Science Fiction

Where the Moon Stood Still: From the Janus Project Files
by Brad Anderson

EVVY (Nominee)

IPPY Award (Recipient)

With tech billionaires making the news seemingly every other day, we can’t think of a more fitting book to kick off our list than When the Moon Stood Still, a book which blends aerospace technology with a good thrill, and then adds a good dash of science fiction.

Fiction

Full Circle
by Richard Ellis Shaw

NGIBA (Finalist)

EVVY (Nominee)

If you’re looking less cosmic and somewhat closer to home, you might consider Richard Ellis Shaw’s Full Circle, which tracks a couple moving through life together and apart, navigating personal troubles from college to adulthood.

Short Stories

Short Stories of Life, Love, and Remembrance
by Alexander Rassogianis

EVVY (Nominee)

Rassogianis’ short stories are special, but you might already have guessed that from this collection’s CIPA EVVY Award nomination. It includes sixteen globetrotting gems, each one packed with feeling and emotion, covering everything from childhood to old age. This is a book worth saving.

Self-Help

Conquering Life’s Course: Common Sense in Chaotic Times
by Richard V. Battle

Reader Views Literary Awards (First Place Winner in Self-Help Category)

EVVY (Nominee)

Is common sense really all that common? In Conquering Life’s Course, Richard Battle delivers some extremely timely suggestions for navigating life’s many challenges (which right now seem more challenging than ever). This is a practical book for those looking to take some concrete steps toward realizing a more fulfilling life.

Romance (Fiction)

Too Late the Homecoming: A Gambler’s Love Story
by Fred Preiss

EVVY (Nominee)

What could be more romantic than a gambler going straight for the first time in twenty-five years? A love triangle gone wrong, that’s what! Too Late the Homecoming includes deft notes of the thriller genre, all while diving deep into the complexities of a love come … well … late. But is it too late?

Mystery (Fiction)

A Tale of Deceit: A Veronica Howard Vintage Mystery
by E. J. Gandolfo
(Book Three in the Veronica Howard Vintage Mystery series)

EVVY (Nominee)

The third book in the Veronica Howard Vintage Mystery series, A Tale of Deceit takes readers back to a small seaside town north of Boston to the vintage antique shop owned by a now-imperiled Veronica Howard. Not everything is as it seems as she and her boyfriend Harry Hunt set out to solve a repeat robbery mystery. The glittering world of Art Deco Boston and rich descriptions of both setting and clothing lend this series an edge over the competition. If you’ve watched and liked Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, or are in general a fan of strong women in fine clothes taking on the role of a detective, this is a must-read series!

Action & Adventure (Fiction)

Life in the Morgue
by Lance Anderson

EVVY (Nominee)

The morgue turns out to be a fair bit livelier than Greg Benson expected when he took a position as a morgue technician. Murders, strange accidents, and ghosts are just a few of the many hazards he must face if he’s to survive his job, and author Lance Anderson knows what he’s writing about, having worked in a medical examiner’s office for six years, in which time he handled 2,000 cases. (That’s a lot of cases.) With two movie scripts in production, Anderson’s name is one to watch.

Fantasy (Fiction)

Rise of Serpents
by B. A. Vonsik
(Book Three in the Primeval Origins Epic Saga)

Reader Views Literary Award (Honorable Mention)

EVVY (Nominee)

With rave reviews from both Reader Views and Kirkus, the Primeval Origins Saga has collectively won dozens of awards, with Rise of Serpents serving as finalist or winner for 15 of those dozens. As is true for our other series, we recommend either catching up on the latest addition to the series or digging in for the first time. Those who love complicated, conceptually unique fantasy that interrogates very real concerns will love Vonsik’s ambition and scope.

Thriller (Fiction)

Special Means
by Andrew Ceroni

Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Awards
(this author is a three-time winner!)

Another author who knows what he’s about is Andrew Ceroni, whose latest book, Special Means, promises to be a worthy addition to his already repeatedly-award-winning backlist of previous titles. This story follows CIA Agent Dave McClure as he’s dispatched to Denver to determine who is taking out organized street games with suspiciously advanced weaponry. What he discovers places his own life, the President’s life, and the future of the entire country at risk. Thrilling and timely, this is not one to miss.

Biography & Autobiography (Adventurers & Explorers)

Old Man on a Bicycle: A Ride Across America and How to Realize a More Enjoyable Old Age
Don Petterson

Multiple Five-Star Reviews on Amazon

Like many before him, Don Petterson felt the lure of the American West. Unlike many before him, Petterson decided to do so by bicycle. In Old Man on a Bicycle, readers join Petterson on his 3,600 mile journey from New Hampshire to the California coast, enjoying stunning vistas and thoughtful reflections on what it means to be an aging person on a cross-country cycling trip, warts and all. This is a lovely, compelling autobiographical read to fill your summer with inspiration and encouragement.

Leadership (Non-Fiction)

Rise of the Gig Leaders: Why Interim Leaders Are Vital In Today’s Organizations
by Neil Grant

Multiple Five-Star Reviews on Amazon

Speaking of topical experts, Neil Grant is another author worth keeping an eye on. As owner of Focal Leadership, LLC, he and his company consult with leaders in key strategic positions who are in need of their skills in organization development. Rise of the Gig Leaders reflects his expertise, chronicling and explaining the notion of gig economics in language understandable to those not already in the know. What does this project-based, results-oriented world have to say and do in respect to more traditional economics? What opportunities does it offer? Grant is here to tell us exactly what and how gig leaders do what they do.