My special guest today is Fiona Jayde who has a new sci-fi romance release called Cold Victory. 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, speaks English and Russian fluently, and when not plotting murder and mayhem enjoys steamy romance novels, sexy spy thrillers, murky mysteries and movies where things frequently blow up.
Today Fiona is talking about superheroes. Over to Fiona.
Vampires or hot-shot pilots. Werewolves or sexy super spies. Genetically altered humans or humans with larger-than-life lives. Supermen and kickass women.
My favorite books or movies or TV shows tend to feature superhero type characters. There is something about a larger than life character experiencing the same pull of love, lust or loss as us ordinary folks do. There is something about being able to step into a superhero’s life and be surprised that internally they can bleed just as much as we do.
With the explosion of the paranormal subgenre in romance, our choices for larger than life characters have expanded to suit every fantasy. Angel lovers, demon villains (or vice versa!), dragon shifters, you name a fantasy and there are books ready to cater to it, with various shifts on various subgenres. Blood vampires, energy vampires, psychic vampires… Werewolves, werecats, weredragons… One of my favorite paranormal “superheroes” are motorcycles from the series Driven To The Limit by Alice Gaines. The concept is so originally brilliant – motorcycles (which to me has always been a symbol of sexy man power) are built to shift into a man.
And yet, under the chrome, or leather, or scales, or teeth or Adamantium infused bones (gotta love Wolverine) we still have regular men and women who need an emotional connection, something or someone to believe in.
In Cold Victory, my superhero is Galen Stark, commander of Battlecruiser Victory. He possesses various technological enhancements such as an ocular implant which allows him to see vitals of a person, communication implants which allow him to “telepathically talk” to members of his crew, or nano-controlled fibers in his body which let him easily adapt to swift changes in gravity. And in that sexy tech-enhanced bod, pumps the heart of a red blooded male who has a duty to his crewmates and an insatiable desire for one of his pilots who shouldn’t even be on his ship.
****
“You’ll follow standard protocol aboard this ship.” Stark knew his voice had dropped, was furious that he couldn’t control it. Images of skin and sweat and tangled limbs flashed through his mind as his pulse shuddered with accelerated rhythm.
She looked at him now, those exotic amber eyes empty of feeling. “My apologies, Commander. I’ve been on civ div far too long.”
Heat wouldn’t let him breathe. Despite himself, Stark engaged his ocular implant, watching the waves of red surrounding her form, her body temp spiking, her blood vessels pumping overtime. If not for the pink, delicate flush over her face, she showed no outward appearance of being affected by same beast that clawed at him.
“You’re dismissed.” He didn’t know what the hell had happened, couldn’t understand why an impersonal touch charged him with a sexual awareness he had no business feeling. He simply knew he had to put her out of his reach. “I suggest you find a standard uniform.”
Cold Victory © Fiona Jayde
****
To the readers: who or what are some of your favorite super heroes or heroines?
(Fiona will be giving away a $15 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky commenter at the end of her tour. Details of Fiona’s full tour are available here at Goddess Fish Promotions)
Cold Victory by Fiona Jayde
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 than 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 his bloodmate carries an explosive. And Stark may have to give the order to destroy them all.
Purchase Cold Victory from Loose Id
Visit Fiona Jayde’s Website
Hi Shelley & Fiona!
I liked the sizzling snippet from COLD VICTORY.
It’s definitely whet my appetite for the whole book.
All the best,
RKCharron
PS – DO NOT ENTER ME IN CONTEST!
Since I read so many different genre’s I guess I really don’t have a clear definition of my favorite hero or heroine. They can be shapeshifters, vampires or CEO’s and hairdressers. I like strong, intellegent, dependable heroes and heroines in all the books I read.
Sounds fantastic. :grin: My favorite heroes and heroines are ones I can relate to on some level. If they are kick-ass, mores the better.
I love strong hero and heroine . a little mouthyness doesn’t hurt either makes me relate better
Cold Victory is going on my MUST READ list. It sounds fantastic and what is it about the name Galen that totally hits the spot for me? hmm…must ponder about that one :razz: LOL
My favourite hero/heroine are usually characters who are unorthodox, willing to take risks to do the right thing, has strong principles but knows when to bend the rules, is relatable…
Happy Reading
Hi Fiona – I’m a huge Russophile and would love to speak Russian someday. Enjoyed your excerpt. I love military stories, moreso if they’re historical or futuristic. Favorite superhero/or heroic characters for me are Aragorn from LOTR, Richard Sharpe, Maximus from Gladiator, the recent Ironman, and James McAvoy in Wanted.
Enjoyed your guest today, Shelley!
Hi RKCharron – I’m thrilled you enjoyed the snippet!!
@Linda H – same here – strong dependable heroes and heroines are a must in a story:)
@Jaime – thanks! I completely agree – we need to related to them somehow, right? That’s why I like vulnerable superheros:)
@Jennifer M – LOL about mouthyness – I do enjoy that as well:) Nothing like good verbal banter to sizzle the pages.
@Anna S – LOL! What IS it about a Galen, eh? LOL It was my subtle salute to BattleStar:) I love how you describe your favorite hero/heroines! Unorthodox characters are always very fun to read.
@ Julia – thanks for listing your fave superheros! Aragorn is freaking AWESOME as was James McAvoy – I really enjoyed Wanted:) I’m thrilled you liked the excerpt! What is it about Russian that appeals to you – the language itself/culture/?
I like to read the hero’s pov.
Great post, Fiona, and I always enjoy a sci-fi romance. Cold Victory sounds like a wonderful read.
I’ve been watching Buffy recently, so of course, I’d mention Buffy as a hero. Spike is also coming into his own and I think he’s a hero in his own way.
I also like Captain Jack in Torchwood and totally agree with Julia about Sharp in the Bernard Cornwell series.
I like alpha males, but I agree that the woman has to kick butt, too! I like a good character with a feisty attitude. :D
Cold Victory sounds great. I love kickass heroes and heroines.
Wow, that sounds great! :)
I love Vampires, Werewolves and American Indians. The gruffer and mena the guy seems in the beginning, makes it really interesting when he starts opening up and shows he’s really a nice guy.
@ Amelia – same here:) Otherwise, how would we know what the heck that tough guy is thinking?
@ Shelley – thanks for having me! I loove Buffy. I recently rewatched the entire series on Netflix – it just can’t get old:) I want to get the box set – as soon as they make one, that baby is going on my Amazon wishlist:)
@Marcieo – hiya! I completely agree – us girls have to kick some butt!
@N.J Walters – Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Same here – something about kickass characters that really appeals to me. I may be a teenager at heart – always going for action movies lol.
@Mary – can’t go wrong with Vampires, Werewolves and American Indians:) And I know what you mean – I love seeing a big tough guy open up to show how he melts for his woman.
my fave super heroes are demons (i’m love larissa ione’s demonica series), shape shifters (like in nalini singh’s psy-changeling series). as for heroines, i haven’t read much super ones but i’m going to go with assassins (as i’m about to read spider’s bite).
:grin: Loved the excerpt. Thanks for sharing. I love, love Kresley Cokes’ immortals. Those are some really talented Bad Boys.
Carol L.
[email protected]
I enjoyed the excerpt. I just love strong heroes and heroines who can hold their own.
I enjoyed both the post and the excerpt. I’m looking forward in reading Cold Victory.
I’ve added Cold Victory to my wish list, Fiona! Can’t wait to read it :)
Great post!
Amber
still liking this book and some of my favorite heroines are Rogue, Beast, and storm. I really really like most of the xmen and as a comic book junkie superheroes are some of my favorite stories.
Can’t wait to read your book.
Pam – I think some of the comic books are great. They’ve certainly inspired lots of movies.