lands they traverse, the tale offers lessons that stay with the reader long after the book’s completion.
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MURDER IN THE BLACK LAND
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: Blending an Ancient Egyptian setting with a modern storytelling approach, Resa Nelson’s MURDER IN THE BLACK LAND is an immersive historical thriller with tons of crossover appeal.
KNIGHT’S OATH
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: Juliette Caruso’s KNIGHT’S OATH is an intensely passionate romance novel set in a thoughtfully-designed medieval world, with real heart and heat.
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THE TIMEMATICIAN
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: Wildly entertaining, THE TIMEMATICIAN lives up to its title; time, mathematics, and magic, with a healthy dose of hilarity and a vulnerable soul.
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THE TOME OF SYYX
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: Stavros Saristavros’ D&D-inspired debut, THE TOME OF SYYX, is an epic labor of love that is sure to resonate with like-minded readers.
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INTENTIONAL ACTS OF KINDNESS
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: From the simmer-to-a-boil tension to the pitch-perfect plot, Drea Braddock’s INTENTIONAL ACTS OF KINDNESS is purpose-built for those who prefer to find authentic characters at the heart of their romance novels.
ODE TO MURDER
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: With equal doses of humor and heart, Nicole Dieker’s ODE TO MURDER gives readers a fascinating and fun journey through a small-town murder mystery that introduces amateur detective Larkin Day.
TRINE REVELATION
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: TRINE REVELATION, the story begun in TRINE RISING and TRINE FALLACY, continues without losing any of the power, emotional force, or beautiful worldbuilding of its predecessors.
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CEMETERY REFLECTIONS
Genre: Photography
IR Verdict: The imagery in Jane Hopkins’ CEMETERY REFLECTIONS, thoughtfully supplemented with text and quotations, is a gentle memento mori in book form made especially poignant by its release during the COVID-19 era.
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AVERAGE JOE
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: A well-written, well-structured novel, Krissy Daniels’ AVERAGE JOE successfully combines threatening criminal minds with romance and emotional ties to create an action-packed, multi-dimensional adventure.
THE ROCK GARDEN
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Part biography, part travel guide, Dan Newland’s THE ROCK GARDEN is a touching ode to the author’s hometown and one of its most beloved residents (not named Neil Armstrong).
UP THROUGH THE DARKNESS
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: With a gorgeous setting and and even more beautiful prose, Wayne Aronsen’s UP THROUGH THE DARKNESS is a literary novel about long-lost family and the lengths people will go to protect their legacy.
UNDERSTANDING GENOMICS
Genre: Health
IR Verdict: Dr. Marios Michael’s UNDERSTANDING GENOMICS claims we’re on the brink of a reformation of medicine with the use of personalized, genetic based approaches to optimizing health and his text does a great job of explaining why. It’s startling, varied, and the knowledge might be enough to redirect many into treating their bodies right.
EVER WILDE
Genre: Women’s Fiction
IR Verdict: A revelatory and satisfying read, HK Jacobs’ EVER WILDE exemplifies the inner struggle of someone who is unsure of where they are in life, how they got there, and the direction in which they are headed.
PRIMEVAL ORIGINS
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: With PRIMEVAL ORIGINS: Paths of Anguish, B. A. Vonsik overcomes the occasional misstep to deliver an ambitious debut that pairs a coming-of-age story with an intriguing sci-fi-tinged premise.
BEYOND THE THRESHOLD
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Mark Ristau’s BEYOND THE THRESHOLD is a provocative, enlightening read that lends perspective to our choice of becoming victims or survivors in this precarious world.
GRADY WHILL AND THE TEMPLETON CODEX
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: Carole P. Roman’s GRADY WHILL AND THE TEMPLETON CODEX is a thrilling, coming-of-age adventure that explores the timeless trials and tribulations of high school through a smart, contemporary lens.
ALONG CAME A STROKE
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Informative, engaging, and darkly funny, ALONG CAME A STROKE (My Story of Survival and Recovery) by Eileen Haas is the recovery memoir everyone needs.
PERILOUS OBSESSION
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: The fifth book in the Professor Brad Parker and FBI agent Karen Richmond series, PERILOUS OBSESSION is a gripping medical mystery. With his scientific background, Geoffrey M. Cooper writes with authority and authenticity blending thrilling action with medical intrigue.
SMALL SMILE’S SUNDAY BUDDY
Genre: Action/Adventure
IR Verdict: J.A. McNally’s SMALL SMILE’S SUNDAY BUDDY is a beautifully crafted love letter to Brooklyn’s storied past. Told through short fictional vignettes, it’s a coming-of-age tale that extends well into adulthood.
CANNIBAL CLUB
Genre: Literary Fiction
IR Verdict: Chilly but engrossing, CANNIBAL CLUB is a novel as oddly engaging as its protagonist, marching with supreme confidence to a jaw-dropping finale that will have readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.
DON’T FEED THE ELEPHANTS!
Genre: Business
IR Verdict: Sarah Noll Wilson’s guide to conflict resolution, DON’T FEED THE ELEPHANTS! (Overcoming the Art of Avoidance to Build Powerful Partnerships), offers a light-hearted yet highly effective approach to tackling difficult conversations.