New York Times bestseller HEATHER GUDENKAUF on BookTrib.com! Live Chat: TOMORROW @ 3:00 pm ET

BookTrib is hosting a live chat with Heather TOMORROW! Book Trib is a site dedicated to bringing readers information about their favorite authors and I wanted to let you know about it. She’ll be celebrating the release of her latest ONE BREATH AWAY with them on Thursday, July 26 at 3:00PM ET. Following the phenomenal success of her first two books, this local Iowan writes close to home in her most emotionally charged novel yet.

Read my review of ONE BREATH AWAY, HERE

Come join Heather in celebrating her latest being named a Best New Book for the Week by Publishers Weekly and ask her your burning questions! They’ll be giving away 10 copies of ONE BREATH AWAY during the chat as well.

Who’s Invited: Everyone – BUT only those logged in can ask a question.

(If you aren’t a member sign-up today!)

Where: BookTrib Live Chat Page

Let us know: Help us plan and request a reminder for the day of the event by CLICKING HERE to answering two simple questions.

The day of the event:

Login to your BookTrib account a few minutes before the chat. On the homepage you will see a LIVE NOW widget. Click on the widget to get to the chat.

About the Book:

Gudenkauf (These Things Hidden) uses multiple viewpoints to keep the tension high and the reader glued to the pages.

– PW Weekly

“Terrifyingly real, deeply moving, and a chilling reminder of how one life can ripple into another, changing everything we think we know in a heartbeat. Gudenkauf builds the suspense with a dazzling hand, and gives us characters so achingly alive, it’s a shock to finish the book and not find them there.”

— Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You

“Hold on to your hats when you read One Breath Away! This is one of those books that you pick up and just don’t want to put down. 5 Stars”

--Mary Ward , BookTrib Review Crew

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf follows the phenomenal success of her first two books with her most emotionally charged novel yet. ONE BREATH AWAY (Harlequin MIRA; July 2012; $15.95 U.S./$18.95 CAN.) is a gripping story of a small town caught in the midst of a deadly crisis, as experienced from the points of view of five different people.

On a bitter March day, as a sudden snowstorm envelops the small town of Broken Branch, Iowa, an unknown man with a gun enters the town’s only school and takes a classroom of children hostage. As awareness of the situation spreads, the panicked community is ready to do anything to protect their children, but can only watch and wait.

As a teacher with a long career behind her, Evelyn Oliver is ready to enjoy retirement with her loving husband. But now, faced with a crazy man armed with a gun, terrorizing her classroom, she’d rather die than fail to protect any of her students. But why is he doing this? Evelyn’s been scouring her mind but doesn’t recognize the intruder. Maybe one of the students is the key?

Holly Thwaite left Broken Branch and her family behind without a word eighteen years ago, vowing never to return. But after a debilitating accident leaves her recovering in a hospital in Arizona, she’s forced to send her children to her hometown to be looked after by their grandfather, the man she never wanted them to meet. Will Thwaite never understood why his estranged daughter, Holly, ran away all those years ago. But now that her children are in his care, he refuses to fail his daughter again. One way or another, Will is going to get his grandkids, P.J. and Augie, out of that school safely even if he has to go in and get them himself. What Will doesn’t know is that thirteen-year-old Augie is just as determined to rescue her little brother from the killer and help her classmates, even if it means putting herself in the crosshairs of the gunman.

Police officer Meg Barrett wants to know who the intruder is and why he’s doing this. Whoever it is, there’s no excuse for this. Meg should know. She’s had plenty of hardships herself. But with innocent lives at stake, Meg is prepared to risk her own life to save these hostages, although it means disobeying orders and taking on the gunman face-to-face.

As the standoff progresses and the snowstorm rages outside, anxiety and frustration start to build to dangerous levels. But everyone knows how precarious the situation is. One wrong move, even a breath, could have the most devastating of consequences.

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, HeatherGudenkauf.com.

REVIEW: ANGEL'S ASSASSIN by Laurel O'Donnell

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Angel’s Assassin by: Laurel O’Donnell

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I really enjoyed reading this book.  I am not normally a huge fan of historical romances, but I really liked this book.  Damien is an assassin hired to kill Lady Aurora, by doing so he will be granted his freedom.  Fate has a different path for Damien; he actually saves Aurora from another assassin and in turn becomes her body guard.  Lady Aurora sees the good in Damien and helps him to recognize that he has a choice in life.  In the end goodness prevails over evil.  Laurel did an excellent job of keeping the reader intrigued.   I was rooting for Damien to have a change of heart.  I thought this book was well written and would recommend it very highly, 4 stars.

*To view Emily's review of Lost Souls: Resurrection by Laurel O'Donnell, click HERE 

Guest Post: Laurel Gans author of WAITLISTED

GUEST POST:

I have always adored reading chick-lit! Needless to say, the books I read gave me a slightly skewed vision of what my life as a twenty-something would be like.  I used to picture my future self as a confident, hot blonde in designer clothes, lots of make-up and high heels strolling down the streets of a big city. The sun was shining and I was on my way to some classy job in a high-rise office. I’d have a quirky best friend, a co-worker I couldn’t stand, and a certain someone at work I’d adore.

I should have known reality wasn’t going to turn out quite like that. Blonde hair would look terrible with my complexion and I can’t walk more than a few feet in high heels. I’ve also never been to a dental school in a high-rise.

Instead, I live in my own chick-lit world. There are similarities, of course. I do live in a big city and we do occasionally see some sunshine. However, I trot down the street wearing frumpy gray scrubs that are a size too big and cut for men. Don’t get me wrong, I make them work-- it’s just not my best look. My pant legs are half-stuffed into my fluffy snow boots and a knitted scarf smears my attempt at some make-up. I spend most of my day drilling plastic teeth in a basement with just a few---no wait---zero windows. It might not be a glamorous place, but it’s just right for me.

My new novel, Waitlisted, takes place in the chick-lit world of a carefree college senior—a place I would love to go back to. A hard day’s work involves waking up, having breakfast, and taking a nap (yup, I definitely used to do that).  A bad score can simply be manipulated with a little grade negotiation, and a tough class can be replaced with ‘intro to ice-skating’ (I learned to skate backwards and stop).

The main character, Kacey Barlow, is enjoying the college life. She’s already been accepted to grad school and doesn’t take one aspect of her classes seriously. When she discovers she’s been kicked out of the grad school her family has been attending for nearly a century, she’s forced to make some changes---and fast. The college world isn’t so fun when you have to get out of bed before the midday news and take that text book out from under the wobbly kitchen table and read it.

She’s got a lot of studying ahead of her. Hopefully she’ll learn a little bit about herself in the process.

Thanks so much for letting me be your guest today! If you’d like more information please follow the links below!

Facebook

Twitter

Etopia Press

To view my Q&A with Laurel, click HERE

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

Kacey Barlow had no idea it would be this hard to get into grad school. Her well-to-do family has been attending UI for generations, and admissions had been recruiting her since high school! She was a shoo-in—that is, until they gave her the boot.

She can’t tell her parents, and can’t stand the thought of her friends going off to grad school without her. Her grades are slipping. Her professors can’t remember her name, and her tutor, Taylor, won’t stop hitting on her when they’re supposed to be studying.

Okay, maybe that last one isn’t so bad. But it’s not going to help get her a seat in another school...and applications are due in two weeks...

Showcase: IN NEED OF THERAPY by Tracie Banister

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 Author Bio:  An avid reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like her favorite fictional protagonist Scarlett O'Hara.  Her work was first seen on the stage of her elementary school, where her 4th grade class performed an original holiday play that she penned (Like all good divas-in-the-making, she, also, starred in and tried to direct the production.)  Her dreams of authorial success were put on the backburner when she reached adulthood and discovered that she needed a "real" job in order to pay her bills.  Her career as personal assistant to a local entrepreneur lasted for 12 years.  When it ended, Tracie decided to follow her bliss and dedicate herself to writing full-time.  Her debut novel, the Hollywood-themed Blame It on the Fame, was released in January, 2012.  And she's following that up with the fun summer read, In Need of Therapy.  

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Q&A:

Q.  What inspires your writing?

A.  Just about anything.  A story I see in a magazine or the newspaper, an overheard conversation between two strangers, a random comment made by a friend or family member.  I never know when something is going to strike a chord, but it's always very exciting when I have that "Eureka!" moment.

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being an author?

A.  I just love seeing the characters and stories I have in my head come to life on the page.  And I love sharing those stories with other people and finding out that I made them laugh, cry, think, or cheer.

Q.  What is the toughest part of being an author?

A.  Rejection by agents, editors, etc.  It's especially difficult when they tell you how talented they think you are, but they just can't sell what you've written because of the current market.  I was always told to write what I love, which are stories that are funny and have romance in them, so it's extremely frustrating to then be informed that no one wants to read or buy that type of book. 

Q.  If you could not be an author, what would you do/be?

A.  Well, if we're talking dream jobs, I'd love to own/run a sanctuary for all of the rescue dogs who have special needs because of their age, physical ailments, or abuse/neglect .  I adore dogs and have three rescue Cocker Spaniels, two of whom have special needs, and it's a cause that's very near and dear to my heart.

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?

A.  If it were an autobiography, I'd call it "Making It up as I Go." 

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

A.  It's a total cliché, but Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice had a profound influence on me as a young girl, both as a reader and a writer (Yes, I was writing stories even back then!)  And it's one of the few books I never get tired of.  I've reread it many times and I've seen more film and TV adaptations of the book than I can count.

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

A.  My all-time favorite fictional heroine is Scarlett O'Hara, so I'd like to think that I share a lot of traits with her - feisty, stubborn, headstrong, determined, passionate, someone who's a fighter and a survivor.   

Q.  What character from all of your books are you most like?

A.  Oh, wow, that's a tough one because almost all of my characters have a bit of me in them.  Personality-wise, I'm probably most like Philippa Sutcliffe in my first book, Blame It on the Fame.  She's very self-possessed, has a biting wit, and doesn't suffer fools gladly.  She, also, has a thing for bad boys, which I'm guilty of.

Q.  What is your favorite season?

A.  Autumn.  I love it when the trees turn color and the leaves are such gorgeous, vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.  And I adore it when there's a nip in the air (big fan of cool weather.)  Also, the fall season leads into the holidays, so it's full of expectation and excitement.

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?

A.  Oh, my poor cover artist.  He and I went back and forth on the cover for In Need of Therapy many times because it was important to me that every little detail match the vision that was in my head.  The two elements that were crucial to me with this cover were: that the reader saw my heroine, Pilar, in her working environment (a shrink's office), which is where she spends a great deal of time dealing with not only her patients' problems, but her own.  And I wanted the cover to have a Miami flavor, which I think is conveyed beautifully in the color scheme and the window view out of Pilar's office.  I really couldn't be more thrilled with this cover.  It's even better than what I'd originally envisioned.

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.

A.  Promoting my first book was tons of fun, but it was also a roller coaster ride, having to stay on top of things, meet deadlines, and try to keep all of my interviews, guest posts, etc. fresh and interesting.  I had several mini-meltdowns along the way and I bonded with other newbie authors who were going through the same thing.  We took turns "talking each other down off the ledge," which was great practice for writing a therapist character in my second book!

Q.  Are you working on something new?

A.  Yes, I'm working on several different writing projects at the moment.  The main one is a Regency novel, which will hopefully be the first in a series, about an aristocratic family of five children, the eldest of whom is being launched into society (think Alcott meets Austen.)  I've, also, got a couple of Romantic Comedies simmering on the backburner and an epic, era-hopping love story with a paranormal twist that I've written a handful of chapters on.

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?

A.  I hope that everyone enjoys reading In Need of Therapy as much as I enjoyed writing it!

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Book blurb:  Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be:  warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim.  Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her.  A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes.  And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt.  With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.

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Connect with Tracie: 

Tracie's Blog 

Twitter  l Facebook 

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REVIEW: Bloodline: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins

Galilee, 1025. Infiltrating an ancient citadel, a Templar knight uncovers a holy treasure long hidden within the fortress's labyrinth: the Bachal Isu--the staff of Jesus Christ--a priceless icon that holds a mysterious and terrifying power that promises to change humankind forever.

A millennium later, Somali pirates hijack a yacht off the coast of the Horn of Africa, kidnapping a young pregnant American woman. Commander Gray Pierce is enlisted for the covert rescue mission into the African jungle--for the woman is no rich tourist; she's Amanda Gant-Bennett, the daughter of the U.S. president.

Suspicious that the kidnapping masks a far more nefarious plot, Gray must confront a shadowy cabal, one who has been manipulating events throughout history . . . and now challenges the current presidency.

For this sensitive mission, SIGMA is aided by a pair of special operatives with unique talents: former Army Ranger Captain Tucker Wayne and his military war dog, Kane. But what should be a straightforward rescue turns into a fiery ambush and a deadly act of betrayal as Gray and his team discover that the hostage is a pawn in a shattering act of terrorism with dark repercussions. And the danger is only beginning. . . .

Halfway around the world, a firebombing at a fertility clinic in South Carolina exposes a centuries-old conspiracy to manipulate our genetic code. With time against them, SIGMA must race to save an innocent unborn baby, one who holds the key to a mystery and whose very existence raises questions about the nature of humanity, asking:

Could you live forever?

Would you live forever?

Today's post is different.  It should sound different, feel different, the genre of the book is not something you see often on this blog.  Mrs. Mommy Booknerd has been hijacked for a day by Mr. Mommy Booknerd.  When the Mrs. received a copy of James Rollins Sigma Force Novel: Blood Line, I was intrigued.  Finally a book came into the Mrs. Mommy Booknerd vault that sounded interesting to me.  This book which clearly has an established character from the Sigma Force series did not leave me confused or feeling like I was lacking valuable information that would be necessary to understand this book.  I slowly worked my way into this book, reading 40 pages on a Friday.  To give a little background on my reading habits, I read current events, non-fiction, and still have a reading hangover after completing my Masters degree over a year ago.  So 40 pages in one sitting is kinda a big deal for me.  Saturday morning comes around and my mind is preoccupied with the story so I start reading a few pages with the standard cup of morning coffee.

I am intentionally not diving into details or even a general synopsis of this novel for fear of potentially ruining some aspect of the story for someone.  This novel contains multiple story lines, traverses the globe, secret societies, advancement in bio technologies, advanced robotics, and human guinea pigs.  I finished this book on day 2.  I spent an entire Saturday reading this book because I was so preoccupied that I had to see where the story was going and how it was going to end.  The one detail I will give some vague insight to is the dog.  The dog in this book is short of amazing and quickly becomes an integral character that you are rooting for and worried about as he  enters one intense mission after another. This novel is a great read and I look forward to diving into additional Sigma Force novels.  I rate it 5 stars!

REVIEW: GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn

MY REVIEW:

Gillian Flynn's novel GONE GIRL may have started off a bit slow for me, but once I hit part two, I could barely put it down.  GONE GIRL is abrasive, raw, suspenseful and original.  The characters are flawed, devious, real and fun to read.  I highly recommend it and rate it 4 stars. 

Overview

Marriage can be a real killer. 

One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn. 

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

BLOG TOUR: Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons by Denise Grover Swank: Guest Post & Excerpt

TOUR SCHEDULE via Chick Lit Plus

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Author Bio:  Denise Grover Swank lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.  You can find out more about Denise and her other books at www.denisegroverswank.com or email her at denisegroverswank@gmail.com

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Guest Post:  Researching for books:

One of the many reasons I think so many more people are writing books (other than word processing programs on computers and eBooks) is that it’s so much easier to research for a book. Back in the day, when I wrote a paper for school, I had to go to the library and look things up in books and magazines. Microfiche anyone? (My dinosaur was named Rex and we fed him ground up baby brontosauruses.) But times have changed and my children simply open a search engine and type in any abstract phrase and are bombarded with results.  I do the same thing when I’m writing a book.

I’m forever amazed the Google will take my random string of words and often give me something that is actually useful. Some books require more research than others. When I wrote Chosen the first The Chosen book of my urban fantasy/paranormal romance series, I’m sure I was put on a government watch list. AK47’s (powerful but not that accurate) How to make a truck explode (harder than you might think) How to break into a gun cabinet (did you know that you can pick some gun cabinet locks with Bic pens?) Gunshot wounds to the thigh (lots of gross pictures) Writing The Rose Gardner Mysteries is like taking a deep breath of fresh air. Rose’s life is much simpler than Emma and Will’s in Chosen or Julia, Evan and Reece’s in Here, the first book in my YA series. But there’s still research involved. In Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons, Rose is summoned for jury duty. I’ve been summoned multiple times myself, in multiple states. I even served on a Federal jury once (not as exciting as you might think).  But every state, every county is different. It helps that Fenton County and the quirky town of Henryetta, Arkansas are fictitious, but I still wanted Rose’s experience to be as realistic as possible.

I searched for juror’s daily pay, the rules they are given, what the consequences are if they disobey. I watched an edge-of-your-seat video produced by the state of Arkansas MANY TIMES to make sure I understood the parts I most needed to focus on. (Thank you great state of Arkansas for providing this video to the public. I was more helpful than you know.)

You too can watch this video!!!  Here’s the link! https://courts.arkansas.gov/juror_orientation.cfm

I researched other things too, things you might think strange. Starting a nursery, zoning laws, if public defenders are county employees, the punishment for juror misconduct, bookies, the name of the magazine that covers social events in Southern Arkansas, real estate investing companies…you get the point. I’m sure I got some things wrong and at some point some discerning reader will email me to let me know, but know that I’ve done the best I could to make it accurate as possible.  Now I’m off to research hotel floor plans in St. Louis. Figure that one out. 

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EXCERPT: Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons

“Watch where you’re going!” a voice snarled above me.

The papers settled enough for me to stare into the angry blue eyes of a man wearing a dark suit, a white shirt and a crisp yellow tie. His dark blond hair was short but styled. He leaned down and I couldn’t help my involuntary squeak as I scooted back in fear.

“This is a courthouse, not a barroom brawl.”

“I... I’m sorry...” I stammered, caught off guard by his hostility. I reached for the paper closest to me.

“Don’t touch those!” He reached for the sheets, his shirtsleeves pulling back to reveal his wrists. No scars. He was scary enough without worrying that he was the man in the restroom.

Jerking my hand back, I got to my knees and grabbed the wall to pull myself up. “I was only tryin’ to help. No need to be nasty about it.”

His entire face puckered as he squatted. “You’ve helped quite enough. Thank you.” Even with his snotty tone, his cultured Southern accent was evident. He appeared to be in his early thirties, but his attitude and haughtiness reminded me of the women in the Henryetta Garden Club. The ones from old Southern money.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m late to jury duty—”

A throaty snort erupted. “Of course you are. Why am I not surprised?”

Indignation squared my shoulders. “It’s obvious that your mother raised you better than this. What do you think she would say, knowing you were treatin’ a lady this way? You should be ashamed of yourself. Mr...” My eyebrows rose as I waited for him to answer.

His jaw dropped halfway through my tirade and his cheeks pinkened, making him look younger and less hardened. “Deveraux.”

“Mr. Deveraux.” I pursed my lips in disapproval. Any properly raised Southern gentleman was terrified of his mother’s wrath. Especially when the combination of poor manners and women were involved. “I suggest you brush up on your manners.” I turned left and started down the hall only to realize, to my horror, I had gone the wrong way. I stopped midstep and squeezed my eyes shut. This whole morning had to be a nightmare, just a bad dream. Situations like this didn’t happen in real life.

Only, in my life, they did.

Sucking in a deep breath, I spun around and headed the opposite direction, teetering on my broken heel. With my jaw thrust forward, I tried to pass Mr. Deveraux with as much dignity as I could muster.

Mr. Deveraux, to his credit, ignored me as he continued to scoop up the papers and stuffed them into manila folders.

Just when I thought I was home free, I heard a smug voice behind me. “Fourth door on the right.”

The sound of my click-thud steps echoed off the hard surfaces in the hallway, but I continued walking, in spite of my billowing mortification. It’s hard to look dignified when you’re swaying like a sailor. Finally, I reached the fourth door. I glanced down at my letter to make sure I had the right room, not trusting Mr. Crabbypants, but my hand was empty.

I’d dropped the letter.

Closing my eyes with a sigh, I wondered how this day could get worse.

“Lose something?”

A groan escaped before I could squelch it. I opened my eyes and plastered on a smile.

Mr. Deveraux handed the paper to me with a smirk. “A gentleman always helps those less fortunate, Miss Gardner.” He tilted his head toward me before moving briskly down the hall. “You’re late. You better get in there,” he called out, looking straight ahead.

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Check out my blog tour stop for 

Denise Grover Swank's novel HERE

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Connect with Denise! 

www.denisegroverswank.com

www.rosegardnermysteries.com

https://www.facebook.com/deniseswank 

https://twitter.com/DeniseMSwank 

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