PAY IT FORWARD KIDNLE WINNER….I MEAN WINNERS!

Last week, because of the amazing example and generosity of Tina Reber (click here for the story), I set out to pay it forward by giving someone a free Kindle.

The response was overwhelming.

I was truly blown away by so many caring people responding on behalf of some extremely special individuals. The stories and support was heartwarming. I cried my way through most of them, and I don't cry, usually...almost never. 

When I set out to do this, I had thought that one of the nominations would stand out, making my decision easy. I was wrong. Every single nomination was special, and every single person deserved a free Kindle. I really, REALLY wish I could gift one to everybody. In fact, I'm pretty heartbroken that I can't. I tried to win half a billion dollars in the power ball...but I didn't, so I finally decided that the only way I would be able to choose would be to put all of the nominations in a bowl and pick one at random. Since I was so taken aback by all of the nominations and their stories, I decided I just had to pick two winners! So I did. 

I wanted to share the winners' stories with you, and say thank you to the nominators Jen Feinberg and Amber of Up All Night Book Addict for being part of this. Also, thank you to Tina Reber for inspiring this entire giveaway and everyone who sent in a nominations. 

I need to go cry….again.

I am nominating my best friend Michelle Chavers.  Here is why.... She is a single mom.  She does everything on her own and takes everything in stride.  No child support.  No welfare assistance.  She makes $10/hour as a MOA at a small private practice.  With bills and student loans, she always does without.  She saved and saved where she could a couple years ago and broke down and bought her self a Kindle.  Well, she allowed her son to use it ONE day while she was at work.  The one rule, it didn't leave the house.  Well, being a 10 year old... we know that rule wasn't followed.  He took it outside and no sooner dropped it and shattered it.  She has been without a Kindle for a year and without the means to replace it.  It would tickle me to death if she were able to get one!  She is behind on my reading recommendations and I need her to catch up (haha). 

CONGRATULATIONS MICHELLE!! YOUR KINDLE & FREE COPY OF JACKED IS ON THE WAY!!

I'd like to nominate one of my former students, Bailey Raffensperger. She was one of my all time favorites. She's a lover of books and reading and is a phenomenal writer. She hasn't had the easiest of lives. She has a medical condition that I only began to understand after I read Maybe Someday. Her family doesn't have that much, either. She moved across the country to Tulsa in June and we still keep in touch via email and instagram. She even sends me her essays so that I may help edit them. This girl deserves so much better than the hand she's been dealt. I'm a better teacher for having her in my class as a student. Please consider Bailey as the recipient of the Kindle Fire.

CONGRATULATIONS BAILEY! I CAN'T WAIT TO REVIEW ONE OF YOUR BOOKS SOMEDAY! YOUR KINDLE AND COPY OF MAYBE SOMEDAY IS ON THE WAY!

What goes around comes around….

Sometimes this world is a brutal place. A cruel place. Everywhere we turn we're crushed by the weight of intolerance, hate, violence, cruelty, and to put it extremely mildly….unnecessary drama. People hide behind their laptops, computer screens, and iPhones. They wear the first amendment like a badge of honor, giving them uninhibited rights of verbal expression. But when did a person's freedom of speech become a weapon? When did it become an excuse? When did being kind become the minority?

It's depressing.

It's disheartening.

I just plain sucks.

But every now and then, somebody reminds me that there is good out there. It may be something small, insignificant, but the heart behind the act shines like a supernova. Sometimes the act is subtle, and sometimes it slaps you right in the face.

Two and a half years ago, Tina Reber slapped me in the face. 

You can read the full story (here), but I'll summarize. A little over two years ago, in a random thread on Facebook, people discovered that I didn't own an eReader (not even a smartphone), I read all my digital copies on my laptop, propped on my knees while lying in bed. I never really thought much about it; it was just the way it had always been. I didn't really know any better. However, my fellow readers, bloggers, and authors were beyond shocked. The thing people most wanted to know was why? Well, at the time I was a full time nursing student, living on an extremely fixed budget. 

Because nursing was a full time commitment, I couldn't work more than 10-15 hours a week. Since it was my second degree, I also didn't qualify for any financial aid. I was having to pay for school 100% out of pocket. No worries though, I had a roof over my head, food in my belly, and even some extra put away for books ;-) I had also saved some money beforehand in order to cover my needs, but that's how I had to live, on needs. Hence the fixed budget.

Here is where the really beautiful part comes in. Within about fifteen minutes of the conversation, I was messaged a receipt from the author of Love Unscripted & Jacked, Tina Reber, saying my kindle fire would be arriving in about three days. 

Even in this very moment (two years later), I am completely blown away by her kindness, generosity, and selflessness. Without hesitation, Tina did something that I will never, ever forget.

So why am I bringing this up now? Well, one of the things that Tina said to me while I was thanking her profusely was, "I'm in a position where I can afford it, and I'm there because of awesome people like you pimping my novel and singing praises. What you have done for me has allowed me to do what I did for you. So Mollie, thank you!" Yes, the woman gives me a kindle fire and then thanks me!! I decided right then and there that when I was in the position to do the same for someone else, I would. 

I finally did graduate and become an RN, and for the past two years I have been working as an ICU nurse. This has finally put me in the position to hopefully do the same for someone else. My passion for reading has not only brightened the world around me, but cultivated friendships I will have for a lifetime. I hope that by paying Tina's act forward, somebody else's world will be just a little bit brighter. 

Kindle Fire HD 6 Giveaway

It's really quite simple, but I need your help! If you you know 

someone who does not own an eReader, but should, all you have to 

do is nominate them by sending an email to 

toughcriticbookreviews@gmail.com

Please include their name and why you think they deserve an 

eReader. Also, please, PLEASE put PAY IT

FORWARD in the subject line or your entry may not be received.

US residents only please.

I will be selecting a winner Friday, February 20th.

All entries must be received by Wednesday, February 18th.

Not only will they receive a new Kindle Fire HD 6

but also a copy of Tina's new book

Jacked