Good friend Fiona Jayde has her first Samhain book out today, a scorcher contemporary that is sure to get your heart racing called Pas de Duex. Give it up for Fiona!
Pas De Duex
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.
Pas de Duex Book Trailer
Book Trailer Link
Fi’s Interview
1. Welcome Fiona! What are your thoughts on the eve of your release of Pas de Deus?
Hi Beth – thank you so much for having me! I’m thrilled to be releasing Pas De Deux – this is a first foray into contemporary romantic suspense for me. I’ve always loved the genre, but somehow never managed to write anything close. I’m hoping this is a first of many – I do love writing cops and detectives and bodyguards! Plus this is my first Samhain release – again, first of many I’m hoping:)
2. What does Pas de Deux mean? (Both literally–lol–and figuratively–why did you choose it as a title?)
Pas De Deux in Ballet terms means a dance for two where the steps are performed together. It can also be thought of as a dancing duet. It fit perfectly for the title of this story because of the pairing of bodyguard Mateo Rivera and prima ballerina Lynn Kovaleva and their “dance of attraction” or rather “their dance of denying attraction”. Both are determined to maintain their distance behind a mask of cool professionalism – Lynn can’t afford any more rumous about her while she is fighting to get back her reputation, while Mateo must concentrate on protecting his client and can’t afford to miss a single detail.
In addition Pas De Duex is the title of the production Lynn is headlining, so I thought it was a great play of a “story within a story”.
3. Pas de Deus has a heroine who is a ballerina. I know you love the arts and play piano yourself. What was it like for you to write a story with musical/dance elements?
You know, I actually tried out for ballet once. I was about five, and my Mom took me to Ballet tryouts in our home town in Russia. They didn’t pick me because I couldn’t get into the first position nor touch my toes! Plus I was never a graceful individual:)
To research dance elements, I enlisted my niece who takes ballet classes (she is en pointe now!) and who refreshed me on the terms, as well as my favorite research tool, Netflix. They have an abundance of Art documentaries, a lot of them on ballet. I couldn’t really understand the dance itself or the amazing effort that goes into making a ballerina look like she is floating on air, but I could understand accenting a movement with music, or what it feels like to have tired burning muscles from overstretching or overworking. I never thought my music and martial arts backgrounds would ever converge like that!
4. Tell us about your hero. What do you love about him?
Mateo Rivera is a very unique hero for me. I knew I wanted Hot Latin Lover hero ( I hope he forgives me for labeling him!) I wanted this potent combination of sensuality and alpha male, and a rich cultural background to boot. I knew immediately that Mateo was of Puerto Rican heritage, but I’ve never really written a hero with that background. And understanding a culture isn’t something one can easily get from Netlflix! Luckily I have a friend who is Puerto Rican, whom I’ve known for a long time. He was very patient while I picked his brain with questions about culture and word usage etc. I hope I did him justice, but Mateo turned out to be one of my favorite heroes for it!
Thanks so much for having me Beth!!
My pleasure, Fi! Happy Release Day!
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Leave Fiona a comment on Pas de Duex or ask her a question to be entered in a draw to win one of her backlist books! Also, continue to participate in the Julie James Borders video contest. The winner for both books will be chosen on Saturday!
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Congratulations on your new release Fiona!
I was cracking up reading Mateo’s description…the latin Kevin Costner…priceless!:lol:
I just know from reading the blurb and excerpt this story is going to have just the right dose of humour to keep it interesting. I’m looking forward to reading the book.
Happy Reading
Anna Shah Hoque
s7anna@yahoo.ca
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Happy release day, Fi!! I love dance, so I’m especially excited to learn more about your latest!
Are you doing anything special to celebrate your books? 🙂
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Yayay for release days!!!! Congrats Ms. Fiona!
I have to say that I have taken dancing for almost 20yrs and I was in pointe class. So this story means more to me… because when you dance – you always dance, you live it, you breathe it, it is you. So, this cover rocks my boat big time. It is not the hussy in me… it is the dancer in me!
So, please enter me in for this one!!!!
Hope everyone has a great day!
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Good Morning Fi and Beth!
Fiona, congratulations on Release Day!
I hope Pas De Duex sores to the top of the bestseller list!!
Best
L
😀
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I’m in a dance class right now and I this book sounds really great!
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Hi Beth & Fiona
Congrats Fiona. I bought it first thing this morning. I hope it’s the first of many too.
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Congrats on release day. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. Love the dancing background and also the hispanic hero…a latin Kevin Costner indeed!
Maria
ringpop2010@yahoo.com
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Good Morning everyone! Thanks so much for having me Beth!
@Thanks so much Fedora! I’m finding a number of dance enthusiasts and pros among my friends!! (A little bit intimidating now but terrific!) As far as celebrating, today is actually the anniversary of hubby and mine’s first date:) (Yes we are sappy) So we’ll be celebrating double!
@Cecile – hiya lady!!!! I didn’t know you danced!!! (Note to self – ping Cecile for research… And titles!!) Isn’t the cover gorgeous?? I just loved it!
@Anna – thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it! I had to do a small nod to The Bodyguard movie 🙂
@Lea – Thank you so much!!!
@Amanda -thanks! And wow – which dance class?? I’m honestly in awe of anyone who dances – I have about five left feet:)
@ Mary – thanks!!! I hope you enjoy it!
@Maria – thanks!! I also love Hispanic heroes – talk about Tall Dark and Handsome! (Have you ever see New York Undercover? Michael DeLorenzo playes a Puerto Rican undercover cop and he is so amazing in it! I loved that show!!)
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Congrats for the fiftieth time this week, Fiona! Such a great story and I had no idea it was your first contemp – I had just figured I’d missed all the others. LOL Here’s to many many more books – both with Samhain and otherwise! 🙂
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Girl are you kidding me… You could have wrote your grocery list in there… and I would have bought it… first cuz it is you (silly girl) second hello… what dancer does not want that cover… and lastly.. dude in background hello!!!!!! and the color is amazing… and the trailer is wow… and do you really need me to go on and on… lmbo!!!!
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Happy Release Day! Sounds great, this one will be on my wish list!
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Congrat on your new release!!
Beautiful cover.
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Cecile–lol. I know, this book sounds so smoking. I have gotten to sample test most of Fi’s books…I think she’s holding out, because I haven’t read this one yet. Looking forward to it.
And yes, Fi is a polymath. She made that video, she wrote the book. In addition, she paints and plays piano…or…and does martial arts.
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Wow, Beth, I would have thought you’d read this eons ago… (Maybe I’m remembering wrong–I thought you were CPs?) I guess she wanted us all to wait for the awesomeness of this story 😀
And sheesh–I guess it’s a testament to how lovely a person Fi is that we don’t all despise her for her many wondrous talents! ;p
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Happy release day!
I love romantic suspense.
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@Estella – thank you! Same here – I adore romantic suspense:)
@LOL Aymee – thanks!
@Cecile – the dood on the cover is truly amazing! Actually he to the T Mateo – right down the the cross on his neck. I don’t know how Amanda Kelsey found him, but I’m glad she did! She did such a terrific job with this cover!
@Eva and Elaing – thank you! Glad you ladies could stop by!
@Dood Beth – you haven’t read this one?? . This is a grave error on my part and will be corrected immediately:) And sheesh – you’re making me blush! Its not like I do all those things WELL:)
@LOL Fedora – the only talent I have is the attention span of a kitten – I am into everything and anything… Luckily I have a hubby who doesn’t bitch too much about the easel he built which is now sitting in the garage (hey, its rain season and I’m no longer allowed to paint in house after accidentally painting the remote control green – true story).. And the punching bag is kinda lonely – but again, rain season….
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Hi Fiona-Happy release day-I can’t dance ballet either I wasn’t “graceful” but I can’t wait to read your new release
audie@wickerness.com
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Happy Release Day, Fiona. Great job on the trailer, the excerpt has me hooked. A polymath, I am impressed.
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Congrats on the new release! It sounds wonderfully suspenseful. And as a person who’s not well-versed about ballet, I would love to learn more.
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Congrats on the new release! Sounds great!
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Fi, this will be my first story to read written by you. I look forward to reading it. I wanted to learn ballet, but there was no opportunity in my hometown.
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This sounds like a great book and the cover is beautiful I can’t wait to read it.
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Pas De Deux sounds great! Having been a dancer until hip surgery stopped my career, I love stories about “happy” beginnings, middles or ends!
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Congrats on the release, sounds good!
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The book sounds really interesting. I love how fitting the title is for both the characters and their relationship.
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I don’t know how to pronounce the title, but I’m glad you told us what it means. The trailer fits so well with the description and excerpts from the book. I enjoyed it.