A lovely review for Make Believe: Bedtime Stories for Children Book 1 from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards!

Posted on August 28, 2026 by jjspina

What a lovely review of my children’s book, Make Believe:Bedtime Stories for Children Book 1! I was thrilled to receive this wonderful review from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. Thank you, reviewer from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards!

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers’ Favorite

Imagine a collection of heartfelt children’s short stories that will stimulate your child’s thoughts, reflect diversity, and make a connection. In the book Make Believe: Bedtime Stories for Children by Janice Spina, children will experience various fundamentals of emotions and communication while learning that friendships come in various ways. The reader will enjoy meeting and reading about Russell the dragon, Calista Rose the fairy, Blue the alien, Shular the bear, and Whitey the skunk, as they are taken on a journey of fantasy and imagination. While each story has a special message, the overall theme is to provide children with love, comfort, and a feeling of belonging so that they will feel safe and not alone before they fall asleep. Janice’s stories not only provide these elements for the child reader but also offer a channel to help children understand the world around them and their link to it. 

Make Believe: Bedtime Stories for Children by Janice Spina is a beautiful children’s book that is ideal for middle school children and will teach them about various aspects of life, from making decisions, keeping secrets, and ways to have fun, especially with imaginary friends. This book is a great tool for children and adults to connect during bedtime and to discuss what connection the child felt with the story. As adults, children’s stories that were remembered because of the bond to the characters and the themes provided a lasting effect; this book offers the same results: memorable stories. If you enjoy this book, Janice has a collection of other children’s books for you to explore and experience.

It is always so heartwarming to receive a review like this. When I see that someone gets my story, understands where I am going with the theme and shares their thoughts with others in this way, I am grateful and honored.

Promotional banner for author Janice (J.E.) Spina featuring her children's bedtime story books: 'Make Believe', 'Make Believe is Fun', 'Make Believe Again', and 'Make Believe Once Again'. Includes information on reading age, availability on Amazon, and a 5-star endorsement.
PROMO BY BMGN

If you haven’t introduced your children to this series, I hope you will soon. I would love to hear what you think about these books.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please come back soon where something is always brewing at JEMSBOOKS.

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in Book review from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, Make Believe, Make Believe (Bedtime Stories for Children Book 1) | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A wonderful promo by AllAuthor.com of Abby & Holly School Dance!

Posted on August 27, 2026 by jjspina

I was thrilled to see this new promo created by AllAuthor.com for my MG/PT book, Abby & Holly School Dance! It is wonderful! I had to share it right away! Thank you so much, AllAuthor!!

Book cover for 'Abby & Holly School Dance' by Janice Spina, featuring a school setting with blossoming trees, and a description highlighting themes of friendship, mystery, and courage. Also includes award badges and availability in multiple formats.

It says it all about this book! It is a mystery, MG/PT/YA, friendship tale and more that your kids will love and want to read every book in the six-book series. It shares how to deal with a bully and that bullying is never accepted or tolerated. Grab you copy today and delve into the world of cousins, Abby and Holly, who are more like sisters.

Here are the other books in this series. Promo by John Spina

Collage of book covers from the 'Abby & Holly' series by Janice Spina, showcasing six different titles with vibrant designs and themes.

Here are what readers are saying about this delightful series.

Cover of the book 'Abby & Holly School Dance' by Janice Spina, featuring a review excerpt praising its entertaining plot and characters.
Abby & Holly Book 1
Cover of 'Abby & Holly: Series Book 2 - Unfortunate Events' by Janice Spina, featuring a book with a colorful background and an Amazon review highlighting themes of adventure, mystery, and friendship.
Abby & Holly Book 2
Book cover for 'Abby & Holly Series, Book 3: Secrets of the Trunk' by Janice Spina, featuring a review highlighting themes of ghosts, friendship, and mystery.
Abby & Holly Book 3
Book cover of 'Abby & Holly: The Hidden Stairway' by Janice Spina with a quote from an Amazon review praising its adventurous story for middle-grade readers.
Abby & Holly Book 4
Book cover for 'Abby & Holly: The Copper Key' by Janice Spina featuring a suspenseful theme and an Amazon review highlighting plot twists and excitement.
Abby & Holly Book 5
Cover of the book 'Faulty Timeline' by Janice Spina, featuring colorful graphic design, with an Amazon review quote discussing the captivating story and characters, including two resident ghosts.
Abby & Holly Book 6

I had so much fun creating this series that I want to do another series for MG/PT soon. Creating these sweet characters was such a joy that I was sad to say goodbye to them. They had become like family to me. I wonder how they are doing in cyberland.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. You are always welcome to visit again where something is always happening at JEMSBOOKS!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in Abby & Holly Book 5: The Copper Key, Abby & Holly School Dance, Abby & Holly School Dance (Book 1 in Series), Abby & Holly Series, Abby & Holly Series Book 2 Unfortunate Events, Abby & Holly Series Book 4 The Hidden Stairway, Abby & Holly Series, Book 3 Secrets of the Trunk, Abby & Holly Series, Book 6 Faulty Timeline, Abby & Holly The Hidden Stairway | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Remembering a music icon: Dolly Parton

Posted on August 26, 2026 by jjspina

Dolly Parton was not only an award-winning singer, songwriter, actress but also a philanthropist who gave away millions of books to children everywhere. Thanks to the efforts of Dolly, more children are reading than ever before her efforts. Like Dolly said, “‘If you can read, then you can succeed.’”

Here is the link to learn more about Dolly’s Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton celebrating 31 years of her Imagination Library, holding a children's book with a blue background.
Black and white image of a woman with blonde hair holding a guitar, accompanied by text stating 'Dolly, A Musical Legend, 1946-2026'.
A portrait of a woman with blonde hair, looking thoughtfully to the side, accompanied by the text 'I will always love you.' and a signature.
A black and white image of two performers singing on stage, a woman in a sparkling dress and a man with an acoustic guitar.
Country singer Dolly Parton and her collaborator Porter Wagoner perform onstage in circa 1967. Mr. Wagoner is wearing a Nudie Suit designed by Nudie Cohn of Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
A smiling woman in a white dress holding an acoustic guitar while sitting in front of a wooden watermill structure, with colorful flowers in the foreground and a sign that reads 'DollyWood' in the background.
PIGEON FORGE, TN – 1993: American singer and songwriter Dolly Parton poses for a portrait with her guitar at Dollywood circa 1993 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. (Photo by Ron Davis/Getty Images)
Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with long, wavy hair and large hoop earrings, wearing a light shirt with a tiger print.
Country singer Dolly Parton, circa 1970. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Portrait of a woman with voluminous blonde hair, wearing a pink dress adorned with sequins, smiling in front of a wooden backdrop.
Promorional portrait of American musician and actress Dolly Parton, 1978. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Four people posing together in an office setting, with two women sitting and two standing. The setting features office equipment in the background, and everyone is dressed in 1980s-style clothing.
Portrait of, from left, Australian-American film director Colin Higgins (1941 – 1988), and American actors Jane Fonda (fore), Lily Tomlin (in checked blazer), and Dolly Parton on the set of the film ‘9 to 5’ (also known as ‘Nine to Five,’ directed Higgins), Los Angeles, California, 1979. (Photo by Steve Schapiro/Corbis via Getty Images)
A black and white photo of two performers on stage, one wearing a sparkling white dress with curly hair and a flower accessory, while the other is dressed in a shiny suit, both smiling and holding a microphone together.
American Country musicians Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (1938 – 2020) perform together onstage at Brendan Byrne Arena (later Meadowlands Arena), East Rutherford, New Jersey, October 20, 1988. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
A smiling woman with blonde, voluminous curly hair wearing a denim jacket over a red turtleneck sweater.
NEW YORK, NY – CIRCA 1977: Dolly Parton circa 1977 in New York City. (Photo by Allan Tannenbaum/IMAGES/Getty Images)
A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a red outfit, holds an acoustic guitar while standing on stage with a microphone.
NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 18: Dolly Parton attends Stella Parton’s Red Tent Women’s Conference 2014 at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown on April 18, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
A group of smiling individuals on stage, including two young boys holding books titled 'Peter Rabbit', with a prominent female figure in the center dressed in black and a blonde wig, surrounded by adults in formal attire.
LONDON – DECEMBER 04: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Country Music Legend Dolly Parton with Jack Boden (and parents L) and Jake and Josh Devey (and parents (R) at the press launch for Dolly’s Imagination Library and European ‘Backwoods Barbie 2008 Tour’ at The Savoy Hotel on December 4, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Davies/Getty Images)
A blonde female performer wearing a blue sequined jacket and white shorts adorned with stars, smiling and spreading her arms wide on stage, with bright lights in the background.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 23: Dolly Parton performs during halftime in the game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
A smiling woman with long blonde hair sits beside a bouquet of colorful flowers against a neutral background.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 18: In this screengrab released on April 18, Dolly Parton speaks at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for ACM)

Dolly Parton lived a long full life and will always be remembered as a special person who touched so many hearts with her music and benevolence. We will always love Dolly! May you rest in rest Miss Dolly!

Thank you so much for reading this post. Please come back again soon where something is always brewing at JEMSBOOKS!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in books for children, Reading for children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

New banners for JEMSBOOKS by BMGN!

Posted on August 22, 2026 by jjspina

I was happy to receive these two new banners from BMGN using my husband’s banner and another by Book Marketing Global Network with all 52 of my books. Thank you, BMGN!

Promotional image for Jem's Books featuring a collection of book covers by Janice Spina, showcasing her works for children, teens, and adults. Includes a motivational quote about reading.

Check out all 52 books today and start reading some entertaining, award-winning books! What do you like to read? I promise you that there is something for everyone at JEMSBOOKS!

I am an eclectic writer who writes ‘off the cuff.’ This means that I let the characters take over the story and go along for the ride, and what a wild ride it can be! Come along for the ride of your life with my mysteries, suspense, serial crime, magic, thrillers, children’s stories, middle-grade magical stories, YA fantasy, dragons, paranormal, clairvoyant, historical and short stories with a twist. Take your pick today! Enjoy!

I will continue to write and provide some interesting reading for all ages, God willing. More books coming. Keep Watch!

Thank you for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. You are always welcome at JEMSBOOKS where something is always brewing!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in JEMSBOOKS BANNER, Promos by BMGN Theodocia McLean, Writing, book reviews and publishing, poetry, children's books, YA and novels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A surprise visitor to our pond!

Posted on August 21, 2026 by jjspina

At breakfast recently as we were enjoying a cup of coffee and just relaxing, I spotted a large bird flying from the roof and into the pond in the back of our house.

I wasn’t sure at first if it was a turkey or a large hawk. We have seen turkeys flying over and also hawks that attack the red-winged blackbirds who nest inside the pond on the reeds. This time it was a Great Blue Heron! It was incredible!

I quickly grabbed our binoculars and adjusted them until I could see it up close and personal! It was even more unbelievably beautiful with its long neck and beak that it used to poke at the frogs and other things in the water. Wow! It was quite a treat!

Here are some photos for you to see this fabulous bird.

A heron standing in a green, lush wetland area surrounded by tall grasses and water with algae.
A heron standing in a lush green wetland, surrounded by tall grasses and vegetation.
A heron standing near a lush, green marsh, surrounded by tall grasses and aquatic plants.
A lush, green area surrounded by tall trees, featuring a circular patch of vegetation and a wire fence around it.
Our pond showing all the wild flowers and greens.

I think this photo above is good enough for a future book. Ideas are fermenting now as I write this. All photos on this site are Copyrighted!

It is always exciting to see new visitors to our backyard. We have seen deer, fox, turkeys, coyotes, snakes and great blue herons. I look forward to more interesting visitors to our backyard.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about our lastest visitor. Thank you for stopping by to read this post. Please feel free to come back again soon where something is always brewing at JEMSBOOKS!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in birds, Great Blue Heron, Pond, Writing, book reviews and publishing, poetry, children's books, YA and novels | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Free digital copy of my latest fantasy book, The Powers of King Gateskin: Gateskin Chronicles Book 5!

Posted on August 18, 2026 by jjspina

Check out this link for a chance to win a digital copy of The Powers of King Gateskin: Gateskin Chronicles Book 5 through Mom’s Choice Awards Giveaway! There will be three lucky winners!

Social media post promoting a giveaway for the digital copy of the children's book 'The Powers of King Gateskin' by Janice Spina, highlighting themes of dragons, magic, and powerful wizards.

If you haven’t read this series, please grab your copies of books 1-4 and sign up for a chance to win book 5! Best of luck! I hope you love this series as much as I love writing it. Look for the next book in the series coming in 2027.

Book cover for 'The Powers of King Gateskin: Gateskin Chronicles Book 5' by Janice Spina, featuring an ornate blue treasure chest against a cloudy background with a faint orange glow.

This series has won five Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Medals, one Maincrest Media Book Award, and one Book Finalist Award.

Sign up for a chance to win today!

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please come back again soon where something is always brewing at JEMSBOOKS!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in Ebook giveaway, Gateskin Chronicles, Giveaway, Mom’s Choice Awards, The Powers of King Gateskin: Gateskin Chronicles Book 5, Writing, book reviews and publishing, poetry, children's books, YA and novels | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking for a quick read – Check out JEMSBOOKS Short Story Collections today!

Posted on August 17, 2026 by jjspina

I now have three short story collections for your reading enjoyment. I promise I am not finished yet. There will be more collections for you to enjoy over the year or so. Keep watch!

Please check out these three collections if you haven’t already.

Watch for a new collection coming by the end of this year or early next year from JEMSBOOKS where there is always something brewing.

Here is what other readers are saying about these collections.

Cover image of 'An Angel Among Us', a short story collection by J. E. Spina, featuring a blue sky background and a review quote praising the author's storytelling abilities.
Cover of the book 'An Angel Among Us' by J. E. Spina, featuring a blue sky background and text highlighting a positive Amazon review about the engaging and diverse short stories.
An Angel Among Us
Cover of the short story collection 'An Angel Among Us' by J.E. Spina with an Amazon review praising the stories as inspirational and heartwarming.
Book cover of 'An Angel Among Us' by J.E. Spina featuring a blue sky background and text highlighting a positive Amazon review.
Book cover of 'Wishes: A Short Story Collection' by J.E. Spina with a quote from a review describing the book as enjoyable and suitable for short reading sessions.
Book cover of 'Wishes: A Short Story Collection' by J. Spina displaying a review highlighting its thought-provoking and clever twists.
Wishes AA 6
A book cover for 'Wishes: A Short Story Collection' by J. Spina, featuring a rustic scene with a review quote praising the book.
Wishes AA 4
Book cover of 'Wishes: A Short Story Collection' by J.E. Spina with a description highlighting its heartwarming mix of stories and memorable characters.
Wishes AA 2
Cover of the book 'Tales of the Well' by J.E. Spina, featuring a house and a well, with a review describing it as a collection of stories about families linked by the same well.
Book cover for 'Tales of the Well' by J.E. Spina featuring a white house in the background.
Book cover of 'Tales of the Well' by J.E. Spina featuring a house and a well, with a review describing the story collection about different families and their experiences.
Book cover for 'Tales of the Well' featuring a house and the tagline 'Suspenseful, intense and surprising as each family discovers the secrets of the Well.'

Thank you for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please some back soon and see what is happening at JEMSBOOKS. Remember: authors need reviews. Be kind and review books for hard-working authors who will appreciate your efforts to help spread word about our books in order to help other readers find our work. Thank you.

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in An Angel Among Us, Short story collection, Tales of the Well: A Short Story Collection, Who Loves Short Stories?, Wishes: A Short Story Collection, Writing, book reviews and publishing, poetry, children's books, YA and novels | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WIP is coming along but much more to do!

Posted on August 16, 2026 by jjspina

I worked on my WIP recently updating my notes on each chapter as I write them, and polishing up what I already have written. I completed a couple more chapters, up to twenty and over 20K words.

My plan is to complete 40+ chapters and over 50K words. There is much more to do to finish this epic fantasy book that will complete the six-book series. I hope to close out all the questions and close off some of the things I need to do.

Watch for Book 6 of GATESKIN CHRONICLES coming in early 2027! Grab your copies of Books 1-5 so that you will be up-to-date on everything that is happening in Noella Province. LET THE ADVENTURES BEGIN AND CONTINUE!

There are some other ideas that keep popping into my head that I may pay attention to soon. These ideas may become short stories. I already have three short story collections and enjoyed writing them so much that I can’t wait to do more.

My latest one, Tales of the Well, has caught the attention of many people because of its supernatural and fantasy genre that carries throughout each story. I may create another collection that would be centered on one subject with different characters in their own short stories.

One of the many reasons to create short stories is that they are quick to write. They are also loved by people who are too busy to read long novels with 300+ pages that take time to get into and complete. My stories will have a surprising and gripping subject for readers to pick up and read at bedtime or in between their busy schedules that will leave them feeling satisfied and wanting more.

Have I got your attention yet? Well, stay tuned for more info about what is coming next from JEMSBOOKS where something is always brewing! Happy reading everyone! Make sure to get in more reading before the summer ends.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please come back again soon and remember to review books for all the hard-working authors out there who are waiting for your thoughts. We appreciate your efforts to help spread word about our work. Thank you!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in Gateskin Chronicles, Tales of the Well: A Short Story Collection, Writing, book reviews and publishing, poetry, children's books, YA and novels | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Summer Beauty – enjoy while you can!

Posted on August 15, 2026 by jjspina

It seems as if summer is swiftly flying by. I stepped outside after dinner out with my hubby to snap these photos of all the beautiful flowering bushes in our yard. We now have over 20 Rose of Sharon Bushes in our yard and more sprouting up all the time! They are amazing and so beautiful!

I hope you enjoy my photos and that they cheer you if you need to be uplifted. I am thankful for all this beauty that God has given us this summer and every summer before and to come.

People slow down as they pass our house to gaze at the gorgeous blossoms that are sprouting out all over our 20 bushes! It is quite an amazing sight!

Close-up of a white flower with a deep pink center and petals, surrounded by green leaves and budding flowers.
Close-up of a pink hibiscus flower with a prominent red center, surrounded by green foliage and buds.
Close-up of pink hibiscus flowers with prominent red centers, surrounded by green foliage.
A close-up of a vibrant pink flower with red accents, surrounded by green foliage.
A lush green bush covered in white flowers with red centers, set against a backdrop of trees.
Two large flowering bushes with pink and white blooms beside a house featuring solar panels on the roof.
A green bush covered in pink flowers next to a house, with grass and fallen petals on the ground.
A flowering bush with white and pink blossoms surrounded by mulch and greenery.
A bush with tall green stems and large pink flowers growing alongside a house with gray siding and a window.
Flowering bush with large white and pink flowers against a house exterior under a blue sky.
A cluster of vibrant pink hibiscus flowers growing alongside a house, with a clear blue sky and clouds in the background.
A side view of a house with blooming pink flowers along the wall, surrounded by green foliage and a grassy area, under a partly cloudy sky.
Side view of a house with a satellite dish, surrounded by green bushes and flowers, under a partly cloudy sky.
A lush garden scene featuring green foliage, with a white flower visible among the leaves and a cluster of blue hydrangeas in the foreground.
A lush green bush covered with numerous white flowers featuring red centers, surrounded by foliage and trees.
A green lawn with a blue container and a red-and-white post marker in front of a flowering bush with white blooms.
Close-up of a large pink hibiscus flower with a textured petal surface, surrounded by green foliage.
Close-up of a large white flower with pink streaks at its center, surrounded by green foliage.
Close-up of a large pink hibiscus flower with deep red markings at the center, surrounded by green leaves.
Close-up of a pink hibiscus flower surrounded by green leaves.

We have two blossoms this year on our hydrangea. I hope the deer don’t eat them again. They have nibbled on them in the past. The blossoms must be tasty!

Close-up of a vibrant blue hydrangea flower cluster surrounded by green leaves.

Here are some roses, day lilies from our circle in front of our pod of houses.

A flowering hibiscus bush with large white and pink blossoms surrounded by green foliage and mulch.
Close-up of a bright yellow flower surrounded by green leaves, showcasing its textured petals and stamen.
Close-up of a vibrant pink rose flower surrounded by green leaves and garden mulch.
A landscaped garden bed featuring green grass, flowering plants, and brown mulch, with a house visible in the background.

John planted a Rose of Sharon bush in the center and this year it is flowering beautifully.

A landscaped area with flowering plants and green shrubs surrounded by mulch, under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

The rose bush above on the right keeps growing and spreading all across the circle. It looks like a wild rose bush because the leaves are different from any of the other bushes. You can’t see too many of the roses at this angle but there are many, but they are slowing down a bit at the moment. There is a red rose bush to the left that is showing off some of its flowers but the plant is a lot smaller and does not procreate and spread like the other one. Be careful of the thorns on the one on the right. It’s more deadly than the other one. I think I need to prune it a little at the end of the season.

We stopped at Mac’s Orchard for an ice cream, the first of the season for us. I snapped some photos of the pond where we sat to eat our cones. Ice cream was delicious! I had Death by Chocolate and John had Chocolate Chip. I want to go back before they close for the season to try Grapenut Custard.

Serene view of a calm pond surrounded by lush greenery and trees under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
A clear blue sky with a few fluffy white clouds framed by green tree branches.
A tranquil riverside scene featuring tall trees and a clear blue sky, with a stone wall and large rocks along the water's edge.
A tranquil view of a river surrounded by lush greenery and trees under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A serene view of a river surrounded by lush green trees, with a rocky stone wall in the foreground under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

I also snapped some photos of a visitor today before we went out to dinner – a groundhog.

A small mammal, partially hidden in green grass, foraging for food.
A groundhog standing in a grassy field, focused on its surroundings.
A groundhog foraging in tall green grass.
A groundhog sitting in green grass with a chain link fence and leafy background.
A groundhog foraging in a patch of green grass on a sunny day.

Check out that cute face! He was a little skittish so I had to snap these quickly.

I love some of these photos and plan to use them for future book covers. These are all copyrighted here so no taking them please.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for continued support. Please come back again soon where something is always brewing at JEMSBOOKS!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in Hydrangeas, Rose of Sharon Bushes, roses, Summer flowers, Writing, book reviews and publishing, poetry, children's books, YA and novels | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A new banner for JEMSBOOKS!

Posted on August 14, 2026 by jjspina

My husband John and I worked on creating a new banner for JEMSBOOKS. I wanted to share it with you today. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Promotional graphic for JEMBOOKS featuring the title, authors Janice Spina and J.E. Spina, and the slogan 'Reading Gives You Wings to Fly!' The background is red, with illustrations of a book and a train.

We also worked on a new banner for my novels – nine plus three short story collections. We haven’t finished with it yet but here is the last one we had with eleven of my books for 18+. I will showcase the new one soon.

A collage of book covers by J.E. Spina featuring titles such as 'Hunting Mariah', 'Mariah's Revenge', and 'An Angel Among Us'.

The one book missing is my latest one, Tales of the Well. I hope you have checked out this book that is a combination of fantasy, mystery, paranormal suspense and supernatural events. It is four tales that deal with the one subject but with different characters and share their experiences and mishaps living on this farmland. I assure you that it is memorable and gripping. Dare you delve into the TALES OF THE WELL?

If you would like to read the orginal story about The Well which was the inspiration for this collection, grab a copy of An Angel Among Us: A Short Story Collection.

Here is what others are saying about this short story collections.

A book cover for 'Tales of the Well' by J.E. Spina featuring a house and a suspenseful review snippet highlighting themes of family secrets and survival.
Book cover of 'Tales of the Well' by J.E. Spina featuring a house and a well, with a review excerpt describing the collection of stories about families connected to the same well.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please come back again soon where something is always happening at JEMSBOOKS.

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

Jemsbooks.com

Jemsbooks.blog

Jjspina(at)comcast(dot)net

AMAZON.COM AUTHOR PAGE (All books)

AMAZON.COM JE SPINA NOVELS PAGE

AMAZON.CO.UK

BARNES & NOBLE

Posted in An Angel Among Us, book reviews, JEMSBOOKS BANNER, Tales of the Well: A Short Story Collection, Writing, book reviews and publishing, poetry, children's books, YA and novels | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments