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 2026. Here are the 7 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 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.

I Came Back for You is a mystery, suspense and heartbreaking story of loss of the main protagonist’s daughter. Bree Winter, mother of the murdered woman, is torn between believing that the murderer was caught until this individual claims on his deathbed that he did not kill this woman’s daughter. Now Bree must discover who really did kill her daughter. With her ex-husband’s assistance they search for the possible suspects.

What Bree doesn’t realize is she is coming too close to the truth and her interference in the police investigation just may get her killed. She continues to push forward and talk to all characters that were possibly involved with her daughter in spite of the danger this entails. She also has to deal with her ex-husband and his unexpected romantic advances toward her. She must fight her feelings and remember that she is in love with a wonderful man who is waiting for her to return to him in South America. Will she be able to do this?

This was an intriguing story that kept me turning pages and wondering who really did kill Melanie.

Leave it Up to Love is a short story that is a story within a story. One part is about a famous author who now has writer’s block since her husband died. She can’t concentrate since she lost her muse and has about given up ever writing another story again. The second part is about another author who is struggling to find her way with her work to be discovered.

The story comes together when the son of the famous author searches for another author who is willing to be a ghostwriter for his mother. The unknown author takes the job, hesitant at first to losing her identity but accepts because this famous author is her favorite writer.

When the two begin to collaborate, they find through several disagreements that their styles manage to flow. The son of the famous author is the one who brought these two authors together in order to help his mother find her way back to the one thing she loves to do. He has lost himself also since his father’s death. Will he find his way back to discovering love and living again?

This story, though short, had interesting characters that were defined enough for this reader to become engaged in the outcome of their collaboration. An enjoyable short read.

Home Again is predictable but sweet, engaging, and endearing about second chances in life, and never giving up even if you don’t think you can make it. The characters are well defined, likable and memorable.

This is a touching story of a first love and how one can find love again after forgiveness. Also, loving more than one person at a time in a different way is not impossible as this main protagonist, Madelaine realizes. She loves one man who abandons her after he realizes that she is pregnant at sixteen. He wants to live his life and leaves to become a famous actor who lives a wild life that causes his life to be in danger. What he discovers when he knows that he may die is heartfelt.

A memorable story that is a tear-jerker by this incomparable writer who knows how to deliver an enjoyable tale.

What Tomorrow Will Be is a moving, emotional story filled with heartache. It is a story of first love, second chances at love, and tragedy that makes the main character even stronger than she thought possible.

The main protagonist, Sienna, finds it difficult to go on after losing the love of her life in a tragic accident. She survives this horrendous accident but somehow finds the strength and courage to go on with her life. She eventually finds love again but is she complete? Will anyone ever compare to her first love?

This story is filled with emotion and unfortunate accidents that plague Sienna. It’s amazing that she somehow keeps coming back from the roller coaster of problems. It is a memorable story by the queen of emotionally-filled stories.

Where the Wind Blows is a lovely story of finding love in an unexpected way when a man, Chase, comes to deliver news to a woman, Jesse, that her husband has died. The woman is in the process of adopting a little girl. Chase never wanted to stay but finds himself drawn to Jesse and when he meets the little girl who captures his heart. Jesse pretends that Chase is her husband in order for the adoption to go through. They never expect to feel an attraction to one another.

A beautifully told story that captures the heart and has the reader cheering Chase on as he tries to help Jesse.

The Chosen Girl is a mystery thriller that is creepy and full of surprises. The main character follows a serial killer to Storyville to try to capture him. Strange things begin to happen and she is drawn into the mystery.

This was not Elle Gray’s best story but I read it to the end and things came together after a slow start.

Magic Hour is a beautifully told story about a little girl with a wolf cub who comes out of the woods one day to civilization. The main characters, Dr. Julia Cates, a psychiatrist, her sister, Ellie who is the police chief, take the little girl home to care for her. Julia has had a traumatic case before in her life and wants to succeed with this little wild child who doesn’t speak and acts like the wolf that she carried.

This is an emotionally charged story of how the child, now known as Alice, learns how to be human again with the aid of Julia. No one comes forward to claim this lost child and the story chronicles how the child is learning and acclimating to her new life. I felt the emotions Alice felt and how difficult it was for her to adjust and forget about what happened to her during her young life.

Kristin Hannah does it again with this unforgettable story of love being strong enough to overcome the most difficult circumstances. An unforgettable story that touches the heartstrings.

I highly recommend this emotional tale.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for your continued support. Please come back again soon for there is alway 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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