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 May of 2024. Here are the 8 books I read and reviewed for May. 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 other books 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 will help you to decide what will be your next read.

It took a little while to get into the story but once it began to jell, it moved along. I did find it quite long and wasn’t sure how it would end or who the killer or killers were.

There were myriad characters and suspects and at times it got a little confusing about who were the bad guys. Baldacci does know how to keep the reader in suspense and keep ratcheting up the action and danger. There was plenty of both in this story.

This is the beginning of a series of issues that the main protagonist, Travis Devine, will be dealing with that will be putting his life into more danger and keeping the reader on tenterhooks.

No Safe Place is an intense thriller with a serial killer at large. There are so many suspects and twists and turns that my head is still spinning.

The main protagonist, Detective Lottie Parker, is in charge of the investigation into the possible murders of missing women who disappeared after taking a train. When more women go missing Lottie is forced to compare these cases with another one that happened ten years ago.

Lottie fears for her life and the safety of her children when she delves further into the investigation. It doesn’t help that her supervisor is antagonistic toward her and makes her life miserable questioning every she does.

This series is enjoyable while being gripping with heart-pounding intensity and many suspects that kept me guessing until the end. I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next book.

The Mapmaker’s Daughter is a beautiful story told in two timelines, the present of an antique map seller’s daughter and the past of a mapmaker’s daughter in 1600. The story intertwines with similarities between the two women.

Robyn is the daughter in the present century who had suffered a loss when her husband was lost at sea while Frieda in the past has also suffered from loss of her parents by warring factions. These two women meet through the discovery of a map drawn by Frieda.

When Robyn researches the history of this old map she uncovers not only Frieda’s struggles but also her own. Robyn discovers that she is stronger than she ever imagined.

This was a beautiful and unforgettable story rich in history and detail of these two women. It was an extraordinary read that I highly recommend.

Her Last Goodbye is book 2 of the Morgan Dane series. Atty Dane is a fearless woman who is a mother of three little girls. She takes on the toughest cases and goes above and beyond to help those who need her.

Morgan is enlisted, along with her private investigator, Lance Kruger, to find a mother of two small children who has disappeared while defending the distraught husband who is the prime suspect. She realizes that soon she is embroiled in a dangerous situation involving a serial killer who is now after her.

This was a non-stop thriller that involves a kidnapping, abuse and murder. It was difficult to read about the horrendous abuse of this unfortunate woman.

I enjoy this serious and the way the author takes you along for the journey through her entertaining storytelling.

Searching for Home is a sweet, romantic, and heartwarming story of first love and loss, finding one’s way and accepting change.

The two main protagonists, Meg Brennan and Luke Beckett, were once in love but were separated by outside factors that Meg does not want to accept. When Luke comes back into her life, she realizes how much she has missed since he left. But now her life is upside down with taking care of her sister’s triplets and her B&B after her sister abandoned both.

The author created a lovely story full of romance with likeable characters, especially the triplets who captured my heart from the moment they appeared in the story. It is so refreshing to read a clean romance without any of the language and situations that aways make me want to stop reading.

I highly recommend this beautiful story that was so touching and heartfelt. I look forward to reading more of this talented author’s work.

Sisters is an unforgettable read about siblings, relationships, how they get along and what can tear them apart. One lie changes the lives of this one family forever.

Sibling rivalry is a common occurrence and most things can be forgiven by a family but this one lie to cover up the death of a baby cannot be. These two sisters are close until one fateful day as the younger sister takes their baby brother for a walk, the older sister, trying to impress a boy, pushes the carriage that resulting in it rolling away from both girls causing the death of their brother.

The author has created a heart wrenching story about a family broken by mistakes that can’t be undone. She is known for creating the kind of stories that stay you readers for a long time.

I highly recommend this book!

Bones Don’t Lie is the third book in this series with Attorney Morgan Dane and PI Lance Kruger on another case. This time the case involves some bones that were found in Lance’s father’s car. His father was never found but bones were discovered inside the trunk of the car that were did not belong to his father.

Lance feels compelled to help solve this mystery and at the same time find his father who has been missing for twenty odd years. He wants to uncover the mystery not only for himself but also for his mother who has suffered from depression ever since. Along with the help of other supporting characters the two somehow survive the most dangerous situations.

This story was filled with multiple suspects as Morgan and Lance delve deeper into the mystery. When they get a little too close to the truth they find their lives and those they love in danger. There are twists and turns that keep the reader guessing while at the same that build the suspense.

This was an enjoyable read and series that is not only a mystery but also a romance between the two main protagonists. I look forward to the next book by this talented author of mystery and suspense.

The Secret Sister is a story about what one secret can do to a family. It is a tale of love and betrayal, heartache and acceptance.

One of the main protagonists, Sara Lewis, marries a man who is anything but kind and who has a mother who does not accept their marriage. She only accepts the son that the couple have. After her husband dies she meets a handsome Italian prisoner of war with whom she becomes smitten and marries after the war is over and he is a free man. He unfortunately dies years later leaving her with a daughter.

When this daughter is given a letter and map after her father’s death she vies to uncover the mystery that her father left her. What she finds is the secret he has been keeping for many years back in his homeland of Sicily. This secret threatens to undermine not only her life but the life of the other person involved.

This was an unforgettable and enjoyable story that tore at one’s heartstrings.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Come back again soon for more news about books, reviews and whatever else pops into my already crowded head.

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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