Here it is already the end of another month. Where does the time go? We are now half way through the year! I have been busy as usual reading some wonderful books for the month of June of 2022. Here are the 8 books I read and reviewed for June. I might have read even more if I didn’t have a few WIP. But I always seemed to have a WIP! I hope you enjoy reading these reviews.

I love sharing my eclectic reads in this Jemsbooks Segment, Books Read in the Month. I hope you will get a chance to look these books over soon. Thank you for your kind support of my work and that of my fellow authors.

If you are an avid reader, as I am, please review the books you love on Amazon or wherever you purchased them in order for others to enjoy your reviews. Reviews are one way for readers to know about an exceptional book. We indie authors love to receive reviews and appreciate the efforts of readers to do them. Once again, I thank you for your kind support of me and my books and for supporting my fellow authors too.

This is box set of two books. I already read and reviewed the first book, Deadly Pranks, last month. This is the review of The Kirtland Killer.

This is the second book by this author I have read. He also writes children’s books. This was a surprise to see the violence in this book which demonstrates that Donald can move from one genre to another easily enough.

There is a killer on the loose who is killing women. Is there a connection between these women? The police are befuddled by the way these woman are being murdered. These murders speak of a possible serial killer? Will the authorities find the culprit and put him away before other woman are murdered? 

There are some editing issues but I still enjoyed the story which hints at another installment in this genre. 

An unusual story, fast-paced, heart-stopping and unbelievable that kept me wondering how this would end.

The two main characters, Rosie and James, are childhood friends, sweethearts, lovers then are married. They are nothing like they seem on the outside. On the inside is another picture too dark and sinister to believe.

As the story progresses there is more darkness that surrounds them as they get involved with a drug lord after this man discovers that Rosie killed her boss. The drug lord holds this over them and forces them to do his bidding selling his drugs.

James, who is a DEA agent, turns to murder when he feels threatened by this drug lord and needs to escape to protect his beloved wife Rosie. He hires a killer to take out the drug lord and free him and Rosie from this man’s grasp. What transpires is all unexpected and shocking.

There are plenty of twists and turns especially the ending. I had to read it a couple of times but I am still shaking my head over it. What happened?

The only negative about this book is the foul language. I usually skim over it but it was overabundant in this story. If you like to be shocked and kept guessing about a mystery, this is the one for you.

No More Words is a drama full of secrets of a dysfunctional family, love and betrayal. The author keeps you in suspense as the story is told through past and present sequences of events which are surprising.

There are many strong characters that keep the story moving along at a fast pace. There are secrets that are slowly uncovered while others are not yet clear keeping the reader in suspense until the end where everything comes together in a shocking way.

This was an unforgettable and enjoyable read which will stay with me for a long time. This is the first book I’ve read by this talented author and will surely not be the last.

I couldn’t put this book down for long. It kept me riveted until I found out who the Shark was and why these murders were being committed. It held me spellbound.

This is the first book in the series with Virginia State Trooper Riley Tatum. She is a strong woman who has demons that she must face outside of what she deals with on a daily basis in her job. She finds herself drawn into this latest case of young girls being murdered who live on the streets. Something in the case hits too close to home for her and she relives her nightmares once again of her past.

This was an excellent read that draws the reader in and pulls you this way and that with all the emotions that tug at your heart. The characters are wonderfully drawn and engaging, even the ones you hate.

I highly recommend this book. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.

An emotional, heart wrenching and sad story about depression and despondency and what they can do to an individual. The story is told through the eyes of one boy who deals with both of these feelings.

Lucas is a lost soul living in a dysfunctional family. His depressed best friend has suicidal thoughts, and Lucas’s brother is dealing with drug addiction after returning home from the service.

When Lucas stumbles upon a woman living out in the woods of his town and her two dogs he finds peace and a friend who listens. The only problem here is this new friend is dealing with her own demons.

What transpires is not only heartbreaking but deeply moving as a friendship deepens thus saving both of them from becoming lost. There is much more to this story that I will not reveal. You will have to read it to find out what happens to these characters.

It was an emotional read that drew me into their world and left me feeling their angst and troubles. If you are a depressed person this may not be the story for you.

This story chronicles the view points of what is transpiring through different characters in this story. The author jumps back and forth between the present and past with each character. It can become confusing if you put down the story and then pick it up again the next day.

The main protagonists, Kelly Kendricks and her daughter Savannah, suffer a tragic loss when Kelly’s husband is killed by a hit and run driver. Their world appears to be coming to an abrupt halt as Kelly recuperates from her injuries from this same hit.

When a strange man comes into their lives and offers to take care of everything for them, provides them money to pay off their debts and even buys a house for them, they don’t know what to do or why he is doing this. Kelly doesn’t accept this as readily as her daughter does. She keeps asking, why would someone do this?

The story moves along as Kelly suffers from doubt, depression and hopelessness while her daughter finds love. I can’t tell you more for you will have to read this story to find out who and what it going to happen next.

It is a story that will grip you and have you wondering if they will every be whole again. There is a surprising ending that I found satisfying! I highly recommend this story for a mystery like you never read before!

A beautiful, emotional and heartfelt story about two people who each suffered a great loss that threatens to destroy them. The two main protagonists are a restauranteur, Claire Kite, and an author of a popular book, Whitaker Grant.

The story begins around Claire and her husband’s death and moves to Whitaker and his life, love and loss. Their lives intertwine when Claire finds an unfinished manuscript in her husband’s desk. She feels compelled to find someone to finish her husband’s novel in his memory. Things are not so cut and dry though when Claire approaches a famous one-book author, Whitaker Grant to take on this task.

I don’t want to give anything away with this story. It held me spellbound until the satisfying ending. It was a lovely story that brought tears to my eyes as I felt the anguish that the characters were feeling. The author did a wonderful job of portraying these characters as real with their flaws, ineptitudes and depressed personalities who needed one another to be come whole again.

I highly recommend this lovely, memorable story.

Burn You Twice was a gripping mystery/thriller from the first page. The author created characters that were varied and well developed. The story moved along as more characters and suspects were added to the mix keeping the reader guessing who was behind the myriad fires.

The two main protagonists, Joan Mason, a Philadelphia Detective and Gideon Bailey, a Montana Detective, have a romantic past. When Joan, on leave from her job, goes back to Montana she gets involved with fires similar to the one that nearly killed her and her roommate, Gideon’s sister, Ann, ten years ago. Joan feels compelled to solve the mystery and connect the fires.

When the convicted felon of the original fire, Elijah, is released from jail, things ratchet up with more fires involving two bodies. Can Joan work through these cases to help Gideon solve them without reliving the horror of her near escape from a fiery death? Does she dare keep in touch with Elijah to uncover if he is behind these new fires?

As questions mount, Joan finds herself in danger once again. Has she come too close to the truth about the fires? Is Elijah at it again or is there something else going on?

I highly recommend this mystery by this talented author.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read my monthly reviews. I hope you review books that you enjoy too. Reviews are an author’s livelihood. They are the one way that Amazon will recognize our books and promote them to others. Please help hard-working authors spread the word about their work. We authors will love you for your efforts. Thank you, readers! Please come back again for more interesting posts about books, reviews, author interviews, fish, birds, flowers or whatever else pops into my already overcrowded brain.

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!

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