Rescue Me series by Kallypso Masters (Erotica)

Ok so, let me preface this with a warning. This is a very adult book series dealing with very adult issues.

So with that being said, I, of course got the first two books free from Amazon *grin*, click here and here if you want them too. *Update, the second book, Nobody's Angel is no longer free but I'll leave the link in the post*

I had never read Kallypso Masters before but like all the cool free books for Kindle, I downloaded them and gave it a try and OMG was I totally sucked in! Each of these books except for the prequel are roughly 350-520 pages and I devoured them in 6 days, go me! I literally went MIA from life as I recovered from CES and did nothing but read and take care of some basic essentials. I just finished the last one and had a wonderful heart flutter from happiness and can't wait for more.

So  what are these books you ask and why did I suddenly need a warning label? Well, if I quote Kallypso's website it's about "Dominant men and the Women who bring them to their knees". Yep, you guessed it, it's main focus is about BDSM. Now let me say this, I am not really into this genre but I do love HEA's, oh and the first two books were free, so I had to read it, LOL. Ok so I did buy the other two books in the series but hey, like I said, I loved it! *mind wander* Oh so back on track. So the books center around a rag-tag group of Marines who are not active in the military anymore and have come together to form a family of sorts under their old Master Sergeant Adam Montague, whom is also owner of a Kink club called Masters At Arms. Many of the main characters are now Co-owners of the club as well. Each of the Marines is battling issues of some sort, whether its PTSD or something else but under their old Master Sergeant, they have found a home and a way to deal with what ails them through the help of BDSM and the club. I know, go figure? So through a series of events, each book is focused on one Marine and his HEA but the books do run in succession, so don't think you can skip around. Start with the prequel and go from there. Each book is heavy into the BDSM world but what the author does so well, is show a side I would never have ever thought existed. Usually when I read a book that claims to be into BDSM *Fifty Shades, we aren't looking at you*, someone pulls out a restraint and whip and *BAM!* we're into BDSM, NOT! Even though I'm not in the lifestyle or even claim to know much about it, I know there has got to be more to it than just restraints and using a riding crop. Kallypso Masters also says she is not part of the world but she is an awesome tour guide. She so expertly takes you through all the different aspects of this lifestyle by explaining everything through each character. Each of the main characters practice or had practiced a different part of the lifestyle, everything from just bedroom play to consensual 24/7 slavery.  She explains what got them to that point, why it's healthy and even cathartic for certain individuals and how as long as everything is talked about, agreed upon, limits are respected, some people can even thrive.

Again, even though it's not my thing, I found it so fascinating to read about it, almost like a documentary and each story so far, has had a HEA (although the first and fifth are continuations of the HEA of two characters). Upon visiting Kallypso's website, I also saw she has won numerous awards for these books from the BDSM community which I think speaks to how a good author can go outside their comfort zone, do some heavy research and turn out a great story without having to be personally attached to a subject or make it up. Not being a writer myself, I can only imagine how hard it must be to tackle a lifestyle so entrenched with negative connotations let alone that you're not even part of and turn out such great stories.  I honestly think these are the first books I've read in a long time that have made me think, made me shudder, made me cry, made me happy and laugh and has stuck with me and probably will for awhile.

With all that gushiness being said, these definitely had some editing issues as well as a few pacing issues but for the most part, what I got out of the books was so worth the ride. I feel like I've been educated, left with a warm fuzzy in Subspace and read a worthwhile book series that I hope I can continue to read for years to come.

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5 out of 5 books!

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Rescue Me Series

(These are not stand-alone novels and should be read in order)

Masters at Arms (#1)

Published: August 2011

Masters at Arms begins the journey of three men, each on a quest for honor, acceptance, and to ease his unspoken pain. Their paths cross at one of the darkest points in their lives. As they try to come to terms with the aftermath--forging an unbreakable bond--will they ever truly become masters of their own fates? Or would fate become masters of them?

Nobody's Angel (#2)

Published: September 2011

When Marc rescued Angelina from an abusive Dom at his fetish club, he never imagined she'd upend his safe, controlled life. But his SAR partner, Luke, a widower, thinks Angelina has been sent to him by his dead wife. Marc knows only he can fulfill her sexual needs, but won’t hurt his friend. When the abusive Dom stalks her, she turns to Marc for help and learns a submissive has power too.

Nobody's Hero (#3)

Published: December 2011

Retired Marine Adam Montague has survived many war zones, but can he survive the war Karla Paxton has declared on his heart? Karla fell in love with Adam at 16; nine years later, she's determined to make 50-year-old Adam see her as a woman. But can she submit to his Dominant personality? And will she be able to get him to surrender to her and lay his ghosts to rest?

Nobody's Perfect (#4)

Published - September 2012

Savannah Gentry, now Savi Baker, escaped the abuse, torture, and degradation forced upon her by a sadistic father for eleven years and has made a safe life for herself and her daughter. When her father threatens her peace of mind--and her daughter's safety--Savi runs to Damian Orlando for protection. Eight years earlier, young Savannah shared one perfect day with Damian that changed both their young lives and resulted in a secret she can no longer hide. But being with Damian reawakens repressed memories and feelings she does want to keep hidden--buried. At Damian's private Masters at Arms Club, she discovers that sexual healing might be achieved through BDSM (Bondage, Dominance/submission, sadomasochism)—specifically SM administered by a loving Service Top named Damian.
Damian, a wounded warrior, has had his own dragons to fight in life, but has never forgotten Savannah. He will lay down his life to protect Savi and her daughter, but doesn't believe he can offer more than that. She deserves a whole man, something he can never be after a firefight in Iraq. Damian also has turned to SM to regain control of his life and emotions and fulfills the role of Service Top to "bottoms" in the club in need of catharsis by whipping or other SM practices he is skilled at delivering. But he could never deliver that level of pain to Savi, who needs someone gentle and loving, not the man he has become. But when Savi witnesses a cathartic whipping scene on her first night at the club--delivered by Damian--she begins to wonder if this Damian could also help her regain control of her life and reclaim her sexuality and identity.
CONTENT WARNING: Readers who have a history of past abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional) may be triggered by scenes in this story. Before reading this book, please be aware that it is primarily about an incest survivor dealing with the sexual aftermath of years of abuse. She has dealt with non-sexual issues in years of therapy, but has tamped down anything related to sex. In this story, she struggles to find healing through a trusting, consensual BDSM relationship. If you believe that reading about PTSD flashbacks of incest, whipping for catharsis, mindf**ks, and related topics might be triggering for you, but you still choose to read it, please make sure you only read this book in a safe environment with supportive people available to you.
The BDSM scenes in this book (some of them beginning and advanced sadomasochism techniques) are the result of many conversations with submissives and Dominants who have worked through similar abuse issues using activities in the BDSM community and lifestyle. Therefore, the BDSM is portrayed as healing rather than titillating. If you are looking for the latter only, this might not be an enjoyable read.
But if you want to delve into the roller-coaster journey of a young couple trying to work through intense issues in a compelling story that pulls you into the characters' world and doesn't let you go, then you might find healing and entertainment in this story. The author, also a child-sexual abuse survivor, has found that writing the story has provided catharsis for her, and hopes other survivors who read it will see that they are survivors, too, and no one is ever so wounded she or he can't find love.

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Author Bio

 USA Today bestselling author Kallypso Masters writes emotional, realistic Romance novels with dominant men and the women who bring them to their knees. (Mistress Grant being the exception, although she will bring her alpha man to his knees, as well.) The Doms/Domme at the Masters at Arms Club have been to hell and back, but Kally loves showing how there is never anyone so wounded he or she can't find true love. Readers often write to tell her how the books have changed their lives, or at the very least their perceptions of what matters in life.
Kally has begun publishing the first four Rescue Me series books in trade paperbacks. Two volumes are available (for the first three books). The fourth will be out in late January. The digital versions are being updated to coincide with the print versions, as well. (See below for the dates of the final updates. Once a book goes into print, there will be no more revisions to the content of the story, only front and back matter updates. Look at the copyright pages to see which version you have. If your version's copyright pages don't reflect the latest version dates below, please contact Amazon customer service via Live Chat or phone and they will take care of getting it on your Kindle.)
The Rescue Me series should be read in order because they're written like one ongoing story with installments (albeit LONG installments). The reading order to date:
MASTERS AT ARMS, FREE; final version Nov. 30, 2012
(145 pages in the paperback--major turning points in the lives of Adam, Karla, Marc, Angelina, Damian, Savannah)
NOBODY'S ANGEL, $3.99; final version Nov. 30, 2012
(300 pages in the paperback version--primarily about Marc, Angelina, Luke, Adam, Karla)
NOBODY'S HERO $3.99; final version Nov. 30, 2012
(339 pages in paperback--primarily about Adam, Karla, Damian, Savannah/Savi)
NOBODY'S PERFECT $3.99; latest version Oct. 5, 2012 (final update expected in late January 2013)
(464 pages in PDF--primarily about Damian, Savannah/Savi, Marc, Angelina, Adam)
Kally has been writing full-time since May 2011, having quit her "day job" the month before to pursue a full-time writing career (her long-time dream). Masters at Arms was her debut novel (published in August 2011). Upcoming books in the series (all release dates TBA) include Somebody's Angel (a continuation of Marc and Angelina's story from "Nobody's Angel" and "Nobody's Perfect"); Nobody's Dream (Luke's story); and Nobody's Home (Mistress Grant's story). Additional heroes and/or heroines (Dr. McKenzie, Gunnar Larson, Patrick Gallagher, Damian's sister, Rosa, and more!) are coming to mind all the time, so just tune into her newsletter, Facebook page, Twitter, blog, Web site, or her Amazon Author Page to see what's planned.
Kally lives in rural Kentucky and has been married for almost 30 years to the man who provided her own Happily Ever After. They have two adult children, a baby grandson, one rescued dog, and one rescued cat--and now many interesting characters who have taken up residence in her head.
For more information about Kally (books, causes, links) please feel free to browse her blog or her Web site at kallypsomasters.com and sign up for her newsletter there. Or contact Kally directly at kallypsomasters@gmail.com. She loves to hear from readers and will answer as soon as she's able.