Elise M. Turkalj grew up with her nose in books and her heart in fictional love stories—often tripping over real-life obstacles while chasing happily-ever-afters on the page.

Now, she writes spicy romance with just the right dose of wit and drama. When she’s not crafting tension between stubborn protagonists, Elise is probably rereading her favorite book for the hundredth time, pretending it’s for “research.”