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 2024. Here are the 7 books I read and reviewed for April. 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 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 still others are sweet, sensitive, and enjoyable reads that we soon will forget. But all 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 Spy Coast is an enjoyable read and a wonderful first installment of The Martini Club. I loved the characters who were varied, intriguing, and well-seasoned retirees.

The author takes the reader on a wild chase as the main protagonist, Maggie bird, a former spy tries to settle down in the village of Purity, Maine, away from her past which continues to haunt her. Her neighbors are her closest friends from her past life and support her even though she does not want them to endanger their lives for her when someone in Maggie’s past finds her and puts her life in danger once again.

Maggie cannot ignore the summons from a person who she once worked with but at the same time she fears that this person will only draw her in and bring back other dangerous individuals who will not leave until she is dead.

This was an intriguing story that kept me riveted. I look forward to the next book in the series and highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a mystery.

Otherwhere is an intense, psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat with each new development. The main protagonist, Joelle Lawton wants a simpler life without all the issues of a cheating husband, a job that threatens her safety and children who don’t respect her. When she is kidnapped she realizes that her life wasn’t so terrible after what she is now suffering through.

The main themes of this book are psychological abuse and human trafficking; unfortunately, two frightening issues prevalent in society today. Joelle suffers at the hands of an insane maniac.

I found this to be a disturbing and depressing story but could not stop reading until I found how what would happen to Joelle. it must have been difficult for the author to write about these subjects without feeling depressed.

I still enjoyed the story but was relieved when I finished it.

One Summer is a different kind of genre for Baldacci. I was swept away by the way he wrote about love in such a beautiful and moving way, evidence that there are many layers to his writing talent. I felt as if I was reading a novel by Nicholas Sparks.

It was an emotional and touching story that brought me to tears repeatedly throughout the book. This is definitely a book designed for women. That is probably why others did not like it. I, for one, was uplifted by how articulate Baldacci was about family, love and emotions.

It was refreshing to read about love, family, and all the problems and struggles that happen in life and how a family overcomes these moments and somehow struggles to survive as long as there is love, for love can triumph in the end.

I highly recommend this beautiful story!

The Exchange follows The Firm which was a popular book at the time. It’s been awhile since and a hard act to follow even though this story did hold my attention until completion.

This book focuses on lawyers and all the wheeling and dealing they do in their everyday world. The main protagonists, Mitch and Abbey, the two characters who are in the first book, carry the story along when a female lawyer is kidnapped from the same firm. Mitch’s job is to do everything he can to get her back. Abbey is pulled into this plan by the kidnappers, much to the dismay of Mitch.

There is danger for everyone involved, and plenty of violence and deaths surround the situation. Money is behind it all and Mitch must work some miracles in order to get it in time.

This was an interesting story but I did enjoy the first one more.

The House of Wolves is a mystery involving the wolf family whose business is football with all the problems that come with it. When the patriarch Joe Wolf dies he leaves his football team and business to his daughter instead of his three sons. This causes dissension amongst his offspring that could lead to death.

There are many suspects in this mystery that could possibly be behind the problems that keep cropping up to deter the new owner of the team, Jenny Wolf. It seems that there are others who do not want her to succeed in managing the team and will do anything to ensure that she fails. When one of her brothers dies, she feels that she is without any support and that no one can be trusted.

A different genre for Patterson but one that Lupica knows well. This was an interesting story even though the ending was a little flat but the strong female protagonist is what drove the story forward and kept my interest.

The Girls on Chalk Hill is a shocking thriller of a mystery with Detective Lexi Bennett at the helm of a horrific murder investigation involving a serial killer.

Lexi has had a great loss in her life, her triplet sister, and can sympathize with the family who have suffered a double loss losing two of their daughters, also triplets, leaving one still missing. Lexi cannot rest until she finds the missing girl and puts the murderer behind bars, for she believes he may be the one who also kidnapped her and her sisters, killing one of her sisters.

This is a gripping and unforgettable story that I could not put down. This is the first book in this series. I avidly look forward to the next book by this creative and talented author.

Windflower is back again in this new addition to the Winston Windflower Mysteries. Reading this series is like taking a deep cleansing breath and feeling relaxed and happy while visiting with Windflower and his family and workmates.

The Sargent is on a new case and pulled into his former position as his supervisor sees the need for Windflower’s expertise in solving crimes and catching the perpetrators in his calm and polished manner. He and Tizzard, his former employee, work together to bring some closure to drug problems and murders that are linked.

I love the food and recipes that Windflower uses throughout the book along with the different quotes of famous writers that added meaning and substance to each scene.

Mike Martin created another enjoyable book in this Windflower Mystery Series.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please remember to post reviews of books you love or not. We authors thank you and appreciate your efforts to spread word about our work.

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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