Guest Post with Author Lizbeth Selvig and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to the blog author Lizbeth Selvig. Lizbeth is currently on tour promoting the release of her debut The Rancher and the Rockstar and has stopped by to chat. But before we chat lets get to know Lizbeth a little.

Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota with three brothers and no sisters definitely shaped my personality. Even though my girl friends were great, I was much prouder of the fact that I was the only female allowed into the neighborhood Boys Only club. Girlie stuff (with exception of the occasional Barbie play date) was simply a waste of time. Baseball, climbing trees, begging my parents for a horse, and avoiding wearing dresses at all costs were much more fun--and seemed much more fair. After all, girls simply didn't have any fun in life.

Imagine my surprise when, after years of my tolerant mother putting up with me wanting to BE a guy, like one of the Beatles or the Monkees, I looked up at a picture of Paul McCartney on my wall one day--and fell in love. Like a doggone proper girl.

Making up stories was second nature to me. As far back as I can remember I told myself tales when I went to bed. As I got older and competent enough, I started writing them down. When most girls were reading themselves to sleep, I was writing until the wee hours.

After the momentous epiphany over the poster from Tiger Beat Magazine, all my written tales were romances. At first, they were romances about Davy Jones and Bobby Sherman and Paul. Then I discovered my own characters, and writing became more than a bedtime activity, it became a passion.

It took lots of years, fantastic adventures, the raising of two children, and a real-life love affair that is still going on, to get my stories ready-for-prime time. Suffice it to say--girls, I've learned, have ALL the fun. And my love affair with romance novels has never died.

Places to find Lizbeth:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Hi Dani, thank you so much for inviting me to visit on Ramblings from this Chick. You have such a bright, friendly blog site, and I love how many different genres you read and talk about. I’m very happy to be here.

Today I’d like to share my ideas about what makes a great romance hero. But since it’s pretty boring to read a lengthy description, I thought I’d create you all a list. I’ve aimed it at all the potential heroes out there, so feel free to pass it to any potential candidates!

Here, then, are Liz Selvig’s:
Top 10 Ways You Know You Could Be My Next Romance Hero

Number 10. Have great hands. This is purely subjective, of course, but if you use your hands and fingers like fine sculpting tools—for touch, for work, for lovemaking—I’ll find them sexy, no matter their shape or size.

Number 9. Be able to laugh at yourself. If you start out a little too serious, that’s fine—it will be a joy and a turn-on for me to watch you learn to let yourself go. Just be sure you allow your friends, and especially your heroine, to teach you about the silliness of life.

Number 8. Recognize when you have something to learn about yourself – You might not know at the start that you have wounds or even flaws. But when they’re pointed out to you, or something you experience shows you, don’t fight it. Explore your weaknesses and let them become your strengths. That’s super attractive!

Number 7. Be a little geeky– It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, but I must admit if there’s a pocket protector over those abs, or a pair of glasses on your nose when you look up from your book—it doesn’t hurt a thing! Remember: geekiness can come in many forms—a small fear, a bit of esoteric knowledge, a funky hobby, or loving your mom. Just don’t be afraid to show that inner unusual trait that makes you wonderfully different from that hero in the next book.

Number 6. Enjoy a unique woman and be willing to learn from her – Don’t judge a girl by a first impression. A waitress could be the girl who has just what you need. That quiet little mouse might just surprise you. A kick-ass girl might be just what the scientist in you craves. Celebrate someone you think you could never fall for. This is one corollary of the old Julia Roberts line in Pretty Woman. What does the princess do when she’s rescued by the prince? She rescues him right back. Let that unexpected princess rescue you!

Number 5. Go a little soft around animals – Any man is sexier when he lets an animal melt his heart. Even if you don’t love them to start with, you shouldn’t be able to resist a furry head or a pair of begging eyes.

Number 4. Be good with kids – Yeah, a man with a baby is a little bit cliché, but there’s a reason for that! Men with babies are sexy. But you know what’s even hotter? A guy who can relate to kids when they’re at tougher ages—say eleven, or fifteen, or nearly adults. If you aren’t too busy in your life talk to a child or teen, it shows you have more capacity for caring than most.

Number 3. Be a bit of a bad boy – This is not a prerequisite for being my kind of hero. But bad boys are my one exception to the “I like beta heroes better than alpha heroes” criterion. Rebels who are wounded and misunderstood, who need saving on some level, are the dark chocolate of romance heroes. But—a rebel needs to be angry not mean, tender beneath his toughness and willing to accept the heart of gold that lies beneath his brash exterior. And if you’re a bad boy type, you have to let that one special heroine not only save you, but change your life.

Number 2. Be more beta than alpha i.e., protective but not domineering –True alpha males are perfect for some women, but I’m looking for a man who will throw himself in front of a truck (or a runaway carriage) for his lady, but never dominate her. If you’re my perfect hero, you want to end up as a full partner in a relationship, and you’re looking for a heroine who’ll compliment you, not simply be strong enough to stand you! The brawniest, toughest of men don’t have to go all alpha on the world – a fireman, a soldier, an athlete, or a mountain man can be sensitive. He can be tough without posturing and firm without being arrogant.

And the Number 1 way to know you could be my next romance hero: Make your heroine laugh! This is number one because it doesn’t matter to me if you’re slaying vampires, dazzling the ton, living on Planet Vega 57, or breaking horses in Montana – if you’re not going to laugh at some point, then what is the point? By words, or by actions, or simply by who you are—be funny for your girl, at least sometimes. She and I will both have to wear bibs to protect us from our drool!

That’s the list. And just to be clear—a great hero doesn’t have to have all these traits. Any of these, alone or in combination, will melt my heart. My hero, Gray, in The Rancher and the Rock Star” is a perfect example. He may have been a bad boy rocker early in his career, but he’s moved past that stage. He isn’t really a geek, except that he played the clarinet in band as a kid. But perfect, deft hands? Learning something important about himself? An animal lover? Dealing with kids? Letting the princess rescue him and definitely rescuing the princess? Oh yeah to all of that! I hope you take a chance on him and read his story.

Being a romance hero is difficult these days – there are so many of them out there competing for our hearts. What do you think? Do any of my top tens match with yours – as readers or writers? Do you have different standards for men who make your knees weak? Let me know—I’d love to hear.

I’ll be giving away a copy (e-format or paperback) plus a couple of other goodies to one commenter today. Leave me a question or comment by March 2 and be in the running! Thanks so much for joining me.

There comes a time in every independent woman's life when she has to step aside and let a White Knight do his job.

Abby Stadler has fought to carve out a quiet, independent life for herself and her fifteen-year-old daughter, Kim. She may need a White Knight, but she doesn't want one. Especially when he shows up in the form of a superstar with a missing son and vindictive paparazzi on his tail.

To the world, Gray Covey is a rock god. To his teenage son, Dawson, he's simply an absent father. When Gray is forced to track a runaway Dawson to Abby's struggling horse farm in small town Minnesota, he finds far more than a widow and a ranch with a silly name.

Faced with one teen who despises him, one teen who worships him, and a woman who flips his heart on its axis, Gray must learn not just how to be a father, but how to be real superstar.

Places to Purchase:

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | 

**Giveaway**

Alright guys, Lizbeth Selvig will be giving out lots of goodies today for The Rancher and the Rockstar  tour. So make sure to leave a comment along with your email address for your chance to win some goodies. 

Up for grabs:

• 1 copy (eBook or print) of The Rancher and the Rockstar + some goodies to 1 lucky person who comments on this post.
• 1 lucky commenter from the ENTIRE tour will win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

So make sure you leave your email address along with your comment and follow along on the tour to increase your chances of winning. Giveaway is open until March 2nd.

Good Luck =)