One of my favorite authors is Iowa native, Heather Gudenkauf.  I partly like it because her stories are set in Iowa.  There are references that are totally normal to me like someone running through a cornfield.  I can totally picture that and understand what it’s like.  I’ve done it.  The other part I like is that she is just a very good author.  Her stories are convincing…the people are likable.  I just like her as an author.

Her latest book is The Overnight Guest.

I started the book on Saturday and finished it the same day!  That’s how engrossed I was in the book.  I cleaned the house.  I sewed with earbuds.  I did any job I could so that I could keep listening.  I even unloaded and loaded the dishwasher.  It’s the job I like the least when it comes to keeping house.  The book is a total of 9 1/2 hours if listening to audiobook form.

The book had me guessing for quite a while.  At about the 8-hour mark I figured most of it out…not all of it so I was still content to listen on and I was sure glad I did, as there was a twist that I hadn’t guessed yet was totally plausible.

Here is what Amazon has to say:
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What I’m Reading: The Overnight GuestRead More »

I had said in a blog post that I love reading books that take place in areas that I know.  I have loved books by Allen Eskens, William Kent Krueger, and Heather Gudenkauf.  All of these authors have written books that take place in Iowa and Minnesota…my stomping grounds.

In one of Allen Eskens’s books, he writes about Mankato Minnesota and the main character who was going to college there.  It’s where I went to college.  I can vividly see everything the author is writing and I love it.

A blog reader mentioned that I might like the book Stars Over Clear Lake.  The story takes place in Clear Lake Iowa part present-day and part in WWII.  It sounded like something I might want to check out…and I did.

The first part I loved about the book, one of my favorite audiobook performers was reading the book, Tavia Gilbert.  The second part I loved about the book was that it was reminiscent of the book Summer of My German Soldier.  Do you remember that book?  Did you read in as a teen?  I did.  I remember loving watching the show.  It starred Kristy McNichol and I loved her.

This book didn’t involve an escaped soldier but one from a POW camp in Algona Iowa which isn’t far from Clear Lake.

The book also focuses on The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.  I’ve been to The Surf several times.  I’ve seen many performances there as they still (pre-covid) host many musical groups there.

So for me…a fun read or should I say listen.  I do think others would also enjoy the story as well.  It’s a little more romance like than I usually read, but not bad at all.

Here’s what Amazon had to say: …

What I’m Reading: Stars Over Clear LakeRead More »

The last book review I did was for Heather Gudenkauf…this review is for another book by her, Before She was Found.  Gudenkauf is an Iowa writer and I always love her books.  Picking this one to listen to was an easy selection as I’ve never had a book by her that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy.  You might remember that I just finished another book by this same author, This is How I Lied.  I loved that book and was hopeful that I would love this book too.

I was reading along..I thought I had figured out whodunit….but surprisingly, I was wrong.  That usually doesn’t happen for me, but after reviewing the story, I could see how I might have missed a few clues as to who was the real purpetrator.  I loved the book…seriously, I always love her books.

This story was told through the perspective of many and I really appreciated that.  To often in life when a tragedy happens, we forget that many are affected by a single event.  This book was a good reminder that many feel the impact of a single event.

Here is what Amazon had to say: …

What I’m Reading: Before She Was FoundRead More »