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Post by Emily on Mar 4, 2012 13:25:47 GMT -5
Book Title: Silver Author: Cheree Alsop Published By: Amazon Digital Services Genre: Young Adult / Supernatural Recommended Age: +13 Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 5 Ravens More, I know it’s wrong to start a review with just one word but that’s the first word that comes to mind after I read the first novel in this series of books from Cheree Alsop. The book landed on my desk as an assignment from several of my fellow reviewers and friends. I had placed it in a pile of possible next reads when I decided what the heck lets go ahead and get it out of the way. So when I picked it up and began to read I wasn’t expecting to get pulled into the book as I was but I did. It’s a nice start to a story we come in with a young werewolf moving with his human mother to a new town after the death of his father, Not only does he have to face the pack of wolves that are there and protecting what they think and feel is their territory but he has to find out who it was that killed is father with a very good idea in his mind of who it was. He meets a his neighbor a girl who has more secrets like he does as well about his family. Together the two face the world with their few friends and deal with the feelings that they slowly have developed for each other even though both their worlds want the two apart. I can not wait to read the other books in this series and hopefully some of you all will step in the world with me and take this wonderful ride.
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Post by Emily on Feb 22, 2012 16:53:34 GMT -5
Book Title: The Mers Author: Ami Blackwelder Published By: Eloquent Enraptures Publishing Genre: Romance/Supernatural Recommended Age: 15+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 4 Ravens This was definitely what I have spent a lot of time looking for. Today a lot of the same stories are made to all sound the same way. Lately we have all had more vampires, werewolves and other supernatural type of beings that we have lost out on the other monster and gods of old. Ami has done an amazing job of thinking up not only new ways to bring about a new Hero and Heroine but also getting a story that will draw you in. As with all stories there are the ups and the downs also the flaws but, thankfully this story is not the last in it’s series and so things will come out smoother I’m sure in the end. However, with it’s imperfections and perfections I have to say that I’m glad to say that this book did not let it pull me away but kept me turning the pages to delve deeper into this world . The story is of Mira a young woman growing up in a world where she never truly feels she fits in, In love with a mer as they are called on the area where she grew up. She is hungry to learn why the humans hate the mer’s so much and if she’s a human and not a mer why she was given away forgotten and abandoned on the beach that she was. Together her and Nerin the young man mer she is in love with adventures from the small patch of land that they have all been banished to it’s from here that her world becomes something she never thought. She grows and finds not only her long lost father, mother but a brother and things take a turn for the extreme. There is adventure, danger , love and family in this book elements that all pull together to help keep you on the roller coaster ride and leave you awaiting for more…
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Post by Emily on Feb 20, 2012 2:21:53 GMT -5
[/img][/center] Book Title: Caprice Author: Edward Aubry Published By: Worldmaker Media Genre: Thriller Recommended Age: 15+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 3 Ravens The book started out strong I was actually starting to enjoy it a little then it became redundant and a little over zealous with its mystery of who and what Caprice was/ is. It got to the point that at the 75% mark in the book I had to stop close it out and decide if I wanted to finish it or if I wanted to throw it out the window with frustration as some parts were just to drawn out. Then I stopped thought better of it and decided that as a reviewer I needed to step back take a breath and push on through to finish the book . Though it was funny and moments in the book you laughed and even got a little sad the frustration behind the book became almost to the point of stopping. Seeing as how it’s not my cup of tea however, it very well may be your’s with that having been said I will say just what I say to everyone pick it up and take a look at it see if it excites you and gets you going to read.
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Post by Emily on Feb 20, 2012 2:16:06 GMT -5
Book Title: Always a Witch Author: Carolyn Maccullough Published By: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition (August 1, 2011) Genre: Supernatural Recommended Age: 13+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 4 Ravens The follow up book to always a witch, which I did not have the pleasure of reading before I read this book. How soon after I did regret that as this book even as standing on it’s own pulled me in and had me devouring each page and chapter with the insatiable urge to see what was going to happen what was next and just how it would all play out. I was amazed at the ending thrilled with the characters and even found myself falling in love with the world that had been created by Carolyn Maccullough. It’s definitely a book to pick up and read for yourself if you want a good story with a really good ending one where you feel that your heroine really did give it her all. The story is of Tamsin Greene shortly after she had found out that she was a witch after all like the rest of her family. For most of her life she had grown up thinking she had no powers when she was actually the strongest of her family through their whole blood line and would be the one that eventually saved them from the horrors of their past and they all lost one of the things they valued the most besides family. You get to travel through time once again with Tamsin as she goes back to the roots when her family have to stop another coven of witches within their town from experimenting on humans and eventually others of their time. It’s a sacrifice from Tamsin and a young witch from the other families line that ends up saving them all from a fate worse than death or well fates worse than death even if some of them don’t see it the way that Tamsin and the other you witch does. It’s an intriguing tale one that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a lot of action and even some suspense pick this book up today and check it out I’m sure I’m not the only one who will love it.
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Post by Emily on Feb 9, 2012 11:22:39 GMT -5
Book Title: Crush Control Author: Jennifer Jabaley Published By: Razorbill Genre: Young Adult/ Romance Recommended Age: 13+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 4 Ravens Cute, That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think about this book. The author has found a very unique and interesting way to put the turmoil of being the new girl but not really the new girl out in the open the stresses of the character and the desire to be something that she’s not but what others think her to be. The need to be accepted and thought of more than she first might have been. It rushes through turmoil , trouble and a little bit of crazy in the end it ties up adorably and I was pleased with the ending just wish there was a little more story telling. That being said I’ll give a little synopsis of the way I viewed the book. The story is set in Worthington , Georgia it’s Willow’s hometown , but when she was eight she and her mother had moved away to Las Vegas. Over the years she has stayed friends with her best friend Max back in Georgia and they have shared each others ups and downs always the best friends always the boy or girl the other could fall back on when things didn’t seem to go their way. Willow shortly after one of her boyfriends comes to realize that she’s in love with Max and waits for him… Finally the time has come to move back and she thinks things are going to all go her way. Max is more than excited when his best friend has moved back to town. Things start out fine spending time with each other and enjoy the other. But as he starts to feel more for Willow he sees things going a little more out of control or what he thinks are wrong. Rifts form but not for the reasons Willow expects. Max is in love with her but due to a little hypnosis when they were young Max is struggling when he wants more than friendship all he can think about is friendship. The question is will things work out or will they just get worse. A wonderful story by Jennifer Jabaley and I’m looking forward for more to come.
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Post by Emily on Feb 2, 2012 10:49:38 GMT -5
Book Title: Boyfriend From Hell Author: E. Van Lowe Published By: White Whisker Books Genre: Young Adult Recommended Age: 13+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 3.5 Ravens This was hard to decide as the story and the basis were very good however, I had a few complaints on just a few things. Before I delve into those I want to touch on the other things that made me really enjoy this book and why it’s one of the first half points I’ve EVER given in a review. The story of Megan and her mother was very realistic and touching on some levels. The close friendship between the single mom and only daughter kept a smile on my face as it’s often not the case with most books and the single parent a lot of times the child is rebellious of the parent seems detached, self centered and clueless. The disconnection of the family making it easier to pull the teen off on the adventure and not focus the story around the family at all. I was glad to see that the mother held a very significant part and that the story was about more than the teenage love affair. Megan was even at times that frustrating teenager that I myself wanted to ground and send to her room for a while cause of her attitude. Then when the reasons were shown it was even better in truth out of her anger and jealousy it showed that it was love she had for her friends and family causing her reactions and doing the things she was doing. Now to touch on the topic of Guy I have to agree to an extent with a lot of others and some that I have talked and shared this book with. We wish there was a little more involvement with him aside from the small specs of him here and there it left him being almost obscure perhaps that was in preparation for the second book in this series and perhaps there we will see more of his roll within this series but, If not I’m a little torn as to the purpose of Guy at all other than that paranormal love interest of the heroine girl. Which leads to my final thing of happiness, I’m glad to see a girl that is so not so dependant upon a male or someone else to save her or help the situation rather I got to see not one but two very strong girls with two different backgrounds come together to make a united front against Satan as they try to save Megan’s mother as well as each other. Maudy the outcast girl was pulled in and I loved the way the author formed the unlikely friendship between the two girls and showed that true friendship is in the oddest places. Between the risk of loosing everyone she loves, loosing her best friends and being stabbed in the back by one of them. It’s a paranormal tail that I really enjoyed and actually look forward to the next book . I just wish this one would have been a little longer and perhaps a little more detail however that lead to my 3.5 rating as it was a really good book and really great concept just needed a little more in the nudge of detail for me.
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Post by Emily on Jan 28, 2012 12:14:29 GMT -5
Book Title: Spellbound
Author: Samantha Combs
Published By: Astrea Press
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Recommended Age: 13+
Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc
Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community
Rating: 4 Ravens
The book was fun to read but not my usual cup of tea. Then again I’m not a young adult and don’t always like every YA supernatural thing I read. It has potential just something that is better suited for the younger audience than a woman of my age. I did like how the story started off with Logan, It’s not often it starts if not well written from a guys point of view but the book does switch views every chapter or so, which is in it’s self a nice change to get to see the story from every characters angle and thought well just about every character from all the major characters at least. It’s a good book just not for everyone. I did enjoy it though and think perhaps others may too.
The story is about Logan a normal everyday guy (So he thinks) gets up late and simply goes to school it’s there that he meets Serena and never will his world be the same. The two become involved with young love and it’s upon Serena’s sisters urging that Logan is told of the fact that Serena is a Twitch , or otherwise a Teenage Witch. Not only is that crazy and out of this world but he soon learns that something dark is after not only his girlfriend but his whole family and that darkness isn’t going to let up till it gets what it wants.
With all that goes wrong in his life there is a lot that goes good and it’s here we see Logan become the man he will be later in life, Serena fit into the roll and line of powerful witches that she has been born from and watch as they both and all save his family and hers from the dangerous darkness of the Council and all that they have begun to create with their belief that they can create a race of witches that only they can control. The question is just how do they plan to do it.
Pick up the book for your young adult at home I’m sure it’s a series they might actually cling to and get them to read once more. Especially when someone who thinks they are ordinary becomes extraordinary .
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Post by Emily on Jan 28, 2012 12:08:24 GMT -5
Book Title: The Demon Trappers Daughter Author: Jana Oliver Published By: Saint Martin’s Griffin Genre: Paranormal/ YA Recommended Age: 13+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 5 Ravens It’s hard to say that you fall in love with something especially me. I love to read but to get a pull to something to want to read more is not often. Sometimes when the story ends it’s good to leave it at that but with this series I have to say that is not the case. I want more. Riley and all of the characters in The Demon trapper series are spellbinding and I just can’t seem to get enough. I was given this book as a suggestion from someone I had met in a book story. The young woman was really ecstatic about it and I just thought hmm I have to check this out and I was really not disappointed. So if she is out there and reading this. Thank you for the wonderful suggestion. Riley Blackthorne is the daughter of one of Atlanta’s most notorious and well known Demon trappers. There are hunters that just kill demons but to trap them is so much more. Riley wants nothing more than to be just like her father and to learn from him so when she’s allowed to be his apprentice and is set out to take down a demon on her own while her father and his other student are out hunting down a much stronger demon she thinks nothing of it after all she’s a Blackthorne . Little does she knows this is the start of the catalyst that will set her whole world as she knows it upside down. With the Demon Trappers most hated elder Harper calling for her liscense after a little mess up while on her outing. Riley is taken home to relax and recoup. Her father and his other assistant are out trying to trap a couple threes. With the arrival of a level Five Demon her father is killed , leaving Riley without anyone in her family left besides a seriously hateful aunt she refuses to go to and her fathers student Beck is a worse thought even though he does nothing but want to take care of her he still has a way of getting under her skin. Later when she’s assigned to Harper she falls for his other apprentice Simon and in the end the world further tumbles down as Riley fights for her life, her fellow trappers life and to keep her father from being raised back from the dead by Necromancers. Things go from bad to worse and its clearly up to Riley to fix it all or at least be the source to calm the world that’s going crazy around her.
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Post by Emily on Jan 17, 2012 11:45:55 GMT -5
Book Title: Broods of Fenrir Author: Coral Moore Published By: Bared Teeth Publishing Genre: Paranormal Recommended Age: 18+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 5 Ravens We all know sometimes I take a little wander out and about and look for things outside of our normal publishers. Something that may or may not have been out there for a while and sink my teeth into it. I love to try new things and read new things. With this book there was no exception. As per my usual it is about the paranormal. Yes, it has werewolves or at least a since about them but it’s not like your usual shape shifters world. I love how Coral Moore has taken this genre if that’s what it can be called or this topic and made it sort of her own. I like how things are shown the wolf’s pack since of mind how there is a King of all and that there are laws and boundaries, traditions that are as old as the race it’s self. In a since she has done just that created a race instead of just a pack of shape shifters. She’s breathed life into something I had started to loose a little bit of hope as the mindlessness of a lot of shape shifters are so easily circumnavigated by most authors and easily dispelled away with the simplicity of the one thought that “They are pack they do not disobey. “ Nothing is cut in stone and all things chance. Brand in particular is a pleasure to read especially with his struggle to try to make himself anything but what his father was. Brand or Brandulf Gierson is set or should be the King of all the Broods of Fenrir but after he saw how his father was the cold hearted hurtful bastard of old was. He vowed not only to protect his mother but to never be like him. Unfortunately just like all heroes something bad happens before something good can come of it and that’s just it. This first book is the story of Brand and how he comes about his faults faces his fears and becomes the King that no one in the brood ever thought he would or could be. He finds love with a female Dagny of the brood with as much strength as he and it’s with their trials and the loss of a close friend that they all start the change of the broods and the future of their people.
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Post by Emily on Jan 17, 2012 11:35:54 GMT -5
Book Title: Die, My love Author: Penelope Fletcher Sold By: Amazon Digital Devices Genre: Supernatural Romance Recommended Age: +18 Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 3.5 Ravens I have mixed feelings about this book, It was good but not as good as some of the other worlds of Penelope Fletcher I have read. I found it a little hard to read through perhaps it was because it was all in first person in some areas or perhaps it was just the story seemed to move rather fast in some places then slow to a crawl and leave me questioning the situation and actions of the main character. It’s about a woman that has fallen in love with a vampire she has found in the late night shows at the theater. They go about being courted and when she thinks that he has left her he comes back saving her from a death that would have killed them both . In the end it leads into perhaps more interesting stories and other books from Penelope but I have to say that though it’s good it is not one of my personal favorites from her.
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Post by Emily on Jan 17, 2012 11:29:27 GMT -5
Book Title: A Merman’s Kiss Author: Laura Lond Published By: Createspace Genre: Supernatural Romance Recommended Age: Adult choice. Not racey at all. Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 4 Ravens This was a wonderful yet short novella. I know I know the whole point of a novella is to be just that a novella but I would have LOVED to see this as a full story book. One that should be and could be a really nice change in romance. The ending was sweet but I almost wish in a way that it would have ended better than it did. I wish that Del’s feelings for Ellie would have changed but we all know and love those romance stories. I just couldn’t help falling in love with this one. I diverge back to what I was saying before short.. To short but great I really do wish that there was more I could say without ruining the book and what happens however I can not wait for more from Laura Lond and absolutely look forward to the day she may change her mind and decide to dip back into the world of Ellie and Del and tell us what else has happened if there might ever be more. Quick and fast read pick it up and fall in love with the characters as I have.
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Post by Emily on Jan 10, 2012 19:39:15 GMT -5
Book Title: The Trees: A collection of Stories
Author: Todd Brabander
Published By: Todd Brabander
Genre: Horror (Flash Fiction)
Recommended Age: 18+
Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc
Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community
Rating: 3 Ravens
Living in the Pacific Northwest it was a treat to find this book and also have my curiosity for it wet already being as I’m originally from the east coast and some things here are every bit as intriguing as they were five years ago when I first moved here. It’s amazing how sometimes you just realize you haven’t gotten out of your home after moving as much as you thought you had. But with the little rant on the side I have to carry on with my work.
The Trees is a collection of short stories each one was compelling but, one or two lacked the connection I felt that the others held in the book. I wished some were more elaborated upon I felt some were lacking in detail but others were very well written and achieved what I felt was the desired affect they were going for shock, horror, and a little surprise.
Larouche: A very nice short story about the town of Astoria, the characters were intriguing and I felt that if the author had taken the time it would have and could have been stretched into a novel all it’s own, it shows the potential of the writer and what he is very capable of accomplishing even sending a few chills up my spine and creating a curiosity for the unknown.
Happiness is a Dead Ladybug: Emotional pull of a story that leaves you feeling empty just as the Robot does later. It could have had more depth and filler but I felt that it was just as it should be perfectly empty it also has a moment of tension build up that has you thinking something more might just happen.
Sheltered: This was a wonderful tale, the horrible thought that the children had been held captive in a cellar and that the world around them was going through a post apocalyptic uproar was intriguing only to later have it found out that their grandfather was a crazy old man that had lied to them all their lives even as far as having the granddaughter still stuck with a bit of Stockholm syndrome.
The Tree: This was a wonderful story even like the character I found myself believing in the innocence and helpfulness of all the other trees and that one shouldn’t always trust what one is told…
The first Date: This one left me a little baffled I wasn’t sure where it fit in and it’s ending had me a little lost with the time I took to flip back and read it again I have to admit I am not sure where this one comes into play but if we were to be left curious and a little confused it worked.
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Post by Emily on Jan 6, 2012 21:07:36 GMT -5
Book Title: Chameleon (Book Two in the Rippler Series) Author: Cidney Swanson Published By: Williams Press Genre: Young Adult supernatural Recommended Age: 13+ Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 5 Ravens I got to finish this book after my surgery. It was a pleasure to have something to read that was fast paced and never let me feel like I needed more sleep than I should while I was in the hospital. In other words it was a definite page turner that kept me up and moving to get better as well. Just like the first in this series Rippler, Chameleon picks up with Sam and Will heading off to France with Will’s sister. To meet Sir Walter another trying to help them deal with their current situations and avoid the people that are after Samantha. Samantha learns a lot about herself when in France even that someone you never expected could be more to you than you thought couldn’t. She and Gwen eventually meet a common ground and she begins the trust that is needed all over to share with her friend bringing their bond together even closer. Though it ends just as the first making you hungry for more. I definitely can not wait to see what else Cidney has in store for us with her next indulgence of this series. I simply can not wait.
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Post by Emily on Jan 6, 2012 21:00:47 GMT -5
Book Title: Rippler (Book one of the Ripple Series) Author: Cidney Swanson Published By: Williams Press Genre: Supernatural Young Adult Recommended Age: Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 5 Ravens Starting this book was a real treat, I received it over the holidays and had the time to actually sit down and read not only this one but the sequel so that I wasn’t left to long hungering for more. The author really took her time with the story setting up all the details and fleshing out the characters. So much so that when I got to the end and the story was picking up more than it had been before things in Samantha’s world was just beginning to get a little turned upside down and she realized that normal was never going to be an equation in her life it ended making me rush right to the next book in this series to find out what was going to happen next. The story unfolds with Samantha Ruiz a teen just trying to enjoy her life and everyday adventures. She’s on her schools track team rafting trip when she suddenly realizes that everyone is freaking out yelling and trying to call for her thinking she’s fallen in the water. Looking down is when Sam realizes that what she once thought were bad dreams and jokes isn’t she really has turned invisible. With the help of Will she is saved from embarrassing herself and having to many people asking questions as she slips back to the realm of the solid and visible. Will now knows what Sam’s secret is and he has one of his own, but vowing to help Sam and still respect the promise he made to his sister the two embark on a journey to help discover Sam’s special talent , develop it more so she doesn’t have it happen to her on accident again and only causes to realize that their two worlds were destined to intertwine anyway. Discovery of something from Sam’s past and from Will’s has left the two with a choice to stay in each others life or risk them. On top of all of this Sam’s having to deal with her best friend Gwen dumping her for thinking that Will is some bad boyfriend from hell. Tensions mount and the adventures build up as each face their own uncertain futures. Definitely a fine read and one I’m really excited to have gotten a chance to read. More to come on the next novel for sure but till then read this one catch up and join me on a wonderful ride.
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Post by Emily on Dec 30, 2011 13:10:38 GMT -5
Book Title: Thirteen Reasons Why Author: Jay Asher Published By: RAZORBILL (The Penguin Group) Genre: Young Adult Recommended Age: 15+ (really depends upon the parents choice) Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community Rating: 5 Ravens This book blew me away, I have to give it to the author it was touching and emotional. I felt as if I was living the tapes and words right along with Clay and I hurt emotionally for Hannah as well. To genuinely feel and know what they both were going through as the events that lead to Hannah’s suicide unfold it’s hard not to feel anger, sadness, happiness, and even a little remorse for the inevitable outcome of all of this but at the end there is that spark that hope that moment in time when Clay realizes that he can help stop another Hannah from happening with Skye. The book is about thirteen tapes, and thirteen reasons why Hannah commits suicide how she tried for help and was failed each time how sometimes we as the humans we are and yes we are flawed overlook the simplest of things cause we are to busy and to caught up with our own lives that we take others for granted and what they themselves might be going through. I have noticed myself the callousness that has seemed to rip through our youth I think back to times when I was in school with the bullying and situations that happened people would have stepped up and stopped it. I was lucky No one would have ever told me to Suck it up and move on. This book is a very good moral setting it tells the young adult and reader that age old scientific method for ever action there is an opposite or equal reaction and that no matter what you say or do it always affects someone. Yes, In Hannah’s own words the snowball affect. Everything just keeps rolling down hill and getting bigger. If you haven’t read this book please, please do and share it share it with your daughter your son whoever you can get to read it. Maybe we can all get that message out there even if it changes one person or everyone. Amazingly done my hats off to the author.
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