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 July of 2023. 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! 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 what will be your next read.

The Secret Garden is not just a children’s book, it is a story rich in discovery, beginning anew, finding oneself, and strength in friendship. The characters are well-defined and fascinating, the elderly gardener, a boy who has been declared an invalid, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals, and a girl who is lost, sullen and unloved, all living on a moor.

What happens in this magical story is this, these wondrous characters come together to discover their strengths and cast off their weaknesses. They work together when the secret garden is uncovered; not only does the garden grow but so does the friendship between the children and the gardener, who finds joy in watching the children grow in strength, character and good health.

A classic story that will continue to entertain and delight children of all ages and adults too for generations to come. The writing at times was a little daunting with the Yorkshire accent to interpret but after a while I got used to it and could decipher what they were saying.

It was nice to go back to a book that I had missed when I was younger. Quite enjoyable!

A lovely story for children who love ponies and horses and enjoy learning more about them. The author created a story about twin ponies who are adorable, delightful and intelligent.

The story is about how these twin ponies, Cream and Coca, come to live with two sisters and their parents who run a riding school to help children with problems or disabilities to overcome them and gain confidence in themselves.

The author’s experience and knowledge of horses and ponies is evident in the way she tells the tale of these animals and how they are groomed and fed.

The illustrations are beautifully done and a perfect addition to the story. The author has created another entertaining book to add to her expanding library for children.

This book started off with a startling scene but slowed down for a bit. Plenty of romance and mystery around the murders that picked up the tension a little.

When the main protagonist, Jayne, a photographer for a magazine that specializes in uncovering celebrity gossip, gets kidnapped, things go awry and involve the celebrity who Jayne was trying to uncover. What she doesn’t expect is to get romantically involved with Reed, the wood carver artist.

I enjoyed this story but did find it ended abruptly. But I still gave it five stars because of the mystery and shock it provided.

The Housemaid’s Secret is full of mystery, suspense, twists and turns that kept me in the dark until all was revealed. It was a read that I will not forget!

Being a housemaid, the main protagonist, Millie, has secrets of her own that she does not want anyone to uncover. She takes on a job cleaning others’ apartments just to earn some money until she can get her own life together. What she learns while working for one employer threatens to undermine her own secrets but she cannot stop herself from answering the cry of one she feels needs her help – a battered wife.

The story that the battered wife relays to her employer is believable because of the injuries she has sustained. She fears for her life. Who can refuse to help someone like this? But what Millies finds is not what she imagined.

There are twists and turns and surprises in this shocking story. I didn’t read the first book in the two-book series but it all made sense to me as it was explained throughout.

An unforgettable and enjoyable read!

While My Sister Sleeps is a moving and emotional story of loss, guilt, jealousy, relationships, family and finding oneself.

Molly and Robin Snow are sisters who are as different as night and day. They don’t share their feelings or emotions with one another. Robin is a champion runner who is so involved with her sport that she cannot think of anything or anyone else. Molly is involved in her own activities, planting, caring of plants and working with her parents in their plant and flower business.

Their family is thrust into turmoil when Robin suffers a massive heart attack while running. They rush to her bedside after she is admitted and rescued by a Good Samaritan who performed CPR on her and brought her back.

Secrets are uncovered as they wait to hear the results of EEG for brain activity. They must come to a difficult decision about Robin’s life – end it or keep her on machines for an undetermined time. The secrets that Molly uncovers while they wait are discovered in Robin’s closet – the story of Robin’s life on a CD.

Molly reads it and shares it with her mother who must come to terms with the realization of what her daughter wrote and share her own secrets in order to handle what will come next.

This is a story full of angst, feelings of doubt, sorrow, heartache and learning to cope with the inevitable loss of a daughter, sister, no matter what age. The author created a story that will tear at your heartstrings and leave you weeping but also with some hope that even in loss there is some redemption for others and a way to go on.

An Old Promise is a sweet story about a woman who fell in love with someone on an island in Greece one summer. She had to go back home but he promised to write to her so they could stay in touch.

What happened was the woman never received a letter from her summer love. What could have happened to him to prevent him from keeping in contact with here? She waited years but finally married and moved on with her life but she never forgot him.

After her husband dies, she travels to Greece to find her lost love to ask him why he never wrote to her. Maybe he died, or married and forgot her? She must find out and goes on this quest to solve the mystery. She hopes in her heart that he had a good reason to forget her like this.

This is a sweet short story that was given to me by this talented author. I have read many of her books and enjoyed her lovely romances set in the beautiful islands of Greece.

This is a mesmerizing story that is a re-telling of a Chinese tale. The author changes things a bit creating a story involving a young woman who is brought back to life by Barus who is a healer and necromancer. The healer is summoned to the castle to help the queen who is in danger during delivery. The baby dies along with the mother but Barus rescues the baby and takes her back to his home to bring her back to life.

The story is full of good against evil, danger at every turn, different people warring amongst themselves, the love between a father and daughter that transcends time and distance, and dragons who cause havoc wherever they go. Aster and Barus must flee when their lives are threatened by the king’s men who want control of the kingdom. The healer and his adopted daughter travel to safety but become separated. Aster finds shelter with her uncle who is a king in another kingdom until she is forced to return to her father’s castle to try to bring peace to the land between the warring peoples. 

She heals Teko, a man of the tribe who live in the forests and he becomes her friend and guardian, along with Joreh, the son of the man who is trying to kill her to take over her father’s kingdom. Joreh is torn between his feelings for Aster and his religious beliefs that what she does with her necromancy is evil.

There is plenty of danger, intrigue, magic and unexpected love that blooms between Aster and Joreh. A fascinating tale that will keep the reader glued until the satisfying ending!

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you for stopping by to read this post. I hope you will check out these entertaining books soon and leave reviews wherever you purchase the books. We indie authors appreciate your efforts to assist in spreading word about our work. Thank you for your kind support.

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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