"One Breath Away" by Heather Gudenkauf

Her Best Yet!

In One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf, a lone gunman takes over a small classroom holding the teacher and pupils hostage.  What made this book so good in my opinion is that it is told by five people as the novel is ongoing.  I got to know their thought and background to understand what led up to this point.  The writing is superb.  If you want riveting, this is it!  I could hardly put it down and kept saying how good it was while reading it.  Oh, and good luck trying to figure out who the gunman is—I was completely surprised!  To sum it up, it doesn’t get any better than this—don’t let this one get past you! 
(Gerard's review, rating 5 stars)

One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf is really, really good!  It is fast-paced and realistic contemporary fiction with characters that are very believable.  It grabbed my attention right from the start and never let me go!  The hostage situation at the small school in a fictional small town in Iowa is described so well, I could feel what the characters were feeling.  It kept me guessing who the gunman was right until he was revealed.  I’m sure because this story is told from five different people, there is at least one that you will identify with.  For me, I identified with the teacher—determined to protect her students from the gunman while thinking about her husband.  The teen girl’s unwavering desire to protect her brother was both touching and heartwarming.  It shows how a crisis can bring families closer.    I highly recommend One Breath Away—it even has a dog in it!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

Other books we've read by this Heather Gudenkauf:
These Things Hidden
Weight of Silence

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Roam" by Alan Lazar is Heartwarming

Talk about not being able to put a book down; I finished this book in one day (and I work full time).  Yes, to me it's that good!  ROAM by Alan Lazar is about a dog named Nelson who has a very nice home with a loving owner named Katey (his first owner).  One day the gate is left open and Nelson just wants to go exploring.  What a heartwarming book this is!  Nelson goes and finds different places and meets new people.  It's a great tale!  If you enjoyed the "Art of Racing" I think you will love this book.  I cried over this book like I cried over "Dewey, the Library Cat" but I loved both these books.  This is my favorite read for this month so far.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

We are thankful for our pets!

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!  Hope you will stop by my other blog and read about My Favorite Thanksgiving. (An excerpt from "My Funny Dad, Harry," the book I wrote in memory of my dad.)--Karen

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Never Knowing" by Chevy Stevens is GREAT! (Updated)

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens kept me turning pages and not wanting to put this down.  It is a suspenseful story about an adopted woman, Sara, who tells her psychiatrist about finding her biological parents.  Sara is a single mom who refinishes furniture, has a 6-yr.-old daughter and lives with her fiancee, Evan.  Neither Sara’s mother nor father are at all what she had hoped for or expected.  Her mother, a college professor, was not happy she tracked her down at all and then Sara found out her biological father is a serial killer still on the loose!  Her world gets crazy when he calls her and says he’d like to get to know her.  He never knew he had a daughter!  This book is gripping, emotional and puzzling.  I finished it in just two days and think it would be a great read for a book club.  I highly recommend it!
(Karen's review 8/22/11)

Chevy Stevens has done it again.  Just when I thought she couldn't do better than Still Missing along comes Never Knowing.  I loved her first book but think this one is actually way better!  There is lots of action and once I started it, I did not want to put it down.  I thought the ending was incredible!  I give this book a triple WOW factor--it's that good!  For sure this will be my book of the month and possibly my best book of this year!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? Feel free to share your link to your review in the comments.

Related Post:  See also a different opinion by Julie of Knitting and Sundries who is having a giveaway for "Never Knowing" through Sept. 10.

(Be sure to enter our audio book giveaway for IRON HOUSE by John Hart.  Just comment on any of our blogs between Aug. 20 and Aug. 30.) 

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Turn Of Mind" by Alice LaPlante

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante is told by Dr. Jennifer White, who has Dementia, where it is hard to remember and recognize people.  Unfortunately, in reality a lot of people suffer from this. 

In Turn of Mind, Jennifer may or may not have killed her long-time friend and neighbor.  She also has to deal with her two grown children who have their own agenda, plus a caregiver who is anything but.  I enjoyed reading this right from the start and the incredible ending made this a "two WOW" book for me! 

If you are looking for a beach read or light reading, this is not it.  However, if you are looking for a page turner and something you will remember, you just found it! 
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Faith" by Jennifer Haigh is a Must Read!

WOW! Double Wow!  Faith by Jennifer Haigh is good!  It is told by a sister who has two brothers.  One brother is a priest, accused of molesting a child.  I loved this book, especially enjoyed the family.  A loving family, this is not.  Brother vs. brother, sister vs. brother, husband vs. wife made for great reading.  The last 75 pages are some of the best pages you will read all year!  It was impossible to put down!  The ending is a shocker!  I highly recommend you put this on your TBR list--it's SO GOOD!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Glimpse" by Carol Lynch Williams

WOW! Double WOW!! Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williamsis an awesome read about two sisters, Lizzie and Hope, who live with their mom. One day Lizzie tries to kill herself but doesn't go through with it and is taken to a mental hospital. Hope cannot figure out why and when Lizzie tells her to be careful, she is really confused. One day Hope finds out by listening to her mom talking to Lizzie about a terrible secret they share. The suspense about this secret builds all the way through! It is a hard book to put down. This is the third book I read by Carol Lynch Williams and is by far her best!  It has a super ending too! I'm telling you to read this book, it is fantastic!

Glimpse is one of the most unusual books I have ever read because the whole bookiis written in free verse!
(Gerard's review)
Check out my teaser for this one.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at

the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Black Hearts" by Jim Frederick is An Outstanding Read!

Black Hearts by Jim Frederick is an outstanding read!  I loved it!  It is the story of 1st platoon, a group of men known as the “Black Heart” brigade, and what led up to the horrific murder of an Iraqi family and the rape and subsequent burning to death of their daughter by members of this group.  However, there are lots of other true stories too.  The writing is so good I felt like I was right there with them!  I really got to know better what our soldiers and the people who lead them go through.  This is for sure my book of the month and it has a good chance of making my top ten books of this year!  If you really want to know what our troops face day-to-day, read this book!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help Canine Lifeline (a dog rescue organization that saved our dog, Abby) by leaving a comment on any of our blogs in March. We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month.

"Secrets To The Grave" by Tami Hoag is FANTASTIC! (Updated 2/25/11)

What a fantastic sequel to Deeper Than The Dead.  Secrets To The Grave by Tami Hoag is a real page turner.  I couldn't put it down!  It starts off with a woman found brutally killed.  If you think you know who the killer is, think again because you don’t.  I loved all the many twists and turns in this.  Deeper Than The Dead was one of my top books from last year and now Secrets To The Grave is one of my top books of this year.  I sure hope there is a third book.  This is about as good as it gets!
(Gerard's review)

Check out my teaser from this book.

UPDATED 2/25/11:  (Karen's review)

Secrets To The Grave by Tami Hoag is a psychological thriller with complicated crazy characters that will keep you guessing what is up with them.  It begins with a brutal murder witnessed by only a 4-yr. old girl and brings the reader along a bumpy road as the detectives try to figure out who killed Marissa and why. 

I liked Anne, the heroine who was married to Vince, the former FBI special agent brought in to assist with the case.  This book is full of surprises and suspense.  Secrets to The Grave is a real page turner that got my interest right from the start and just kept getting better as it went along.  I wasn’t able to guess who the killer was for sure until almost the end.  I highly recommend this book if you want a good murder mystery.

visit Tami's website at www.tamihoag.com 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Boy In The Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne

Don't Miss This One!  (100 stars)
I could have The Boy In The Striped Pajamas in just one day!  This book is about a 9-yr-old boy named Bruno whose father becomes the commandant of a Nazi death camp for Jews.  Bruno becomes friends with one of the Jewish boys there named Shmuel.  What a powerful story this is!!  The ending really shook me to the core.  It was also made into a move.  Here is the link to view clips: 

(Gerard's review 3/20/09)

This is a sad story about two lonely boys who befriend each other through a fence of a concentration camp. It is told from Bruno's (the Commandant's son) perspective which is very innocent in contrast to the awfulness of the Holocaust. Both boys are the same age but one lives very well and the other is in a death camp. It shows how unfair life is and has a shocking ending, yet Bruno's words that Shmuel is now his best friend for life came true. Bruno was an adventurous boy who was curious what life was like on the other side of the fence. He loved his father and knew that it couldn't be too bad if his father was in charge. I can't express all that this book encompasses. It's a great book that you will long remember.
(Karen's review 3/20/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Dewey, The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched The World" by Vicki Myron

I give Dewey, The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched The World as many stars as in the sky!  This is one worth buying! My favorite book of the year!
Here are 4 things about this book:

1)  You will LOVE this book.
2)  You will not want to put it down.
3)  You will cry a lot!
4)  You will never forget it!

That being said, this is a wonderful book. I plan to get this book to have and read it again and again!!  This book will touch you like it did me.  What a special cat Dewey was and wonderful person Vicki is.  Thanks for telling the story, Vicki.  I wish I could have met Dewey and pet him!!  Treasure and enjoy this book!!
(Gerard's Review 10/08)

Dewey, The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched The World by Vicki Myron is a true story about the love between a lady and the cat she found in the library book drop box that she let live in the library. It was a very friendly, affectionate, energetic cat who became famous and who greeted the patrons and laid in their laps. It reminded me of my relationship with my cats and how special they are. The end as he aged reminded me of our Moe cat. I think anyone who likes cats would enjoy reading this book.
(Karen's review 10/08)

Check out our Spooktacular Giveaway but hurry--Entries close at 12:30 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2010.


Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult

Can't Put It Down--Jodi Classic (100 stars!) First off, for anyone who has Osteogenesis imperfecta (O.I.) and their families and friends, my prayers and thoughts are with you.  As for Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult, I loved it!!  This is a hard-to-put-down book.  I went back and forth with how I felt about the people in this book.  So many twists and turns and story lines everywhere.  It's just awesome!!!!  It left me wanting more, and then, if that's not enough, the last 50 or so pages were even better!!  I finished it three days sooner than I expected I would.  Nineteen Minutes is the standard I judge Jodi's books by because I really liked it a lot! That was one awesome book and this matches it.  I cried at the end, hated the ending!!!  Read this book, you will never forget it!
(Gerard's review 5/09)

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult is about a family who has a baby girl, Willow, born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and each member has a different way of protecting the girl.  OI is a rare bone disease where the slightest bump can cause factures.  In an effort to get more money to pay for her care and special needs, the mother sues her best friend who also the mother’s ob-gyn.  This book is very thought provoking and shows how far a mother will go to help her daughter.  It gives insight into how this disease can affect the entire family and really all who know the person.  The book deals with the issue of is that life worth living or would it have been better if the girl was never born.  It ended very differently from what I expected and held my attention, but not one of my favorite Picoult books.
(Karen's review 5/09)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"When The Game Was Ours" by Jackie MacMullan

This is a slam dunk winner!  (500 stars)
When The Game Was Ours by Jackie MacMullan follows the lives and basketball careers of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.  I did not expect this book to be this good.  It's awesome!  There is lots of inside stuff about Bird and Magic that I did not know and lots and lots of opinions from Bird and Magic and the players and coaches with whom they had contact!  Very interesting!  I really encourage you to read this book if you like basketball.  It's one of the best sports books I've ever read!
(Gerard's review 11/14/09)

"Beautiful Child" by Torey Hayden

WOW! A really GREAT BOOK! My favorite of her books. Cried at the end.

In Beautiful Child Torey Hayden shares about her challenging special ed class and how the teacher struggled throughout the year and turned it around. Venus was the most challenging of all because had very serious abuse in the home and was mostly unresponsive except when attacking other kids when they accidentally bumped her. Finally got the help she needed after the hospital treated her for hypothermia, had to amputate her toes, and found 22 broken bones that had healed or were in various stages of healing. 

It also revealed the struggle Torey had with her aide who was totally on a different page philosophically and really undermined what she was trying to do.
Some of the things teacher did that worked was behavior modification with traffic lights, singing between activities or to refocus kids when they started fighting, closed eye journey, special one-on-one time at recess with Venus —held her on her lap.
(Karen's review 9/05)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

I loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I finished it in just two days it was so hard to put down.  Even when I wasn’t reading it, I still was thinking about it.  This is the first book in the series and I am hooked!  It takes place in a fictional country called Panem that the Capitol controls which is divided into districts based on industry.  Just to make sure everyone realizes the Capitol is in control, they run annual Hunger Games where they force two teens from each district to enter a competition to fight to the death in a place that the game makers pick on live TV. 

Katniss is the main character, a 16-yr-old girl who is a good hunter and who volunteers to take your younger sister’s place.  The boy from her district that is also chosen has a long-time crush on her but she does not realize it until he mentions it in his interview.  Katniss struggles with not only surviving the game, but also with friendships and her feelings for Peeta, her admirer and her friend Gale, the boy she hunted with before having to leave for the hunger games. 

There is humor in the book as well because Peeta and Katniss both have a rebellious attitude toward the Capitol and try not to let the game change them.  I especially liked when they went through their training for the show and Katniss outscored everyone by impressing the gamemakers with her talent and spunk.  

This book is awesome!  This is a must read if you like psychological thrillers and adventure.  This is one of my all-time favorite books and I look forward to reading the rest of series!  If you like the TV show, Survivor, you will love The Hunger Games since there are some similarities.
(Karen's review)

Are you kidding me?  one of the best books I ever read was Pack of Two but this book is it's equal!  What an awesome book!  The Hunger Games is about a young teen girl who takes the place of her younger sister in the fight to the death annual TV show.  I could not put this book down and I hear the second book in this series, Catching Fire is even better!  Wow!  I can't wait to read it too! (100 stars)
 (Gerard's review)




Reviews by Other Blogers:
For What It's Worth: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire
Bloggin' 'bout Books: The Hunger Games Will Eat You Up and Spit You Out Only After Taking You On An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Thrill Ride

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Pack of Two" by Caroline Knapp

Pack of Two, The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp--MUST READ BOOK!  100 STARS!

Every week our local paper has a column written by a woman who calls herself the “Dog Lady.”  In answering a question, she said the best book she ever read describing a relationship between a dog and a person was this book.  Boy, was she right!  I’ve read over 50 books this year so far and I rank this book as THE BEST!  This is just a wonderful book!  If you have ever had a dog, have a dog, or thinking about getting a dog, you have to read this book.  It’s funny, sad and just so good!

It’s the kind of book I wish I owned instead of just a library book.  I could read it again and again!  I wish I could have walked my dog with Caroline.  When Caroline passed on, her dog was right there with her.  Rest in peace, Caroline, and thanks for this book.  I loved it!!
(Gerard's review 12/18/09)


I read this book too just because Gerard liked it so much but I really didn't care for it.  There was very little about the dog, mostly about the owner's feelings and relationships in her life.  A lot of it was short snippets about how other dog owners view their dogs as well. 

I did agree with her though about how having a dog builds bridges to people.  When you walk your dog you meet other dog owners who are usually friendly and it seems that neighbors tend to talk to us more when we walk down the street with our dog. I bought this one for Gerard since he loved it so much.
Karen's Opinion 12/26/09):

Now you have to read it and decide for yourself.

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Horse Soldiers" by Doug Stanton

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton was 700 pages in a large print book and I hated to see it end.  It's a great book!  This is going to be the BEST BOOK I read all year!  I just wish this could be made into a movie.  

It is an amazing story of a group of men who are special forces who, after 911, go to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.  I don't want to tell you too much because I want you to read this book!  

You will be proud to be an American after you read this.  Mr. Stanton, thank you for putting this story in print--fabulous job!  I also thank the men of the special forces in this book for your service!  God Bless!  I give this one 700 stars!

(Gerard's review 8/14/09)

Nubs, The True Story Of A Mutt, A Marine & A Miracle by Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery, Kirby Larson

Nubs, The True Story Of A Mutt, A Marine & A Miracle by Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery, Kirby Larson is an amazing true story about the persistence of a war dog who finally made it out of Iraq and found a home in California.  The Marine who helped him is the one who wrote the book and although parts are very sad, it has a very happy ending!  I loved the colorful pictures throughout the book too.  It only takes about 15 minutes or less to read but it's a great story!
(Karen's review 12/7/09)

This is the story of a dog named Nubs who was befriended by Major Brian Dennis.  What a story this is!  Nubs went through unbelievable odds to find Brian and Brian went through a lot to help Nubs get out of Iraq and to California.  This is a feel good story.  Read it, you'll be glad you did!  (100 stars)
(Gerard's review 12/7/09)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?