Hawk Mountain Heist

By Cindy A Christiansen

He's on the ski patrol. She's terrified of being buried alive. Criminal recyclers have kidnapped her brother. Will an avalanche kill them or snowball their romance?

               
Story-line: When easy-going Tanker Sutherland is jilted at the altar, he moves to Utah for a job on the ski patrol and to train a new avalanche rescue dog, Tobler. Tank is annoyed when he's assigned to help a pretentious, well-to-do woman named Olivia find her brother instead of an official search and rescue. Never once did he dream it would involve criminal recyclers, kidnapping, an avalanche and serious danger.

 

                
Olivia DeMarcus is terrified of being buried alive, but it doesn't stop her from going to the winter mountains during a huge storm to find her real estate developer brother when he doesn't return her calls. Unfortunately, she's assigned a ski patroller who doesn't have his heart in the search.

               
Will Olivia and Tanker set their distrust aside long enough to rescue her brother from criminal recyclers and fall in love?

 

               
This novella is a contemporary, clean & wholesome, action/adventure romance! If you like action, adventure and romance, then you will enjoy this book!

 

                   

Conquer a good book today!  

                    

"Suspense, danger, romance and a lovable dog named Tobler who instantly stole my heart. I was completely absorbed in this captivating novella. Cindy has written another delightful book full of twists, turns and charming characters. I anxiously await her next great read!" - 5 out of 5 Stars, A Jensen, Reviewer
             
"In this heart-warming romance mixed with adventure, danger and suspense Mrs. Christiansen brought all of the characters, including Tobler, to life. I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for an avalanche or a criminal assault while hoping Tank and Olivia would admit their attraction for each other. I couldn't put down this book and recommend it for all who enjoy adventure, outdoor sports, dogs, romance and suspense." - 5 out of 5 Stars, Gail Pallotta, Author
               
"...sure to warm your heart. ...found Hawk Mountain Heist a very interesting, educational, fast read. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and has plenty to keep the reader wanting to read more. It is the perfect, cooling read for a hot summer day." - 5 out of 5 Stars, Lynne, Amazon Reviewer

              

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Dragonfly Spirit Books
• Release date: Nov 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386962038

Cindy A Christiansen

Bestselling author, Cindy A Christiansen, has combined her love of dogs with her joy of writing to create an award-winning combination. Her novels always include canine characters both in the pages and on the cover, an extension of the credit she gives to her extraordinary rescue dogs for their part in helping her overcome numerous challenges. In a reciprocal gesture for their love and devotion, a portion of the proceeds from her books are donated to assist abandoned and abused dogs. She lives in Utah with her loving husband, two creative children with autism, and a pack of rambunctious dogs. Here's what her books give you: A clean read with no bedroom scenes or offensive language; a tantalizing, fast-paced plot; a story without a lot of boring description; down-to-earth heroes and heroines with everyday jobs; a rollercoaster ride of emotions you face right along with the characters; a special dog to steal your heart; a few added facts, a good message, and that important happily-ever-after ending.

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Dragonfly Spirit Books

Copyright © 2018 Cindy A. Christiansen

First E-book Publication: November, 2018

Cover design by Dragonfly Spirit Books and www.123rf.com

Edited by and Proofread by Wendy Watkins Remley and Helen Felt Jarrell

All cover art and logo copyright © 2018 by Dragonfly Spirit Books

Dedication

This story is dedicated to all those amazing avalanche rescue dogs and their human partners who work hard and risk so much.

Also, to Kathy Rochell and her brother, Alan, who provided a great deal of information about ski patrol. Thank you.

Chapter One

OLIVIA DEMARCUS GASPED and dug her nails into the arm of the squad car door as the tires skidded on the icy mountain road. The snow continued to fall in the worst snow-burst they had seen in Utah so far this winter. The wipers could barely clear the windshield in the whiteout condition.

Officer Rigby tried his floodlights but found them useless. Sorry, miss. I don’t think we’ll make it up to Hawk Mountain in this storm. This is much worse than the weathermen predicted.

Olivia’s heart clenched. We’ve got to get there. I haven’t heard from my brother in two days. I know something is terribly wrong. I just dashed up here from work when I could no longer get cell service.

It’s the storm.

What could she say to get the officer to keep driving? Offer him money? He wouldn’t go for a bribe. Think, Livvie. Think. She had to know why she hadn’t heard from Preston. They talked every day, at least once. The last time she had heard from him, he was on his way up to his latest high-end residential development at the base of Hawk Mountain northwest of Deer Valley.

The weathermen had only predicted a light snowstorm, not this colossal downpour. Preston had hoped for an easy winter; one they could continue with construction. Major snowstorms could stop development and leave his project unprotected, most likely until spring.

This was Preston’s biggest development yet. The price of his mountain lodge-style homes in the exclusive resort community were astronomical and buyers had been clamoring to purchase and impatiently waiting. He liked to postpone moving in residents until all the construction had been completed. That way, he was assured of fewer complaints.

Preston included nothing but the best and latest comforts in his homes. He’d told her he had several big celebrities looking to buy. However, over the phone two days ago, he had mentioned there had been some copper and wiring theft in one of the newer homes under construction, and he wanted to install a security system throughout the development.

Had Preston been injured while installing the cameras? Had he fallen off a ladder? Drove his truck off the icy road? Electrocuted himself? Could the thieves have come back? Had Preston caught them in the act and...and something bad had happened to him? Olivia moaned.

Everything okay? Officer Rigby asked, wiping at his defrosting moustache with a gloved hand.

Olivia took a deep breath and blew into her freezing bare hands. She should be dressed in warmer attire for the first week of December, but she hadn’t planned on this storm or a trip to the mountains. She had always avoided elevations, despite living in the bowl of Salt Lake City with mountains all around. She really didn’t have a wardrobe of heavy winter clothing. She was either inside or in her car. Now she wished she had a pair of decent winter boots and some Gor-Tex outerwear. Of course, she’d left from work with this surprise storm and worried about Preston and never even stopped to think. That wasn’t like her at all. At least she had her wool coat, but it was doing nothing to keep her legs warm. Um, yes, I’m fine, Officer Rigby. I just hope we can get there. She rubbed her hands together.

He reached over and turned up the heat. I wish I had something to cover your pretty blonde locks, Miss DeMarcus.

Was he flirting with her? She had batted her eyelashes to get him to take her up the canyon, but she was desperate to reach her brother and find out what had happened.

The head is how a person loses most of their body heat; about thirty percent, in fact, he continued. I should have a blanket in the trunk, but it will be ice cold. Do you have your Christmas shopping done?

The car slid again, and Officer Rigby scrambled to get his hands back on the wheel to gently correct the car.

Olivia’s heart did the rumba in her throat.

I think we better call this off, he said, slowing down his already snail pace and reaching for his dashboard radio to contact dispatch.

Olivia had to think of something quick to keep him driving. She had already slid her car off the road, trying to get up the slick canyon. Officer Rigby had stopped to give her a hand, and she had talked him into taking her farther up the mountain. She had a terrible feeling about Preston, and she desperately had to find him.

She bit her lip. She hated playing the Politician Father card.

"I realize these are