Read-A-Romance Month 2014 - Celebrate Romance by Celebrating You

I'm participating in the Read-A-Romance Month ! After reading my post, please comment to enter my giveaway. At the end of the month I'll choose the winners!

Here is my short essay on Celebrating Romance - the theme of this year's Read-A-Romance-Month! 

Romancing Yourself:

Celebrating romance is a great idea. 

But what do you do when you don’t have a significant over or if your significant other is out of town? I say, there is no reason not to romance yourself!

How?

The ole tried and true bubble bath by candlelight comes first to mind.

Buy yourself some flowers. They will make you smile every time you walk by them.

Get a full body massage. In funds are low maybe you can swing a foot massage. 

Can’t afford to travel to Paris? Yeah, me neither. Stake out a new chic café. Buy a fancy cup of coffee and a decadent pastry. Spend an hour people watching or flipping through a magazine. Rule: No electronic devices!

Forget fast food for dinner! Treat yourself to glass of wine and a plate of the fancy cheese you always wanted to try along with some crusty bread or crackers. Listen to soft music. Rule: No electronic devices!

Questions for Me! 

1 - Describe the most daring, adventurous or inspiring thing you ever did. 

I'm not the most adventurous person as I have anxiety issues but my decision to indie publish is the most gutsy move I made. The fact that I've inspired others to take the leap is humbling. 

2 - Tell us about your journey to becoming a writer. (How did you decide to get started? Did you always know or was there a specific moment when you knew?) I've been making up stories since childhood. My best friend and I used to walk through the woods telling stories about finding a portal and where it would lead us. Eventually these stories had cameo appearance of our latex crushes. 

3 - Tell us about The (or A) Book That Changed Your Life. (Why?)

Athem by Ayn Rand is the that had the most impact on me. I read it in my teens and the theme of individuality really spoke to me. I learned how important it is to think for (and be) yourself. To question authority and not be blind to a 'crowd' mentality.

Authors You Need To Read ( you know, besides me )

Allie Boniface                      CC Mackenzie

Wendy Marcus                    Nana Malone

Jennifer Probst                   

                                                     
Now for the giveaway!
Your choice from my backlist! 
1 winner - paperback  1 winner - eBook  1 - winner audiobook
Answer this question in the comments below and I'll choose a winner at random.

Tell me something nice that you did just for yourself!

Huddle Up

 Huddle Up is part of Sports Romance Blog 
Hop. I asked Angel O'Malley, the heroine of Huddle Up, to stop by and share her Beer and Pretzel Cupcakes recipe that she made for my Super Bowl Party. (The team her husband Billy Burner plays on didn't get in this year..shhhh)


1 pkg (16.5 oz) dark chocolate fudge cake mix.
1 cup of beer 
                                         3 eggs 

1/3 cup oil

Preheat oven to 350 and line 24 muffin cups 
with cupcake lines. Mix the ingredients above
on medium spread for 2 minutes. Divide among liners. Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool completely. 

Take 1 can of icing and add a splash of beer and several tablespoons of green food coloring - mix. Then chill icing for a 30 minutes. 

 Ice cupcakes and trim with crushed pretzel pieces. Place a chocolate football on top. (make sure to unwrap the foil before eating the football)

Huddle Up:
When Angel O'Malley is left penniless by her deceased father's gambling debts, she is forced to sue pro football player Billy Burner for child support. Blindsided with a five-year-old daughter, he tackles fatherhood with the same commitment he gives to the game, but he has his eye on a bigger prize: Angel's heart.

She agrees to Billy's plan to play house to ensure the new father makes no rookie mistakes. Though their passions burn hotter than ever they must overcome old betrayals, past hurts, and new insecurities if they are to prevent history from repeating itself.

Can a long ago summer love turn into an everlasting one?

Huddle at Amazon

As part of the blog hop I'm giving away 1 eBook copy of Huddle Up to one commenter to be chosen at random on 2/6/14. 
Please leave a comment and then hit the link below to visit the other awesome authors that are part of the blog hop.

1. Cassandra Carr

2. Jami Davenport

3. N Kuhn

4. Liz Matis

5. VL Locey

6. Laurie Peterson writing as Laurie Terson

7. Michel Prince

8. Jean Joachim

9. Kate Willoughby

10. Lily Harlem

11. Donna Gallagher

12. Normandie Alleman

13. Keira Andrews

14. Melanie Ting

15. Raw Talent Series

16. Bianca Sommerland

17. Suzan Butler

18. Megan Linden

The inspiration behind my hero Grady O'Flynn.

When I begin a story I usually have a celebrity in mind for my hero.
Playing For Keeps = a mashup of Hugh Jackman and Kevin Nash
Going For It = Vin Diesel
Love By Design = Josh Holloway (of Lost fame)

About the time I was thinking of writing a sexy short titled Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis, there was a TV show on the air called Stars Earn Stripes. Celebrities were paired up with a military/police personnel and competed in training missions.

I immediately fell in love with Grady Powell, a former Green Beret who was paired up with WWE wrestler Eva Torres.

And thus Grady O'Flynn was born. I couldn't help but keep his first name and I made him a Navy SEAL.

Here is a little snippet from Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis

Navy SEAL Grady O’Flynn wasn’t often knocked back on his heels but the bombshell in front of him knocked him back and rocked his world. She reminded him of a movie starlet from the Forties. All curves and all sass. And those baby blues? Man, they nearly had him babbling like an infant.     

“So what do you do for a living?”

Amused by her obvious deflection, he’d decided to let his question go unanswered since he couldn’t be an open book either. He didn’t want to lie but he couldn’t reveal who he was or why he was in New York City. “I’m on extended leave.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m between assignments.” He took a sip of scotch.

“Am I going to have to waterboard you for information?”

Grady nearly spit out his drink but recovered quickly with, “There are far more pleasurable ways to get information.”

“Ooo.”

God, he loved the way her ruby lips formed an O. He wouldn’t take the thought a step further and fantasize about what that mouth could do to him. 

Release Day for Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis!

Today is release day! Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis is a sexy short (novelette). I'll be donating 50% of my proceeds to the Wounded Warriors Project. There is a page on my blog that I will update every quarter with the donation.

Here is blurb for the story:

Hollywood’s handsomest men surround celebrity agent Ava Gardner but none are as intriguing as larger-than-life Grady O’Flynn. The Navy SEAL is on an unsanctioned mission when they end up starring in their own romantic comedy. 
Will they continue to sizzle when Grady has to report back to duty? 

Buy link for Kindle  only .99cents!

Buy link for NOOK  only .99cents!

Here is an excerpt:

Ava slipped from the stool and slid next to her target. “You know this is a martini bar?” She held up her empty glass. Despite the number of people waiting for drinks, he only had to nod at the bartender to order her a refill.

His gaze then captured hers. “I’m a rebel.”

Ethereal green. That was the only way to describe his eyes. Almost lost in the depth of his stare she forced herself to speak. “So you’re looking for a girl who can belt back a scotch?”

A smile appeared on his face. “That would be asking too much. I’d settle for a girl who liked a cold beer.”

“Wine?”

 Still smiling he shook his head. “High maintenance.”

“You came to the wrong place then.”

He handed her the drink and said, “From where I’m standing I’m in exactly the right place.” 

Coming soon....

The revisions to my sexy novelette, Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis are complete. I hoping to have it out by March but it still needs line editing and then it's off to the formatter. Keep your fingers crossed.

Here is the cover and a little snippet!

Ava slipped from the stool and slid next to her target. “You know this is a martini bar?” She held up her empty glass. Despite the number of people waiting for drinks, he only had to nod at the bartender to order her a refill.

His gaze then captured hers. “I’m a rebel.”

Ethereal green. That was the only way to describe his eyes. Almost lost in the depth of his stare she forced herself to speak. “So you’re looking for a girl who can belt back a scotch?”

A smile appeared on his face. “That would be asking too much. I’d settle for a girl who liked a cold beer.”

“Wine?”

 Still smiling he shook his head. “High maintenance.”

“You came to the wrong place then.”

He handed her the drink and said, “From where I’m standing I’m in exactly the right place.” 

Romancing The Jock - January 1, 2013!!!!

It's almost here! I'm so excited to be a part of Romancing The Jock Blog, which begins January 1, 2013 My first post will be January 4 and then my regular schedule will be the 3rd Thursday of every month.

In the meantime click on the link below to read the article at One Page Press about it!

One Page - Press on Romancing the Jock

and the link to the blog is... (which you can always find on the side bar to the left)

Romancing the Jock

Romance Trading Cards

Reminder - If you want a set of my romance trading cards leave me your address in the comment section and I'll mail them to you!  FREE! Or email me at elizabethmatis@gmail.com

Here are the ones from Going For It:

Winning starts with beginning. Robert H. Schuller

The Beach Book Blast was such a success that I decided that all 8 of the commenters of my blog are winners of an eBook copy of Going For It and a set of my romance trading cards! I'll be contacting you all over the next 24 hours. Thanks for stopping by.

Going For It is part of the Beach Book Blast along with other awesome books and authors. Click on the link below to find out how to enter to win a Kindle Fire and more!

Beach Book Blast   click here

It starts August 15 and runs untilAugust 18!

And if you leave a comment here you'll be entered to win a ebook copy of Going For It and a set of my romance trading cards!

Fitness not famine - Supermodel Hannah Hahn

  Fitness not famine is Supermodel Hannah Hahn’s motto but she is just as insecure about her body as I am.

What? Are you kidding?

No – hear me out. When I was doing research for my supermodel heroine in Going For It I came upon an interesting fact – models ARE insecure and have body image issues!

I know I rolled my eyes too – BUT – then I thought about my body issues. Why when someone says – “Wow, you look great. Did you lose weight?” and I in return say, “Ugg, I gained 5 pounds.” or “Ugg, I still need to lose 25 pounds.”

Why do I do this? Why can’t I accept a compliment?

So I knew I had to make body image one of Hannah’s conflicts.  Can I make you feel bad for a supermodel? Well, one reader said, “You’ll want to cry when Hannah’s past with her mother is revealed.”

Here is a short excerpt of football player Jake Miller questioning Hannah’s diet.

Pulling on his briefs, then his pants, he escaped to the kitchen where another smell—an unpleasant one invaded his senses.

A grumpy Hannah looked up from a plate of steamed asparagus.

“What the hell?”

“Breakfast of Supermodels. Yum. Yum.” The grimace on her face as she took a bite said it all. “I made you coffee. I’d make you some eggs but I’m afraid I might eat them.” Waving a floppy spear of asparagus in the air she said, “This is all I can eat today. Gets rid of swelly belly.”

“Your belly is sexy.”

“The camera doesn’t think so.”

“You don’t take any pills?” He turned to pour a cup of coffee so she wouldn’t see the concern that he knew was etched on his face.

“No! I just get, get…”

“Bitchy,” he risked. Turning back he caught the narrowing of Hannah’s eyes.

 “I was going to say cranky.”

Jake threw back his head and laughed.

Hannah took another bite and made a yucky face.

He should keep his mouth shut. They were getting along, laughing together, having mind blowing sex and besides it was none of his business how she ran her life. But he worried about her so he was making it his business. He took the seat across from her.              “That’s not healthy.”

“Asparagus is very healthy.”

“You know what I mean. The dieting. You’re starving yourself.”

“Oh, and you keep those 8 pack abs by drinking beer and eating donuts?”

“Food is fuel for the body. When you look at it like that it’s easy to make the right choices.”

“I’ve been making my own choices all by myself for a long time. Besides, I believe in fitness not famine.”

Hannah’s bitchy tone didn’t fool Jake because the pained look in her eyes did not escape his notice. “For how long?”

“Since I was sixteen.”

“What?” Jake nearly shouted. The thought of her so young and alone triggered every protective instinct within him. He calmed and in a gentler tone asked, “Where were your parents?”

“Look, you can just Google it. I’m sure all the sordid details are still there.”

“I’d rather hear it from you.”

The doorbell rang. “That must be my yoga instructor. Can you answer the door so I can get ready?”

“Sure, but this talk isn’t over.”

Tell me what body issues do you have?

I'm gushing over a review I received for Going For It! Really - I almost cried! Click o the link and it will take you to it!

BooK Junkie

I hope to get back to a regular blogging schedule soon!

Would he just leave already? opening line to Going For it

Going For It is now available here Going For It - Kindle/Amazon and Going For It Nook/Barnes and Noble. Other ebook formats to follow!

Here is the blurb:
Pro football player Jake Miller’s game plan for winning back supermodel Hannah Hahn is play action in the bedroom. Once he sees beyond the swimsuits and lingerie, feelings of love blindside him, changing the rules of the game. 
Hannah owns the runway, but that success came with a price and a secret that’s kept her from trusting a man until Jake crashes through her defenses.
The paparazzi love the beauty and the beast couple but the tabloid rumors turn ugly and test the fragile trust between them. Then Hannah loses an ad campaign to fashion’s new ‘it’ girl. Her desperate reaction will cause Jake to challenge everything she’s ever believed about herself. 


And here is the book trailer!!!!!! 

Love By Design - Magic Mike Part 2

Have you see Magic Mike yet? I haven't - not yet. My hero from Love By Design moonlights as a stripper. Last week I shared an excerpt from his point of view and this week as promised here is a short excerpt for Victoria's point of view the heroine of Love By Design.

     The crowd squealed. Victoria’s mouth dropped open. What kind of miraculous material held back what she knew lay behind the thong? It defied the Law of Physics. A definite marvel of textile technology. Too bad someone went crazy with a be-dazzler because his package didn’t need any embellishment. Her fingers itched to touch but that was probably off limits. Would a bouncer come drag her off stage if she did? What if THAT made the papers? Victoria could hold off for an hour or two. Then they’d be alone and she could touch anywhere she wanted. Eat your hearts out, ladies. A smile appeared on her face and she lifted her head as her hand drifted to rest on his chest. His heart beat erratically underneath her palm. Funny, she was sure her heart had stopped. Had she even taken a breath?


If you want to read Love By Design by Liz Matis it's available in all eBook formats for only 3.49 and the paperback is 11.99.