Desert Island Giveaway #23

Giveaway: Offered by author Fiona Jayde - 1 $15.00 gift card from Amazon.com

That's right, you can win a gift card to Amazon.com and buy all those books that you didn't already get for the Holidays.

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

Good luck!

Leave email in comment section to enter.

Winner Of Amazon Gift Certificate From Fiona Jayde... :-)

Good morning everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.

A big thank you again to Fiona Jayde for her generous giveaway here on the Island this past week and for being such a fun guest. And, thank you to everyone who stopped by and chatted with Fiona. The lucky winner of the $25.00 Amazon Gift Certificate was chosen randomly by numbered entry.

The lucky winner is #44 - Chey!

Whoo Hoo! Congratulations Chey. :-) Chey if you can please contact me (Lea) at i_love_my_kiera@yahoo.ca with the e-mail address you would like to have your GC sent to I will pass your information on to Fiona.

Chey will have until Thursday June 17, 2010 to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks again everyone and have a great weekend!

Themes In Romance by Fiona Jayde

I've been an avid reader since my parents stopped half way through the Wizard Of Oz and told me to finish it myself. (Evil and brilliant)

 When I was about twelve I discovered romance novels (and Nora Roberts!), and romance is still my preferred genre today. And while I don't necessarily love Romance movies, I love movies with a strong romantic sub-plots where sexual tension just sizzles on screen.

My favorite romantic themes usually involve the hero and heroine absolutely hating each other (at least verbally) while being wildly attracted to each other. (Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa pop immediately to mind.)

As I mentioned in a previous post, I love the idea of a hero having to betray or "kill" his heroine (whether literally or figuratively - such as destroy her career or discredit her, etc) only to fall in love with her instead. I used a reversal of that theme in my sci-fi romance Cold Victory, where my heroine struggles with having to destroy the hero and his ship.

Similarly, I love the theme of a hero absolutely hating the heroine (or vice versa) but being honor bound or duty bound to save her - and end up falling for her.

I also love sports themes in contemporary romances - big tough athletes/ wounded warriors who need help seeing themselves as something more then statistics and scores. (I recently read Rachel Gibson's Nothing But Trouble and while it had no explosions or car chases or guns, I couldn't put it down. The sexual tension between the characters kept me riveted!)

Vengeance themes are another favorite - right up there with the hero and heroine hating each other. I think it was Silhouette romances which often had the hero forcing the heroine to marry him out of revenge, and the tension between them just sizzled.

Maybe it sounds really simplistic when I sum it up - but it seems that my favorite romance novels are very dramatic in the mutual dislike overlaid with attraction between the hero and heroine - regardless of the genre of the story.


To the readers - what are some of your favorite themes and storylines in romance novels or movies with romantic subplots?

Contest now closed to entries. 
Fiona Recently published an excellent story "Pas de Deux" with Samhain Publishing. Check out Fi's amazing trailer which I think captures the essence of the story perfectly.

One wrong move, and she could be dancing on her grave…

Two years after an injury put her dancing career on hold, Lynnrina Kovaleva is determined to reclaim her place on the stage. On the eve of her comeback production, she takes the edge off her nerves with a one-night stand in the strong arms of celebrity bodyguard Mateo Rivera.

Ex-cop Mateo is celebrating one hell of an anniversary: eight months since he was declared unfit for duty. When a delicate beauty boldly propositions him in a bar, he chooses to lose himself in her body rather than lose his mind to alcohol. This choice comes back to haunt him when he’s hired to protect a prima ballerina who’s been receiving threats.

Despite her shock at seeing him again, Lynn must not allow their intense attraction—or any creepy fan letters—to undermine her performance. Mateo can’t reconcile this coldly focused dancer with the passionate woman who seduced him. Yet he sees fire under the ice, pain hidden by the smooth mask of perfection.

The vivid memory of their entwined bodies wars with the job at hand, but he must keep Lynn safe—regardless of the cost. The most difficult challenge, however, will be keeping his hands to himself.

Warning: Contains jetés, pliés, a chilling touch of danger, and the boiling heat of an unwanted attraction that combusts into passionate sex.

Excerpt and Ordering Information

A big thank you again to Fiona Jayde (and her pirate) for being such an awesome and generous guest on the island.

Fiona Jayde is a space pilot, a ninth degree black belt in three styles of martial arts, a computer hacker, a mountain climber, a jazz singer, a weight lifter, a superspy with a talent for languages, and an evil genius.
All in her own head.

In life, she is an author of kickass, action packed, steamy romances, possesses a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do and blue belt in Aikido, a web developer, scared to death of heights, loves jazz piano, can bench-press about 20 pounds — with effort, was taught English by Nora Roberts and Growing Pains, and when not plotting murder and mayhem enjoys steamy romance novels, sexy spy thrillers, murky mysteries and movies where things frequently blow up.

She can be contacted by emailing her at fiona [at] fionajayde [dot][com]

Fiona Jayde Talks About Her Desert Island Keepers

Welcome back to our second day of fun and sun at DIK Fiona! As is tradition I agreed to let Fiona borrow my blowfish bikini top, and her pirate dude kept eyeballing it so I thought it best to comply. lol

Hows the fit there Fiona? I have to say, you and your pirates sure know how to party that was an awesome luau last night!!

Um... That's quite a top Lea! LOL! The luau was awesome - someone had Captain Morgan on hand:)

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

Dood - just 5? LOL

My very favorite book is Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - the Russian version.

I re-read it almost every year and each time find something new that I didn't realize before. I love the dashing D'Artagnan, and I've even declared that I'm going to marry him - I was 10 at the time. (Funny part? My hubby has a very similar looking mustache to the guy on the cover!) I also adore Athos - he is the original tortured hero!

Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey - I just love that book. There's so much sexual tension, and James Mallory - the hero - is just so freaking sexy! I love the back and fourth banter between him and Georgina, and I seriously love that he coerced her brothers into forcing him to marrying her, keeping his reputation and still getting the woman he loves.

Ice Blue by Anne Stuart - this was one of the few times where I developed a crush on the hero - Takashi O'Brian. Its just an amazing book - full of thrills and chills and enough sexual tension to have me shivering. I love the theme of "hero may have to kill the heroine but falls in love with her" - and I've re-read the book a number of times and still can't put it down.

Glory In Death by J.D Robb - this is the second book in the In Death series and still my favorite. This is where Eve - the kickass heroine who hides a soft heart - has to come to terms with her feelings toward Roarke - and the struggle is so intensely powerful I can't take my eyes off those two. I love the In Death series - but that book is my ultimate favorite.

Beyond Eden by Catherine Coulter is another of my favorite re-reads. Its about surviving a horrific ordeal and still being able to open your heart to love. The book features an amazing heroine and tough as nails but soft inside hero. And a seriously messed up family dynamic - complete with Italian royalty to boot.




Fiona's Question Today:

Readers - what are some of your favorite re-reads and why?


Thanks Fiona! Excellent choices… :)

Contest now closed to entries.

As I mentioned yesterday, in addition to being a gifted writer, Fi is also a talented graphic designer who crafts her own videos. Check out this one for her Sci Fi Erotic Romance "Cold Victory":

Intergalactic warfare has not been kind to humans. Convicted pilot Zoya Scott has the chance to avenge her family, redeem an act of desperation with that of sacrifice. She’ll end this war if she betrays the man whose touch burns through her soul, the man whose ship and crew she must destroy. The man who is her bloodmate.

Commander Galen Stark never expected the convicted pilot on his ship to be anything more then a good looking inconvenience. A small brush of their hands grips him with vicious lust, a need he can’t control. She is his bloodmate – a biological reaction burning through his veins.

Except she carries an explosive. And Stark may have to give the order to destroy them all.

Excerpt and Ordering Information

Fiona returns for her final day on DIK tomorrow and will be chatting with us about.. Well, you’ll have to stop by and check out her awesome post!

Please Welcome Fiona Jayde to the Island!

It is my great pleasure to introduce and welcome multitalented Author Fiona Jayde to the Island!

::Big round of applause - raising drinks::

I was delighted and honored when Fi agreed to guest here at DIK because I’ve been a fan since I read her short story “Booty Call”, in 2009. I have read a number of her publications since and I can tell you she pens steamy romances spanning a number of romance sub-genre’s including fantasy, science fiction, romantic suspense and contemporary! Fiona is also a gifted graphic artist and crafts her own book videos which are brilliant!

Fiona’s most recent release “Treasure of Devil’s Isle”, a time travel romance involving a handsome pirate is now available from Red Sage Publishing.

Welcome to DIK Fiona! I was quite um... excited to see you disembarking from the frigate that is anchored off shore and being escorted in the little landing skiff by a handsome... Wow, is he a pirate?

Thanks for having me Lea! Cap't Jared Tacht kindly agreed to escort me here to the island since I may be many things, but a sailor I'm not. *whispers* He is the son of the legendary pirate Edward Tacht but he really doesn't like to talk about it.

Oh, okay, cool, well, you’ll have to introduce him to myself and da ladies later. ;) (I for one am keen to be introduced!)

You got it!

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

*Nervous breath and exhale* Okay shoot!

Favorite Reading Position?

Sitting on the overstuffed green couch with hubby, my bright blue Snuggie and either or both of our cats. Especially when its raining.

Oh, I love kitties, that is so nice!
How old is your inside voice?

Umm... I'd say 19. Old enough to know better, but still crazy enough to do it anyway... Plus I have a real bad case of potty mouth.

I love potty mouths.. ;)
If you could be a hero who would you be?

Huh - tough question! I'd like to be Bruce Lee from "Enter the Dragon" and embody the teacher and the fierce warrior.

What heroine is most like you ?

Hmm... Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I used to be very shy and awkward and bookish until I came into my own "power" so to speak. The power in my case was learning and teaching martial arts - it's amazing how much confidence one gains when teaching little kids to kick and punch and yell..Maybe it was as simple as shouting over them? LOL

Willow was awesome! Even when she turned into an evil witch!
What heroine would you like to be?

I'd love to be Buffy - but sans all the conflicts and torture. I'd love to have super powers and kick major ass, but I don't have the spine for bearing the weight of the world on my shoulder. I do love that she's a survivor and looks stylish while kicking vampire butt:)

Yeah, Buffy was uber cool.
Boxers, Briefs, boxer briefs, kilt (I say we add commando)?

I'd say commando. Though a kilt could be interesting.

Favorite book set on a tropical island?

I'd have to say Paradise Rules by Beth Kery.

Oh Gawd, I loved Jace Koa, awesome hero!
What hero is most like your significant other?

I'd say Don Eppes from TV show Numb3rs. Very clear headed, take charge, calm (unless you push a major button), loyal, loves his family... and well... hot:)

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

My Kindle, chocolate covered pomegranate seeds, and the hubster:) (Hey, someone has to put a tent together and reach for coconuts! )

Chocolate covered pomegranate seeds? Wow, how, um yummy? lol Never heard of that one Fi!

Favorite drink to bring to the DIK party?

Something fruity and sweet... My sister in law introduced me to Captain Morgan mixed with peach juice - I'd say it would be perfect for DIK party!

ROFL! You sure have unique taste buds there Fiona!

Fi, you write really wonderful stories from a wide variety of romance sub-genres. Any particular favorite?

Thank you! I honestly can't say I have a favorite genre because it changes based on whatever book I want to write. When I was writing Cold Victory, I was in love with Sci Fi. Right now, I'm writing a romantic thriller and loving it.

Do you have a Question you would like to ask folks who stop by and say Hi today?

Who are some of your favorite romance heroes and why?

Thanks Fiona, great answers and a an excellent question for da ladies! LOL

Contest now closed to entries.

Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Category: Adventure, Time Travel, Historical, Pirates
Length: Novella
Available Format: eBook

Victoria Randall – an adventure seeking librarian with a love for romance novels–is thrown though time when lightning strikes. She wakes up in the eighteenth century on a frigate with pirates and a hunky captain. She's either crazy or in a romance novel, nearly lashed, thoroughly loved. And yet this romance novel is nothing like the ones she’s read before.

Excerpt & Order

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