Vote For Your Favorite Play by Play Cover Art + Win A Book!!...

I had coffee with my friend Mary G. recently and neither of us are huge cover art junkies but we got to talking about Jaci Burton's Play by Play sports series and the drool worthy cover art Berkley Publishing has created for the first 3 books.

Case in point:

Now Available
The Perfect Play

Available August 2, 2011
Changing the Game

Available March 6, 2012
Taking a Shot

Mary and I are dayum sure that there are folks out there who purchased The Perfect Play and will purchase the next two books in the series just for the HOT cover art. Thing is, the story between the covers of Book I was awesome & I know the next two will be too.

I met Jaci Burton at the RWA Literacy Autographing in NYC this year, and like her books---she rocks! :)

So, want to have some fun??? What do you folks think? Is Jaci Burton's Play by Play series-totally, um delectable? Yes/No? If the answer is yes do you have a favorite of the three?

Vote in the poll in right sidebar for your favorite cover & for a chance to win (see Giveaway info below)!.. ;) You don't have to enter the contest to vote for your favorite cover but you must vote to be entered. ;)

Any other hawt cover art to share?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~*~*Giveaway*~*~

Contest Closed - Winner to be announced soon.

Cheers! Tori & I will see you tomorrow when we will be talking about...well something dayum, I need a drink! lol :-)

Desert Island Giveaway #12

Giveaway: 1 print copy of Nauti & Wild by Jaci Burton & Lora Leigh

You’ve seen them. Looking for trouble, and looking irresistible, riding into town, straddling 73 cubic inches of throbbing horsepower.

Boys so bad it takes a special kind of woman to satisfy them.

But some women are made for high speed handling…

Lora Leigh, the New York Times bestselling author of Nauti Intentions and Nauti Dreams revisits that sultry and “sinfully good”* Southern landscape with a story of a good girl gone bad--and doing it for all the hottest reasons. But she’s not the only one going down that road…

Jaci Burton, the national bestselling author of Riding Wild andRiding Temptation, lets loose in a story of a hot biker hired to keep an eye on the reckless daughter of a Nevada senator. She’s hooked up with a rival biker gang--a dangerous move that makes the wild beauty more vulnerable than she imagined…

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

Good luck!

Leave email in comment section to enter.

Winners Of The Jaci Burton DIK Giveaway!

A big DIK thank you to everyone who came by the island while Jaci Burton and Biker Dude visited this week! Jaci, thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us, and for your generosity. :-)

Okay, the winners are:

Monday Winner of a copy of Wild Wicked and Wanton: Martha Lawson!

Tuesday Winner of a copy of Bound, Branded and Brazen: EvaS!

Wednesday Winner of a copy of Riding Wild: Armenia!

WooHoo! Congratulations Ladies!! Ladies if you can please contact me at i_love_my_kiera@yahoo.ca with your full name and snail mail address I'll pass your information along to Jaci who will get your prizes out to you. If I don't hear from the winners by Wednesday March 10th the next person on the random list for the specific day will be chosen.

Let's Talk About Sexy Men, by Jaci Burton

Let’s talk about sexy men. Oh, I know, you think because Bound, Branded & Brazen is set on a ranch and is about ranchers and cowboys that I’m talking about cowboys today. Well, yeah I love me some cowboys, those hat and Wrangler and boot wearin’ devils. I mean I think we can all agree that those guys are smokin’ hot and melt our butter. And okay, just for fun I did bring a few cowboy pictures with me because…damn….cowboys are sexy.

But that’s not who I’m talking about today. What defines a sexy man? Is it his profession? Maybe. My husband is an ironworker, and by the very nature of his job it defines who he is. He puts up the steel skeletons of a building in anything from a two-story to a fifty-story building, with nothing between him and the ground but a safety harness and his sure-footedness, in the highest winds and the harshest temperatures. And he’s been doing it for over thirty years. And before he did that he spent time jumping out of helicopters in Vietnam. So yes, I’d definitely define my husband as sexy, but of course I’m in love with him, so my opinion of him is certainly based on my heart. (He also looks pretty damn good in his Wranglers and cowboy boots. Rowrrrr).

But sexy also comes in many forms. Could an accountant or any other form of desk jockey be sexy? Could a computer technician or salesman be sexy? Could a trash collector or ditch digger or phone repairmen be sexy? Of course! I think any man can be sexy.

Let me tell you what I think defines sexy. Ever stand back and watch a man who’s peering into the engine of a car? A guy who can look at said engine and actually knows what he’s looking at? A guy who can get his hands dirty with motor oil and car grease and actually know how to fix what’s wrong? Oh, man, does that ever curl my toes.

Or a man who decides to build a dog house. From scratch. Without any plans other than wood and some nails. Or pounding in fence posts in 100 degree temperatures, sweat pouring down his neck and back while he measures the precise distance between those posts? Or a man who knows how to do all the fix it things in a house, from plumbing to electrical?

There’s something about intelligence mixed with hands on know how that I find so incredibly sexy. A man who doesn’t need to ‘hire out’ the dirty work, but actually enjoys doing it himself, no matter what his profession is. A man whose sense of accomplishment comes from doing those things himself using his brains as well as his brawn.

Or even beyond the physical labor….math. I find a man doing math to be an amazing turn on.

And then he’ll come in and do the dishes after his woman cooks dinner. Now that to me defines a sexy man.

Or how about a man that sits down and spends time with his children. A man that will turn off a football game to read with his son or daughter? I might just faint dead away.

Sexy is so much more than just physical looks. That might be what first drives us to the opposite sex, but it isn’t going to keep us there. There has to be something underneath that physical beauty to keep us interested. So I have this list of qualities that I have always thought important in a man, something I thought a man would have to have to be sexy enough to be a keeper:

1. Swagger – A man has to have confidence in himself. There’s nothing sexier in a man than a sense of self and his belief in himself. If a man is looking to you for his validation? Run like hell.

2. Honor – I want to know the man I love is an honorable man, a man with integrity and principles. A man that will put his woman and his family above everything else.

3. Respect – I always say you can judge a keeper of a man by how he treats his mother. If he doesn’t respect and honor his mother, he’s not going to respect and honor you. I’ve been around a pretty long time and I’ve found this to be true of most men I’ve known.

4. Intelligence – Sure he can look pretty, but there needs to be a brain to go along with that great ass, because smarts outweighs looks 100% of the time (at least for me).

5. Fearless - He has to be willing to take a bullet for me. And no, I’m not kidding because I’m willing to do the same for him. That’s what love is all about—self sacrifice.

So those are my thoughts on what makes a man sexy. Tell me yours.

Lea: What an excellent post, I think all those are sexy qualities too. *g* A huge thank you to Jaci Burton for spending the last 3 days here with us on the Island and for her generosity. I had a blast and I hope everyone who visited did too.

Contest is now closed. The winners will be announced soon!

He's a Harley-riding ex-thief working undercover for the government. She's a gun-toting ex-socialite hired to protect a valuable museum exhibit. But in her attempt to stop a heist, she never anticipated having her breath and her heart stolen...

Mac Canfield was the last man Lily West expected to see again, never mind aim her gun at. But here he was, the bad boy who'd broken her heart years ago-still a thief, this time high-jacking a priceless artifact--and it was all she could do to push aside the memories of how it felt to have his perfectly chiseled body next to hers.

Mac was no less shocked to see the beautiful girl-next-door all grown up, threatening to shoot him on the spot. Little did she know she was blowing his cover-and now he had to figure out how to get her out of harm's way without succumbing to his crazy desire to take her on a hot trip down memory lane.

Unfortunately, Lily has no intention of going anywhere with Mac. Which means he has to resort to kidnapping. Unless, of course, she agrees to let him take her for the kind of ride destined to drive them both unbelievably wild...



Jaci Burton lives in Oklahoma with her husband, Charlie, who inspires her to create stories about sexy, stubborn alpha males who don't always do what the heroine wants them to. Jaci has a teenaged stepdaughter who is her shopping buddy extraordinaire, and two grown sons who live on the west coast that she misses terribly but fortunately she gets to see when time and air travel permit.

Jaci is a multi published author who writes in many genres. Shes writes for Bantam Dell, Berkley, Ellora's Cave and Samhain Publishing. She feels fortunate to have won several awards, including the Romantic Times Book Review Magazine's Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Erotic Paranormal. To learn more about Jaci visit her website.

Jaci Burton Picks Her Desert Island Keepers!

Welcome back to our second day of fun and sun at DIK Jaci! I agreed to let Jaci borrow my blowfish bikini top because, well it’s kinda become tradition and besides Biker Dude wants Jaci to wear it when he takes her dirt bike riding this afternoon... lol

Clearly you have not been bike riding while wearing a bikini top. Do you have any idea how much the girls bounce on a bike? I cringe for anyone who does.

However, Biker Dude is leering at the blowfish bikini top. You’ll be lucky if you get that thing back when we leave. Biker Dude is making rumblings about going ‘fishing later’. *waggles brows*

LOLOLOL Well I guess, Biker Dude has 'leering & fishing' rights. I have to say, you and Biker Dude sure know how to party that was an awesome luau last night!!

We do our best to be wild party animals and provide non stop entertaining (we’re lying. Our bedtime is at 9 p.m. Shhhhh….tell no one. Don’t want to ruin our image. )

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

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Because I just read this book for the fist time last year, and I could kick myself for waiting this long. I think Nora is one of the most talented writers I’ve ever read, and though I’ve read many of her books, this one will remain a keeper for me. I loved it so much. The Alaska scenery, the pilot heroine so stubborn and proud, the capable yet vulnerable hero. *sigh*Sometimes a book just resonates and you don’t know why. I loved the characters in this book, the setting, the way I just settled in comfortably whenever I opened the book to read. I didn’t want it to end and was disappointed when it did because I wanted it to go on and on. I fell in love with everyone in the book and felt like I knew them. And of course no one writes romance and suspense together like Nora. I was riveted and hanging on to every page. She made me love the characters and worry about them. I suppose that’s what makes a good author, is breathing life into the characters. Nora does that better than anyone.

The Only Series by Elizabeth Lowell

Yes, I realize this is a series so this is technically cheating, but really, which book would I choose out of this series? Only You, Only His, Only Love, Only Mine? Elizabeth Lowell wrote the book (har) on sensual romance, and this, to me, was the pinnacle. Western romance, fierce heroines, and some of the sexiest heroes ever written. I’ve never turned pages faster in my life than I did reading these books. I’ve never known a writer to make a reader wait longer for a payoff, then make us hold our breath during the love scenes, and gasp once they’re written. They’re not explicit, but they take your breath away. A lot of what I learned about writing sensually I learned from reading Elizabeth Lowell.

The Flame and The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss

The first romance I ever read (well, if you don’t count the Dark Shadows books and Barnabas Collins lusting after Josette. I read those in 6th grade). I was 17 and The Flame and The Flower was sitting at my sister’s house, so I picked it up and read it. It rocked my world with its tale of a heroine raped by the hero, then taken away from her evil aunt and she falls in love with the hero who’s at once a total bastard and yet treats her tenderly as she carries his child. The true meaning of tempestuous romance unfolds as we see the heroine’s growth into a strong woman throughout the book as she bends the hero to her with her smile, her words and her love. *swoon*

A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

Please don’t throw things at me, but I loved this book. I read it over and over again, and it got me through a particularly difficult time in my life, and for that I will be forever grateful to Dougless and Nicholas for letting me lose myself in their story. And I know many many people hated and loathed the ending, but actually it never bothered me in the least. I’m probably in the minority, but I truly believed their souls were together. (Dodges rotten cabbage)

Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Morning

Daegus. Scotland. Time Travel. People, do I have to elaborate further?
Okay, seriously, I picked up this book and read this series totally out of order, because I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series before this. But my tongue dropped to the floor and I was mesmerized, tearing my hair out, crying, and falling madly and irrevocably in love with Daegus, and KMM. Forever.

Thanks Jaci! Awesome choices, no cabbage flying from this side of the hut… *g*

If you have a question for Jaci today about her DIK Keepers, please ask because I know she will be happy to hear from ya'll.

Jaci returns tomorrow for her final day on the Island and she will be talking about.... (Shhhh, it's a secret, you'll have to come back and find out.) *g*

Big Announcement!! Please note, today is release day for "Bound, Branded and Brazen"!!

Contest is now closed. The winners will be announced soon!

Bound, Branded, and Brazen

Bound by passion, branded by love, brazen enough to take it all…

In the wilds of Oklahoma, three sisters have a hot date with destiny. Valerie, Brea, and Jolene McMasters reunite on the family ranch that should have been called the Bar Nothing…

Bound…

When Valerie left for the big city, she kissed her foreman husband, Mason, goodbye—along with the best sex she ever had. Now, seeing him brings back sizzling memories. But their rekindled fire threatens to burn them both.

Branded…

Watching Gage wrangle untamed horses with a gentle but firm touch leaves Brea hot and bothered. But can she live out her fantasy with a man who may ask more than she’s willing to give?

Brazen…

Ranch hand Walker Morgan can’t afford to lose his job by getting too close to his new boss, Jolene, no matter how much she tempts him. But Jolene’s prepared to take the first step, because what Jolene wants, Jolene gets. And Jolene wants Walker.

Thanks again to Jaci Burton for spending time on the Island with us!!

Please Welcome Guest Author Jaci Burton (and Biker Dude *g*) To The Island!

It is my great pleasure to introduce and welcome National Bestselling author Jaci Burton and her hubby affectionately known as “Biker Dude” to the Island! 

::Big round of applause - raising drinks:: I was delighted and honored when Jaci agreed to guest here at DIK because I’ve been a fan since I read “Wild, Wicked and Wanton”, in 2008, in fact it was my favorite Erotic Romance Anthology that year. I have gobbled up every one of her publications since and am still working through her Ellora’s Cave backlist. :)

Jaci’s most recent publication “Bound, Branded and Brazen” releases tomorrow from Berkley Heat and I can tell you it is an awesome read about 3 sisters and the HOT cowboys in their lives!

Lea: Welcome to DIK Jaci! I’m delighted to see you brought Charlie (aka Biker Dude) and a couple of dirt bikes along. Might as well make use of all the amenities, including the um, dirt while ya’all are here on the island! Are you and Biker Dude happy to get away from Oklahoma for a wee break to our little island paradise?

Jaci: Thank you so much for letting us come to the island! You have no idea how happy I am to get away from Oklahoma. It’s winter there. It’s been winter there since December. I am not happy about winter. I need some sunshine on this body. Give me the blowfish bikini top and a shot of tequila and I’m ready to go!

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

Hit me with your best shot, honey. Shot of tequila, that is.

ROFL - I can tell this is going to be a fun 3 days!
Favorite Reading Position?

Usually on the couch with the foot rest up, the back of the couch pushed all the way to ‘sleep’ position. Blanket and pillow on my lap and my iPhone zipping through those pages.

How old is your inside voice?

She’s typically a childish 12 year old prone to acting out with Biker Dude because he’s typically a 12 year old boy. See how it’s all his fault?. Though sometimes she’s a bratty 16 year old who wants things her way just…because. Very rarely does she act like an adult. She can’t help that either. She figures life’s way too short to act like an old person.

If you could be a hero who would you be?

Any of Roxanne St Claire’s Bulletcatchers. I have serious mad love for their skills.

What heroine is most like you ?

There’s a little piece of me in all of them. Usually the smart mouth part. Heh.

Well, I for one love your 'smart mouth'.. *g*
What heroine would you like to be?

Gina from Surviving Demon Island. She was fearless, yet vulnerable. And of course she was beautiful. And an actress and adventure junkie. She’s been one of my favorite heroines to write.

Oh I loved Gina! She was an awesome heroine!!
Boxers, Briefs, boxer briefs, kilt (I say we add commando)?

Boxer briefs are incredibly sexy on a man. The outline…oh the outline…..

Oooh Yah... Yummy!
Favorite book set on a tropical island?

Roxanne St Claire’s Then You Hide

What hero is most like your significant other?

Pretty much every damn one of them in some form or another.

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

Roarke from J.D. Robb’s series. That Irish lilt whispering in my ear? *swoon*

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

My toothbrush, toothpaste, and my husband, because he can build things and he knows how to fish. Really, what more do I need?

Well it's sure nice to have Biker Dude here!! 

Favorite drink to bring to the DIK party?

Captain Morgan and Diet Coke.

Well lets pour you one and get this party started!

Thanks Jaci, awesome answers! LOL

We’ve planned a rockin luau tonight with da DIK menz and Ladies. Jaci is going to be back on the island with us tomorrow talking about her favorite DIK books she has brought along.

Contest is now closed. The winners will be announced soon!

Wild, Wicked, & Wanton

Three friends...three secret desires...three chances to make it all come true.

They're inseparable best friends who delight in sharing their wildest secrets and dares. But their latest bet is the boldest one of all: each must sleep with whomever the other two have chosen for her. And come back with every juicy detail...

WILD

Abby married the town bad boy. And he lived up to his reputation, bedding any woman who let her guard down. She swore off men for good, but never counted on a pair of sexy veterinarians who are fulfilling a desire of their own.

WICKED

Blaire is the town heartbreaker. Afraid to commit, she's broken off three engagements. Yet there's one man she never had the courage to bed. The one man she really loved. But now, the decision is out her hands.

WANTON

Callie is the sensible one....but beneath it all she's a true romantic, with the broken heart to prove it. Now her long-dormant fantasies may be getting a workout. A new man enters her life and everything about him is irresistible.

Thanks again to Jaci Burton for spending time on the Island with us!!