Hi, I’m AnnElise Matthew—a new voice in contemporary romance, writing from the heart of the Chicago suburbs. Born and raised in the Midwest, I spend my days as a graphic designer and production manager for a printing company I run with my husband and business partner, I spend my nights working on my writing and balancing a busy life with our two kids and our three giant dogs, who keep things just as lively as my imagination.

I’m drawn to stories that pull you in deep—where characters feel real, messy, and impossible to forget. I love writing romances that are hot and steamy, layered with just enough drama, and maybe a touch of rejection to keep you guessing, but always have a happily ever after. My heroes are dominant but real, and my heroines are sassy and funny. For me, the best stories are the ones you can get lost in and characters you can relate to—and that’s exactly what I hope to create every time I sit down to write.

I never planned on becoming a writer – I had some characters and storylines that had been running through my head for literally years and thought nothing of it, I thought they were just a nice fantasy to escape to when I needed a break from reality. But then a life altering event happened to me – my husband of 22 years and I decided to separate, something I thought would never happen (it was for the best, we are much better off as business partners and co-parents!), and I decided to try something different with my new life plan and decided to just write the storyline down, even if I didn’t think it would go anywhere, just put it on paper. And before I knew it, I had ten chapters written! I thought, hell, maybe I can do this.

So I kept writing and before long the Forbidden series was born. Needless to say I am very proud of this series and I hope you love the characters and stories as much as I do.