5 Star Review: Positive (Paige Rawl)

Hardback, 288 pages
Expected publication: August 26th 2014 by HarperCollins
ARC Provided by Publisher for Honest Review

An astonishing memoir for the untold number of children whose lives have been touched by bullying. Positive is a must-read for teens, their parents, educators, and administrators—a brave, visceral work that will save lives and resonate deeply.
Paige Rawl has been HIV positive since birth, but growing up, she never felt like her illness defined her. On an unremarkable day in middle school, she disclosed to a friend her HIV-positive status—and within hours the bullying began. From that moment forward, every day was like walking through a minefield. Paige was never sure when or from where the next text, taunt, or hateful message would come. Then one night, desperate for escape, fifteen-year-old Paige found herself in her bathroom staring at a bottle of sleeping pills.
That could have been the end of her story. Instead, it was only the beginning. Paige's memoir calls for readers to choose action over complacency, compassion over cruelty—and above all, to be Positive. 

Pre-Order Links:

 Amazon * Barnes & Noble 

Paige was born HIV Positive and bullied severely in middle school because of her HIV status. Her classmates called her cruel nicknames, such as PAIDS. Her soccer coach even made a joke about how her HIV status could help the team. And the school administrators let her down by not protecting her. After leaving her middle school, she decided to take a stand and started to speak out sharing her story. At the age of fourteen, Paige was granted special permission to become the youngest person to ever be certified through the American Red Cross as an HIV/AIDS Educator. She even pleaded to congress in her home state of Indiana and helped pass the Anti-bullying Bill #1423 that was affective July 1, 2013.

All through high school Paige was the guest speaker for the I Need You to Listen, Hear, and Understand Me TOUR that was sponsored by Indianapolis Urban League, Indiana AIDS Fund, Indiana State Department of Health, Marion County Public Health Department, Teen Damien, and United Way. This tour travels through Indiana educating youth at schools and churches about HIV/AIDS. In 2013, this tour also added a bullying tour which Paige has had the opportunity to be the guest for as well. Paige has had the opportunity to travel on a national level while working with many organizations, sharing her story to try and reduce the stigma towards HIV/AIDS.
Paige has also been involved with Project Kindle as a part of Speak Out that travels to schools across the country to educate about HIV/AIDS and for the students to hear stories from personal kids impacted by the disease. Project Kindle also has a camp called Camp Kindle that Paige became involved with in 2010 as a camper and is now a counselor at the camp. This camp is for kids and teens who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Paige has been treated for her HIV status at Riley Children's Hospital at the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center since her diagnosis. She was named a 2014 Riley Champion. A Riley Champion is someone who is a Riley patient who has inspired communities with their bravery and commitment to help others. They reach beyond their own medical challenges to give meaning to their struggles. Paige also is a Riley Ambassador and travels to different dance marathons, across the state of Indiana, sharing her Riley story. During her freshman year of college, Paige had the opportunity to be apart of the Ball State University Dance Marathon Riley Relations committee.
Paige has been honored numerous times for her involvement in the HIV/AIDS Community. Paige made the list of 5 Female Stigma Warriors Who Will Inspire in 2014 by Stigma Action Network, Top 10 Young Women to Watch in 2014 by the Emma Willard School, and 10 Kids Who Made A Difference in 2013 by Mom.Me. Paige was also selected as one of the 5 Years, 5 Heroes. Five people were selected for their extraordinary contributions to the HIV/AIDS community sponsored by Bristol Myer Squibb. She was given the Excellence Award for her recognition for her contribution in the fight against HIV/AIDS presented by Positive Living, inc. Paige was also selected as one of 5 Seventeen Magazine's Pretty Amazing Finalist in 2013. During her senior year of high school Paige was chosen by her administrators to receive the Outstanding Leadership Award and chosen by her class as Most Likely to Change the World.

Paige has been featured in magazines such as POZ, Seventeen, GLAMOUR UK, Girlfriend (Australia's version of Seventeen), Indianapolis Monthly, and was featured in and on the cover of Scholastic Action magazine. Paige has also been featured in newspapers such as the Indianapolis Star, USA Today, Huffington Post, New York Daily News, Ball State University Daily News, Boston Globe, Indianapolis Recorder, and numerous papers across the country. Paige has also been featured on Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, The Doctors, FOX 59 Female Focus feature, Channel One News World AIDS Day special, and Antibullying PSA sponsored by Kohl's Caring for Kids.

Paige is currently a student at Ball State University, majoring in Molecular Biology. She plans to continue to travel and speak to reduce the stigma towards HIV/AIDS and be an advocate against bullying.

Contact Paige:

Website * Twitter

"Surviving my bullies, 

finding hope, 

and changing the world."

Gripping, Emotional, Phenomenal, Incredible, Life-Changing.....Those are just a few of the words that I felt as I was reading this book. The issues that Paige Rawl had to deal with in her life just totally blew me away. No one should be treated the way that she was treated and no one just have to face the kind of bullying she did. 

Paige Rawl was a young girl who was born with HIV. Her childhood was pretty much normal except for the fact that she had to take a dozen pills (or more) three times a day. Because she took her medication faithfully and followed all of her Dr's advice she had never been sick and been forced to reveal her disease. Paige grew up not thinking that she was any different than any of the other kids her age and didn't really understand why her mother worried so much. 

That is until the day that she trusted her best friend in the whole world and shared her secret. That day she began a journey in life than no one could even imagine. She was forced to learn the truth behind her disease and about her disease. Her life would never be the same. 

Bullying is a real problem within the schools right now and things need to change. This memoir should be in every library in every school in the United States. If more kids read this book then I believe it would touch them the same way it has touched me. It is truly remarkable. 

This book was so fascinating and amazing. Paige had to go through so many trials and tribulations and face so many obstacles at such a young age. I cannot even begin to imagine being in her shoes. She is just an true inspiration to me and this book is remarkable. I could truly go on and on about this book but this is something that you have to experience for yourself. Her fight and will to survive is just breathtaking.

"We all hope for a cure and compassion for those living with this disease.

 We have a unique story.

 Being impacted by HIV does not define who we are."

To learn more about the fight against bullying and HIV please visit Paige Rawl's website. 

http://www.paigerawl.com/home.html

All quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof subject to change in the final edition.

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to Harper Teen for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Epic Reads Harper Teen

Waiting On Wednesday: Quake (Patrick Carman)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at

Breaking the Spine

and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


So first of all..let me say that I absolutely LOVE this series! It is full of fast-paced action, plenty of twists, and a breath-taking romance. (and the covers TOTALLY ROCK)  The author, Patrick Carman, is also one of my most favorite ROCK STAR authors! I am so excited about this book but also don't want to see it end!!! 

Hardcover, 288 pages
Expected publication: February 24th 2015 by Katherine Tegen Books

In the year 2051, Faith can move mountains…
Faith Daniels and Dylan Gilmore are in love, and they have a special ability called a pulse: they can move things with their minds. They're caught in the middle of a deadly war with two other pulses: Clara and Wade Quinn, who have joined forces with Hotspur Chance, the most wanted man in the world.
At the start of Quake, Faith and Dylan are holed up in a spectacular abandoned mountain lodge (once used in the film The Shining 71 years before), and their Intel friend Hawk leaves them in the middle of the night, in spite of a newly blossoming love with a girl named Jade. Hawk’s plan is to penetrate the Western State and make contact with a sleeper cell working on the inside that will give them valuable information about Hotspur’s violent plan.
But while Hawk is searching for answers on the inside, Faith and Dylan are still fighting on the outside. In a series of hair-raising battles, the second pulses duel it out, only to raise the body count on both sides. During the battles, Faith and Dylan discover an even great strength: the power of their combined love. Together, Faith and Dylan might just be able to save the world with a quake that is big enough to change the course of history.

Here are the first two books in the series along with the links to my 5 Star Reviews!!!

       5 Star Review of Pulse                 5 Star Review of Tremor

                                                                                  

Good Choice Reading Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway: Chasing Desire (Jennifer Domenico)

Title: Chasing Desire

Author: Jennifer Domenico

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Publication: June 9th, 2014

High on life and all its luxuries, Brayden James has no intention of slowing down. That is until his womanizing ways catch up with him and he gets a much needed wake-up call. Just as he decides to clean up his act, the ultimate temptation enters his life.
When Mackenzie Reed meets Brayden, the attraction is instant and she knows that together they could achieve the kind of career success she’s always craved. But Mackenzie isn’t like most women. She has very good reasons for keeping her heart locked up tight. For her, this isn’t about love. This is about power.
Sparks fly as Brayden and Mackenzie try to avoid the one thing neither of them wanted. Each must choose between the life they’ve worked hard to achieve and the one they never imagined. Will they come to the same decision before it’s too late? Or will a hidden threat keep them apart?

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

AMAZON

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Jennifer Domenico started writing as a five-year old child in the back of her mother’s bible in church. It was a way to keep the fidgety child quiet but even then she took simple stories and twisted them into even more imaginative tales. As she grew, the stories grew with her and she filled notebook after notebook with her musings.
As an adult, she knew she wanted to be a writer but she lacked the attention span and inspiration required to produce a full length story. Eventually she put away her notebooks and turned her attention to the business world where she toiled away for many years.
She stopped reading fiction, stopped entertaining her outlandish imagination, and stopped dreaming of being a writer. Until one day, many months ago she went to sleep and a beautiful love story played out in her dreams.
When she awoke she felt compelled to write it down. And she wrote and she wrote, for days and days she wrote. The result is part one of Enzo and Ava’s story. Turn Towards the Sun is her first, but certainly not her last, novel.
Ms. Domenico lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her very Italian husband, a dog that adores her, two cats that tolerate her, and wicked sweet tooth. She is currently working on part two in the series.

Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Pinterest

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What's the one piece of technology you can't live without?

 My ipad. I use it constantly when I’m home. Funny thing is I rarely read on it. I use it to play games. No lie.

What's your favorite thing to do when you're not writing? 

When I’m not writing, which is almost never, I like to watch home improvement shows or weight loss stories. I find both of them inspiring. I hate watching a tv show or movie that requires too much of my attention because I don’t have much to begin with.

Describe yourself in 3 words. 

Sarcastic, Sensitive, Determined.

What was your inspiration for the book? 

It started as a conversation I had with friends about a real life situation I witnessed. There was a guy I worked with and he got himself into trouble with women he worked with all the time. After I told the story, one of my friends said, that should be a book so there you go.

How much of the characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?

 In Chasing Desire, there are no characters in the book that have traits of people I know. I can’t say the same for Turn Towards the Sun or Beautifully Twisted.

If you could switch places with any of your characters, who would it be? Why?

 I would switch places with my character from my current work in progress, Londyn Falls, because she works at Harvard and falls in love with the most incredible man, who just happens to be a professor. *Swoon*

What scene was your favorite to write? 

My favorite scene is probably the earthquake. It was a major turning point in the novel, and both characters revealed parts of themselves they had previously kept hidden.

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HarperTeen ARC Review: Beware The Wild (Natalie C. Parker)

Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: October 21st 2014 by HarperTeen
ARC Provided in Exchange for Honest Review

It's an oppressively hot and sticky morning in June when Sterling and her brother, Phin, have an argument that compels him to run into the town swamp -- the one that strikes fear in all the residents of Sticks, Louisiana. Phin doesn't return. Instead, a girl named Lenora May climbs out, and now Sterling is the only person in Sticks who remembers her brother ever existed.
Sterling needs to figure out what the swamp's done with her beloved brother and how Lenora May is connected to his disappearance -- and loner boy Heath Durham might be the only one who can help her.

This debut novel is full of atmosphere, twists and turns, and a swoon-worthy romance. 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon * Barnes & Nobles * Indigo

Natalie C Parker grew up in a Navy family where having adventures was as common as reading fairy tales.
She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in English, then went on to earn her MA in Women’s Studies at the University of Cincinnati. Continuing her efforts as a lifelong scholar, she currently works on a project studying climate change at the University of Kansas where she eavesdrops on the conversations of brilliant scientists gathering fodder for future novels.
Though still baffled by having ended up in a landlocked state, she lives in Kansas with her partner in a house of monsters.
Natalie is represented by the indomitable Sarah Davies of theGreenhouse Literary Agency.

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"Beware the swampy places, child,

Beware the dark and wild, 

Many a soul has wandered there, 

And many a soul has died."

The very first thing that caught my eye about this book was the cover. I mean what a seriously creepy, INCREDIBLE cover. I loved everything from the dark color scheme to the wickedly drawn letters spelling out "Beware the Wild." 

From the very first chapter of this book I knew  that I was going to love it. The atmosphere of the book is so captivating. The idea of a swamp that that "takes" people and makes everyone in the town forget...um Heck YEAH! I am all about a good mystery and I turned pages so fast because I couldn't wait to solve this one! 

Sterling is a young girl who is the main character in this story. She and her family live in the small town of Sticks, Louisiana. Sterling and her brother, Phin have an argument one morning in June and Phin runs into the town swamp to get away. There are lots of stories about the swamp and many of the townsfolk say it is an evil swamp and warn the children to stay away. After Phin runs away Sterling chases after him but is unable to stop him before he enters the swamp. It is at that moment that a young girl emerges from the swamp and this is when we meet Lenora May. 

“When the swamp took my brother, it sent someone—something else to take his place. I don’t know what Lenora May is, but she’s not my sister.”

Lenora May exits the swamp and enters Sterling's life. She takes over the role of Phin and no one in the town suspects anything. All they remember is Lenora May. It is like Phin has been totally erased. But not for Sterling. Sterling remembers everything including her brother. Sterling then decides she has to discover what happened to Phin and where Lenora May really comes from and how she can get her brother back. 

"I fall asleep with one dreadful thought in my mind: if I want to save my brother, I'll have to follow him inside the swamp."

Along this journey Sterling befriends Heath. Heath is a young boy that Sterling attends school with and Heath is the only one that believes Sterling.  Heath and Sterling face so many obstacles and twists on their journey to discover the mystery and secrets of the swamp. This journey brings them closer and a beautiful romance is built. 

There are so many dark secrets within this mysterious book and I don't want to ruin it for anyone so I will not give away any spoilers. I will just say that this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys YA, romance, mystery, and magic. 

"The most dangerous secrets are the ones we forget..."

All quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof subject to change in the final edition.

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to Harper Teen for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Epic Reads  Harper Teen

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop Hosted by I Am A Reader

The 2014 Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer, works like this: each participating blog hosts a giveaway and then we link up together allowing our followers to hop easily from one giveaway to another. For followers, it means lots of chances to win free books. For blogs hosting giveaways, it means lots of new visitors and followers. It's a win-win! The Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop is scheduled from June 21st at 12.01 AM until June 30th at 11:59 PM (EST).

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YA Bound Book Blitz & Giveaway: Fan Art (Sarah Tregay)

Fan Art

by Sarah Tregay

Release Date: 06/17/14

Harper Teen

When the picture tells the story…
Senior year is almost over, and Jamie Peterson has a big problem. Not college—that’s all set. Not prom—he’ll find a date somehow. No, it’s the worst problem of all: he’s fallen for his best friend.
As much as Jamie tries to keep it under wraps, everyone seems to know where his affections lie, and the giggling girls in art class are determined to help Jamie get together with Mason. But Jamie isn’t sure if that’s what he wants—because as much as Jamie would like to come clean to Mason, what if the truth ruins everything? What if there are no more road trips, taco dinners, or movie nights? Does he dare risk a childhood friendship for romance?
This book is about what happens when a picture reveals what we can’t say, when art is truer than life, and how falling in love is easy, except when it’s not. Fan Art explores the joys and pains of friendship, of pressing boundaries, and how facing our worst fears can sometimes lead us to what we want most.

Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Book Depository

Raised without television, Sarah Tregay started writing her own middle grade novels after she had read all of the ones in the library. She later discovered YA books, but never did make it to the adult section. When she's not jotting down poems at stoplights, she can be found hanging out with her "little sister" from Big Brothers Big Sisters. Sarah lives in Eagle, Idaho with her husband, two Boston Terriers, and an appaloosa named Mr. Pots. Her next book, Fan Art, will be released in June.

   

2 signed ARC’s of Fan Art (US/CAN only)

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Book Nerd Tours, Tens List, & Giveaway: Shrouded In Blackness (Norma Jeanne Karlsson)

Click here for Tour Page & Schedule!!!

Only loyalty can truly win his heart…
Gangs, organized crime and underground bare-knuckle fighting make up the world that Kieran Delaney thrives within. His reputation is built on the talent of his fists, as much as his ability to get information about any and everything. Never one to be caught by surprise or bested, Kieran knows what you’re going to do before you do it…until Darcy Quinlan enters his life. She introduces herself with a knife to his throat and a promise of unbridled pain. Darcy’s life has been destroyed by betrayal and false promises of safety. Living on the streets for the last eight years, she’s has been a ghost. Never in one place long enough to be seen because you can’t catch what isn’t there. Now Kieran sees her and can’t erase her image from his mind.
Kieran and Darcy must now battle to keep her alive and by his side. As her past enters her life from every angle, Kieran makes certain her safety is no longer a concern, annihilating her demons at every corner. He’ll fight, he’ll maim, he’ll torture and he’ll murder to keep Darcy protected. If Kieran can win, her life will no longer be shrouded in blackness…loyalty will lift the veil.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Blackness Takes Over is Norma Jeanne’s debut novel. What began as an homage to the home town of a homesick Midwestern girl, unfolded a story of love, danger, humor, and trust. She’s currently working on her untitled sophomore effort. We can’t wait to see what thrilling saga she leads us through next!

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Norma Jeanne recently found herself relocating to the United Kingdom. Now living in Belfast, she took hold of the opportunity to kick the 9-5 job for a chance to become an author. The best part: working from her home office, she gets to spend more time with her cast of crazy characters (written and real).

In her free time Norma Jeanne is a voracious reader and consumes books as readily as meals. She is a people watcher by nature and uses her experiences in life, observed or otherwise, to build the worlds and characters that thrive in her books. A believer in the strength of the human spirit,Norma Jeanne writes the stories of people that persevere when all appears to be lost.

“Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” –Dylan Thomas

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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The third book in the Hitman Series by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick

Moving Day: A Thriller by Jonathan Stone

Top Secret Twenty-One: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich

Summer House with Swimming Pool by Hermann Koch

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FFBC Book Tour, Guest Post, & Giveaway: Dark Days (Kate Ormand)

Dark Days
by Kate Ormand
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: June 3rd 2014

The future world has been divided into sectors--each the same as the other. Surrounded by thick steel fences, there is no way in and no way out. Yet a cyborg army penetrates each sector, picking off its citizens one by one, until no one is left. Behind the sectors' thick walls, the citizens wait to die. Few will be chosen to survive what's coming; the rest will be left behind to suffer. A new world has been created, and its rulers are incredibly selective on who will become a citizen. They want only those with important roles in society to help create a more perfect future.

Sixteen-year-old Sia lives in one of the sectors as part of a family that is far too ordinary to be picked to live. According to the digital clock that towers high above her sector, she has only fifteen days to live. Sia has seen the reports and knows a horrific death is in store for her, but she is determined to make the most of her final days. Sia refuses to mourn her short life, instead promising herself that she'll stay strong, despite being suffocated by her depressed mother and her frightened best friend. Just when Sia feels more alone than ever, she meets Mace, a mysterious boy. There is something that draws Sia to him, despite his dangerousness, and together, they join a group of rebels and embark on an epic journey to destroy the new world and its machines, and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.

Behind the Scenes by Kate Ormand

I wrote DARK DAYS between sitting on my bed, at the dining room table, or in the conservatory on the sofa. The laptop I used was really slow, but I did write most of DARK DAYS on it. Then I got a little desk in my room and my partner moved his Mac in! The screen is large enough for me to open two documents at once, or images alongside my MS, so I don't write anywhere but at the desk now. It's also beside my favourite bookshelf, which can be distracting as well as inspiring!

I've also included a photo of the disaster-zone that is the drawer beneath my desk, where most of my notes are kept. And some of the early notes from the notebook I kept while writing DARK DAYS. 

Thank you for having me!

Follow the FFBC Dark Days blog tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

KATE ORMAND is a YA writer represented by Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors Ltd. She lives in the UK with her family, her partner, and a cocker spaniel called Freddie. She recently graduated from university with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art Painting. It was during this course that Kate discovered her love of reading YA books, prompting her to try a new creative angle and experiment with writing. Kate is also a member of an online group of published writers and illustrators called Author Allsorts. And she writes children’s picture books under the name Kate Louise.

You can see more about Kate and her writing by visiting her website (www.kateormand.wordpress.com) or on Twitter (@kateormand).

Giveaway is open to International Only | Must be 13 or older to enter

Win A Dark Days canvas bag, signed bookmarks, and a signed hardcover (INT)

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