Aloha to Kaylea Cross and DEADLY DESCENT

Mary Gramlich and I host “Blog tour from Home” to bring you book reviews and author spotlights.   This week’s blog tour features the Queen of Romantic Suspense, Kaylea Cross.  Mary reviewed her newest book, Deadly Descent, at this link.   Kaylea did my job by writing a post about PJs .... Pararescue Jumpers!  Please join me in welcoming Kaylea Cross!

Why PJs are Sexiest

No, I don’t mean the type you wear to bed. Well, I guess if you’re lucky you can!  I mean my new favorite military heroes, the US Air Force’s Pararescue Jumpers, or PJs for short. Special Ops trained trauma medic commandos, these guys go into harm’s way to save lives, both military and civilian. Their motto is “That Others May Live”, and it sums up their extreme dedication to their work.  From the Pararescue website:

“This group of Air Force elite is the only one in the Department of Defense specifically trained and equipped to conduct conventional and unconventional rescue processes, making them the ideal force to handle personnel recovery and combat search and rescue operations.”

tactical-life.com

Whether you’re a victim of a natural disaster here at home or a downed pilot caught behind enemy lines in a combat zone, PJs will come to your rescue. They’ll find you, patch you up, then protect you with their own lives to get you out of danger and make sure you get home alive. If that isn’t swoon worthy, I don’t know what is. I get goose bumps every time I think of it. There are thousands of Navy SEALs, yet only around 300-400 active PJs in today’s US military, and they go through their own two year version of hell known as The Pipeline to get there. They are extraordinary and unique, and each possesses a kind of selflessness that’s hard for us civilians to comprehend. Until you actually talk to one.

306th Rescue Squadron in Tucson, AZ

I had the honor of “meeting” such a hero when I began doing research for Deadly Descent. I’d first heard of PJs while reading a Special Ops non-fiction book (because I’m a geek and proud of it), and was fascinated. What’s more heroic than saving lives no matter the risk to your own? The PJ I met had just recently retired from the Air Force, and he was not only a sweetheart to answer all of my questions (even though he knew I was writing a romance), he was always humble about his service in the military. I put him in the dedication for Deadly Descent despite his protests that it wasn’t necessary. He said he was just glad to help, and honored that I would write about his PJ brethren. But how could I not now that I knew just how amazing they are? I have such a crush on them all.

Deadly Descent is the first book of my Bagram Special Ops series, and it features a PJ hero with a Black Hawk medevac pilot herione stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

Devon Crawford is an officer; Air Force Pararescueman Cam Munro is enlisted. Dev flies medical evacuations; Cam jumps into danger zones to save lives. Dev wants to return home from Afghanistan with her heart untouched; Cam will do anything to win the woman he loves.
Reaching for happiness in a war zone is the last thing Captain Devon Crawford plans, but she can't ignore the feelings she's hidden for so long. Cam's sexy charm and wicked kisses weaken her resistance, but she's too afraid of losing him to give in.


When Dev's helicopter and crew are shot down and set up as bait by a notorious warlord, Cam risks all to save the team. What he doesn't know is that the trap is set for him…


I hope I’ve made you curious about these amazing men that wear the coveted maroon berets. I’m in awe of them and plan to write a lot more about them in the future.  Thanks to all of you out there that serve in the military, and a huge thank you to their friends and families back home for supporting them.

Mahalo, Kaylea, for introducing us to the other members of Special Forces!  To learn more about Kaylea, her books, and her research, log onto www.kayeleacross.com.

In honor of Kaylea, Mary and I have a special giveaway at both blogs.  Mary is giving away an ecopy of DEADLY DESCENT – leave a comment at her blog here.   I am giving away a Special Ops gift pack – trinkets from all four services who contribute to Special Operations Command – leave a comment here on this blog.   This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 10, 10 pm in Hawaii.  Mary and I will post our winners on Sunday, September 11.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Thanks to Kaylea, I have helicopters on my mind ... from last night's The Closure, a LAPD helicopter retrieved a fallen hitchhiker.   Also last night on Hawaii Five O, an Army helicopter rescued an injured Steve McGarrett.  Here's a photo of a Navy helicopter flying over the USS Arizona Memorial:

PS Check out my guest blog at the Reading Reviewer - I spotlight our Labor Day at the Kualoa Ranch at this link.