Here it is already the end of another month. Where does the time go? I have been busy as usual reading some wonderful books for the month of April of 2023. Here are the 9 books I read and reviewed for February. I might have read even more if I didn’t have a few WIP. But I always seemed to have a WIP! That fact never stops me! 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 over these books 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.

When I wrote these reviews I rated them on Amazon, Goodreads and sometimes Barnes & Noble. I did not include the ratings here though. It is best to share my thoughts with you about how I felt about the book without the rating. Ratings can be deceiving at times.

We all feel differently about books. Sometimes we love them, sometimes we like them and still other times we may dislike a book. Some others are so memorable they take our breaths away! While others are sweet, sensitive and enjoyable reads that we soon will forget. But all of these books I have reviewed were lovely reads as you can see from my reviews. I hope you enjoy my reviews and that they help you decide if you would like to read these books.

This book is full of romance, quite hot at times, mystery, horses, music, suspense, finely-tuned characters, and well-mastered prose, all with a paranormal aspect to complete this entertaining read.

I have read all of the books in this series and found this one to be my favorite of the three, not to take anything away from the others which were well-written too. The characters are varied and intriguing, both good and bad. The main protagonists, Colt and Sage, are so well meshed to almost appear to be one soul, in that they interact toward one another perfectly.

The magical rune is an added spark to the story that keeps the story moving along with the paranormal theme, keeping it center stage. Sage who can read palms and interact with the deceased is magical with or without this ability. Colt is the perfect cowboy with his strength, kindness and ability to be sympathetic and empathetic to not only horses but also to humans.

I could keep going on about this lovely book but I don’t want to give anything away since there are surprises and plenty of action throughout to keep you well engaged. Jan Sikes is a talented writer who knows how to convey emotions and excitement in her story.

An intriguing mystery involving three sisters, Emily, Tara and Madison, who have kept secrets from each other around the murder of their father and suicide of their mother.

The mystery involves the disappearance of Tara and how she is connected to their father’s murder. But this is not all; there is another murder of a black man and his white wife where the man is hanged like the father of the three sisters. Another body, now skeletal remains, is discovered bringing more questions that need answers.

There are many suspects once FBI special agent, Zander Wells, is brought in to solve the murders when police are incapable of handling the scene. Emily is drawn in to answer questions since she was the first at the scene to discover the murdered couple. There is a charged atmosphere between Zander and Emily that is evident to everyone but them as they work to discover the truth and find the person responsible. Could that person could be the same one who killed Emily’s father?

This mystery was an enjoyable read that kept me wondering who, what and why.

An experiment that goes awry is the premise of this book that held me captive. I couldn’t get it out of my mind.

When eight strangers take part in this experiment to be stranded on an island incommunicado with very little assistance other than their own resources, things go terribly wrong. The author created a story that was full of angst, terror, fear, abandonment, and hopelessness.

No one expected this to fail so miserably as the eight strangers arrived on the island to set up camp and forage for food. They never expected or realized how difficult it was going to be to get along with others whose personalities were suspect, some deranged and others insecure and still others dangerous.

The story is told through the eyes of one person, Maddie, who relays how she feels throughout the experiment and how she interacts with the others. There are also snippets of what is to come from an interview with Maddie and a TV personality. The reader realizes this way that Maddie somehow survives but at what cost?

This was a terrifying story of the survival of the fittest and most resilient and an engrossing and unputdownable read that is not easily forgotten.

Another addition to the Winston Windflower series is an enjoyable read with most of the same characters making an appearance once again. The main protagonist, Winston Windflower, is back in another role but still helping the RCMP with cases using his expertise and experience. 

There is danger at every turn for Windflower but he endures it all evidenced by his courage and fearlessness but with compassion and empathy. Windflower smudges as in the other books and experiences dreams that he interprets with the help of his uncle Frank. 

There are other changes in roles for Tizzard and his wife, Carrie, who are still with the RCMP but not in Outer Bank. Tizzard is now acting superintendent until a permanent replacement can be found while Carrie is working with Windflower.

I love this series that makes me feel like I am going home again with the warmth, love, and down-home appeal of Newfoundland, and the people and the community that supports one another. I also enjoy hearing about the food and recipes that Windflower grills with fish and beef making my mouth water.

The author has created once again a lovely book to add to the Windflower series.

I was given a copy of this book and reviewed it honestly.

This beautiful story is written around two timelines, one during WW2 and the other in 1985. The main protagonists in these timelines have suffered from a heartbreaking loss that has left them devastated and unable to move forward in their lives.

The author has created a lovely story that moves slowly at first until things begin to line up and come together. It is a tear-jerker that will touch readers’ hearts and make them feel the despondency of the characters as they struggle to come to terms with the heavy burdens they must bear.

This tale makes one realize how much others’ actions can affect one’s life in a detrimental way if one allows them to do that. The characters must find their way and never give up hope which helps them cope with whatever comes their way.

A lovely story that brought tears to my eyes and the feeling of hope being renewed for good things to come no matter how dire the circumstances look.

I highly recommend this endearing story but beware – have tissues at the ready.

A story about the life of one girl, Beth Bailey, who shares her life, loves, friendships, heartaches, and struggle to find happiness. Beth has been in love with her best friend’s brother for as long as she can remember. Life gets in the way and keeps them apart.

Beth has suffered a tragic loss with the death of her parents at an early age. She had to move in with her aunt and then her friend’s family became her foster parents after her aunt’s passing. She has known loss and somehow has survived.

Since her time clock is ticking away, she has to make a decision, should she wait for love to come to her and provide her with a family of her own or should she go after what she wants. She can’t wait too much longer and has to make a decision to take an important step in order to fill the emptiness inside her that will only be filled with a child. Will she finally find love? Will she ever have a child of her own or adopt one?

This was a beautiful story of one woman’s tenacity to never give up until she finds happiness in spite of what life deals out to her.

This is a fun rhyming book for young children that will have them giggling from the first page. What a delightful book with adorable illustrations that are eye-catching and colorful.

Children will love this story and are sure to want to read it again and again. The author has created a an entertaining read with one rhyming line per page with an explanation at the end of all the words used enabling children to add more words to their vocabulary.

Mark C. Collins is a talented author and illustrator of some amazing books that you should add to your children’s library for hours of enjoyment.

I hadn’t read book 1 when I picked up this book. However, even though I didn’t read the previous book I enjoyed this story and found it creative and intriguing. There was plenty of action, adventure, time travel, fantasy, and history, evidence that the author had to do plenty of research to get every bit of his time travel to various time periods exact.

The characters are well-developed, interesting and strong to withstand all they had to endure against Lucifer. It was quite a different story and memorable. This is a change of genre for the author but his work shows that he can do this genre well too.

I look forward to reading book 1 now to connect the stories by this creative and talented author. I have read many of his previous books that were of different genres and enjoyed them all.

I loved this story and did not want it to end. The characters, Grace and Kyle, were strong with both male and female leads commanding the storyline. The little girl, Cassie, was adorable and touched my heart with her sparkling personality and bravery against whatever she had to face with her illness.

The other characters added to fill in nicely with the principal’s precocious daughter, Avery, and his twin brother and his family. There always has to be a few villains or troublesome additions – a woman member of the school board and Kyle’s cantankerous and controlling father, Senator Roberts.

A lovely and sweet story that was touching and endearing as Grace and Kyle fall in love.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post. Please come back again for more books, reviews, news about new projects, birds, our fish and 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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