Lost Love: Ice Search and Rescue, #3

By Jo Carey

Sometimes what you want isn't what you need.

Kiry has a problem—she's a Tralaskan female who knows she doesn't need a man, but she's found one she wants. Trouble is, he's not convinced, yet.

Olav Jorgensen is glad when his old friends on the ice climbing tour come to his rescue when his partner is injured. He's happy to return the favor when they need his help to rescue one of their own.

When Olav comes to her rescue will Kiry find her real hero?

Welcome to Ice, the flash-frozen third moon of the planet Zavaroff. Ice has been developed as a resort focused on Ice related activities—ice climbing, ice skiing, ice sled racing. The resort and village are completely enclosed for the comfort of Ice's citizens and visitors. Step through the Erdexi transport sphere and meet the people who live, work, and fall in love on Ice.

Lost Love is the third book in Jo Carey's Ice Search and Rescue series. 55 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Carey
• Release date: Apr 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386041900

Jo Carey

Jo Carey grew up in the Midwest but her curiosity and gypsy-spirit has kept her on the move. She's lived in eight US states and spent three years living in Ireland. She has always loved creature movies, so creatures and bugs often show up in her books. Jo, a former information security compliance guru, writes fast-paced, character-driven stories in a variety of genres from medical thrillers to space operas and cozy mysteries. Her novels are filled with humor, romance, and sometimes creatures or aliens, or maybe even all of the above. She often builds her stories around a strong female lead character surrounded by plenty of hunky male heroes. Jo's been under fire on a golf course and climbed out the roof of an elevator in the Netherlands. Life hasn't been boring. Now residing in Texas, setting often plays a huge role in her stories. Jo was intrigued by the League of Planetary Systems, a world her husband, Frank, created for his science fiction books, and she now writes mysteries and other types of tales sets in that world. Jo was bitten by a cat, a fire ant, and a snake, before succumbing to the bite of the writing bug.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The story below, Hot Cocoa, was written by my husband, Frank Carey. It introduced the Krestans and was the inspiration for Lost Love.  It’s included here with Frank’s permission.  —Jo Carey

The temperature outside was –40° Fahrenheit while the wind was blowing at thirty knots. The storm was getting worse and visibility had dropped to about ten feet. The inclement conditions did not deter Joshua and Madeline from their search for the Jergensen Castle, which was a good thing because the fate of human civilization hinged on them finding it.

Soon they found steps leading up to a porch. They parked at the foot of the stairs.

Joshua and Madeline exited their vehicle and carefully climbed the stairs to the porch. As they stepped onto the porch, the wind stopped, and the temperature rose to well above freezing.

They headed to what looked to be a door and entered the structure. It was as if they had entered a library or hotel lobby. The floor was marble that was warm to the touch. Small lamps cast pools of light on the chairs and tables throughout the space. Inset into one wall was a massive fireplace with a fire crackling inside. A tall humanoid figure walked toward them from the fireplace area.

Greetings! I'm Bob, the caretaker. Welcome! he said.

Hello, Bob, I'm Joshua, and this is Madeline.

Can I get you anything? Hot cocoa, perhaps?

Yes, that would be wonderful.

Bob went off and returned with two ornate tankards of hot cocoa.

So, what brings you to the castle on such an inhospitable night?

I don’t know if you are aware of this, but Earth has been conquered by an alien race called the Kestra. We are no match for their weapons. Madeline and I work in Kestran headquarters where we overheard two generals discussing the legend of one of their kind who had opposed the Kestran move toward conquering other races and had been exiled to Earth for his beliefs. The two generals seemed worried that this exiled Kestran could be trouble if he was still alive and found out what they had done. They mentioned this castle as the home of the exiled being. Is the story true? Is this Kestran here?

Yes, young miss, the story is true.

From the darkness a giant Kestran walked into the room. He looked like one of the hero paintings they had at HQ—tall, white hair, fangs, with an obvious air of power.

I am Sam’l, the exiled Kestran you speak of. Please, tell me, who leads the invasion of your planet?

He calls himself Timo’n. Joshua has met him.

Yes, I have stood next to him. He is like you, tall and strongly built. He has a broken fang and orange hair. He is frightening.

He favors our father. Yes, he is my brother, and he is responsible for my exile. I had agreed to allow his ascension to the throne if he agreed to never invade Earth. It seems he has broken that agreement.

Just then the front door burst open and a squad of Kestran troopers entered and formed an honor guard formation. Moments later, a tall Kestran entered and walked past the ranks of guards to stand in front of Sam’l. It was Timo’n.

Brother, it has been a while. It makes me sad that you never write, he said, gloating. He turned to Joshua and Madeline. You, madam, will do well in my harem, while you, sir, will find the mines an eye-opening experience. As for you, my brother...

As Timo’n turned to face his brother, Sam’l slapped him across the face with a white glove.

Timo’n, you have broken the agreement, and under the laws of our people, I demand satisfaction. I challenge you to a duel...

What kind of duel, brother? Swords? Guns? Hand-to-hand...?

Kat-ta deserts, what the humans call s’mores.

To a person, everyone in the room was stunned. It seemed that the fate of planets, people, and a huge empire hinged on who could make a better desert.

Interesting, brother of mine, and how do you propose that these deserts be judged?

We will each bake a plate and let the guards and humans decide by anonymous vote using poker chips and two-colored buckets. Bob will take care of the details.

I agree to your terms. Shall we begin?

Sam’l motioned to Bob who went off then returned with a red and a blue bucket, which he placed in the center of the large table. Bob and the two brothers went off to the kitchen. About an hour later a bell was heard and Bob returned with a red plate and a blue plate, both filled with wonderful looking confections. Regardless of their differences, the two brothers knew how to present deserts.

The honor guard and the humans sampled both plates of desserts with much thinking and pondering. Soon, the last chip was placed in a bucket.

One of the guards was sent to the kitchen to retrieve