Happy Friday!
I’m soooo ready for this weekend, having edited about 200 pages since Tuesday.
My brain is mush. 
(but in a good way. A good mushy way where it’s full of story and fun dialogue and endearing characters, and a high stakes global plot…)
So, I’m looking forward to a relaxing weekend.
And I thought…maybe you’d like a glimpse of what’s happening on Tuesday.
Tuesday, you say? What’s happening Tuesday?
Scent of Hope drops, of course! (Book 2 of the Call of the Wild series, for those keeping score. Or for those who, like me, occasionally forget which book they’re on.)
And, for a Fun Friday Feebie, Imma give you a sneaky peek.
Here’s what you need to know going in: Harley Tatum has come home to Copper Mountain, Alaska, to do a job and then leave, thank you very much. She has a fugitive to catch, a chip on her shoulder roughly the size of Denali, and exactly zero interest in seeing the one person who blew apart her whole world seven years ago.
Guess who’s standing in the sheriff’s office. (Insert evil author laugh here.)
I won’t say more. I’ll just…let you watch it happen. (He has a dog. The dog is important. I’m just saying.)
A glimpse — Scent of Hope
Of course he was back. Because this couldn’t be easy, right?
“Really?” Harley stood, unmoving, except for her heart slamming into her ribs. She glanced at Deke. “You might have mentioned this.”
Deke glanced between them. “You guys haven’t made up yet?” He sighed. “This will be fun.” He walked back to the board where she’d been studying the map.
No, oh great, she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off…well, He Who She’s Promised to Forget.
Oh boy.
“Jericho.”
“Harlow.”
Her jaw tightened.
He smiled, as if…As if he hadn’t completely abandoned her. As if…Well, as if she meant nothing to him. Or at least nothing anymore.
Great. Perfect. Her breath locked up inside her. How was it that she hadn’t seen the man in seven years, and he could still set a burr under her skin with that stupid, annoying smile.
Didn’t help that he looked good.
Too good. At thirty-four, he should be sort of fat, maybe with a few stress lines around his mouth. Would help if he had a receding hairline, too, but noooo, Jericho Bowie had just turned more handsome with age. Still bore the rugged edge, that intense hazel-blue eyed gaze, his dark hair sticking up in messy waves, and his jaw set so tight he might break a molar.
“I didn’t…what are you doing here?” Stupid mouth. Stop. Talking.
His eyes narrowed, just briefly, a flicker and then he drew in a breath as if, again, she might be too much trouble. “You first.”
A beat, then it clicked and she impaled Deke with a look. “Really? He’s the one with—”
“The K9 scent dog,” Deke finished. “Yes.”
“I saw the dog. I thought maybe he was a comfort dog.” She glanced at Jericho. Smiled, nothing of warmth in it.
“Only if you are buried in snow,” Jericho said evenly. “You might find him comforting when he shows up to save your life.”
She glanced at the dog. Cute. Black and white, the dog wasn’t huge—mid-sized at best.
“He’s a Bernadoodle,” Jericho said. “Part Bernese Mountain Dog, part Poodle.”
Her stupid mouth wouldn’t stay quiet. “So, he’s going to what…sniff out Mars Sorros?”
“Yep,” he said, his tone cool, measured. Unfazed. “I know he doesn’t look it—he was the runt, so he drew the short straw on size. But he’s smart. And sturdy.”
“Seems your type.”
He raised an eyebrow and oh, why did she say that? Sheesh. Jericho had never drawn the short straw on anything. Especially his size. Or his smarts.
Maybe just on his ability to keep a promise.
If you’d like to see how it plays out between them, (and what exactly happened seven years ago) — Scent of Hope releases Tuesday, June 2. It’s on preorder now, which means it’ll quietly appear on your device while you sleep. Like a visit from the tooth fairy. Or Santa Claus.
Grab it here!
Anyhooo. Go enjoy your weekend. I’m headed to my neices’ dance recital. And going to watch my son preach on Sunday.
Xoxo,
P.S. — The super fun Alaska Air One Audiobook collection (which features so many of the fun people in Copper Mountain) is on sale through Sunday night. Just in case you want to get in the Alaskan mood. Thank you for listening and enjoying these stories!
