My Secret Revealed!

Aloha, DIK Ladies! 'Tis I, Bev (QB)! I received a surprise invitation from Tracy to Guest Blog today. I KNOW... that's exactly what I thought too... Tracy was apparently doing some glue-intensive crafts in an unventilated room that day.

Back when the DIK Ladies first formed, I followed the goings on and negotiations with endless amusement. My favorite part was that so many comments appeared for each post that the Blogger Word Verifications turned over to words with like 38 letters in them.

I think it was Lisabea who asked me why I didn't join you in your DIK picking, and I basically told her that, when presented with too many choices, my memory comes up a big fat blank. Really, I'm cursed with a memory for names that sucks big hairy ogre balls even in real life. So, I couldn't think of any specific DIKs in some of the categories until one of YOU would mention one and it would shake loose a dust bunny or two out of my memory.

As it turns out, I may have found the best of both worlds. I can choose any DIK I want because I'm a guest and you have to be polite to me (*neener-neener*), AND I can come and go from my Secret Cove on DIK Island whenever I want.

Yes, that's right, on the other side of your island, there is a hidden cove. It allows me to drop by and visit you and then disappear. Ever notice how I just happen to be around when there's a party going on? Ever wondered where some of your menz wander off to when they're feeling neglected because you've been playing favorites? Well, there's a special path (revealed here in these 4 pictures) and a few of the menz have followed it to discover my Secret Cove. What, you may ask, transpires in my Secret Cove? Sorry, but it's not called a SECRET Cove for nothing.

However, since Tracy was crazy drugged kind enough to issue me an invitation to Guest Blog over here, I've decided to go legitimate and come up with my very own Deserted Island Keepers. Of course, I'm still exercising my prerogative as a guest to choose whatever DIKs I fancy without regard to who may or may not have already laid claim to them. Yes, I know... my bad. Besides, unless you are one of the very few around here that are as old as I am (*coughKristiecough*), there's a good chance I laid claim to these heroes before you were over David Cassidy, Shaun Cassidy, Duran Duran, New Kids on the Block, or basically any teen idol after the original Monkees.

With so many unforgettable books to choose from, my DIK books were selected only if I have experienced the uncontrollable urge to re-read them and cannot imagine not having them available when that urge strikes. I have a feeling that there are some more recent books from other authors that will one day turn out to be my DIKs also.

Closer to perfection than any other romance book I've ever read, the only glaring flaw in Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens is that unfortunate original back cover pic. I mean, come on, Joey Tribbiani on a really bad hair day as Devil Cynster?! What were they thinking?! Besides, I KNOW that Devil looks like Christian Bonello (at right) and it was an excruciating choice to omit him from my DIK Heroes list that is cruelly limited to only six men. I wouldn't mind bringing the rest of the Cynster series along either, particularly the five other original Bar Cynster's stories that make up the crème de la crème of Regency era historical romances.

Honestly, I consider the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton to be one ongoing story broken up into multiple books. So couldn't the series count as ONE BIG, LONG DIK? Okay, if I must play fair and choose one, then book 10, Narcissus in Chains, but I claim a special dispensation for a copy of book 15, The Harlequin, because I'm a vampire victim in it. Whenever I finish an ABVH book, it takes me a while to wrap my head around the fact that I can't just go to St. Louis and catch up with what's been going on in these people's lives.

To anyone who has ever visited my blog, it should be no surprise that A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis is on my DIK list. I think I've rec'd this Georgian romp to so many people that the only thing I haven't tried is door-to-door sales. Really, life without Vaughan just wouldn't be worth living. I certainly wouldn't say no to bringing Phantasmagoria or any of the other upcoming AGW sequels and/or spin offs along to my Secret Cove either.

Tough choice between Bertrice Small's Sky O'Malley series and her World of Hetar series, so I'll choose the World of Hetar only because it's fantasy based. And if I must choose only one book in that series, it would be the first one, Lara. But really, it's so hard to choose one book in either of these series because it's the cumulative story over successive books that weaves the rich tapestry of each heroine's life.

Johanna Parker's brilliant narration brings Sookie and all the other characters to Southern fried life in the audio books of Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series. If I must choose just one, it would be either book 4- Dead to the World (the one with Eric's amnesia) or book 8, From Dead to Worse (Eric remembers!). However, I claim another dispensation for a copy of the upcoming book 9, Dead and Gone because I'm a vampire fashionista in that one.

This final DIK slot is tough to choose. I was going to say Karen Marie Moning's Darkfever, but really I'd only want to bring it if I could have all 5 books in the Fever series. The cliffhangers would make me fugbuckin' nutso otherwise. Ditto for LKH's Merry Gentry series, although if I had to choose just one, it would probably be book 3, Seduced by Moonlight (the one with the Chalice Dream).

Then I thought about Phil Gigante's eargasmic narration of KMM's Highlander audio books, and I realized that it would be nice to have a second "hands-free" DIK, so I could sit with a tall, cold MAL-EEE-BOO and Pineapple Juice in one hand and... uh... someone something else in the other hand. But how can I choose just one? This is an impossible task you have set before me! Alright, alright, I guess it would be The Immortal Highlander (Adam Black and Gabrielle O'Callaghan) because we also get Phil G's Drustan and Dageus voices plus Adam's human and fae voices. There's also Fae intrigue, a tear-jerker HEA, and even dashes of humor.

Well. there's the first six books on my Deserted Island Keeper list. But I'm sure what you're all REALLY waiting for is my list of heroes that can be found romping in my Secret Cove. So without further adieu, these are the DIKs of my dreams...

Vaughan, Marquis of Pennerly from A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis: One of the most deliciously complex characters I’ve ever read. When he is “on stage” (and often when he’s not) he demands- and receives- the attention of everyone in the room… man, woman, or reader. He smirks, he sulks, he lies, he seduces, he pouts. While he often DOES amuse himself at the expense of others, he just as often lashes out in retaliation for his own pain or to cover his own vulnerability. Oh, I'm well aware that the emotional whirlwind that is Vaughan might exhaust me, but watching him work his seductive skills on my other men, and YOURS, should prove highly entertaining. I've no doubt that Vaughan can seduce anyone he sets out to, male or female.

Jean-Claude (at left) from the ABVH series by Laurell K. Hamilton: Calculating, pragmatic, hedonistic, and seductive, but with a touch of Lost Boy to him. Unlike selfish Anita, I have no qualms about sharing this bisexual vampire and can't wait to see Jean-Claude and his look-a-like, Vaughan, frolicking together. Since he owns all those male and female strip clubs, I also can't wait to see the productions he directs for my our enjoyment. Too bad that smexy Ulfic, Richard Zeeman (at right), doesn't play well with other boys.

These next two are right about my height and will be a welcome respite from all the towering egos in the hut:

Micah Callahan (at right) from the ABVH series by Laurell K. Hamilton: This Nimah-Ra, or alpha were-leopard, offers no drama; he's practical and quietly goes about doing what needs to be done. The kind of easy going guy you can just enjoy hanging out with, he's the one I'd go to if I needed to bare my soul or harmlessly vent some anger. Extra points for being a cuddler.

Rhys (at left) from Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series: Sure he's a Death God that's thousands of years old, but it's his humor and irreverence that win his space on the island with me. Not to mention his killer abs. His training as one of the Queen's Royal Guards, and now one of Merry's guards and baby-daddies, means he's used to sharing. Merry and Andais may not appreciate him, but I certainly will.

Savitar from Sherilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters series: An omnipotent beach bum? What's NOT to love! Problem is that I can't find a picture that's close enough to how I envision my Savitar, so you'll just have to suffer through more than one. I know, I've asked you to endure too much, haven't I?

Jeremy Danvers from Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Underworld series: I hope I don't regret this choice. I think our cool, calm alpha werewolf with the hidden passions could provide the kind of quiet strength and confidence that the rest of the men will look up to. Or, if he doesn't unleash his tight control over his alpha hungers, he could turn out to be as fun as morning breath. Okay, full disclosure- Jeremy is getting this spot in my secret cove because he looks so much like Josh Wald, aka MY Josh. But if he DOES decide to keep that stick up his ass instead of... well... NOT a stick up his ass, then I reserve the right to put him in charge of the island accounting department and I'm bringing in either Adam Black, one of The MacKeltars from KMM's Highlanders series, or Jamie Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series instead. Gratuitous Celt pics to follow:

So, there you have 'em. My Desert Island Keepers. Thanks for letting me come play in your sandbox, Ladies, it's been an honor! And, btw, my Secret Cove is now open for sharing too, so stop by anytime!