Book Release, Kindle Freebie, & Grand Giveaway!

I’m pleased to share with you my latest release, Love Request. This one is special to me because it’s not only the first romance I penned, but it features a “hearing-impaired” heroine, like myself.

I say “hearing –impaired” because really, there’s nothing wrong with Ciara. She’s not damaged or in need of repair. She just can’t hear as well as others.

As a reader, I grew tired of all the women in romance novels being perfect. In real life, many of us have disabilities—and they are disabilities others can’t see. And worse, they are disabilities others can’t understand, and a lot of times what people don’t understand becomes something they fear…and belittle.

This is where the bullying comes in. You see, this is more than just a romance novel. Open its pages, hit that Kindle “next page” button, and find out for yourself. Learn. Be enlightened. Relate.

Want to sample it first? No problem. Available on Kindle and FREE for the next five days, is a humorous Valentine short story, Mating Instinct.

You’ll find the first chapter of Love Request at the end.

Thank you, readers, for celebrating this special time with me. Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of you, I’m giving away a print copy of Love Request, a plush dog, a lipstick for that special date, and 5 pheromone-soaked chocolate incense sticks! WARNING: Be careful if dogs are in the vicinity.

Blurb:

When Ciara Littleton finally joins Facebook to socialize without the limits her hearing impairment gives her, she looks up a childhood friend on a whim. In sending him that first message, she ignites the memories of a crush from twenty years ago. Can a simple friend request fix all that stands between them and maybe even lead to something more?

Hunter's plate is full. A recent divorce, a pregnant sister, and now, he realizes he's in love with a woman who lives states away. Can he overcome the boundaries of Internet romance to make this desire turn into something real, or will adversity and distance be their undoing?

This book was formerly titled A Facebook Affair and has been revised with a new ending.

Love Request has been named a LASR Best Book and is now up for vote on Best Book of 2012 Poll. You can cast a vote here. I’m so excited and so grateful!

Blurb for Mating Instinct:

This is exactly what you need!

It’s Valentine’s Day and when Ariel receives a package of incense in the mail from her Pagan friend and mentor, she isn’t sure what to make of the enclosed note. Sure, she has some issues, but who doesn’t?

When the smoke releases its magic, Ariel gets an evening of surprise humor and romance, and it is indeed exactly what she needs.

Links:

Love Request on Amazon

Mating Instinct FREE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You To Know

A mixture of comedy and sadness by Hy Conrad and Jeff Johnson with artwork by Dean Stefanides.

Eleven dogs tell you their innermost thoughts.

Sarge...starts a police dog with a fondness for pot. He goes to a junkyard and then a hospital and even the movie business.. It seems poor Sarge just can't keep a job. He gets into tons of trouble and yet at the same time, his stories are a tad sad. He just keeps getting abandoned...or fired as he says.

Moonbeam is a rescued dog living with a hippie. He's not too fond of being forced to be a vegan.

Tinkerbell is the show stealer. Her pages look like a Facebook page and she's very sarcastic as she berates her human and the human's daughter. She's hauled around in a purse, drinks wine with the gardener when everyone is away, has the adventure of a lifetime, and bashes her human for assuming she has a Mexican accent. Her comments are snarky and funny.

"Why do you expect me to come every time you say my name? Do you come to me every time I bark?"

Orson is all about food. He just wants to eat, even spoiled guacamole -his fault for accidentally pulling the refrigerator tail.

Gabby is a show dog. I didn't find her that interesting

Rufus...poor Rufus. He's one of those dogs people get just to entertain the kid and then the kid grows up and ignores the dog. He's got fleas, ticks, mange, is a terrible hunting dog who gets kicked out sometimes. I thought his stories more sad than funny, but he's touching all the same.

Axelrod is kind of doofy. He talks a lot about fetching, the elevator, going to work, vomiting...

Dimples is constantly talking about her puppies and how bad a job her humans are doing raising them, but each one of her parts tells a funny story...like taking the Christmas photo. It can be quite the adventure!

Then there's Bandanna, Charlie, and Sophie..oh, Sophie is my favorite. She's been with her human a long time and they are...you could say, dying together. Her parts are just super touching and sweet. It's like what it would be like...growing old from a dog's POV. Her parts make you want to drop the book and hold  your dog.

But what was really awesome about this book is the pictures/layout/artwork. Sarge's parts look like a clipboard. Tinkerbell has the Facebook. Orson I think has an ereader. It's cute! I really like it. This isn't a book you toss away, but leave laying around to pick up and get a smile any time. It's a book you leave on your coffee table.

I absolutely loved it. I had a hard time saying something about each dog for the simple reason there's so much funny and cute stuff to remember, it's impossible to sum it up. They talk about lifting their legs, puppies, death, doggie day cares, baths, and licking your face, among other things.

I just randomly chose a page for something funny. Here is what Rufus does when no one is watching:
"Put bottle caps on my feet and practice my tap dancing. But it hurts."

It's just too cute. God a dog lover on your Christmas list? This would be the perfect gift.

I nabbed this via Paperback Swap.