Desert Island Giveaway #40

Happy New Year!
Giveaway: 1 print copy of Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler

Maximum danger.

Maximum desire. 

And holding on for dear life…

The Special Ops hero feared nothing 

-until he met a woman too hot to hold…

Lt. Jake Hansen has survived some of the riskiest missions known to man. But now the wounded Navy SEAL faces his toughest job yet: Smuggling Dr. Isabelle Markham out of Africa without triggering an international incident. Not easy to do when the gorgeous hostage happens to be a senator’s daughter —and about as easy to resist as an oasis in the desert…

If it weren’t for Jake, Isabelle would still be halfway across the world, where rebel forces left her for dead. The Special Ops warrior may have saved her life, but she doesn’t need him to protect her now. Tell that to the ruggedly handsome hunk in full battle fatigues who’s just been assigned Isabelle’s personal bodyguard. Close quarters aside, Isabelle won’t let Jake anywhere near her heart — until danger throws them together again…and nothing in the jungles of wildest Africa could prepare them for a passion this wild. This crazy. This hot….

As with all of the giveaways you have until midnight (Pacific) today to enter. 

Good luck!


Leave email in comment section to enter.

Desert Island Giveaway #27

Giveaway: 1 print copy of Lie With Me by Stephanie Tyler

Book 1 in the Shadow Force series

Forced together by fate, bound together by desire.

Framed for a double murder, Delta Force operative Cameron Moore 

is given a new lease on life by the CIA—provided he pays them back by doing their black ops dirty work. Now Cam is ready to renegotiate their deal, and he thinks he’s found the perfect bargaining chip: Skylar Slavin, bestselling author of espionage thrillers and the daughter of the CIA man who saved him from a prison sentence.

Skylar has been living in anonymity, never suspecting that someone so dangerous—and so desirable—would plunge her into a world as treacherous as one of her spy novels. But how can Cam go through with his plan to kidnap Skylar when just the sight of her sets off an explosive attraction he’s never experienced before? And when Skylar falls prey to an even more perilous threat, this special ops soldier must call upon all his combat skills to protect the one person who can help him win his freedom—and the only woman he’s ever loved.

As with all of the giveaways you have until midnight (Pacific) today to enter. 

Good luck!

Leave email in comment section to enter.

Why Africa? By Stephanie Tyler...

I always tell people that I could easily live in Africa and it’s totally true. My love for the country of Tanzania was born out of the very first date I ever had with my now husband. See, he was born in Songea and he told this fascinating story of how his great grandfather went to Africa from Poland during WWII. He’d lost his leg and his three daughters in the detainment camps and he and his wife survived and moved to Africa to build refugee camps for the Peace Corps. So Zoo’s father was born there – his mom was born in Brooklyn and she went to Africa to visit a cousin who was getting a PhD in African studies and she met Zoo’s dad and she ended up making a month’s trip into a year. And when they got married, she moved there and stayed for nine years.

So when Zoo and I got married, I knew we’d be going to Africa on our honeymoon. It was so spectacular and so tragic at the same time, it was almost overwhelming. I mean, you’d be walking around this beautiful resort and you’d turn a corner to find a soldier carrying a big-assed rifle. So you always knew that there was some kind of danger near you at all times. We landed in Arusha the same day they’d bombed the embassies in Kenya and Dar Es Salaam, where his aunt lives, thought security would be huge. Instead, we dragged our own luggage out from under the plane, across the tarmac and went through a security line in three seconds flat. And somehow, it was still okay.

There’s a different rhythm there. I’m from New York, close to the city and we move really fast, never-stopping. And in Africa, that does not happen. If someone says they’ll pick you up at 9AM in Africa, it means anywhere from 9AM to say, noon, and no doubt, it’s closer to noon. And the longer you’re there, the more you begin to not care about time. You slow down, notice the little things, appreciate the good food, the time spend simply hanging out and talking.

We went on Safari several times, to different parts of Tanzania, to Zanzibar, made some great discoveries, like the Boma, which is part of the Trade, not Aid program. We visited the clinic Zoo was born in. And, like I mention in Hard to Hold and Too Hot, we were pulled over with our driver trying to get back to our hotel on safari by two men posing as police. They wanted money – we gave it to them. We were lucky. It happened again with real police in Dar Es Salaam. And while it was a reminder of where I was and how careful I had to be, it still didn’t take away from the gorgeous safaris, the wonderfully generous locals and, of course, the famous roads.

So really, Africa has a place in my heart forever and, obviously, a place in my books. So much beauty and danger in one place, and that’s really what romantic suspense is all about, right?

The Giveaway is now closed to entries! Thank you to everyone who came by and visited Steph while she was here at DIK. Steph will announce the lucky winner at her blog on Monday morning!

A big thank you again to Steph for sharing her DIK favorites, today's wonderful story, and being such a fun guest on the island!

Stephanie Tyler writes Romantic Suspense for Bantam Dell and Harlequin Blaze, as well as co-writing Paranormal Erotic Romance under the pen-name Sydney Croft. She lives in New York with her husband and her daughter.

Stephanie Tyler Picks Her Desert Island Keepers!

Welcome back to our second day of fun and sun at DIK with Stephanie Tyler! I agreed to let Steph borrow my blowfish bikini top because the SEALs um, 'suggested', I should during the luau festivities last night and, wow, I really didn’t want to say no to these guys (yikes).

How’s the fit Steph? BTW, I have to say, your SEALs sure know how to party!!

You might not get this top back because, oh my, I’m feeling quite sexy. The SEALs certainly help with that, of course.

Yeah, I see Chris from "Hold On Tight", oggling the "fish lips" now, that Cajun sure is charasmatic! (yum) lol But sorry, you can't keep my blowfish, it has become rather "infamous" here.. lol I have to say though, it does look very FINE on you Steph! ;)

Anyway, without further adieu I’m turning the mic over to Steph, who is going to talk about her 5 favorite DIK books she has brought along to the island.


1. "Mackenzie’s Mountain" by Linda Howard:

WOLF!!! OMG, was there ever a better opening line than, "He needed a woman bad". That story made me want to write virgin heroines. That story inspired me to begin writing "Hard to Hold" and I sold it three weeks later, so Wolf has a very special place in my heart. To watch the heroine just melt him was amazing. A total keeper.

2. "Lucky’s Lady" by Tami Hoag:

I never knew Tami Hoag wrote romance. I ordered a ton of books to take with me to Cincinnati right before my daughter had surgery. I swore I wouldn’t read any until we left but I cracked open this book and by the time I got three pages in, I was in love…and thinking, I could do this – I could write this…I could write romance – I want to write romance. I mean, Lucky is so sensual and it’s one of those, I hate you / I love you stories and I love those. The tension between the hero and heroine is through the roof.

3. "Kiss & Tell" by Cherry Adair:

I read this book at night when I was in Cincinnati with my kid – I swear I reread it constantly because it took me away from the hospital setting, transported my into the world of action and adventure and a hot hero. Again, a slightly innocent heroine is paired up with a former special forces soldier who’s trying to clear his name.

4. "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant:

This book, which I classify as a romance even though it doesn’t have a typical HEA, is just beautiful. It’s based on a biblical tale and it’s simply sweeping, breathtaking and heartbreaking.

5. "Gone With The Wind", by Margaret Mitchell: 

I reread this one every single year – the detailed descriptions (which I usually don’t care for but here they work), Scarlett’s stubborn determination, Rhett’s attitude which hides the fact that he’s madly in love with Scarlett…this book is simply a keeper.

Thanks Steph! Awesome choices, "Gone With The Wind" is one of my favorites too, and I will be adding a couple of your other keepers to my list!… 

The Giveaway is now closed to entries! Thank you to everyone who came by and visited Steph while she was here at DIK. Steph will announce the lucky winner at her blog on Monday morning!

Please Welcome Guest Author Stephanie Tyler (and her SEALs) To The Island!

It is my great pleasure to introduce and welcome author Stephanie Tyler and her heroic Navy SEALs to the Island! ::Big round of applause - raising drinks:: I was delighted and honored when Steph agreed to guest here at DIK because I’ve been a fan since I read her novella “Night Vision”, in 2008, and love her recent "Hard To Hold" Romantic Suspense Trilogy about a tight knit trio of Navy SEALs affectionately known as “Jake and Co.”.

Steph’s most recent release “Too Hot To Hold”, the second book in the trilogy, takes readers on an exciting suspenseful journey through the jungles of Africa. "Too Hot To Hold", for me, was as enjoyable, thrilling, and HOT as her previous publication "Hard To Hold".

Welcome to DIK Steph! I have to admit I was a little concerned when you arrived on the island via military helicopter flanked by 3 huge (and handsome) SEALs heavily armed and dressed in full camo this morning. However, I see your guys are off “securing the perimeter of DIK”. lol (Yikes) Whats it like traveling with a trio of handsome Alpha Navy SEALs Steph?

I could probably arrange a transport for you with them – it’s best to experience travelling with the SEALs firsthand. It’s definitely…exciting.

A transport with SEALs? Are you kidding me? I'm definitely in... ;)

Are you ready for the rapid-fire induction DIK “About Me”, questions?

Always! I’m thrilled to be here.

Well, we are thrilled to have you Steph!

Favorite Reading Position?

Lying in bed, propped by zillions (okay, 4) pillows. It’s one of the reasons I’m loving my new Kindle – I can hold it and turn pages with one hand!

I love my e-reader too!

How old is your inside voice?

Twenty-eight. That’s also when I stopped counting my age. It’s also how old I consider my friends, so for today, everyone involved is 28. Unless, of course, you are younger.

Oh, I wouldn't mind being 28 again - good age. ;)

If you could be a hero who would you be?

Oh, what a good question. Hmmmm, I guess I would like to be Wraith from "Passion Unleashed" by Larissa Ione.

What heroine is most like you ?

Probably Isabelle from Hard to Hold – I understand the whole, need to be alone, thing.

What heroine would you like to be?

I wouldn’t mind being any of them – all my heroines are pretty brave and fearless – they try things I probably wouldn’t dare.

Boxers, Briefs, boxer briefs, kilt (I say we add commando)?

Commando for sure.

Your not alone - I think "commando" is a favorite here on the island! lol (especially when SEALs are around)

Favorite book set on a tropical island?

"Then You Hide" by Roxanne St. Claire.

What hero is most like your significant other?

That is a great question…I have to think…hmmm, he’s probably closest to Nick.

What hero from a novel would you like to be your significant other?

Well, I’m quite happy with my current situation, but if I had to pick, it’s either Sam from Suzanne Brockmann’s series or Lucky from Tami Hoag’s Lucky’s Lady.

If you were stuck on a desert island what 3 things would you bring?

My family, electricity and migraine meds!

Favorite drink to bring to the DIK party?

Margarita, on the rocks, with salt – YUM!

Thanks Steph, great answers! That margarita sounds darn good to me too! LOL

We’ve planned a rockin luau tonight with the DIK menz, and WOW Navy SEALs "Jake", "Nick" and "Chris". (Steph tells me these boys party hardy!) Steph is going to be back on the island with us tomorrow talking about her favorite DIK books she has brought along.

The Giveaway is now closed to entries! Thank you to everyone who came by and visited Steph while she was here at DIK. Steph will announce the lucky winner at her blog on Monday morning!