Review: One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

One Breath Away
Amazon | GoodReads | B&N
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Harlequin Mira (June 26, 2012)
Genre: Women's Fiction, Suspense, 384 pages
ISBN-10: 0778313654 
ISBN-13: 978-0778313656

SUMMARY:

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 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.

MY REVIEW:

Stuck in her classroom with fear embedded in her students eyes, Evelyn Oliver finds herself face to face with a man she doesn't recognize holding her and her students hostage with a gun in his hand. Evelyn doesn't know what to do, but one thing she's sure about is not letting this man hurt any of her students. Augie Baker is thirteen years old and in her class when her school goes on lock down, she doesn't know what going on or who's in the building, but she knows she has to go find her little brother P.J., which is exactly where the shooter is. Officer Meg Barrett can't believe that this is happening, a shooting in a small town, in Broken Branch, Iowa and takes it upon herself to find out who this person is and stop them before anyone gets hurt.

Wow. It took me an extremely long time to finish this book. I'm not saying it wasn't good, because damn, IT. WAS. GOOD. Beyond good. I just found myself putting this book down every time I got goosebumps or when tears decided to leak out my eyeballs! Which was pretty much every 20-30 pages. Ms. Gudenkauf really knows how to deliver. When she says queue goosebumps you damned well get goosebumps! This book jumps from person to person, now, usually I get a little weary reading books with different POV's but this one was the complete opposite. You're getting to know all of the characters and getting a feel for the situation through the eyes of not only the victims, but the families and the police officers as well. There was never a dull moment in this book, it kept me on edge and guessing who the hell this demented man with a gun is. Ms. Gudenkauf definitely threw some curve balls, the minute I thought I had the shooter pinned down, you get a new set of information that has you second guessing yourself.

What I liked about this book, gosh, EVERYTHING! From the setting, to the characters, to Ms. Gudenkauf's writing. You can't help but feel what all the characters are feeling. Being in the middle of a snow storm during this tragic event, you can practically feel the cold seeping into your skin and feel the sadness and the longing that the parents are feeling. Which totally adds to the book overall. It takes a lot for me to cry and this book and the fact that after the first POV I had to put the book down, definitely says something. There wasn't anything I disliked about this book Nothing at all, everything tied together perfectly. 

I definitely recommend this book. This is my first women's fiction book. I'm not new to suspense, but this definitely tops all the suspense books I've read. If you're a fan of suspense then pick this book up, if you love women's fiction, hell, any fiction book, then this is too your book! Fair warning, buy a box of tissues.

MY RATING:

Random Ramblings: Currently Reading #3

Random Ramblings: Currently Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Neyra @ Darkest Addictions Book Reviews every Monday. It's where you talk about the book(s) you are currently reading for the week and whether or not you're enjoying it, how you heard of it, and who recommended it to you.

I'm currently reading One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

One Breath Away: I am about 45% through this book and I absolutely love it. To be completely honest, I loved this book right from the start! The very first chapter. *sigh* Unfortunately, I'm not able to finish this book all in one sitting. Don't get me wrong, it's a great book & I highly recommend it, but it's so sad. I can't help but get goosebumps or start tearing up every other chapter. Which then causes me to sit the book down and pick up another so that I'm not in total meltdown mode just crying my eyes out. Seriously.. this is me every other chapter ....

                       
Too, too, too, TOO much... Which is why I have been reading this book for over a week now. I'll finish it eventually. Just at a really slow pace.

Okay, I know this isn't part of this post... but I just had to share it with you! Any Pushing the Limits fans out there? Come on.. I know you are!! Soooo.. I was on Twitter (yeah.. big whoop, I'm always on Twitter) and guess who was tweeting away?? Have you guessed? Do you give up? Okay.. okay.. here's who was tweeting away!!

Tell me you're fangirling? cause I know I am ^_^ I will unravel him.... very slowly ;)

haha.. I just had to throw this tweet up there too.. xD

Teaser Tuesday #4

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

♥Grab your current read

♥Open to a random page

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Wheew. Okay, it's been a good while (okay.. like 3 weeks) since I've done a Teaser Tuesday *sigh* I know.. I'm such a slacker.. BUT, I'm here now and I have an awesome teaser for you guys! I haven't started reading anything this week (again.. major slacker mode) but I did start reading a book last week. It's called One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf. Let me just tell you now... it is a really good book and I absolutely love it so far.

Teaser:

"I'm at school." She is crying in that way she has when she is doing her damnedest not to. I can picture her, head down, her long brown hair falling around her face, her eyes squeezed shut in determination to keep the tears from falling, her breath filling my ear with short, shallow puffs. "He has a gun. He has P.J. and he has a gun." 

Page 8

"I love you, too." My eyes fill with tears and I can feel the moisture pool beneath the bandages that cover my injured eye. I wait for Augie to disconnect when I hear three quick shots, followed by two more and Augie's piercing screams.

Page 9

Loved this teaser? Then get the book here » B&N | Amazon «

What's In My Beach Bag #7

What's In My Beach Bag will be a weekly post about all the books & other goodies that I've bought, borrowed or won :)

Okay.. So I got a few books this week. Actually bought one too o.O yepp, I bought a book this week. Broke my "NO-SPENDING" rule and bought a book... But, to my defense, I used a gift card ^_^

What I Bought:

♥I bought this book over at Target with my handy dandy... NOTEBOOK gift card :) If you can guess where that's from you get kudos points! ^_^ This book was only 6 dollars and some change & it was 25% OFF. Yay me? Go to Target now! While their back-to-escuela sales last! :)

What I Received:

♥I won this book over at Booktrib when I participated in a live chat with Heather Gudenkauf :) I've started reading it... and I've gotta say... It's good. Although, I have to keep putting it down because I keep getting teary eyed :(

Free From Amazon:

*CLICK ON COVERS TO TAKE YOU TO AMAZON*

♥Unfortunately these are no longer free. Dreams of Reality is still free if you are Prime Member though.

That's it for this week, what did you get? 

Live Chat with Heather Gudenkauf

Hey! So, I was recently contacted to join in on this Live Chat with Author Heather Gudenkauf on the release of her newest novel One Breath Away. I haven't read any of Ms. Gudenkauf's books but I am fairly intrigued by the summary and I'm looking forward to reading it. I haven't read a suspense novel like this in...well, forever. There will be 10 copies given away during the live chat, so swing on in & ask a few questions (I know you want to :p)

One Breath Away
Amazon | Good Reads
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Harlequin Mira (July 26, 2012)
Genre: Suspense, Women's Fiction, 384 pages
ISBN-10: 0778313654
ISBN-13: 978-0778313656

Summary:

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 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.

About The Author:

Heather Gudenkauf is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden.  She lives in Iowa with her family.  Visit her website here.