JEMSBOOKS

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 June of 2024. Here are the 9 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 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.

The Four Winds is an epic historical novel that takes the reader back to The Great Depression and a family who suffered through it all. This involves the greatest generation of all, for they were the strongest, most resilient and determined to make a life for themselves despite the dire circumstances of nature, other events, and heartache.

This was a tough book to read because it involved so much heartbreak as the author takes us through the daily life of this family and all their struggles. The main protagonist Elsa is a woman who has been unloved by her family, mistreated by her husband and not accepted by her daughter. All Elsa wants is to love and be loved, something that she has desperately needed all her life. She struggles to be a good wife, mother, and eventual daughter-in-law when she moves in with her in-laws after being ostracized by her parents when she realizes she is pregnant.

Elsa discovers that she is loved and needed by her mother- and father-in-law but not appreciated by her husband for what she is, a hard worker who is determined to make a good life for herself and her family. It was difficult to watch Elsa with her struggles and how she never gave up even after her husband abandoned her and their two children.

There is mention of how the immigrants from one state to another were mistreated and shunned by others, exploited by the cotton and fruit plantations, and forced to grovel and somehow survive reminiscent of some of the problems in our society today.

An unforgettable and epic read that I highly recommend. Be prepared to feel the heart wrenching despair of the characters told expertly through this amazing author’s prose.

Her Buried Bones is an interesting start to this mystery series. It is set in the Australian Outback with intriguing characters. The main protagonist is Jenny Williams who is a new constable to this opal mining town.

Jenny takes on this post to uncover the mystery of the disappearance of her aunt and cousin. This is a cold case that has been forgotten by the authorities which doesn’t stop Jenny from delving into the case file. She is pulled away from finding out anything that is helpful when some bones are discovered in an old mine.

The story takes off from there with plenty of suspects, danger, and corruption. Will she be able to solve this case and then get back to uncovering what happened to her relatives? I guess you will have to find out.

It was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more in this series with this intriguing character.

If She Dies is book 1 of a mystery, thriller trilogy that is quite suspenseful. The main protagonist, Tess Parker, is a woman who has lost a young child in a tragic car accident and her twin brother who is estranged. Her state of mind is anything but stable and her marriage is in jeopardy.

This is a gripping beginning to this trilogy that had me holding my breath, one minute feeling empathy for Tess while another minute angry at her for not trying to get her life together and try harder to work through her marriage to a man who was on her side and sympathetic to her even though he was odd at times.

Nothing is more tragic than the loss of a child as the author reminds us throughout the book. No need to do that, for I was heartsick over the thought of that. The surrounding characters are interesting and add to the suspense.

I avidly look forward to the next book and more about Tess and what happens next.

If She Wakes is the second in this mystery, thriller trilogy. The first book left off with more tragedy for Tess. The story continues now with more mystery involving her brother’s wife, Torrie and her infant son after the death of Tess’s brother from cancer.

Tess feels obligated to care for her nephew after a car crash involving her and Torrie that left her sister-in-law in a coma. Of course, Tess took Levi home with her and her husband so that he would be cared for until Torrie could recuperate.

Things get more complicated when two strangers come to call claiming to be related to Torrie. Tess is unaware that Torrie had any family. Can Tess trust these woman with Levi’s care? Will the death of her daughter continue to haunt her each time she looks at Levi? Will the person responsible for her daughter’s death be out of prison to come for her?

Tess finds herself involved more than she should be with the murderer’s family, a wife and daughter. She cannot stay away from watching them. The story gets tenser when more characters are introduced that could cause Tess more grief.

This story is so intense with the kind of character Tess is – unsettled, depressed, grief-stricken and nonsensical at times in her decision making. I feel badly for her poor husband who has no clue what is going on with her.

I look forward to reading the last book to see how the author concludes this story.

If She Lives is the third and final book in this thriller, mystery series. It was gripping throughout the story as were the other books.

This was an unforgettable series with so many crazy situations that Tess Parker has to maneuver her way through that my head is spinning. If there is something to go wrong for Tess it will. She is constantly tested in mind and spirit. Will she be able to figure a way to get out more of compromising situations and keep those who she cares for safe?

The author did a commendable job of keeping the mystery going around this depressed and unstable character, Tess Parker. Not only is Tess’s marriage in jeopardy but also her life is in constant danger at every turn as each new decision puts her deeper into trouble.

A satisfactory ending to an enjoyable mystery series.

All We Could Still Have is a touching and heartfelt story about loss and coming to terms afterwards. The main characters, Nikki and Kyle Sebastian, have suffered the tragic loss of multiple pregnancies. They must try to move forward and accept the inevitable that they cannot have children.

This story touches on a husband and wife who must give up trying to have a child through IVF after multiple times the process has not been successful. Nikki is finding it more difficult to stop and take a break as Kyle has suggested in order to save not only their sanity but their marriage.

This would be a difficult read for someone who has experienced a heart-wrenching loss as this. Some women can be happy without children while others cannot and have this deep-seated need to be a mother. I can’t imagine not having my own children.

This story touched me deeply as the couple try to forgive each other and get back together somehow. Something happens that will surprise them both.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all who have at times not appreciated their children as much as they should. It will make one feel more blessed than ever. I do.

The Edge, the next installment of 6:20 Man, is a story full of surprises, twists and turns with a memorable and likable character in ex-army Ranger Travis Devine.

I really enjoyed the 6:20 Man and grabbed this next book in the series to see what this intriguing character was going to do next. Travis has an analytical mind and can solve problems that others cannot. He is perfect to solve this mystery after a CIA agent is murdered. He stops at nothing to delve into the most dangerous situations.

It will be interesting to see where Baldacci takes this character in the next book and how much he will test his resilience and survival skills. A thoroughly enjoyable series.

Winter Garden was an emotional story of the relationships between daughters and their mother. It is told in two timelines, one from the present and the other from the mother’s past life. It is a heartbreaking read as the story unfolds with the mother’s recall of her life explaining the reason for her coldness and lack of love for her daughters.

The author created an extraordinary read that expands across time and place as she takes the reader on a journey they will never forget. The story told by the mother is related to a fairy tale which she has been sharing with her daughters at bedtime since they were young. She never tells the whole story until she is forced to after her husband’s sudden death leaving her to live with her daughters.

It is heartbreaking to see how the two sisters struggle with life and decision making after they lose their father who has been their support. He never explains why their mother is so distant and strange toward them. He keeps telling them that it is their mother’s story to tell.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story that swept me away to the past life of their mother, Vera. Like all books created by Kristin Hannah, this is an exceptional story that is full of interesting characters, fascinating storylines, and expertly written prose.

I highly recommend it!

The Price of Atonement is a well-written mystery, a ghostly presence and a man, Leviticus Sinclair along with his trusty sidekick, Wyatt Resnick, who acts as his companion/bodyguard. This is the first book in the Harbor Pointe Series that is an intriguing beginning.

Leviticus is tormented by the loss of his wife and brother and strives to put an end to his torment by helping others by sending ghosts back to the hereafter. They travel to the Harbor Pointe Inn to find a vengeful ghost who has been relentless in bothering the owners of the inn.

This story is a combination of detective, mystery, ghost story with a little added horror to the mix as Leviticus delves into the apparition and why it is haunting these people. When he does meet the ghost, he finds it is not an easy entity to return to the hereafter. It gives him more insight into his own anguish than he had expected.

An enjoyable start to this mystery/detective/ghostly series.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read my latest reads and reviews this month. I hope you will come back again soon for more. Please keep reviewing books to help spread word of the work of authors everywhere! Your efforts are welcomed and appreciated!

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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