Wynter Daniels and her Desert Island Keepers

Please welcome guest author, Wynter Daniels, back for another day on the island! Today she shares her Desert Island Keepers!

When I read purely for pleasure, I’ll pick up a contemporary romance nearly every time. Add some humor, a little heartache and a hunky guy and I’m good. Regardless of the hunky guy description, in my head, he’ll look like George Clooney most of the time. If not George, Johnny Depp will do. The strange thing is, when I started thinking about my favorite books, the ones I’d bring to the island, I realized that not all my favorites are contemporaries. Two are historical and one’s a paranormal. Less than half! Then I thought back to why I’d read those books in the first place. The paranormal was a gift and the two historicals were recommended by friends. I’ve learned a valuable lesson here already. I might actually like something that doesn’t necessarily fit into my little pigeonhole! So here we go in no particular order:


Savages by Shirley Conran. A group of corporate executives bring their pampered wives to a South Pacific island. The men are trying to buy mining rights before it gets out that the land holds a valuable commodity. Unfortunately for the men, there’s a coup and they are all executed. The wives return from a boat ride and witness this horror. With no other choice, the women along with the boat captain are forced to hide out in the jungle and deal with an array of misfortunes and eventually, the captain’s death. This is a total survival story and captivated me from the very first page. Maybe I could pick up some survival tips for the island if I keep rereading it!

Patty Jane’s House of Curl by Lorna Landvik. This lady is my fave author and I hear she is also a professional comedienne. Think Steel Magnolias set in Milwaukee in the 1950s and 60s. Actually, the book spans thirty years. It is the story of two sisters, Harriet and Patty Jane who each have a little happiness, then a little tragedy. Patty Jane’s beloved husband disappears before their first child is born only to surface without a memory years later. Harriet is in love with a quirky millionaire, but of course, that must also end in tragedy. The book is a roller coaster of comedic highs to tragic lows and made me laugh harder and cry harder than I ever did for another book. I could read this book over and over – perfect for the island.

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. Set in Victorian London, this isn’t your typical Victorian novel. Sugar is a prostitute who meets a wealthy businessman whose wife is always ill. Sugar is well read and dreams of a better life, but she is ruthless in her pursuit of that life and is a difficult character to root for, yet I found myself fascinated with her. The businessman sets her up as his personal mistress in a house, then eventually brings her to his home as his daughter’s tutor. The book provides a gritty and incredibly detailed view of the few pleasures and the many hardships of Sugar’s life, as well as her deep hatred for men. I’ve read this book several times and liked it more each time. The best thing about it as far as the island goes – it’s really, really long. It would keep me occupied for days.

Hmm, I don't know if I'd worry about having things to occupy my time on the island, lol ;)


Tall, Dark and Dead by Tate Hallaway is another favorite island read. This is paranormal chick lit with loads of humor. Garnet Lacey is a witch on the run from Vatican witch hunters who killed the rest of her coven. She hides in plain sight, managing an occult bookstore. Garnet meets Sebastian, a vampire/witch with a forever adolescent son who seems to hate him. This would be my light island read.


Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. This one is more women’s fiction than romance. It takes five friends through three decades in their Minnesota neighborhood. They form a book group that helps keep them connected. Cheating husbands, battered wives, illegitimate babies, the women deal with it all. This is also a very long book, but I loved the humor and the backdrop of the political events of each era. Another great read I would come back to again and again.


These are all interesting choices! I've actually never read any of them, but I dig Tate Hallaway! I was introduced to her with Dead Sexy and loved it!


Playing With Barbie by Wynter Daniels - Available March 9, 2010 from Loose Id

Everything fits into neat little pink-wrapped packages in Barbie Turner’s life. The conservative children’s book author goes to a different church every Sunday even though she doesn’t listen to a word of the sermon. She’s too busy searching the pews for Mr. Right. She knows she’ll recognize him when she sees him—he’ll be the one on the white horse.


Bohemian artist Keno Jenson lives life on the edge. He shuns all things conventional and safe and possesses every quality on Barbie’s list of no-nos. When he replaces her usual illustrator, he fights the intense attraction since she’s nothing like any of the women who frequent the revolving door to his bed. Too bad he no longer desires any woman except Barbie.


Don’t forget, tomorrow is Wynter’s last day with us so don’t forget to check back!! Leave a comment and be entered to win a copy of Wynter’s upcoming release from Loose Id, Playing With Barbie.