When Lives Collide

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

synopsis

Synopsis

When a military surgeon is mustered out and running for her life from Middle Eastern terrorists, the last place she expects to find a new home is the deep forests of Canada. There she meets the perfect man, a rugged outdoorsman twice her age. Little do they know, however, that a brilliant rookie cop is hot on the trail of a terrorist hitman. Who will make it out alive when their lives collide? If you enjoyed books like Dan Brown's 'The DaVinci Code', you'll love this action-packed adventure!

bio

Author Biography

I am fortunate to call the enchanting Ontario Canada forest my home, nestled on the picturesque shores of a stunning lake.

I have led an interesting journey, with experiences in skydiving, barefoot water-skiing, paramedicine, teaching at the college level, software development, chemistry, fishing, piloting, aircraft construction, and writing. One of my accomplishments was flying a self-built two-seater STOL aircraft across Canada, from coast to coast.

I dedicated time to studying at Niagara College, Waterloo University, McMaster University, Brock University, and the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico.

I am excited to plan an adventure on the Labrador Highway to Happy Valley, Goose Bay. I truly believe that a place named Happy Valley must hold incredible experiences waiting to be discovered.

"Novel reading strengthens the passions, weakens the virtues, and diminishes the power of self-control. Multitudes may date their ruin from the commencement of this kind of reading; and many more, who have been rescued from the same, will regret, to the end of their days, its influence in the early formation of their character. It is, too, a great waste of time...If you wish to become weak-headed, nervous, and good for nothing, read novels."

Polite Manual for Young Ladies 1849

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Author Insight

Friday is National Aboriginal Day

“Native without a Tribe” follows Rosa Rojas, a native Canadian with no knowledge of her genetic ancestry. Born in Canada on a reserve, she bears a Spanish name, a mystery in itself. Estranged from her birth culture, Rosa, a highly educated professional in microbiology, works under an incompetent political appointee in a high-security level 4 lab. As she races to control a deadly pandemic that threatens humanity, Rosa’s life is on the line. Despite the dangers, she ultimately discovers her tribe, her heritage, and a romantic connection that eclipses the toxic relationships of her past. Experience Rosa’s journey of love and self-discovery in the eBook or audiobook versions available in English and Spanish on duncansoftware.com, or as an eBook on kobo.com.

Book Excerpt

When Lives Collide

Chapter 1

The Secret: Moving In, Ontario, Canada

She arrived on the shore of Blue Lake just before her thirtieth birthday. Alone, frightened, and fearing for her life she moved into the furnished lakeside home. A law firm purchased the house, sight unseen, for her. To move into the furnished home, she arrived in a taxi with a suitcase. She could see her neighbour’s home through the trees about 100 metres (325 feet) to the east.

The neighbour, Frank, was in his late fifties, retired, and athletic. He loved his lakefront home during the ten months when the summer cottagers were not tearing up the lake with their powered-everything. During those two months of summer “fun”, Frank strapped his canoe to his float plane and headed deep into the forest where there were no roads, and no people. He owned extensive property, including a substantial cottage, on a northern lake accessible only by plane. It required a highly specialized plane such as his. The lake was narrow and twisty and did not have long straight sections where conventional aircraft, could land. Frank’s STOL aircraft (Short Take Off and Landing) could land in very short spaces. The difficulty of landing a conventional float plane at his cottage helped ensure his privacy.

Frank was away for the summer when she arrived. He knew that the property was for sale. The couple next door had died suddenly when they had taken a trip to Africa and got caught up in an unexpected revolution. Their children did not want the property. It had been for sale during the winter but no one saw it while the snow was on the ground. They had been a quiet friendly couple, and Frank had enjoyed being their neighbour. They had filled the emptiness in his life after the death of his wife. She had developed a rapidly fatal cancer. It had been a lonely winter for Frank after losing his wife the previous spring and his neighbours in the fall. As a young man Frank had been a loner and thought he was immune to loneliness. The years of having Luella at his side had filled a niche he did not know existed. He did not enjoy solitude as much as he had in his youth. While at his northern cottage for the summer he had kept turning to say to Luella, “Look at that.” His return to Blue Lake this fall would be the first time he was eager to return. It would surprise him to find a single woman had moved into his environment. A woman who was young enough to be his daughter. A woman who would avoid all contact with him.