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 January of 2026. Here are the 10 books I read and reviewed for January. 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 your breath 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.

Her Perfect Crime is a thriller with plenty of robberies, bloody savagery, and murder. Are they all connected? The main character is Blake Wilder, FBI Agent, who has to face each of these horrific crimes and try to solve them along with her sidekick, Astra and two other agents who are talented in technology. The team works together to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Blake must overcome her own torments while she is dealing with each of her cases. Her parents were killed and her sister was taken and is still missing for many years now. Her personal life is affected by all this and she struggles to find peace and love. This is a continuing series with these strong characters who keep the story flowing and gripping.

Dream a Little Dream is a thriller with plenty of blood, gore, and an underlying love story with tones of the paranormal.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat, cringing as the serial killer commits his horrendous crimes over and over again. I did enjoy more the love story and the paranormal aspects of the tale.

If you are looking for an edge of the seat thriller, this is the one for you! It is definitely memorable!

The Girl in the Valley is the start of a gripping mystery series with a strong main female protagonist, Zoe, who is a writer for a large newspaper. She returns to her hometown to recuperate after a frightening experience in a car accident.

What she discovers in her hometown is not what she expected. She gets involved in the mysterious deaths of pets and other wild animals in the area. She takes on a position with the local newspaper just to keep busy and out of boredom.

There is an underlying possible love interest with a local vet she knows from her high school years. He gets involved with her to solve the mystery. What Zoe doesn’t realize is that her never-give-up attitude can get her into a mess of trouble.

This is a wonderful beginning to this mystery series. I look forward to the next book in this series.

When in Rome was an intriguing mystery with an addition of some time traveling by the main protagonist. The narrator did a wonderful job of adding emotion and different voices to carry the story forward in a fascinating way. This is the first book I have ready by this author.

The author created a multitude of different characters that made for an interesting read. The main character is a time traveler who has a knack of solving crimes after what she learns from the past. She uses her knowledge in a productive way. This is book 2 of a series of mysteries with Brooke and Abby.

Even though I did not read book 1 I felt comfortable and adjusted to the characters and the writing style of the author. It was an enjoyable read made even more so by the incredible narrator.
I won a copy of this audiobook from the author.

My Ode to Newfoundland is a book of poetry dedicated to the author’s memories of this beautiful land where he once lived. There are eight chapters of poems of different places in NewFoundland.

The poetry shows the love and fondness of this land by the author. They display his eloquence in the verses, the deep feelings in the memories that he has held close, and his talent for putting his feelings into beautiful poems. 

After reading these poems I feel as if I know how it must be to live in this beautiful land.

Eerie Basin, a short story, is a frightening and disturbing horror that gave me the creeps. It kept me on edge. It should not be read in the dark of night.

I did find it a little confusing as to the list of characters who were dispersed throughout in a mixed way.

Both Things Are True is a love story that goes back and forth between a couple who love fiercely but cannot carry on a dialogue without an argument. They are hot one minute and cold the next.

The main protagonists are locked in a love/hate relationship and no matter what happens they are always at odds with each other. Will they ever get it all together and come to terms that they love one another?

This was an emotional story that had so many ups and downs that I felt each upheaval they experienced. I enjoyed it just the same and loved the ending.

When in Rome was an intriguing mystery with an addition of some time traveling by the main protagonist. The narrator did a wonderful job of adding emotion and different voices to carry the story forward in a fascinating way. This is the first book I have ready by this author.

The author created a multitude of different characters that made for an interesting read. The main character is a time traveler who has a knack of solving crimes after what she learns from the past. She uses her knowledge in a productive way. This is book 2 of a series of mysteries with Brooke and Abby.

Her First Mistake is the first book in this thriller/mystery series. The main character, Noelle Marshall, is a strong and resilient character. The story is told in timelines present and past and jumps back and forth throughout the story. The author describes the background of the main character, how she became a detective, and sets the stage for the rest of the books in this series.

There was plenty of mystery, suspense and a surprise twist at the end of the story that I didn’t predict. This was an interesting start to a mystery series. I look forward to more books in this series with this intriguing character.

Starting Over is the eighth book in the Hart’s Ridge Series involving the Gray family showcasing their strength and resilience in difficult times. Each book deals with struggles that the family must overcome. Taylor is on another case involving a kidnapping. This person kidnapped is the wife of her partner in the precinct.

While she is occupied on this case, her family is dealing with their own issues. Taylor’s love interest is waiting to hear if he is the father of the teen who is presently staying with them while her sisters are trying to work out some issues with their love lives.

This series is full of family issues, emotions and secrets that threaten to undermine their lives. A thoroughly enjoyable series with strong characters and gripping storylines.

The Forgetting is a story full of drama, familial situations, and some twists and turns as the story progresses. It begins slowly and builds up as the two women share their unhappy marriages and how they have become dependent upon their spouses who are controlling and psychologically abusive.

What happens with the two women is a surprise that I wasn’t expecting at nearly the end of the book. I did find it frustrating to witness how the women allowed their husbands to control them and not question everything they were told to say and do. It was sad to think that some women would be in such a horrible marriage and not see a way out.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please come back again soon. There is always something brewing at JemsBooks.

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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