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!

Guest Author Carrie Lofty - Day 3

Top Five Sexy Songs from SCOUNDREL'S KISS

I love, love, love writing books while listening to music. I always assemble a playlist--sometimes before, sometimes as I go along--that comes to embody the tone and content of a particular book. The playlist for SCOUNDREL'S KISS was very dark, with lots of songs about addiction and pain. But in the midst of darkness can be found moments of very raw sexuality. These five songs gave me those little shivery chills!

1. "Alice" by Cocteau Twins: This is the sound of Ada's opium high. Poor girl!

2. "Crashed" by Daughtry: I thrive on the idea that the process of falling in love can be a violent collision. Only those who survive it get the happy ending.

3. "Glass Breaker" by The Crystal Method feat. Charlotte Martin: This is another metaphor of violence and love, but from the woman's point of view.

4. "Safe From Harm" by Massive Attack: You gotta love a song with the lyrics, "If you hurt what's mine, I surely will retaliate." Click here for youtube...embedding is disabled. :/

5. "No Distance Left to Run" by Blur: Again, these lyrics make me all squishy inside. "I hope you're with someone who makes you feel safe in you sleep." link here

In truth, none of these songs are particularly happy. They made me work harder, determined to rescue Gavriel and Ada from these little heartbreaks!

What are your favorite dark love songs? Dig deep for some angst!

(final note from sula: please don't forget to check out Carrie's exciting new release Scoundrel's Kiss! It's available in all fine establishments now. And I can't help but post one final video...the trailer for the book. Enjoy! A big thank you to Carrie for being our guest here for the past 3 days. :) )

Guest Author Carrie Lofty - Day 2

Top Five Reasons Why Monks Are Sexy

1. The robes! Who knows what he's wearing under those layers? Could be anything...could be nothing!

2. The self-control! Vows of abstinence imply a certain, ahem, restraint. Sure it's a romance novel and he's going to succumb to his overriding passion, but imagine the level of self-control he could muster when he does!




3. The humility! If a man can kneel to a higher power, that means he knows how to be wrong, how to say he's sorry, and how to make it up to the woman he loves.

4. The swords! I'm not talking about monks that sit around in contemplative silence or hit their faces with boards (a la Monty Python). No, I'm talking about *warrior* monks. Part of the job requirement is being able to face danger, stab bad guys, and rescue maidens--even if those maidens are not exactly pure.



5. The hair! I know that the man on my cover is very Fabio with his lush, flowing hair, but Gavriel actually has very short, cropped hair. (Forgive the disconnect!) I like short hair because it shows off a man's face and the strength of his neck. You can see this from the men I've included with this post! Plus it would be exceedingly fun to touch, all prickly and warm from his scalp.







Can you find a monk hero sexy? Or is there too much distance between monk and man?

Tomorrow: Top Five Sexy Songs from SCOUNDREL'S KISS

Guest Author Carrie Lofty - Day 1

I'd like to welcome author and blogger friend Carrie Lofty to the island. Carrie writes great historical romance with an eye for detail and rich characterization. Her newest release is set in medieval Spain (que bueno!) and on her first day on the island, she'd like to discuss...

Top Five Reasons Why Spain is Sexy

1. The landscape! Check out the beautiful vistas in this post. We're talking broad plateaus with spectacular sunsets, majestic mountains, and sweeping rivers. There is romance in this place. And if nothing else, it makes a great change from writing about rainy ole' England!

2. The monks! Monks, you say? How can they possibly be sexy? Well the Order of St. James was so eager to recruit new warriors to their ranks--the better to fight Islamic tribes to the south--that they enacted very liberal policies. The monks could get married! And besides, isn't there something sexy about a man who has that much, ahem, self-control?

3. The laws! More cultural warfare against those pesky Moors meant very liberal laws throughout the kingdoms--anything to promote Christianity, no matter how nominal. So if you and your sweetheart went out in to the desert and spent the night, you could legally come back in the morning and declare yourselves married. No banns. No priest. No witnesses. Just the word of the two people involved. It was either that or suggest that God wasn't looking out for these two good Christian kids.


4. The people! Mediterranean countries, particular the Spanish kingdoms with their proximity to the Moors, were like medieval melting pots. People from all over converged because of trade routes, religious orders, and political wheeling and dealing. That meant a huge variety of faces, languages, and cultures. Who knows who you'll meet? (He's probably tall, dark and handsome!)

5. The danger! Nothing is sexier than sharing a dangerous adventure with a hot man who's handy with a sword. Danger gets the blood pumping and makes two stubborn would-be lovers realize all they stand to lose...

And hey, if they get it on out there in the gorgeous Spanish countryside, they can always decide to get married--even if the guy is a monk!

What are your thoughts on Spain? Sexy? Intriguing? Too unknown?

(Tomorrow: Top Five Reasons Why Monks Are Sexy!)