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!

Six Sunday: Savannah's Torture (Masters at Arms)

WARNING: This scene includes a description of an incest victim's torture. 


This week's Six Sunday blog is much darker than my previous ones, because I am immersed right now in writing Nobody's Perfect, which will finally bring healing and justice for my most broken character, Savannah Gentry, from Masters at Arms. (See below for a link to a free copy if you haven't read it. I also will post a link for survivors seeking healing of their own.) 


A 19-year-old incest victim in this scene, by the time she reappears eight years later in the series in a scene in Nobody's Hero, she will have become Savi Baker and learned to cope and heal many parts of her abusive past.  

But there is one abuse session that has been burned into her memory and is something she hasn't been able to share with her therapist or anyone. As I prepare to write the scenes where Damián will discover what she refers to as "her shame," I went back to reread the scene in Section Two of Masters at Arms. It's written as backstory even in the prequel, because it's so horrific, but it's necessary to see where she has been in order to appreciate how far she has come--and to take her the rest of the way home to healing her psyche and her body, merging them again so that she can have the life she deserves. Here's Savannah at nineteen. The readers on my author page on Facebook are helping me find a model/image to age her to the 27/28 she will be in Nobody's Perfect.

Setup: She is sitting in a restaurant with her father's business partner and henchman, who is reminding her of her place, her shame, as they wait for two potential clients who will be allowed to use her body in a torture scene that night to help cement a business relationship. I've stopped short of the most graphic memories, because you may not have come here expecting that from me. The speaker is Lyle.

"...They’re going to love finding your secret. They love shit like that.”

When Lyle’s words registered, bile rose in her throat. If she’d eaten today, she’d have vomited. Last month, Lyle had restrained her face down on her father’s desk in the home that should have been her haven. Her legs had been spread open and secured, while her father’s weight held her down so she would remain still enough. 

The good news is that a retired Marine has given me a scenario for Nobody's Perfect that will include a justice scene for Savi. There's nothing like a little Marine justice--but throw in a sadist and it really will be very satisfying, if long overdue.

For those seeking help to heal their own abusive pasts, please go to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network for resources). 

Thanks for stopping by to read my sad Six this week. Each week, the new listing of Six Sentence Sunday (SSS) blogs go live at 9 a.m. EDT Sunday. This is a great way to find new authors to follow or read or to get exposure for your own writing! For a list of this week's participants in the SSS blog tour, go to http://www.sixsunday.com/. Search #sixsunday on Twitter, as well!

Today after 12 noon Eastern I will be drawing for the winner of the great prize package in the Small Press Treasures Giveaway Blog Hop entry.  You also can get a free copy of Masters at Arms there with a coupon code at Smashwords. 

Guest Blog: DeAnna Felthauser and "A Million Wishes"

DeAnna Felthauser was kind enough to host me at her blog recently and I wanted to introduce my readers to her and her debut series, as well. Dee writes about themes dear to my heart—overcoming past abuse and healing wounded warriors. Can't wait to read this, which is just a couple books down my TBR pile at the moment.

So let me turn this space over to Dee! Be sure to comment for TWO chances to win a free copy of her book, A Million Wishes!

Hello lovelies! I’m a friend of Kally’s and also a self-published author. My name is DeAnna Felthauser and I write steamy romance novels with a military theme. My first book, A Million Wishes, is the first in a series of four books in my “Wishes” series. The hero, Noah, is a Navy SEAL and his one true love is our heroine Mikayla. She’s an aspiring writer and has grown up as a victim of abuse. They both overcome many ups and downs, and deserve their happily ever after. I have been asked about the extent of the abuse in the book and I will let you know it’s not in detail, it just lays down the precedent of the trauma she went through and in no way does it get graphic. I only wanted to show the depth of her heartache and where her fears come from. Mikayla is piece of my heart, and by creating her, it helped me heal, too. Noah is a dreamboat with hurts of his own—a truly good man that every woman deserves. I hope you take the time to read their story, and if you do, I love feedback! Feel free to add me to your social networking sites and chat with me! I’ll leave my links down below.

I want to thank Kally for offering me a spot on her blog this week! I am a HUGE fan of her “Rescue Me” series, so it’s truly an honor to be here and share with all of you. Make sure you read all the way to the end for your chance to win one of two free copies of A Million Wishes!

Blurb for A Million Wishes

Mikayla Johnson... Growing up in a poor, abusive household after her father is killed in a car wreck, Mikayla had very few things in life that gave her joy. Her writing, the old oak tree, her big brother Callum and her childhood crush Noah. Could he help her heal from her past and give her the family she has always wanted?

Noah Cane... Noah is a Navy SEAL war hero coming home to the Georgia peach plantation he was raised on to recover from losing his leg in war. His heart was stolen by Mikayla the moment they met under a peach tree where she was stealing peaches off his parent's property. Can she help him heal from his injuries and give him something worth fighting for?

Join Mikayla and Noah on a whimsical journey of love, passion and the discovery of what they were truly meant to do with their lives. Sit back and enjoy their playful banter and intense loving while they show the town of Sugar Creek what it really means to have a heart of gold.

Excerpt from A Million Wishes 
(©DeAnna Felthauser, 2012)

He came out of the bathroom in boxers and nothing else, grabbing her around the waist from behind and swinging her around, carrying her to the bedroom, and plopping her on the soft mattress. “Noah! What are you doing crazy man?” He grinned at her and dived in the bed with her, making a big mess of getting under the covers and playfully whacking her with a pillow before stuffing it under his head. “I’m going to bed what does it look like I’m doing? Turn off the light brat I’m sleepy.” She laughed and tossed his pillow back at him looking disheveled and not quite sure what to do. “You are in MY bed; your bed is in there.” She said, pointing to the living room. He stretched, growling a little and she nearly drooled all over herself watching his muscles ripple from his chest to the band of his boxers. “Hey if you wanna sleep on that crappy sofa, go for it. I have slept in jungles more comfortable than that piece of junk.” Her mouth hung open and she started laughing.

“Now who’s being a brat? That was just rude Noah. Rude!” He reached and tugged her hair grinning like a kid in a candy store. “No. Rude is the fact that you make a guest sleep on that thing. I nearly couldn’t walk this morning. Now are you gonna talk all night or are you gonna c’mere and snuggle with me?” Her mouth opened then shut, shaking her head and turning off the lamp. Obviously she would be stupid to kick him out of bed. So she turned on her side and laid her head on his chest, sliding her arm across his middle and closed her eyes. “Sweet dreams Romeo. Don’t get any idea’s you’re gonna do anything but snuggle. I’m a good girl remember?” He laughed and curled his arm around her and squeezed her to him, kissing the top of her head. “I would never do such a thing babydoll. I am the picture of innocence.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her softly, closing his eyes and feeling more content and lighthearted than he had in years.

Sunday morning rolled around and Miki woke up purring and stretching, feeling pure, warm, hard male pressed against her from behind and Noah’s rough palm idly stroking her skin under her tank top from just below her breasts to just below the waist line of her shorts. Her nipples were tight little buds of pleasure poking out obviously against her shirt. She blushed and turned her head to look at him and smile softly. “Good morning Romeo.” He gave her that heart melting grin, and spoke in his low timber “Good morning babydoll. I could get used to waking up with you curled against me purring like a kitten.” His mouth covered hers and she moaned against his lips, her bottom pressed firmly to his groin. He was rock hard, and instead of it terrifying her, it thrilled her that he wanted her so much. Plus the slow stroke of his hand dipping low on her tummy had her aching so fiercely it was driving her crazy. Her hand reached back to rub down his side and squeeze his hip, it was enough to make him thrust forward and rub his thickness against her soft bottom again, deriving another purr from her lips.

“Noah…I…Ooohhh….” She stopped speaking, unable to say a word when his palm cupped her sex and rubbed in a slow firm circle.

“Mmm, what Miki? Don’t be afraid to say anything. If you want me to stop I will. If you want more, god if you want more, I’ll give it to you. Anything and everything baby.” His voice was husky, raw with desire. She shivered as his warm lips started trailing down her neck, and his teeth scraped that pulsing point that took her breath away. He kept one hand on her clothed mound, and his other reached and grabbed her soft breast, massaging it, pinching first one nipple and rolling it between his thumb and forefinger, then moving to the next. “I’ve never…Noah I’ve never…oh god… please, Noah, don’t stop…” He looked into her beautiful green eyes now all smoky and dark, shocked at her admission of innocence, but wanting even more to please her.  He moved his hand off her and she nearly cried when the pressure he’d been placing on her vanished. But it was only gone a few seconds because he slid his hand into her shorts and slipped his fingers between the slick folds of her sex and found her hard little nub of desire and rubbed. Rubbed and circled it, squeezing it between his thumb and finger until she screamed out loud, falling apart, and shaking against him with her head thrown back, and a sexy purr coming from her throat.

Feeling a little breathless yet? –grins- I hope so!!!

A Million Wishes is available now on Amazon.

Please join me online at:

Blog: http://deannafelthauser.blogspot.com/

Facebook Personal Page: http://www.facebook.com/deefelthauser

Facebook Fan “Like” Page: http://www.facebook.com/deannafelthauser

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/deannafelthauser

Twitter: @DeeFelthauser https://twitter.com/#!/DeeFelthauser

or E-mail me at felthauserdeanna@yahoo.com 

Giveaway Times Two!

Now, if you’d like to enter to win a PDF copy of A Million Wishes, it’s really simple! Leave a comment here on Kally’s awesome blog and a winner will be chosen on Monday, March 19, by random draw. Thanks for stopping by and remember to come visit me on my blog and other social sites!

Six Sunday: "...I hate you!!!"

 

This week, I thought I'd post a Six Sentence Sunday blog from a scene in Chapter Seven of Nobody's Hero where Adam has just returned from Damian's apartment, where the younger man has been fighting his PTSD demons again, only to hear Karla screaming “I hate you for dying on me, Ian!..." Ian is her big brother who was killed in a motorcycle accident earlier that year. The scene continues:

"...I hate you!!!”

Karla? His heart pounded against his chest. Was she in the throes of her own nightmare? It sounded like she was up on the deck. He looked up in time to see a tiny projectile spinning end over end until it banged against his chest and bounced off. 

Thanks for stopping by to read my Six this week! Each week, the new listing of Six Sentence Sunday (SSS) blogs go live at 9 a.m. EDT Sunday. This is a great way to find new authors to follow or read or to get exposure for your own writing! For a list of this week's participants in the SSS blog tour, go to http://www.sixsunday.com/. Search #sixsunday on Twitter, as well!

 

For a list of all of the e-books in the Rescue Me series 

and links to purchase sites, go to the book listing tab in this blog.  

 

Kally loves to find new friends

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