Liz Matis's Blog, page 5

And the Oscar goes to...... ME!

It's my annual 'Pick My Dress for the Oscars!' ... you know if I going because I nominated for Best Screenplay...

So how do you like my choices? Which one should I wear? Or which one would YOU wear?

 

1 Day - Countdown Spotlight - The Sport of Romance with Liz Matis

1 day until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below)


Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a teaser snippet from one of the books included.

Day 1: Huddle Up by Liz Matis


     Angel nodded towards the door. Once they were in the hallway, she touched his arm. “I’m sorry about earlier.”     Billy looked down at the hand on his bicep. He flexed the muscle.          “Oh,” she gasped.     “What are you exactly sorry about?” He stepped closer, brushing his fingers along her cheek. “Being interrupted?”     “Yes, I mean, no.” Angel backed away.     But he persisted, backing her up against the closed door of her room. His fingers threaded through her long black hair. “Do you remember the first time we kissed?”     “No, I mean, yes.”     Billy captured her breathless whisper in a gentle kiss. Her lips tasted like heaven and sugar. Angel’s hands rested unsure upon his chest as if ready to ward him off, and then they slid around his body as she melted into him. His body hardened. His blood raged for more, but still he kept the kiss soft, unwilling to ruin the sweetness of the moment.     He had a choice. Play the short game for instant gratification or the long game for the win. The long game took patience and that was a game strategy Billy had never excelled at, but to win Angel, he’d learn some new moves. He pulled away. Looking into her eyes he read the emotion there and knew he made the right call. Trust.     “Goodnight, Angel.”
     Walking into his bedroom he realized it was only nine. Unless he wanted to run into Angel and test his new found patience, he was in a prison of his own making. At least he had cable.
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Countdown Spotlight - Day 4 - The Sport of Romance - with Cari Quinn

FOUR days until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below)


Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a teaser snippet from one of the books included.

Day 4 - Shadowboxer by Cari Quin


I dragged her against my chest and tipped back her face with my thumb on her chin. I’d had enough of her amusement at my expense. “Open up.” I swept my tongue between her lips, silencing her brief protest.
Then I was inside her, if only in this insignificant way. The cold night disappeared. Everything did but the warm mouth that parted eagerly beneath mine.Her rumbling moan vibrated through me and made me lightheaded. Need spiked low in my belly, causing a surge of blood into my cock that demanded more than our testing brush of tongues. Forward, retreat. I wanted to rake my teeth over the fullness of her lips, but they were cut. I didn’t want to hurt her while I was giving her pleasure.Unless she wanted me to.Despite my hesitation, she didn’t hold anything back. She fisted her fingers in my shirt and pulled me down. And in. I was drowning in her taste, cinnamon and mint. The combination didn’t go together. I was used to girls tasting like fruit or candy. She was more tart than sweet. More hard than soft. Her body yielded in my arms, but her tongue only became more aggressive, almost daring me to keep up.Why did that turn me on so damn much?      She moaned again when I got rougher than I’d intended, and I immediately drew back. “Sorry,” I mumbled, fairly certain I’d never apologized after a kiss before. Her heavy lids lifted and she smoothed the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip. I couldn’t help the groan that escaped me. “Dammit, Mia, don’t do that when I’m trying to be honorable.”


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Countdown Spotlight - Day 5 - The Sport of Romance - with CM Doporto

FIVE days until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below)


Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a teaser snippet from one of the books included.

Day 5: Opposing Sides by CM Doporto
I stepped out of the director’s office and entered the main area. Standing in all his six foot two glory was the star quarterback of our universities’ football team. I had never seen him in person, and I felt like a midget looking up at him.  Even though I didn’t know him personally, I’d heard and read enough about him to know he was a womanizer and had a drug problem.
Another reason why I shouldn’t help him.“Hi, I’m Lexi Thompson and I’ve been asked to consult with you.” I made it clear that it wasn’t my choice to help him.“Lexi. Hmm, I like that name.”Uh, no you don’t.His full lips spread, revealing the most charming smile, coupled with a deep dimple on the right. Now I knew why every girl fell for him.  But I was smarter than that. “I’m Raven.” He stalled for a moment, his eyes giving me a thorough exam to the point that I bet he knew what color my panties were. “Raven Davenport.” He ran a hand over his short buzz cut, and he looked like the perfect model for an Abercrombie and Fitch ad. Minus his T-shirt.He was toxic and smelled of sex and drugs. Well, not that I knew what all that smelled like, but his aura beamed bright red warning me to be careful. “Are you ready to get started? Because we only have an hour.” I held out my hand, motioning to a small table in the corner.“That’s plenty of time.” He raised his brows.I rolled my eyes and walked to the table. Taking a seat, I took out the agreement that Dr. Philips prepared. I signed my name, and moved the papers in front of him. “Please sign this.”Raven leaned over the table. “I was thinking you might want to do this somewhere private.” A seductive grin spread across his lips as he pressed his weight against it, as if testing the durability of the wood.My jaw dropped. Was he serious? My fiancé didn’t even tease me that way. Although that would’ve been nice. Then again, we hadn’t even made out on a bed much less on a table. I had to restrain myself from slapping him. “Excuse me, Mr. Davenport?” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “You can call me Raven.”  I guess by the tone in my voice he knew I meant business. “Please read the agreement, and let me know if you have any questions. I indicated we would meet twice a week for an hour and more if a mutual agreement can be established.”“Okay. Sounds fair. Do you have a pen?” He held out his hand. His long fingers curled up in a perfect cup. A hand that was made for a football and caressing various female parts. Whoa! Where did that come from?Extending my hand, I gave him my pen. He eased it from my fingertips in a gentle motion. “Thank you, Lexi.”He signed the paper and handed it back to me.“Aren’t you going to read it?”Shaking his head, he said, “No, I trust you.”“But you don’t even know me.” “Not yet.” His green eyes sparkled. “But my gut tells me we’re going to get to know each other real well.”It was obvious why Lisa didn’t want to work with him. I made a mental note to call her the second he left. I sucked in a quick breath and let it out to clear my head. “Whatever.” With haste I removed my Hodge’s Harbrace Handbook and another pen from my backpack. I opened the folder Dr. Philips gave me and took out his papers.“I reviewed your file and—”“You and everybody else.” His head lowered and his shoulders sunk.I continued, unsure of how to handle the comment. “I have an idea of where you need the most help with your writing.”His head popped up and a layer of relief removed the downward slope of his lips. “You do?”“Yes. I think we should start with some grammar basics.” I opened the book to the first chapter and moved it between us. I placed one of his papers below the book, prepared to show him examples so he could relate easily to the concepts. “I’ll give you a quick and dirty overview of the parts of speech to start off.”He moved his chair closer to me, and a fresh sent of juniper and bergamot swept over me. The guy smelled like a cologne insert from one of my magazines, and I tried hard not to breathe it in. But the more I tried not to, the more I loved the smell. Darn, I wish Collin smelled that good.He flashed me a grin. “I like it quick and dirty.”I wanted to slap myself. Could I have used a poorer word choice? “I’m sure you do Raven. I mean, you’re a guy and a football player.”“True,” a half smile formed, “but not every guy likes to do things quickly or get messy doing them.” A rush of heat inundated me. I yanked a hair band off my wrist and pulled my hair up in a messy bun. I raised the sleeves on my shirt and braced myself.I’ll be damned if I let this jerk get to me.Ignoring his comment, I pressed forward with my instruction. Raven listened intently and nodded his head while asking related questions. When the guy wasn’t being a big flirt, he was actually pleasant to be around.  I felt sorry for him because he had gone through school without learning grammar rules. Then again, most people never make it a point to learn them and base everything on how people talk. No wonder the guy couldn’t write a proper sentence. The weird thing was his verbal skills seemed fine, but his written skills, well, that was another story. Helping him might not be so bad after all.After forty minutes of reviewing grammar syntax, he began to lose interest. He shifted his weight and yawned a few times, stretching his arms that nearly wrapped around me. I scooted to the edge of my chair, praying he wouldn’t rest his elbow behind me. Before he lowered his arms, his phone buzzed. His eyes widened with delight as he looked at the screen.“Excuse me, I need to take this call.”“Um, no, you can’t.” I pointed to a sign on the wall. “Policy says—” “Hey baby, what’s up?” He answered the phone, ignoring me and the rule of no talking on the phone in the writing center. He rambled about his schedule and practice for a minute or so before shifting gears. I contemplated if I should get up and tell Dr. Phillips. That would mean instant removal from the writing center and I wouldn’t have to help him. Then again it probably wouldn’t matter because the coach had called in a favor. I started to stand but stopped when the lure of his voice made it too hard to resist listening to his conversation. His smitten words rolled off his tongue and he sounded like Eros himself. Warmth rose from my belly, and I turned around to see who else was in the center. Luckily, Sara had already left and Kyler was talking to a student and not paying much attention. Raven was having phone sex with the girl he was talking to!Visuals flashed through my mind, and my face burned hearing the words he spoke. I covered my ears but it didn’t help. My heart raced, and my breath quickened. I shifted in my chair, crossing my legs tightly until my feet went numb.“Yeah, baby, right there.” He winked at me.I gasped. “I’ll be right back.” I rushed out of the room and headed straight for the bathroom. Closing the door to the lounge located next to the stalls, I paced the small room as I fanned myself. Being a virgin, I had never come close to experiencing anything so dirty but sensual at the same time. And the worst part, it wasn’t even directed at me! The guy was blessed with sexual creativity. Why the heck didn’t he use some of that imagination and gear that toward his school work?Sure, I had read those types of sex scenes in romance books, but it was entirely different hearing them firsthand. Well, second hand in this case. But nonetheless, I had just become hyper aware of tingles and sensations caused by an actual human being. By a guy that was sitting next me.And the saddest part, it wasn’t Collin.I sighed as I collapsed onto the cushioned bench. The situation wasn’t good, and every warning light was flashing.
Reason number 3 — don’t lust over something that isn’t yours.

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Countdown Spotlight - Day 6 - The Sport of Romance - Crista McHugh

SIX days until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below)



Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a snippet from one of the books included.

Day 6: Breakaway Hearts by Crista McHugh

     A slip of paper sat on top of the money. It was worn and yellowed, the creases held together by tape in some places. The ink had faded, but she still recognized her own handwriting.
It was the same note she’d left in Ben’s hotel room that night.      She closed her hand around the note and dashed out the front door after him. Most of the local business had closed, and the streets were nearly deserted at this hour. The streetlights cast cones of light on the sidewalks below. She looked to the right, then the left, searching for the man she needed answers from.     Several heartbeats later, she spied a solitary figure climbing into a Land Rover. Hailey ran toward him and grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. She didn’t care that he had a cane in his hand that could probably leave her battered and bruised if he chose to use it. She held up the note. “What’s the meaning of this?”     He searched her face for a moment as though he were worried he’d made a mistake. Then he pulled her against him and covered her mouth with his own.     At first, she was too shocked to move. She stood there in his arms, paralyzed as he kissed her. When her arms decided to move, they betrayed her. Instead of pushing him away, they wrapped around his neck. Her mouth opened and allowed him to deepen the kiss.     Dear God, he was even better than she remembered. The warmth she’d felt earlier from his touch was a mere candle to the raging inferno that blazed through her now. She pressed her body against the hard planes of his chest, his abs, his shoulders. She followed his tongue in a seductive entreaty that made her forget about the pain of the last nine years. It was as if time had reversed, and they were back in that elevator on their way to his hotel room.     And if she had to do it all over again, she doubted she would say no.
     He pulled away, heat simmering in his eyes. “I thought that was you.”












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Countdown Spotlight - Day 7 - The Sport of Romance - Jami Davenport

Seven days until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below) 
Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a snippet from one of the books included!

Day 7: Crashing the Boards by Jami Davenport 

     The woman looped her arm through Cooper’s, catching him off guard. Ced’s grin
turned to confusion and his eyes narrowed. He always got the women over Cooper.  Always.     “There you are, you bad boy. Shame on you for being late. You know I hate waiting.” She tapped his chest and smiled into his eyes. She was tall, but he was taller, and he wasn’t buying any of what she was selling. Not tonight. Not ever. Cooper frowned and narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like being touched unless it was his idea. “I don’t know you.”     “You’re such a joker, isn’t he, Cedric?” She looked to Cedric for confirmation.     Cooper’s best buddy opened his mouth to back him up, only no words were spoken. Instead, his confusion turned to an evil grin, revenge lighting up his pale blue eyes. “Seriously, Coop, You know how your princess gets when you play jokes on her.”     “This isn’t a joke. I don’t know this woman,” Cooper ground out the words, his foul mood fouler.     The rent-a-cop, identified as Carl by his name badge, stepped forward. “Mr. Black, I’ll have her removed. I can see she’s harassing you.”     “Carl, I told you, he’s my boyfriend. He’s just a little upset at me for having my way with him and his credit card. Check your list again, I’m sure my name’s on it. Isabella.”     “No need to check the list.” Cedric held out his arm. “Come on, Isabella, I’ll escort you inside if this asshole won’t.”

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Countdown Spotlight - Day 8 - The Sport of Romance - Morgan Kearns

Ten days until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below) 
Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a teaser snippet from one of the books included!


The Countdown continues with...

Day 8 - Out of Left Field by Morgan Kearns

Xavier leaned against the door jamb. That he leaned against his left shoulder didn’t escape her notice. He really was a good-looking guy with his dark hair still damp from the shower and the five o’clock shadow darkening his jaw line, offsetting his dark pink lips.  She shifted in her seat and blinked away the lustful thoughts, staring him right in the eye. “You ready to admit you’re not fine?”Laugh lines appeared next to his hazel eyes moments before his chuckle sounded. “I’m good, Doc. You don’t have to worry about me.”She raised a brow. “Will you let me look at it?” He shook his head. “I didn’t come here to show off an injury that doesn’t exist.”“Then why did you darken my door, Xavier? I’m a busy girl.”His gaze roamed over her, scorching her from head to Crocs. “I’m sure you’re a very busy girl.”Her throat tightened, her skin tingled, but she managed a believable scoff. “Oh, please. Don’t try that crap on me. I’ve seen how women fall for your lines.” She huffed and stood. Pressing her hands against the top of her desk, she leaned forward. “I’m worried you’re stupid enough to ignore an injury until it’s not easily fixed.”“So you only care because you’re bein’ paid to.”“Yep.” “That’s exactly what I thought.”“Don’t get all butt hurt, X. I’m not your kinda woman anyway.”At least he had the courtesy to look offended. “And what kinda woman would that be?”
She clutched her breasts through her scrubs and his eyes followed posthaste. “These are real.”
Here are the links to The Sport of Romance - Only 99 cents!!!
AMAZON - KINDLE
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Apple - iBooks
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Countdown Spotlight - Day 9 - The Sport of Romance - Violet Vaughn

Ten days until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below) 
Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a snippet from one of the books included!

The Countdown continues with...

Day 9 -  Crave by Violet Vaughn



He leads me to a path in the woods. When we enter the trees, the construction noise is muffled. The air is cooler. A deep, earthy smell penetrates me. We step down a steep incline and I hear it, the sound of trickling water. A small brook ahead, the water lazily makes its way down like the blood in my veins. Similar to a hidden message, when it’s revealed I gasp. There’s a circular area next to the brook. It must have been cleared once. We step inside. The tall trees have all bent over, creating a dome; the branches thin near the middle. Rays of sun stream in toward the center. It’s magical. I whisper, “Oh, Jason.” Somehow the sound of a voice wouldn’t be right. I hold my camera in one hand, but the other is on my heart. It’s as if this place fills it with love. I look up at Jason in wonder. He smiles down at me, and a sunbeam behind him makes his hair glow. I’m so captivated by the magnificence tears spring to my eyes. “It’s so beautiful.” I sink down to springy, soft moss and slide my hands across the cool, moist plant. Jason crouches down next to me. He whispers too, “I thought of you the moment I saw it. I can’t explain why, but I knew I had to bring you here.”I pick up the camera and take a picture. The flash goes off and I stop. I look at Jason and shake my head. “It won’t work. Nothing can capture this.”He takes my hand and puts it on his heart. “This is where we keep it.” I look at him and see the allure here in his eyes. His heart beats under my fingers, and his hand sends tiny waves of pleasure through me. I’m overcome with such peace I don’t want to move.
I take my hand off his chest and reach up to his face. He leans into it. This is my Jason. One who treasures small pieces of magic. I still love him. It’s a love all its own, one I can’t describe. A love that fills my heart beyond measure. I’m not sad to know this. It just is.

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Countdown Spotlight - The Sport of Romance - Cassandra Carr

Ten days until The Sport of Romance releases! - You can pre-order it now for only 99cents! Yes, 10 books, 10 authors, 1 Hot Price! (Links below) 
Each day until release day, I'll be spotlighting a snippet from one of the books included!
Let the countdown begin!
10. Should've Known Better by Cassandra Carr

     He had a body like granite, with chiseled features, and was casually attired in shorts and a T-shirt clinging for dear life to his arms and chest. The guy could’ve been a sculpture.     Yum.     “Are you all right?”     Her heart pounded in her ears due to the fight or flight reaction from their collision, paired with the pure, inexplicable rush of lust he evoked.      “I’m, um…” Sarah cleared her throat. Talk, you idiot.         “I’m fine.”     Her cheeks flamed as she ducked her head. Was this what scientists meant when they said women were attracted to males they sensed had the strongest DNA? Between his killer body, light green eyes, and sexily tousled head of hair, he looked like he’d just jumped out a cologne ad in GQ. As far as she could see, his DNA was damn near perfect.     Her eyes were drawn to full lips that would’ve looked feminine on other men, but there was nothing feminine or soft about him. Hard, sinewy muscles stretched over his arms, legs, and torso, but despite his size and musculature he managed to look lean rather than bulky.      “After you,” he said, moving back a step and motioning for her to pass.     “Thank you. And I’m sorry about running into you.”     “I’m not.” He gave her a one-sided, incredibly hot smile.    She needed to get into the building before she did something stupid like offer herself to him as a human buffet.

Here are links - 
AMAZON - KINDLE
Barnes and Noble - NOOK
Apple - iBooks
KOBO

The Sport of Romance - 10 Authors, 10 Books, 1 HOT Price of 99cents !

I'm honored to be included in this multi-author box set! Angel and Billy's story in Huddle Up!
You can't beat the price. Release date is 2/17/15 but it's available for pre-order now! Links and descriptions are below...


Kindle - Amazon
NOOK - Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
You love the players, and we love the game. Ten romances about the athletes you can't resist from New York Times and USA today bestselling authors featuring a ruthless fighter, a sexy baseball player, sultry skiers, hunky hockey players, and passionate football stars.

SHADOWBOXER Tapped Out 1 by USA Today Bestseller Cari Quinn. She's in for the fight of her life. To fund her new life with her baby sister, Mia wants one thing - to fight the reigning king of the underground MMA fighters, Tray. He refuses to fight a woman until he learns that Mia's tougher than anyone he’s ever known. He soon realizes he wants more from her than blows, and he's willing to hit below the belt to get it.

CRASHING THE BOARDS Seattle Sockeyes 2 by Jami Davenport: Professional party crasher Izzy needs team captain and reluctant party guest Cooper’s cooperation, but he can’t get past his hockey team’s relocation to Seattle. Can Izzy melt his frozen heart or will this party crash along with her fledgling business?

BLIND PASS Dartmouth Cobras .5 by Bianca Sommerland. Nothing could stop Tim, the assistant coach of the Dartmouth Cobras, from falling in love with Madeline, but love alone can’t satisfy every need. Sometimes, to reach the goal, you have to take the chance with a . . . Blind Pass.

BREAKAWAY HEARTS The Kelly Brothers 2 by NYT Bestseller Crista McHugh. Hockey star Ben has retreated to his mountain cabin in the ski town of Cascade, BC, to recuperate from a season-ending knee injury and contemplate his future in the NHL. He never expects to run into Hailey, the one who got away. Years may have passed, but nothing has dulled the explosive chemistry between them. Now he wants more than just one night.

HUDDLE UP Fantasy Football Romance 3 by Liz Matis. Angel is forced to sue pro football player Billy for child support. Blindsided with a young daughter, he tackles fatherhood with the same commitment he gives to the game. She agrees to Billy's plan to play house to ensure he makes no rookie mistakes. Passions burn hot but they must overcome old betrayals and new insecurities. Can a past summer love turn into forever?

OPPOSING SIDES University Park Series 1 by ‪CM Doporto‬. Lexi finds herself to be wed to the university’s star baseball pitcher, Collin. He’s damn hot, but his lack of spark has Lexi thinking twice before she says ‘I Do’. When she’s forced to tutor bad boy football quarterback, Raven, she discovers all the things she’s missing with Collin.

CRAVE The Boys of Winter 1 by Violet Vaughn. Determined to get over Jason and find a family man, Casey moves to Colorado. Landing a job skiing, she finds Blaine. He checks off everything on her list, except the one she forgot to add - intimacy. When Jason comes to town, Casey questions everything she wished for. Will she have to choose between a family and true love?

SHOULD’VE KNOWN BETTER Storm 1 by ‪Cassandra Carr‬‬. Sarah is thrilled when she’s hired as an advisor for the NHL’s Buffalo Storm. She meets Sebastian, a young hockey player, and sparks immediately fly. A relationship is out of the question, but the impossible becomes necessary. Will they weather the storm, or should they have known better?

OFF HER GAME Texas Highlanders 1 by NYT & USA Today Bestseller Suzan Butler. After budget cuts kill off her career, Valerie wants only one thing: to be in control of her life again. But when Darren, a recently divorced hockey star tempts her, she wants to indulge in some harmless fun. An unplanned romance is a temptation neither can afford. There’s no way to have order in love when penalties lead to an ejection from the game.

OUT OF LEFT FIELD Deadlines & Diamonds 3 by Morgan Kearns. When a shoulder injury takes Left Fielder, Matthias out of the game, it’s Dr. Frankie Holden’s job to get him back on the diamond. His rehab turns out to be more than either of them bargained for, and when she promises to help him face his scarred past, neither of them are prepared for Show less