Deserted Island: Author Vicky Dreiling (and GIVEAWAY)

Weekly Feature here at Snowdrop Dreams of Books where authors and bloggers share what five books and what five other items they would want with them if they were ever stuck on a deserted island and why they chose them. Some posts are serious, some are extremely silly and some are mixture. Check back every week to see what your fave authors and bloggers would pick. 

This week historical romance author Vicky Dreiling is stopping by to tell us all about her Deserted Island party - I think you will all be excited with her choices of items to bring with her. Oh and don't forget to check out the bottom of this post for a giveaway!

Authors Gone Wild on Gilligan’s Island Retreat

By Vicky Dreiling

What five books and five items would you want to have with you if you were stuck on a deserted island?

Well, before we get to the books, I have to do some advance preparation. I’ll invite some writer friends to cruise with me on my imaginary yacht. We’ll stow away supplies such as rum for our coconut drinks and Hunky Cabana Boys to serve them! That reminds me, I’d better add comfy loungers, suntan lotion, and giant umbrellas to the list. We’ll need a hibachi for the fajitas, too. Doesn’t this sound like a great party? I also better bring some spiral notebooks and pens – more about that in a few.

The five books I would bring along to the Authors Gone Wild on Gilligan’s Island Retreat are … Drumroll:

1. Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase. I laughed so hard while reading this book. What a great premise: A brainy lady needs a brawny man to help her locate her missing brother in Egypt. The best part of this book is the hero, Rupert. He pretended to be an idiot, but of course, the reader guesses early on that he’s much smarter than he looks. There was one scene where he stares up at a pyramid and says, “It’s big.” I cracked up so much. I highly recommend this one and another by Ms. Chase (see #2).

2. Lord Perfect. Benedict Carsington, Viscount Rathbourne, is the Earl of Hargate’s heir. Benedict has always followed all of the rules, which explains his perfection. Everything in his life is orderly and well-planned, until the notorious Bathesheba Wingate from a rotten branch of her family enters his life. The road to adventure trope in this book is absolutely hilarious and heartwarming. I’ve read both Mr. Impossible and Lord Perfect more than once.

3. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean. I absolutely loved the conceit of the 9 rules, and I adored Callie, the heroine. Sarah MacLean is a master at creating believable and sympathetic characters.

4. The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany. This book contains numerous spoofs of Regency England, but at the same time, the hero and heroine are completely loveable and realistic underneath the zany comedy.

5. Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh. It’s tough to choose only one of Mary’s books, but this one is my favorite. Part of the reason is that Joshua, the hero, is such a charmer, and I’m a total sucker for those guys. Also, I really adored the way Balogh gradually peeled back the layers of Freyja, so that we caught glimpses of her vulnerability. A truly superb book!

So those are my five book choices. I figure we can share books on the island, but eventually we’ll start yearning for something new. Remember the pens and spiral notebooks I’m planning to stow away? My writer friends and I will have to stop partying long enough to write something good to read. Wow! Our editors and agents will be so impressed with our production of pages, they’ll never let us return to civilization.

Now to wind down this crazy fantasy, here is the first episode of Gilligan’s Island!

Bio: Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.” When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.

How to Ravish a Rake

(April 1, 2012)

SCANDALOUS DESIRES . . .

Amy Hardwick has one last Season to shake off her wallflower image and make a love match. If she can’t, she’ll set aside her dreams of romance and return home to a suitor who can provide security—if little else. What she doesn’t count on is the inappropriate—and irresistible—attention lavished on her in a darkened library by rake extraordinaire Will “The Devil” Darcett . . .

DEVILISH DELIGHT

When Will is caught in a tryst with the ton's shyest miss, he knows he must offer for her hand. Yet Amy is not the shrinking violet she seems to be. Passion lies beneath her prim exterior and Will is eager to release it. But winning Amy isn’t simply a matter of seduction; first, Will must convince her that he’s mended his wicked ways . . .

To learn more about Vicky and her books, visit her website: http://www.vickydreiling.com/

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Vicky is giving away one copy of How to Ravish a Rake to one commenter (US & Canada Only).

Question for readers: What 5 books would you bring to a deserted island?

To enter just fill out the rafflecopter below and answer Vicky's question.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Thank you Vicky for being a part of the Deserted Island feature.