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GIVEAWAY: One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

In her most emotionally charged novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf explores the unspoken events that shape a community, the ties between parents and their children and how the fragile normalcy of our everyday life is so easily shattered.

In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside the school, the town of Broken Branch watches and waits.

Officer Meg Barrett holds the responsibility for the town’s children in her hands. Will Thwaite, reluctantly entrusted with the care of his two grandchildren by the daughter who left home years earlier, stands by helplessly and wonders if he has failed his child again. Trapped in her classroom, Evelyn Oliver watches for an opportunity to rescue the children in her care. And thirteen-year-old Augie Baker, already struggling with the aftermath of a terrible accident that has has brought her to Broken Branch, will risk her own safety to protect her little brother.

As tension mounts with each passing minute, the hidden fears and grudges of the small town are revealed as the people of Broken Branch race to uncover the identity of the stranger who holds their children hostage.

Died on the Vine by Joyce Harmon

Died on the Vine by Joyce Harmon follows Cissy Rayborn, tech writer and ammateur mystery sleuth, and her retired husband Jack. The two cross paths with Obadiah Winslow, and he informs Cissy that Jimmy, her first husband who was supposedly shot down and killed in Vietnam, actually survived the crash and is still alive and is currently being held prisoner in a Vietnamese prison. Cissy begins to wonder if he is telling the truth, but before she really even has a chance to question him further, she finds him dead on their property, stabbed by pruning shears. Who could of possibly done it? Could it be her current husband Jack in hopes of silencing the truth? Or, was it someone else? What will Cissy do and what will she believe?

I haven’t read a ton of mystery novels over the years, but I was pretty excited when I read the synopsis for Joyce Harmon’s book. The book was light and fun, and the mystery added a fun suspenseful twist to the plot. I really enjoyed the characters and really enjoyed the dynamic between Cissy, Julie, and Mary and thought they added a lot of spunk to the novel. Overall, very enjoyable. I was entertained throughout and surprised by the suspenseful ending. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light hearted mystery with some heart.

[Rating: 4/5]

On Tour: Kat Fight by Dina Silver

Dina will be on tour July 16-August 6 with her novel Kat Fight Readers everywhere will revel in this sharp-witted, well-meaning whirlwind in author Dina…

On Tour: Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons by Denise Grover …

Denise will be on tour July 16-August 6 with her novel Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she…

Blog Tour Sign Up: Sex, Lies & Hot Tubs by Elissa …

If a woman tries to preserve a marriage that has been damaged by infidelity, is she heroic or is she delusional? How many times does her husband have to cheat before she calls it quits? How many times does he have to get caught?

Meet Ellen Dunwell, doting wife, loving mother, high school teacher extaordinaire. She’s worried that her husband, the respected Dr.
Jeffrey Dunwell, wonderful father, great lover, is having another affair. As if that’s not bad enough, her friends don’t understand her, her neighbor’s son is a Peeping Tom, and her angst-ridden teenage daughter is stashing pot in her room and dating a control freak. When Jeffrey suddenly disappears, Ellen nearly slips over the edge.
Instead, she pulls herself together and sets out on a mission to find him—only to get caught up in a web of intrigue and danger, where nothing is as it seems and the stakes are her life.

One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

Heather Gudenkauf leaped onto my list of Favorite Authors when I read These Things Hidden. I was thrilled when I was offered an ARC of her latest novel, One Breath Away, and was not disappointed. Once I started reading there was no stopping. A fast-moving, gripping tale that literally had me holding my breath, this is worthy of five full stars.
The novel follows the perspectives from five key players – Meg Barrett, Will Thwaite, Evelyn Oliver, Holly and her daughter Augie. Meg is on the police force in the small town of Broken Branch, Iowa, and is shocked when reports go out that a gunman is in the only school in town – housing essentially all of Broken Branch’s youth. Will Thwaite receives word of the gunmen and instantly worries about his two grandchildren who are in the school – Augie and her little brother P.J. Mrs. Oliver, a long-standing teacher, is trying to keep calm for her students with the gunman in her room. Can she – and her students- make it alive? And Holly, mother to Augie and P.J. lies in a hospital room miles away in Revelation, Arizona, recovering from a serious burn accident. Her mother, Will’s wife, is by her side, and the women are terrified when the national news shows their small town of Broken Branch being paralyzed by a man with a gun. Who is the crazed gunman – and how many will escape his murderous plan?
Loved this book! It was so fascinating to watch all the characters come together, and I seriously had no clue until the very end who was in the school with a gun. I could feel my eyes get wide when the identity was revealed. I also really enjoy that Gudenkauf is actually from my hometown – Dubuque, Iowa – and the book mentions a few towns that I know. Broken Branch is fictional, but there’s just something about reading the towns of Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, that I find really intriguing. Also bits and pieces of landmarks that make me thing – yeah, I know that! – are interesting too. But back to the book – there was always just enough information to keep the plot moving and keep me wondering how it would all come together. A fabulous read, and one not to miss!
[Rating: 5]

The Last Resort by Malena Lott

The Last Resort by Malena Lott brings together the cast of characters from her previous novels. Ramona and Rachel (Dating da Vinci), Taylor (The Stork Reality), Macy (Fixer Upper), Georgia (Life’s a Beach) and get introduced to Kelly (Something New- Fall 2012) to a beautiful beach side paradise in Maui. At a mojo conference, we catch up with all of the women and see what has happened since we last saw them in their previousbooks. Rachel’s is now famous with a New York Times bestseller with her her fitness books, TV show and as a host of these “mojo” conferences. Ramona finally gets a break from her two boys and hopes to get spend some time with her sister, but really is secretly working out the kinks of her heart and wondering if she is ready to make the commitment to her boyfriend. Taylor’s ad agency in Texas is flourishing, and with a two year old and a booming business, she can’t seem to catch a moment for herself, so she is in dire need of a break whilst secretly hoping to learn from the other attendees the secret to managing it all and not going crazy. Kelly feels like her biological clock is closing in on her since her boyfriend John moved out, crushing her hopes for a marriage and a baby. Macy’s life is a lot slower since her days in the middle of a political scandal back in Atlanta, now living in Oklahoma and owner of a remodeling businesses, she is on the brink of national attention and is hesitant to be in the spotlight again. And finally, Georgia still dealing with her broken heart and hoping to be able to pick up the pieces. With all six women on the verge of a personal or professional crossroads, things get interesting and they get honest and real. But the real question is, will they all be able to find their “mojo” before heading back to their respective lives?

Heartfelt and moving, the quick paced novella by Malena Lott, is exactly what one hopes for in a beach read. I absolutely adored catching up with all of the previous characters from Lott’s previous novels and although I had only read one book by her before, you are quickly caught up on what you may have previously missed. All of the women are each dealing with a crisis of their own, and with each of them being so varied, I think all women will find that they can relate to at least one … if not all of their problems. I read The Last Resort in one sitting and was moved at the end of the book. Lott uses her signature writing style to make you feel right at with all of the ladies. I highly recommend this book for any gals looking for a quick, fun time. I was sad to see it come and go so quickly.

[Rating: 5/5]

Future Tour: Rum Punch Regrets by Anne Kemp

Anne will be on tour August 13- September 3 with her chick lit novel Rum Punch Regrets In just a few short weeks, thirty something…

Interview with Sophie King

Thank you to Sophie King for stopping by CLP with an interview! Be sure to check out her latest – the short story collection titled…