Release Weekend Party Kickoff!!! Giveaway #1

Thanks for joining me in the kickoff to my Release Weekend Party for Nobody's Perfect (Rescue Me #4). Yesterday morning, I made an announcement on my Facebook Author Page and on my Amazon Author Central Page's discussion on Nobody's Perfect to say that the book won't be cleaned up for you until this weekend, most likely Sunday. I could apologize again, but I'd be more embarrassed if I'd released the book before I thought it was the best book I'd ever written. Now I'm satisfied to say that I have achieved my goal. 

This book certainly was aptly named, though! I have struggled with the ending for four months, which was why I wouldn't publish it on the originally expected June date. Yesterday morning, I finally got the ending the way I wanted it.  

It took me a long time to break down that last emotional hurdle--the last trigger, the one I didn't want to face. A wonderful sub, Ekatarina "Saya" Sayanova, whom I first met when she e-mailed me in June wondering when the heck the book was coming out, helped give me the courage to face the scene and #finishthefuckingbook (my original and favorite hashtag on Twitter, although I can't understand why other writers haven't picked up on it yet).  

Anyway, writing this last scene (chapters 24 and 25) yesterday morning provided the catharsis both Savi and I needed. RELEASE! But with that monumental event happening the day before the expected release date (and edits still happening), I announced that the book would come out this weekend instead. 

So, today we're going to kick off a 3-day Release Watch Party. I know everyone blocked reading time today, so you'll also find out about some of my friends' new releases (some today, I believe), and chances to win more books and goodies. Visiting today (in alpha order, not necessarily posting order) will be Chris Almeida & Cecilia Aubrey, Shayla Black, Lexi Blake, Eliza Gayle, Joey W. Hill, Alannah Lynne, Teresa Reasor, and Bianca Sommerland! 

Prizes will be drawn be after 12 midnight CDT Saturday (which gives you all day Sept. 14 & 15 to enter). See below for more details about today's party.  

And while you all are partying here, I'll be going back and forth all day with my editorial team and beta readers, so that I can send it to the formatter. 

We are going to have this book all cleaned up and in your hands no later than end of day Sunday, Sept. 16. 

Thanks for your continued support and patience on this incredible journey for me! On Facebook, I've described this last month as the 9th month of pregnancy. (My DIL is due Oct. 1 with my first grandchild--a boy--so that's also foremost in my consciousness right now.) Labor began about a week ago, I believe the place where I posted STFU as a comment to someone who posted a tick-tock message on my Facebook wall as the transition stage. Yesterday, was the pushing stage and the baby will be born today--but it's a big baby! (Right now, about 160,000 words with NO subplots. As announced in my Aug. 31 newsletter, I removed Marc and Angelina's subplot because it was a distraction to Damian and Savi's story. But I plan to complete their story in a separate book--now book 5 in the series, but am reluctant to make any promises on when you will get it.)

So, while we clean up this baby, you all enjoy yourselves today, discover some new authors and/or new books, and just hang on a little longer. No more delays.

And thanks for your ongoing support and patience. I hope to God I never have to birth to another baby like this one, but I was determined when I started this series over a year ago that I would write a book about the realities of become a sexual being again after the traumas of child sexual abuse. This book will be an intensely emotional read for survivors of abuse, rape, incest, as well as those suffering from PTSD from combat and other traumatic events. Too many times in the Romances I've read, the heroine's emotional scars just disappear with the love of a good hero. If I'm going to bring you more realistic BDSM, I also want to show the reality of being a survivor of any kind of sexual abuse. It doesn't go away--ever. 

But the overall message I hope readers will take away from this book is one of hope and healing. None of us is broken--trust me, don't EVER let Sir Damian hear you say that--and none is too wounded that she or he can't find love. The hardest step is building trust and then lowering the defenses enough to let that worthy person inside your heart. {{hugs}}

My thanks to my assistant, Leagh, for pulling off this party. She truly did ALL the work of getting postings from the authors and will be on here much more today than I will. Please be sure and let her know how much you appreciate her! I know I wouldn't have been able to do a release party for another month if it were solely up to me!


There will be new blog posts all day long. So without further ado, here are the details. 

Each hour today (beginning with this post), there will be a new author visiting my blog bringing prizes, guest posts, and fun book information. There are lots of chances to win. All giveaways will be open until 12 midnight CDT tomorrow (Saturday) so you have plenty of time to enter. All winners will be chosen and contacted by e-mail next week.

GIVEAWAY!

For your first chance to win, fill out the Rafflecopter below. (You will need to fill out a new form at EACH of the posts today for all chances to win.) 

(While I *love* to read comments and welcome them--THE WINNER WILL ONLY BE CHOSEN FROM ENTRIES TO THE FORM!)

So to kick things off today I have a special gift package for one of my readers. I am offering one randomly drawn winner a copy of any Rescue Me book (including this one or a future one), swag (pen, trading cards, bookmarks, and an autographed hand fan), and a $10 Gift Certificate for a bookseller of your choice (chosen from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance eBooks). 

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. THIS drawing is open internationally. (Please watch for details in each specific drawing, especially those involving prizes other than e-books, to see if international entries are included.)

Thank you to everyone who is celebrating with me! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kally's News and the Perfect Announcement

It's been nearly a month since I've posted a blog here. Yikes! I have been working, really I have! As you'll see below, I've been guest blogging a couple times; attended the Authors After Dark conference in New Orleans last week, where I got to meet lots of readers and erotic romance authors; and have been working on revising Nobody's Perfect based on input from my beta readers and editors. Here's some news that might interest you!

Kentucky Indie Writers on Edin Road Radio

I and my fellow Kentucky Indie Writers (KIW) members will be the August guests at Edin Road Radio. Listen to the great interviews here. And, if you can tune in live at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Thursday, Aug. 16, you'll hear me live. I'll be reading from the beginning of Section Two of Masters at Arms, and possibly the edited Prologue of Nobody's Perfect, if time permits. 

Nobody's Perfect Release Date Set!!! 

Great news! After conferring with my editorial staff and publicity team, the release day has been set for Sept. 14!!! The release-day party will take place on Facebook (lots of fun and prizes all day long with some of my favorite BDSM authors joining in with giveaways, too!), followed Sept. 17-21 with a Perfect Release Blog Tour and lots more great giveaways (including daily Gift Card prizes and a $200 GC at an online bookseller of your choice). 

In the editing phase, I realized something that will be announced in my newsletter the week of Aug. 27. Be sure you've signed up at the newsletter link (above right or in the blog message below) so you won't miss the announcement!

Master Adam is the Ultimate Dom of 2012

Wow! What competition! Masters Logan and Marcus gave him quite a run, and each man was on top for some portion of the contest, but congratulations to Master Adam Montague for this amazing victory, less than a year after he'd first been introduced to the world of BDSM romance reads. I would like to thank all my readers and fans for voting, even if you voted for one of the other two awesome Doms in the contest (and I know it was hard to choose for many of you). There were more than 11,000 votes cast before it was over! Of course, Master Adam will always be "my" ultimate Dom, but I'm happy  to share him with you all for the coming year!

I want to thank Francesca of Under the Covers Book Blog for hosting the contest and Kelly from Books-n-Kisses for her entry on why she thought Master Adam should win. They made this a lot of fun for me (although Master Adam could have done without the notoriety, because Karla's been teasing him mercilessly ever since).

Now Master Adam is up Summer's Hottest Hero

All Romance EBooks' Summer's Hottest Heroes

Vote HERE for Master Adam!!!

(Note: There are 24-hour down times between 

each of the early rounds where voting isn't permitted)

Master Adam has won the first two rounds in the competition. Wow! He had some awesome competition from the fans of Powerhouse (Kele Moon's hero) and Bones (Jeaniene Frost's hero) in the first two rounds. I'm sure the latest round will be another squeaker, so if you love him best in his pair, please vote for him.

Voting in Round 3 begins at 12 midnight Central Aug. 15 and runs through 12 midnight Central Aug. 21. Be sure to click on each hero's name to find a real treat. ARe asked the heroes to invite their ladies to a special occasion and to prepare the menu. Well, we all know what a great cook Adam is. Ha! (I believe Karla said he can't boil water—and we know what he did to the cinnamon rolls, prompting one of my favorite Master Adam quotes:

"I've brought you breakfast—or tried. Fucking stove..." 

Gawd, I love that man! So click on his name when you vote and see what he's cooking up this time! 

You can vote once each round and have to log in (or sign up for) your free account there in order to vote. Let's keep Master Adam on a roll here!!!!

Recent Guest Blogs

BDSM Authors Playroom
Using BDSM to Heal Past Abuse
July 18, 2012

Author Override at Under the Covers

July 24, 2012

Join my Newsletter and/or Street Brats Team

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you can be up to date and enter some great contests to win gift cards and more.

Also if you would like to be one of Kallypso's Street Brats (my street team members who help promote my books by handing out my bookmarks, pens, trading cards, etc.), please e-mail my assistant, Leagh, at assistant@kallypsomasters.com. It's best if you are on Facebook, where the Brats hang out in their own secret group. You can opt to promote online-only, too, and not receive the swag via the mail. 

Thanks for stopping by to check in on me—and now it's back to work I go!

Hot Jocks Blog Hop & Giveaway

When I signed up for this blog hop, I expected to be well into writing the continuation of Baby Dom Luke Denton's story (Nobody's Dream, #5) in the Rescue Me series, but, as you know, I'm still working on Nobody's Perfect (book #4). 


So, I don't have any new scenes about my one and only jock in the series. As fans of the series know, Luke played for the University of Texas Longhorns in college, but he went there primarily for the opportunity for higher education. While he wanted to study industrial arts, he had to change his thinking when he found out they didn't offer that major, so he became an art studio major instead. Now he makes awesome BDSM equipment for the Masters at Arms Club in Denver, as well as does carpentry. 


However, because everyone's awaiting Nobody's Perfect (due out in August), I thought I'd share a brief new scene from that book that involves Luke. This is a Christmas Day scene and we're in Damian's point of view. He thinks he can keep Savi and Marisol in the kitchen and private living quarters of the house on this day, so there shouldn't be a problem. 


Then he notices something that surprises him. 

(Unedited excerpt from Nobody's Perfect, copyright 2012)


Damián pulled in next to Luke's new gray Dodge pick-up truck in the driveway. Judging by the amount of mud on the fenders, he'd been off-road somewhere this morning because it hadn't looked like that last night when Luke had delivered the dollhouse. Marc's friend and SAR partner was becoming a regular at the club. Of course, they'd all worked together a few years ago trying to get the club ready. The man was a helluva carpenter, but his work creating the beautiful equipment in the club was his real gift. Lately, Damián  had been training the "baby Dom," as Marc liked to call him, to wield a bullwhip. The man had finesse with butterfly kisses and Damián doubted he'd want to go any harder on a sub or bottom—not for a while, at least. Lately, the newest Dom at the club seemed more interested in learning rope bondage from Dad.

Damián wondered how Adam and Karla were getting along on their honeymoon. It was hard to believe the wedding had only been a couple weeks ago, given all that had happened since then.

Savi and Marisol had happened. His life would never be the same again. He opened the back door of the Nissan and helped unbuckle Marisol while Savi eased out of the passenger side. She still moved stiffly, favoring her healing rib, but Marc assured him it was just going to take time. There was nothing much they could do. He hated feeling so fucking helpless.

He motioned for them to precede him onto the porch. He didn't expect anyone but Grant and Luke to show up today. He'd told them Savi had no idea the building was a kink club, but they were only going to be in the private residence today, so no sense mentioning it. This was still Dad's house, until he and Karla found a new place.

Normally Damián would be in California for Christmas, but he couldn't leave Savi and Marisol—and sure as hell wasn't going to take them back there. Good thing he'd been able to give his sister Rosa the presents he'd bought and made. They'd left a few days after Savi showed up. He would give them a call later today to see how their day went. He felt torn between two families now. But Rosa and Teresa were healing and Savi and Marisol needed him more now.

He braced himself before opening the screen door. Savi would probably roast his nuts if she knew what went on in parts of the house. But it was also Dad's home, at least until he and Karla found a more appropriate place to raise a kid.

Savi took the screen door as Damián pushed the inner door into the kitchen and was hit in the face with a number of smells.

Italian seasonings. Ham. Cinnamon.

Leather.

Whoa! Mierda. He didn't realize people could smell the club's leather all the way out here in the kitchen. Not to mention a little sweat. He'd never noticed it before, but was probably just used to it. He looked down at Savi and saw her cute little nose scrunching up as she appeared to sniff out the unexpected scent as well.

The confusion on her face was evident. "Adam and Karla's is someone's home?"

Either she hadn't noticed the leather, or was too polite to point it out. "Yeah. This is my adopted dad's place—Adam Montague. Do you remember meeting him and his new wife, Karla, at Rosa's house?"

"Yeah."

"They were married the day you…arrived. They're on their honeymoon right now. Angelina offered to prepare dinner for me and some of…Dad's friends so we wouldn't have to fend for ourselves this Christmas."

Damián looked down at Marisol and back at Savi. "Now you're included. I know he'll love seeing you again, Savi, when he gets back next week."

"Maman, why does it smell like horses here?"

"Shhh, Mari," she whispered, bending down to Marisol. "That's not polite." Still, Damián hadn't missed the question in Savi's eyes.

Okay. How to explain this?

"Hope I didn't smell the place up too badly." Luke came down the hall drying his hair with a towel. He wore a western-cut plaid shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. "Been on a horse all morning and didn't have a chance to change at the SAR barn, so I just came over here and took advantage of the facilities."

Horse leather. Damián grinned, relaxing his guard a bit.

Marisol leaned a little closer to Damián's leg, reminding him that introductions were in order. "Savi and Marisol Baker, I'd like you to meet Luke Denton. He's a…friend of mine. He does search-and-rescue with Marc."

Luke shook Savi's hand, smiling, then hunkered down to Marisol's level and extended his hand to her, as well. "Hello, darlin'. You're cute as a button."

Marisol still wasn't sure about this strange man—good girl. Damián put a protective hand on his little doll's shoulder to reassure her that she was safe. She released her grip on his leg, not as scared, and drew herself up a little taller.

"Buttons aren't cute."

"Hmmm. Well, maybe that's true." He grinned. "But you sure are. Pleased to meet you, Marisol." 

Luke waited for her to become comfortable enough to make the next move. Damián's thumb stroked her shoulder and she stretched her tiny hand out to be swallowed up in Luke's much bigger one.

Now, it's giveaway time! Please comment below and tell me what is your favorite trait of a jock in a romance novel. Winner will receive a free e-book (current or future) in the Rescue Me series--and a set of swag (Master Adam hand fan, "Ahh, Kallypso...the stories you tell" purple ink pen, a bookmark, and a set of three Rescue Me Romance Trading Cards). Drawing will be on/after July 18. As with all my contests, this is open internationally. 

And don't miss the 68 other entries in this Hot Jocks in July Giveaway Blog Hop, sponsored by Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews and Under the Covers blogs! 

Cocked & Loaded, Shootin' Stars & Blasting Giveaway Hop

Blog Hop hosted by:

Queentutt's World of Escapism (Ronda)

&

Close Encounters of the Night Kind (Nikki)

As those of you who have been reading my RESCUE ME series of BDSM erotic romances, you know that the first four books in the series are about some very honorable, heroic Marines, all of whom are wounded warriors. And many of you also know that the Wounded Warrior Project is my favorite charity. I just joined the Advance Guard there with a monthly donation and the fleece blanket they'll be sending me in 4-6 weeks (along with some RESCUE ME swag and an e-book) is going to go to the winning commenter below. 


In a bit, I'm going to share a bit of a scene from my upcoming release about one of the wounded warriors in my series, but first I want to honor some wounded warriors who have touched my heart. 


First, Dane Christopher Sattler, who served in the Army in Iraq and lost his battle with PTSD in January 2011. His mother, Sue, is one of my loyal readers and misses her son so much. This family really brings home to me the sacrifices our military personnel and their families make every day to preserve our freedom. Their service and sacrifice doesn't end with discharge papers.


Another is an anonymous Master Sergeant, US Marine Corps (Retired) who served in active service 22 years and continues to serve as a military contractor now. After reading the first three books in my series, he became a fan and contacted me and has been a big help to me in getting the Marine mindset right in my books--and just before Masters at Arms was released as a free book, he went through the entire book and added even more realism to it, as well as helping me improve the firefight scene at the Second Battle of Fallujah (Iraq) in 2004, the incident that bonds Marc, Adam, and Damian as "family" in this series. 


Last, but not least, is my dad, Joe. He served in the Navy in World War II (lied about his age to get in early) and in the Army in the Korean War. He came home from Korea with PTSD before it had become known as that--and, of course, went without treatment. At family reunions to this day, his brothers and their wives still talk about how bad it was when he first came home. I remember my uncle telling me that his mother and he would roll my dad in a bedroll and sit on him to try and keep him from hurting himself or anyone else. And my mother said one night they were sleeping; she was very pregnant at the time. He suddenly rose up, jumped over her and landed on the floor in the midst of a night terror, but didn't even touch her belly. The memories plagued him for the rest of his life--and he never talked about it, so we don't know what he went through to this day. He died in 1985, but will never be forgotten. When I visited Washington, D.C., a dozen years ago, I went to the Korean War memorial and still remember those haunted faces in the statues there, plus the words "Freedom is not free."


Now, the scene. This is my upcoming (due to be released later this summer) Nobody's Perfect (Rescue Me #4), which continues the story of Damian Orlando, an amputee from Iraq, and Savannah/Savi, the woman he dreamt about for eight long years, who suddenly showed up on his doorstep in need of his help. In this scene, he prepares to reveal his amputation to Savi. 

She held her breath. He seemed so serious, his jaw and body held rigid, guarded.

"Sit down."

Savi looked around. The only place to sit was on the bed. That didn't seem like a good idea.

"Sit. Down." He pointed at the bed, clearly upset with her. She wasn't sure why that bothered her so much. "Savi, I'm not going to…touch you. We're just going to talk."

Savi crossed the room and sat on the same side of the bed, keeping a safe distance away. She wasn't sure what she was afraid of. Damián wouldn't hurt her. He'd been nothing but gentle and supportive since she and Marisol had arrived here.

But he was still a man.

So, what was it he needed to tell her that made him so uncomfortable? She didn't want to know anything bad about him.

"When I got out of Iraq, I was fucked up."

"Damián, that's not unusual. You saw horrific things. War is…"

He held his hand up and halted her string of supportive words. She supposed they sounded trite, but she hadn't meant them to be.

"Don't go into therapist mode on me, Savi." He grinned, so maybe he wasn't upset with her for naturally trying to put him at ease. He was such a gentle soul. Last night, when Marisol had surprised him with the cake, he'd had unshed tears in his eyes. Processing the horrors of war would be difficult for someone who was much better at making love than war.

Don't think about making love with him. That would never happen again.

His grin faded and he ran his fingers through his hair, pulling it back from his face. She wondered why he didn't have it tied back. She didn't see it loose like this except when he got up in the morning.

"I fucked up a mission."

Savi's heart went out to him. She knew how hard it was for Marine to fail on a mission.

"We lost our sergeant because I couldn't act fast enough…"

"Damián, you can't blame yourself for…"

He glared at her. "Hear me out. This is hard enough to admit as it is."

"I'm sorry. Go on."

"I still have nightmares about it, especially around my Alive Day."

"Alive Day?"

He looked down at his feet. "That's the day I should have died, too. But I surv…I didn't die."

Savi knew not to interrupt anymore. He needed to talk and she needed to just listen. His body was held so stiffly, he barely breathed. She waited. After several moments, he continued.

"A grenade came over onto the roof where we'd held our position all day. I saw the damned thing, but I froze until it was too late to get away. When it went off, Sergeant Miller was killed. He…" Damián's breathing became rapid and she scooted closer to him on the bed, laying her hand on his thigh. She squeezed, hoping to help him focus on the present and not get lost in the memories. He placed his hand over hers and squeezed her back as if she were a lifeline.

"He died on top of me."

"Oh, God, Damián. I'm so sorry!" Savi shuddered as she thought about how that must have felt for him. Thoughts of having a weight like that on her caused beads of sweat to break out on her upper lip. But that was different. What Damián had been through was even more horrific.

"I'll never block out that image as long as I live. I could have saved him, but I…froze."

Hearing him take the blame for something beyond his control broke her heart. Not unusual for those in combat situations, though. They were trained to watch out for each other. Nothing she could say would help assuage his guilt that a member of his unit was killed, even if she could come up with the words to say. She just squeezed his thigh again, knowing there probably was more to come. She braced herself mentally.

"I came to in a military hospital in Germany. When I realized what I'd lost, I didn't want to go on."

"Lost?" Instantly, she knew he wasn't talking about his sergeant now.

He avoided making eye contact with her, but nodded, his gaze remaining on his feet. Oh, God, no! It became clear to her why she'd seen him limping so many times. She looked down at his feet. For the first time, she realized she'd never seen him without his shoes or boots on. Odd, considering they'd lived in such close quarters for two months.

Dread washed over her as she slid off the bed onto the floor. With shaking hands, she sat in front of his feet and reached out to touch his legs. Starting at his knees, which were flesh on solid muscle, she ran each of her hands down the backs of his legs until her left hand bumped into straps on his right leg. On the other leg she felt sinew and muscle. Unharmed.

She reached down to the hem of his jeans leg and folded up the right one. Damián reached out and stayed her hand, but she brushed him away.

"Please, Damián. I need to see what they did to you."

His hand went to her chin and he lifted her face to his. The pain—no, the torment—there told her how hard this was for him. She needed to back off and give him time to prepare himself. This wasn't about what she needed. She had to do what Damián needed.

Two Giveaways
Contest Information

There are two types of contests as part of this blog hop. The first (see #1) is provided by the hosts of this blog hop--Queentutt's World of Escapism blog and Close Encounters of the Night Kind blog. The second (see #2) is a chance to win a prize package I'm providing. 


1) To enter into the Cocked and Loaded Grand Prize drawing for one of two Kindle Fires and lots of other cool prizes, you must go HERE and sign up using the Rafflecopter form provided. 

2) To enter to win your choice of e-book from my Rescue Me series, some swag (bookmark, Master Adam hand fan, Rescue Me trading cards, and a pen), plus the Wounded warrior Project fleece blanket, please sign up for my newsletter HERE (if you haven't already done so) and comment below WITH your email address. (Please allow up to 8 weeks to receive the blanket, because I won't get it from the WWP for 4-6 weeks from today.)

This hop ends midnight on July 11 and winners will be chosen and emailed by the 13th. Thanks for stopping by--and please keep our wounded warriors in your thoughts and prayers! If you are able, consider a donation to help the good people at the Wounded Warrior Project continue to provide services and support to those who have given so much to us. 

Nobody's Perfect Cover Reveal with Unedited Excerpt, and Birthday Contest!

So happy to unveil the cover for NOBODY'S PERFECT, Damian and Savi's story. What an awesome birthday present! (Read on for an excerpt and link to a great birthday giveaway on Facebook.)


But whips AND chains. What's not to love? I don't know about you but I think it is beautiful. (Savi's a little underweight, but Master Damian will work on that with her.)

UNEDITED Excerpt from NOBODY'S  PERFECT © Kallypso Masters, 2012

For my excerpt, I take you to the opening pages of this book (#4 in the Rescue Me series). This is a few days before the scene in the epilogue of Nobody's Hero.

NOBODY'S PERFECT

Prologue

Savi circled another job listing in the classifieds as Christmas music played in the background. Office clerk. All her years of college and clinicals, she had finally achieved her dream of working as a social worker with young abuse victims. That work had ended abruptly three weeks ago. She needed to find a way to support her daughter and herself until her supervisor could fight Savi's recent firing with the higher-ups in the state's department of mental health services. Unraveling bureaucracy took time. She didn't have time.

Savi opened her laptop mini to update her résumé and do a cover letter, hoping to make it through several more letters before Mari got home from practicing for the children's pageant at church.

The doorbell interrupted her work some unknown amount of time later. She looked at the clock on her desk. Too early for Mari to be dropped off—unless something had happened. Heart hammering against her chest, Savi nearly ran to the front door and opened it, expecting to see one of the youth leaders from the church group.

Lyle.

Bile rose in her throat and she moved to slam the door again. Stupid. Why hadn't she looked through the peephole first? He wedged his foot into the doorway, keeping her from closing the door in his face.

"What kind of greeting is that for an old friend, Savannah?"

Not a friend. Enemy. She gasped to fill her lungs with much-needed air. Dangerous. She needed to get rid of him before Mari came home.

"What do you want, Lyle?"

"Invite me inside and we'll talk."

"You're not coming in. Now leave before I call the police."

He narrowed his eyes and Savi felt the familiar ligatures of fear circling her neck. Vile man. Could she fight him off?

"Let me in, Savannah, or you and your little girl will regret your misplaced bravery."

Marisol. Did he know where she was? Oh, God, she prayed. Don't let Mari come home early. She needed to get rid of Lyle. Now.

"Just state your business. I'm not letting you inside my…"

Without warning, Lyle leaned back then his body slammed against the door sending the edge of the wood into Savi's eye and cheekbone, hurtling her backward until she lay sprawled on the floor staring at his navy-blue dress pants and wingtip shoes. She shuddered as a memory enveloped her. Looking up at the angry man in the three-piece suit towering over her, she realized he didn't even muss a hair on his blond head.

"Ah, just where a slut like you needs to be, Savannah. At my feet. Now let's see if we can hear you scream the way you used to for me."

No! Memories of the degrading things he'd subjected her to at her father's orders, including a most shameful mark she could never erase, she turned over and got on all fours as she scrambled away. Just when she'd thought she was far enough away to stand up and set her feet to defend herself, Lyle's wingtip gouged into her side. The air whooshed from her lungs and she gasped to try and recover her breath.

"Your father asked me to bring you and his granddaughter to him. But I thought perhaps we would enjoy a little playtime first. For old time's sake. What your father doesn't know…"

Another blow struck her side near the same place and panic set in as her breathing became labored.

Breathe!

Maman, help me. Give me the strength to fight him off.

Savi pulled herself up using the hallway table and tried to regulate her breathing again. She turned to find Lyle smirking at her. Bastard. Picking up a brass candlestick from the table, she didn't hesitate as she swung it at his head, striking a blow she hoped had left him stunned. Not waiting for him to recover, she followed up by kicking him in the groin. He doubled over and fell to the floor. As he lay moaning, holding his privates as his head bled on her hardwood floor, she remembered the lessons in cutting off the blood flow to the brain that she'd learned from a veteran Marine who had studied with her in college. She cringed as she touched his neck, hating to place her hands anywhere on him, but finally found the point she sought in his neck and pressed—hard. She counted. By thirty seconds, Lyle's body grew even more limp. She didn't wait around to see how long he'd be out.

Running to the bedroom, she pulled out a suitcase to throw a few clothes into it, but when she tried to lift it, her breathing became constricted again, forcing her to leave it on the floor near the closet. After she filled half of it, she wheeled it to Mari's room and threw in some of her daughter's things, then zipped it up and wheeled it to the kitchen. After grabbing her purse and keys, she stumbled out the back door.

A black BMW sat parked behind her little blue Nissan. She glanced back at her bungalow. Home, but no longer her safe place.

No sign of Lyle yet, but she knew he wouldn't be unconscious forever. She fought to control her breathing again, but refused to escape into her head to dull the pain. Taking as deep a breath as she could and holding it, she swung the suitcase into the trunk and slammed the lid down. Oh dear Lord. She couldn't breathe! She pressed her arm against her chest and the place where Lyle had kicked her repeatedly as she opened the door, got behind the steering wheel, and turned the key in the ignition. She couldn't zone out now. She needed to get to San Miguel's…to Mari.

Then what?

Oh, Savi just breaks my heart! I so can't wait for her and Damian to be together and for him to slay her dragons! 

GIFT CARD & SWAG BIRTHDAY CONTEST

It looks like the book will be published May 31, so I continue to write and edit frantically. In the meantime, I'm celebrating my 54th birthday with a contest on at my Facebook author page . Yes, I am 54 today (April 24) so I am giving away some of the Rescue Me swag (bookmark, romance trading cards, pen, Master Adam "eyes on me" hand fan) AND a $54 gift card to the bookseller (winner's choice--Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, or Smashwords). Open internationally! Random drawing will be held April 25.


Head over to the author page to enter. Just "Like" the page and comment on the Birthday Blast Giveaway thread for a chance to win. (Look for the Nobody's Perfect photo and comment on that thread.)


Thanks for all who posted birthday greetings on my Facebook and Twitter walls! It's been an awesome day--and tonight I'll be having dinner with a fan! 


But first, I'd better get back to writing!

Hoppy Easter Blog Hop: Contest & Giveaway RESCUE ME

Happy Easter, everyone! I wish I had a fun Easter excerpt to share from one of my books, but the closest I have is Christmas ones. But this is the HOPPY EASTER BLOG HOP, so I'll just hop right into the contest. 

For my contest, I'm going to pose a question about an upcoming book I'm writing in my Rescue Me series and let you all help me out with suggestions. I hope even those who haven't read the series yet will join in. You never know what might spark the way to go with this. My question is for a character in my May 2012 release, Nobody's Perfect. 


The winner of the contest will be drawn on/after April 9 at random from all who comment. (But if I choose your answer in the book, you just might get named in the Acknowledgements of an upcoming book. Don't worry--I'll ask for permission first to find out if and how you want to be listed.)


For those who want to quickly be brought up to speed on some of the characters in this series, the introduction, Masters at Arms, for FREE through April 16 at Smashwords using Coupon code DN98N. 


Da Prize: Winner's choice e-book in the Rescue Me series--plus some Kallypso Masters and Rescue Me "swag" that I'll be giving away at the Romantic Times Convention and elsewhere this year, including a set of three Romance Trading cards, a bookmark, a pen with "Ahh, Kallypso...the stories you tell" on it, and an 8-inch hand fan with this awesome graphic on it. (Ah, Master Adam!) Contest open internationally!

Now to the contest question, which I need to answer for an upcoming blog hop--and I need the answer by Monday. (No pressure!) Be sure to leave an e-mail address so we can contact you about the prize (or the acknowledgement). 


BACKGROUND: The hero in my next book is Damian Orlando, an Iraq War veteran amputee and the sensitive sadist at the Masters at Arms Club. He's a Mexican-American who grew up in Solana Beach, California (near San Diego). Damian was a sniper in the Marines. Family is more important to him than anything. Not sure what else will help you with the answer, but some of my readers may want to chime in with more background in their comments. 


DA QUESTION: What is Damian's favorite movie--and why?


Be sure to check out the contests on the other Hoppy Easter Blog Hoppers. There's a variety of heat levels from sweet to erotic and they're labeled accordingly at http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/. 


To learn more about the series and the books in it, click on the "Books by Kallypso Masters" tab above! Thanks for stopping by my page for the blog hop!