No Safe Haven
Authors: Kimberley Woodhouse
PRAISE FOR
NO SAFE HAVEN
No Safe Haven
is a page-turner on several levels—adventure, excitement, and compelling characters. But I'm fascinated that it was written by a mother and her teenage daughter, and that the young character in the book suffers with the same disorders that Kayla Woodhouse has. That gave it more texture and urgency and made it difficult to put down. I look forward to seeing more from these authors.
—Terri Blackstock, author of
Intervention
and
Predator
I know this exciting mother-and-daughter writing team, and they've produced a nail-biting thriller of a novel that underscores the health threat Kayla has faced all her life. We see the character, Andie, live out Kayla's own anxiety and challenge in growing up with a rare neurological disorder that she could not understand except that it threatened her life. Kayla has come to grips with her disorder and now she and her mother share their appreciation for nature and life while facing a neurological problem very few experience.
—Stephen A. Smith, M.D., Kayla's neurologist
No Safe Haven
is a nail-biting delight of a romantic suspense novel. I loved the Alaskan setting and characters. The Woodhouse writing duo is dynamite!
—Colleen Coble, author of
The Lightkeeper's Ball
and the Rock Harbor series
No Safe Haven
is a remarkable book that grips you from page one and doesn't let go. Romance, suspense, intrigue—Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse have crafted a book that has it all. You won't be able to put this one down!
—Jenny B. Jones, award-winning author of
Save the Date
and A Charmed Life series
No Safe Haven
is a thriller of epic proportions! What an engaging and intense story these new novelists have created. This book will keep you turning the page late into the night.
—Tom Davis, author of
Scared—A Novel on the Edge of the World
and
Priceless
No doubt about it, Kim and Kayla Woodhouse are a dynamic writing duo of action, romance, and living out faith! The Woodhouse's debut novel,
No Safe Haven,
is a thrilling adventure of the heart and mind as Jenna and her daughter Andie flee an unidentified threat against the backdrop of the beautiful yet unforgiving landscape of Alaska. With tenderness, authenticity and emotion, Kim and Kayla have drawn a captivating mother and daughter relationship, one stretched and strengthened by tragedy and ongoing medical struggles. Andie's voice is the perfect blend of sass and innocence, lending a joyousness to this thrilling tale and reflects Kayla's natural talent for storytelling and characterization. Kim provides plenty of action and attraction in this unique and intriguing story.
No Safe Haven
is a brilliant start to what will be an unmissable series from this mother and daughter team.
—Rel Mollet, RelzReviewz
No Safe Haven
is an incredible adventure thriller that kept me turning pages well into the wee hours. I have long been a fan of Kim Woodhouse's work but now am also a fan of Kayla Woodhouse. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more to come from this incredible mother-daughter team.
—Tracie Peterson, best-selling author of the Striking a Match series.
No Safe Haven
explodes onto the suspense scene with an intensity and energy that only Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse can create. What a compelling look into daily lives—with a burst of excitement and adrenaline—of these powerhouse ladies.
No Safe Haven
is a page-turner you don't want to miss. I'm so impressed—and a huge fan!!
—Ronie Kendig, author of
Nightshade
and
Digitalis
Non-stop action from an unforgettable mother/daughter team.
Brandilyn and Amberly Collins, coauthors of the award-winning Rayne Tour Series
Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse know how to weave powerful, faith-building, can't-put-down stories—life and now, brilliantly, in fiction.
—Susan May Warren, award-winning, best-selling author of
Nightingale
I'd only made it to page 8 when I realized I was holding my breath. Shivers are still traveling up my arms from a story that is both dramatic and heart-warming. My favorite element is the mother/daughter storytelling. Kimberley and Kayla's unique points-of-views breathed life and truth into the story. I loved it!
—Tricia Goyer, author of twenty-five books, including
Beside Still Waters
Copyright © 2011 by Kimberley Woodhouse and Kayla R. Woodhouse
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
978-1-4336-7116-6
Published by B&H Publishing Group,
Nashville, Tennessee
Dewey Decimal Classification: F
Subject Heading: MYSTERY FICTION \ MOTHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS—FICTION \ SURVIVAL AFTER AIRPLANE ACCIDENTS, SHIPWRECKS, ETC.—FICTION
Authors represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920, www.alivecommunications.com.
Scripture quotations or paraphrases are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). All rights reserved.
Publisher's Note: The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 • 15 14 13 12 11
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated:
From Kim:
To Dr. Gary Greene, for taking a little music major and encouraging me to write. He went home to be with the Lord during the final edits of this book, but his encouragement and love for his students will always be remembered.
And to Kayla—may we continue to grow in love and craft as we travel this writing journey together. I love writing with you, Squirt.
From Kayla:
My very first published book.
Dedicated to Jesus, My Lord and Savior, and to Ms. Karen, for her fantabulous idea.
And for Mama, for making me laugh and putting up with me even when I'm grumpy or sarcastic. I love writing with you.
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As most of you know, it takes an enormous number of people to bring a book to the point where it is now—in your hands. And so, Kayla and I wish to thank:
First and foremost—Thank You, God. Without You, none of this would be possible.
Our Readers—for your support, encouragement, notes, and excitement. What fun it is to have you along on this journey!
Jeremy and Josh—the Woodhouse "boys" who put up with deadlines, edits, brainstorming, and plain ol' craziness. We love you.
Tracie, Colleen, Donita, and Karen—for your mentorship, guidance, love, and prayers.
Our brilliant and amazing editor, Karen Ball—Wow. You are the best of the best. Where would we be without you? You've taught us so much and made our writing sing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Julie Gwinn—you are a marketing genius. What fun to work with you! Thanks for all you do.
Diana Lawrence—Thank you so much for your outstanding work on the most incredible cover ever. Wow. You are so gifted. Thank you for bringing Andie's face to life so beautifully and for the accuracy in all the details.
Everyone at B&H—we love and appreciate you all. What an honor to be with such an incredible publishing house.
Missy Smothers with the Talkeetna Rangers—you, my dear, are a gem. I thought for sure the day would come when you'd tell me I'd asked my quota of questions, but you didn't. Thank you—I will miss our chats! Thanks also to rangers Joe Reichert and John Loomis for their expertise.
Phil Lee—a true Denali/Sultana climber. Thank you so much for your willingness (and patience) to help with all the minute details, providing pictures and mountaineering expertise. Thanks too, to your sweet wife, Diane. What a privilege it was to meet you.
Wendy Callis—of Callis Kennels in North Pole, Alaska. You are a wealth of information. Can't wait for all the excitement to come in the next book as well.
Bill Zink—our genius pilot source. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a bazillion phone calls and questions about planes, flying planes, crashing planes, etc. You never once said I (Kim) was crazy. (Even though I'm sure you thought it more than once!) And a huge thanks to you and Pam for all your support and prayers!
Our agent, Andrea Heinecke, of Alive Communications—you have been our champion and friend. Thank you.
Our crit/early readers—Darcie, Mary, Ronie, Keighley, Carrie, Evangeline, Lori, Casey, Tammy, Katie, and Eryn. Thank you.
Snow City Café—the managers and chefs who took such good care of us, and of course, our server, Ezra, who made the experience even more enjoyable. We love your food!
The amazing folks at NASA who graciously answered our questions about missile interceptors and thought our imagined defense/weapon was pretty cool. And to the wonderful people and producers with
EMHE (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
Thank you for everything you have done to support our family.
With appreciation and love,
Kimberley and Kayla
PROLOGUE
MARCUS
March 31
Fairbanks, Alaska
3:02 p.m.
The passenger door slammed, the vibration rippling through his bones, like a skeleton rattled by the wind. He shook his head. Dark thoughts and a sense of foreboding. Things had to happen. Fast.
Before that foreboding became reality.
He smacked his palms on the steering wheel and fought the urge to curse his circumstances. But they were of his own doing. No turning back now.
A glance to the rearview mirror, and he watched the retreating form of his fellow soldier—his best special ops man. The man's rigid back. His quick and hard steps. They told the tale.
It was too late.
Regret washed over him in waves of heat and pain. As the knot in his gut intensified, thoughts of his family rushed to the forefront of his mind. Vivid pictures. But the smiling faces, instead of bringing relief, made him nauseous.
He looked again at the rearview mirror. His friend was already around a corner, out of sight. But that wasn't what grabbed his attention—what put all his senses on alert.
His eyes widened. A car barreled toward him at an alarming speed . . . a car with no driver. That meant only one thing. Remote-control delivery system.
For explosives.
Was that why Maddox got out of the car?
In that instant, pictures flashed in his mind, like a movie before his eyes.
Rich black hair, a silky halo around the beauty that was his wife. Startling blue eyes, a mirror of his own, shining in the face of his precious daughter. Both, ever and always, filled with love . . . with trust . . .
He'd been such a fool.