'Heroes in Uniform' box set authors stuck on a desert island

The authors of the Heroes in Uniform boxed set, coming to us on June 9, join HEA to fantasize about the kind of hero in uniform with whom they'd want to be stranded on a desert island (and tell us about their story in the set). The collection, selling for 99 cents, features 10 never-before-published full-length romantic suspense and military romance novels and one novella. Authors include: Gennita Low, Cristin Harber, Kaylea Cross, Sharon Hamilton, Caridad Pineiro, Patricia McLinn, Karen Fenech, Dana Marton, Toni Anderson, Lori Ryan and Nina Bruhns.

Gennita Low, author of Dangerously Hot

If you were stranded on a desert island with a hero in uniform, who would he be?

Gennita: A desert island? A SEAL, of course! Or maybe a Ranger. Or, maybe Delta Force. Sigh. This is a tougher question than I'd thought. I guess I want a man of action who has survival skills, who can hunt for food and build shelter for poor helpless me ;). Also, he can entertain me with ... umm ... other abilities.

Please tells us about your story in Heroes in Uniform.

Gennita: While on a mission to look for his brother in Estonia, Lucas works as a "fixer" and meets the beautiful and mysterious La Niina on many assignments. He finds out she has a connection to his missing brother and decides to make his move to get more information. But can he resist her charms?

Cristin Harber, author of Garrison's Creed

Hero on desert island? Of course I'd take a man in uniform with me while stranded on a deserted island! I'd choose one of the ex-military men from my Titan series, and Cash Garrison is one of my favorites. Oh, I know I shouldn't admit that, but I can't help it. He was an Army sniper and has a heart of gold. He's always ready with a joke, and his humor would be awesome when isolated island life gets old. Couple his personality with his target skills, and we'd never be without dinner or conversation. Besides the handsome looks and sweet charm, he's loyal and passionate. Even if he could get us off the island, I'd drag my feet.

Your story in the set? My contribution to the Heroes in Uniform box set is Garrison's Creed. Cash is an elite member of a black ops organization, The Titan Group. He fell in love with his best friend's sister in college but thought she died his senior year. Since that awful day, he's sworn off love to focus on a decade of military missions. But when she shows up behind enemy lines, bleeding out and wielding a weapon, his heart and mind are unsure how to proceed.

Kaylea Cross, author of Danger Close

Hero on desert island? I would pick a SOF member. I don't even care which branch — they know how to survive and how to improvise! And SOF guys are in hella good shape, so I could use all that muscle mass to keep me warm while we waited for rescue. *wink*

Your story in the set? With his cover blown, former undercover CIA agent Wade Sandberg finds himself, and an innocent woman, the number one targets of the world's most dangerous terrorist.

Sharon Hamilton, author of Cruisin' for a SEAL

Hero on desert island? That's an easy one for me. I'd definitely want a Navy SEAL, preferably one from SEAL Team VI. With the million-dollar training and a sixth sense for danger, he'd not only protect me by getting and staying real close, he'd probably be a fun guy to hang around. As I always say in my books: hunky heroes always. Shirts optional. SEALs can swim, improvise from their environment, learn how to survive in extreme conditions. Oh, and one other little factoid: I've been told they tend to be on the hot and bothered side around women. Now that's just fine!

Your story in the set? Special Operator Mark Beale and several of his brothers from SEAL Team 3 take a cruise to bury a fallen buddy's ashes at sea. Terrorists take over the ship and what starts out as a vacation turns into a mission from Hell.

Caridad Pineiro, author of Sins of the Flesh

Hero on desert island? That is a tough one, like asking a mom to choose a favorite child. I love heroes in uniform in all the services, but since we're on an island, I think I'd pick a hero from one of the military services that sometimes doesn't get as much attention as it should: the Coast Guard. The men and women of the Coast Guard are not only charged with protecting us close to home, but also with saving the lives of civilians on a daily basis. My Coast Guard hero would know just what to do in the water and out of it!

Your story in the set? The hero in my book is an ex-Army Ranger whose life was changed by an unfortunate incident after he leaves the military. Driven by guilt, he has pulled away from his family and others. A loner, he supports himself as a mercenary, but when he is called upon to chase down a woman accused of murder, he discovers a woman totally unlike what he expects. He also discovers the honor and courage that he had thought he had lost long ago.

Patricia McLinn, author of At the Heart's Command

Hero on desert island? I'll take an Army man, thank you. One with all the ingredients of a hero — a hero sandwich, that is! ;-) A solid, reliable exterior provides a stable base to hold all the good qualities inside. Those qualities include the staples of honor, intelligence, reliability and McGyver-type smarts (we're on a desert island, after all, so we're going to need lots of ingenuity). Next, pile on the flavor-filled additions of humor, wit and sexiness. All given extra zest by that best of secret sauces: character. Hooah!

Your story in the set? Colonel John Griffin Jr. is the best kind of military man — a good and honorable soldier determined to protect Ellyn Sinclair at all costs. Especially from himself. Once, Grif rejected a young Ellyn's advances, because he could not give her the life she deserved. Instead, he stood up as best man when Ellyn married. But now Ellyn is a widow, living on a Wyoming ranch with her two young children, and struggling. No matter what it costs him, Grif will do his duty — help Ellyn and her children, while ignoring that he has never stopped wanting her.

Karen Fenech, author of Snowbound (Protectors Series #2)

Hero on desert island? Any of our men in uniform are well trained and would be great to have in a place where quick wits and the ability to live off the land and survive in the wild are needed. In my novel Snowbound, Gage Broderick isn't on a desert island but isolated in a mountain cabin. He must rely on his wits and survival skills to save both himself and the injured FBI agent in his care when the killers hunting her find them. For me, I'd also love if the man with me was patient and had a sense of humor. I'm a city girl all the way and if he were stuck with me away from civilization, he'd need that sense of humor!

Your story in the set? FBI Agent Mallory Burke, injured and on the run for her life, is stranded in a snowstorm with a reclusive and secretive cop she's not sure she can trust but is falling in love with.

Dana Marton, author of Deathblow

Hero on desert island? My first thought was that I would prefer being stranded with a Navy SEAL. Then I really started to think and realized that there's more to survival than a certain set of skills. I think I would like to be stranded with a strong, capable man (regardless of branch of military or law enforcement) who is also kind and have a great personality. I mean, what's the point of having a guy who can start a fire with sticks, if he's so annoying I'd have to hit him over the head with a coconut? (Seriously, you know how grumpy I'd be after a month without coffee?)

Your story in the set? Former small-town football hero turned cop Joe Kessler never met a linebacker, perp or a woman he couldn't handle. Then a troubled single mom walks into his life, and the only place this hot jock will ever see "easy" again is in the dictionary.

Toni Anderson, author of Her Last Chance

Hero on desert island? Oh, this is SO easy. I'd want a hero in a British SAS uniform. Bear Grylls was former SAS and we all know how good he is on desert islands. But I think I'd do the cooking if it were Bear. LOL. I'd want someone who had the skills to survive, but also the ability to keep me from going out of my mind. The men of the SAS (who Delta Force were modeled on) would be my go-to Heroes in Uniform!

Your story in the set? Eighteen years ago the Blade Hunter found his first victim on the streets of New York City. As a child Josephine Maxwell was attacked and left for dead. Now the killer has returned, and the only person who can save her is the FBI agent she deceived and betrayed six months ago. The return of a serial killer gives SAC Marshall Hayes an excuse to force his way back into Josie's life. But to catch the killer, he has to break all the rules and risk losing his heart again.

Lori Ryan, author of Everlasting

Hero on desert island? For me, the most important thing is that you're with someone who loves you and whom you love back. After all, when you love someone, you'll do anything for them — you'll sacrifice your happiness and safety for theirs. And, they'll do the same for you. Who else would be better on that island with you? But, if I had to put a uniform on him, I'd go with SEAL. For all-around knowledge, ability to get the job done, the guts to stay in there no matter how harried things get, commitment and loyalty — I'd choose a SEAL.

Your story in the set? It's been years since Katelyn Bowden set foot in Evers, Texas. Sent away at age 4 by her father, the town sheriff, after her mother's murder, Katelyn returns to an ailing father and unexpected threats. When new sheriff John Davies realizes his mentor's daughter might be the key to a decades-old mystery, he fears repressed memories could make her the target of a killer. As shocking revelations about local murders, past and present, slowly come to light, threats become all too real—and only John Davies can protect the lady his heart commands him passionately to love from the peril that surrounds them both.

Nina Bruhns, author of Barely Dangerous

Hero on desert island? Tough one! My first impulse would be to say some kind of spec operator. They always have great survival skills, which is what you want on a desert island. However, the hero of Barely Dangerous is with California Fish and Wildlife and he's pretty darn handy, too. Being a good fisherman would be critical on an island. But I think more than survival skills, the man I'd want with me would be a good conversationalist ... and an excellent cook. And, well, tall, dark and handsome wouldn't hurt!

Your story in the set? Lieutenant Blue Wolf Cooper and Maggie Johansen have bigger problems than their explosive but very inconvenient attraction. Coop has no idea his pretty prime suspect is really a federally protected witness...while Maggie is afraid that bad guys far more dangerous than bear poachers have been sent to kill her. Despite their growing love, Coop and Maggie nearly fall prey to doubt and suspicion...until they bare their souls and learn to trust, so together they might face the secrets and hidden dangers confronting them, and find a lifetime of happiness.