Cover Reveal: Best Kind of Love

I'm so excited! I love the new cover for my novella, Best Kind of Love. This will be the first in my novella series, A Reunion Romance. It will be available November 7th. Isn't the cover beautiful?!

Awesome Giveaway!

28 authors have come together to give you a
 reading list of FUN FALL FAVORITES! 

Look at some of these incredible books by talented authors, including me :).

And with Christmas right around the corner, who wouldn't want a chance to win some moola?

PLUS a $300 GIVEAWAY

Click on the image to read a summary of each book :)

~ ENTER TO WIN ~

$300 Amazon Gift Card 
OR PayPal Cash

GIVEAWAY ends 11/17/14
No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older and legally able to receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. This giveaway is not associated with Rafflecopter, Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was organized by I Love to Read and Review Books :)
and is sponsored by the following authors ~

(While we can no longer ask you to "LIKE" Facebook pages as an entry~ Facebook links are below ~ as "LIKES" would be very much appreciated :)

Debbie Peterson

Heidi Ashworth

Paul Mark Tag

Victorine E. Lieske

Jenny Proctor
Rebecca Talley
Anna del C. Dye
Mona Ingram
Lisa Swinton
Shannon Guymon
Joyce DiPastena
Rebecca Belliston
Jo Noelle
A.L. Sowards
Christy Monson
Daniel Coleman
Rachel Rossano
Ronda Hinrichsen (aka Kathleen Marks)
Kathy Carmichael
Nichole Van
Beate Boeker
Virginia Ripple
Julie Coulter Bellon
Stacy Lynn Carroll
Theresa Sneed
Cindy M. Hogan
Anaiah Press
Julia Dweck
I Love to Read and Review Books :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Son is Not a Joke

I took my son to school today and walked him to the gym, as I do every day because that's where his class meets. After I dropped him off, I stood to watch him find his class and another, older, class walked past me with their teacher. I listened to the kids.

"Hey, look at me, I'm a retard," said a boy as he mimicked what he presumed to be the way a "retard" would act.

I don't think it was aimed at my son, or anyone in particular. I think the boy was just "joking" and having "fun," but I heard it.

I thought about how it made me feel and wondered what it would be like if that child's mother had been standing where I was. What if my son had walked past her and said, "Hey, look at me I'm a (insert racial slur)" and then proceeded with what he presumed would be the actions associated with that particular slur?

I'm betting she wouldn't like it. I'm even betting she would've insisted my son not use such language to refer to hers. In fact, I think she night have been outraged.

While we seem to be making progress in some areas of respect, I think have progressed little when it comes to respecting people with disabilities. It seems to be okay to make fun of those with disabilities. It seems acceptable to use the word "retard" when denigrating someone else. It's okay to act "retarded" and laugh about it. It's a big joke. Only my son isn't a joke.

He didn't ask for an extra chromosome. I did nothing to make him have that extra chromosome. He was born with it and he will live with it all of his life.

He is progressing, learning, and trying to do his best despite that extra chromosome. His extra chromosome does not define him and he deserves to be treated with respect, not be made the butt of jokes. We work every day to teach people this and, some days, I think that message is getting out. I see kids smile at my son, put their arms around him, and include him. Then I have an experience like today and wonder.

Yet I am hopeful that the world will be a better place for my son. I keep hoping that people will see him as a human being, not as a chromosome count. I keep working to send out a message loud and clear.

I may only have one voice, but I do have a voice, and I am going to use it.

My son is not a joke.

Boxed Set with Imperfect Love

I'm so excited! My book is included in this boxed set with She's Just Right by Diane Darcy and The Lost Art by Jennifer Griffith. These are all best-selling romance novels. Together. In one place. For only $2.99. What a bargain, right?

If you love to read romances you can purchase Crazy Sweet here.

If you've read any of these books and would like to leave a review on Amazon that would be super awesome!! The more reviews we get, the better chance we have of finding new readers through additional promotions. Please, help us spread the word. 

Thank you!!